twelve

Two weeks ago, this dapper fellow,

our beloved Firstborn,

celebrated his twelfth birthday.

Twelve seems a rather important year to me, a rather pivotal point in youth. I feel a weighty excitement for this boy as he faces the great adventure of adolescence and the journey toward adulthood. And along that bumpy, passionate, confusing, glorious path of discovery, I intend to enjoy every possible moment with this sweetness of a human that has been given to me.

All Hallow's Eve: The Party

Homemade Cake Doughnuts...

with many thanks to The Prof

who was kind enough to man

the fryer much of the afternoon!

Colleen's Spooky Spiders

Hallowe'en Whoopie Pies!

Making sacrifice beads...

~Treat bags to go~

And when the guests had departed,
my little crew got dressed up again
to go out trick or treating.
(Actually, Little Queen went in
street clothes 'cause her costume
~a wedding dress~ was too itchy)

All Hallow's Eve: The Costumed Guests

For the second year in a row, we hosted an All Hallow's Eve party here at the Suburban Ranch featuring all sorts of saintly costumes, prayer, games, activities, tricks and treats and an all round good time. Thankfully we were blessed with an afternoon of perfect outdoor weather which made a more spacious, child-proof party space for the 27 children who attended our gathering.

We started by joining together to pray the rosary, the De Profundis, and the Litany of Saints. Then we played "Guess the Saint" in which each costumed child stood up and provided some clues and biography of their saint and let the group guess. Even with some lesser known of the hallowed ones in our presence, I think the children were able to identify most of the characters and, I must add, there were some really spectacular costumes. (Not all guests pictured below)

Any guesses from the dear readers?

light of the world

13
"You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14
You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.
15
Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house.
16
Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.

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This was the lovely scripture chosen for the Gospel reading at a wedding I attended today. The bride and groom were perfectly radiant and all aglow. And they looked so young. Don't they always look so young? So ready for adventure? So blissfully eager to face the challenges ahead and so naively unaware of the joys and sorrows that await them. But, their faith and the graces that the sacraments provide will sustain them even when the naivete and the blissful eagerness wanes. That is our prayer for them and I trust it will be answered.

the fourth and beyond

Whew! I have been a negligent little blogger as of late, but it was a much celebrated weekend.

Friday we enjoyed our neighborhood parade and potluck. The children decorated bikes, enjoyed snow cones and other fun stuff:

Then on Friday night, the ever brave and ambitious Professor decided to brave the crowds of the big city. He and the three eldest children caught a bus and headed downtown to take in the grand firework display accompanied by music performed by the symphony on "the shore". What a great time they had.

Saturday we headed out to a friend's house to celebrate the fourth on the fifth. I didn't get any pictures, but she did. Mmm...the Prof whipped up some delicious cinnamon ice cream to go with her all american apple pie! (actually, I didn't get to have any as Baby O has protested quite vehemently against dairy, so I am

Monday we had a last minute visit from some dear friends and Monday night brought some newer friends over for dinner. Nathan had offered to re-hang the ceiling fan that rather strangely fell from our bedroom ceiling a couple of months ago. So we offered to feed his delightful family dinner in return. (Again, no photos of the day) It was a wonderfully exhausting day and end to a string of festivities.

::and now we are six::

(also, second in the series of "Why I haven't been blogging")

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On May 7, my lovely little Rosebud turned six years old. As it is her year to opt for a birthday party (it is an every other year option), we made plans for a princess-themed celebration the following Saturday.

There was a crowned Strawberry-cream layer cake...

Face painting offered by our creative 16 year old neighbor...

Magic Princess Wand-decorating (and eating)...

Jewel rimmed cups...



Cold pink refreshments for a record setting hot day...




And a very happy princess...

(hmmph, blogger won't upload the brighter,
close-up version of this photo,
but her smile lights up the picture anyway, I'd say)

Not pictured is the crown pinata which was filled with candy, princess jewelry and white glitter. Rosebud had wanted a princess pinata, but my mind went quickly back to a Dave Barry column I read years ago in which he was witness to a group of birthday party attendees beating a life-size princess shaped pinata to death. I recall reading the vivid and violent description of the children continuing the beating even once the colorful paper and wire had fallen to the ground. I recall recoiling with Dave at the horror of it all and swearing that we would never, ever have a human figure stuffed with candy and hanging from a tree awaiting the beatings of greedy young children. We went all around town to find it, but we got a crown.

Also not pictured is Rosebud's main birthday present. But that is because she doesn't have it yet. Soon. And I promise there will be photos when we get it.