Claudio & Hero

Daddy & Mary

2012-01-27T18:18:00.000-08:00

Finally *I* get to put up some pictures of our new girlie...

An Alert Baby this morning!

Snuggling with Daddy.

And holding his hand!

A couple of cute videos

2012-01-14T16:10:00.000-08:00

Sweaters and Silly Kids

2012-01-14T12:04:00.000-08:00

Rebekah and me in our Christmas sweaters!

Timothy the Superhero

Dynamic Duo!

The Fantastic Four!

We take a lot of pictures of Anastasia!

2012-01-11T10:22:00.000-08:00

The three older children recently spent an afternoon helping Dcn. Meredyth do some organizing, and from this came some new treasures. Here is Anastasia modeling the apron and chef's hat.

As you can tell, one of Anastasia's big things lately is 'helping' in the kitchen.

Here she is helping me remove tails from 'shwimps'.

'Shwimps' are one of Anastasia's favorite foods.

These were made into sweet and sour shrimp of which Anastasia had thirds!

The girls sot a big jug of bubble bath for Christmas and have been enjoying it immensely!

Anastasia helps Noelle fasten her dress for church.

Anastasia often gets tired in the middle of the day, but this day she gets to lie down with Mama!

Timothy's birthday cake, actually an ice cream sandwich which he wanted instead of cake or pie :-)

Anastasia was pretending that the boys' cleaned out bookshelves was her bunk-bed.

The dorky-dog begging :-)

I know this is just a random picture, but I thought it was a good one!

Our Christmas village.

I made Waikiki Meatballs the other day, and it was so pretty I had to take a picture.

Timothy and David making their own pizzas on "Make Your Own Pizza Night".

I'm not sure why he made this face but my guess is that it is because he is related to Rebekah and Me.

I told David to make a face that would convey what he thought of his pizza and this is what he came up with :-)

Noelle and Anastasia creating their pizzas.

Well that's all for now hope this picture update was enjoyable!

Catching up on photos Part 2 (yes, there are more!)

2012-01-03T13:07:00.000-08:00

First picture taken with our new camera.

On the way to Meredyth's diaconal ordination

Passing through Oshkosh. B'gosh!

Deacon Meredyth with the kids :-)

Mary and Rebekah

One of the gifts from us to the kids. When I (Rebekah) was younger we made placemats like this with old Christmas cards. This is Timothy's placemat...

David's placemat

Noelle's placemat

Anastasia's placemat.

Christmas baking: Making candy cane cookies.

Putting the kisses on angel kiss cookies.

Rolling the Russian teacakes in powdered sugar.

Helping cut out sugar cookies.

Tasting the dough. In a goofy way.

Aaaand, decorating the sugar cookies!

Anastasia helped bring up all the presents (which had been wrapped in the basement) while Forrest and the other kids were at chapel practicing for the Christmas service.

We were abundantly blessed with additional gifts from Grandpa & Grandma Eyre and Christ the King Church!

Noelle in her new pajamas.

Anastasia in hers.

Pretending to type. Way too cute.

Getting one of the Queen Anne cherries Fr. Christmas gave him.

Hugging the sweater Grandma made him.

All our Christmas treats!

Noelle's hair in a french twist, clasped with one of her new hair things from Christ the King.

The kids in their long underwear from Grandpa & Grandma Eyre!

Playing the new Wii.

Playing with her spinning light toy from Fr. Christmas (she loves it!)

Catching up on photos

2012-01-03T08:53:00.001-08:00

In November we were blessed with a visit from Matthew, Anastasia really enjoyed having her godfawthow here :-)

We took him up to see the basilica at Holy Hill

Rebekah's beautiful pies for our community Thanksgiving Feast

Margaret arranges the flowers

Gravy!

Timothy helps in the kitchen

Everyone busy making it a very homey atmosphere

Deacon Roy with his deep fried turkey

Cutting up one of the four birds (not counting all the leftover meat donated by a local Lutheran Church after their feast!)

A full kitchen, it's the place to be!

Making mashed potatoes for 40+? Take 20# of potatoes, peel, cube and boil, add at least a pound of butter, salt to taste and mix in industrial mixer!

"OK, exactly how does this work?"

Sherriff Shane and Mr. Ben (yes, we spell sheriff that way)

On December 2nd we got to go watch my brother Fred graduate from boot camp and spend the day visiting with him!

His first real coffee in weeks. The 'coffee' in boots is made from coffee syrup and hot water.

Dropping him off at the end of the day.

Anastasia opening her present from Grandpa Eyre & Grandma Lisa

2011-11-07T20:12:00.000-08:00

Anastasia's birthday

2011-11-07T18:49:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to my three-year old! Anastasia had her birthday breakfast and presents yesterday morning (since Forrest was able to be here).

Here she is in her new outfit we got her.

Her new hooded towel, so she and Noelle can each use their own :-)

With her new Bitty Baby doll from Grandpa Eyre & Grandma Lisa. She named it "Miss Kristina."

Black Monk football

2011-10-26T05:34:00.000-07:00

So this is a week and a half since the actual game, but here are a few pictures from our annual flag football game against the St. Francis de Sales seminarians.
Bishop (Dean) Salmon, making sure Anastasia doesn't fall :-)

Timothy dressed up as the Black Monk, to be the mascot.

Noelle touching Bishop Salmon's hat. He's so good with the kids!

Alethea demonstrating how to use the pom-poms.

Anastasia tries it out.

Black Monk fans :-) Anastasia sits with Brenna (our neighbor).

The Black Monk cheerleaders...minus one, plus their "helpers" (all three of the older kids were right there with the cheerleaders most of the time).

Alane lifting high the cross, with the help of Sarah and Caleb :-)

Anastasia and the Black Monk.

I love this shot of Forrest!

Sarah and Anastasia.

All in all, it was a good effort by the Black Monks; though we lost, it was only by a touchdown which is so much better than last year. Here are both teams (plus our cheerleaders) at the end of the game. St. Francis de Sales received the St. Lawrence cup.

Our team and cheerleaders :-)

After the game, both sides had Evensong together in their chapel, and then we went downstairs for a great meal, provided by St. Francis de Sales.

On the way home...this day was the first I had seen Lake Michigan since seeing it from the airplane when we flew in for Experience Nashotah last year. This isn't the best picture, obviously, since it was already dark out.

Traffic. Thankfully it wasn't bad considering this was the day of the last Brewers game.

A Few Things Since Coming Home

2011-10-19T11:03:00.000-07:00

In September we went to the Highland Games in Waukesha, where Aunt Pari and Uncle Trevor were playing. It was a lot of fun...though it did rain quite a bit so we left earlier in the afternoon than we planned.

Anastasia with her thistle face-painting.

Pari Beth, Timothy and David all try archery.

Recently Timothy got the privilege/responsibility of planning and making a meal by himself. He made beef & broccoli & noodles (a non-spicy recipe out of his Thai cookbook--it's a kids' cookbook) and couscous.

With bananas in a coconutty sauce for dessert!

Timothy wanted to show Grandpa Eyre this old dime he has.

In science (Astronomy this year), we got to make a balloon solar system. Of course the distance is off, as is the size of the sun; but we also got the sizes of the planets quite off also because Wal-mart (as usual) wasn't stocked well and they were out of any except standard-size balloons. Oh well, it was still pretty fun!

The boys pretending to be priests. :-)

Our new table & chairs we got at St. Vincent De Paul. And our new, more open arrangement of the living room.

Lovely fall colors here on campus.

Aaaand...I just realized all the kids were featured in this post except Noelle. So here's one of her :-)

Wakulla Springs

2011-07-30T14:25:00.000-07:00

Just boarded the tour boat.

One of the first bits of wildlife we saw--a mother wood duck and her ducklings. So adorable!

Lots of pretty scenery on this river.

Here's a common moorhen with her chicks.

Hundreds of whirligig beetles on the water. Very interesting to watch them buzzing around on the surface of the water.

An anhinga bird. They look a bit like a cormorant. They fish by out-swimming a fish and spearing it with its beak.

A little heron.

Another anhinga in a tree.

Our first spotting of an alligator. You can see his face in the lower-middle right of the picture.

A heron, and what I think might be a moorhen. It was super cool how many birds we saw. The pictures we took are just a tiny sample of what we saw but it covers most of the species we spotted.

This is a great egret. So beautiful and pristine!

Several turtles in a row on a log. The tour guide called it the "shell station". :-)

A heron again.

Alligator!

Another common moorhen.

This (I believe) cypress is said to be 500 years old.

Another gator.

An anhinga again.

In the bottom right corner you can see into the water...it was pretty clear most of the time, thought it was difficult to get that to show up in pictures because of the reflections.

An alligator hiding in the plants on the surface.

This is known as the "Tarzan tree"...Tarzan movies were done here in the 1940's. I guess this was "his" tree. More of a stump now. But here are two turtles sunning on it!

A whole lot of fish!

The crowning discovery for us on this boat tour: getting to see a manatee! Here's when we first spotted it. I didn't know if I would get any better pictures of it.

But I did! We came alongside it and it was right next to the boat.

(If you haven't clicked for close-ups on the other pictures, which you should have, you really should on this one!)

The diving platform thingy.

The boat we rode. Named for a bird called a limpkin, which we didn't see but I found out on Wikipedia that its call was used for jungle sound effects on Tarzan movies, and also for the hippogriff on Harry Potter!

It was so hot this day (though on the boat it was not too bad since we were shaded and had a breeze) so after a picnic lunch, we were happy to go indoors to the Lodge, built, if I understood right, by Edward Ball, who bought Wakulla Springs in the early '30's.

Pretty architecture.

Beautiful painting done on the inside.

"Old Joe," a 12-foot alligator that was killed unprovoked many years ago. They found his body and stuffed it, but apparently never found the killer (?)

This movie was also filmed at Wakulla Springs!

After some nice cool time in air conditioning and visiting the gift shop, we headed over to the playground.

Some videos from the Gulf trip (scroll down for the picture post)

2011-07-28T20:22:00.000-07:00

A day at the Gulf of Mexico!

2011-07-28T19:14:00.000-07:00

The water from the bridge, going towards St. Theresa.

Footprints in the white sand.

Anastasia walking down to the beach...

Stepping into the warm water.

Out of order, the kids getting ready to get in the water.

Noelle and David splashing into the water.

Anastasia coming down the beach.

Wading and playing in the waves.

Alligator Point.

Warm waves.

David said: "Daddy can we sit in the waves and talk?"

Burying Anastasia in the sand

Identified by Rebekah as "a sandpiper type of creature"

Burying Timothy "I'm Sandman"

David with a Boogie board

Our wonderful hostess Joan West who not only let us use her beach house, but also fed us lunch and took us out to dinner!

Silly 'Stasia with a mouthful of banana

The sideyard of the beach house

David and Anastasia buried in the sand

The front of the beach house

My BEAUTIFUL wife!

Striking a pose!

The front yard of the beach house.

The local fish house Joan aka Mamma took us to for dinner.

Some random pictures.

2011-07-23T10:51:00.001-07:00

Timothy practicing to be a Beefeater...
I think he needs more work on the face control part!

Noelle, "We found some mud!!!"

Reading our bedtime Bible story.

"Come play outside with us!!"
(Timothy on one of the practically brand new bikes someone at St. Peter's gave the boys!)

Timothy with his mondo-burger creation.
("It has EVERYTHING on it! Even fries!")
He couldn't fit it in his mouth but still managed to eat most of it!

David's sunburn from staying at the pool for 2 hours
(Daddy was foolish and didn't insist on sun screen)

Anastasia also found mud!

Anastasia and her "Big Buddy"

Smiling at Daddy's "big, fat belly"

Doing "crafts" with Mama

"Daddy, please put this on my head and take a picture!"

A couple of videos of some of the rainstorms we've experienced here in Florida
(This is an unseasonably DRY year!)

Visit to the Tallahassee Museum

2011-07-08T07:57:00.000-07:00

Last Friday we went to the Tallahassee Museum. Someone had four free passes they gave us, so we only paid admission for one of the kids! It was a lot of fun. They have a large zoo-ish section with animals native to Florida, in natural habitats, and then also a farm, old farm houses and other buildings, and a plantation house.
There were more animals than we got good pictures of, so I'll just share the ones that turned out well.

Timothy looks at the map to tell us where we go next.

Part of the snake section.

Bald eagles!

Here's a little owl in his box.

Some wild tom turkeys. We got a kick out of hearing their gobbles.

The kids, walking along the raised walk.

A panther. (aka cougar, puma, etc. But this one is a subspecies native to Florida--Florida Panther.)

Very pretty woods/swamp!

Alligator. All we could see was his head.

Foxes. This one is snoozing in a tree, the other one's on the ground.

Okay...this is the first time I've ever seen a white squirrel!

Cypress trees. They're so cool looking!

A huge snapping turtle (in the water)...I don't know what the other kind of turtle is. We got told the big one was a snapping turtle because the boys were calling it a tortoise.

David gets eaten by a big tire snake!

Noelle is getting pretty good at sliding down fire poles.

Ummm...limes? That's what I'm guessing anyway.

Sugar cane.

This was inside an old farm house that was built in the 1800's.

In another log house built in the 1800's.

This sheep was making faces at us...it was pretty funny.

Goat. They also had horses, geese, chickens, turkeys, and a cow.

In a blacksmith shop. Look at the huge bellows!

In a caboose.

And on the back of it.

Hanging out

2011-07-02T13:40:00.000-07:00

Here's what the kids like to play on most mornings, in the back yard. It's so perfect for them! But gotta beat that heat that comes so fast. They're usually out there for about 1/2 hour before they come in because they're too hot.

The girls on the 2-person swing.

Ready for the pool!

Aaaaand...walking back from the pool.

This, I'm told, is Florida jasmine. Lovely scent. It's all over the fence that separates the back yard from the front. Though now it's just about done blooming.

It seems all the trees have Spanish moss hanging from them. Here's one in the back yard.

Anastasia playing in the sand.

Anastasia has been much more tired since we came down here. So we've gone back to naps regularly--but this is when she was just dropping wherever she happened to be when it hit her.

Heh...at the dinner table...

...And here she had come to sit next to me to get her doll to sleep!

On one of our first weeks here we had a barbecue with the two other summer Fellows. Here's Wesley teaching my kids how to catch fireflies.

The old Capitol building is the pretty one. The boring-looking tower behind is, if I understand correctly, the current Capitol building. We still have yet to visit these. I guess there's a great view from the observation deck of the tower.

At the Museum of Florida History. This was in the section about the first Old-World comers to Florida.

Umm...I don't remember what section this was. Something about trees and logging or harvesting for something.

A mastodon skeleton, found at Wakulla Springs.

And some old cars. In the background you can see one that had been converted into a sort of camper. Pretty nifty!

The church had an ice cream social last Sunday, for which they rented a water slide. The kids (who came early enough) had about fifteen minutes on it before thunder was heard, and everyone had to come off. We got indoors just in time for the rain to come pouring, thunder booming and wind whipping the trees around!

Having ice cream.

There was someone there who did face-painting, so she did some for the kids.

And next I'll have to get pictures of the Tallahassee museum up--it was really fun and very pretty!

"Wildlife" in Florida...well, limited to small creatures at this point!

2011-06-30T18:05:00.000-07:00

Our first item is...fireflies! Or lightning bugs if you prefer. Wesley (another of the summer Fellows at St. Peter's) helped our kids catch these on a night when we had a fun barbecue get-together. Pretty exciting!

Some kind of june-bug type creature. After I took this picture it flipped backwards, awkwardly, onto the ground.

A gecko Timothy discovered on the front of the house where we're staying! Super cute. Timothy pointed out that it's exactly the kind of gecko he wants to get someday.

A cute froggy.

A little green anole! At least, that's what I assume it is. Looks just like Isaiah's old Mr. Lizard. Except...I can't remember if Mr. Lizard had a neck thing that pops out? This one does. It's like a little flap that the lizard makes pop out (it's a reddish color) every once in a while.

Here he is again on the side of the tree.

A snail the boys found. Unfortunately it was too scared to come out.

This is just for the total gross out factor. We've found a few of these. Not including the antennae, they are most often about 1 1/2 to 2 inches long. YUCK! Thankfully the boys are willing to squish them, pick them up with toilet paper, and dispose of them down the toilet for me.

This little lizard (which also appears to be an anole, but I'm not as sure about it) is about 2" long and super cute! We discovered it yesterday on this grassy plant and found it hanging out there again today.

The trip down

2011-06-25T06:46:00.000-07:00

I'm finally getting around to some posts/picture updates. Here's from our trip down to Florida.
Driving through Chicago at dawn...

The states as we came to them. I missed the one of Illinois, but probably because it was still too dark to get a good picture. Or at least, that's going to be my excuse.
Indiana was the home state of my Grandpa Jack, whom I sadly never met, but it was with warm feelings of him that I observed the countryside.

My Grandma Nancy's people (on Great Grandpa's side) came from the hills of Kentucky, so I was sentimental about it too. Besides...here were the first real hills I had seen in a long time!

The pretty blue hills of Kentucky.

In Birmingham we spent the night...here are the kids the next morning.

Some of the greenery alongside the road in Alabama. It really is the Beautiful, as their sign said.

And finally...

At the rest stop just after entering Florida.

In Tallahassee, passing by St. Peter's church.

And we finally made it to where we're staying! A family was generous enough to accommodate us in their guest house, next door to their house. Plenty of room for us all, all the facilities we need and several luxuries beyond--an outdoor playhouse/swingset for the kids, a trampoline, access to our hosts' pool, wireless internet, and TV. We are so grateful!

Picture post

2011-05-17T12:22:00.000-07:00

The beauty of spring:

The Fort. We were passing by on a walk.

David pushing Anastasia in the stroller on our walk.

A willow tree in the sunshine.

A bird's nest perched atop our neighbors' porch light.

The wood violet is Wisconsin's state flower.

"Can I wear my cassock at Evening Prayer?"

Timothy was lector...it was a sparse Sunday evening.

Chapel garden...

Now the nest has eggs in it!

Easter!

2011-04-24T21:55:00.000-07:00

Alleluia! Christ is risen! Here are a couple from the Easter Vigil last night...with festive altar cloths and even flowers! You can see the smoke in the air from the incense.

And here are the girls this morning, in their beautiful outfits! Thanks to Pari Beth (and Uncle Trevor and Aunt Pari!) for the hand-me-down which Anastasia is wearing (which is still in like-new condition!), to Grandpa & Grandma Eyre for Noelle's dress, and to Aunt Hannah for the headbands!

For Auntie Hannah

2011-04-23T08:21:00.001-07:00

Anastasia sporting a new headband made by Auntie Hannah

Pictures!

2011-04-19T18:55:00.001-07:00

Easter Eggs and Palms, signs of the season!

Close up of the yellow onion skin dyed red eggs

Cute Anastasia

Anastasia and David 'Rock Climbing'

Anastasia climbing by herself

Noelle's turn!

And more super-cuteness!

Fun times...

2011-04-09T12:49:00.000-07:00

My Cute Helper

Making a Boston Creme Pie

As per usual, the pictures scrambled when uploaded
We made the Pie last night, and this is breakfast this morning (Chocolate Waffles with Ice Cream)

Our sleep-over bed. Rebekah was gone last night on a retreat therefore we have had lots of sugar and fun (also Anastasia got sick last night, and Timothy fell on the stairs this morning cutting his eyebrow open :-P).

My first Boston Creme Pie!

Stirring the vanilla into the creme filling

Timothy's cut

2011-03-26T11:01:00.000-07:00

Anastasia helps make the bed.

2011-03-26T10:30:00.000-07:00

It's about time!

2011-03-26T09:37:00.000-07:00

Finally, another post. Here's the kids dancing with Forrest a few weeks ago.

Happy Birthday Noelle!

2011-02-24T05:46:00.000-08:00

In five short years...

my sweet girl is growing up! Noelle had her friends over yesterday to celebrate her birthday, and had a lot of fun and enjoyed her princess castle cake. Happy birthday Noelle!

Happy Birthday to David!

2011-02-13T15:36:00.000-08:00

Seven years ago today David was born. Today we had a family movie time with pizza and pop in our newly-arranged TV area downstairs. It was fun! David's birthday plan. Soon we'll have a chocolate dragon-decorated cake and some ice cream. Happy birthday David!

2011-02-08T08:11:00.001-08:00

Anastasia's surgery is to be rescheduled; the anesthesiologist listened to her lungs and wants to hold off. I'm glad I got a frank answer to this, since we had been unsure the whole time whether she was enough over her cold to undergo anesthesia. Thanks for your prayers!

Please be praying...

2011-02-07T17:26:00.000-08:00

for this beautiful little girl as she has surgery on her eyes tomorrow!
It is a minor, outpatient procedure to adjust the muscles of her eyes so that they can track together; please pray also that she and the other children will get over the nasty colds they have had for the past two weeks.

Cute girls and snow pictures

2011-02-06T13:04:00.000-08:00

Noelle asked me to put this ribbon in her hair...then she wanted a picture. :-) I love this first smile, it's one she does sometimes when trying to look cute.

Here's some snow from the other week. This was BEFORE the blizzard...

Here's AFTER the blizzard. If you compare, you can see the significant difference.

Girlies sleeping. So sweet!

Happy Birthday Timothy!

2011-01-02T12:15:00.000-08:00

Believe it or not he's 8 years old today!

Piano Girls

2010-12-27T13:43:00.000-08:00

Christmas morning #3

2010-12-25T11:56:00.000-08:00

2010-12-25T06:33:00.000-08:00

Part two....

For Grandpa Eyre and Grandma Lisa

2010-12-25T05:28:00.000-08:00

Part one...

Sledding pics and other stuff

2010-12-23T17:03:00.000-08:00

Susan O'Carroll sorting toys at the Christmas Clearing Council of Waukesha Co.; this was the local mission project of the Bishop Jackson Kemper Mission Society for 2010.

The boys sorting and stacking toys

Marcia and Heather Allison sorting toys at the girl table

Noelle and I are sorting books

Jonathan Kanary taking bins out for more toys

Even dogs need computer time!

"Take a picture of me Mommy"

David playing with 'stasia

Anastasia feeding her baby :-)

In Esther's old dress

Extreme Cuteness!!

Watching a movie

Watching the camera

Waiting for Daddy to be ready for sledding

Happy in the snow

The pretty place were we live

Noelle and Addi getting ready to go down the hill

Anastasia walking around

Retrieving Anastasia after her first solo run

Sledding videos

2010-12-22T16:22:00.000-08:00

Saint Lucia's Day breakfast

2010-12-13T10:30:00.000-08:00

Making the Saint Lucia buns. They're very yellow from the saffron.

Fresh out of the oven!

In the morning. Forrest is reading the St. Lucy/Lucia entry from Fr. John Julian's Stars in a Dark World.

And lastly, a few pictures of our glorious sunshine on the white world!

A few pictures from our snowy corner of the world...

2010-12-12T14:16:00.000-08:00

French Press coffee in a coffee-cozy Hannah made for us one year. Mmmm!

The beautiful sinking sun in the west, behind the buildings.

And out front, from the living room window, you can see on the right a glowy-golden water tower, reflecting the sun.

I was trying to capture the view outside combined with the reflection of tree lights on the window...apparently the kitchen lights' reflections showed up too. :-P

Setting up the tree, etc.

2010-12-05T20:17:00.000-08:00

The Saturday before the first Sunday in Advent, we always set up our tree. Now 8 days ago, here are some pictures from then:

Our delicious snacky spread, complete with Wassail!

Anastasia enjoying her food. Especially the olives.

Our little table with the Advent wreath and calendar. (Thanks to Aunt Pari & Uncle Trevor for the calendar, which we've been using for what, 3 years now?) And yes, the candles are already used. I mean to find some new ones but haven't gotten around to it.

The tree!

After dinner, enjoying some ice cream.

She was just so cute, we had to get a lot of pictures of it.

And I wonder why Forrest doesn't take more pictures of me, when I do this to him when he does try!

We watched a Christmas movie too...and only the best one ever!

Thanksgiving!

2010-11-26T14:37:00.000-08:00

The pictures from Thanksgiving, in backwards order:

David taking the stroller to the van

Finishing cleanup

Mary Camille falls asleep after a long day

David holding one of the most angelic babies in the universe!

The kids running off their sugar

Wiping down the tables

Forrest leaving the kitchen, Charleston pouring "cleanup wine"

Bekah and Lydia

More Mary Camille

Kids having fun and Joseph hamming it up for the camera

Feasting!

Noelle and Anastasia enjoying Thanksgiving dinner

Our neighbor Holly, her baby Asa and his godfather Shane

Mary Camille and her adoring fans

Jennifer, Adeline and Sarah

Gravy and potatoes!!

Jordan and Jarrod do crafts

Jason feeds Mary Camille

Jessie plays in the pack 'n play

The guys finish setup

Charleston and Jason carving 2 of the 9 birds

Gus, Mary Camille and Malacy

Brian and Jason with 2 of the birds

We had a great thanksgiving feasting with 70-80 of our fellow community members, relaxing and playing games with the Kidd's.
Hope everyone else had a wonderful day as well!

All Saints observed and Anastasia's very own Paddington Bear!

2010-11-07T15:05:00.000-08:00

Anastasia kissing her very own Paddington Bear

Timothy and I leading the procession for All Saints Sunday
Getting a charge for the censing of the altar and blessing of the people

2010-11-07T12:37:00.000-08:00

Anastasia Prays for Daddy

2010-11-01T20:31:00.000-07:00

You can't really see anything in this video, but the audio is what you watch it for. :-)

Pumpkin time!

2010-10-30T21:01:00.001-07:00

The kids with their pumpkins

All cool and glowy

The yummy stew we had for date night

and yes my posts are much more boring than Rebekah's :-)

For Grandpa Eyre

2010-10-29T06:43:00.001-07:00

Anastasia in the dress Aunt Ethel sent for my 3rd birthday.

Update

2010-10-28T10:31:00.000-07:00

Life is full! This last week has been Convocation week...see Matthew Kemp's blog post if you're interested in reading his description of this. It pretty much sums it up in some humorous terms! Anyway, as Forrest and I are both in Chapel Choir, one of the "work scholarships" we have, we got to sing for the Convocation service. It was a beautiful service. Lovely music. Fragrant incense. Some Latin spoken, which was pretty cool to hear. I thought of Timothy and how he would have loved to hear it. (As I was in choir, my neighbor babysat the kids at her apartment during the service. It was really great to be undistracted for a service!) The sermon was also really great, about how our faith is attacked in different ways throughout the church worldwide, and some of the subtle attacks in our nation on our faith and an exhortation to stand firm. Really inspiring. Several people received degrees: most earned, one bestowed (honorary)--to Metropolitan Jonah.

Other things to fill up life:

Homeschool...which is going pretty well, although this week we had a couple of days off, and now we're struggling to get back into a routine! But the boys are doing well, learning new things, and Noelle is beginning to sound out 2-letter and 3-letter words. I'm thinking she may be ready for kindergarten math also.

Evening prayer. Mondays through Thursdays, I try to get to evening prayer at chapel. I love going, although it really feels like intensive training time with the kids. This week we really haven't, just with a variety of different things going on that have been prohibitive. Right now Anastasia has a cold (which gives her a pathetically cute laryngitis-voice) and so I'm probably going to stay away from chapel for a little while. That's a little bit sad, but it's okay...sometimes it's nice to stay home from it. I have been doing morning prayer at home with the kids, and want to get in the habit of doing evening prayer at home on the days we don't go.

Thursday evenings they usually have "community Eucharist" which means it's specially geared toward the whole community coming. This I love. And although I was wary at first, I have been letting the kids (Noelle & up) go to Godly Play, which they do during the service for the younger kids. They have really enjoyed it and it's a worshipful thing for them, and they come back into the service for communion. This week, the evening Eucharist isn't happening because of Convocation being yesterday--but that's just as well, that way there isn't something to miss tonight! :-)

AT1 (Ascetical Theology) class on Monday nights, which is always interesting, educational, and spurs me on to improve my spiritual life. Fr. Klukas is the main professor for this class, and he is not only a riot but also a person I greatly respect. He obviously has a deep relationship with Jesus, and is not afraid to talk about his own weaknesses.

And then there's grocery shopping, family movie night (which we do on Fridays), and always something to do in our community life. Last week we had our Fall Festival, which was a lot of fun. The kids of the community went out and trick-or-treated at all our apartments, then we went on a hay ride over to the gym for activities and snacks. After about an hour being there, we got back on a hay ride that took us around campus, and there were sightings of the Black Monk! OooOOoooh! Then back to the Peaks circle for a bonfire, and Jason Collins told a story about the "Nashotah Lake monster" and how Bishop Parsons fought it and slung it halfway across the world, where it landed in Loch Ness. LOL.

Forrest's midterms are going on circa now also. He had his Greek mid-term, which he thinks he did well on, and he has two papers due next week. If you think of him, pray for him in this hectic week!

I'll try to get some pictures/videos up soon. Anastasia has a prayer she says for Forrest and for me (very similar to each other) each night when we tuck her in, and I got her praying for Forrest on video. It's really cute...although I'll probably have to put up a caption of what she's saying. I'd better scoot for now!

Weekend Excoursions to Holy Hill and the woods surrounding Nashotah House Part 1

2010-10-19T09:37:00.001-07:00

The lawn below the Fort.

Entrance to Holy Hill

Dome on top of one of the buildings, the refectory I believe, at Holy Hill

The right front of the Basilica

Statuary in one of the chapels

The Bishop Ackerman altar...I mean Infant of Prague!

The children checking out the St. Michael statue

The Annunciation

One of the Stations in a Stations of the Cross trail they have at Holy Hill

Looking out across the vast wilderness of Wisconsin

Left front of the Basilica

The Basilica from the parking lot

Weekend Excoursions to Holy Hill and the woods surrounding Nashotah House Part 2

2010-10-19T05:02:00.001-07:00

Heading into the woods

Climbing over a log

"Daddy take a picture of me!"

Behind Lewis Hall

In the woods near the Sinner's Cross

Looking across Nashotah Lake at the beautiful fall colors

Below the Chapel, what amazing colors!

Tree climbing in front of the library

Why I loose staring contests!

Beautiful colors in the Garth

Cute sayings...

2010-10-18T06:03:00.000-07:00

Anastasia has this new thing about everything "getting" her. When I went to pour cream in coffee this morning she says of the cow on the carton, "Scared. Puppy. Puppy getchu."
And then she found a little piece of the black end of her banana peel on the table. "Bug!" she says. I explained it was a banana crumb. Then it was, "Banana crumb, getchu." Oh brother!
We went to have Compline last Tuesday night in the Chapel of St. Peter & St. Paul in the Fort. In there is a statue of King Jesus. "Scared," says Anastasia, "Jesus getchu."
"No, Jesus is not going to get you. Jesus loves you!"

She enjoys looking at Baby Jesus and Crucifixes though. Often she'll look up at the crucifix on the rood screen in chapel and say, "Jesus died." Or at Baby Jesus and Mary at the side altar, and say "Baby Jesus! Saint Mary!" I think it's so beautiful that my children can have the visual aids present in the chapel...that wherever you look when you're in there, you are presented with a story, and reminded of God's love for you.

So yesterday at church (which, the one we attend is also in the Chapel of St. Mary, where daily morning and evening prayer are held) I was trying to keep Anastasia quiet so I was showing her different stained glass windows and telling her the names of the saints on them. We get to the window of St. Charles. Now, a little background: the girls' bedroom wall is shared on the other side by Charles' bedroom. So sometimes when the girls are going to bed, we have to tell them if they get loud, "Be quiet. Charles is sleeping!" So anyway, I showed her the window and whispered, "St. Charles." She replied, "Saint Challows, sleeping."

Oh and this one is for Grandma Lisa. Yesterday Noelle and I were talking and she said, "I wish Grandma Lisa lived in Nashotah."
"Do you miss Grandma Lisa?"
"Yeah."

Please pray

2010-10-16T08:52:00.000-07:00

For Bp. Mark Lawrence and the Diocese of South Carolina!

Football Fight!!

2010-10-12T17:07:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures from the third annual football game against St. Francis de Sales

Warming up before the game

Getting a pep talk

Fr. Klukas prior to blessing the teams and the field

Preparing to vest

Being helped into his cope by the cheer leading squad

Timothy wearing Fr. Klukas' Capela Romana

Censing and praying for the teams

Getting ready for the snap

We lost this year but that still doesn't convince me of Papal Supremacy!

Picture update

2010-10-09T19:42:00.000-07:00

This was last Saturday night; Forrest and I had a "date night" in the other room while the kids watched a movie on the portable player, on the kitchen table. Anastasia fell asleep in her seat. :-)

The three other kids. As you can see, the boys are immersed in the show. Noelle is self-conscious of her cuteness and looks up with a smile.

Last Tuesday at football practice. "Football fight," as Noelle was calling it. Tomorrow's the game!

They practice up by the water tower.

Noelle with her friend Addi.

Matriculation!

2010-09-30T20:12:00.001-07:00

After a couple days of (silent) spiritual retreat (no, we didn't keep silence in your house. How do you do that with four kids??...it was "silent" on campus. Meaning, most people, when not in the married student housing area, didn't talk.) Okay, that was such a long in-parentheses that even if I hadn't lost my place, you probably would have. Anyway after a couple days of that, we had solemn Eucharist this evening in chapel, and the matriculation ceremony for the new class of students. It was really cool! They took a vow (upcoming video on that), and signed their names in an old book. This is the 169th matriculating class. And by the way, if you don't know, matriculate means to enroll. But it's related to the latin "Mater"--mother. So now Forrest is a Son of the House, and Nashotah is his Alma Mater. Very exciting!
By the way, we are loving it here. Life has been pretty busy but so full of blessings. Homeschool is going well--both the boys are doing well in math, David is picking up speed this year on phonics and getting into long vowel sounds now; Noelle is beginning to sound out 2- and 3-letter words and seems to "get it" pretty well! I just started reading "The Mystery of History" with the boys, which is a chronological telling of history beginning with Creation. Okay so I can't really judge so far...but I like it and am excited about it! (Thanks to Mommy for that book!)
We are really enjoying having (twice) daily chapel available to us; we go once a day most days, some days we skip but we haven't gone twice a day hardly ever.
We love the people here. I'm particularly thankful for many people here...among whom is my neighbor Holly, whose girls are close to our girls' ages and they love playing together. She also has a little baby boy who is very cute, and she graciously watches my kids on Thursday afternoons when I go to rehearse for choir.
I'm also really enjoying our Ascetical Theology 1 class, which is weekly on Monday evenings. We go, have food (so far either pizza or sub sandwiches) and babysitting is provided for the almost 2 hours of class time, which includes a powerpoint presentation and plenty of discussion. It's great that they've made the effort to allow spouses with children to attend this, without having to worry about arranging babysitting or even paying for it.
Okay. I'll put up some pictures and then I need to get to bed!

Smoke from the incense. Beautiful.

Dark, but you can see Forrest in the stalls with his classmates.

Going up to sign the book!

Dean Munday.

I think this was during the Peace.

All of us in the "court of the Gentiles;" a couple of the young people about to take up the elements for communion.

Afterwards, having some refreshment and fellowship right before dinner.

Fr. Peay!

Holly (my neighbor) wearing Asa (her son) and talking to Susan, whose husband Bryan is in the background, talking to Christian.

Forrest talking with Jason (a classmate) and Chad (er, Rev. Hart), a senior and newly ordained a deacon...and one of our neighbors!

Ringing the Angelus

2010-09-09T16:51:00.001-07:00

Thank you Auntie Hilary!

2010-09-09T06:32:00.000-07:00

The kids got their lollipops in the mail the other day and enjoyed them! And started a round of singing "Lollipop, lollipop..."

Picture update

2010-08-31T17:11:00.000-07:00

Our livingroom, from different angles.

The kids listen to Forrest reading The Pilgrim's Progress.

Sweet sisters.

On the way to the community picnic last week.

It was right outside the refectory...this was actually right before we left, I realized I hadn't taken any pictures of it! Good fellowship, delicious food.

"I do it!"

Resurrection Sunday Dance, Budapest, Hungary

2010-08-23T15:38:00.000-07:00

Settling in...

2010-08-20T12:28:00.000-07:00

This was not all the boxes, just some of them. Piled up in the basement at the bottom of the steps. You can see our chest freezer beyond.

Walking around campus. The boys were riding their bikes/scooters.

The bathroom. We also have a half-bathroom. Which is great!

Dean White from the side. It has a fence around the front yard!

I think this was the first night?

The kitchen, when we were far from finished unpacking it. I'll have to take more pictures of what the apartment looks like now so you can see the improvement!

Day Five

2010-08-20T11:41:00.000-07:00

Sunday morning. Forrest and I got to have a little morning time alone, getting things put away and ready for our departure, while the rest of them slept. :-)

Lovely sunrise.

The Pupper!

Don't worry, they didn't really let him drive.

After going to Salem Lutheran in Jackson, MN, we were on the road again! Many farms in Minnesota...including wind farms.

At a rest stop, about 20 miles from Oconomowoc! Noelle shows off her Happy Meal toy. Someone anonymous at Christ the King gave us gift cards for McDonald's, so we stopped there this day for lunch.

Driving up to home! The campus here is so beautiful.

After pulling up, the community all came out to help us unload and to greet us. We are so thankful for everyone here and their help and kindness, and to our church and all of you who support us in prayer! God is so faithful and it's so exciting to see Forrest following God's call and just how abundantly God provides!

Day Four

2010-08-20T09:52:00.000-07:00

Day Four we left our campsite at Horsethief Lake and drove through South Dakota, through the badlands and eventually into Minnesota.

A cool bridge we drove under.

A cool looking church off the highway.

Coming into the Badlands. There was a fee station we had to stop at to enter, thankfully when we got up there they said, "It's free fee weekend!" and we didn't have to pay! Which was great because we weren't really anticipating having to pay.

It was really beautiful and so amazing-looking. At kind of the top of a hill we got to get out and walk around.

Two perspectives: from me down below,

And from Ford up above.

A field of sunflowers. So bright!

Here's our KOA campsite. As much as we like the "semi-roughing it" version of camping, it was so nice to go to a site with flush toilets, showers, free wi-fi and even a pool!

Anastasia sleeping as we set up camp.

Day Three

2010-08-20T07:59:00.000-07:00

Day three was our "break" day in the middle of the trip. It was great to have a day with hardly any driving! It finally felt like we were really camping, and not just driving and sleeping in a tent at night. We had a leisurely morning and went to Mount Rushmore after breakfast cleanup. It was pretty cool.

On the way out of the Rushmore parking lot, there was this mountain goat!

This is Horsethief Lake. It was at our camp; after going to Mount Rushmore, the kids wanted to go swimming. The swimming area was kind of milfoily (or whatever that stuff is that was growing in the water) and so they only waded. Until Noelle got pinched by something and then Ford found the culprit...a crawdad.

This picture is deceptively dark because the flash went off.

We had been told that Mount Rushmore is really cool at night, so we went back after 9 to see it lit up. We were really glad we did, it was worth it!

After leaving the park you go around the mountain and on the road back down, you can see George's profile. Pretty cool!