KJ

July 4th - Independence Day, A birthday, and A feast day

Ok so it is Bastille Day and not Independence Day but since I skipped the latter - here we go.

Blake was up to be at the church at 4:30 to flip pancakes for the pancake breakfast. He thinks he made about 400. At least he didn't have to do the dishes! RA and some other girls in her scout troop helped bus tables.

There is this great parade (an hour long) in the little town we live in. This year the girls, (RA, KJ, and yours truly) got to march with her scout troop. Ok, RA got to ride and so did KJ (Mommy pushed). RA did get to hand out candy for part of the route. The pancake breakfast and parade were on the third.

The next day we went to Nana and Blue Truck's for the real celebration. It is my dad's birthday (appropriate fireworks for the firecracker) and PG's feast day. It is the feast of Pier Giorgio Frassati (if you are not familiar check out: http://www.3op.org/frassati.phpWe had lots of fun with family. Then we stayed at Nana and Blue Trucks to watch the fireworks. Before they came we all played on the wii. Blake and I even played some golf. It rained -- that is Colorado for you but for sure by the time the fireworks start it would clear. It did clear but it must have been in the 50s by then. So we are all bundled up for the second year in a row. They were nice but the company was much better.

Happy Father's Day

Due to my parents leaving for the Holy Land today, we celebrated yesterday with my parents and my mom's family. RA wanted to work on her first badge for scouts -- cake decorating. So she learned how to make a box *gasp* cake, butter cream frosting, and use a star tip to decorate all in one day.For those of you still trying to figure it out it is a shirt, sweater vest and tie.
Yesterday was also my Grandma's birthday. So after party and cake what should we do for Father's Day... I know, go to the Renaissance Fair! The day included archery and elephant riding,jousting, inventing (Leonardo Da Vinci style), a meeting with the queen, more animals rides (llamas and ponies), a little juggling,

and of course more JOUSTING!

What does dad have to say about today, "The most under impressive thing I did all day was ride an elephant."

My Scouts

Bridging up

It has been a big year for scouts here. DG has been a cub scout with a very active Pack. RA started American Heritage Girls last fall. If you have never heard of it, you should check it out http://www.ahgonline.org/

Tuesday was her last meeting for the year. She was a pathfinder and spent the year learning what it means to be an American Heritage Girl. There was a great ceremony. DG was in the color guard.

Now she is a Tenderfoot and now she gets to earn badges. She is so excited.

What could be better than tea with Grandpa?

The Here and Now

So many things have happened since April 25th and I haven't even posted pics from DG's First Holy Communion.

The week after the sacraments was busy. Grandma and Grandpa left on Tuesday morning and my parents took the kids on Tuesday afternoon. Wednesday the kids had co-op in the morning. By the time Thursday rolled around, I was wondering where my week had gone. Friday, we went over to KJ's Godparents' house to watch their kids while they went to an OB appointment. The first week of May we spent mostly at their house (and we started back to school) as our new Godson was born on Tuesday, May 4th. Welcome Daniel! I can't wait to hold him more.

This week has been busy too. Monday -- just school, Tuesday Blake's birthday (cook-out at my parents'), Wednesday KJ's 2 month appointment (stats below) and lunch with my college roommate who I haven't seen in 15 years (I wish I had taken my camera but we will do it again), Thursday--school and Cub scouts, and today school and May Crowning (and who had the honor of Crowning Mary -- RA of course).

So KJ is 9 lbs. 15 oz (I predicted 10 lbs.) which puts her at 14%. She is 22.5 inches long so that would be the 35% and her head is a mere 15.25 inches at 32%. She is little for a Helgoth!

The homeschool group for the diocese hosted a May Crowning at a local parish (the one my parent's were married at, Blake was baptized at and my Grandparents live a block from). They drew names for who would crown Mary. RA got the honor. So after many nights of "How many days till Friday?" We drove down to Holy Trinity practicing Marian hymns all the way. Below are some pics.