Lovin' the Sunshine!

After the winter we've had it almost seemed like spring today with the temp reaching about 55 degrees. We opened our south facing front door and let the sun shine in! Erin couldn't get enough of it (these pictures aren't the greatest, probably because it was so bright, but you get the idea)...

Father-Daughter Dance!

It's that time of year again. Tonight is our fourth annual, highly anticipated, Father-Daughter dance for our local home school group. Volunteers decorate a local gym and make this a very special night! The girls get dressed up, wear corsages and meet up with many friends for a great time. This will be the first year without professional photos taken at the dance, so these will have to do. The only one missing is Mike. He arrived home from work just in time to quickly change and head out the door, so I didn't have time to snap his picture. Maybe I'll get his picture when he gets home and add it in later. Oh, and I should mention that each year that we've attended, Mike has won the prize for having the most daughters at the dance :). And that's without Erin! When she goes at the age of four, he'll be securing his title even more!


Thank you, Grandma D. for the beautiful dress! Molly Grace loves it!

If you didn't already know, Moira has recently had 10 inches of her hair cut off. It's cute, isn't it?

A Little Peek at the Baby

Today, at 23 weeks, I had an ultrasound appointment. I thought I'd share a little profile picture. Everything is going great and the baby was very cooperative. We saw many veiws of the baby sucking his/her thumb....so cute!

Ready for Easter?

Aidan, Molly Grace and Erin are! I'm afraid to break the news to them, but we have a loooong way to go before we can celebrate Easter. In the meantime, they'll have fun pretending.

 

 

Happy Birthday Bridget!

We have our second birthday celebration in the month of January, and a new 12 year old in the house. Happy Birthday, Bridget! We love you very much and thank you for the joy you've brought us for the past 12 years! You kept us on our toes when you were a toddler (you were our busiest baby!) and you keep us all laughing with your deep thoughts and great sense of humor now! You sure have made life better for our family. Thanks for being you! Bridgee-boo at about 18 months

And now...

Wii Fun!

The kids have enjoyed their Wii they got for Christmas! Here's a picture of three of the younger kids playing. Erin is not "plugged in" but she sure enjoys the game none-the-less. She watches the racing track and turns the wheel, back and forth, so seriously. It cracks me up! She's such a little mimic. She loves to do whatever the other kids are doing.

Anyone Want Some Beta Fish?

As part of Moira's Natural History/Biology course this year, she is required to do a number of lab experiments. For one of her labs she chose to observe, and set up experiments, using Beta fish. She had a number of arrangements and settings for these fish, two males and two females. Of course you cannot predict how your subjects will respond to the environment you provide; you just carry out the activities and hope they cooperate. Well, as you can see, Moira came to her final conclusion to her project by writing her somewhat brief summery on the fish bowl. See for yourself the conclusion she came to, written with black permanent marker. Well Moira, better luck next time!

DUMB FISH

Erin's New Trick

It seems Erin wants to get in on a little bloggin' too. This is her latest little predicament. She wants to use the computer, but she's just too short to reach the keyboard. So she brings the keyboard to her....it works much better this way!

More video of Erin walking

Erin is making great progress with walking! She walks about 50% of the time now. :)

Go Erin go!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

I took this video early in the morning, so her hair is a crazy mess.

Favorite Christmas photos

Christmas Eve day starts with what seems to be never-ending snow blowing and shoveling. A white christmas is a guaruntee this year! (I think we are at record breaking snowfall for December)...



The day, busy with last-minute Christmas shopping, quickly turnes to Christmas Eve! The house is lit with window lights and anxious anticipation. From the outside, one sees calm and peacefulness. Oh, but on the inside it is quite another story, as it is filled with endless activity!




Keeping with neighborhood tradition, we light our luminaries.




On the inside, the kids are gathered around the fireplace, staying warm. The little ones keep checking Santa tracker on the internet to see if he's getting closer. After Mike reads the nativity story, and this year a bonus Irish Christmas tale, the kids are off to bed.




Christmas morning arrives very early, as usual. Aidan is relieved to see that Santa DID come! He was just a little nervous.

Bridget and Eileen

Aidan with his much wanted gorillas (I think Santa needs to bring him new pajamas, don't you?)
Erin loves the paper and bows!


After all the presents are unwrapped, off to Christmas Mass we go! Here's Molly Grace, Aidan and Teresa in front of our beautiful nativity scene displayed at our church.

Later that night we gather with Grandma and Grandpa D, Kelley and Kelly, Patrick and the cousins. We miss Grandma and Grandpa M, who had to cancel their travel plans due to our endless snow. We sure missed them!
Owen and Emmett

Conal and Aidan
The kids, opening the surprise package from Grandma and Grandpa M.

Patrick, lovin' his Favre Jet's jersey!
Moira, who took most all of the pictures!
The pjs for the girls that Grandma M. made.
Favre on the back...
And the favorite Irish band, Scythian, on the front...
Margaret and Molly Grace

Of course we all need a big Conal smile to make our Christmas day complete!
Bridget, Eileen and Colleen with Grandma D.
Group shot...
Erin, enjoying every minute of the day. I think she kinda likes Chirstmas celebrations, don't you?! What fun! Merry Christmas!!!