Vet Path Matching T-shirts

Brian has taken on a second job this semester doing diagnostic pathology for a small business to keep up a skill set he will need later.  For Christmas, his boss ordered matching shirts with the business logo on it for our whole family, all the way down to Bobby.

St Philomena Mass and Party

Our homeschool group has a family in it specifically devoted to St. Philomena and they celebrate her on her birthday each year.  We were able to go this year.   The evening began with Mass, a procession, relic exposition, and then moved to a party upstairs with cake and games.

Genevieve was able to hang out with one of her homeschooled kindred spirits and had a great time...talking nonstop as they usually do when together.

There were active games for the boys!

They had a pin the floral crown on St. Philomena, an over-sized memory game, coloring pages, and a tic-tac-toe game.

It was nice in the midst of a busy basketball season to slow down and have an evening to enjoy a special saint and our family and friends.

The Twelve Days of Christmas

The Twelve Days of Christmas had a few special events included in them.  One was a family fun night for the oldest three with mom and dad.  We took them to a family improv comedy club with some other homeschool families that we know.  It was very enjoyable for us all!  My brother kept Judah and Bob for the evening.  Drew stayed back, at home, in case Nanna needed anything.

Nanna has a special love for chocolate shakes, and so we may have had a Sonic shake day with some gift cards from Christmas.

New Year's Eve we stayed home and had a family fun Canasta tournament.  We drew names for teams and Isaac made a Championship Cup for the winning team.  Isaac and Daddy are the current Cup holders until our next tournament.

The Champs

Christmas Day 2019

We had a series of gift opening events because of all the coming and goings, sicknesses, and hospital stays.  So these pictures are from several different days and times.  I didn't think to take a picture of our hospital gift opening with Brian's mom, but I should have.  I have a picture of the Christmas my grandfather was in the hospital and all the cousins gathered around him, and it's a special memory for me that may otherwise have been forgotten if not for the photograph reminder.

Bob and Turner are starting to play together more often as Turner gets older.  The 8 month gap between them is less noticeable.

Gold Chocolate Coin Eyes

Nanna had surgery the day after Christmas and was held one more night.  We drove home the evening after Christmas, and Brian brought her home the next day when she was released.  She has been with us ever since receiving in home care and orthopedic care here in our city/house.  We changed the only bedroom on the first floor from our acting school room to a guest room temporarily.  There have been a few bumps in the road with another trip to the ER in the last six weeks, the most recent bump being that she has to have another minor surgery because her body is spitting out the internal stitches and causing problems.  With the additional appointments and duties, our homeschooling has been somewhat disorganized, but the kids are learning in real time what corporal acts of mercy look like.  Isaac is always quick to help her out with her scooter or getting through doorways.  The kids have worked on a big puzzle with her, watched movies with her,  and told her countless jokes from their joke books.  Judah and Drew regularly make her coffee or bring her a meal.  Drew has stayed behind a few times to be her helper if we were going to be gone too long.  It's a different kind of education, but one that is more valuable in the long run.