Spring Catch-up!

 This Spring has started out a very windy one. Full of sunshine and wind, wind, wind. COLD wind... did I mention it has been windy?? After a season of skiing it has been on to the next sports... soccer and lacrosse. Blaise has been thrilled to play soccer again. Blaise has had a great team and been a force to deal with... a great ego booster!

 Blaise also received his First Holy Communion. There are more pictures but I just threw this one up for a tease. I am so very proud of him. Blaise has grown up so much this year. He is a great kid! We were lucky to have the Slevin's come for a visit ( more on that too) and had a lovely brunch prepared by my dear friend Lyn Kelley!! The Iron Chef don't gots nothing on hers brunch...!!! Yes- I meant to spell it that way... suppose to be a little slang!

 FOR YOUR ENTERTAINMENT: THE FOLLOWING PICTURES ARE AN ARTISTIC INTERPRETATION OF "HOW TO DIE"... BY HENRY! WATCH CAREFULLY!

 This last weekend we went to Coeur d'Alene , Idaho for Jax's last lacrosse stint. Good stuff! Lots of fun to watch and lots of fun to go to this town. Art, food, great beauty!!

 The girls were amazed by an artist and her work in progress! Madelon Rose had opinions on what she should name the piece. Love to watch their faces!

 FOOD- oh how I miss fine cuisine! Not to say the big Wenatchee doesn't have good food- it does- but the variety is lacking. I just miss a little bit of "umphf" with my choices!!

 This italian place even offers a "make your own pizza" for the kids. You tell them the toppings- they set them up and the kids go make their pizzas.... Yummy!

 The chef's hat was too big for Elizabeth (shocker) so big brother took the hat. I haven't seen them so excited about food in a LONG time. They should make their OWN dinner more often.....

 At the end we went for a walk along the river front. Lovely and the grounds are impeccable. Can't wait to get back.... maybe a quick vacation with Thomas? It's only 2.5 hours away from Wenatchee....

 At the end of the weekend- we stopped in Spokane and walked around the Gonzaga campus. Very lovely, quaint college campus. The chapel was stunning! Doubt any of kids will see this in their future... it is a PRIVATE Catholic University... we will not have any funds left for this school. Sigh!

Well, this is short and quick. Mainly because I have a broken finger and it takes to much time to edit. Oh - isn't the point to get the general idea and look at the pictures???
Much love- happy spring

Happy Birthday BLAISE

Today, April 16, 2012, our sweet son is 9 years old. It is amazing how time is simply speeding up with every breath I take. Blaise is such a special soul. Our little "chunky monkey" when he was born. He has a smile that lights up the room and a twinkle in his eye..... with a little "naughty".

Blaise has a laugh that is contagious. When he starts and its a true belly laugh... you just can't help but joining in. He is a good friend and a GREAT brother!

Don't get me wrong- he isn't perfect....none of them are. He is my child with the 2nd child syndrome. They tell me it is a REAL issue for some kids. A chip on the shoulder with the world on top of it. At times he feels he isn't as good as his brother.... that he isn't important... that he doesn't matter.
Where this comes from-- I WISH I knew. He just doesn't get it in his big, thick, hard, skull that he is VERY special. He is loved by ALL who meet him.

Blaise is actually my 3RD child!! Yep, I have two little angels that came before him and now watch over the rest. He was wanted and desired so very much!! From the moment I knew I was pregnant, his Daddy had named him. BLAISE... after the Patron St. Blaise. Saint of throats, ailments and illness. Lived with wild animals ( still true) and in a cave. Funny how our Blaise is B.A.T.

He was a funny little dude... always looking up to his brother. OH- and how Jax LOVES him. He would push him around in a toy wagon and love on him.... it was his own "little buddy". When he got older, he would scream when I walked through the room. He wanted his MAMA! He would lift his head off my shoulder and cough at Thomas to get his attention. He loved to eat.... not so much now.

He is full of smiles and laughter. He is a good boy! He is sneaky and a little lazy one day and the next reliable and sweet. One day sweet  and one day sour. He loves video games, Michael Jackson and soccer. He loves the outdoors. He even threw a rock at the gazebo from the Sound of Music..... yes, yes he did!! We thought for sure we would be banned from Europe if it had broke the window.... aaaaaaggghh! ( See picture -- look to far right)

One of the best stories is the day we took Blaise to Mass. Bishop Aymond was celebrating Mass. At the end of Mass we went to say hello. Blaise would have NOTHING to do with it. He crossed his arms and turned away. We were shocked and asked what was bothering him. He huffed and said..."Why do you get to carry a stick into church and Dad won't let me?"  Bishop roared and told him he had to be a Bishop to have that privilege. So he said-- "Ok, I will become the Pope-- he has a bigger stick!"

Well, folks you never know.... and if its God's will ( and Blaise's will ) he will be Pope one day.
Happy Birthday to one of sweetest, kindest and loving kids I know. You are a blessing to us Blaise and to all you meet..... WE LOVE YOU

Quick update....

So in 7 days or less I will turn 40-- Get ready for a goooood blog post!!!

On the update side of things...... Skiing is now over. We are now into Lacrosse ( Jax) and Soccer ( Blaise). It is wild, wild, wild here during the week. Trying to get everyone to where they need to be.
Henry is a wild 2 year old with the sweetest personality. Another Tucker Stinker for sure. I have been taking some editing/picture classes- but they seem to always be around my kids so I can't remember anything nor can I attach any of my new "cool" pics. UGH!!

The girls are good. Elizabeth is now officially 28 pounds and in a 3T. Madelon is TALL and skinny. Still hard to get them shoes in this valley. Real pain in the $%#@!! They have the skinniest feet in the world.

I have been helping the school with an advertisement blast. Billboard, radio and reaching out to more of the community. I am praying it all pays off!!

That is it for now.... Blaise will get his Bday post on the 16th then mine will come on the 19th.

Oh- David and Alisa Slevin come on the 20th for a LONG , fun visit. CAN'T WAIT!!!

There are many things I love about my Wenatchee community. I especially love our sweet school.

There was a young man who recently was burned over 50% of his body. As you can only imagine the pain and medical bills he will incur. Our 4th grade teacher knows this boy from the 4-H clubs. So- she brought a challenge to our kids. Make a CHANGE with a penny drive. In 5 days our sweet school brought in $925!!! Kids helping our community. Big Heart and Giving Spirit!

Please pray for our school-- it is amazing and we need this SPIRIT to grow and flourish. To help honor God and to show love for all people in the community!

 This little "valentine" was given to me by Madelon Rose. I had to share this because it is her humor and sense of "beauty" that keeps me in stitches. She told me it was pretty... colors. I think it was a hint that she wants me to get new bras and to get out my jog bra. ( TMI). She gave one to her Daddy with hearts that was all ruby and diamond jewelry pieces from magazines. Sparkles with a lot of love!

Teacher for the day. Our auction offers families the chance to let their kid win teacher of the day. I was over bid for 2nd grade but Jax was 4th grade and Madelon Rose was Music. They had so much fun and took things very seriously. Even our student ( Chloe ) took the job of Principal seriously by dressing as a Sister!! Look at the picture-- funny stuff. Our sweet Sr. Olga is a good sport! One of my other friend's daughters was 3rd grade. It is funny how they all wanted to hold a "coffee cup" like their teachers do every morning. Don't think for a second your kid doesn't mimic you behind your back... here is the proof.

FREE STYLE SKI TEAM- Ok, Jax has been skiing for a total of 8 months and this season he has been on the freestyle ski team. YES- this is where they do bumps and jumps. Yes, I do not want my kid playing football but I will let him jump, spin and speed down a ski mountain. I know, doesn't seem logical. It is good fun and they teach safety first. He had his first competition the first part of February. He was suppose to go to another competition at the end of the month but due to crazy weather at the last minute I decided NOT to go. Good thing-- there was a blizzard and it was shut down. This true blooded Texan still hesitates about driving in certain weather. I do not want to be stuck in a snow bank- wondering if they will find me and my son. Not to mention- where do you pee in that kind of situation?

It has been a crazy busy 2 months. We are now into March... WOW! All the kids skied this season and are moving up the ranks in their ski class for next year. Even Elizabeth is on the mountain. Next year will be Henry's turn.... maybe. We will soon be celebrating Blaise's FIRST COMMUNION in April. Our dear friends, David and Alisa, will be coming to spend 10 days with us. I am sooooo excited!!

This Lent I decided I would go to Adoration daily. For a simple explanation, I get to go visit Jesus and pray in front of him. I actually take the Lenten Black Book that is provided from our church and read, reflect and write. It will be interesting to see if I see a pattern. This is HUGE for me. Originally, I was going to stay one FULL hour. This, is just not so easy. So instead of total failure- I compromised and allowed it to be "daily". Not putting a stress on time but effort.
When is the last time you sat and read the word, reflected and wrote it in a journal?
I decided I would explain the adoration part a little more so see below! Will get more pictures up soon- Momma just got a NEW, fancy camera!!!

Jesus waits for us in this Sacrament of Love
“In the sacred Host, He is present, the true treasure, always waiting for us.
Only by adoring this Presence do we learn how to receive Him properly.”

The ( reserved ) Blessed Sacrament serves as a focal point of devotion.

Because, as Catholics, we believe that Christ is truly and substantially present in the Eucharist, the Blessed Sacrament is given the same adoration and devotion that is accorded to Christ.

At the beginning of the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, a priest or deacon removes the sacred host from the tabernacle and places it in the Monstrance on the Altar for adoration by the faithful. "Monstrance" is the vessel used in the Church to display the consecrated Eucharistic Host, during Eucharistic adoration or benediction. The word monstrance comes from the Latin word monstrare, meaning "to expose". It is known in Latin as an Ostensorium. When a consecrated host is placed in the monstrance, It is said to be a solemn exposition.

When the Monstrance contains the Sacred Host, the priest does not touch it with his bare hands, but instead, holds it with a humeral veil, a wide band of cloth that covers his shoulders (humera) and has pleats on the inside in which he places his hands.

At all other times, the reserved Sacrament is kept locked in the Tabernacle, so that the faithful may pray in the presence of the Sacrament.