Mystery Photo! (Updated)

We have a little contest for you today...Who can guess what the little white item is in the photo? My kids may not guess cause they already know. But for those who have no idea, start guessing! You can tell the size by noting Erin's little toes in the corner of the photo. The only clue, for now, is this: Mike carries this item around in his wallet. So, don't be shy (use the anonymous option for posting if you don't have a blogger account) and leave a guess in the comments!!

**9/18/09 Update with more hints**

Great guess, Monica! But that is not what this is. I will give some more hints:

Hint #1 -Mike carries this in his wallet, not because it is useful to him, but because it has sentimental value

Hint # 2 - It is a flexible type of cloth. It has no writing on it.

Hint #3 - Our item is a "left-over piece". The cloth can come in different shapes and sizes. It is the USE of this cloth that makes it significant for our family (and some other families we know). In fact, if someone found this item on the floor, without knowing what it was, he/she would probably just throw it in the trash LOL.

Hint # 4 - I will reveal what this item is, and why it is meaningful to us, tomorrow - 9/19/09 (or sooner if somebody guesses correctly). Yes, that is a hint.

**9/19/09 Update**

Ohhh, good guess, Anonymous! But that is not it.

One last BIG hint, just because I think this is fun...

Hint #5 - While all the members of our family are thankful for this little white cloth, one member of the Party of Ten, in particular, has been holding this item, very dearly in her heart, for exactly two years now :)

Seamus Michael - 3 Months

On Tuesday, Seamus was three months old! He's a little bundle of joy. He has recently discovered cooing (and loves to "sing" to us) as well as his own hands. It is always so much fun watching babies discover their hands. He is a great sleeper (at night anyways) and a very easy-going baby, which I think should be a requirement for number eight LOL. Here are some recent snapshots...

What's Black, White and Holy...With a Little Purple on Top??

....Why it's Father Eric holding Molly Grace on his shoulders! What else?!

Our Kindergartener

Our enthusiastic kindergantener is asking to do more school long after the rest of us are all tired out.  She is learning all of her letters and numbers, listening to, retelling and illustrating Bible stories, memorizing Robert Louis Stevenson's poem, Rain, and learning some new songs and famous works of art.  She loves all of it.


Here is a sample of her Bible book

Here she is hard at work

Sometimes the most exciting happenings of our school day are those that are not planned.  This morning I found the kids gathered around the front bush...

......looking at this....

(yes, it is eating a little bug)

Teresa and Aidan are also enjoying most of their school work, but especially their drawings.  Here are today's samples...

(Aidan)

(Teresa)

School is in Session!

Well, that was a quick summer!  We find ourselves right back to the daily grind  excitement that we have experienced the past nine years of homeschooling!  Yes, hard to imagine, but this is year ten.  All jokes aside, there is always something to be excited about when you begin a new school year.  Some highlights: Moira, 11th grade, will be studying Spanish and chemistry for the first time.  Her first week already brings her three chemistry experiments.  With several siblings looking over her shoulder, that will absolutely add some excitement to our days (almost as much as her three dissections in 10th grade).  Eileen has entered high school and continues with algebra, Latin, English grammar, faith and morality, earth science and American history...a very FULL year for her!  Bridget is in seventh grade and continues her basic studies, adding in the study of Greece and Rome for history.  Teresa, a fourth grader, will do an in depth study of birds this year, in addition to her regular subjects.  Aidan, second grader, is every excited about his science and reading program because it brings him prizes when he moves up a level he is progressing so well. And last but not least, we have a brand new kindergartener - Molly Grace!  She started the school year with bells and whistles and has already told me several times how much she loves school.  I will be sure to add a picture soon, showing off all of her coloring, cutting, math and art work!

Although Erin is just two, there is no reason in her mind why she cannot participate in all this new school stuff that looks like soooo much fun. New crayons, pencils, books, music, notebooks.....it is almost too much for her to take in. So we try our best to include her. She has her own little desk and is learning to not eat the crayons color. I did happen to snap some picture of her yesterday as she went about her school day.

She reads books...

She plays with her toys

She takes the time to smell the markers...

Leaving a lovely blue mustache...

Time for nap, cheesy girl!

Overheard...

I overheard a frustrated middle size child comment on her tired, hungry, whining smaller sized sibling:

"I wish Mom could google a way to get her to stop crying!"

I wish it were that easy :)

Poor Buddy!

Erin's little monkey had a rough week. Nothin' Grandpa D and a good wash cycle couldn't fix though. Thanks Grandpa!

Seamus' Eyes

This post is for you, Mom. You haven't been able to see Seamus since he was born and I thought this photo was pretty good at showing his changing eye color. They are still mostly slate, but they look to be turning brown. Welcome another browned eyed kid into the minority club (I think)! (If you click the photo you can see up close)

These pictures were taken at an outdoor wedding that we went to on Saturday.

The Birthday Boy!

Our very sweet, rather quiet, charming, creative, funny, loving and generous son turned eight on Friday!!! Happy birthday Aidan, we all love you dearly!

We celebrated with his favorite dinner - spaghetti.
Then the kids played Pin the Tail on the Donkey, thanks to Teresa's last-minute creation

We had his favorite cake, chocolate of course!

We opened presents. Yahoo! Legos!
Did I mention he was creative?! Here is a sample of his creations from last week. He went from turkey decoys to robots. Lots of treasures can be found in the recycling bin!!! And thankfully we have lots of little toilet paper rolls to delight an eight year old boy.

More Fun at Bay Beach

Molly Grace, Aidan, Margaret
Joe and Erin

Seamus took in the sights and sounds
" Where's Erin??!!" (a question heard often that day :)
Grandma D having a great time with Aileen and Teresa (who is looking a little sick)
Joe!
Erin rode the helicopters with Mike