peas in a pod

behind the scenes

A few more photos to share, thanks to Andrea! Jude was grilling and called into the kitchen for a glass of water. When I looked out the window and saw two foot flames, I sent a pitcher instead! Here is the resulting smoke:

I cropped in on her group shot where Joseph is "helping" Leo look at the camera:

queen of the may

On this last day of May, we celebrated our 4th annual May crowning.

The kids, including two of our godsons, before the prayers.

Collin was an excellent server for our assistant pastor.

Mary, Queen of the May...Pray for Us!

fourth anniversary

It looks like I never posted about it, but for our actual anniversary (December 31) we purchased the modern fourth year gift of appliances: our washer and dryer for the new house. They are wonderful and serve us well.

As our fun gift to one another, today Jude and I attended the matinee of Wicked, the untold story of the witches of Oz. It was a great show and a wonderful date!

We do not always follow the suggested guidelines, but I am especially grateful for Jude's rendition of "Our Story" for our first anniversary (paper). Do you follow the etiquette rules? Any creative ideas for year #5 (wood or silverware)?

milestones

This week, Leo began waving, pointing and wearing shoes. He said mama once (Jude heard it too!) but has yet to repeat it...I am still holding out hope for third place, as bru-bru (brother) seems to be his name for Joseph :)

not like the others

Joseph has been very inquisitive about family relationships lately. He was asking about our brothers, his uncles. I asked how many brothers he had. "Two," came his response. Thinking he had confused brother and uncle, I continued...
-Who are your brothers?
-Leo and Daddy.
-What about Mommy?
-Mommy is the kid helper!

ornamental onion

ready to eat

...even if no one else is!

face 2 face

Billy Joel and Elton John at the Qwest Center for three hours! It was an amazing concert-thanks Nicole for inviting me!

Here were my highlights from their play list (some covers):

Elton John and Billy Joel: “Just the Way You Are,” “My Life”

John: “Daniel,” “Rocket Man,” “Leaving On a Jet Plane,” “Crocodile Rock”

Joel: “Don’t Ask Me Why,” “She’s Always a Woman,” “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me,” “Only the Good Die Young”

John and Joel: “I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues,” “Uptown Girl,” “You May Be Right,” “Bennie and the Jets,” “Birthday,” “Back in the USSR,” “Candle in the Wind,” “Piano Man”

nine months

Sitting up and palming the ball!
Grated cheese, broccoli seed heads and cheerios are among his table food favorites.

all the animals

My Mother's Day artwork. The punctured portions are leopard spots! Thank you Joseph!

nice try

Jude humored my attempts at a Mother's Day photo shoot. Joseph did not. Here are just a few of the squirmy worm, goof-ball photos (even Leo lost a sock in the process!):

house blessing

Our pastor joined us this evening to bless our new home. Jude did the actual sprinkling of the holy water, except in the garden, where Joseph happily took his turn.

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When Christ took flesh through the Blessed Virgin Mary, he made his home with us. Let us now pray that he will enter this home and bless it with his presence. May he always be here among us; may he nurture our love for each other, share in our joys, comfort us in our sorrows. Inspired by his teachings and example, let us seek to make our home before all else a dwelling place of love, diffusing far and wide the goodness of Christ.

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O God, protect our going out and our coming in; Let us share the hospitality of this home with all who visit us, that those who enter here may know your love and peace.

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Be our shelter, Lord, when we are at home, our companion when we are away, and our welcome guest when we return, and at last receive us into the dwelling place you have prepared for us in your Father's house, where you live for ever and ever.

-Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers

vocational discernment

A few weeks ago, Joseph asked, "I have a wife? Who is she? Who could she be?"

Today he said, "Bring me the water." When I pointed out that he already had a drink, he persisted, "Like that guy at church." Apparently a cheese wrapper makes a good purificator!

sweet potato puffs

our engagement story

aka "The Third Time's a Charm"

Five years ago, Jude proposed! I managed to change the plans, inadvertently of course. His previous attempts included a limo ride and a private showing of It's A Wonderful Life at the Joyo. Not to be discouraged, he planned around Pius' prom, which we were chaperoning, and providentially landed on the Feast of St. Joseph, to whom we have a great devotion.

We spent a wonderful day together doing some of my favorite things, kolaches and coffee at the Farmer's Market, a culture festival for lunch and even a shopping trip to Goodwill! He dropped me off at home to get ready for the dance and then went to our friend Lindsey's salon to shave his head (because I love bald people!!!) Since she is not a barber, she could not use a razor so he finished up at home, with only minor blood loss. When he picked me up, I was in shock! My high school prom date had shaved his head back in the day-is that why he had done this!?!?

We had dinner at another of my favorite spots, the Oven, and although I lost my appetite at the sight of my bald boyfriend, it returned for their delicious Mulligatawny soup! Next, we drove to St. Teresa's church where two bouquets of pink roses were waiting, they had been placed there by two of my students acting as Jude's elves!

A side note about the roses, when we began courting Jude gave me a dozen white roses and we placed another dozen at Mary's statue in the Cathedral, on the Feast of the Assumption, August 15, asking her to guide our relationship and keep it pure. Now the roses were pink, I was beginning to get suspicious :) At our wedding we had red roses to celebrate the culmination of our vocational journey!

We went over to the Holy Family side altar and Jude proposed, in French! He claims I corrected him, but I deny it. I answered "Oui!" and said "Yes!" when he wanted to hear the repsonse in English too. We prayed in thanksgiving for God's goodness to us and the gift of one another-we even have photos courtesy of Jude's friend Bill who was making a holy hour at the time.

We eventually did make it to prom...an evening in Paris!

m'aidez

Happy May Day!

Fun French fact of the day: M'aidez (help me) was anglicized to the distress call mayday.

giraffe with a really, really, really long neck

The creative result of Joseph's feast day gift of paints and brushes, this acrylic on wrapping paper is a departure from the artist's traditional subjects "A Big, Big Ball of String" and "Hy-Vee." His most life-like and representational piece yet.