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!