ND Firehouse Tour

For playgroup this week, I organized a visit to the Notre Dame Firehouse.  It was awesome!  The firemen were great, they showed us everything, and taught us about fire safety!  One suited up in full gear, the pulled the firetruck out and turned the lights on, showed us where they sleep, eat, watch tv, one went down the fireman's pole for us.  Then before we left, they gave each kid a hat and sticker.  Finn had the best day ever!

"Catholics vs Convicts" Game in Chi-Town

Ready to hit the road to Chicago...

hot cocoa!

Sean scored two tickets to the ND vs Miami game in Chicago.  He and Cullen had a great night of bonding!  Cullen enjoyed the night of just him and dad.  Sounds like it couldn't have been a better night for them, AND the Irish stomped Miami.

cheetahs

We just finished up Cullen's first "research" project.  He was excited to learn more about his favorite animal, the cheetah.  I love his artwork.  Notice the wildebeest, bird, and rabbit too?  Next he will have to present what he learned to his class next week, via the smart board.

fall

The colors are so beautiful!

 I'm trying to permanently etch this image to my mind.

Feeding the ducks.

Throwing rocks in the water.

It was almost 80* Thursday.  The boys and I headed to our favorite walk around Lake Saint Mary on campus after homework was done.  I had to drag the boys home for dinner, it was so perfect outside.  Those warm days are now behind us, the high is supposed to be around 50* (and cloudy!) for the unforeseeable future...

Mass at the Log Cabin Chapel

Our dinner view from the South Dining Hall's 2nd floor.

Log Cabin Chapel

Back in the middle of August, I was able to see the inside of the Log Cabin Chapel after the rosary.  Father O'Connor and Freida walked me up there to show me the inside.  It was amazing!  I thought it would be a great place to have the next MBA Community Mass.  I email Brian Lohr about it, and he directed me to Sister Petra (also an MBA student).

Sister Petra and I have been emailing quite a bit now.  She has asked me about joining in on the planning of the MBA family retreat in January, and invited me to attend Mass at her convent.  She also asked me to do a reading at the MBA Community Mass last Sunday.  I was nervous, but when will I have that opportunity again?  The reading went well and the Mass was packed!  All the seats were taken and there were many standing at the back.  Sister Petra emailed me that night to thank me for the suggestion, she said they have never had such a good turn out and she thinks it was because of the location.

After Mass, we all walked to the South Dining Hall for dinner.  It was crazy, with all the students and Sean and I trying to manage our tray and the boys'.  We were able to sit with Father Doyle (the priest assigned to the MBA program and ND Football team).  He enjoyed talking to the boys.  In fact during communion he asked Cullen to give him a "high five" and Cullen slapped his hand HARD, it was loud!  :)  Hahaha.  It was a great day and I have many great memories from it...

marching band practice

Finn, Annie, and Cullen watching the marching band practice.

Finn was being a conductor.

We met my friend Emily and her two girls, Annie and Ellie at the playground on Tuesday night.  We have to take advantage of the sunshine and 70* weather while we still can.  We FINALLY caught the marching band practice too.  We hear them from our house, but have never actually caught the practice.  It was fun! 

Side note- Annie pulled a muscle, that's why she walks off crying.  While I was videoing, I thought something happened with Finn.  :)

apple picking

Finn's favorite are the green apples.

 He keeps reminding me to use the red ones for the pies!

 

He loved carrying the basket!

 Picking a few tomatoes.

 

I scheduled this week's playgroup at Frank Farms in Michigan.  (The same place I bought all my pie cherries.)  We had a great turn out!  I think it was about 14 moms and LOTS of kiddos...  Both Finn and I really enjoyed this special one on one time today.  He was a great helper and complelely in his element...  I had to pull him off the tractors to head home.  Now I can't wait to make an apple pie!