Conor's Prayers of the "Fateful"

All week long, Conor has diligently practiced his two prayers of the faithful (or as he calls them "prayers of the fateful") for mass this morning. Each week, one grade helps with mass by providing greeters, readers, and people to present the gifts. This week, it was the 1st grade's turn to help.

By the end of his week of practice, Conor was ready to go. Just like his big sister a couple of months before, he had no qualms about standing up in front of the entire school to speak. So proud of him!

Enjoy!

July 3rd Family Lunch

You probably wouldn't know it by looking at us, but we're a bunch of rebels. This year, we decided to celebrate our country's birthday a day early ... we hope the Founding Fathers don't mind! :)

We all gathered at my mom's house a bit after 11 for mass (ahh... nothing like a Jesuit fix!) and then a lunch that could have fed a small country!! The best part of the day? The fried chicken? Nope (but it was mighty good!) The thought-provoking homily? Again, nope (but ya really can't beat a homily by Fred!). 

The cousins played and had a marvelous time being silly together. They played badminton, tag, and hide-and-seek. They even had a cherry pit-spitting contest. Good times, I tell ya!!

The best part of the day was just being together and relaxing together. We laughed ... joked ... the kids played ... and we just were. There wasn't anything specific that was scheduled or planned and that was perfectly wonderful. We just were. Sometimes it is nice to stop doing and just be ... and today we "just be'd" together around a couple of tables. Days without a set agenda are sometimes the most rejuvenating and fulfilling.

The sugar cookies I made for the get together

Eric and Conor being silly

Annika's photobomb

Fred talking about how the chalice's original owner
 (Fr. Suver) was at the flag raising at Iwo Jima

Troy being very serious as he did the 1st reading

Kat and Staci

Ian sporting his patriotic lei

Eric and Annika ... snuggle time

Annika and Nana enjoying lunch together

Happy Kat

Fred taking in all of the family-related craziness

Fred teaching us how to open a beer using another beer ... once a teacher, always a teacher

Troy's turn

An Olson totem pole

Cherry pit spitting is a messy business