Our Little Ladybug is ONE

Early morning present unwrapping

  All ready to go!  The kids helped me make almost all of the decorations.  We used sharpies to draw polka dots on the balloons, made ladybugs out of constructions paper to crawl on the streamers, food marker on red M&Ms to make ladybugs, & enjoyed a few finishing touches from my friend Nikki. 

 Birthday lunch at Pizza Ranch with Uncle Fr. Jon

 Green Grandpa

 cousin Cecilia

 This was as we were singing.  She was wondering what in the world was going on & why everyone was behind her chair!

 Sarah only had about an hour nap, so she kept laying her head on the side of her tray but still successfully picked all the frosting off of the top of the cake.

 After that little sugar rush kicked in, she sat up & practically devoured the whole thing!

 4 generations:  So glad Great Grandma could join us!

Happy 1st Birthday, sweet Sarah-bug!

We love you bunches & bunches!

Splish Splash

Graduation jaunt

 Had a fabulous weekend up in Minnesota for my nephew's high school graduation.  It's so crazy... I remember him as big as Sarah here & now he's coming to college in the fall! 

 Gathered in the always popular room:  the kitchen.  This was our first time in their new house.  It's beautiful & open!

 Sarah with her lovely cousin Clara

 Andrew was thrilled to have a nice big screen with cousins to play some games.  When they weren't glued down here they were running around outside like wild animals... not real conducive to photos.

 Teresa, Rebecca, & Maria had a fabulous time together.  Maria is so amazing with littles.  When Teresa came in to wish me good morning on Monday, she asked, "HOW MANY more days until we see Maria again?" 

Congratulations, Michael! 

So excited to see what God has in store for you.

With the fam

 I feel so blest to have been part of a Bible Study for almost 11 years.  Normally I just get to enjoy these lovely ladies (& tiny babies) once a week, but we gathered the masses for a family picnic at the park.  It's always fun to see the kids together, too.  We're never all able to make it, but this was a pretty good turnout.  What a fabulous gift I have in these friends!

Wow

Another one of my former students is now a priest!  Such a great guy already... all those graces & he is going to be awesome.  Hope we are blest enough to have him at our parish someday!

 

Let the games begin!

 On the last day of school, I borrowed an idea from my lovely friend Lisa & made a little "trail to summer" of sorts for the kiddos.  They each had a popsicle stick with their name on it stuck in the front lawn with a seriously long piece of yarn woven all over the yard.  They had to follow their path & find their prize at the end.

We laughed so hard & I think they were much more excited about the dollar store kites they found at the end after working so hard for them.  :) 

 So, an hour later we headed out to the park with friends to fly their new kites, picnic, play, & hike.  It was a fabulous start to hopefully a fabulous summer!

Doin' alright

Gettin' good grades

Future's so bright

Into supper

When food is tasty, why just put it INSIDE your body?

Happy Mother's Day!

Thankful for these little guys who made me a Mommy!

Prayer Walk 2014

A new discovery

She found the one off-limits cupboard where the child-lock is broken.  But she's so proud of herself... dare I take away her fun? 

Happy Feet

 Pedicures & Yogurtini with some Bible Study friends...

fabulous!

Peek-a-boo

GodTeen Brunch

So proud of these Seniors!  We've loved having them in our family & in our home for the last four years.  We had our Senior Mass & Brunch to celebrate them & the new adventures they are pursuing.  We may not see them every Wednesday anymore, but we hope to stay in touch. 

God bless you all!

Wrapping up the year

 For our last moms' group of the school year, we had a little adventure to the children's museum!  What a fun group!  Of course, I forgot to take any pictures of the moms.  :P  So glad to spend time with you, ladies, & your sweet kiddos.  Have a fabulous summer!

Bible Study Mass

Now that we wrapped up our latest study, we were blest to have a special Mass for the feast of St. Gianna at our home with Bible study.  It was so nice.  (Andrew was thrilled to have his first time "serving".)  Perks of having a priest for a brother! 

Thank you, Fr. Jon!