Good Friday

Stations of the Cross.  Beautiful Golden Dome in the background!

What a beautiful day to do the outdoor Stations of the Cross around Lake Saint Joseph!  Not a cloud in the sky.  The little boys were angels... they did so good.  Cullen enjoyed following along in his own book.

My friends for the rosary!  I'll miss them!

After Stations of the Cross, I asked my rosary friends for a picture, to remember them by.  Since our time is winding down here.  They suggested we walk back to the Grotto, since that's where we all met.  Perfect.  I love the sunbeams coming down by the Blessed Mother.

(L to R) Mark, Simone (Frieda's youngest grand-daughter), Adam, Frieda, me and Martha (Adam's mom)

March is over... already??

Finn at the FLC egg hunt.

 A funny Finn story-  A few nights ago, I couldn't get Finn to go to bed.  He kept coming out of his room to ask questions.  I've decided he's got a busy mind. or has some good bedtime stall tactic questions stored up there...  He said- "Mom, what do they do with port-a-potties when they're all done?  I think they take them to the guys house and they flush them down there."

Sean has ordered his cap and gown and class ring.... won't be long.

Oldie, but a goodie

After saying our Guardian Angel prayer last night, Cullen told me all about Saint Michael.  He told me there was a big battle in Heaven and the angels had to fight against the devil.  It was hard, but the angels won.  And that Saint Michael was the greatest fighter.  They kicked the devil out and now he has to live in Hell.  I was surprised that he knew so much about it and asked him where he learned it.  I asked him if it was the Atrium.  He never did answer.  I asked the Atrium teacher today, while I was volunteering for Finn's class.  She said that Cullen has been interested in the Saint's book in Atrium lately and he read it all for himself there.  :)

After leaving Atrium, Finn and I walked through the Gym, where Cullen was having lunch.  We went by to say hi to him.  He was quiet and didn't have much to say.  We told him good-bye and were leaving when he came running up to me and gave me a big hug.  So sweet!  Won't be long and my biggest boy won't want to hug me in front of his friends anymore.  My sweet Cullen... I love those moments!

Grandma & Papa visit!

Enjoying cotton candy at the carnival. (Celebrating the end of basketball.)

We were able to visit baby Grace.

 There were a few swans swimming behind Grace's tree

 on the other side of the lake.

Cullen working on his Pinewood Derby car.

Working hard.

We were glad Papa could help, he's done a few Pinewood Derby cars!

Grandma and Papa with their soccer star.

Grandma and Papa with their basketball star.

We had a great visit with Grandma and Papa!  Due to some bad snowstorms moving through Kansas and Missouri, we were have to have them an extra day!  We did a lot: swimming the the hotel pool, Finn's soccer game, Cullen's last basketball game, a work day for Cullen's 1st Pinewood Derby car for Scouts, Palm Sunday Mass at the Basilica, pizza dinner at Rocco's, a walk to visit Grace by Lake Saint Mary, Carnival, Rosary at the Grotto and Sunday Evening Vespers.  Whew!  It was fun!

They will be back soon for Sean's graduation!  It's coming so fast!  :(

Emily's visit!

"our helper" as we antiqued in Amish Country

Entering Topeka, Indiana.  Life in the PAST Lane.

Topeka, Indiana

Lot's of Amish folk in horse and buggies!

I had a great time showing Emily around.  We got home Sunday night in time to eat dinner then hurry to the rosary at the Grotto with Sunday Vespers immediately following in the Basilica.  So beautiful!  They had Irish music in honor of Saint Patrick's Day.

Monday we went all around campus.  Then watched the movie Pitch Perfect after the boys went to bed.

Tuesday we went to Amish Country.  We went antiquing and went to Topeka, Indiana.  :)  Tuesday night we went out to eat at our favorite restaurant.. Corn Dance.  Yum!

I dropped her off at the bus on campus at 6 am this morning.  It was a great visit!

Saint Patrick's Day in Chicago

Tired boys on the train ride home from Chicago. :)

Girls Night the Musical in Chicago with Emily

Cold boys watching the parade!

On the train on our way to Chicago!

Chicago River dyed green in honor of Saint Patrick's Day. :)

The Bean in Chicago's Millennium Park

Emily on the train on the way back to South Bend

On the Willis Tower (Sears Tower) observation deck.

The Bean.

Very unnatural being that high on a see through floor!

We had a great time celebrating Saint Patrick's Day in Chicago.  We took the early train into Chicago to watch the parade.  It was FREEZING! and snowing a bit.  Our boys sure are tough, they didn't complain much.  The parade is about 3 hours long, we made it about an hour and a half before someone had to go to the bathroom... there was no way we were getting our spots back, so we left.  We had pizza and then Sean and the boys took the train back to South Bend.

I stayed and met my best friend, Emily.  We stayed the night in Chicago.  We watched a musical that night and then did a ton of sight seeing the next day.  We walked to The Bean, then Navy Pier, Willis Tower (Sears Tower), got our bags from our hotel and then walked to Garrett's Popcorn (bought a few bags) then walked to Millennium Station to catch the ride back to South Bend.  I think we walked 8 miles in below 30* temperatures in the WINDY City!  No joke.

The train back home was PACKED.  Many people had to stand.  Unfortunately, as we pulled into South Bend we saw many first responders at the scene of a small plane crash into a house just south of the South Bend airport.  So SAD.

March so far...

 

 

When God gives you snow... make snowmen!  :)

I love Finn's self portrait!  He picked out a nice red for his hair. :)

Playgroup pajama day!  They are working on their "PJ" self portrait.

Last regular season Hockey Game!  :(

Cooking with Kids playgroup.  We made cookie dough bites.  Yum!

First note home for the school year.

Cullen was so disappointed in himself!  The whole way home he told me how he wasn't happy with himself and he'll do better tomorrow.  At least he's getting in trouble for talking... could be a lot worse.  He is his father's son after all
!!  :)

February catch-up!

Sean celebrated his 35th birthday! 

 I made his favorite- cherry pie instead of cake.  ;)

Finn has started soccer.

 He loves it!  And he's doing great!  He scored 2 out of the 3 goals for his team a few weeks ago.

Last week he scored for the other team! :)

Steelhead Trout.  Will be released back to into the St. Joseph River soon.

Baby Steelhead Trout.

We had a playgroup at the local fish hatchery.  It was really interesting and Finn loved feeding the fish!  I learned that the female fish sacrifice their life to donate the eggs, and they donate the dead fish to ND where they study effects of medications on the arteries. (Fish arteries are very close to human)  The rest of the fish is made into pet food.

brave boy

My child? brave boy!

holding a lizard

hahaha!

Thursday (also a surprise dress down day!), someone visited the school with a lizard and snake.  We didn't hear about it until dinner.  BOYS!  You would think that would be exciting enough, that you would talk about it the minute you get in the car.  Nope.  I did hear that he got no smiles taken right away... priorities! 

Cullen told us that if you wanted, you could hold his lizard and snake.  From what little information I gathered... not many kids wanted to hold or touch his animals.  :)  This man also had toads, but didn't let the kids hold them because he thought the kids wouldn't like the way the back/ribs feel.  Cullen laughed and talked about playing with them this summer.  I wonder if he didn't let the kids handle the toads because they will pee all over!?!

Anyway, I'm proud of him for being brave and holding those slimy reptiles!