A Few Favorites

   

LCM With Grandpa

 The boys, Nicholas and I took Grandpa Mike on his first trip to the Children's Museum! It boggles my mind he hasn't been to it in 30+ years of being a parent.   

Obligatory giant chair photo on your first visit. 

  

We've never had so much fun in the train area as with Grandpa. 

 

He and I and another dad made a track that spanned all four levels of the train table! 

   

Then after hours of playing, we stopped for a glass of lemonade on our way to the car. Thanks for the fun adventure Grandpa!

Summertime

      

(That's cousin Nicholas in the back left)

     

Brothers in the Summer

Lewis was trying to "read" this joke book and just didn't *quite* have it memorized. Augustine sat down and with a big sigh told Lewis he needed to help.  

We got to the museum right when it opened so it was empty. I let them enter the baby area since we were the only people.  

Augustine loves helping his baby brother.  

Lewis too.    

The bees buzz the different notes and gosh, it's an awful sounding exhibit. The boys didn't like it.  

This was Elias' first visit where he could participate in the playing. He LOVED it.        

Summer sure is less boring when there are brothers to play with!

Driveway Jam

Pinterest failed me...again. Why is it that the most simple looking projects are NOT simple?! We schlepped all the way to Lowes for these cheap poles to hang globe lights from, only to realize (after hours of brainstorming) that there was a simpler way, and we already had the one poll, hook, and zip ties that we needed. Oy. The boys liked the hardware store though. 

 

Our Parish priest is being moved after 24 years of leading the herd. We have been in the parish for 8 years, and we will miss him. Especially the boys. I've never met a priest who can win a child over with a smile and a song like Msgr. Nemec. One song on his guitar and they just love him. He also tells them constantly how wonderful they are. If you have my kids' hearts, then you have mine too. 

We decided to host one last driveway jam for Msgr. Nemec. Our block of neighbors can be seen gathering wherever Msgr. Nemec decides to sit down and play his guitar...someone's driveway, the school steps, the parking lot bench. Passers by stop to join us and the kids sing along and dance. Eventually someone brings out the wine and bourbon and we stay until the sun is down and we can't stand one.more.bug.bite. 

 

The kids built this. They love him so much.     

They sang Whiskey In the Jar (a Burda favorite), Would You Like To Swing On A Star, Sweet Home Alabama, etc. The kids were taught a special song at school for Msgr. so they sang that too.    

Elias snuck in a dance with his girl. 

The lights turned out pretty well! And were very practical...gosh it gets dark in the back at night! 

The kids were getting tired so we got glow sticks out. Always a crowd pleaser. The bubble machine was awesome too while it was still light.  

Msgr. sat down and made up a game with the glow sticks for the kids. Everyone had the giggles.   

This guy lasted 45 min past bedtime...til about 10pm. The big boys lasted three hours past bedtime. Yikes. 

Clean bubble machine and empty bottles...sure sign of a good time. 

Msgr. is headed one parish to the south. Not realizing the comfort his words brought Augustine said, "Its ok. If we miss Msgr. we can just go to Mass at Cathedral and he will be there!" 

There are some people we meet in life who forever keep a piece of our hearts. Thank you Msgr. Nemec for loving us so well.