Everything I Ever Needed to Know I Learned from My Kids

Lesson 1 : I don't know everything - this is a great lesson for someone as prideful as I am. And one that Jesse will probably be happy to hear, print out, and hang in our house ;) My kids are constantly teaching me about what is really important in life. (like baking, soccer, baseball, and sunflowers).

Lesson 2 : if you leave your camera laying around they will take pictures of eachother. Those are fun to find later when I'm uploading other pictures.

Lesson 3 : You don't have to be a certain age to start reading or doing math. Sam has decided it's time for Kindergarten whether I am ready to teach him or not. He's drafted Hannah to teach him math and Headsprout to teach him phonics.

Lesson 4 : Having great grandma around makes them really, really happy. They love bringing her pictures, baking her cookies, and just talking with her. They are *gasp* thoughtful which is something that I don't always remember to be......

Lesson 5 : Even though things like a homeschool co op and trips to apple orchards take a lot of my energy and put off laundry and house cleaning for a day or two they are rewarding in other ways and generally worth it. Watching a 1 year old delight in picking an apple and a 4 year old enjoy a gymnastics class with his best friends is something I need to soak up.

Lesson 6 : When your kids start pointing out drive thru coffee places and urging you to get yourself a treat you know your job is complete. They love you so much that they just want you to be happy. :) And that is the best feeling in the world.

Cecilia's Funny Faces

Cecilia likes to get a laugh out of the older kids by making funny faces. They've been harassing me for a while to take some pictures of the faces and post them here. So, we interrupted our Friday school craziness and took some pictures. Enjoy!

Happy Birthday Katie!!

Katie turned 9 years old today! She basically got three days of birthday, though. What a lucky girl! I still remember the moment I found out I was pregnant with her. It was the first week in January, 2000, and I was so excited! Finally I was going to have that "big" family I had dreamt about (back then 4 kids was a big family to me, LOL). I knew immediately that she was a girl and that her name would be Katherine Elizabeth Maureen. 9 months and some days later Katie arrived on the scene. At the time she was my biggest baby weighing in at 9lbs 6oz and 22 inches long (she has since been outweighed by Samuel who was 10lbs and Cecilia tied her at 9lbs 6 oz). She had her big, brown eyes immediately and was such a gift! When Jesse and I first got married we weren't aware of the Church's teachings on birth control and knew nothing of Natural Family Planning so I really thought three kids was it for us. I can't tell you how elated I was to receive little Katie as a gift from God. She started talking in three word sentences by 9 months of age (I have witnesses, LOL). She's still quite a talker (taking after her big brother, Brandon). With Katie came a burning desire in my heart to research homeschooling and extended breastfeeding. That moved our entire family from "Catholicism Light" to the real thing. All of my children are such a blessing to me in their own way. Katie was surely kissed by an angel and brought with her the light of Christ that has shown us a whole new world. She is a wonderful big sister and is much loved among her friends and family. She's just about as laid back as they get and has not caused much trouble for herself so far ;)

Today Katie got the day off of school, went to lunch with her mom, dad, grandma, and great grandma, and we still have to eat the yummy cheesecakes that Hannah made with the kids. And as a special birthday treat Jackson lost his first tooth for Katie today. :)

I love my kid's birthdays! I love watching them grow up! Just not too fast, I hope! God bless your day!

Marriage Blessings and Growing Up

Last month my parents celebrated their 40th Wedding Anniversary. Today, Father John did a ring blessing during Mass for them. We celebrated after at their house. We also celebrated Katie's 9th birthday there today.

Yesterday I took Katie to get her ears pierced (which is what she wanted for her birthday). Her best friends, Carmen, Maria, and Isabel came along. Carmen and Isabel also got their ears pierced. After we were done we celebrated with ice cream. Yum! More on Katie's birthday tomorrow (which is her actual birthday).

Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary

From The Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington DC
September 8 marks the miraculous birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Born to a once childless couple, Joachim and Anna, Mary is the fulfillment of a joyful and loving promise made by God to mankind for the purpose of foreshadowing the salvation of Christ. Conceived without original sin through the gift of God’s grace, Mary is a precious gift not only to her parents, but to all humanity. This feast day serves as a reminder of the beginning of her divine life as a daughter, wife, mother, and above all, faithful servant to the Lord.


On the celebration of this special day, we are called to reflect upon the happiness and serenity brought to us by the children in our lives. All children are precious gifts, who like the Virgin Mary, are called by God to live a life of holiness. May we pray for the gift of children, as well as their continual love of God throughout their lives.

Here at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., we invite you to Light a Candle for the children in your life. Each candle lit represents the faith of the supplicant and the protection of their prayer entrusted to the Blessed Mother's loving intercession.


The month of September is also special to those celebrating birthdays because they share their birthday month with the Blessed Virgin Mary. Please use our online enrollment form to send us the names of those you would like to enroll who are celebrating birthdays in September! Please forward this email to your friends and family.

May God bless you richly, and may Our Lady intercede for your every need.

Fall is Coming!

The kids and I enjoyed decorated for St. Mary's birthday (September 8) and for Autumn this afternoon. The kids made fall pictures and birthday cards for St. Mary. It's hard to believe it's time for apple orchards and trees changing color already!