Visiting Near and Far

We were sad to see Grandma Kate go on Monday. Poor Rachael came home from school on Monday and just wept. It was a really wonderful visit. I wish our schedule hadn't been so full, but I was glad to share our "real life". It is busy and hectic, but good. Emma received her Bronze award in a GS ceremony that we all attended. Amidst our busy weeks Mom was able to spend time with each girl on their own and they each treasured that.

On her first Sunday here the Thompson's stopped in for a visit. The grown ups enjoyed conversation while the 7 girls played. Bridget was well cared for by all of the elder girls. Some of the girls had gone outside to play and Bridget stood at the glass door saying "outside". So we enlisted Bailey as the one in charge and let Bridget join the fun. Rachael stayed of the fringes for a while. She seems to recognize the need for time to herself sometimes but also interacted and didn't miss the chance to play.

Mom jumped right into our days and helped with dinners and bedtimes and diapers. Megan and Bridget asked for Mom each morning. Bridget kept calling Mom, GG. I guess we had been talking about and praying for GG so much that she was ingrained in Bridget's head. By the end of the trip Bridget called Mom, Kate.

Last Saturday Emma and I went to New York City with the Girl Scouts. It was our first trip to NY and we had a wonderful time. We started our day by ice skating in Rockefeller Center. Then we visited St. Patrick's Cathedral. I asked to go back to the Blessed Sacrament Chapel so Emma and I had a few moments in prayer. Emma was struck by the difference between the main church, which had lots of people milling around and talking and then the silence and calm in the Chapel, which is behind the altar. We rode the subway to Greenwich Village for lunch and then headed to Central Park and the Museum of Natural History. Emma and I then spent our last hours walking around looking for souvenirs. And do you believe that I couldn't find Souvenirs in NYC. Jim is still laughing about that one. I had been mentioning it to Emma all day and we just weren't in the right areas. Even the Museum store was closed when we went there. I asked Emma what her favorite part of the day was and she said "the whole day". When I prompted a more specific answer she said " the subway".

While we were in NY, Jim, Mom and the little girls had a day in Baltimore. They went to Rachael's soccer game and then went downtown. Mom and Rachael spent time at the Science Center while Jim and the littlest ones walked around and visited the bookstore. Then they met up for dinner.

Sunday morning I awoke to a very excited Rachael who climbed into our bed and shared story after story of her time with Grandma. Rocks and dinosaurs and building with K'nex. Rachael then ran to get all of her things to show me. I was really impressed by structure she built. I think I asked Mom more than once if she followed a diagram or model. Nope she came up with it on her own and boy did she love doing it.

Sunday after Mass Jim and I picked up 165 cases of girl scout cookies for Emma's troop. Then Mom, the girls and I sorted them into orders. It took hours but it was a great team effort. Rachael was stationed in the back of the X'tera handing out the cases, while Mom, Emma and Megan put them in the appropriate scouts stack. I handled the counting and organization. There were many offers of ideas from my girls as to how we could do it, but sometimes just one person has to be in charge.

That night was Mom's last evening so we shared a family dinner and played games together. We played Cadoo on teams and enjoyed each other's company as we sculpted, drew and acted things out. It was a calm ending to a great visit.

Baby Lillian

We were all excited yesterday to welcome little Lillian to God's wonderful world. Heather and Will make a great team and were glowing when I arrived a few hours after her birth. I got to witness big brother William interact with his new little sister. He was tender and interested and seemed struck by the wonder of God's work. Lillian has soft light brown hair, with a face shaped a lot like William's. I really enjoyed being able to hold her.

Our girls call William, Willy and Rachael got a kick out of Willy and Lily. Then Emma impersonated the way William says her name, which comes out like Yill-ye-an. What a crew of cousins they are!

Grandma Kate visits

It was with great anticipation that we waited for Grandma's arrival. Rachael had a science project due that morning and was worried that Grandma Kate wouldn't get a chance to see it, so we took pictures before she headed off to school. It was an animal project for science class in which they choose an animal and created a visual presentation. It could have been a poster or, diorama, or model or mask. Her class all thought that she would do a hippo, but instead she decided to learn new info about a unique animal. She choose the platypus and wanted to sew a stuffed animal. She drew her own pattern and cut out the felt by herself. I had recently shown her how to use my sewing machine so with a little guidance from me so used the sewing machine and sewed the pieces together. Often time she put too much pressure on the foot pedal and surprised herself as the stitching zoomed along. We bought a scrap piece of gray vinyl and she turned that into the bill and eyes. She stuffed it, hand sewed the bill and eyes on and then hand sewed it shut. It was a really impressive 2nd grade science project.

Monday when Emma and Rachael came home from school they were greeted by Grandma. Jim went to get Megan and Bridget from daycare and Megan was in a hurry to get home to see her. It is so nice to have her; she eases right into our crazy house, and pitches in wherever there is need. Bridget looked at her from across the room with curiosity and familiarity, but couldn't seem to place her. Jim showed her the family portrait in which she is sitting on Mom's lap and that helped put it together for her.

The next day it was Megan's day to have Grandma Kate all to herself. Megan was really excited about this and lots of ideas on how to make the most of this time and get as many games in as she could. Jim was surprised when he found the 2 of them sitting around the ottoman playing cards when he got home and Mom's face swollen, bleeding, and bandaged. It turned out to just be a case of leading with her face during a walk with Megan. Mom's face really did look awful. By the time I got home, her right eye was almost completely swollen shut. In bed that night, when I asked Megan about her day with Grandma, she relayed to me a number of games that they played and that she really enjoyed. The fall didn't seem to negatively impact her at all. Mom said that Megan was stunned by the event but was a great help. We have had many falls in our family as we have gone on walks and she responded just as we always do, "Let's get you home." Megan helped get band aids and was very understanding.

That night Jim took Mom to get a temporary repair on her very scratched glasses and order a new pair. Since then Mom has had many people ask about what happened and each day we watch new colors as they appear on her face. The scrapes are healing nicely and hopefully the bruising will be less obvious soon.

Friday morning Mom and Bridget walked the big girls to the bus stop as Megan and I headed off to her pre-school field trip to the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Megan and I enjoyed it but I think her favorite part of the trip was the bus ride. Friday night Mom volunteered to keep watch so Jim and I could head out for a little time together. That was a nice treat for us and so much less complicated then arranging a babysitter. Mom read Emma and Rachael the next chapter of our current bedtime story, "Little House on the Prairie."

We had a great Saturday with beautiful weather for Soccer games. Rachael's game was first. It was a great, competitive game that's only point was a penalty kick. Both teams moved the ball well. Rachael is learning to play positions and isn't afraid to go after the ball. They lost 1-0. It was fun to watch and cheer for. Emma's game started just a little bit after Rachael's finished. It was getting warm by then and I spent the 2nd half trying to get Bridget to keep her shirt on. Emma played well as half back and as a forward. the other team had some big girls and they were a pretty aggressive team. Near the end of the game they scored their 2nd goal and I had thought it was Emma. She was right in there but it turned out to be her team mate. They lost 4-2. It was an exciting morning. The volume of Mom's cheers increased as the morning went on and I expect she will pick it right back up next weekend. Jim had teased the girls earlier in the day about Mom's sideline cheering. They really enjoyed having her and flashed many smiles her way.

Mom took us out to Wendy's for lunch and we savored our frostys before we headed home. That evening after dinner we had baths and then all snuggled in to watch a movie, "the Iron Giant". All 4 of the girls enjoyed it.

A new Baby

Baby Benjamin Patrick was born on Tuesday 9/30 at 12:21PM. I visited the hospital a few hours after he was born and was struck with awe at God's power and goodness. Benjamin was perfect and beautiful and unique. We are all excited to welcome him to the family.

Sarah was at our house Thursday morning while Becky and Benjamin were being released from the hospital. They decided to pick Sarah up on their way home. Megan and Bridget were eager to get shoes on so they could go out to see them. They got to peek at Benjamin sleeping in his car seat. Bridget's eyes got really big and the awe came over her as well. She whispered "baby Benjamin".