Family Camping Trip

At last! We took our first family camping trip, about 4 weeks ago, the week before Thanksgiving! Something we have talked and talked about doing since, well, since B and I thought about going camping the weekend of our wedding, since our honeymoon wasn't going to be until a week later... but we scratched that idea, and it's never materialized yet! Until now! Some friends planned a weekend camping trip for several families, and we decided to take the plunge...at the very last minute. So what does that mean? It means it was basically a 'trial run' for us, i.e. we got to see all the things we will need for future camping trips...like more sleeping bags, another tent, warm socks, you know- some of those 'not so important' things, right? Regardless of not being totally prepared for the campout, we had a fantastic time and we definitely made do, especially with the weather being beautiful for us. One of the things that made it totally worth it for me was when we were sitting in our tent, grabbing a few things we needed before heading to the campfire for dinner, and M looked at me with the most eager, excited eyes and said, "Mama!! Isn't it just wonderful that we're doing this?!? We're actually camping, outside, in a tent, as a family! I am ecstatic!!" Okay, that was all I had to see and hear to know it would be the first of more camping trips. We truly did have a great time, especially with the other four families there.... potluck dinner by the campfire, celebrating Papa's bday along with one of the other little girls who was celebrating her bday, eating s'mores, playing guitar and singing a few praise songs together, praying the rosary together with all five families around the campfire, and -I've saved the best moment for last- all 6 of us, snuggling up side by side together in the comfort of our 2 person tent (uh...did I mention we still need to get a few more things before we go on our next camping trip?!) It was a fun adventure for the fam, and we are all looking forward to planning another trip, hopefully sooner than later!

Playing before dinner- bubbles!

The kids all loungin' around and chillin' together!

The Mighty Men...with some of the babies!

Birthday Boy, Bren and his Bday buddy, Elise!

Eager little ones, waiting for a piece of bday cake!

Mmmmm!

Papa and his lil' buddy

S'mores.

The Camping Irwin Crew!

Hey, this Camping thing's a blast!

Enjoying a couple of hot wassail- mmmm!

Me and my girl, sittin' by the campfire! 

Just for Fun...

Ya think their personalities shine through even here?

(Note: "The Diva" was snoozing while these were taken, hence why she is, sadly, not in the pictures).

Happy Birthday, Papa!

Happy Birthday to a wonderful husband, 

a fantastic father,

 a loyal friend, 

and an awesome man.

We love you, Bren!

Guilty!!

I have been more surprised by the things my 2 year old daughter, the 'third-born', has gotten herself into than I have ever yet been by the things my 4 year old, first-born son has ever done! Never thought that would be the case, but it most definitely is, thus far!

C is a character all in her own department...
She's the littlest of the family (other than Baby C, of course!), yet has by far the most spunk and feist of us all (hence, the nickname "The Diva"); She could care less about being a 'Mama/Papa- pleaser', and is more concerned about Mama/Papa/brother/sister pleasing her; She's tough as nails, though will very possibly insist til the day she dies on the color 'pink' for everything, especially her wardrobe choices; She will stand her ground whenever she's told 'no' (which lately has been very often!), never batting an eyelash at even the threat of discipline, yet one of her most favorite mantras is, "Hold me, Mama; Mama, hold me!" She can take anyone in an "I can ignore you no matter what you do to me" contest, but then turns around and melts your heart with her infectious smile, little elfen voice, and crystal blue eyes; She is afraid of no one, no matter their size, stature, status, or sex, yet the tiniest doggy sends her into the most terrified screaming frenzy you've ever heard; She has gained the status in our household as one to be greatly feared in any 'sword fight' or wrestling match- the girl has major chutzpah!

Ah yes. Our Sweet Little Diva. Did I mention that she's the one who we've deemed "sneaky," with a mischievous streak all her own? Let me expound with two examples to demonstrate why this is the child we will be ever watchful of, particularly in the teenage years when some children are tempted to do things like, oh say, sneak out of the house...

Infraction #1- Discovered C hiding in a closet when I heard the sound of (what I assumed to be) a wrapper crinkling. I grabbed the camera, knowing this would probably be a good camera opp I wouldn't want to miss (!), and I was so glad I did! I slowly slid the door open and the Diva dived into the corner and slyly tried to get rid of the evidence of her crime. However, her chocolatey hands and mouth gave away her crime immediately! Caught, chocolate-handed!!! But her big sister was ever so gracious and helped her open the wrapper, which she had not successfully actually gotten open (though it was smushed and squeezed out the sized by this point!), and shared the mini candy bar with her little sister (as it was technically M's candy bar to begin with, being 'saved' for a later time to eat)!

Caught! (View on my Facebook page by clicking this link)

Infraction #2- Discovered C sitting too quietly inside a box, silently wadding up small pieces of brown paper and proceeding to stuff them up her nostrils!!! Oh my goodness. How is it, seriously, that my son never did such a thing, but my petite little darlin' did such a thing with the shameless confidence and gusto of a pro?! I still can't believe - or understand why- she did such a thing, but I'm at least thankful that I caught her in the act so I knew of the deed and was able to take action! The 'removing of the paper' was as comical as the whole situation, as I laid her head on my lap and used a tweezers to pull out several pieces of snotty paper. She laid there completely comfortable, talking to me as I put the tweezers up her nose, explaining to me that she had put them in "dis side, Mama; not dis side"  (I had no idea whether to expect to find paper stuffed up just one or both sides!) When asked, "Why did you do this?" Her response: "I dunnoknow." Every few seconds she would matter-of-factly, without emotion, state, "Ow. Hurt." but never fussed, screamed, pulled away, or did anything I would have expected a two year old to do when a tweezer is digging around inside their nostrils! When I pulled out the first wad of paper, the big kids were sitting next to me, one holding the flashlight (M) and the other (L) simply observing. They were not completely aware of what was going on, though I was trying to explain as we went. L did not know that it was brown paper, so when I pulled out the first piece of wet brown paper, he exclaimed, "Ew! Mama!!! Why does C have poopoo in her nose?! Yuck!! I don't like that!! Why did she do that?!?!" Ah yes. Always teachable moments, eh?!

Nose (Or view here at my facebook video page)

p.s.

M wrote a note and ended it with one of her famous "p.s." endings  (this time asking me to get ice cream for our Friday night movie time). L, who has been making great strides with his reading was looking at her note and sounding words out. Then he got to the "p.s."-

"Pih-s?"
"Pea-ce?"
"Puh-s?"
"Peas?"

"Which one is it, Mama?"

Left alone with...

This is what happens when you leave a 2 yr old and 4 yr old "alone" with the 6 month old ("alone" meaning in the next room over, where I can keep an eye on them while preparing breakfast... seriously, not "alone," but evidently enough so that they were able to 'sneak' this one past me!!)

They were sooo proud of themselves!! (and of their brother!)

And this is what happens when you leave the children with Papa:

(Yes, Grandmas, I made sure they washed their hands!!!)

At least...

I got to Mass this morning and was sitting there before Mass began (which was a huge accomplishment in itself, let me tell you! To actually get to Daily Mass early - me? with my four kids? Doesn't happen too often, to say the least!)...anyway, I was sitting there, taking a few breaths to quiet myself, and I happened to look over at my little darlin' Diva - really actually look at her and realized what a more 'put together' mother would have noticed before stepping outside of the house with her today:

-shoes were on the wrong feet
-mismatched socks (though, both pink I might add- just different shades)
-fanny crack showing because her khaki pants were on backwards (though how she missed that one I don't quite get, because they're pants with a zipper and button!)
-undies on backwards and inside out (found this one out later when she had to go potty during Mass!)
-big snarly mess of hair, covered up by her blue hoodie
-food from breakfast still on her face and teeth

...At least she got ready all by herself, though, right?! And the cuteness factor kinda balanced out everything else......right? I hope?
Sigh.
Did I say I was proud to get to Mass early today??!!

Our New Godchild!

How wonderful it is to be a part of someone's family as their Godparents. We have the great privilege of being Godparents to some very very special young people. Last month we were invited to be Godparents to our friends' little darling, Guilianna Maria. What a precious honor it is to be 'adopted' into our friends' family in this very special way. Our children have loved this, too, and we definitely hype up this neat bond for them as well.  All along, I've taken to the title "Godsisters/Godbrothers," as a title for our children to refer to any Godchildren we have, as I truly do believe Godchildren become a part of your family in a unique way. We're all brothers and sisters in Christ, and using this term with the kids really seems to highlight this spiritual extension/bond for them, too.

Here are some pictures from the Baptismal party for Giulianna, following her baptism at Church.
Meet our new Goddaughter, our children's new Godsister, the Church's newest little saint,
Guilianna Maria:
(Hoping for a better picture of Papa with Guili this weekend, as he had conjunctivitis going on that weekend, and didn't want to pass it along to anyone!!)

All Saints' Day

My Little Saints....
St. Francis of Assisi, Our Lady of the Rosary, and St. Therese the Little Flower:

So pious, so holy, and so....cute!

Headaches and Toys

More Precious Moments....

M: (After an evening of not feeling well) Papa, what does 'hideous' mean? Does it mean 'really icky'?
Papa: Yeah, like something really awful. Why?
M: I think that's the perfect word to describe my headache right now: hideous.  

____

Watching Toy Story 3 together as a family, we got to the last part of the movie, where Andy is 'donating' his favorite toys to a little girl.  As we, adults, were (ever so quietly, subtly) getting choked up over this tender scene, L looks at me with big eyes...

L: But Mama...sniffle....why is he...sniffle, sniffle... giving away...all...his...toys? When I grow up, will I have to give up all my toys? (sob, sob into Mama's arm) Is that what happens when he goes to cow-wedge? Why can't he have all his toys in cow-wedge? I don't wike that! I don't want to have to give away all my toys someday! (Big tears...but not just from L now! Now Mama can't hold them back either! Oh, my tender-hearted boy!)

Bananas and Half a Year!

Mmmmmm....Bananas!!! That first feeding is always exciting, but proud Big Sisters and Brother especially got a kick out of all the funny faces and noises Little Man made during this big event!
Wow. He's almost six months old already- half a year!!! Yes, they are the most overused phrases you'll ever hear as a parent, but I can't help it: Time sures flies; They grow up so incredibly fast. Wow.

Our Little Leprechaun: