Countdown to a Wedding

So I blinked and now it's August!! Still not quite sure how that happened! The end of July was chock full of fun and adventures. Here are Seven(ish) Quick Takes that wrap up the month! 

#1 and #2: The Bachelor and Bachelorette Parties

Front Row: Jacob, Andrew(who really was happy but doesn't generally smile for pics..insert eyeroll here...and Jon(best man and brother of the groom).
Back Row: Keegan, Mike(brother of the groom), and John

The guys spent a fun Friday afternoon/evening celebrating Andrew. They headed off to Foxwoods Casino, all wearing Hawaiian shirts for fun, and did a little gambling, had a great dinner at Guy Fieri's, and enjoyed a Weird Al Yankovic concert! Lots of fun was had and lots of memories were made.

Not to be outdone, the girls headed out to an overnight in Martha's Vineyard at my parent's vacation home. They enjoyed lots of girl time, beach time, yummy breakfasts, Mexican food, ice cream, more beach time, experimenting with funky colored make up and lots of games. Lots of fun was had and lots of memories were made! :)

From left to right: Sarah(sister of the groom), Victoria(sister of the bride), Liz(bride to be), Ellie(sister of the groom), Marisa(future sister-in-law of the groom)

#3: Pro-Life Boot Camp

Jay took Ellie and 11 more kids from the high school youth group to our Diocese's Pro-Life Boot Camp. It's the 9th year of the Camp, and it's something our older kids have always looked forward to. Andrew is still a chaperone for the camp each year and Sarah helps to organize the camp. It's also where Jon and Marisa met 5 years ago!! 

There are spiritual talks, visits to nursing homes, and they pray outside of an abortion clinic. The kids also get some fun time in with lots of games, including soccer with the bishop, an obstacle course, some kind of craziness with shaving cream thanks to Jay, fun with giant balls(also Jay), ultimate Frisbee and various other things that Jay finds on the internet.

Under all that shaving cream is Sarah!

#4: Time with the Littles

The last couple of years that Jay was away at boot camp, I've taken the younger crew and Peter over to the Vineyard with my parents. We get to go to restaurants, eat ice cream, go to the Flying Horses and go to the beach. It's just a tad more fun than being stuck at home with mom while dad, who is more of the "fun parent"(as you can see in #3), is away. Jon and Marisa were able to join in too!

Kate and my Mom 

Jon and Marisa

Kate loving the waves

Me and Peter

Luke sporting a new Black Dog shirt..an early birthday gift

Marisa and Peter

Peter got the Brass Ring!

Jon and Kate

Peter in his happy place

Luke

ice cream!

More ice cream:)

Kate and Pa(and ice cream:)

Ready to grab the ring!

#5: Kate's First Fishing Trip

This year the weather cooperated and Kate got to go fishing on Pa's boat for the first time! And she had some serious beginners luck!! 

Two at a time!!! Grandma and Pa helped a little!

Kate and Marisa

Kate caught Ba-bee shark doo doo doo de doo! 

But she was too afraid to take a picture with it!.....

A little too much fear....Couldn't quite get her to smile..or get close to the shark!  lol

Not to be outdone...Jon caught Da-ddy shark doo doo doo de doo

Luke had some fishing success as well!

Peter fished for about 30 seconds and preferred hanging around in the sunshine

More success

#6: A Big Birthday!

Peter turned 18 on the 31st! I can't believe it! He was SO excited for his birthday. Sarah made him cupcakes to celebrate with the family and brownies to bring to his summer program. He got lots of special attention! We got him his beloved dinosaur balloons and a Mickey suitcase so he can pack his own clothes when we go back to the Vineyard next month and for our Disney trip in December! :) 

#7: It's the Final Countdown!

Only 7 more days until Andrew and Liz say "I do"!!! Just.wow! I'm so excited! There is lots to do between now and then but I'm sure everything will come together. (Hopefully with minimal stress or mishaps!)

The furniture got delivered to their apartment this weekend and they are slowly starting to move their things in. Andrew got wifi hooked up and they bought a tv. The bathroom had needed work, but that will hopefully be done right before the wedding. So we get to enjoy having Andrew home with us for just a few more days!

Coming up this week: Luke's birthday gift...his first Red Sox game with Jay, Luke's actual birthday, a meeting with DDS to get Peter signed up for adult services, getting an appointment to sign Peter up for SSI, mani/pedi appointments, Peter's last week of summer program, picking up tuxes, and trying to keep everything organized as we head into a VERY special weekend!

I.can't.wait!

Live In The Moment

This is a summer of firsts for us as a family. And changes....lots of changes.

#12daysandcounting

In just 12 short days, the first of our crew will exchange vows and pledge to live his life for another. I can not say this enough....it is so surreal!

How did all those years go by so fast? I remember the early morning hour about 24 and half years ago so well...when all 9lbs 8ounces of baby boy entered into the world. He was a big baby with wide shoulders and a big head. (The delivery nurse said so herself.) Jay and I settled on the name Andrew, which was neither of our first or second choices for names but held the place of "third string quarterback" on each of our lists. Names were debated often in the month leading up to his birth. And when Andrew finally arrived and Jay saw his size and what I went through, he leaned over and whispered into my ear, "You can name him anything you want to..." And he meant it. But in my heart I knew that compromise was the way to go. The name Andrew, which means manly, definitely fit this squalling new baby that seemed very unhappy to be removed from his first home. Andrew cried so much after he was born. I was exhausted and I remember Jay walking and gently bouncing him around the delivery room, speaking soothingly into his ear to try and make the transition into the world a little easier.

This baby that I held in my arms is now an adult with a grown up job and getting ready to begin his own life separate from us. His world is about to change...and so is ours. He's found the perfect apartment to start out their new life. He hasn't moved into it quite yet because the floors were just redone and there is some work in the bathroom being taken care of. (Much to the chagrin of Ellen who has been eagerly awaiting Andrew's move because she is claiming his room for her own!) But these extra days of having him under our roof are quickly coming to an end.

Tried sneaking a pic of Liz sharing about her bachelorette weekend.
I just love how Andrew is so happy listening to her. 

They caught me!

Summer always goes by more quickly than I want it to. And this summer has gone by even quicker than usual with all the planning for the upcoming festivities. But I have made a much more conscious effort to soak in all those seemingly ordinary moments that make life so full. Enjoying dinners with whoever is home at the moment and enjoying their presence. Soaking in the days that Jon, who is continuing the work at UNH for his grad program and living up there full time, is home with everyone and life feels just right knowing that everyone is safe under our roof and in their own beds. Listening to shouts of joy as Jay plays with Luke and Kate in the pool after dinner while the weather is still warm and the extra light extends our days.

Kate pretending to make an "angry face" lol

Some "friendly" basketball competition

Andrew isn't the only one who has a big life change this year. Peter turns 18 tomorrow and, because he is profoundly affected by Autism, that means a whole new world and enormous amounts of paperwork to set up things like guardianship and disability and making sure that everything is done correctly so that we can care for Peter properly both now and in the future. It's just a tad overwhelming!

Peter looking like he's ready for an 80's Jassercize video!

Sarah is still searching for an apartment close to Bridgewater since she starts grad school right after Labor Day. That will be two kids moving out in the same month! Half of our kids will not be living with us. It's mind boggling!

Ellie is getting ready to enter her junior year of high school. It still surprises me that high school goes by so fast! She got her permit recently, went to driving school class, and is working hard to get the summer work for her 3 AP classes finished by the deadline, babysitting for her younger siblings the mornings I work, and playing in a summer basketball league.

Luke is one week away from double digits! My youngest son is growing and changing....and I know it won't be much longer until he won't be my "little boy" anymore. And Kate, my baby who is no longer a baby. She still wants to do everything her other siblings can do and is just growing all the time.(She cannot wait to make her First Communion this year!) She has long and lanky limbs that are a struggle to arrange comfortably when she's sitting on my lap for the stories that she still enjoys reading together! But I am determined to enjoy every cuddle and snuggle while she's still willing to give them!

"Live in the moment" has become my mantra this summer, because I'm very aware of how much I'm going to miss them once they are over. These moments are so incredibly special, and I appreciate them so much more now that I understand how numbered they truly are.

Going Deeper

Recently I was in adoration and opened by Bible to the story of the Rich Young Man.

"As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but Got alone. You know the commandments: 'You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother." He said to Him, "Theater, I have kept all these since my youth." Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, "You lack one thing; go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." At that saying his countenance fell, and he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions." Mark 10:17-22

"Jesus, looking upon Him, loved him."

I was trying to imagine what that "look" must have been like. Can you imagine the depth of Jesus' eye contact? Was there a gentleness in Jesus' eyes and face? Was there a small smile on his lips? Did Jesus reach out and touch the rick young man warmly on his shoulder?

What Jesus tells the rich young man after that loving look isn't what he expects to hear.

.....continue reading over at Catholic Sistas. Just click here

A Shower of Blessings

Last weekend was my soon to be daughter-in-law's bridal shower! I can't believe that we are so close to the wedding day! The bridal shower was a group effort from both families..and it came together beautifully. I wanted to share some highlights from Liz's special day!

#1 Gotta Love Pinterest

We chose a Coffee Theme for Liz's shower because Liz loves coffee. Thankfully, Pinterest had lots of fun ideas to choose from! After all, Liz and Andrew are "The Perfect Blend" so the theme definitely fit! 

Liz's mom found these super cute favor bags!
They are filled with chocolate covered espresso beans. :)

Decorations were simple and rustic with pops of light pink, which is a shout out to the bridemaids' dress color. My mother-in-law does amazing flower arrangements and helped us with the centerpieces and some other super cute flower decorations! (My favorite was the Mr. and Mrs. mugs filled with flowers!

#2 A Few Favorite Things

Liz is finishing up a Master's Degree to be a reading specialist.(In fact, her very last class ends 3 days before the wedding!) Her undergraduate degree is in English, so one of her bridesmaids, Marisa, who is also Jon's fiancee and amazingly crafty, printed out some romantic literary quotes to use as decorations.

~"Love is not an affectionate feeling, but a steady wish for the loved person's ultimate good as far as it can be obtained." C.S. Lewis

~"A woman's heart should be so close to God that a man should have to chase Him to find her." 

C.S. Lewis

~"There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind." C.S.Lewis

~"They belonged to each other and no matter what life might hold for them, it could never alter that their happiness was in each other's keeping." Lucy Maud Montgomary

~"My heart is and always will be yours." Jane Austen

~"He felt now that he was not simply close to her, but that he did not know where he ended and she began."Leo Tolstoy

~"I loved her against reason, against promise, against hope, against happiness, against all discouragement that could be." Charles Dickens

~"Once in a while, right in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairy tale." Melissa Brown

Liz loves Bananagrams almost as much as coffee....so we had to find a way to incorporate them into the decorations, too! 

#3 Looking for a Sign?

Marisa also hand painted a few fun signs that fit the theme!(Like I said before...amazingly crafty!) Just another special touch! You can see the welcome sign that she hand painted in #1.

This was a super cute touch...right outside the bathroom door.
No matter where you went, there were special touches. :)

#4 What's a Party Without Dessert?

Keeping with the theme, I made some mini espresso cheesecakes. My daughter, Sarah, (also a bridesmaid), spent hours making several flavors of homemade macaroons. They are SO good but very labor intensive. She made coffee flavor, (of course), raspberry(to add a little pink to the dessert table), chocolate with chocolate ganache filling, chocolate with chocolate mint filling, and lemon. They looked great and tasted even better!

My mil made Polish Bow ties...which is special because both Andrew and Liz share a Polish heritage.
Liz's last name is Dobrowolski and my mil's maiden name is Buraczenski. 

#5 The Bridal Party

From left to right:

Victoria, Liz's sister and Maid of Honor: Sara, Liz's cousin: Sarah and Ellen, the groom's sisters: Liz: Marisa, my son Jon's fiancee: and Kate, the cute flower girl and sister of the groom

#6 Family Means Everything

This was the first time I've gotten to meet Liz's extended family. They were all so kind and so excited to be sharing in such a special day. You could see and feel their love for Liz and for each other. What a blessing it is for me to be getting a daughter in law who comes from a family that cares so much. 

I think that all the emotions were even more evident because just the day before, Liz's Uncle Jimmy, who is her mom's brother, passed away after a long struggle with MSA. Experiencing such a close loss just highlights how love, family, and faith are everything.  

Uncle Jimmy had been struggling with his health for a long time, but in the last couple of weeks things went down hill quickly. I have so much respect for Liz's mom and her sisters who spent most of those last weeks sacrificing sleep and time with their own families to care so lovingly for their brother. It was truly inspiring. 

(Not to mention how amazing Liz's mom, Patti, is to have focused on making her daughter's bridal shower so special while driving back and forth between MA and CT, caring for her brother, and carrying her own grief! #faithandgrace) 

Celebrating Liz and her upcoming wedding brought some joy and hope for the future for everyone.

#7 The Final Countdown Begins!

And now...on to the wedding! 44 days and counting! I.can't.wait!

Andrew & Liz

Mom's Summer "A" Game

This was an actual conversation at our house just the other day:

My two youngest kids on their last day of school: "Woo hoo! Summer vacation! I'm so excited!"
Same kids(5 minutes later): "So, what are we doing tomorrow, Mom??"
Me:(after several seconds of silence...a couple of "Umm's"...and a little anxiety): "Well, we need to go grocery shopping."
Kids: (groan in unison)
Me: (groans on the inside thinking of visiting multiple stores with kids in tow!)

Summer vacation... it's such a special time of year. With kids ranging from 7 to 26, I've certainly had a lot of experience with summer vacation.(and lived to tell about it!)

I actually like having my kids home with me. (At least most of the time!) This year though, I just don't feel like I'm on my "A" game.

Head on over here to read the rest of my post on embracing summer parenting over at Catholicmom.com.

Every Dash Matters

"There will be two dates on your tombstone and all your friends will read them. But all that is going to matter is that little dash in between them." -Kevin Welsh

What about if there is no dash?

Our fourth child and first baby girl only lived for 16 short days. Therese Elizabeth was born 21 years ago with a genetic disorder that is "incompatible with life". We soaked in the short time we had with her as best as we could...but it wasn't nearly enough.

Head on over to Catholic Sistas to read the rest of my post. (A little side note: I wrote this particular post on Therese's birthday(May 20th) and it was published today, June 5th, which is the 21st anniversary of her journey to Heaven.)