Excuses, Excuses!

Hello friends and loved ones,

It's been a bit, huh?  Nothing like our hectic G-Ville existence to humble me over the past two weeks and render my free time either non-existent or gasping to catch my breath.  Don't get me wrong, it is all so fun fun, I'd still do it again if given the chance...

We've been traveling--baby G and I headed to Dallas for a fun girls' weekend two weekends ago to meet up with my Building Cathedrals girls.  We had such a lovely time seeing everyone and our host, Texas Mommy, was beyond amazing, thinking of our every need.  I am back eating dairy and soy, so the food was extra delicious and baby G and I had so much fun communing with these wonderful sisters (and two of their wee ones).  It is a real treat to get to spend time with other women of faith, who are also raising large families and attempting to do so with grace and Godly perspective.  Such blessings they are to me...

Since then, we've been soccering, tutoring, slip-n-sliding, wrapping up our FIRE catechesis, going on dates (yahoo!), teaching Children's Liturgy at church, and enjoying our town's French food festival.  Magnifique!  There has been so much action packed into our days, that I'll let the following pictures do the talking.

The slip-n-sliding crew

Don't worry, he was still able to walk later...

Part of the cheering squad

Enjoying the French American food festival to benefit our local Little Sisters of the Poor

Fun thrills for T

Another thrill-seeker is born!

All the boys enjoyed escorting their sister on the slide--very sweet. :)

Just know we are doing well--Baby G is beginning to get into everything and chatting up a storm.  MG is still working on potty-training, but is becoming so verbal it makes up for it (I love this.)  J is teaching himself to cartwheel and tearing up the soccer field (2 older brothers does have its advantages!)  T is conquering a cold and enjoying daily snuggles with Mommy and Daddy all the more.  M is writing and creating, working on a screen play for a book he's been writing about him and T (cute :).  GG is also working on getting over a cold (same one passed around), but still enjoyed our date out on Friday night to a restaurant we love amidst rain, good food, and lovely vistas.  I loved it too, especially knowing we got a good deal using a LivingSocial coupon...  All this eating has made me want to make sure I'm ramping up the exercise as we are in the 2-week countdown to the end of nursing.  It will be a bittersweet, but very good finish line for all of us.  Bottom line: we are enjoying time together and what a gift that is!

God bless you,