The Fifth (Child) Graduates Eighth (Grade)

Right after we got through Eamon's high school graduation, Alexander Blaise said "Hey don't forget about me!" and went ahead and graduated from 8th Grade at the Catholic school he's been in since he was three years old!

Preschool Graduation:

Kindergarten Graduation:

8th Grade Graduation:

It's true what they say:

 "The tie may be long, but the pants are short."

Also, that thing about the years passing quickly!

Senior Week: Awards Night, Baccalaureate Mass and A High School Graduation

What a week!  We have another high school graduate in the Martin family...

3 down and 4 to go :)

Monday night was Senior Awards and Eamon certainly took home a lot, as he should for all of his hard work academically, dedication to service, and being one of those kids that kind of flew under the radar but was also well loved and respected by his peers and the faculty and staff.  

The high school gives out two big awards each year - The President's Award and the Spartan Award - and Eamon won the Spartan Award!  His name will now be on a plaque at the high school forever.

Tommy and Eamon, classmates and cousins!

Eamon has also received $6700 from five outside scholarships that he applied for (with some not so gentle nudging and nagging from his mother).  Worth it.

Week in Review: Spring Concert, Spoiled Dog, Socks Hidden, Smarty Pants and Spiritual Guidance

Happy Last Friday in May!  Did you all survive that crazy month?  This week was like the eye of the hurricane for us, with lots of events the week before and next week too.  We enjoyed the relative calm while it lasted.

It was a big movie weekend, and The Cottage got in on the action:

The little guys had their Spring Concert/Art Show on Wednesday night, and let's just say it is one event I think could be pulled from the school calendar.  Having yet another event at the end of May with all the graduations going on does not seem like the best idea.  They have a Christmas concert that features singing, and the kids art projects could be put up at the benefit dinner in April.  

(These are the moments I think I am a curmudgeon because other parents and extended family members go to these events and seem to enjoy themselves.  Maybe it's because it's my 11th year of attending? Perhaps it's because the kids need a lot more practice to sound impressive? Or maybe it's because singing and art aren't exactly my children's talents?)

  In any case, Declan and Brendan were happy to have us there, they got ice cream after, and that made it worth it.

Declan's turtle

Brendan's sloth

This was Declan's 5th Grade class project and I could tell right away which hands were his because he always wears a watch:

2025 Prom and a Graduation Party

Eamon's Senior Prom was on Friday, so we had to take the traditional lighthouse photo, like I did with JP and Andrew:

We bought JP and Andrew each a suit for the prom (hardly anybody here wears tuxes anymore) as their graduation gift.  They both went to college and outgrew the suit, so when it came time to buy Eamon his suit, I told him if he could wear one of his brother's old suits to the prom, then I would give him money towards a new laptop instead.  He was psyched and squeezed himself into JP's old suit!

After he posed for a few photos for me, he went to meet up with a bunch of friends at a senior's house near the high school:

Week in Review: Last Day of High School, Kind Students, Babe Ruth and Socks with Sandals

Happy Friday!  Does it feel like winter where you are?  Brrrr it's been unusually cold (and terribly rainy yesterday) around these parts.  Normally I would love the cooler weather but it's bad for ice cream, so knock it off Mother Nature m'kay?

Last Friday was Eamon's last day of high school!  He was supposed to take his last AP Exam (Psych) but there was an issue with the exam and he has to retake it next week.  His grades were excellent so he didn't have to take any finals, and he's just been working and having fun since.  Tonight is the Prom and I will be sure to get some photos of my meatball.  I can't believe his high school career is over!

Signing yearbooks

Phil teaches only seniors, so it was his last day of classes as well!  He had to give finals to the students who weren't exempt this week, and the school will use him as a sub for the rest of the year but it certainly feels remarkable to finish his 22nd year of teaching.  This senior class is a great group and Phil's received some lovely notes from his students (name removed for privacy):

23 and We

 Saturday was our 23rd wedding anniversary!

I admit, I can never remember things like my age of how many years we've been married.  I used to always just add a year to JP's age, but now I first have to do the math to remember JP's age so it's all going downhill fast. Luckily, Phil loves me in spite of the way my brain works, and so here we are!

Our first dance - "It's Your Love" by Tim McGraw & Faith Hill

I was 23 when we got married, so half of my life has now officially been married to my bestie, and I am so grateful.  When Phil and I met, studying abroad in Austria in January 2000, I was in a serious relationship.  Phil and I became instant friends, and it didn't take me long to confess to my roommate that I "wanted to marry somebody like Phil." So then what was I doing dating somebody so unlike Phil?  I broke up with the boyfriend, told Phil I was single, and he asked me on a date very soon after.

What attracted me to Phil was his GOODNESS.  He was so kind and attentive, a friend to everyone, loved to laugh but not be the center of attention, made me feel safe, was a prayerful and chaste young man, led by quiet example, and was willing to put up with me!  I knew he would be a wonderful husband and father and he has proven that time and time again.

What I didn't know was how hard of a worker and partner he would be.

Phil has held down multiple jobs, gotten two Masters degrees, and even opened a business to support his family as best he can.  I'll give you last Thursday as an example.  Phil went to work (teaching high school theology) all day, came home and made dinner, went for a run, walked the dog with me and the littles, helped Xander edit his paper for an hour, went to the ice cream shop when it closed at 9:30 to clean the soft serve machines and leave them to dry overnight, came home and ordered ice cream and got bank deposits ready, went to bed at 12:30 am only to wake up at 5:30 am to go back to the shop to put the soft serve machines back together and fill them, then off to his teaching job for the day.  He then worked at the shop right after school until well into the evening.

But that's just his work-work.

He also does so much home-work.

Phil is the parent who meal plans and shops and mostly cooks dinner all school year because I get home from work much later than he does.  Phil was the parent who changed all the diapers if he was home.  Phil would get up at the baby's crying and bring them to me for a feeding, then burp and rock them back to sleep. "Dad" is the name that the kids would call for over the baby monitors because he was the one who would get up to see what they needed.  He picks the kids up from school each day, cleans the showers and does the dusting, mows the lawn and takes out the trash, does the dishes most nights, plays with the kids, and well, the list goes on and on.

Phil scheduled workers at the shop so that we could spend the day together on our anniversary.  He asked me what I would like to do...go to the Cape for the day?  Shop and eat and walk around a new town?  

Instead of planning a romantic day away, I said "Honestly, if I can have you to myself for the whole day, I would like to workout together and then really clean and organize the house together."

So that's what we did.  We went to our favorite circuit class at the gym, worked on the house for a couple hours, ran some errands, Declan had a soccer game, then went to Mass and out to dinner and for ice cream, and were asleep by 9:30.  It was very productive and just a little romantic, and after 23 years, that was exactly perfect.

All this to say, I picked the best one for me and our kiddos and we all love you so much!  No regerts :)  I don't think I could do this life without you by my side, and I pray I never have to find out.  Happy 23rd Anniversary and many, many more.

The night before our wedding

The night before our 23rd anniversary