7 QT: The Week from Down Under

Amen that this week is finally coming to a close.  Hello 3 day weekend!  Joining Jen for 7QT.

1)

I'm not on Facebook or Twitter (and I'm actually thinking of stopping the blog because I don't seem to have time for any quality writing anymore) so I don't know if you all already know this song, but I just love it.

AAAAHHHHHH!  I wrote this post on Thursday, went to link it up to Jen's on Friday and saw we had both written about the same song.  Great minds or what?

2)

 My Dad went through surgery great and came home this week.  That's the good news!

3)

Now for the bad news.  Our nanny's daughter had a baby, which would make our nanny a grandmother for the first time.  So exciting!  But, it means she has decided to help her daughter out with the baby and has taken the last 2 weeks off and will take next week off also.  This means we have been scrambling for childcare right at the beginning of school when we can't be asking for time off.  And because my Dad is recovering from surgery and my mom is taking care of him, we can't ask them.

4)

Fortunately I have sisters who have helped me out all last week.  But it meant me going into work an hour late and then having to stay an hour late each day to make up the time.  And work has been incredibly busy for me, c'est la vie.

5)

I was trying to breastfeed Declan until 6 months, but my supply has dwindled this week (probably stress and exhaustion related) and he is getting more bottles of formula.  Now when I go to breastfeed him, he starts gnawing on my nipple like he would a bottle, and since he's teething that's no fun at all.  I think my breastfeeding time is coming to an end sooner than I wanted.  I know breast is best, but so is Mom being with Baby all day, and I haven't quite figured out how to be a full time working mom and breastfeed exclusively.  He'll be 5 months old on Tuesday, and I feel pretty good about the run we had.

6)

Soccer season is starting next week!  Four kids playing this year, which means 4 different teams, 4 different games (all on Saturdays) and 4 different practices during the week.  Do you think it's rude if I just call all their coaches and ask them to all make practice on the same day at the same time to fit my schedule?  Kidding, sort of.

7)
Ok, enough whining.  In the big scheme of things, I really have nothing to complain about.  I've got a great husband, awesome kids, a roof over our head and food in the fridge.  We are blessed. 

Have a great LAST WEEKEND OF AUGUST everybody!

That's What He Said

"Got my new pack-pack!  And it has a buckle!"

During a quiet part of Mass on Sunday, I whispered to Alexander "You're being so good today!" and he shouted "AND MY UNDERWEAR IS DRY TOO!"

Speaking of potty training...whenever we ask him if his underwear is dry, his response is always "All Day!" no matter if it's the end of the day or 6:30 am.  He reminds me of this guy:

Any person that comes to our house: "Why is he in his underwear?"

Xander: Because I'm on the Potty Train!

Unrelated Feeding of the Ducks photo.

Once we finally arrived at Plymouth Rock, Xander yelled:

"Why we lookin' at a wock?"

And finally...

Our babysitter (who's back in Steubie...boo) started doing this trick to get Alexander to go to bed for her.  She called it "Chinese Tuck-In" and would tuck him in like an egg roll while making karate sounding noises.  Hey, whatever gets the job done.  Here's Xander trying to show me what Chinese Tuck In sounds like (yes he's in his underwear):

First Day of...

First Grade for Maggie:

Second Grade for Eamon:

Fourth Grade for Andrew:

Sixth Grade for John-Paul:

New school for everyone!

(Alexander starts pre-school next week)

It's the most wonderful time of the year :)

P.S. My Dad is recovering really well from open heart surgery (triple bypass and aortic valve replacement).  He is able to walk around and is in great spirits.  His main complaint is the lack of sleep in the hospital and that his wedding ring was cut off, after never leaving his finger for 48 years.  Thank you so very much for the prayers, we could really feel them!!

Go Away

Hi friends!  Today I'm over at Kate's awesome blog participating in her series about motherhood before having older kids in the house.  It's a great series for new and young moms that I wish I had access to back when I was a newbie!  Go see for yourself...

But, uh, Kate, I never wiped my nose on an Aden and Anais blanket when I was a new mom.  Only because I don't think they existed back in the old ages.  We used cloth diapers for spit-ups and nose-wiping back then.  You new moms are so fancy ;)

Benny: UPDATED

Today my Dad, John Benedict "Benny" Sweeney, is going to have a cardiac catherterization  to find out what's going on with his heart.  I'll know more after the procedure about what the next step is for him which range from a heart valve replacement to bypass surgery, so I'm asking you all to say a prayer for him if you feel so inclined.  He's at a hospital in Boston, so we know he's in great hands.  

And speaking of hands, he has the biggest I've ever seen.  His father was a farmer and he was a builder, and at least they got some big strong hands to do their jobs!  

Declan's like "Who is this giant holding me?"

My Dad was one of twelve kids, and came to America from Ireland at the age of 19, chasing my mother for her hand in marriage.  They just celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary together:

True love means supporting one another even when their back gives out.

After Mass this past weekend, the visiting priest decided to offer confession because he had missed the scheduled pre-Mass time.  I was toying with the idea of going to confession and my Dad could see that I was stalling, and asked "What are you doing?"  "I'm thinking about going to confession" I said, and he replied "Don't think.  Just go."  He is a wise and holy man.

He is also very funny.  Like when he calls people by their physical features rather than their name..."I was talking to Long Face today and she said that Short Pants wasn't feeling well"...and the sad part is that we all know who he means!

My kids love love love visiting Grandpa and spending time in his workshop, and he's so patient with them as they learn how to build little trinkets.  He's also a great baby holder.  Unless they are hungry, or fussy, or poopy ;)  But he loves to give them the "dummy tit" or as we would say in America "the pacifier".  He's out of control.

Father's Day 2014

 We love you Dad/Grandpa!  Good luck and God Bless!

UPDATED:
My Dad had multiple blockages that are moderate to severe.  He needs to have open heart surgery with aortic valve replacement and bypass grafting.  The surgery will be Thursday morning.  Prayers appreciated.  Thank you!

7 QT Friday: Vacay, Phone Cray, and Winding Down the Summer Days

Thank God It's FRIDAY!!!  Joining Jen and the gang for a weekly roundup.

1)

We went on our annual summer trip to visit Phil's family in Maryland.  Lots of pictures to come (sorry not sorry).

Our trip took 8 hours each way.  We left at 4:15 am each time, and only stopped once. We travel hard.

Coffee time with two of Phil's sisters, Maggie ordered a hot chocolate with sprinkles and a Hershey kiss :)

We went out for dinner and some Keno-playing (Kenoing?) with friends, and our table won $100!  Free dinner!

2)

Phil's sister, Diana got a horse, so we had to go visit.  The place was gorgeous!

Treats for Pip the Horse.

I love how happy everyone is in this photo for Alexander's first time feeding a horse.

Diana put them all to work, it was great.

That was a hard day's work.

If I liked horses and the smell of manure, this place would be Heaven.

Phil wanted to get a photo of me staying far away from the horses (it's not my cup of tea).

Can't believe Xander is starting preschool soon!

3)

We swam every day except one!  Thankful for neighbors with pools!

Andrew mastered the full flip off the diving board.

Maggie began diving.

John-Paul prefers cannon balls.

Eamon became a great diver and Alexander started swimming on his own (with his "muscles") - finally!

Declan just watched from the sidelines, he's a land lover like his mama.

4)

The worst part of vacation was that Phil jumped into the pool with his brand spanking new iPhone in his pocket.  He tried sticking it in rice for 2 days, but no luck, it was fried.  He is getting a replacement one through our insurance today.  He felt so bad, but hey, in the end, it's just a phone.  A really nice, expensive, splurge of a phone ;)

5)

Frozen yogurt on vacation is mandatory, right?

Cousin Tommy was so happy to play with his cousins, and vice versa.

Cutie Lenora is 15 months and envied Xander's treat!

My Irish twins - not because of how far apart they are in age, but because they are Irish.

6)

We went to the tire park with Gramps, who spoiled my kids with Happy meals after and then a trip to the peach orchard for some yummy peaches!

I had to include this photo because of the Dad in the background like "Enough already!"

My princess :)

All Six!
I guess when people ask us if we're "done" we will have to say yes, because they won't all fit in the car.  Wink.

Put your hands in the air!  (Even Declan did it!)

7)

We had a great time seeing all the family, it seems like every summer we go down, there's a new baby from someone, and there's only 3 married couples in Phil's family!  A bunch of overachievers is what we are ;)

Sr. Denise meets Declan for the first time!

Bob & Larisa and their 7 kids, Phil & I with our 6 kids, Sr. Denise, Nana and Gramps, Erin, Diana, Kelly & TJ and their 2 kiddos, and Uncle John.  Phew!

Make a funny face!

Our family, with our niece, Maura, photobombing :)

And just like that, summer is almost over.  I go back to work full time next week, and Phil and the kids start school the week after.  Goodbye Summer 2014, you've been good to us!