a gypsy caravan

gentle annie

Anne celebrated her eighth birthday last week. She wanted to have a party with friends so we made reservations at our local tea room and invited several friends for a tea party. Quintealia's Tea Room is a lovely, local tea room located in an historic, Victorian home. It's quite a lovely place. The shop owners were so sweet to make food that the little girls would enjoy. They made peanut butter and jelly star sandwiches on straws which looked like fairy wands, a fruit cup and tea pots of fruit punch, hot cocoa or, if the girls preferred, tea. Lastly, they brought out individual doll cakes made in mini bundt pans. The dolls were inserted in the hole of the cake and the skirts were frosted up around them. The ladies had the girls close their eyes while they brought out the cake surprises. It was so fun to see the look on their faces when they saw them! 

I have a hard time believing that Anne is eight. She is simply a joy. She is the first to help when help is needed, the first to hug someone when they are sad and never has a bad word to say about anyone. I love her immensely and am so grateful to be her mom. 

three

Mae turned three years old last week. She is so full of life and spunk. She is quite a chatterbox, talking whether anyone is listening or not. Mae is imaginative, playful and kind. She has a hot, short temper--raging one moment and kissing another. She requested a "kitty caramel birthday" which none of us knew how to deliver. Easier were the parties that her sisters used to choose... Barbie birthdays or Dora birthdays. I decided to decorate her cake with bullseye caramels (which she loves) and a tan kitty. She also wanted her cake to have pink frosting and a side of chocolate ice cream. Decisive that one. Her face lit up when she saw the cake. And, in perfect three year old fashion, she sang to happy birthday to herself right along with the rest of us. 

Thank you God for Teresa Mae, who fills our lives with joy. 

happy birthday ben

Ben turned seventeen the other day. This past year he has changed from a round faced boy to a young man. He grew several inches and gained a slimmer, more chiseled physique due to daily trips to the gym.  I can only say these things to you, dear visitor, because when I mention them to him, I get a roll of the eyes, a big smile and some sort of grunting sound followed by, "Cut it out, Mom." 

I so enjoy my son's company. I am proud of the young man that is slowly replacing the chubby cheeked, wooden sword yielding, coonskin cap wearing, bat swinging little boy from years past. The affectionate, shy fellow who used to hide behind my skirt when someone talked to him has many friends. The little boy who loved to work alongside me in the kitchen, yard and garage is now working daily at a job of his own. The boy who swore he would never go to school has finished his third year of public school where he has made the honor roll each and every quarter. 

I've even grown to love his moppy hair. :)

Wishing you a very happy birthday, dear Ben. I'm so thrilled to be your mom. 

a tea with kindred spirits

Our lovely Mary turned ten a while back and had a tea party with her friends to celebrate. She had never had a friend party before so we sat down and thought of party venues such as a park, bowling alley, ice skating rink and the like. Ultimately, we chose a local tea house to which we'd never been but had heard great things about. The girls and I drink tea daily and we were excited to go to an authentic tea house. Mary invited her closest friends and her sister Anne. We were all delighted to get dressed up for the special occasion.

Mary is becoming such a beautiful young lady. She has a big, generous heart and is adored by her little sisters who love to play with her. She has a great imagination and has a knack for making things beautiful. I'm so grateful to have her joyful spirit in our home and family. 

congratulations ben!

Benjamin made his confirmation the other day.  He is growing into a fine young man. My mother was honored to be asked to be his sponsor.  He chose St. Patrick as his confirmation name and patron saint.  We love you, Ben!

happy birthday to the boy who made me a mother

  

Happy Birthday Christopher!

Our Christopher turns nine today.  We celebrated yesterday.  Chris frosted his own cake and made the Lego Star Wars ship for the top. :)

Today there are more lego ships to build and a trip to the toy store.  There is the requested pizza for lunch and spaghetti for dinner.  Happiest of birthdays to you Christopher!  I love you so much!

A Happy Mother's Day

...to all of you who love and care for children 24/7, who spend your days holding hands, reading books, wiping tears, watching ball games, cooking meals and singing songs.  To those of you who have fingerprints on the windows, a washer that is always full of clothes, cheeks covered with kisses and blouses covered with baby drool, I wish you a joyous, restful day of the same.  Because, really, would you want to change a thing? 

Have a beautiful Mother's Day! :)

A Special Surprise

My birthday was a couple of weeks ago. My grandmother Kathryn called on that day to tell me that she had a special gift for me but that she was unable to get to the post office on time. I was so curious as to what she was sending.

Imagine my delight when I came home from the store today to find Grandma's package had arrived! I opened the box and inside I found this beautiful, handmade crocheted rug.

It is about three feet in diameter and is such a pretty combination of colors. Those of you who used to read my previous blog (of the same name) might recognize this rug from a post I wrote after visiting my grandmother last spring. My grandma remembered how much I loved her rugs and saved it for my birthday. I am completely giddy over her gift! I think I will put it in the girls' room which has a pink, yellow and white color scheme and where it won't see heavy, dirty traffic.

I am determined to get down to Florida sometime this year and learn, firsthand, how to make one of these beautiful rugs. She showed me a bit while I was there but I did not get the hang of it very well.

Here is a photo of Kathryn taken last spring.

And another of her hands fixing Mary's hair.

I am so grateful to have Kathryn as my grandmother.

Happy Valentine's Day

Wishing my friends and visitors a Happy Valentine's Day!  I hope your day is special and full of love. :)

 

Blessings Upon You

Happiest of Birthdays to you, dear Christopher!  I love you so much!
Love,
Mom

Happy Birthday Sweet Annie!

Oh, how we love you!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am not cooking this year but instead we will be joining Mike's family for their big celebration.  To top off the holiday festivities, Mike's baby sister is getting married this weekend.  Can you believe that she was the flower girl in my wedding fourteen years ago?!? Gosh, I feel old!  :)  Happiest wishes for a wonderful Thanksgiving from our family to yours!

All Saints' Day Costumes

We spent the day with friends at an All Saints' Day Party.  We weren't able to pull together costumes until an hour before the party so they are kind of a hodge podge but here are the pictures nonetheless. :)

St. Martin of Tours (who is looking a tad underwhelmed if you ask me...Anyone else have adolescent boys who are not fond of having their picture taken?)

St. George

St. Therese the Little Flower

Annie the Angel who would not wear any part of the costume except the wings. :)

All Hallow's Eve Highlights

Annie as a pink poodle...

Mary as a fierce mountain lion...

Christopher as a cowboy ghost...

Benjamin as a glow in the dark Stick Man...

Without the flash... :)

Hope you all had a fun and Happy Halloween!

Birthday Highlights

Thank you all for your birthday wishes.  You really made my day so joyful!  I wanted to share some photos with you since you all could not be here to share it with me.  (I did eat enough cake for each and every one of you, though.  LOL!)

I wonder what  Annie is thinking about Mary?

Birthday flowers from my mom (Please ignore the counter clutter :) )

Annie and I blowing out the candles!

Oh, it was such a fun day!

I received a coffee maker and a beautiful miraculous medal from Gardens of Grace from the children.  (It is the top one on the page.)  I just love it and wore it all day (see above photos)! 

My mother gave me this little tea towel that I think is so sweet!

I must tell you my very favorite gift was from my husband who is giving me the gift of a freshly painted dining room this week! Pictures to come!

Tooting My Own Horn

Today is my birthday and I am so spoiled.

You see, for all of my 37 birthdays my mother has baked a delicious angelfood cake with whipped cream and sugared strawberries for the top.  She has made this cake each and every year of my life.  When I was in college, she drove the hour and a half to my dorm room and celebrated with me, toting the cake in her handy Rubbermaid cake carrier.   It is the yummiest dessert ever invented, in my humble opinion. 

My family is providing a birthday breakfast, one that I do not have to make or clean up. :) This morning, I was given some beautiful new drawings from the children to hang on my wall.  I will be sure to show them to you when the day is over so stop back later, OK? 

And won't you please have a piece of cake? :)

Happy St. Valentine’s Day!

We have a blizzard here in Cleveland!  The view out our window...

Yup.  That's snow.  Snow on the ground, snow on the windows, snow in the air.

Though the outside is colorless, the inside of the house is full of color!

The remains of our Valentine exchange...

Our Catholic Mosaic valentines...

This one is for my beloved Karen....

as is this one...

Here's hoping you all have a wonderful, chocolate filled Valentine's Day!

Happy Birthday Christopher!

Here is a kind fellow who always has a smile on his face.  At birth, seven short years ago,  he was my largest child, weighing over ten pounds.   He is very independent, helpful around the house and is generous to his siblings.  Chris is a talented artist, loves to dress up in historical costumes and can throw a mean fastball.

You are growing up so fast!  I am so proud of the boy you are and I am grateful to be your Mom!   

A Pink and Perfect Party

I can not resist showing you what fun Mary had at her friend Amy's ballerina birthday party a while back. Amy turned four years old and she held a wonderfully fun birthday party at a dance studio where the young guests were given a 45 minute dance lesson, complete with little tutus and yummy pink cupcakes. 

Mary had such fun that she now wants to take ballet lessons.  I think that might be a fun thing to start this summer when her brothers are living and breathing baseball.  Sometimes she gets swept under the rug when the warm months come along, being dragged to game after game every day.   (Did I mention that Mary cut her bangs and we are growing them out? :)

The girls danced with hoops, walked the balance beam and generally danced about like little princesses.  Any time that I set Annie down on the floor, she crawled quickly over to the older girls, wanting to be part of the festivities.

Amy's mom, my good friend Shelly, was kind enough to give Bella a tutu of her own and a hoop to play with.

They had such a fun time!  Many thanks to the Amy and family for the lovely day!