Easter Break!

I meant to post often over spring break. I thought we would be busy, and there would be plenty to post about. Well, I was right about one thing, we were busy. Let me give you the quick run down.




















First, we made cookies at Gram's house!

Then we colored Easter Eggs!

(It is quite an art form you know)

We had a lot of fun hunting for eggs...


























And enjoyed the company of family for brunch AND dinner!

We traveled back in time to the midieval days where we saw a live falcon presentation, a tournament with horses and jousting, and knights in a battle for glory!

We met the King
the Prince and Princess,

and our knight in shining armor, The Black and White Knight.



Did I mention we celebrated some birthdays?




Somewhere between all of that, we found time to enjoy some of the brief but beautiful weather outside. Now break is over and it's time to go back to school. The kids are disappointed but I reminded them we only have 2 more months until Summer Vacation!

Hug O' War

You asked for it, and here it is. The winner of my poetry poll. One of my favorites as well. For Poetry Wednesday, I give you...

Hug O' War


I will not play at tug o' war,
I'd rather play at hug o' war,
Where everyone hugs,
Instead of tugs,
Where everyone giggles,
And rolls on the rug,
Where everyone kisses,
And everyone grins,
And everyone cuddles,
And everyone wins.

-Shel Silverstein

Spring!

Finally! It feels like spring today! I slept this morning because I worked last night. But then we spent the entire afternoon and a good part of the evenining outside. We went to the park where all the kids ran around. It was crowded today, but who cares, we all had fun. Our park is split into two parts. One part has large slides and climbing obstacles for the bigger kids. The other part has smaller slides and swings for the little kids. Can you guess which park Emily had the most fun at? I'll give you a hint, it wasn't the smaller one. No, she wanted to run around with the big kids. It didn't matter that some of them were high schoolers. She was not intimidated. Of course I kept a close eye on her. But I have to say, all the kids at the park were well behaved. We flew kites, rode bikes, played football, threw frisbees. Thank God we finally had some nice weather for running around in. And the best part? Everyone couldn't wait to go to sleep tonight. Me too!

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter from my family to yours! This year seemed much colder than years before, but I suppose that is due to Easter being so early this year. I know last year was definitly greener than this year!



But we found ways to add our own bits of color!

Popcorn or Cookies?

Here is a recent conversation between Emily, Daddy and Mommy.

Mommy: "Emily get your coat on so we can go to Gram's."

(Emily lays on the floor with her blanket.)

Daddy: "Emily, Daddy is going to make popcorn. Do you want to stay and have popcorn?"

Emily: "Oh, popcorn?"

Mommy: "We are going to make cookies at Gram's."

Emily: "Oh, cookies?"

Daddy: "Daddy is going to make LOTS of popcorn!"

Emily: "Oh, lots of popcorn?"

Mommy: "We are going to make lots of cookies at grams and frosting too."

Emily: "Oh, cookies AND frosting? Oh-kayte!"

Emily puts her coat on and we leave. Sorry, Daddy but it looks like cookies and frosting beat popcorn!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I know St. Patrick's Day was 2 days ago, but that was Monday and today is Poetry Wednesday! So we'll continue the celebration a little longer with a little Irish poem.

There's a dear little plant that grows in Ireland.

'Twas St. Patrick himself sure that set it.

And the sun on his labor with pleasure did smile.

And a tear from his eye oft-times wet it.

It grows through the bog...

Through the brake, and through the mireland.

And it's called the dear little Shamrock of Ireland.

.

Welcome Anthony Louis!!

We are very excited to announce the arrival of a new nephew/cousin, Anthony Louis!! He was born on his Mommy's birthday, and weighed in at a grand 5lb 11oz. At a whopping 19inches, one has to wonder if he will take after his Grandpa! I know these numbers don't seem that big, but he did arrive more than a few weeks early. His cousins are thrilled to finally meet him. Shannon promises not to hold a grudge, even though he missed her birthday by 1hour and 21 minutes.

By the way, Happy Belated Birthday Jenny!

Loser

So I missed Poetry Wednesday. Sorry about that. I have appropriately selected a Shel Silverstein poem. Sorry, It's not Ickle Me, Pickle Me, Tickle Me. No, instead I give you Loser.

Loser

Mama said I'd lose my head
If it wasn't fastened on.
Today I guess it wasn't
'Cause while playin' with my cousin
It fell off and rolled away
And now it's gone.

And I can't look for it
'Cause my eyes are in it,
And I can't call to it
'Cause my mouth is on it
(Couldn't hear it anyway
'Cause my ears are on it),
Can't even think about it
'Cause my brain is in it.
So I guess I'll sit down
On this rock
And rest for just a minute

-Shel Silverstein

An Irish Blessing

I had intended to write more this week, but as many of you know it has been a very busy week. It's late Wednesday as I am finally sitting to do my promised Wednesday Poem. In honor of Tommy Finnegan I bring you a prayer and an Irish Blessing.

God saw you getting weary,
He did what He thought was best;
He put His arms around you
And said "Come and rest".
He opened up His golden gates
On that heartbreaking day,
And with His arms around you
You gently slipped away.
It broke our hearts to lose you
You did not go alone;
A part of us went with you
The day God called you home.

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

The greatest pain a parent can ever know is the loss of a child. My prayers are with Brian and Kathy as they begin this difficult journey. I only hope it is not too long before they can think of Tommy and smile without tears.