Seven Quick Takes: November

1. Goodness, here we are at the end of November and the doorstep of Advent.  This Fall has been a whirlwind.  A good one albeit, but a whirlwind nevertheless.  I don't expect Spring to be any different, except maybe more whirlwind-ish.  I just love November.  It's magical.  Don't get me wrong, I love the holidays and the Advent season immensely, but there is something magical about the anticipation that November brings.  The one-of-a-kind sky (have you ever really looked at the November sky? There's just something so November-y about it.), the slanty light, the changing weather, the beautiful trees, the anticipatory waiting for holidays to come.  This book sums it up pretty perfectly for me.  Some day I'll purchase our own copy, but honestly I think I may love it more than the kids do, LOL.
2. Thanksgiving break was nice.  It was different this year, as I had inservice on Monday and Tuesday, but the kids had an awesome time at the sitter's and the rest of the week was a relaxing, enjoyable time with family and just hanging out around the house.  On Saturday, I believe I wore my pajamas until 4pm.  Then I changed into something equally pajama-ish to cut the boys' hair. And then I showered.  And put my pajamas back on.  Now that's the life!  Speaking of clothes (sort of), I ordered some more "maternity" clothes this past week from Old Navy while they were having 50% off.  I put maternity in quotes because none of them were actually specifically maternity items. I finally broke down and ordered some leggings (oh my word, no one told me how warm and comfortable leggings are, holy moly) and some dresses that I wouldn't wear non-pregnant because they'd look like too-short potato sacks on me, but they actually work great on me+baby belly with the leggings, so I think with what I ordered I may have just stretched my professional wardrobe up to baby-time (for the most part).  Hopefully.
3. I've set up a bunch of Christmas specials on the DVR.  All the usuals (Charlie Brown, The Grinch, Rudolph, etc. etc.) Even though some of them have already recorded, I told the kids they need to spread them out and wait until closer to Christmas to watch them.  We did watch Frosty and Frosty Returns yesterday.  Oh my word, Frosty Returns is horrible.  It is the epitome of low-budget, plot-less 1990's sequels.  I deleted it as soon as it was over (and wish I would have deleted it five minutes in).  For something new this year I am recording The Polar Express, which they've never seen.  Actually, I don't think I've ever seen it either.  I can't decide on Elf.  That is one of those movies that I laugh so hard at every year, and could seriously watch it over and over and not tire of it, just not quite sure if I'm ready for the kids to watch it yet (at almost 9, almost 7 and 4.5).  I am curious to hear others' thoughts on this, because IMHO, that one deserves the title "classic" (or at least modern-day classic) in my books, but I'm just having trouble gauging age-appropriateness (and I probably err on the side of caution more often in that department).  Gemma gets to go see The Best Christmas Pageant Ever with her class at a local live theatre, so I have requested the book from the library to read (still debating whether to read to just her or all the kids).  I remember my mom reading this book to us every year (it seems like, maybe it wasn't that often) and just loving it.
4. I am getting wordy.  Here are some pictures from our first day of Thanksgiving break.  It was cold (really the first COLD cold day of the season) so we had hot-chocolate after school, and Kolbe  made us a turkey soup recipe (which interestingly enough had beef, not turkey in it. but it was delish never-the-less).
    
5.  I have hit (and passed) the halfway point of this pregnancy.  See aforementioned whirlwind.
   
6. Much to my dismay, the kids have inherited a ridiculously large collection of bottle caps.  So ridiculously large that they have been ordered to keep them in the garage.  I will say, they do keep them ridiculously entertained....
    
7. And here we are at Advent!  I always love the Advent season.  This year we will be using the book Welcome Baby Jesus at the breakfast table.  I've used this book two or three times before, and it was actually sent home from school to all families this year so it was definitely meant to be.  We will be using the same Jesse Tree as last year (which I loved, using a combo of the regular RSV and our Children's Bible) and while I haven't gone through our books and assigned one for each day like other years, we will definitely be doing a loose version of picture book a day again this year.  With the growing our home library has slowly done each year, and the addition of six more Christmas hardcovers from St. Nicholas here in a week-and-a-half, I only ended up requesting about a dozen-and-a-half Christmas books from the library this year!  So fun!!  Our wreath candles I ordered last year still have another year in them (at least).  No countdown/Advent activity chain this year.  Hopefully the kids don't mutiny...  What does Advent look like at your house?  Richest blessings of the season to all, and as we were reminded in today's Gospel, stay awake!  He is coming!!  For more SQT click here.  PAX!
   

Seven really random, really quick takes

Twice in a month!  Bam!!

1. I have really been enjoying hot tea lately.  I am a coffee person (black, thanks) through and through, but I try to limit my caffeine a bit during pregnancy. Actually, it doesn't even sound good during the first trimester or so.  I've been back to drinking it the past several weeks, but I still enjoy me a cup of hot tea, especially on a crisp Autumn, slanty-lighted morning.  Mmmmmm.  I like spice teas, this is one of my favorites.  
2. I am in need of professional wear.  Again.  Sigh.  I laugh about updating my wardrobe this summer for work only to have none of the pants fit anymore.  With baggier tops being more the style I really haven't worn many maternity tops, and I used one of those band things with my pants for awhile but then I tried on a pair of actual maternity pants and realized how comfortable they are.  Problem is, I've never worked during a pregnancy so I have nothing professional.  I ordered a pair of pants from Old Navy in black that I like a bunch.  A whole bunch.  So I ordered them in gray and they were too short.  So I exchanged them for khaki.  And they were too short.  Sigh.  #longlegprobs.  And I don't do skirts so don't ask.  Believe me I've tried, I just can't.
3. I have my lesson plans almost done through Thanksgiving break!! Just a few holes to fill in here and there!  And then it's only 3ish weeks until Christmas break, and those plans will be easy because really?  Christmas time in an elementary music classroom?  What could be more fun and open for great lesson possibilities!!  After that my year will be well over half over since I'll only be working until early April-ish.  It's just flying by!! And I'm having so much fun in the classroom!  This has been a great setup for this year.
4. We were at Kohl's last week (I had to return some maternity pants that didn't work out) and the boys had some money burning a hole in their pockets apparently, so Kolbe picked out and bought Curious George and Clem Corduroy (see here).  They are pretty cute.  Kolbe has "flashlight Friday" each week at school where they get to bring a flashlight and stuffed animal and read quietly for awhile, so George made the trip with him this week.
5. Steak (and hot dogs) for dinner tonight after hubby found a super-good deal on some ribeyes at the grocery store a few weeks ago!!  Pork chili (it's our new fave, I use my white chicken chili recipe but we use chunked up pork butt instead of chicken, soooo good!) last night.  Up this week: shredded chicken tacos, shepherd's pie, leftovers and whatever.
6. St. Nicholas will be bringing some new (to us, I got some great deals on used hardcovers) Christmas books this year!!  The Night of Las Posadas, Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree, Millie in the Snow, The Christmas Day Kitten, Apple Tree Christmas and Can You See What I See: The Night Before Christmas were all worthy of a status greater than library checkout!!  Our home library is getting bigger than the stack I check out from the library now!  So exciting!!
7. APPLES!  We have enjoyed a variety of apples, apple crisps, apple books, apple experiments (thanks first grade) all kinds of apple things this Fall! Next up I told Kolbe we'd make applesauce after reading Applesauce Season.  Does anyone have a food-mill they'd loan me?
   

Seven Quick Takes...it's been awhile...

Well, it happened.  I went back to work and blogging went by the wayside.  I am not terribly bothered by this, but I would still like to have some semblance of record that we actually are alive and do things once in awhile, so alas it's time for an update.  Seven Quick Takes seemed the least intimidating... 

1. NEWS.  Big news!  The BABY kind of big news!!  WE HAVE A BABY ON THE WAY!!!!  (If you're friends with me in real life or on Facebook, which is probably most of you, you already know this.)  But yep, you read that right.  I went back to work and now we have a baby on the way.  Bwahahahaha.  But it's all so, SO SO good! God's hand was so obvious in the way my teaching job came about in the first place, I know this newest little one is just another part of His great plan.  Not mine.  Because slowly and surely, He is teaching me to quit planning ahead.
2. FALL PICTURES (see sidebar).  After a not-so-great experience last year with the pictures taken at school, we decided to just stick with Portrait Innovations exclusively for the kids' yearly professional pics (minus the sono shot.  obviously.)  I've always been pretty pleased with them and this year is no exception.  Gemma - 3rd Grade; Kolbe - 1st Grade; Clement - PreKinder; Baby - Coming This Spring!!!  We were going to do family pictures this Fall but now with being pregnant and the fact that they'd be out of date in six months, I'm up in the air.  I really don't want to do them in Spring because newborns change so quickly, but our most current one is 1.5 years old.  I don't know. Pictures stress me out...
   
3. PRESCHOOL. Three kids and this year is my first experience with preschool.  I had always sworn I would NEVER send a child to preschool.  I am learning that along with making long-term plans, I also need to eliminate the word "never" from my vocabulary.  Before the job even came about, I had the thought that Clem may benefit from a little more than he would be getting (being the only kid) at home this school year, but still wasn't thrilled about adding the expense of preschool to our budget.  When the job came about, and it overlapped nearly perfectly with the half-day, five-day-a-week preschool schedule at my school, it seemed like the obvious choice.  Clem's visit to the preschool room last spring was awful.  I bumped his head on a table when we were sitting down right after we got there, and he cried the whole time.  But I enrolled him anyways.  And all summer he seemed pretty stoked to be going to school like the big kids, but I was still a little nervous.  He went his first day and has never looked back.  Well, I take that back, he had one really rough day about 3 weeks in, but had no hesitation before that and has had none since.  And he doesn't just like it.  He LOVES it.  Talks about it ALL the time (which is new to me after a Gemma who maybe said two words about kindergarten the whole year, and Kolbe who says more but still not to the level that Clem shares). They do so much cool stuff...painting, cooking, play dough, shaving cream and salt letters...all the stuff that stresses me out at home because of the mess!  They sing and dance and go to recess and I think they've done like two worksheets the whole first 8 weeks.  We couldn't ask for a better setup. 
4. CONFERENCES. We had school conferences last week. The third graders had these little "Guess Who" things hung up in the hallway outside their room.  Didn't take long to nail Gemma's.  She was the only third grader whose favorite food was sushi.
5.  Good heavens, SEVEN?!  I seriously can't think of seven things to talk about right now.
6. PREGNANCY.  I'm 14 weeks this weekend.  This pregnancy has definitely been different.  The ickies didn't hit until like 8-9 weeks, and even then they weren't debilitating like I remember them being, (although I think working has helped keep my mind off of feeling yuck) they were still definitely there. The lack of/difference in "ick" was a little concerning at first (because I like to analyze every aspect of my life), but seeing that healthy babe on the sono screen was incredibly reassuring.  We're so excited!!!  Just the past week I've been feeling a little better, and less inclined to take a nap every waking moment, so that's been a plus.  And I haven't had too many food aversions (besides CheezIts, veggie dip, meatloaf and chicken tenders) but oh my have I had insanely intense cravings.  For the most random things (maybe because I like to watch foodie shows after the kids are in bed sometimes).  I still haven't gotten my Indian taco.  Sniff sniff.
7.  SATURDAY.  Saturday has taken on a glorious, amazing and magnificent meaning that it has never in my life possessed.  Between working and being pregnant, my Saturday mornings are like gold.  Sleep in. (Normally I find the idea of sleeping in repulsive, but this AM I didn't roll out of bed until 7:15.  SEVEN FIFTEEN!!!  That's like practically noon, people!)  Live in my jammies until, ahem, well, anyways...  Morning prayer.  Cup of hot tea (or coffee, which I have just again redeveloped a taste for after about a two month hiatus.  OHHHH coffee!!!!!)  Simple breakfast for the kids, or maybe a batch of waffles or something.  At our leisure.  Chores at my leisure.  Oh my word, I could write a whole book of Odes to Saturday Morning now. 

Well, I suppose that's all.  Check out more Quick Takes from the Catholic Blogging World over at This Ain't the Lyceum.  Happy October, everyone!  The way my record has been, I'll probably see you again in November.  :-)

Journal: settling into our new routine

Yes, it's been (almost) a month.  I know.  I think like only two people read this though, so as Pete the Cat would say, "it's all good."
TODAY

Out my window: Sunny and warm.  The days are definitely getting shorter though, and the heat is so much less intense even on the hot days.  We went to a local baseball game last evening, and the weather was so nice, despite being a warm day.  Hubby is watering our trees on the off chance that we don't get the rain that's being predicted for the next five days.  You just never know around here.

Around the house: My pumpkin spice candle is burning, because hey it's almost Fall!  Much as I despise winter, I really do love this season-changing time of year.  And there are so many fun things to do in Fall!  The candle is probably a bit premature, but it smells nice. I saw this idea on Facebook where you put coconut oil, pumpkin pie spice and some cinnamon in one of those little warmer things and I really want to try it.  I don't have a warmer but bet it would work in a small saucepan on the warming area on my stovetop.

The kiddos: They're all back to school!  And despite all the changes around here with me going back to teaching, I think this may be our smoothest start to a school year yet.  Gemma has settled in nicely, although homework is definitely not her fave.  Kolbe had a few rough mornings the first couple days of school but got past that and really seems to enjoy being there, and Clem has never looked back.  He was my first child to not have any tears on the first day of school (and my other two didn't even GO to preschool).  He loves it.  Runs up to the door with gusto and a huge smile on his face every day we drop him off.  I really hope (for his sake and mine) that this continues.  Makes the big change of having him (and me) gone in the afternoons much more manageable (for him and for me). 

In the kitchen: What's cooking here this week? 
Sunday: Grilled steak/jalapeno poppers, corn on the cob and some sort of wilted greens salad that I am still trying to figure out a recipe for....

Monday: French Dips and steamed broccoli

Tuesday: simple spaghetti with meat already in the freezer

Wednesday: lemon garlic chicken (new recipe I'm trying!) with fetuccini in cream sauce and steamed green beans

Thursday: salads (crispy chicken) probably, or leftovers

Friday: baked catfish and simple sides 

I am back to only cooking for one at the rectory, so that is a nice change, especially with heading back to teaching. 

Learning...how to juggle working and school and everything.  Really it's all good so far.  I didn't take into account how short my short days (Monday, Wednesday and every other Friday) were going to be, so that has been nice, still plenty of time around the house to be with Clem and get things done.  And I'm not there until around 9 on my long days, so even then mornings are still relaxed.  Or at least as relaxed as a morning can be trying to get two kids and Aaron out of the house.  The kids seem to be settling in with their respective school workloads and I'm sure they'll learn all kinds of interesting new things this year.  I have ample plan time built into my schedule at school, so I haven't had to do a ton at home (especially with all the work my partner and I did this summer), so that has been nice.

Reading: Um. Nothing. I did make a resolution at the beginning of the year to spend 15 minutes reading/meditating on Scripture a day, and this may very well be the first New Year's Resolution I am still sticking with come (almost) September.  And let me tell you, it has borne much fruit.  The kids and I are reading a book about Clare of Assisi at the breakfast table, and also The Saturdays.  Gemma and I just finished Understood Betsy, and I just don't know what we are going to do to follow that beautiful book.  It may be my favorite read-aloud yet.  And before that we read Caddie Woodlawn and its sequel, so I just really don't know where to go from here.

Watching: MLB mainly and a few other random things....like the back of my eyelids.

Bringing me joy: Confession.  New students.  The coming change in seasons.  Pretty flowers.  A date with my hubby on the horizon.  Doing puzzles with the kids.

Thinking about: lots.

Pictures to share:  

First day of school 2016.  Third grade, first grade and PK4yrs.  If you are friends with me on Facebook you've already seen these.  Sorry.

Seven Quick Takes: almost back to school edition

1. I got a lot of shopping done last weekend to update (errrr, read: pretty much start from scratch) my professional wardrobe for the upcoming school year.  We happened to walk into The Limited, who I had been told was a good place for what I'm needing clothing-wise, on their *one day only* 60% off the entire store (regular and sale price) sale.  Seriously, the pants I got ranged from $10-$27 a pair (they were regular $80 pants.  Gulp).  Nice dress pants.  I was so excited!  They are currently out for (free) alterations to the hem, so hopefully they fit like a charm when I get them back (fingers crossed).  I have long legs, but after talking to my husband (the fashion expert) and a couple of the gals at the store, I realize I've actually been wearing my dress pants a little too long.  So we'll see how it all hashes out.  I found a brown and black pair of shoes at Dillards that I think are going to fit (it's been a long time since I had to wear dressier-type shoes all day, so I am hoping for comfort, they seem promising...) and some odds and ends at Maurices that I am still trying to decide what I'm going to keep and what's going back, but I'm all of a sudden feeling much better about my wardrobe than I was a couple weeks ago.

2. I also got almost all my meal planning done for August AND September (!!!). I wasn't planning to do September, but it just sort of happened as I would add things and find a time to repeat them and think of other things, etc. Meal planning is normally something I only do a week in advance, before making my weekly grocery list, but with so many irons in the fire as the school year starts, it just felt like something I needed to do.  If for nothing else, for my sanity's sake.  So now I just have to make grocery lists each week.  And grocery shop (which my dear husband has offered to help with). And cook.  But it's all good.  After weighing the pros and cons, I decided to go ahead and keep my (very) part-time cooking job, so it's nice to have my ducks in a row for all that and make sure no one starves, here or at the rectory.  As an added bonus, I won't have to explain why I decided PB&J and hot dogs seemed like a reasonable weekly menu.  Here or at the rectory, LOL.  I even found a new crock pot chicken recipe that looks promising.  If anyone has more crock pot recipes to share, I'm all ears (eyes?).  I have a feeling the crock pot will be my BFF this fall and winter as I settle into my working schedule.

3. Speaking of ducks in a row, earlier this week I finished my second of two college courses this summer to get my teacher's license renewed by next summer.  The first one was a one day workshop on-site for one credit hour, the other class was a month-long, four-module online course that consisted (mainly) of two reading and two writing assignments a week.  It was a lot of work, but ended up not being as bad as I originally thought it would, and I am so SO SO glad to have it behind me and have those hours!!

4. And speaking of planning, I have my first month of lesson plans mostly done as well.  My co-teacher has showed me the magnificent wonder that is Planbook, and I've been on a roll.  Things have changed SOOOOO much since I taught ten years ago.  Wowzer.  I figure if I can stay on top of the lesson planning and meal planning, hopefully everything else will fall into place (at home and school) without too much stress.  Childcare is largely figured out (it has all fallen into place with so little effort) and I am getting reallllly excited to get back in the classroom.  While there's definitely some apprehension, I'm feeling very ready to settle into our new normal this Fall.

5. The kids have all their supplies and I am again grateful for our neighbor and her used uniforms shirts (for Kolbe) she was willing to again let me go through.  His shirts from last year probably would have still fit, but we have another boy coming down the pipe, and he's smaller and will be starting kindergarten younger so I think he'll definitely wear them two years.  It seemed to make sense to save the wear on them this year.  Shopping in someone's living room is the best...for atmosphere and prices!! Gemma's jumpers are all altered and I am hoping (hoping hoping hoping) that if I take the hem out next year (read: someone else re-does the hem for me. I don't do hems.) I can stretch them through next year as well. And then she'll be in skirts!!  Her shirts from last year still fit.

6. Clement is really excited about starting preschool but his concept of time just isn't quite there, plus the big kids start three days before him, so we made a countdown chain to hang in his bedroom.  He feels like such a big kid and is getting so excited!

7. Yesterday I worked in my classroom and (with the help of my co-teacher) got my computer and projector set up.  It was a classic case of the blind leading the blind.  So many cords!  We were hilarious.  But we got my phone talking to the projector, and the computer is up and running (with a few finishing touches from the tech coordinator last night, hopefully he didn't groan too loudly when he saw our work) so now I just need to go in and familiarize myself with everything.  Last time I taught, technology in my classroom consisted of a VCR, so this is a whole new world.  But I'm a fast learner....  After initially deciding to head down to my room after Mass this morning, I looked at the state of my hyper children and decided spending an hour+ around pricey, new (to me) technology with Thing 1 and Thing 2 and Thing 3 wasn't in anyone's best interest.  One of these days....

That's all, folks!  I'm off to the work-force a week from yesterday, feel free to send any extra prayers my way!  If you made it this far, I'll leave you with this adorable picture of my precious baby who will literally sleep anywhere, including the dinner table at grandma's house.  Find more quick takes this week at This Ain't the Lyceum.

PAX!

Journal: the long part of Summer

TODAY

Out my window:  Sunny.  Hot.  We have reached the historical "hottest part of summer" the next three weeks in these parts.  I looked out on the deck a bit ago and my poor vinca looked so sad.  Water.  Oops.  No rain in the 10 day, although we had an inch the other night.

Around the house: We got the kids' school supply lists last week and promptly hit the store for school shopping.  Sometimes I am probably too task-oriented, but it was nice to get it done.  The big kids both had a small handful of stuff from previous years they were able to use again this year, and I was pleasantly surprised at how small Clem's supply list was.  Maybe because we pay tuition for preschool they provide more supplies?  Who knows, but I was glad it consisted of about four things.

I purchased a small white-board to put menu planning on the refrigerator as I am so tired of answering the question "what's for dinner tonight/tomorrow, etc.?" fourteen times a day.  Or an hour.  Little things like this make me nerd-out wayyyyy too much.

 

The kiddos:  Clement celebrated his fourth birthday last week!  And he stayed four after his birthday this year!!! It was a fun, quiet day.  He requested strawberry shortcake again like last year, but mysteriously only ate the strawberries and cream off the top both times it was served.  We had cake for breakfast (it's tradition), hot dogs for lunch, and he had I think five? seven? helpings of meatloaf for dinner.  It is his favorite.  Kolbe had a ball game that evening.  Clem got some Hot Wheels cars and tracks including the loop the loop that they had been trying to create for months with their flat tracks (grin).  Finally, after eight and a half years of parenting, we have found a toy that our kids enjoy, don't tire of, and will play with, together, for literally hours (they have had a small amount of track since January birthdays that has gotten played with all the time, hence buying more for Clem's birthday). I feel so accomplished.  I truly never thought I'd see the day.

A funny story about Clem's birthday.  His godfather came up to him when we were over at my parents' and, speaking to him like a big man, pulled his wallet and a wad of $1s out and said, "so Clement, how many years old are you this year?" as he thumbed through the money.  Clement cocked his head, looked at him dead-serious and said, "oh, mayyyybe one hundred."  That kid!  We decided to start giving him allowance at 4, even though the older kids didn't get any until they were 5.  Those younger kids....  He defintely, as evidenced by the convo with his godfather, has a decent grasp on the concept of money.

And one more story, because I have no other place to keep record of this stuff: my parents (at my suggestion) got Clem some new jammies for his birthday.  Almost everything he has is hand-me-downs, so I thought he would enjoy some that were his very own.  They even got spidey ones!!  He was very polite and thanked them, but when we got home and he was in the shower I asked him which ones he wanted to wear to bed that night and he answered very seriously, "mom, can you just take them back please.  I really like the ones I have.  Just, take them back."  He was excited when I told him he could exchange them for a few more Hot Wheels tracks, so we had a fun shopping trip and he ended up being very happy with his present.

The kids (especially the older two...and me...) have gotten into puzzles lately.  We finished this 500 piece one in 3-4 days.  It was so much fun!!  Kolbe got some new clothes (I am hoping the athletic material will help keep at-bay his horrible neck stretching habit).  Can you tell which shirt is his favorite (these pics were taken on two different days)?

  In the kitchen: See aforementioned white-board. And don't ask me again.  ;-)

Learning:  I've been working on my online course and some lesson planning for the coming year.  I am getting so excited to get back in the classroom.  I've spent some time working at school and getting my room ready as well.  We've been diligent about our 20 minutes a day for the library reading program and I think everyone will hit their 60 days by the end of the program.

Reading: Academia.  Not much else.  Blah.  Academic reading is the worst.  Someone reminded me today that, "they get paid for writing, not content."  Truer words were never spoken.  Blah.  I'm almost 3/4s the way there though.  Once I muscle through next weekend's assignment I should be done.

Watching: Mainly baseball. Honestly not much else. Looking forward to some cozy nights watching Gold Rush with Aaron this fall.  The kids have enjoyed this summer's season of American Ninja Warrior.

Bringing me joy: My faith. Kind words. Connecting with old and new friends. Prayer.

Thinking about: Life and time, specifically our time here on earth. A seminarian from our diocese died in a tragic accident this past week and it has really made me reflect on how little control we have over our lives.  We give ourselves all these illusions of control (from keeping a clean house to meal-planning to a million other things), and especially with our littles still safely under our wings (for the most part) I know I get caught up thinking I have so much control over my life.  Not so much.  I am thankful that He who made the moon and stars cares deeply about me and those I love, and I pray that they may find consolation as they unite their sufferings with His.  God is good...all the time. Even in the midst of grief and suffering.  His will be done. In me and through me.

Pictures to share:  

Birthday hats were a much-anticipated part of this year's celebration. 
Even the stuffed animals got their own.

The sweet birthday boy.  Grandma surprised him with a cake at family dinner night.

Me and my honey.  We will celebrate 10 years of marriage this week.