Happy last Friday before Christmas - squeeeeal!
This week has been extra busy and scary with the news of the Brown shootings and the MIT killing this week. The math was not mathing, the leadership was not leading, the security was not securing. Now they say that the one suspect in all the killings is dead. Finally. What a nightmare for these students and parents who spend their lives trying to get accepted, and then beaucoup bucks to attend these schools. Jesus, we need you more than ever.
Last Friday, I sent the little guys to school with their teacher gifts, which I hope they got a kick out of:
That evening we watched A Nativity Story while the kids had some homemade cocoa and some peppermint Oreos.
On Saturday, Phil and I woke up and ran 6 miles because we are loosely training for a half-marathon. After the half-marathon that we may or may not complete, I want to start focusing more on strength training and less on cardio in 2026. Cardio just feels so good to me. I love to sweat and feel exhausted after a workout, and lifting weights doesn't do that for me, but I know how important it is for women as we age blah, blah, blah. On Saturday night after Mass, we took JP out to dinner to catch up on life over chicken tenders and pizza, mmmmm.
Maggie was in Boston on Saturday night with friends to celebrate Raf's birthday. They went out to dinner, then to see a drone show "Boston Frostival" and then to hear some music after. Apparently the birthday boy is really into jazz and they tried to get into a jazz club but no luck as they are only 18, not 21. They found a yoga studio that plays music in the evenings and hung out there for awhile before coming home very late (while I laid awake praying for a safe drive home since it had started snowing).
{Side note about the boy next to Maggie in the photos} Last year I decided to get passports for Eamon and Maggie, after having a couple of stressful moments where JP and Andrew needed their passports in a hurry to study abroad. We were at the post office, doing all the photos and paperwork, when a dad and his son came running in and started talking to us because they were late for their passport appointment, which was before ours. The lady working there (someone who goes to my church) assured them it was ok and they could go after us, since she started our appointment early. We all got to talking, and realized that the son was the same age as Maggie and went to the high school in the district where I work. Bot the dad and the son were just super personable and conversation flowed between all of us easily. The lady helping us even asked if we all knew each other, and we were like "nope, just met!" and we left thinking how nice they were. Fast forward a few months later, and the dad and son show up in line at our ice cream shop. Eamon was at the window taking orders and recognized them and they all were happy to see each other again. They became regular customers after that. When Maggie talked about going to Boston with Raf and his friends, she promised us they were all good kids, and we trusted her. It wasn't until after the fact that she mentioned that one of those "good kids" was the boy from the passport appointment. What a small world! I don't want her to start dating anytime soon, but he and Maggie do look cute together :)
On Sunday we awoke to our first beautiful snow! This was a big day because one of Declan's friends has a "Grinch Day" each year where they do all sorts of fun things, including going to the town stroll, a Yankee swap, contests and games. The parents are so nice to include Brendan too (they have a son the same age that he hangs out with) and the boys had an absolute blast. the only bad news was that four of the boys in attendance had a CYO basketball game that evening and had to leave early to make the game. They all would have preferred to stay but I'm glad Declan and the others honored their commitment to the team.
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| Declan lost his last baby tooth so an orthodontist consult is on the horizon... |
While the littles were away, I cooked all day. I made lots of Monster Cookies for my work's Cookie Exchange:
My parents gave us a rotisserie chicken so I made chicken and rice soup for dinner:
And Keto Zuppa Toscana (we use Italian chicken sausage) for lunches for the week for Phil and I (no picture).
The cookies that I came home with on Monday made the kids very happy! My boss made a unique recipe this year - Dark and Stormy cookies that were really good!
For you booklovers out there, have you read The Glass Castle? The author, Jeannette Walls, came to visit our Catholic high school and talked and signed books:
On Tuesday, Phil had a consultation for a sleep study and I had a zoom meeting for a committee I joined to help with a 5k fundraiser. It's going to be a lot of fun this April!
On Tuesday, Xander attended our Diocese's St. Andrew Dinner for high school and college aged young men:
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| Where's |
On Wednesday, our high school held their 2nd Annual Jean Revil Toy Drive (you may remember our friend Jean who passed away a couple of years ago) where all the toys were donated to My Brother's Keeper, the place where she volunteered until her death. Phil gave a lovely talk about her, Xander brought up some gifts, and I'm so happy that the school is honoring her memory in this way.
On Wednesday after work, I gave my mom her Christmas present - mani/pedis with her favorite daughter :) My mom can make anytime an extremely funny time and she was so happy to get her second-ever pedicure in her 87 years. We need to make it a more regular thing.
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| I wanted a wintery/sparkly color & chose "Mother of Pearl" which fits because Maggie's name = pearl. |
Thursday was Phil's Christmas work party, which he had to leave early so we could attend Brendan's Christmas Concert at his school. I don't love standing in a crowded gym full of germs right before Christmas break, but how could I miss the cutest shepherd?
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| Nailed it |
Andrew and Eamon have been on a young men's retreat this week and come home today...finally!
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| I spy Andrew in the back row on left (red stripes) & Eamon in the middle of the left section (light blue). |
Somewhere along the way this week, we also wrapped gifts and stuffed stockings, had 3 swim practices, a basketball practice + 2 games, 4 track practices + 1 meet, 1 piano lesson, a dentist appointment, turned in my final grades for the semester, and packed and cleaned for the trip to Maryland/Georgia/Florida/Maryland. We will be leaving very early tomorrow morning and I'm so excited for the BREAK from life and the extra family time that vacation provides.
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend getting all of those last minute things checked off your list and remember that no matter what, Jesus is coming and He brings peace, love and joy. Everything else is just, well, frosting.
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| A slice of the cake at my work's holiday luncheon |
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