GREAT weekend

Another busy & exhausting weekend, but it was wonderful. I feel grateful that several times this weekend, I felt blessed by my family. Grateful with what we currently have.

Friday night was Aidan's school Christmas program. He was first a shepherd and then his class sang a song. He did a wonderful job and I'm amazed by how much he's grown up.

Saturday I did volunteer work, my in-laws took Aidan & Brennan overnight (yes!), and Pat, Cillian & I enjoyed a Christmas party, just adults. It was a very nice party with delicious food.

Sunday we went to 9:00 Mass, the went straight to Michigan. We met up with my in-laws, Aidan & Brennan, Pat's sister and her family, and their cousin. We spent several hours at the Henry Ford Museum.
The boys saw Santa again (awe-some Santa. Awesome) There were train tables, legos, a Wizard of Oz section, and so much more. It was great.

Brennan with his cousin David (below)

inside one of the huge trains

Aidan with Pat's dad

the museum has the Oscar Meyer Weinerbmobile, and near it is this play make-yourself-a-hotdog

The Wizard of Oz exhibit! The entire thing made me think of my sister & get so excited to see her soon.

the witch's bike

The Wizard of Oz, lego edition!

This sign at the museum made me think of my dad. If you know him, you'll get it.

the 5 of us (Cillian was asleep on Pat)

Pat's parents with Aidan & Brennan

Later we visited with just Pat's parents, then headed to his grandparents' house for dinner. It was so nice to see everyone.

This was put up earlier in the week, but I felt it was a good picture to end this post. :) The real reason we have these blessings, and why we gather to celebrate Christmas.

Thank God for a good weekend! I hope yours was nice, as well.

2 weeks (less) until Christmas!

Another Milestone: First Reconciliation

We sat in the church pews, waiting for Aidan's turn to enter the confessional.

I looked over at him, as he nervously sat, trying to pray and relax.
In his dress pants and dress shirt, neatly tucked in, belt on and nicer shoes on.

He looked mature, all of a sudden, and more grown up.
Not like the kid who started at our parish school 2.5 years ago.
A bigger kid, now grown and mature, understanding things on a deeper level.

First Reconciliation doesn't get the same hype as Baptism and First Communion, understandably so.
But it's still important. It's still a Sacrament, and a wonderful opportunity to learn about mercy and infinite love.

I think I'll always feel a bit choked up as my children receive another Sacrament.
Aidan making his First Reconciliation is no different.
I am proud of him, and welcome this new part of his life where he can now join us for Confession.

It Makes My Heart Ache

When you hurt my son's feelings, you hurt mine, too.

When you make fun of him, I feel that, too.  
When you exclude him, I feel it, too.

Today my heart aches for my son.
Things are a bit different in his social circle this year at school, and today he came home a bit saddened.
He's a sensitive person to begin with, but nonetheless, his feelings were hurt, and I hate it when he's truly sad.
Throughout the course of the day, someone made fun of the shirt he wore to gym. Being really into Pokemon right now, it made him bummed out (it was a Pokemon shirt...a time when I wish they also had gym uniforms!).

The bigger thing is that a good friend of his told him "you're not my best friend anymore".

Oh boy...

How do you comfort your child? At this age, for my kid, it feels like a break up, in a way.
Yet I know their interests aren't 100% the same, and he's made new friends, too.
Still, being told "you're not my best friend anymore"? Oh how that makes me want to go all ninja on a person or two.

I'm hoping tomorrow he can talk to this kid and straighten things out.
More importantly, I know the importance of continuing to pray for good friends in his life, and for him to be a good friend, too.

When he hurts, it makes me hurt.
And I don't like it.

Second Grade!

 Hi, I'm the mom who takes too many pictures of my kids. ;)
Monday was Back-to-School Night. My kids happily went, saw the renovations at their school, met their teachers, dropped off their school supplies, and caught up with friends. Above is Aidan unpacking at his seat. I'll say this: his teacher this year is super organized & I am impressed!
Notice (above) his name in yellow on the table? Their table is the yellow table, which coordinates with the yellow section of the closet for backpacks, etc. Smart lady, his teacher.

Yesterday was Aidan's 1st day of school...of 2nd grade.
Aside from the lump in my throat, it was exciting to take him. He was looking forward to it and all in all,  he had a great first day. I'm still in denial that it's back-to-school season, but hopefully this is the start of a very good year. (but at any given moment, I'm on board to homeschool!;)

 Aidan & Cillian

 all 3 of my precious boys (fighting over who gets to hold most of Cillian)

 Aidan--2nd grader!

 outside his classroom (greatly annoyed w/ me by this point at taking pictures)

 Even Patrick joined us in taking him on the 1st day. 

It felt weird when Brennan & I returned home, but we enjoyed some school work, crafts, and making a surprise treat for Aidan on his first day of school: snow brownies (brownies sprinkled w/ powdered sugar).

Here is to the 2011-2012 school year!

Be Still, My Heart

School starts tomorrow for Aidan.
My mind is going a mile a minute, perhaps even more.

He's a 2nd grader...2nd grader already.
He's getting old & big & more & more comfortable away from home.
He's learning cursive this year, receiving his First Reconciliation and First Communion.
He & Brennan have become such good friends this summer.
Will that change w/ school starting back? Please God, don't let it.
Will his friends from last year still be good friends for him?
Will he make any new friends
His teacher seems great. I hope she gets my sweet, sensitive son.
Brennan will miss him. He'll suddenly seem even older to me, being the "big kid" at home.
Aidan was a huge help this summer, with Cillian and Brennan.
Brennan will have to learn to cut open his own gogurt.
Who will Brennan play with?
Will Aidan be comfortable?
Will Brennan be happy?
Will Cillian finally get back on a good schedule?
My heart is heavy, my throat with a lump.
I hope we like the new principal.
I hope she cracks down on the dress code.
Summer is unofficially over. Already.


My mind is racing with oh so many thoughts.
I feel anxious for tomorrow, for the school year.
I am so going to miss Aidan being home all day, I'll miss watching he & Brennan play, entertaining Cillian.
I want to just hold them tighter, longer, and not let them go.
God, give me the strength to let go, and please bring me a sense of peace in doing so.