First Half of May Recap

These months in spring when school is ending, we have the impending move ahead of us, I'm in the middle of an online scoring session, and the weather is up and down all the time make it difficult to keep a routine.  And without at least a basic routine, my nerves fray rather quickly.  

And I get behind on blogging.  ha.  

 You've seen a few blog posts this month covering a few hikes and Kayla's First Holy Communion, but we also did a bunch of other things in between.  So here I am to fill in the missing excitement from the first couple weeks of May.  

We joined a soccer co-op that some friends started.  We had planned to let Elise play in a league, but for far less money and a more workable time commitment (one hour a week) we could let all three of our girls try out soccer and learn the basics.  Basically two of our friends are "coaches".  The rest of the parents of kids involved help out by taking turns volunteering to be "assistants" at practice.  And all our kids between ages 3.5-7 learn how to kick, dribble, pass, and all that jazz.  

 

It's a great way for the girls to get an introduction to soccer and see if they enjoy it without wasting tons of $$$$.  So far, Kayla loves it and is doing quite well.  Elise also enjoys it and has learned a lot in just a few weeks.  Ava, our shy one, usually has a meltdown about halfway through where she just won't do the drills (usually because they involve her having to work with another player and she's just too shy...).  But she's also learning a bit during the part of practice where she will try dribbling and passing.  So it's a definite win all around. 

 

Kolbe.

This little guy is into everything these days.  He is ever smiling when he's awake.  He hates to sleep, wants to be part of the action at all times, but eventually gives up and even falls asleep just sitting with Kayla.  (see picture below)

 

More on him in another post soon....

 We closed on our house May 2.  The papers are signed, the house is ours, but we had agreed upon a rent back option for the sellers for a couple months since they are building a house, so we don't actually move in until July 1. Still, it's very exciting to finally own a home of our own again and we can't wait to move in and meet the new neighbors and settle in!

Our wonderful realtor, Jonathan, was so great throughout the process.  And he got us some local(ish) whiskey to congratulate us on the new home, so that's pretty great too.  ;)  

The relics of St. Padre Pio came to the area and were on display for veneration at the Cathedral for a couple days.  The girls and I were able to get down there one afternoon.  The line was long, but some friendly Focus missionaries were kind and helped me keep Sophie from running all over the church at will.  

 

This Focus missionary was kind enough to let the girls look at pictures that he'd taken of the cathedral on his camera so they would be entertained and quiet.  

 

And then we got to venerate the relics and ask for the intercession of a very holy man.  It was a little difficult with the kids.  I was a little worried Sophie or Ava might knock something over.  But they didn't.  My friend Megan and her family were also there (see above picture) and she held Kolbe (who starting crying just before our turn).  Another dear friend, Andrea was there as well and both of them snapped a few pictures of the girls and I as we prayed and asked for Padre Pio to pray for our family and our loved ones.  

 

The day before Mother's Day we had dinner with friends and roasted s'mores over their fire pit (first of the season!).  This is the only picture I took of the night, but Megan and Kolbe are best buds.  

Mother's Day was (mostly) lovely.  I wore a new shirt I found at a consignment store that I love.   The kids were not great at Mass, but we'll leave it at that.  Kolbe was full of smiles.  The kids showered me with love and chocolates.  Chris made a fabulous brunch after Mass.  And in the evening we had a BBQ with another family.  It was low-key and a really nice way to spend the day.  We usually hang by ourselves, so it was fun to get together and celebrate with another mama (and her family) too.  :)

 

And I just have to share these sweet tidbits the kids had to say about their grandmas and great-grandmas for Mother's Day....

 

 

I want to remember stuff like this (and not the Mass behavior that day) forever.  Just so sweet. 

Happy Belated Mother's Day to all!  We have the best moms and grandmas out there and I'm so so grateful for them.  Our lives would not be the same without each of you wonderful, strong, faith-filled, kind, and generous women.  We love you dearly.