Birthdays: Happy Birthday, Poppy!

Picture Books: Wonderful story-telling!

We use picture books alot around here -- for helping the kids learn about all manner of things from math to science/nature, history to geography, religion to sociology. Picture books, well-written and/or well-illustrated are much more beneficial than hours of lecturing or dry reading from a text book.

Two such books require special attention today. We read these yesterday and have re-read them three times since. Yes, they're that good! The books, Molly's Pilgrim and Make a Wish, Molly are about the same family -- a mom, dad and daughter who immigrate to New England from Russia to avoid the Jewish pogroms at the beginning of the 20th century. Molly's Pilgrim shows that the celebration of Thanksgiving is just applicable for the modern-day pilgrim, coming to the United States for freedom, as it was for the very first Thanksgiving. Make a Wish, Molly shows that religious beliefs are important to keep and not a secret to hide; that religious differences or cultural differences can be shared and cherished while melding into American society.

Either or both of these books would be fabulous for a study on immigration, different cultures, Russian history, Jewish customs (great descriptions of Tabernacles and Passover), Thanksgiving, birthday celebrations, home-made gifts vs store-bought, etc. Further, these stories are just very well written -- with sad parts and happy parts and the writing evokes emotions from readers of all ages (yes, we were all boo-hooing in parts!).

Birthdays: String Bean turns 9!

While the little ones are upstairs praying for tons of snow ... and we just might get it (and thus, a snow day as dad and Kotch will be home!) ... I am remembering 9 years ago when our little String Bean was born.

She missed being born on the Millenial Leap-day by hours ... and boy, was that delivery room crowded with multiple births, first-time births and little ol' me who just about blue-lined with too much epidural (and, to add insult to injury, the anethesiologist had NO sense of humor). Once I gave birth, they shoved me off to a disused wing and put me in a room that was cannibalized for other rooms (that is, dh had no chair to sit in when he came to visit) because I was an "experienced" mom ... and it was fine because I had another perfect little daughter who was so beautiful and always smiling.

And, nine years later, she is still always smiling. She loves her family so much that yesterday, when she and I went for a "ladies' day", she insisted we get something for everyone so "no one will feel bad when I open my presents". She spent WEEKS making dh a book about her life that brings tears to dh's eyes each time he looks at it (!). She picked out the perfect earring set for Kotch -- three pairs of cool turtles, Kotch's new "animal"; a set of poker cards/chips for 10-yo LegoManiac and a really cool Baseball Blast game for BamBam.

String Bean did get lots of nice treats of her own ... including a Baton Rouge phone call from her big brother and an email from her big sister at Georgia Southern, flowers from Dad, a light sabre from LegoManiac and a really cool Garden Fairies in a Box set from Kotch.

Oh, and the rabbit she's hugging so tightly is a Build-a-Bear Workshop cutie she "made" herself when we were having our Mommy/String Bean day yesterday. She also picked out The Lost Files of Nancy Drew and the Nancy Drew Pocketbook Mysteries (which includes the first two ND books in a case that becomes a pocketbook -- how cool is that?)

It's still snowing, the kids are sleeping and it looks like String Bean and the kiddoes will have a day to enjoy all the wonderful things we did on her 9th birthday!

Happy Birthday, dear girl and may God continue to bless you abundantly!

Birthdays: Double-digit and ALL boy!

Lego Maniac turned 10 (!) today and we had a marvelous day: the big boy and I spent a good few hours at our favorite museum, the National Marine Corps Museum, including lunch at Tun's Tavern and a visit to the gift shop to pick out some birthday treats. It was wonderful to actually SEE the museum without the other two as LegoManiac and I really get into it and String Bean and Bam-Bam think the faster the trip through the better.

We then did afternoon Mass (LegoManiac was on the rota for this afternoon) with an absolutely stunning sermon about FOCA and what we can do to fight it. Then a run through Quizno's to pickup up subs for dinner and home again to open gifts, talk to older brother Brikhead AND big sister Volleyballer on the phone, and generally revel in being 10!

Happiest of birthdays, dear Lego Maniac!

Birthdays: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, dearest Nanna!

Happy, happy birthday Nanna!

We wish we were there to take you to Pancho's.

Hugs, prayers and wishes for a spectacular day tomorrow.

Birthdays: Seems like just yesterday ...

... I was missing Christ the King Mass as I was in labor with Bam-Bam. That was six years ago today and I'm still in amazement that dh and I brought this little spit-fire into the world with the help of the Almighty!

I mean, there we were ... aged students with four kids in a foreign country and then the line is pink and we couldn't have been more excited! I was the healthiest I'd ever been during a pregnancy ... all that good, clean Austrian air, the daily walks to the Spar to get groceries, the 2 mi walk to catch the train .... it was wonderful!

Here's a glimpse at the last 6 years:

Happiest of 6th birthdays, to our wonderful gift from God: BamBam!

We love you and know that God has great things in store for you -- after all, he picked an amazing Guardian Angel for ya!

Family: I'm Prime!

A prime number that is -- a prime number is defined as a natural number that has only two distinct divisors: 1 and itself. There are an infinite number of these numbers (isn't that amazing?). But, back to the post -- guess which one I turned today? Here are your choices:
29 31 37 41 43 47 53 59 61

The answer is below ...


I had a wonderful birthday ... with lots of fun with the kiddoes including drama club, lots of read-alouds, and not needing to drive till this afternoon. We had pizza for dinner and Kotch made a luscious birthday cake. We watched a family movie -- A&E's Benedict Arnold: A Question of Honor (which leaves more questions than answers, by the way and should make for some fun debates when we get to this point in American History!).


I got cards from near and dear relatives (including a Duck-singing email from one of my favorite brothers), the Drama Club sang happy birthday (and the ladies were amazed I'm so old) and even Brikhead called to wish his aged mother a happy day.


Kotch got the littles to create and illustrate a beautiful poetry book ... she chose appropriate poems for each and then had them illustrate it. What a lovely gift. On top of that she helped with the chores all day, including the dishes tonight. She's a keeper.


DH gave me the fascinating book, The Wonders of Lourdes: 150 Miraculous Stories of the Power of Prayer -- we are BIG believers in the power of prayer around here and this book means alot to the two of us (especially since we've been fortunate enough to visit Lourdes with the kiddoes twice!).


And for those who chose to guess which prime number I am now, here's the answer:

To our favorite grandpa!

We love you and miss you so very much!

God's many blessings to you today and everyday.

Birthdays: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, String Bean

Yep, our String Bean turned 8 years old on March 1, 2008. She missed being a "Leap Day Millenial" baby by about 9 hours ... I actually went into labor with her on February 29, 2000 but she decided to put off an appearance until St. David's Day!

The carnations behind her were from the two younger boys; her older sister Kotch spoiled her all day; her at-college brother and half-sister both called her to wish her many blessings of the day; and she received cards and wonderful gifts and wishes.

What a treat this child is! Many, many blessings to our little String Bean!

Please join us ...

... in wishing dh's Aunt Bea a VERY HAPPY, HEALTHY and WONDERFUL 80th birthday! Prayers headed your way, dear Aunt Bea!

Family: Lego Maniac turns 9!

Today, Lego-Maniac turns 9 ... and he so enjoyed his day! One of the great things about homeschooling on your birthday is that:

1. throughout the day, you know you're special ('cause your mom keeps hugging and kissing and telling you so!)
2. you can pick the movie to watch on your birthday (even if it's one mom really doesn't care for)
3. you get to have a pajama day - and no one laughs that you're 9 and wearing Spider Man pj's all day ...
4. you get to be around those who love you all day long ...
5. you get to finish the day with lots of seafood, pizza and sugar (his cake was angel food with really thick butter-cream frosting and sprinkles he added) and watch a fantastic family movie!

Happy Birthday, Aunt Steph!

We interrupt our self-imposed hiatus to send an extra special greeting to our favorite Aunt Steph!
Aunt Steph!

Happiest of birthdays to a wonderful aunt. For your birthday, we got a puppy! Her name is Molly, she's "border collie mix" and a real sweetheart ....

Hope your birthday was sensational and know that you are in our thoughts and prayers today especially!

Love and miss you VERY much!
The Gang!

Happiest of Birthdays, Nanna!

We love you and miss you very, very much!

Birthdays: Bam-Bam turns 5!

Today, our youngest turned 5 ... This is the little one who was born when we lived in Austria ...

the one who was christened in an ancient Monastery's church ... the one who got his very own Lippizaner Stallion at 1 when we returned to the States ...the one who is the littlest of the three cowboys (here, he's 2) ... the one who was such a charmer at 3 ...

and still a charmer at 4 ...

the one who can just about read his own cards now ....

and chat with his college-student big brother ...

Happiest of birthdays, to our special gift from God! Five years ago you came into our lives and we've been blessed ever since!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Pope Benedict XVI!

Thanks to a reminder from Jenn at Family in Feast and Feria, I could wish the Holy Father a happy 8oth birthday (and you can too by following the link).

There are few things nicer ...

... than having a candle-lit (yes, the candle is lit, you just can't tell) breakfast with a brand-new 7 year old!

And, my how she has grown:

Happy, happy 7th birthday to our dear little one!

You bring joy to our hearts everyday!

Lego Maniac turns 8!

Happiest of birthdays to our very own Lego Maniac (oh have you've grown in so very many ways, my love!)

(The scarf is a gift from String Bean, her first finished knitting project which she hid for the past couple of days so LegoManiac wouldn't see she was done; interesting that the scarf happens to match the disc-ball one of his grandparents sent him)

We love you and are very blessed to have you in our lives ....