Double Digits Kiddo and a Minecraft Party

Our fifth young one, Max, turned ten last month!  He's officially in double digits!!  What a blessing he is - he's so calm and sweet and helpful and I can't say enough sweet things about him!!  I thank God for him every day! 

It's so much fun every year throwing our kids a fun themed party with their friends.  And it's always chosen around their interests and likes.  Our kids love playing and building and being creative while playing Minecraft, so it was no surprise that Max chose that as his theme for this year's party. 

*****FOOD*****

Cookies

Sticks (pretzels) 

Slime Balls (green grapes)

TNT (red licorice)

(not so) Raw Fish 

(fish sticks, which was perfect since the party was on a Friday)

Water (blue jello jigglers)

Carrots

Healing Potion (Gatorade)

                                     *****GAMES*****

Minecraft BINGO 

(you can find many free printable versions online, like the one I found)

Knock Over the Zombies

Minecraft on the Wii

++Thank you, Lord, for Max!!  Please help him feel your love and presence all throughout the next year!!++

You are NINE and so very very FINE!!

Happy birthday, Max!!!   

Nine is fine, Max, and FINE you are!!!

To celebrate your 9th birthday, here are NINE things we love about you....

#1 - that you always play with me - lego's, cards, and playing outside (Ariel)

 #2- you make me smile and I love your snuggles!!!  (Lady)

#3 - you are a gamer like me (Fone)

#4 - you are so calm and easy going (Melody)

#5 - You are nice to me when we play board games (Pookey)

#6 -  You are fun and like to play dress up with me (Rose)

#7 - that you are a mini-me (Mario)

#8 - "I yuv you" (Yoda)

#9 - You light up a room.  You light up MY life!   You are such a positive and happy kid!    (Mommy)

++Thank you, God, for Max!!!  Please bless him abundantly over the next year!!++

My Baseball Stars

Last week ended our baseball season for the summer.  Our two middle boys, Max and Pookey, begged and begged to play baseball.  We ended up saying "yes" and giving it a try for them, just so they had that experience to play, if only for one season even.  They were blessed enough to have their uncle coach (for Max) and uncle and father coach (for Pookey) and both of them had a cousin on their team.  That made it extra fun for everyone - including ME since I got to sit and jabber with my sister while watching their games.

Of course, both boys LOVED it and want to play next year too.  We are not going to promise them though.  They'll get plenty of opportunity to play baseball around the yard.  Plus, we tend to choose sports that can include more siblings.  It's just easier for our family that way since we have some many young ones so close in age.

Here are some pictures from their wonderful season.

*** MAX on the Indian team ***

*** POOKEY on the Oriole team ***

++Thank you, God, for our time this summer at the ball diamond and fun with family while there!++

Our newest baseball star

Two of our boys decided they wanted to try out baseball this year.  Max has already begun practices and games, but Pookey won't start til the end of this month.  Max is already "head over heels" for baseball.  He said he wants to play "next year and the next and the next...." !!  Silly guy! Let's just enjoy this season and take it from there.  OK?

Love you, buddy!  Looking forward to all this baseball fun this spring and summer!!

A First Holy Communicant and a celebration trip

Max's First Holy Communion     May 3, 2015

Max received Jesus for the first time last May!!  (I know, I know, it's almost a year later.  Doh!  Such is the life of a busy mom who has lots to do, but also forgets and lets posts sit in "draft" for way too long)   Anyways, it was a beautiful spring day and he was able to receive Jesus with all the other boys and girls his age at our church, including his cousin!!  After the celebratory Mass, we all went over for a cake/punch reception in the hall (dessert first!), and then the two new First Holy Communicant cousins hosted a picnic lunch at a local park with a playground.  It was a great way to enjoy the weather and enjoy each other in celebrating Jesus coming to live in us in the gift of the Holy Eucharist.

And one thing that we always do to celebrate that joyous occasion is take our new First Communicants on a one-on-one short trip.  Okay, I mean, two-on-one since both Neil and I went.  Actually, I mean two-on-two trip because Yoda got to tag along too since he still relied on da momma for food.  Most importantly, Max got that special attention from both parents so that we can love the Jesus in him and focus on him those couple days, which is SO important in bigger families.  Those middle kids can get lost and forgotten so easily and Neil and I want to do our best to ensure that doesn't happen.  So we make BIG deals out of birthdays and sacrament celebrations.  We did the same thing when Fone, Mario, Melody, and Ariel made their First Holy Communions as well.  Such special trips and memories made!!!

 ~~ Trip to/from ~~

Gotta treat your little guy with Happy Meals and slurpees on the way, right?  We always say "no" when it's the whole clan, but for one lil guy, "why absolutely, YES!!"

~~ Medieval Times ~~

~~ Hotel stay ~~

~~ Legoland ~~

++Thank you, God, for sending your Son who gave himself to us so lovingly and willingly so that we may live in Heaven forever with You someday and also so that He may live in us so that we may be His light to the world right now!  Thank you for coming to Max so beautifully on this special day and also for every Mass thereafter!++