Short and sweet

These irises and peonies live right outside our front door and I love them, but am always bummed to see them go after what seems like only a few days. 

Boy Scout Induction Ceremony

Josh was a Cub Scout for a couple of years starting back in the third or fourth grade, but because we did not like some of the things we saw in the group, it fizzled out.  I had one of those meetings with a fellow homeschool mom at the grocery store that seems like a coincidence, but then you realize later that it was just Providence. 

We somehow got to talking about the troop that her oldest son is in and she mentioned that Josh should consider rejoining.  When I mentioned it to him he agreed without hesitation so it seemed like a good thing.  

They are a great bunch of guys!!  They are very respectful and smart and resourceful and responsible and, etc., etc.  

They have great meetings and recently had a canoe trip and they have camp-outs once a month (even in the winter).  

They recently had the Induction Ceremony and I was forewarned, by the same mom from the grocery store, that this was no time to wear nice clothes with the understanding that we would be in a building.  ...no...  The ceremony takes place literally in the middle of a forest that requires quite a hike to get to; going over a small man-made bridge and walking along a candlelit pathway with small stations every few yards with each of the scout virtues painted on a piece of wood.  Yes, candlelit, because they wait to start the official ceremony until the sun sets. 

Before that, they entertained everyone with skits they obviously spent hours working on ...ahem... but they were funny!

We are very proud of him and hope that this troop brings him a lot of enjoyment, learning and camaraderie.  The pictures turned out fuzzy because it was so dark...

 

Texture Tuesday, Volume 17

Joining Kim for Texture Tuesday...

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Summer weather is finally here!  Enjoy your week :)

Mother's Day

Only about a month late getting this post out... :)

After church, we had a nice lunch at Martin's and then visited our mothers for the afternoon. 

The best Mother's Day gift for me is that the kitchen is CLOSED!  Eric made breakfast for me and we had grilled steaks for dinner.  It was great! 

Meredith's First Holy Communion

The weather on First Communion is always up-in-the-air...we're always praying for no rain... and, thankfully, it didn't!  It was a little cool and very windy which made for some entertaining outside pictures. 

Meredith read a petition for the prayers of intercession and did a great job.  

All four of our daughters have worn my wedding veil with their First Communion dress...I have loved that tradition.  I thought someone would not want to wear it somewhere along the way, but they all have been excited to participate in the tradition!  Or at least they're good at playing along :)

It's such a beautiful sacrament and this was our last child to receive it so that made it bittersweet...

We had a nice party with about 40 total people here.  The food was gone - either we didn't plan very well or it was really good!!

Easter 2014

We spent Easter weekend in Cleveland this year.  The kids really enjoy being with their cousins and a house full of 9 kids is pretty exciting!  

We visited the West Side Market in downtown Cleveland which was so cool - I wish I would have taken some photos of it.  It is huge and has so many vendors, it could take a whole day to get through it all. 

The Easter Bunny in Cleveland leaves the eggs outside...way more fun that way.  

We enjoyed a beautiful Easter Mass and it was a gorgeous day being sunny and about 75 degrees.  

Texture Tuesday, Volume 16

Linking up with Kim today for Texture Tuesday - the theme this week is yellow.

We went to Holland, MI for the Tulip Festival the day after Meredith's First Communion.  It was a nice day...could have been a little warmer...could have been a little less windy...but, it wasn't raining.  Most of the tulips were not in bloom yet, but we found a couple of patches on 8th Street that were in all of their glory!

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Happy Tuesday everyone and have a great week!