Saturn and Jupiter Conjunction

 Yesterday was too cloudy but tonight had clear enough skies to see the Saturn and Jupiter Conjunction, otherwise know as the Christmas Star.  Our friend's father studies astronomy as a hobby, so I called him up to see if he would have his telescopes out.  

Brian and I loaded up our kids and headed over to his property.  Soon a few of his daughters and their families met us there too.  He gave an excellent lesson on basic astronomy and we were able to look through his telescopes and solar binoculars.  

We were able to see Saturn's rings and Jupiter's four moons in one lens.  It was amazing!  He also showed us a double star and the Northern Cross.  My favorite was looking at the moon.  Because it's so close, we were able to see it's craters and mountain ridges.  It's hard to believe there are some who can look at something like this and not believe in God.  This was an experience I will never forget.  Complete wonderment.  

Little Katherine

 Little Katherine, or Katie Beans as we like to call her, isn't so little anymore.  And she is quick to remind you of that.  "I'm not a baby!" She says a hundred times a day.  She is very busy and very strong-willed.  Her personality is a meld of everyone one else and she certainly keeps up with everyone else.  She is very girly, but not afraid to wrestle with her brothers.  She loves babies and ninjas.  She can say her ABCs and spell Stuart's name.  She spends her days in Helen's old recital costume.  She is begging to start ballet lessons and desperate to learn to play Minecraft.  She is definitely the youngest of five.

St. Nicholas Day!

 The kids look forward to the Feast of Saint Nick as much as they look forward to Christmas morning.  Brian and I may go a little overboard, but we fill their stockings with fun little toys and candy.

Good morning!

In their stockings, the kids found little remote control cars.

It was chaotic for awhile.

They also found ceramic Christmas ornaments to paint.

Which they did.

The finished products.

The Littlest Logues

 The weather has been warm (in the 40s) and sunny during the start of this December in Southwest Wisconsin.  The Littles and I have been going on walks, or adventures if you are 2 and 4 years old, exploring our neighborhood and playing on the playground.

Katherine swinging her little body around.

A silly picture of Pete, for good measure.

Twins separated by 18 months.

Thanksgiving Break!

 Thanks to Covid, the Catholic schools gave an extra two days off during Thanksgiving break.  Here are a few snapshots of how we spent our time together.

Peter has been writing in mirror image at school.  It's certainty not an assignment, but rather a way to test his boundaries.  God bless his teacher. 

We managed to collect all the Cereal Squad toys from General Mills.  That's a lot of Honey Nut Cheerios.  I've never been able to "collect them all."  This must be what lottery winners feel like.

Of course we made a big Thanksgiving meal and broke the Covid rules and invited another family over for dinner.  

Katherine ate so much she fell asleep on the floor in the middle of chaos.

Helen graced us with some violin music.

And Brian taught us his painting skills under the direction of Bob Ross.

~Turkey Muffins~

 Today a friend of mine invited me and the two littlest over to make these adorable cupcakes (Hi, BrieAnn!)  Stuart kept referring to them as turkey muffins.  This was a fun way to kick of Thanksgiving break!

Katherine's First Dental Appointment

 Our dentist is great at getting my entire family in for cleanings and check-ups.  She has it down to a science to were she gets all seven of us in and out in about 90 minutes.  This time Katherine was included in the mass appointment.

She was eager to get into the van (Stuart was not; this was his second or third check-up) and head over to the dentist.  Once inside, Kate walked into the backroom with the hygienist like she had done it a million times before.  A few short minutes later, in the waiting room we could hear:

"No! No, I'm not doing that."

After a few more minutes the hygienist walked into the waiting room and asked for Helen.  Apparently, Katherine had asked for her.  After a few more minutes, Brian had to go back there.  

Here's the polaroid the dentist always takes on the very first dental appointment:

I am happy to report there were no cavities and Peter had an extra note in his file about being cooperative and very talkative.  

Just A Little Update

 Today is Day 53 of "in-person" school.  Though I feel like this virus is circling my house, we have not been sick and we have not had to quarantine due to a close contact.  I feel like the private schools here are under a microscope because the public schools have been "distance learning" since the beginning.  My kids are happy and we keep chugging along.

Last week was filled with beautiful sunny weather which was surprising for November in Wisconsin.  The kids and I took advantage of the warmth and spent a lot of time outside.

Last Friday, Helen's Little Flowers group earned their Archery (St. Hubert) badge.  Many of the girls' siblings tagged along and had a wonderful time.

I'm really enjoying the simplicity of life right now.  This is the first time in years I haven't felt pulled in a thousand different directions.  I've been cleaning out closets and storage rooms and passing along things we don't need anymore.  This might be the beginning of a natural shift in life.  Let's see how it turns out!

Peter Gretzky

 This very inexpensive opportunity came home in Peter's school folder.  We signed him up for hockey!  Maybe we're opening up a can of worms, but this little guy has been intoxicated with delight.  Many hockey books have been checked out from the library and many hockey videos have been watched.

Peter has never worn ice skates in his life.  He was the first one out on the ice and the first one to fall down.  Brian nicknamed him "Perseverance Pete" because he never gave up.  He never held onto the wall and he never stopped trying.  As his mother, it was hard for me to watch him fall so hard.  Brian told me to pull it together; that he was covered in padding and the coaches know what they are doing.  I was still nervous.

After practice, I met him in the Warming Room to help him take off some of his gear.  He was so sweaty, so tired, and so full of joy.  (Very little) money well spent.

Happy Feast Day, Martin!

 

This guy never around for a picture, so in his place we used this giant carboard cut out.  For his feast day, Martin was treated to a 4-pack of Ginger Beer.  Happy feast day, Martin!

Saint Martin de Porres, Pray for us!

State Champs!

 Aquinas High School Cross Country Team WISCONSIN STATE CHAMPIONS!!

(Third year in a row)

[Sort of] Happy Halloween!

 This was a sad Halloween.  Normally we host a huge Halloween party where the kids can roam free and trick-or-treat and the parents can stay in and enjoy themselves.  Sometimes adults are outside passing out drinks to other adults for a more grown-up trick-or-treating.  Other neighbors also host parties and our neighborhood is bursting with kids.  Everyone hangs on to every minute and begrudgingly goes home too early as it's usually a school night.

Peter Knight, Katherine Turtle, Stuart Pirate, & Helen Magician.

This year was much different.  There was a sad feeling in the air when we chose not to have our usual gathering.  The kids and I were out trick-or-treating by 4:30 on this abnormally sunny and warm Halloween Saturday afternoon.  About half of the houses had bowls filled with candy and set outside.  One neighbor actually passed out candy from her door.  We only saw two other families out trick-or-treating and that was it.  No parties, no rowdy teenagers, no cars dropping off groups of non-neighborhood kids, and only one adult beverage.  We were sober and back in the house and eating dinner by six o'clock.

Our bowl of candy.

Running amuck.

It was a ghost town by 7:30.  Most of our neighbors had brought in their candy bowls and turned off their porch lights.  We did the same with our practically full dish.  Our house was in order and with the time change, everyone was in bed by 7:30.  While this may have been the saddest Halloween to date, it was definitely the simplest and most peaceful.

Happy 6th Birthday, Peter!

 Six years ago today, this guy came barreling into the world and hasn't stopped yet!

We started the morning with the excitement of presents.  Sometimes it can be tough for a bother or sister to understand that everyone gets a birthday, just not on the same day.

Because of Covid protocols, only store bought treats can be sent into school.  So off Peter went with his Halloween themed mini cupcakes.

He had "the best day ever" at school, then came home to (watch Brian) assemble his Roman Soldier and Viking figures.

He loved his homemade stormtrooper birthday cake.

Happy birthday, Peter!

You are loved more than you could ever know.

When Grandpa Randy Visits

 I love my dad.

My kids love their Grandpa.

There is so much excitement when Grandpa Randy visits!

Stuart and Katherine found this leaf imprint in our garage.  They sat there and studied it for a long time.  They came to the conclusion that Grandpa Randy sent it to them.  I'm not sure of their reasoning, but I'm guessing they found a similar imprint in my dad's barn the last time we visited him.  Or, maybe he really sent it?

Grandpa made it and instantly the kids were glued to him.  He loved every minute of it.

Peter also lost his very first tooth.

My dad spoiled the kids with a trip to the candy store and time at the trampoline park.  It was good to burn off all that sugar.

Here's some candy treats a coworker of my dad's made for everyone. 

He also watched the kids while Brian and I went out to dinner alone.

Without kids.

I'm not sure if it because I'm getting older or my kids are growing up so fast, but it's getting harder and harder to say good-bye when Grandpa Randy leaves.