Let's hope we get a looonnngggg break from this stuff very soon!
Making veggie muffins (they're good, I promise!) and eating the ingredients
Enjoying the finished product
2 months ago
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Little Helper
Max likes to be involved in just about everything we do. If I'm baking, he wants to pull a chair over to add ingredients - ahem, chocolate chips - and eat them. If Brook is shovelling, he wants to be outside, pushing the shovel. If I'm sweeping, he gets his own little sweeper to help. (He mostly likes to turn the sweeper on and off, though. ;))))
Party, Party, PARTY!
Tis the season for lots of birthdays. We have 4 nieces and 1 nephew with birthdays in the first part of the year.
Sunday, we celebrated my friend Heather's birthday. Early last year, I was praying that God would help me meet young Christian women in the area. Brook was out in the community meeting people, but, with working full-time, I really hadn't met many new friends in Grand Haven. As a new mom, I was feeling a major void. So, I prayed and then, (separately) signed up for Perpetual Adoration at our church. There was a young woman who also shared my hour. I'd see her at church with 3 little girls and we talked about getting together for a playdate. Let's just say, the rest is history! Isn't it funny how when we do something for God, He blesses us? It just goes to show, He can never be outdone in generosity.
For her birthday, we had a fun lunch out at a local restaurant with Heather, her hubby and another couple (the kids stayed behind with a babysitter). Then, headed back to the house for a surprise party. It was a great day!
Connor, Julia and Sophie had a joint birthday party in February. Connor had a Notre Dame theme. When Brook found out, he told Connor he wouldn't come unless he had a Michigan cupcake for him. Connor was very worried about this and asked Jaime to make Brook a Michigan cupcake. Needless to say, there was no Michigan cupcake. Brook still went. ;)
Last weekend, Ruthie and Maria shared a birthday party!
Cool glasses, dude
Sunday, we celebrated my friend Heather's birthday. Early last year, I was praying that God would help me meet young Christian women in the area. Brook was out in the community meeting people, but, with working full-time, I really hadn't met many new friends in Grand Haven. As a new mom, I was feeling a major void. So, I prayed and then, (separately) signed up for Perpetual Adoration at our church. There was a young woman who also shared my hour. I'd see her at church with 3 little girls and we talked about getting together for a playdate. Let's just say, the rest is history! Isn't it funny how when we do something for God, He blesses us? It just goes to show, He can never be outdone in generosity.
For her birthday, we had a fun lunch out at a local restaurant with Heather, her hubby and another couple (the kids stayed behind with a babysitter). Then, headed back to the house for a surprise party. It was a great day!
So blessed to have her in my life!
Max and his buddy, Lydia
Pope Party
After Pope Benedict resigned, Heather suggested we have a little "Pope Party" when the new pope was elected - you know, bring the big Church into the domestic church. I love stuff like that, so I was in! We were so excited when white smoke came pouring out of the Sistine Chapel. The tradition of it all is just so rich. Lots of texts and phone calls, wondering who it would be.
When the new pope came out, I will admit, I was surprised. I expected someone younger. When his chosen name was announced, the tears came. Francis . . . that is what we named our baby. And so, I was instantly bonded with our new Holy Father. As I began to learn about him and his simple way of life, I liked him even more. There is something about someone who has money at his disposal, yet chooses to take public transportation and cook his own meals that is very likeable. He now has the weight of the world's 1 billion Cahtolics on his shoulders and all of our messes; surely, a job no one would want! We pray for him daily. May God guide him and give him strength.
He was elected on March 13th. Here are some pictures of Max - he was so happy with the news (b/c he surely knew what was going on. Haha)
On Friday, we had our "Pope Party." We planned to make foods native to Argentina and "Pope Hats" (or zucchettos). The kids played, while the adults gabbed. It was a fun evening!
I'm sure it must be hard for someone who isn't Catholic to understand the excitement we have when a new pope is elected. A party for a new pope? And from reading comments on-line, there is lots of misinformation out there. We don't worhip the pope. (We only worship God.) We highly respect him, b/c we believe Jesus when he said "You are Peter and upon this rock, I will build my church." Peter was our first pope and every pope since then has a direct lineage to Peter. The deposits of faith (teachings of the Church) are preserved and passed down from pope to pope and he passes them on to the flock. It's hard for most to understand, but it isn't the job of the pope to change those teachings based on societal norms of the time. I mean, if you believe you got those teachings from our Lord, how can they be changed b/c society says they should be? We also repect him, b/c he is our spiritual advisor, if you will - our "head" shepherd here on earth. I've had 2 popes in my lifetime - John Paul II and Benedict XVI. Both men were amazing shepherds. I will always be bonded to Benedict, b/c he gave us our Papal blessing. And then, there is JPII. There are no words for this man and how wonderful he was. From forgiving the man who tried to kill him to this great work to showing us how to suffer and die with dignity. He said that St. Maximilian Kolbe was the greatest man of the 20th century. I would say JPII was right up there with him!
When the new pope came out, I will admit, I was surprised. I expected someone younger. When his chosen name was announced, the tears came. Francis . . . that is what we named our baby. And so, I was instantly bonded with our new Holy Father. As I began to learn about him and his simple way of life, I liked him even more. There is something about someone who has money at his disposal, yet chooses to take public transportation and cook his own meals that is very likeable. He now has the weight of the world's 1 billion Cahtolics on his shoulders and all of our messes; surely, a job no one would want! We pray for him daily. May God guide him and give him strength.
He was elected on March 13th. Here are some pictures of Max - he was so happy with the news (b/c he surely knew what was going on. Haha)
On Friday, we had our "Pope Party." We planned to make foods native to Argentina and "Pope Hats" (or zucchettos). The kids played, while the adults gabbed. It was a fun evening!
The kids in their zucchettos
(It only took about 10 takes and a bag of swedish fish to get them to cooperate
and this is the best we could do! LOL)
I'm sure it must be hard for someone who isn't Catholic to understand the excitement we have when a new pope is elected. A party for a new pope? And from reading comments on-line, there is lots of misinformation out there. We don't worhip the pope. (We only worship God.) We highly respect him, b/c we believe Jesus when he said "You are Peter and upon this rock, I will build my church." Peter was our first pope and every pope since then has a direct lineage to Peter. The deposits of faith (teachings of the Church) are preserved and passed down from pope to pope and he passes them on to the flock. It's hard for most to understand, but it isn't the job of the pope to change those teachings based on societal norms of the time. I mean, if you believe you got those teachings from our Lord, how can they be changed b/c society says they should be? We also repect him, b/c he is our spiritual advisor, if you will - our "head" shepherd here on earth. I've had 2 popes in my lifetime - John Paul II and Benedict XVI. Both men were amazing shepherds. I will always be bonded to Benedict, b/c he gave us our Papal blessing. And then, there is JPII. There are no words for this man and how wonderful he was. From forgiving the man who tried to kill him to this great work to showing us how to suffer and die with dignity. He said that St. Maximilian Kolbe was the greatest man of the 20th century. I would say JPII was right up there with him!
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Vacation
Brook and I travelled to Florida at the end of January for a little vacation. We needed to get away. Haven't had a vacation - just the 2 of us - since 2009. We used Orlando as our home base. No Disney this time, although we did go to Downtown D!sney one evening for dinner. It was unseasonably warm - mid 80s during the day - when we were there. SOOO wonderful! I started getting excited for summer . . . then realized we had about 5 more months to wait. ;-) We took nice long walks each morning and did something different each day. The first full day we were there, we went to this shrine, did some shopping at an outlet mall, laid by the pool, went to dinner at Joe's Cr@b and played at Dave & Bu$ter's in the evening.
I had never eaten crab from the shell before. I needed an adjustment from a chiropractor afterwards! Haha! Brook, on the other hand, was a pro!
The second day, we went over to Daytona Beach. Brook stayed just north of there every year with his family while he was growing up. It was fun to see where they used to camp and reminisce about playing on the beach for hours and eating pecan spins for breakfast. Those are really great memories for him and I hope to do something just special and memorable with our family each year. We walked on the beach, ate some good food and relaxed in the sun, soaking up some vitamin D.
We splurged and rented a convertible. YOLO, right? Ha
The last full day, we went over to the gulf side. We had dinner plans with my cousin, Phyllis; so, we decided to spend the day in Bradenton. Again, more time in the sun and taking in the beautiful scenery. We did a little shopping before dinner (outlet malls everywhere!) and then, met Phyllis and her fiance' Will. We spent hours talking and catching up. It was wonderful to meet Will and get to know him a little before their big day! She asked if Max would be a ring bearer in their wedding. It will be interesting to see if he can make it down the aisle!
And then, it was time to come home. It was the perfect amount of time for us. Max stayed with my parents and Veronica and Brandon and did great! And it was good for me to see that we could go away and Max would survive. I am already planning our next trip. ;-)
Rejuvinated
I just went back and was re-reading some of my old blog posts. They made me chuckle - some at how my life has changed in 5 years (no more dollar beer nights at Griffin games!) and some at the pics of all the wonderful kiddos in my life. I love this blog for the scrapbook it creates for us; yet, I have been really horrible at blogging lately. I want to continue preserve memories and share stories/life happenings with friends and family near and far. So, I am determined to do better in the future!! Here's to a new start!
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