Down Syndrome Awareness Walk

The same weekend that Eileen and Bridget went to FUS to visit Moira (see below), Mike and I took the rest of the kids to the Down Syndrome Awareness Walk.

 

 

 

 

FUS Homecoming Weekend

Eileen, Bridget and cousin Colleen were able to travel with Grandma and Grandpa D to Steubenville in early October. It was so nice for Moira to see some family members! They didn't get too many pictures, but here's a little glimpse into their loooong car ride.

This picture cracks me up because both Bridget and Colleen love love love to read.  Here they are, using their mp3 players as little lights, so they could continue reading after dark.

Bridget's Last Hurrah of Summer Vacation

Bridget had a get together with some of her friends just before we started school in September.  They decided to go bowling...and go geek.  I think they did a fine job at geekdom, don't you?

Theresa, Kathryn, Christine and Bridget

Root beer never tasted so good....

They even had code names.  Looks like Bern is way ahead of the pack!

Aren't they a grand little group?  You betcha!

Beautiful girls, inside and out!

The geeks girls then had a sleep over....

...in a camper!

They really had a great time.  Thank you, Theresa (and of course your parents), for having the grand, geeky last hurrah of summer. 



Oh, and just so you know, the girls were sooooooo excited to start school the next week.  If you don't believe me,  just check out this video.  Some smart person captured it on film!

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School

One reason this blog has been neglected is because school has kept us very, very busy this year!  I'm not sure why the dynamics seem to be different than other years. I thought, mistakenly, that with one kid in college, we would have a slightly less demanding schedule.  I was wrong.  Perhaps it's because all the kids are getting older, or that this mix of grades is a challenge.  Or perhaps it is that one student struggles with dyslexia, or that Erin is 4.5 and needs more of my time as I prepare her for kindergarten.  Or perhaps it is that our two year old is a particular challenge and likes to get into everyone's business.  Or perhaps I should repeat that last phrase, for clarity and emphasis.....or perhaps it is that our two year old is a particular challenge and likes to get into everyone's business. If I took a family vote, I'm pretty sure what the consensus would reveal.  Just saying.  Good thing he's cute!


Here's Teresa, hard at work with a chemistry experiment.  And thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Delaney for giving this science kit to the kids!

 (See what I mean about getting into everyone's business?  Case in point!)

 Thanks for not blowing up the sun porch, my dear!

Ohio Visit (August 2011)

We were able to stay for a long weekend with Tim and Suzy when we took Moira to FUS in late August.  It's always such a fun visit for everyone in Steubenville!  It was an emotional weekend.  Dropping off your first child, 11 hours away from home, is not easy for anyone.  We were a bunch of blubbering messes the day we left.  We were so blubbery, in fact, that I didn't get ANY pictures of Moira and her dorm room.  I think I might be able to snag a few off Facebook from Moira's wonderful roommate Brooke, or her Brooke's mom, Chris. Moira got really lucky in the roommate department!  Brooke is a lovely, fun girl from Appleton, just 20 minutes from us!  God is so good to have planned that little detail.


The kids were able to have tons of fun with cousins Aileen, Joe and Mara.  Here's Molly Grace, holding one of the cousin's kittens.

Erin and Marian

The gang...our kids, the cousins, and the cousin's cousins (Luke and Anne's kids)

Mara and Erin, having fun together

 

Saying goodbye to Moira was more difficult that we imagined.  But she is doing great and really loves FUS.  She has settled in beautifully and has made so many great friends.  Having Tim and Suzy nearby makes a world of difference!

 When we were leaving, giving our last good-byes, Molly Grace said, "Moira, just please don't marry a smoker".  Only she said, "smokah" because she's still working on those "r's".  LOL.  So far so good; Moira has taken Molly Grace's advice to heart.  We'll update several years down the road...



 

 On the way home we detoured to spend a couple days at Crystal Lake.  It was the perfect way to end the summer before the kids started school the following week.  It was a bonus that we were able to see Uncle Jeff, Mark and Erin too!  Always so nice to see them!

 Seamus particularly loved walking around Grandma and Grandpa's cottage with the clickity Barbie high heals.  Oh dear.

Church Bus Spotting

Just after Aidan's birthday, in late August, the whole family made the trek out to Steubenville, Ohio, to take Moira to FUS for her first year of college. Driving down the highway, Uhaul in tow, we ran into Chicago traffic.  As we neared the city one of the kids called out, "Look, there's the Church Bus!"  The Church Bus is the name of the bus that the band Scythian travels around in.  Anyone who knows our family well knows how much we love Scythian, and all its members. In fact, we had just seen them play a few days before at Milwaukee Irish Fest. Big fans we are! So it was funny and exciting to see them on the highway. 


Mike maneuvered to get closer so we could say hello.

Then, like a dork, I picked up the Scythian CD that we had just listened to and started waving it to Dan, who was driving, to get his attention. Next thing you know, the cd flew out the window, down the highway! Oooops! (I was hoping they didn't see the flying CD, but later that afternoon, Dan texted Moira, saying, "Sorry about the CD" ;)  LOL

 

And then we spotted them again on the other side of Chicago!

 

Check out their schedule and go see them if you're anywhere near a performance. You won't regret it!!!

Dustin' off the Cobwebs on the Blog

Sheeesh!  I've only managed one post in the past two months!  Our life with eight children is so very dull, we can hardly muster up material to blog about.  Just kidding.  Of course my lack of blogging is certainly not from lack of activity or material.  I think we have enough material to start our own circus.

I think I'll back-track to late August. More to come...

We are Thankful!

Erin won an iPad from the Mission iPossible team, thanks to the generous donors who made it possible.

Here are some photos and a video which I hope can capture a little of our joy and gratitude.

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