Wordless Wednesday

Spring has Sprung!

Happy St. Patrick's day

From our house to yours, our little Leprechaun wishes you a Happy St. Patrick's day!

 The "Lucky"Nana!

Kiss me I'm Irish

 Happy with Daddy

Happy St. Patty's day!

7 Quick Takes Friday

1. I FINALLY sorted through like a TON... maybe not a ton, but an unbelieveable amount (like a closetfull) of paperwork yesterday looking for that piece of paper for my taxes and although I'm really glad the papers are finally finally finally all sorted... I didn't find what I was looking for "Grrr..." Don't you hate that?  I shouldn't say that I didn't find what I was looking for, as I had many "oooh!  I've been looking for that!" moments, but not the one I was really waiting for... time to search in more crevices. *sigh*

2.  Had a great visit from my dear friend Priscilla last night.  Ava was loving her and hamming it up as she fought off going to sleep till Daddy came home.

 (this is pretty indicative of how tired she was... fought sleep for 6 1/2 hours!)

 (Check out the hair BEFORE her bath)

(and AFTER!)

 She is SO...

 Stinkin'

 Cute! (even when she's staring down the camera lady)

 BUT also Soooo

 VERY

EXHAUSTED!

(I think she was actually singing instead of yawning here.  Both things she does when getting ready to pass out)

Thanks for the visit Priscilla!  We loved having you ;)

3. We also visited my friend Stephanie and her super cuties Jack & Nessa earlier in the week.  Thought I'd show a few pics from the day

We had a great visit!

4. We also visited the school where I used to work and after trying to strategically plan the visit for a good time after her morning "naps" she made it through about 3 or 4 classrooms before having enough of the the excited swarms of kids and teachers who were eager to hold her.  Poor thing.  Still... *I* loved seeing everyone and have truly missed the little ones.  It was so nice to visit with everyone.  Sorry... no pics!

5. Ava had a pretty busy week!  I've felt really compelled lately to go pray at the last abortion clinic in our diocese.  I've gone in the past...

 (funny how these came out like this!)

...and since I can't get there on Saturday mornings with the baby, I decided to go yesterday afternoon when a lot of abortions are done as well.  I know some people don't understand why we would bring children to an abortion clinic to pray.  I think many have not gone to pray themselves and understand the prayerful environment that often surrounds those who are there to stand witness, but personally for me, I've known about abortion from a very young age and was I disturbed by it?  I suppose, but not in the way some would suspect.  I was disturbed by it enough to DO something and be a witness to life.  It IS disturbing.  And it does affect me.  And it will affect my children.  I'm not going to go into all the gorey details with a small child and will probably just help her to understand that we are there to pray and show support and let these women know that we care about them and their babies and we are there to help if they want it and will pray for them.  Ava won't remember going at 5 months old, but maybe one young woman who sees her will think about what she is about to lose and change her mind.  We go to pray. 

As we were praying, Ava was quiet most of the time kicking her legs under her blanket and making cooing noises.  I was very affected interiorly when I saw a young woman bringing what must have been her friend or sister up to the door of the abortion clinic, while holding a young baby around the same age as Ava.  It seemed a stark contrast and showed the depth of the deception.

Men who were "supporting" their girlfriends or daughters in their decision, would bring these young ladies to the door, drop them off and come outside to have a cigarette or drive away to come and "pick them up" when it was all done.  How "supportive".  It just seemed so cowardly.  That's not the kind of support these young women need. 

I just prayed and though I don't know what affect my prayers had, I always trust that every prayer brings grace and healing.

I met this friar when Ava was littler and he was SO interested and attentive to her.  After chatting with him a bit I really liked him and said to Shaun, "I like him. He's real."  because he didn't seem overly pious, but sincere and well... just real.  Then I found this video and now I know why.  He was so happy for both of us and seemed really moved by how much Shaun and I loved each other and Ava.  Everyone is affected...

(there's a longer video of his story on YouTube as well, but this was succinct and to the point.)

6.  On a lighter note, I decided the other day to pick up a pineapple when shopping.  I don't usually put a pineapple into the basket.  Usually it's something ordinary like,

MILK

or EGGS

or BREAD

but... THAT day, ...I wanted a bit more excitement in my life and that spikey exotic looking fruit heavy with secret juicy deliciousness was calling to me "Take me HOME with you!  Don't you know pineapples are an Italian gesture of "welcome"?  Don't I LOOK welcoming?  Do it.  Take me home"

So I did.

And I let it sit on my counter along with the other fruit that usually crowds our kitchen fruit bowl.

ORANGES

and APPLES

and BANANAS (but eat them fast because the only freckles Shaun likes are on my skin, not theirs.)

...but now there among the ordinary smooth skinned fruit was THIS fellow!

don't you hear that little song playing?

What song you ask?

The "One of these things is not like the other ones" song!

Yup.  That's the song (I LOVED Sesame street by the way... just sayin')

For days it sat on my counter sticking out like... well like a pineapple among bread and apples.  Then I finally did it!  I twisted off that green spikey fountain, cut the fruit in 1/2 and in 1/2 again, trimmed off that bristley coat and sliced the yellow golden juiciness into bite sized pieces... eating a few as I went.  It was completely gone the next day.  The WHOLE thing.  I'd like to say everyone in the family enjoyed equal portions, but that would be a LIE.  I ate almost all of it.  I ...am a pineapple hog.  There I said it.  A pineapple HOG!

It must have started when I brought home the KIWI....

7.  Guess what my Little Leprechaun gets to wear tomorrow for St. Patty's Day? 

...How did I, who is Lithuanian & Croatian, end up with a Portuguese, Irish baby?

Wordless Wednesday

Marriage and Babies

My friend Janine (you remember Janine, she has the 16 gorgeous children?) held a bridal shower for her daughter Erin (who is her oldest and is getting married in about a month!)  Ava and I attended.  Here's Janine holding Ava with her daughter, Meaghan (don't let that sweet face fool you.  They've dubbed her "monster Meaghan")

Here's her youngest, Caroline.  What a cutie!

Here's Janine with her oldest (Erin, the bride to be) and her youngest, Caroline

Meaghan practicing smiling for before the Wedding day...

(Doesn't she just look SO excited to be getting married?)

Sister Olivia & Ava

Sister (and Maid of Honor), Emily & Ava

Ava making friends with Caroline

Beautiful Maggie!

and after my last post I met this cutie pie, who crawled up into my arms and gave a hug like she'd had TONS of practice doling out the loving.

  (here with her big sister)

 Getting kisses from Mommy, Marianne!

 The party girl happy to be home!

I always look at Janine's beautiful family (or any family) and can't help but rejoice in the differences of personalities and beauty of each child, then I pause and think to myself about the way our country thinks about children.  They don't see them as a blessing anymore, but some sort of curse.  I'd like to ask, "Which of these beautiful children shouldn't be here?  Which one's too much of an inconvenience?  Which one is the one who shows Janine's family as "selfish" for having too many children?  Which one would you get rid of?"  I hope this shows how stupid this mentality is!