Homecoming for Baby Francis

Most important moment of coming home...how will Marianna respond
to a new baby?   Hmmm, not impressed.

Everyone else wants to get a turn at holding him, though!

Lots of love to go around!

Then Marianna decided she wanted in on the baby love.

Now, he's HER baby and you all better just wait in line to hold him.

Gabers was begging, begging, begging for a turn to hold his little
brother.  Timothy decided to make Gabers the baby instead.
Sweet baby Gabers!

Ah yeah,  life is good!

A New Do and Some Fun Socks, Too

I lined all of the boys up last week and doled out haircuts.   On Sunday, it was Therese's turn and I must say, I'm pretty happy with the result.  (She's pleased, too.  So it's all good!)

I also finished her socks, so here she is showing them off...

The socks inspired her to pick up her craft bag and start in again on her own knitting...

and now Johnny has informed me that he would like some socks, too.

I don't mind. As a matter of fact, I think I'm addicted to knitting socks...

at least for the next few days, anyway.

My New Best Friend

OK, I'm not that addicted.  YET....

This is Joe's old Ipod.  He decided to get a non-techno type that is just for music, so I got his previous addiction with all the bells and whistles.  Clare says I look very techno savvy when I use it (huge compliment from any of my teens!)  Of course, I have to ask for help using the thing about half the time, but I'm getting there.  Not bad for the only driving, non-cell phone owner in the family. 

Now... to keep it out of Marianna's hands.

Our kitchen cabinets have had perpetual hardware problems for about a year now.  Just get one drawer fixed and another one falls apart.  Here's the latest missing drawer...

which has taken up residence in the hallway...

with a Marianna leftover to keep it company. She likes to find her own snacks lately, and 

then leave the remains around the house for  me someone else to pick up. 

School Stuff

This school year has not been terribly exciting for my bunch.  We have concentrated on the basics and there isn't much to share about math and grammar, etc.  Last week we did a science lesson on bats and Matthew and Andrew decided to do some watercolor paintings...

These were some of the books that inspired them...

I got a picture of Matthew's results, but couldn't find Andrew's artwork (will have to post later, if it ever turns up again)...

and here's what I've been working on...

Now they both have winter socks!  I guess that means I'm on to Therese's next....

Got this in the mail yesterday....

This from the guy who wasn't sure if he'd do OK in school! 

Today he's heading down to St. Thomas to hang with Joe for the weekend.

Driving by himself, in the great, big metro area (not like it's hard to find the school, though).

Guess they're growing up...

Yesterday's Wonderland

The snowman is from early December. Still hanging in there, even after losing his facial features!

We're making this a Snow Week

So most kids celebrate a snow day every once in a while.  I cannot get my kids to concentrate on school work, so we declared a snow week.  (They're still getting math done, at least.)

This is what they have to show for their hours of fresh air...

and they're still smiling after being out there ALL DAY!

Yarn Along

Joining Ginny's Yarn Along because I actually finished two, matching socks!

I also finished two books this past week.  (Does this mean I am sitting around too much?)

Still Alice and Left Neglected, both by Lisa Genova.  I highly recommend them.  Her next book I am hold 

number 30 or something at the library.  Guess I won't be reading that one for awhile.

Now, on to more socks!  I have orders from Matthew and Therese.  I started Matthew's first and 

hope to finish before baby arrives.  (Don't tell Therese but the knitting will be pretty much over

soon.  Who wants to knit when you can hold a brand new baby?)

37 Weeks and counting

I took this picture yesterday morning and then felt lousy for the rest of the day, so here it is a day late.

Gabers was looking for breakfast, so it was a quick take.

Some other pictures from yesterday morning...

Matthew and Andrew made their Marian consecration.  We were supposed to go to
Mass but the roads were rather treacherous.

Then while we were celebrating the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes with a muffin breakfast, Matthew spotted an owl in the tree right outside the dining room window, pretty cool!

We've been watching this particular owl with the binoculars lately.  This was the first time it was
so close to the house.  It's a Barred Owl (in case you're wondering.)

What we've been up to...

lots and lots of Duplo building.

Entire Duplo towns to play in!

And, yes, the living room is looking perpetually messy, but it keeps Marianna busy and away from the computer or TV.  Otherwise, we've been finding our technology reprogrammed. (Yesterday, spent 2 hours on the phone with tech support, trying to get Clare's algebra program back up and running.  Nothing is safe from her little fingers!!)

Yarn Along (a day late)

Johnny decided that he wanted to learn to knit this past week.  On Monday night, I was able to run to the craft store while the girls were at their Schoenstatt meeting.  Here is the result...

I bought super bulky yarn and size 11 needles and WOW!, did he go to town.

So now there's a little competition for Therese to get working on her scarf...

And here's what I've been working on...

Andrew requested a pair of winter socks to wear in his boots.  I had this yarn sitting around and he liked the colors.  Now if I can just get motivated when it's time to make the 2nd one!  In the reading department, I started The Dry Grass of August a few days ago.  It's a fast read that takes place in the South, about a young girl and her family relationships in the 1950's.

Eggs, anyone?

Matthew has become quite the chef.  Well, at least he can fry an egg.  So now he makes the Tuesday morning breakfast, before music lessons.

Young man at work.

Gabers is waiting patiently.

More eggs, please.

Ah, contentment!

Must have COFFEE!!!

Here is Marianna trying to sneak some of my coffee....

and her response, when Dad says, "No."

What an angel!

Gabriel insists that he is the Archangel Gabriel.  He loves to find this page in the saint book and tell everyone within hearing distance that he is an angel.  How sweet is that?