Wordless Wednesday: Apple Picking

Quick Takes #215: School daze and fall dreaming

1. Happy Friday!! This was the first week of both big kids having homework and a test to study for and it was bumpy and so I'm looking forward to a weekend without homework (no projects yet) but I'm also hopeful that we will build on a decent start to something good.
2. The Quick Recap on Liam's Pokemon Party is all good: the kids jumped to their hearts delight on trampolines and into foam pits; and then munched down on pizza and cake. Unfortunately constant motion do not make for good pictures. 
3. Years ago I stayed away from the new Upstairs/Downstairs series having been told that if you liked the original the new would be a disappointment. Then about a month ago I bumped into the second season and liked!! So I put the first season on my Prime watchlist and last week while Dr Daddy was on a work trip I finally got a chance to watch. So the good news is I really enjoyed the series and again visiting 165 Eaton Place ~ the bad news apparently there won't be a third season. :(
4. Of the new shows offered this fall so far I've watched "This is Us" which I really liked and "Designated Survivor" which was ok and worth a couple more episodes. Any others I should check out?
5. Given that it is now officially fall and all; I'm ready for the weather to act accordingly.  The AC went off earlier this week and would be lovely if it could stay off for the duration.  PSL and jeans please!!
6. If you are of the prayerful persuasion would you please send a few up on the behalf of my friend Rosie and her wee babe? Please and Thank you!
7. Have a good weekend! 

Please head over to Kelly's for more 7QT's

Liam at Six

    Liam at six (official as of a couple days ago)  is a laid back, mostly easy going dude.  Though definitely not without a temper he is able to face disappointment and regroup.  Case in point earlier this week we headed to Party City to get Pokemon stuff for his party only to find that section largely sold out; he just started looking down the aisle and decided that Skylander banner, plates, and napkins would work just as well.

   My most adventurous eater there are very few foods that he won't at least try.  Favorites include lasagna and spaghetti, beef & broccoli, and ice cream every chance he gets.  He enjoys cooking especially with Daddy; though he treasures his time with Dad above everything and would be happy to do pretty much anything with his 'buddy'!

   Ninjas teenage and otherwise are still favorites, along with Teen Titans, Transformers, and Pokemon.  We are exploring sight words and beginning to understand how letters go together to form words.

   Loves running, getting better all the time on his bike and discovering roller skating.  He is doing gymnastics currently but that is likely not to continue. Mostly he runs a lot; in the house, down the block, pretty much all the time!

Happy Birthday Buddy!!

    Onward!!

Quick Takes #214: What I learned on my day in the Shenandoah

1. Last Saturday I had the great good privilege of attending a conference hosted by the CWBN (Catholic Women Blogger Network) Mid-Atlantic conference and it was awesome!! An amazing opportunity to step away from daily life, listen to great talks, and sit around a table sharing concerns and being supported by other women of faith.
2. Meet and greet; was lovely especially after I got over my nerves at meeting in the flesh such amazing, inspiring bloggers as Mary and Kelly.  Of course there was also the wondrous feeling of meeting IRL blogger friends like Lisa and them being as great as you knew they would be. Plus loving on all those beautiful babies!!
3. Mary's talk started off the day by offering a wonderful meditation on motherhood and encouraging us to call on our Blessed Mother for the courage to be who and write about what our Lord is calling us to; to show the committment of Mother Theresa and to believe in our vision with the tenacity that Mother Angelica demonstrated.
4. Elizabeth's keynote encouraged us to balance creativity with authenticity. I so appreciated the reminder to be true to myself on this blog and trust that if I share honestly of the insights gained from living my life and pursuing my vocation my readers will leave happy.  She also offered a lot of food for thought about how to honestly share my journey as a mom and wife without oversharing my children's story.
5. After a lunch where I got feed my body with yummy food; and my spirit by the wonderful conversation with my small group we were blessed as Jennifer Ryan shared her expertise in affiliate management which was so kind of her and gave me so much to think about as this is an aspect of blogging I have yet not explored.   This is also the point in the day when a bear cub ran across the yard adding a fun moment of excitement  to the day!
6. The day ended with all the speakers plus our emcee (and lovely link-up host) Kelly forming a panel and answering anything and everything we asked!
7. From crossing the Shenandoah in the morning to crossing the Susquehanna at dusk: blessings all day long!  My thanks to our lovely host Rosie and everyone else who worked so hard to put together such a wonderful conference!

Please head over to Kelly's for more 7QT's

New headshot featured above courtesy of Rachel Cupps who so generously shared her time and talent to the ladies of the conference.

Back to School ~ Fall 2016!

Tis the Season

                                                             3rd Grade

Kindergarten

At his table ~ First Day

Open Book: September 2016

   As I wrote a couple months ago after reading a memoir about the making of the movie The Princess Bride I'm interested in reading the book. While searching for the book (which I now own and hope to read soon) I found another book which inspired a favorite movie. Auntie Mame by Patrick Dennis inspired the 1958 movie starring Rosalind Russell.  This book recounts a nephew's memories of being raised by an outgoing and somewhat outrageous aunt after his father's death. Starting in the gin soaked twenties and going forward for about 30 years this book is fun ride; Dennis has a great ear for dialogue and while the book is very light hearted it is not too saccharine and I may have been biased by liking the movie first but truly believe it is a good read even if you haven't seen the movie.

Currently reading Their Eyes are Watching God by Zora Neal Hurston or actually rereading as I read it once back in college and while I remembered liking the book it has been long enough that I didn't remember why I liked it.  I liked it and am enjoying the re-read because Hurston is wonderful storyteller, with a wonderful ear for dialects as she brings to life the southern voice in Georgia and Florida in the early twentieth century.  The book largely tells the story of Janie as she navigates adulthood and three marriages starting at seventeen when the grandmother who raised her guilts her into marrying so her grandmother could die knowing she (Janie) would be cared for.  A little over half way through and am so glad I picked it up again.

Please head over to Carolyn's for more Open Book.