VBS

Fr Bill said there were 330 kids attending VBS!

Today was the last day of Vacation Bible School.  The boys had a great week!  This video clip gives you a sample of what we've been hearing the boys say this week.  :)  "No matter how you feel... Trust God!"  The second day I went in the gym to pick the boys up and I couldn't find Finn... then I spotted him.  On the stage dancing and helping to lead the closing songs.  :)

Silverhawks Baseball

Cullen being goofy... go figure!

I think they enjoyed the splash park and playground more than the game!

Sean and I were asked to co-chair the FLC (Family Life Committee) with another MBA couple.  It's really similar to what Sean and I did for the FRG (Family Readiness Group) in the Army.  I think that's why we were voluntold asked to help. :)  The other couple are planning most of the outings, but want us in charge of the playgroup which meets EVERY Tuesday.  YIKES.  Luckily Finn won't have preschool on Tuesdays next year, so that will be our "date" every week.

Anyway, the other couple planned this event for the families.  The Silverhawks are South Bend's minor league baseball team.  Sadly, Sean couldn't go... he's studying for 2 finals tomorrow.  The boys had a blast and went right to bed!  I'm off to watch the news, I think the camera man got Cullen playing in the splash park.  It broke 100* today, so I wouldn't be surprised if they mention the kids cooling off.

Military Shadowbox

Brian Lohr asked me to create a shadow box for him back in January. I FINALLY completed it today! He has made Notre Dame one of the top 3 military-friendly schools for the past 3 years. He has collected several unit patches from the guys coming through the program and he wanted to do something with it. I hope he likes what I came up with!!

Worlds of Fun/Children's Museum

The boys loved reading the map.

It was a HOT day!

We met all the Peanuts characters.

 The boys thought that Charlie Brown was Caillou.  :)

Finn and his alter-ego Linus.  Finn told him he has a blankie too.

The boys LOVED this ride, we rode it several times.

Poor Finn, not tall enough for Fury of the Nile yet.

Cullen's Angry Birds.

Playing with Mason.  :)

We took the boys to Worlds of Fun while in Kansas.  It was soooo hot, but at least there were no lines!  I think Cullen felt like we had been holding out on him... not bringing him sooner.  I can hardly believe that he is one inch away from riding the big roller coasters... YIKES!  It sure was a fun day for thrill-seeking boys.

I also met my friend Emily and, her son, Mason at the Children's Museum.  It was so fun!  We ran into my third grade teacher Mrs. Mahoney, who volunteers there.  She loved meeting my boys.  In fact she met them earlier in the week when my parents brought the boys.  She told me that it's obvious that Cullen loves life.  Funny she saw that in him too.... that's what my mom has been saying for years!  Cullen just talked and talked to her.  It was really sweet.

Meanwhile... back at {gma & gpa} camp

Legos! with GG.  :)

The boys..... Going Bonkers

cousin slumber party!

1st time having root beer floats... and having them every night!

at the Kansas Museum of History

zoo

Finn caught his FIRST fish!!

Gage Park choo-choo... of course!

make your own pizza night...

carousals,

fun!

Well, I'm happy to say that the boys didn't miss us while we were gone.  They were BUSY!  Thank you mom and dad for making great memories with the boys and allowing us some time away!

60th SF Ball, back to CO

Sean, me, Kelly and Brian Lohr

At Garden of the Gods the morning of the ball.

White River Rafting Thursday morning!

Tasting the Grog at the ball.

Royal Gorge, Saturday after the ball.

We've had a crazy June!  Sean and I went back to CO for the 60th Special Forces Ball.  It was beautiful and hosted at the gorgeous Broadmoor Hotel.  We invited the Lohrs to come along, Mr. Lohr is the MBA Admissions Director at Notre Dame, and has made Notre Dame one of the top 3 military-friendly schools in the US for the past three years.  You may remember his wife, Mrs. Lohr, as Cullen's kindergarten teacher.  And their oldest daughter, Emily, is the boys' babysitter.   :)  We really like the Lohr family!

Sean wasn't able to get out of too much school, he flew in Friday morning and left early Sunday.  So I showed Brian and Kelly around.  I think we hit everything COS has to offer.  It was Kelly's first time to CO and Brian had only been skiing in Keystone.  They, like everyone, fell in love with CO!

family visit to Notre Dame

We left Grandpa's prayer card at the Grotto.

1st Down Moses

The Blessed Mother.

Carpet inside the Main Building Admissions Office.

Ceiling inside the Golden Dome.

Outside the Main Building.

GG and Finn outside the Military Entrance to the Basilica.

Our Basilica tour guide had us block the light to describe a painting.

Old priest benches

Inside the Basilica.

Finn lighting a candle at the Grotto.

Grandma touching a rock from the original Grotto in France.

:)

Eating lunch in the South Dining Hall.

From here you can see the Basilica steeples, War Memorial, and the Golden Dome.

The South Dining Hall.

Basilica

Grotto.

Finn riding his bike on campus.

I had a wonderful visit with my family last week!  We hit all the places on Notre Dame's campus that I could think to show them.  We were able to celebrate Mass in the Basilica, pray the rosary at the Grotto, eat at the South Dining Hall, tour the Basilica, tour the Main Building, complete the stations of the cross by Lake St. Joseph, drive through St. Mary's College, and visit Father Sorin's grave.  We also went to Cullen's Kindergarten Graduation and t-ball game, ate the famous Rocco's Pizza...  It was a busy, busy 3 days...

It was a special visit, I will treasure the memories.  We even got our penny... Before the rosary, (where I stated my intention for grandpa) old Steve said "We're off like a dirty shirt." :)