Mary Katharine turned "5" in October!

We had our usual family breakfast party with daddy's annually requested "daddy/daughter kiss."

Plus she had a very special "baking party" with her little friends. They had lots of fun playing "Pin the Baker's Hat on Mary" and the little bakers were hard at work making brownies and cupcakes. Everyone got their own apron and wooden spoon along with a few little baked goods to bring home.

"Oh Mary, please don't grow anymore", we tell her. "You are so cute just the way you are." "But mom," she replies, "I can't help it. God makes me grow. I'm not doing a thing."

Summer '09 Highlights

Here are some highlights from the Summer of 2009

Our Very First Garden!

We did it...one step at a time!

It started out small....

...but then it grew and grew!

Lettuce, cucumber, tomato, cabbage, chard and lots of delicious herbs!

Our 2nd Annual Homeschool Summer Musical

"Cinderella"

starring Caroline

as

"Eutropelia"

(Cinderella's Mouse Friend)

and

Julia & Mary Katharine

as

"Alethea" and "Artemis"

(Fairies)

Franciscan Summer Camp

Caroline enjoyed another week at camp...

even though she'll miss her buddies Doh-Doh and Be-bet

The Greatest Anniversary Gift Ever

Pictures could never do this justice.

Grammy spent over one month with the girls,

learning songs, dances, making costumes and props

for a special surprise performance of

"South Pacific"

Mommy and Daddy were given fancy cocktails,

special tropical appetizers and

front row seats for our 12th wedding anniversary surprise.

The girls did a GREAT job.

You brought us to tears with your sweet voices,

little dance steps and all that you learned

and kept a secret for such a long time.

Thank you!

We love you so much.

Summer Film Project...our First Movie!

We are so blessed by the talents and dedication of the families in our community.

The girls had the special privilege of filming a documentary

on the life of Saint Bernadette of Lourdes.

This project involved over 100 children from CT and Westchester County.

It was a lot of fun and was a fantastic experience

in many ways.

And last but not least...

Caroline's 9th Birthday in August

This year's party theme was a

"Johnny Rockets" Hamburger Party

cutting fondant "tomatoes" for her cheeseburger cake!

Our coolest cake so far (and the easiest one too)

Waiting to greet her customers at the JR Cafe!

St. Mary's Church ~ New Haven...

Congratulations

Julia Noel Christie

on receiving your First Holy Communion in May.

You prepared your heart well.

May you continue to come to the table of the Lord

to receive Him in this holy way as often as you can

throughout your life.

We love you honey!

"Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood

remains in me and I in him."

John 6:56

We miss you, BJ!

Water Babies

You two little chickadees are becoming quite compatible lately. Tubby time and bed time seem to be your favorite activities of late. Perhaps you've developed this strong bond because you are roommates! Perhaps it's because you see a great divide between yourselves ("Team Little") and the your older sisters ("Christie Bigs"). Whatever the reason, it's a sheer delight for daddy and I to see you playing, giggling and snuggling together. You both have so much spunk and personality that you must have gotten from your lovely mother.

Now that Miss Marysia has her very own "big girl bed", suddenly her little friend in the crib across the room is very interested in "Mimi bed." So tonight we tried to sing some songs in Mimi's bed together. But there was way too much giggling so Mommy put the littlest of the littles back into her crib. As I walked out of the room, I clutched my heart as I heard Mimi say to her baby sis, "Shhhh, it's time for bed now...lie back down in your crib. Mimi will sing you your songs."

Lord, thank you for these precious moments.

Forgive me for all of the times I'm too busy cleaning.

Julia & Mommy...on Retreat

This past week, Julia and I went down to our favorite place...The Convent of St. Birgitta. It's so beautiful, quiet and peaceful there. I hated to leave! We had the house to ourselves and the sisters gave Julia lots of time and attention...and she loved every minute of it.

Julia, you are growing so quickly. What happened to the little baby with the huge brown eyes? I was so blessed to have this special time away with you. The highlight of the trip for me was seeing you kneeling in the chapel with all of the sisters around you during Adoration. You are so grown up to stay with them all by yourself. They loved being with you. I hope we can go again next year.

This is your belated 5th birthday gift and a special mommy daughter overnight in preparation for your First Holy Communion this Sunday...Jesus is waiting to draw close to you in the Holy Eucharist.

Some Highlights to Remember:

1. Cooking in the kitchen with Sister Gina

2. Mass offered just for you and the other First Holy Communicants in the chapel

3. Going for a walk in the morning before we left

4. The hot fudge sundaes from Sister Floriana

5. Pictures on our private balcony

6. Throwing pebbles into the water

7. Mother Eunice's special gift to you (not to be opened until Sunday)

Christ is Risen!

~Easter Morning~

Daddy with his favorite girls

Thanks Aunt Jul for the beautiful dresses.

At Church with our handsome cousins!

After Mass, we did...well, what we do every Sunday after Mass....we got donuts at the best donut shop around....Whitney Donut Shop. Our cousins from Massachusetts love these donuts too. And it's been said that their father is willing to make the trip to Connecticut just to get the donuts (and New Haven style pizza).

Thanks to all our cousins near and far (and grandmas) for coming to spend Easter weekend with us. We're still eating chocolate bunnies and jelly beans.

Egg Hunt at Papa Bob's

Julia's 7th Birthday

Happy 7th Birthday Doobs!

We love you so much.

You are a GREAT kid.

And we are so blessed to be your parents.

We pray for you as you prepare your little heart

to receive your First Holy Communion.

Only a few more weeks until the big day....

Can't believe you're already SEVEN!

We remember the day you were born.

You were so quiet and so pretty.

Your big sister was so proud to have a little sister to hold.

We love you and wish you a happy 7th birthday.

We hope you enjoyed your special trip to Kid City with your sisters,

your favorite dessert (brownie sundae) and your new HSM sweatshirt from Grammy.

Love, Mommy and Daddy

Spring 2009 Activities

Stations of the Cross

The girls participated again this year in the Living Stations

with the AMDG Drama Group up in Avon.

This time around, both girls worked "behind the scenes"

helping with costumes and with the Latin choir.

They also created their own "station" made out of clay

depicting Simon of Cyrene assisting Jesus as he carried His cross.

The Cast of Living Stations

Spring Semester Art Class

All three big girls are taking art class with a few friends at their home on Mondays.

Our art teacher agreed to come to give us private at-home lessons this spring.

Last week, the girls made mosaics and next week, 

they will make and decorate their own terra cotta planter.

Ballet...and Tap Class

Mary Katharine is taking her very first dance class.

She just loves ballet with Miss Debbie and will be learning a little dance to The Nutcracker.

Caroline and Julia are also taking a ballet and tap class together.

This is their second semester with Miss Debbie.

Little Flowers of St. Therese

Caroline and Julia have the good fortune of being a part of The Little Flowers Girls Club here in our area. The girls meet monthly to discuss virtue, hear talks on the saints, do a craft relative to the virtue being studied and work toward earning different badges of virtue that comprise a round nine-badge "wreath" at years' end. 

The virtues for this year's wreath include: mercy, joy, generosity, prudence, wisdom, justice and perseverance. The above picture was taken at our last meeting. The girls presented a recent speaker with a fruit basket in appreciation for her time spent with the girls at the previous month's gathering.

This month the girls also made a Lenten craft...a simple reminder of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. This group of Little Flowers is blossoming quite beautifullly. Our girls are enjoying their third year of the program and we are eternally grateful to the great servants who have worked to bring this great gift into our lives.

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam

Feast of St. Patrick

Highlights from St. Paddy's Day 2009:

Bagels with green cream cheese for breakfast

Mary's special outing with Grammy...eating green cake and doing crafts at the Cheshire Senior Center

Getting to watch the Patrick video first thing in the morning

Making the trinity shamrock craft

...and getting locked out of our car after mass!

Anniversary Surprise!

The breakfast table was set: 

Lenox China, great-grandma's lace tablecloth, napkins neatly fluffed

The food was prepared: 

Scrambled eggs, toast, fresh grapefruit, OJ and brewed coffee

The personal touches evident: 

His & Her temporarily personalized coffee mugs

The occasion:

Mom and Dad's 12th anniversary of their engagement

The kind hostesses: 

Three adorably thoughtful (and careful) daughters

The lucky recipients: 

Two tickled parents & 1 baby sister (who, thankfully, did NOT help with the preparations!)

The "Cozy Corner"

Books. Books. Books. Ania loves books. 

Big books, little books, baby books, her sisters' school books, mommy's prayer books, catalogs....you name it and she wants to flip through it. Ania's favorite book in the whole world is "Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed". 

The routine goes like this: Ania enters room carrying said book in hand. She then proceeds to the closest family member (who can read) and plunks her little self down on the chosen lap and says, "bookie...bed". Mary Katharine is a good big sister and although she can't yet read, she wants to feel like an important participant in the event. So she gets out blankets and pillows and creates little "cozy corners" all over the house just to satisfy Ania's love of reading her "bookies". This activity can occupy them for as long as 45 minutes until they realize that perhaps it's time for a "nacky." (read on...)

Ania's other notable favorites:

1. Favorite Food: "oogie" (yogurt)

2. Favorite Drink: "doo" (orange juice)

3. Favorite activity: "nummies" (nummies)  

4. Favorite Song: "ippy" (Itsy Bitsy Spider)

5. Favorite Word: "nacky" (snack please)

6. Favorite Character: "emo" (elmo)

 7. Favorite Friend: "e ah ah" (Maria)  

 8. Favorite Fruit: "oh dee" (orange) & "bamee" (banana)

 9. Favorite Sister: "Lye Lye" (Caroline), "Doo dah" (Julia) 

     "Mimi" (Mary)

Famous Firsts:

1. First Phrase: "Daddy...GIMME" 

    (translation: "How could you take away my granola bar?")

2. First Steps: on her first birthday.

3. First Movie: Annie

4. First Sleepover: at Papa Bob's with her sisters

5. First Major Disaster: Dumping hot pink nail polish on white 

    carpet in family room.

6. First Pet: "It-imm" (Mittens...our kitten)

Clara Barton comes to life!

This beautiful handmade period Civil War dress was designed to be a replica of what nurses, specifically Clara Barton, wore back in the late 1800's. Our very talented neighbor from Spring Glen made this costume a few years ago for his daughter and we asked to borrow it since Caroline recently finished reading Clara Barton's biography.

Caroline breezed her way through the book (said by one who reads at a snail's pace) and she identified greatly with Clara because of a shared love for animals and a desire to help others. 

Caroline's greatest gift, however, is her gigantic imagination! When she reads, the stories really come to life for her. She becomes the characters she reads about for a time (sometimes a loooong time). Laura Ingalls, Jo March (Louisa May Alcott), Clara Barton, Belle, Cinderella....you name it and she can become it. She uses every nick-nack and prop she can get her hands on, and some she shouldn't get her hands on, to create her own little pretend world of play and she can run wild "in character" for hours on end. 

With this, Caroline completed her first "official" book report and did a super job retelling the highlights of Clara Barton's long and accomplished life. We all learned a bit more about this great American woman and were inspired  by all that she pioneered during her lifetime. Caroline even learned that her own great-grandmother, Hazel, worked for years as a secretary at the American Red Cross in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

So, Paul Revere is the next biography in the works. Not quite sure what we'll do for that one! No boys hanging around here to model costumes and mount pretend horses so we may have to enlist dad for help!

A hole in her mouth...a tear in his eye!

Our six-year-old cutie pie lost her third tooth tonight.  She bravely let daddy pull it out before going to bed, so as not to swallow it in her sleep. The space "widens" with three teeth now missing in front. And with each new hole in her mouth...comes a new swell of affection in her father's heart. (I think I spotted a tear in his eye when she smiled for him tonight.) 

She's got quite a special mouth, this little kid. After all, how many people do you know (under the age of 40) who can claim to have not one, but three silver crowns?*

So tonight... 

A plucked tooth lies under a pillow neatly sealed in a ziplock. 

A pad and pen wait on a night stand for a note from the tooth angel.

And a daddy's heart melts with even greater love for his little girl.

A tiny reminder of a Heavenly Father, 

Whose love for her is infinite. 

*Shiny silver crowns - compliments of dentist after plunging down steep hill, chin first while exploring new neighborhood on bicycle (October 2007). Did I mention the stitches in her chin? 

That was another tear in daddy's eye!

For EMILY ELIZABETH

Happy 21st Birthday Emily!

We wish you all the best.

We love you and give God thanks

for a loving auntie, sister and yes...

sister-in-law!

(LOL)

We bought you a new lap top and blackberry

just in case!

Love,

Nick, Sharon and the Girls

Remembering PAPA

Cape Cod ~ Summer of 2005

It's so hard to believe that this month marks the three year anniversary of Papa Tom's passing.

Not a day goes by when we don't think of him, pray for his soul or laugh as we hear his passionate words of advice still echoing in our hearts and minds as we go about the things of daily life.

Affectionate, outspoken, devoted, honest, caring, reliable, accomplished.  Just a handful of words I could use to describe this wonderful man. He was exceptional!

From humble beginnings, he grew to become much in the eyes of many people. But no greater admirers did he have than those closest to him.

During one of my final hospital visits with Tom, I shared with him the deepest sentiment I realized in that sacred moment. With a broken voice and heart, I whispered...

"The greatest gift that a man can give the world 

is to be a good father.

Thank you for giving us the best gift you could give."

Tom with his "Champ"  ~ Taken December 2005

 Poem for Papa

written January 14, 2006

Papa, you're our favorite one

We love you, oh so much

And we feel sad because we'll miss

Your special "Papa touch"

Your kisses were the sweetest

Your hugs - the best in town

You took the time to talk and play

When others weren't around

Your little nicknames made us feel

So special in your sight

And what a treat it was

When you and Babcia spent the night

The goodie bags, the M&M's and all the juicy gum

We think of all the times you laughed 

While we said "yum, yum, yum"

With tenderness you placed upon

Our every little hurt

A band-aid from your big black bag

With a Bacitracin squirt

The tender loving care you gave

each one of us sustains

The image of your gentle smile

Inside our heart remains

And somewhere up in heaven now

You're shining like a star

Playing on your golden drums

You're really not that far

For deep inside each one of us

There lives a piece of you

That we will hold forever close

Dear Papa, we love you

Distributing the infamous "goodie bags" to his beloved grandkids

PAPA, rest in peace.

St. Thomas, pray for us.

St. Christopher, pray for us.

Big Girl Thoughts....

"Mommy, when I'm a big lady like you one day, 

I want to have a baby in my tummy. 

But do I have to get the needle in my back?"