Deep thought of the day

Scene: the car on the way home from the store

Joey: I really like being alive...I love the trees and the sky. Its just so nice.

Me: You're right...it is pretty great, isn't it?

Joey: I want to be alive for the rest of my life, mom!

Latest pictures of Sophia

and her perfect little toes. She doesn't sleep much during the day, it seems like she likes little naps of about 20 min and then she is up again. She does, however, sleep very well at night. She sleeps a lot more soundly than any of the other kids did during the night...even if I move her around a little to make sure she is still breathing, she will stay asleep.

Update on Anna

Anna in a VERY fancy outfit from Grandma and Grandpa Jack...

Anna's latest word is 'who-body'...as in 'whobody' did that?' 'whobody does that belong to?' 'whobody wants to play with me?' She loves playing the the dirt and with bugs and hugging whatever neighborhood dogs and cats are around.

Why don't I ever get to sleep like this?

*Update: According to my mother and my husband, I DO sleep like this!


Anna...tired out after a day of hunting for sowbugs and following the boys around.



Joey, Paulie and friend going over some VERY important details.

Feast of St. Anthony

Joey for All Saint's Day..he was St Anthony






We really love this saint here...he is one that all the kids know on sight and one they have prayed to in the past. He has helped us out quite a bit...the kids have found many lost items with his help and I even found the diamond from my engagement ring after a prayer to St Anthony. That was something I can only describe as miraculous! Here is a little something about the saint for today from an online source:

This very popular saint was born in Portugal in 1195. He was baptized "Ferdinand." He received an excellent education from the Augustinian friars and joined the order. When he was twenty-five, his life took an exciting turn. He heard about some Franciscans who had been martyred by the Moors in Morocco. These friars were St. Berard and companions. We celebrate their feast on January 16. From then on, Ferdinand felt a strong desire to die for Christ. He joined the Franciscans. This order was very new. St. Francis himself was still alive. Ferdinand took the name "Anthony." He went off to Africa to preach to the Moors. But he soon became so sick that he had to return to Italy. No one in his new religious order realized how brilliant and talented he was. They were not aware of how much education he had received. He never spoke about himself. So the Franciscan superiors assigned him to a quiet friary in Italy. There he washed pots and pans. One day, at a large gathering of priests, Anthony preached a marvelous sermon. From then on, until he died nine years later, St. Anthony preached all over Italy. He was so popular that people even closed their stores to go to hear him. St. Anthony is frequently called on in times of physical as well as spiritual needs. Many miracles have taken place through the intercession of St. Anthony. Large numbers of people have obtained favors by praying to him. That is why he is called the "wonder-worker." The statue of St. Anthony shows him with Baby Jesus because Baby Jesus appeared to him. Other pictures show St. Anthony holding a bible. This is because he knew, loved and preached the Word of God so well. In fact, St. Anthony was so well educated especially in Sacred Scripture that Pope Pius XII proclaimed him the "Evangelical Doctor," or Doctor of Sacred Scripture. St. Anthony died at Arcella, near Padua, Italy, on June 13, 1231. He was thirty-six. He was proclaimed a saint by Pope Gregory IX one year later. "The man who is filled with the Holy Spirit speaks in different languages. These different languages are different ways of witnessing to Christ, such as humility, poverty, patience, and obedience; we speak in those languages when we reveal in ourselves these virtues to others." -sermon by St. Anthony

Karate

This is Paul writing. Today the boys took their first karate lesson. They took their usual familial shyness into the Dojo which was probably more than Sensei was used to. However, after 25 minutes they were taking orders and yelling Japanese words. They aren't ready for battle yet, or ninja defense, however, it was quite fun watching.

This past weekend, Joey was climbing a tree to try to catch a squirrel. The squirrel didn't realize Joey was a friend and not a foe. Thereafter, Mr. Squirrel used gravity to evade Joey and fell into the jaws of Benson, our dog. Joey was heart broken and blamed himself for the needless death of Mr. Squirrel. We had a little ceremony and burial.

Boys will be boys...and knights, and pirates, and superheros and...

Just a couple pictures of my two boys and a neighbor boy doing what boys do best...being cute!