Goofy smiles and big helpers

Veronica has started smiling whenever she sees me with the camera. Funny thing is she smiles a completely different smile from when she's normally smiling. She does a silly blinky, scrunchy nose type smile. It's still cute, naturally.

What happens when the 7-year-old boy is asked to watch the baby while I get ready for the day:

Summertime!

Don't blink, summer is here! The past few days have been beautiful. So beautiful in fact, I even took out the slip 'n slide. Gigi must have thought it was the sip 'n slide.

My baby?

Friends

The day we took Fr.Daniel back to Minneapolis we met up with some good friends who were also there. Brett went to high school with both of the husbands and we met back up with them during his 10-year class reunion. We don't get to see either of these families very often despite many efforts to get together. It was a short visit which ended with a renewed vow to get together again soon!!! It's always great getting together with families who share our faith and values, and the kids had a great time playing with other kids. As you can see, there were plenty to choose from. Three families for a total of 16 kids!!!! What a blast!

The moms and babes.

The dads.

All of the kids!

Families

The Eyeball Game and Other Stories

This past week we were blessed with our first visitor from Texas. Gianna's godfather, Fr.Daniel, came to spend a week with us. We had a wonderful time. Fr.Daniel and the kids made up a game called the "eyeball game" which is too complicated to try to describe here. We had Mass almost every day even on the day that Emma thought was our "day off". Brett and Fr.Daniel were out of the country for a few hours exploring their inner desire to be French fur traders.

We were all sad when we dropped Fr.Daniel off. We are truly blessed to know a priest who is not only our Gigi's godfather, but also a dear friend!

These pictures are not in order because for some reason I can't move then to where I want them.

The three oldest with the "Priest of Cool"

Gianna did not get too far from her goddaddy.

Fr. Daniel reading a silly Richard Scarry book.

Love these girls.

Some of us had time to stop and smell the flowers.

In front of the Cathedral of St.Paul

Goin' Camping

Several years ago a friend gave us a cd that she had made for her daughter and she made an extra copy of it for us. There is a particular tune on it that my kids will sing over and over again. This song is sung especially in the summer when they want to go "campin', feels so good. Campin', here in the woods. Campin', makes me sing, oh how I want to go campin'."

After many obstacles, including a "discussion" between Brett and I after driving for an hour to a primitive campsite that included only a fire ring and a place for the tent, we finally went camping at a campground that was "rough" enough for the men and was "comfortable" enough for us women. Looking back on it, I'm sure we would have been fine. However, at the time I had no desire to teach the girls how to take care of "business" in the woods. Ah, the differences between men and women.

We all had a great time although some of us slept more than others. "Others" were hearing all sorts of wild animals walking past the tent. I was very happy to see the sun come shining through the next morning.

Three kiddos all ready to begin the adventure!

The girls kept begging to go into the tent the second Brett got it all set up.

Part of our hike took us out into the middle of this field.

Brett and Gianna taking in the view.

Updates

On a whim, a week and a half ago, my I-like-my-time-off-as-long-as-I-have-something-to-do husband decided that "we" (meaning "he") were going to update the kitchen. When we bought this house the kitchen was not the selling point. The kitchen has been on our list of things to do ever since we moved in, but we just haven't had the time. We bought a portable dishwasher because the kitchen didn't have one, and we were lacking major counter/cupboard space. Within days of moving in we hung some cupboards on one wall, but the kitchen has never been practical or very fun to use. We adapted, but it took some effort.

Thanks to my super-handy husband, we now have a kitchen that looks nice (ignore the non-painting...we didn't have time to do that before our summer guests arrive) and a dishwasher that is installed under the counter that I don't have roll across the floor and plug-in to the wall and sink.

Pay no attention to the water bottles on the counter.