The Detroit Zoo

It was hot, but it was awesome! I am but exhausted but here's highlights:
Julia loved the polar bear exhibit where you walked underground thru a long tube and they had a polar bear playing above you! Emerson loved the safari area with zebras, giraffes, and even prairie dogs?!? You stuck your head thru a hole in a cage and they ran around you! Blaise loved the tigers, bears and snakes eek! I loved the butterfly house and was amazed at how many landed on people! Tony liked the farm, petting farm and even peacocks!
My little blue eyes though was hot hot hot today and his favorite part was when I pushed him under the misters and he got sprayed with water!
This is first time at zoo where we did everything and still managed to come home in one piece! Although that snake exhibit still has my tummy in knots!

Pool Boy

Today was Benedict's first opportunity to test out his new kiddie pool! I'm not sure who was more excited, him with his splashing, or me with his fancy leather flip flops! I mean really every real pool boy has a pair right?!?
We discovered the pool may be a bit intimidating at first so his protective daddy went out and got him an indoor pool...but wait? Where's the water???

When Mommy is sick

Pray tell what does one do when Mommy is sick? I asked Julia to document her day and report back to me and with giggles I must report the following:
When mommy is sick we don't have to drink our milk at breakfast because dad just gives us dry cereal. We didn't comb our hair or brush our teeth because mommy is only one that seems concerned by our breath and what people think of our hair, since she is busy doing nothing but laying in bed why bother? Dad is a lot more fun, we got some slurpees, ate crackers and told Mom yes we had some lunch. Nobody seemed to mind if we checked on our webkinz today and it kept us really quiet for two hours while mom was doing nothing but resting. Dad was busy working in the yard and Benedict seemed to like watching him so it didn't seem right to ask if we should get off computer. Blaise spent most of the day in back yard digging super big holes for a new construction site and since it was far enough in woods it didn't seem a big deal to mention it to dad, who prefers no holes in his landscaped grass!
Mommy said she hopes she feels better tomorrow but we think she needs to stay in bed!

All Good Things Must Come to an End

Although we knew it was inevitable, when we woke up today we had no idea that reality would smack us in the face as it did! We had planned to slowly take our time coming home to the "city" by stopping along the way at special shops and taking the back way home! Well that is not quite how it happened...I woke up in my huge comfy hotel bed that I didn't have to make only to discover that I had a raging migraine and a very unpleasant feeling in my stomach! Call it what you like I was downright sick! We loaded the troops up and I sat in the very back of van praying the trip would go by fast! These are the things I recall while going in and out of slumber: my girls giggling about how funny I looked with my droopy eyes and hunched back, my son asking a million and one times if we were home, and at one point I recall my 10 year old whispering to me the freeway was closed in parts due to a fugitive on the run?!? Is she serious? Or am I delirious? Turns out it was true and all the rest of the way my budding policeman scoured the woods as we drove for suspicious looking characters! I remember stopping twice at McDonalds to eat and use the bathrooms but not sure how we did it and since no one was left behind I am fine with it. By time we reached home sweet home I collapsed into my big beautiful bed which I do have to make every day and sighed a relief that I had only gotten sick three times in the van as we only had three extra bags! Now I lay on what I call my death bed, which I still will have to make... But I am so grateful for that vacation! We got to see family, swim in the pool, girls and I got our nails painted and we even found time to do nothing! So I'll suck up my pity and lay here awhile and drink my Vernors and crackers and dream about our Petoskey travels....minus the sick part I don't ever want to recall that again!

Vacation Highlights

Woke up to chilly wet rain, but that doesn't stop us from having fun! After hanging out in pool all afternoon yesterday we decided to see some sights. Drove to Indian River today to visit the Cross in Woods. The girls both had petitions they wished to make and Blaise was anxious to see the huge crucifix in woods. Julia is getting her braces when we get back so she took me literally when I suggested she eat all the things she won't be able to while wearing braces. Thus she is not photographed today due to upset tummy, per her request! After Indian river we hit a few bookstores on way back to hotel and loaded up on pleasure books, school books, and some mags for the ride home. I recently began reading a book recommended by my friend Amanda and I talked my mom into reading it as well. It is my first adult book in awhile and I can't put it down. I downloaded the app 1000 gifts which corresponds with it, I just have to figure out how to use it. We will visit gramps and grandma tonight around dinner and I believe I've cream was mentioned. Currently I am sitting in hotel room with my feet up and baby sleeping. I am. It joining them back in water again as I think it's time for a little "me" time!
Ahhhhhh you hear that? Silence! And yes it's golden!

99 bottles of pop on the wall...

Well, well, well, we finally managed to get loaded up and on our way. We made it to 8 am mass, Religious Ed. And a quick pit stop at McDonalds. We jumped in our fully loaded jam packed van only to have Blaise ask the old question " where are we going? And Are we there yet?" ahhh.. It's going to be a long trip. Julia grabbed the front seat and is deep in her reading, Emerson is working on paper dolls and Blaise is making space scenes out of a sticker book! I guess that leaves me on baby duty. Whoopee! After songs of Itsy bitsy spider and one-two buckle my shoe my little guy has discovered this is one of those longer car rides. So we all break out in song and hope the time flies by. Hey only three more hours and we will be there. Last into the pool is a rotten egg!

Vacation or Bust

Well the family is going on vacation after mass tomorrow! The kids are ecstatic and dad is thrilled to have off so many days from the daily grind. I want to enjoy this vacation and relax with my family as much as possible! People have laughed at me when I say this, four kids and relaxing huh?
This time I intend to find some quiet time for prayer and reflection. The prepping leading up to the trip has left me frazzled and out of sorts. Although the fact that my girls are finally old enough to calculate how many pairs of underwear and socks they need is beneficial. The goggles and snorkel are packed and a year supply of diapers! Good to go, but this time I am trying something different and bringing my bible, journal and a dash of hope to steal away some "me" time so I can quietly thank God for all my blessings. It's not that I lost my sense of gratitude I just left it on the shelf awhile and allowed daily life to suppress it. I love my family to a fault at times, and I say that kindly. In an effort to ensure that Tony gets his fill of spiritual growth, or that the girls have time to do devotions, or even that Blaise can grow in his childlike faith, well I have sacrificed my own growth and faith. Simply put, my well has run dry. So a vacation is a perfect time to focus on myself and where I need to be and what God wants me to be doing. The distractions will still be there, as cute as they are, but my ears will be opened to hear God's voice.

Popsicle Brownies

It started as a suggestion...hey maybe someday we can do that....wait let me back up here. Julia loves looking at the Facebook updates from her cousins. Recently one of her cousins dressed up as Beethoven and performed in a biography night at his school. Julia was in awe! Before I knew it we were planning food, dessert and costumes for our own homeschool biography night! Now we may have lacked an audience of sorts, but there was plenty of questions for Thomas Edison, inventor and Sarah J. Hole, first woman editor.
Blaise loves cooking so I read him a story about Chefs and he chose Popsicle Brownie as the dessert.

Hooked on Multiplication

When it comes to math I do whatever works! Imagine my surprise to discover our library had board games to teach my 7 year old multiplication and division. She has set a goal to master her times table and division before 3rd grade and I am totally excited about that. This kit has the cutest songs and games even my 10 year old has shown a desire to play along and review her numbers!

New Perspective

Now that school is done I am noticing I feel more relaxed about things. The rush rush of the morning to get to the school table doesn't weigh heavy on my mind. I am finding a tiny bit more time to breathe and let things slide. I noticed my prayer time is more reflective and meaningful. I am wondering how to carry this over to next year. I mentioned to Julia that I felt a bit less stressed and she commented that she noticed it as well. That didn't make me feel good at all. Did my angst and worry become so obvious that the kids were affected by it? I was beginning to worry about how much I am worrying...lol! So I have taken to walking. A long time a go a friend had told me how she STOMPS out her problems when she walks. She ponders the issue for a moment than offers it up and smashes it with her foot. That is it, she gives it no more thought and lets God handle it. So at night Julia, Benedict and myself have been walking and "smashing" our worries. Julia has no clue the therapy I am giving myself, to her she is getting special time with Mom. I am coming home a bit refreshed and with a new perspective on life.

Happy 40th Birthday Tony!

31. You're the kind of son most parents wish for, but only some are lucky to have!
32. Your sisters often mentioned to me how funny and silly you were growing up.
33. They dubbed you Mr. Sneak in high school for a reason.
34. You have embraced reach new child into our family with love and excitement, treating them as if they were first!
35. You created movie night and game night during football season and didn't mind missing a few live games.
36. Your customers love you and when some have passed you have attended as many of their funerals as possible.
37. You are my best friend even when I am not so friendly!
38. You never minded giving up your Sundays to drive so I could go visit Grandma.
39. You are more handsome at 40 than you were at 24!!!
40!!!!!!!!!!!! Whew we made it and I could keep going on and on....
I love you Tony
We love you Daddy!
Love Julia, Emerson, Blaise and Benedict
Happy happy Birthday!!!

21-30 Reasons I am glad you are a boy Daddy

21. You are only one that can teach me how to use urinal.
22. You think worms and dirt are cool.
23. When we go on a road trip you never make me take a bath.
24. Cake is a main meal with you.
25. You don't like green things like peppers and broccoli either.
26. You said I can have your black car
When I'm big.
27. You are my bunk mate at night when I'm scared of thunder.
28. We both like football.
29. I know you will give me the biggest piece of your cake.
30. You always say to me boys will stick together.

11-20 Reasons U Rock Dad

11. You always find the best places to eat at.
12. You taught the girls how to ride two wheelers.
13. You weren't embarrassed to go to the Daddy Daughter dances even tho you can't dance.
14. You are awesome at yard work!
15. You plan the best field trips to museums, parks and beaches!
16. You do the boy punch with Blaise but remind him how to treat the ladies nice!
17. You are a good map reader.
18. You have a special phone to call the tooth fairy and remind her to leave us presents!
19. You always help out at charities even though you may be tired after working.
20. You have good hair.

4 Tea!

Yesterday Tony got the funniest card from his mother. I like to say one of her greatest joys was having him so close to Mothers Day! But I digress, this Monday my sweet Tony turns the big 40! His mom sent him a card with four tea bags taped inside it! Took me a minute but then I got the aha moment! Now for the next four days I am going to gush about Tony... I have been quizzing the kids and we made a list of forty reasons we love and cherish him!
So here goes the top ten:
1. He puts his faith first above what is socially acceptable or politically correct.
2. He has an amazing sense of humor, which he gets from his mother I bet!
3. We think he is handsome!
4. Hard worker
5. Humble to a fault
6. Extremely generous to people
7. Forgiving spirit
8. Great daddy
9. Smart
10. Loyal

Little Flowers Day

Today is the Little Flower meeting. It is almost our last meeting before the Summer. All the girls have done amazing things this year. I was hesitant to commit this year as I thought with the baby I would be so overwhelmed, but this group and their fearless leader have made it a cake walk for me. I have to admit I am ashamed I considered not signing them up...what other group can I find that teaches a group of young ladies about courage, generosity, prudence, joy, perseverance, justice, mercy, wisdom, and loyalty. The girls were fortunate enough to visit the Shrine of the Little Flower, bring joy to shut ins at a nursing home, volunteer at a food bank and attend a divine mercy mass. You can only imagine the joy they have after working hard and receiving a special medal. It is not about getting the medal either, it is just a tangible reminder to them about the saint and virtue they wish to emulate. Today is my turn to help out. It isn't really work either. It is a faith building experience for myself as well. To stand there and listen to twelve little girls recite the rosary and offer up their prayers makes my hope and faith grow by leaps and
bounds. To see the friendships blossom and the true sense of kindness grow, well it fills me with a belief that goodness can exist in this world of naysayers. God Bless this group, the moms, and their Godly leader!