Our new niece!

That is, our first niece! Agnes Therese was born to Peter and Monique two weeks ago, and my goodness is she ever beautiful! We were able to visit her the day after she was born, and Michael finally got the idea that yes, this is his cousin. I wish I could describe the look on his face when he held Agnes with my dad - it was a look of pure happiness!

Agnes was baptized this past Sunday. It was so exciting to be there with friends and family. I love the smell of the sacred oils the babies are anointed with when they are baptized. Michael kept trying to count her fingers and toes - they were so small he kept getting mixed up and came up with eight toes. I think there is no greater blessing than having a new baby in the family.

I love this picture with Michael and Rose crowding around Agnes. Every time I had a turn to hold her they both showed up and wanted to have turns, too! Michael was gentle with her but really wanted to figure out everything about her. He can't wait until she is big enough to play with him.

The Boy Says...

"Mommy, how were you maked?"

"I loooove Baby Angus!" (Agnes, that is - Michael's first cousin! We were reading the books about Angus the little Scotty dog by Marjorie Flack, and Agnes does sound an awful lot like Angus when one is four.)

"I'd rather talk about faults." (We were driving around town searching for a new car - more to follow on that - and after Michael started trash-talking Matt's driving we told him not to talk about other people's faults. Apparently it's more interesting to talk bad qualities.)

"I got a dolphin... I'm going to eat him." (Singing this song to himself over and over while playing in the bathtub.)

And that's just from this week!

10-Year Reunion

This weekend we had our 10-year high school reunion. Yes, even though I was homeschooled, I graduated with five other seniors from our area. We had a graduation ceremony complete with caps and gowns, speeches, and teary parents.

So now that it's been 10 years, we had a picnic in the park. It was super-hot all weekend, but actually cooled down a little while we were there, so it wasn't too bad. The kids spent the entire time either at the splash pad or on the playground equipment. Michael and his friend Kathleen grabbed the big water guns and made off for the playground after supper. Kathleen's mom asked them what they were doing, to which they responded, "We're playing house!". Might as well buy the kid membership in the NRA for his next birthday.

It was so much fun to catch up with good friends! Some of us hadn't seen each other for a few years, but we all picked up where we had left off and we kept on visiting until our shelter time was up. It was a blessing to see how God is working in the lives of my friends and fellow graduates, and the good that has come from our loving parents dedicating themselves to education and formation. It's a lot to live up to as many of us prepare to homeschool our own children, but God will provide the help.

Riley, James, Andrew

Sarah M., Victoria, Sarah R.

Graduates for 10 years!

Triple Fruit Pie

Rhubarb, raspberries, and blueberries - about as good as it gets! This was a grand-champion pie back in the day. My crust cracked on the side and some of the filling oozed around, so this particular pie wouldn't get a grand champion, but it sure tasted great! And the zinnias and snapdragons (so deplorably arranged) are from our garden. We love summer!

Smuggling

Scene: Discount fireworks barn off I-29 somewhere in SD. Lots of kids running around in t-shirts and cut-offs. Lots of dads in the same, carrying baskets full of big bangers with names like "Wrath of God", "Armageddon", and "Fire and Fury". My husband is carrying a small package of bottle rockets, which after waiting in line for 10 minutes, he places on the counter.

Check-out lady: "That's all?!?"

Husband: "Well, that's the only thing we can't buy in North Dakota".

C-o L: "Really?"

Husband: "We can't buy bottle rockets there so we are smuggling these across the state line for my brother-in-law."

C-o L: "Good for you!"

Land that I love!