sidekick

...or sideshow :)

six

Dear Joseph-
Today you are six!

Your brother couldn't wait to give you your first present! He loves you so much and you are a patient and kind big brother to him and Gus.  Each evening your bedtime story/adventure begins, "Once upon a time, there were three brothers, Poseph and Tio and Tuss and they were the best of friends..."

Up and dressed, you still wanted breakfast in bed (LaMars donuts)!

We went to Urban Legends for a family painting session.  You love to create, especially re-purposing things from the recycling bin, so we knew you would love the studio.  You chose the theme: animals of Africa (surprise!).  We brought along our encyclopedia.  Leo painted the background of the large canvas and the secretary bird.  I did the bird and hippo, you made a green hyena (although your favorite colors have expanded to red and blue too) and dad made the lion.

We brought treats for t-ball, brownies with sprinkles.

You were a little embarrassed when your teammates sang "Happy Birthday!" but I know you appreciated it :)

After a trip to the Nature Center, we headed to Texas Roadhouse for dinner.

Both sets of grandparents were able to join us!  What a treat!

 

You even rode in the saddle!   

We love you Joseph!  Happy Birthday!

french muffin...

Leo's description of a German Chocolate Cupcake!

Some other Leoism that he does not care to correct:

pupcake- cupcake

covered- cupboard

Nuggy Nuggets-Nutty Nuggets (Hy-Vee generic Grape Nuts)
Snephanie-Stephanie

almost six

We celebrated a pre-birthday party with neighborhood friends.  Joseph wanted an Africa cake and I thought I would simply add some plastic animals on top of the frosting.  His vision was grander though.  We got out the encyclopedia and I sketched the outline of the continent, including Madagascar.  Unfortunately, a frosting tsunami took out the first island, so the second is a bit higher in elevation.  Since I had already gathered the animals, they encircled the cake as we sang.  Chocolate beats carrion any day!

my three sons

 

sssnakes

 

 

construction zone

 

 

here comes the jack o' lantern

Joseph lost his lower middle teeth in the fall, but the adult teeth filled in quickly.  When his upper left central incisor tooth started to bleed, I wanted to capture a final full tooth grin!  I suspect two front teeth may be on someone's Christmas list :)

all smiles

 

one month

 

lincoln logs

A unique rendering of the new church/Newman Center.

 

road trip-day 6

We drove through Chicago and spent the night in Joliet, where we went to Mass in the morning at the Church of St. Jude!

They even had a relic to venerate!

 

road trip-day 5

On the way home we stopped in Chicago and spent the day at the Museum of Science and Industry.  I hadn't visited since high school, but I knew the boys would love it!  They had a great time with all the hands on exhibits, especially the weather, farm and transportation areas.  Leo especially loved the real life eye-spy book recreations.  You can see the entire album here.

road trip-day 4

We spent the morning with all of Jude's immediate family and several other extended family members enjoying a beach on Lake Erie near Sandusky.

At lunch our group took over the small cafe (Gus was relegated to the floor) and afterwards we hit the road.

road trip-day 3

The funeral took place at St. Paul Catholic Church in Norwalk, and was presided over by his nephew/godson, Fr. Frank. May the soul of Grandpa Frank and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

After lunch it was time for cards!  Up and Down the River and Euchre are family favorites.

When the kids tired of cards, sandbagging Uncle Zach provided additional amusement.

Cousin Lotte and the boys.

We went to dinner at the restaurant that sits on the site of Grandpa Frank's old barber shop.

 

 

road trip-day 2

We returned to campus in the morning.  The boys had fun playing by the lake and chasing the geese.

We stopped by the beautiful Marian grotto, a replica of the shrine where the Virgin Mary appeared to St. Bernadette in Lourdes, France.

 

 

 

Next we attended Mass at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart.  The Reliquary Chapel was amazing!  It houses relics of each of the 12 Apostles; a piece of the manger at Bethlehem; pieces of the veil and belt of the Blessed Virgin; relics of all of the saints in the Church calendar; plus a piece of the True Cross!

Thanks to a tip from our friend Staci, a Notre Dame alumna, we enjoyed wood fired pizzas at Reckers before continuing on to Ohio for the rosary.