Week(s) in Review: Turkey Trots, Babies Back, Card Cessation, and Spot the Song

Hi!  It's been a while since my last weekly update, so buckle up buttercups!

The Franciscan Men's Soccer team made it to the semifinals and played a game in New Jersey on the Saturday before Thanksgiving.  Andrew (a team manager) and some of his New England buddies who play on the team decided it would be stupid to travel all the way back to Ohio on the bus, just to turn around and come all the way back home on Tuesday for Thanksgiving break.  So they all talked to their parents, who agreed on the stupidity front, and bought plane tickets for a 30 minute flight to Boston on Saturday night.  I was so happy that I had spent the day cleaning the big boy's room, and moving the littles out and back to their room.  Just in time for Andrew to come home for a whole week!

Eleven Players Playing

Two Lads a' Lunching

After JP's last class on Tuesday, Eamon and cousin Tommy drove to Pittsburgh to pick him up and then they all drove home and arrived safely around 1:00 am.  While anticipating their arrival, Phil and I took the youngest three kids to see Wicked  for Good after school/work and we all enjoyed it, not as much as the first one, but worth seeing.  And then finally all of our chickadees were home from college and isn't that one of the best feelings as a mom?  Yes, yes, it is.  That first homemade dinner after a semester of college food just hits different: 

Eight Diners Dining

Having six sons certainly has it's perks:

Six Sons a' Raking

One Son a' Sleeping

For My Only Daughter, On Her Eighteenth Birthday

18 years ago, this little bundle of pink came into the world faster than her mom ever thought possible.  After the quickest 2 hour labor, a movie-worthy car ride to the hospital, and a frantic emergency call to the midwife to come catch, Maggie Rosemary Martin was (illegally) born underwater in the hospital jacuzzi.

She was supposed to be named Margaret (my middle name and my mom and grandma's name) Rose (after our White Rose love story) but when she was born, I had a strong intuition that she would be our only girl and wanted to add Mary for Our Lady to the mix, hence Margaret Rosemary.  I'm so glad God gave me that nudge!

Just feeding my baby

Her 1st American Girl doll

The princess who ruled us all

Full of sugar and spice and everything nice

How I still see you

Martin Family Gift List 2025

Happy Holiday Shopping!  Here are the gifts we have received or given over the past year.  

As always, thank you for shopping through my links, at no additional cost to you :)

Teen Girls:

Sephora Makeup collection - my niece loved this

Dainty Bracelets - Maggie is always on the hunt for more

Huggie Earrings - I wear them everyday and sleep with them

Ear Cuffs - when you're feeling edgy

Real Uggs - pricey but popular

Small Backpack - great for bopping around

Silk Pajamas - for the fancy girl who loves a nap

Comfy Wide Leg Jeans - these are for the moms too

Chunky Blanket - cold weather = gotta cuddle

Lamp - for that someone who hates overhead lights

Flat Socks - for gals and guys and kids!

The Boys:

Boys Pullover - so classy

Boys Slippers - just like grandpa

Celtics Shirt - cheaper than a jersey and more comfortable

Kids Eye Masks - bougie boys

Sports Bag - popular to hold the next gift...

Basketball Shoes - Declan gasped when he got these

Sports Crocs - how cute!

Kids Power Toothbrushes - a good stocking stuffer

Alarm Clock w/ Sound Machine - 2 machines in 1

Gatorade Water Bottle - always a popular choice

The Ladies:

Walking Pad - I use it while I watch tv

Kettlebell - strength training is a must

Women's Quarter Zip - runs really big, I ordered a Small and love it

Women's Casual Sweatshirt - Casual but elevated

Women's Cable Knit Sleeve Sweatshirt - I have these in four colors

Firming Lotion - I slather this on after a shower

Facial Hair Remover - embarrassing but necessary

Audible - the gift of reading!

Fake Birkenstocks - because sandals need to be replaced often

Oura Ring - I love it and wish I had waited for these prices!

The Men:

Silver Cross Necklace - every teen boy has asked for this at some point

Men's Casual Sneakers - white sneakers seem to be the only sneakers

Men's Cologne - my young men like this scent

Sea Salt Spray - for that tousled hair vibe

Adult Electric Toothbrush - dental health is important

Portable Hammock - popular with the college boys

Luggage - a great young adult gift for their future travels

AirPods - duh

Hydro Flask - because we all need a new water bottle ;)

In the Kitchen:

Meat Chopper - mine broke and I forgot how to cook hamburger meat without it

Personal Blender - great for protein shakes on the go

Instant Pot - we use our every week

Cold Brew Coffee Maker - the college guy loves his

Drinking Glasses - I replaced our glasses with this set

Sink Strainer - a must in our kitchen sink

Magnetic Cups - stick them on the fridge for water use = no more cluttered counter

Air Fryer - we use this almost every day

Coffee Maker - caffeine options!

For the Home:

Reed Diffuser Set - this was the scent at the Chateau Frontenac and I had to have it at home

Essential Oil Diffuser - we use it in our bedroom each night

Yankee Candle Wax Melts - a flameless way to create a vibe

WoodWick Candle - these candles crackle as they burn!

Shower Curtain Hooks - so much easier to replace a curtain or liner with these hooks

Soft Washable Rug - inexpensive, so soft, and you can wash them

Pillows - a bed refresh is nice every so often

Duvet + Cover - comfy and inexpensive and popular brand

Solar Outdoor Lights - we just put these on our front entrance

Blink Outdoor Camera - great for spying, I mean safety

Wedge Pillow - a gift to give the snorer or heartburner in your life :)

Toys:

Amazon Fire Tablet - always a great Black Friday deal

Walkie Talkies - still fun year after year

Smart Watch for Kids - Brendan loves his

Hover Soccer Ball - fun in the hallway

Basketball Cards - for the collector among us

Lego Sets - $25 for two cars to build!

Sound Effect Machines - kid favorite

Rubik's Cube - keep your kid entertained for hours by letting them watch a video on how to solve

Waterproof Cards - great for swim meets and around beverages

Whiteboards + Markers - I think I encourage these every year because of how often they are used

Books:

Paint by Sticker Book - such a great boredom buster that's not messy!

The Action Bible - the way my kids pored over this graphic Bible was intense

2026 Guinness World Records - we get the updated book each year

2026 Year in Sports - to give kids more "Did you know..." info

Harry Potter Wizarding Almanac - a certain someone will love getting this

Human Anatomy Coloring Book - for the nursing/med students and bio majors in your life

Set of Markers + a Sketch Book - classic!

Create Your Own Comic Book - we've filled these up and I just ordered more

There's also a Long List of Books over here

Week in Review: College Football, Mom in Training, Prayers for Ollie and Thanksgiving Pants

Happy Friday before Black Friday!  This weekend we will be happily preparing to welcome back home some college boys, which will require a room clean/switch up since the little boys have taken over the big boys room while they have been away.  I can't blame them because it is a much nicer room, but I do find it funny that instead of splitting up into into two bedrooms, they all wanted to move together to the big bedroom.  

While we were frolicking in Quebec last weekend, Eamon went with a group of friends to try and get on the Pat McAfee show before the Pitt v. Notre Dame game.  

The kid kicking missed his chance to win $100,000 but somehow (?) Eamon's group got the check and went all over taking photos with it (?)

They were only planning to go to the show and try to get on tv, but one of his friend's dad bought everyone a ticket to the game...how nice!  Go Notre Dame!

Happy 23.5 Anniversary to Us. Let's Go To Old Quebec!

Phil and I were able to take a long weekend away to celebrate our 23rd anniversary (which happened back in May but we took a raincheck to wait until life + the shop + the kids schedules were less busy).  So don't say Happy Anniversary in the comments if you already said that back in May or you would look silly.  Just kidding, there's no rules!  

We left work early on Friday and drove 3.5 hours up to Hallowell, Maine to The Maple Farm Inn where I was a little bit convinced that we would be murdered and nobody would find the bodies. But we are happy to report that we are indeed alive, and the stay was pretty nice with a delicious breakfast.  The innkeepers are charming, the room was clean and comfortable (minus the ladybugs??) and the jacuzzi was huge, but the whole inn and their website needs a renovation. 

Free Thanksgiving Dinners

We watched the new Fantastic Four movie while Phil killed the bugs on the walls for me.

On Saturday morning, we went for a walk until my thoughts of bears coming out of the forest to eat us got the better of me (hey, we are in the woods of Maine!) and we headed back for breakfast and to pack up for our next destination.

Maine blueberry pancakes - mmmmmmm.

"Isn't this a lovely drive by the water?" we thought premonitionally.

A birdhouse wall!

Week in Review: Short Weeks, Dinners Out and The Maggies Take Franciscan

What a great week!  

We had Tuesday off for Veteran's Day (we love our Grandpa and Gramps veterans) and I took Monday off because Xander and Brendan had physicals and then Declan and Brendan had a SAL day (stay at home school day).  Going back to work knowing it was already Wednesday, well that's what working-mom-dreams are made of.

Homeschoolers R Us (when the school makes us)

The boys physicals were great except they both need to see a dermatologist.  Xander for an unusual mole and Brendan for the years-long rash he has on his feet and hands that we have been to the derm for many times, but this time we are seeing a pediatric derm per the advice of my sister, so I hope we can finally figure it out.  On Tuesday, I went to the dentist with Xander and Declan and they both had good reports but I have another cavity in the same tooth where I already have had three fillings previously.  I asked if we should just pull the tooth at this point but the dentist wants to keep patching it up for as long as possible.  I hope that's in my best interest and not a money grab.  

Thank You Veterans!

While we were at the dentist, Phil and Brendan watched the Veteran's Day parade with Grandpa and Phil did some research to figure out the best plan of attack for my parents to get free meals that day.  I think Grandpa ended up getting a free lunch at one restaurant, a voucher for a free meal at another restaurant, and a half priced dinner takeout from a third restaurant.  Not too shabby!

Lucy Doodle got her hairs cut and a festive paper hat made by Brendan.

The things I put up with.

On Wednesday, a new restaurant opened in the city next to us, so Phil and I checked it out while Brendan had swim team practice right nearby.

The Mexican food was really good, seemed authentic (I went to Mexico once in 5th grade so what do I know) and we will be returning!  Our waiter was a former student of Phil's (they're everywhere after having taught for 22 years) and we had to laugh because we got the smallest table in the worst spot in the place (always happens to us).