Back to School, 2024 Version

 I so want to write "I can't believe summer's over and the kids are already back to school..." but let's be honest, I'm happy about it.  Summer is hard now that we have The Cottage *and I'm not complaining!  it's serving it's purpose for our family* but it does make the summer incredibly busy with everyone working lots and little kids being ignored/sent to camps/dragged to the shop.  Plus the fighting between the littles has reached new levels (see being ignored/sent to camps/dragged to the shop) and a little separation therapy will be good for them at school.

We were able to squeeze in lots of fun activities and beach time as much as possible, so it wasn't all bad.  I think if you asked my kids they might actually say it was a great summer?!?!  Lord knows their teachers will be asking them what they did this summer, and let's hope they just don't write essays and draw pictures of themselves fighting.  I'll keep you posted.

Without further complaints ado, here are the Martins for the 2024-2025 School Year (or as I say in the accounting world, Fiscal Year 25):

The College Kid

Andrew (19) is the lone college student this year since JP graduated last May.  Andrew is a Sophomore at Franciscan University, currently studying at their campus in Gaming, Austria.  He was a Biology major, about to *fingers crossed* switch to a Nursing major after having completed three courses over the summer to get his requirements.  In fact, he was still finishing up one online course while in Austria.

The High Schoolers

Eamon (17) is a High School SENIOR!  This will be a big year for him, as he will apply and decide about college for next year.  He seems to have no idea where he wants to go or what he wants to study, so this should be interesting!  His grades are top notch, SAT scores wonderful, AP scores perfect, Captain of the soccer team, in leadership positions in NHS and Student Council and Campus Ministry - so basically the world is his oyster and he just needs to figure out which direction he would like to take.  For now, school and six days a week soccer and weekends working at The Cottage and a girlfriend are keeping him a little preoccupied.

Maggie (16) is a high school Junior!  She can now drive herself to school and sports so we are all very grateful for that.  Maggie works so hard in everything she does, and lets us know all about it.  I wonder where she gets that from ;)  Like Eamon, she is a great student, involved in lots of activities, Captain of her Volleyball team, and is very excited to go on a mission trip in February.  Maggie moved up to Asst. Manager this year at The Cottage, meaning she now works the window/cash register, and can basically run the shop or the home or whatever is needed of her.  Girls are great.  She is also hoping to fit in some babysitting gigs during the school year, but probably once volleyball season ends as that is a six day a week commitment.

The Elementary School + Middle School Kiddos

Alexander (13) is in 8th grade, or as he told me "his last first day at the school he's been going to for ten years".  He is super excited for this big year ahead, as he and his friends are already talking about the end-of-year fieldtrip that the 8th graders go on in June.  Xander set the goal for himself to do really well in school this year "ya know, like I'm actually going to try now".  I'm glad he wants to take it seriously just in time for high school to start next year.  Better late than never!  Xander starts swim team soon, and has moved up to Category 3, which means longer practices four times a week.

Declan (10) is in 5th grade and even though his belly hurt on the first morning before school, he said he had a great day and the teacher is really nice.  This boy has such a wonderful group of friends in his class who all hung out over the summer a few times and my momma's heart is thankful that our most nervous and shy kid has good people around him.  Declan is a soccer star and starts practices next week.  His summer goals included the big wave beach and going fishing, and he got to check them both off multiple times.

Brendan (barely 8) is in 3rd grade and ready to conquer the world.  He will also be joining swim team soon (Category 1) which means he has three practices each week, at opposite times as Xander.  D'oh. Brendan likes his new teacher, who happens to be an old student of Phil's because it's a small world after all.

The Teacher

Phil is starting his 22nd year of teaching high school Theology (and Department Chair for maybe 16 of those years).  He's also running The Cottage and the Director of Religious Ed at our parish, so you could say September is a very busy month for him!  He is looking forward to Columbus Day weekend when he will finally have 3 days off in a row, as the poor guy worked 6-7 days a week all summer long then jumped right into school and DRE.

As for me?  Well, I'm starting my 4th year as the District Accountant for public schools in a town nearby.  I'm also teaching one class of Managerial Accounting online for Franciscan University, and working (mostly behind the scenes) at The Ice Cream Cottage.  So I guess September is extra busy for both of us, and I need to start planning a getaway in October.  And John-Paul is not in school this year, but studying for the MCATs next month and thinking about going to paramedic school to work as a medic until he gets into medical school.  He's also holding down The Cottage for us until we switch to weekends only.  We could not do it without him this season!

Happy New School Year Everybody!!

Week in Review: Auf Wiederschauen to Andrew and to Summer 2024

A big piece of my heart is now living in Gaming, Austria for the fall semester!  Andrew flew over on Wednesday night and arrived in Vienna on Thursday morning, met up with other students and got picked up by a bus which took them to the Franciscan University campus in Gaming (pronounced Gah-ming, not Game-ing).  There he will live in a restored 14th century monastery, take classes in English four days a week from American professors, and have long weekends and two ten day trips to travel through Europe and beyond.  I am so excited for him!!

Before he left, my mom made him a Coconut Cream pie because the boy loves his coconut:

Darian and Andrew stopped by The Cottage for an ice cream flight before his flight:

Then we all hugged him and told him to behave and off he went:

Eight is Great and Our Baby is Growing Up

Our caboose is eight years old!  

Brendan may be little, but he has an old soul and always seems a bit older than his age to me.  He is very aware, whip smart, and can be a tiny tyrant at times.  Like most babies of the family I suppose ;)  He has a lot of big siblings to keep up with and learn from, and it definitely shows.  His love language is still physical touch and I hope he never stops giving out hugs, especially when he sits in between Phil and I and puts his little hands behind our backs.  He's empathetic and the first to ask how somebody is feeling, or if something hurts.  Brendan has the cutest little embarrassed smile when you praise him, and loves learning new things.  One of his birthday gifts was that he could start taking piano lessons, and he was thrilled!  He's been trying to teach himself and seems to have a knack for it, so I think he will pick it up really quick.  He is a HUGE reader (currently reading The Land of Stories series) and hoping to make it on the fall swim team this year.  He's the second youngest kid in his class but more than ready to start 3rd grade.  The kids think he's my current favorite child, and they might just be right. Kidding, kidding, but he is hard not to love!

First piano lesson with Xander on the left and the teacher on the right.

Last day being seven, at the beach with big waves in Newport, RI.

Waking up on his 8th birthday, reminding us all in case we've missed his daily countdown.

Phil took the birthday boy and some siblings to Supercharged Entertainment in Wrentham, MA to play on his actual birthday.  They had tons of fun!

For dinner Brendan chose chinese food and for dessert - The Ice Cream Cottage!  See why I love him so much?  No cooking!

He got lots of cool gifts such as boxer briefs (he wanted to be like the big boys), a digital camera, reusable water balloons, a watch, a book, a kite, a puppy night light (to read by), and a new water bottle.

Happy 8th birthday, Brendan Joseph.  We all love you so much!  

I hope you get to be a dermatologist or an architect one day but more importantly I hope you get to Heaven and when I watch you pray the rosary or serve Mass, I know you are well on your way.  You always tell me I'm the "second best mom" after Mary, of course and you love Jesus and the saints, aspiring to be another St. Brendan in heaven.  You are a good and loyal friend, a bright student, and my brain when I can't remember something.  You love adventures and games and bring home shells and sticks and flowers as gifts.  You are an absolute delight even when you're sassy and we thank God for you every day.

Week in Review: The Martin Bunch, Summer Swims and Food is my Favorite

Happy Friday!  

This was a good week with both the feast day of St. Maximilian Kolbe on Wednesday (read about my connection/love for him here) and the Assumption on Thursday.  As I told my kids the way to remember the difference between the Ascension (when Jesus went to Heaven) and the Assumption (when Mary went to Heaven) is that there's an "M" in Assumption.  CCD class over :)

Last Saturday, Andrew and I took the littles to a YMCA pool near where I work.  Well, this pool is a hidden gem because it seems like nobody else knows it exists and we had the place to ourselves - such fun!

Any activity is more fun when a big kid comes along.

Andrew leaves next week for a semester in Austria and I am so sad already :(

But ice cream makes everything better and my favorite flavor was our special this week at The Cottage:

Mocha Chip

And I threw together this little photo to post about the family behind our family business.  Very Brady Bunch-esque, oui?

If only we had an Alice.

Week in Review: Lucky Charms and Lucky Kids

Happy Friday!  

Eamon has been doing morning workouts with his soccer team and also playing in a summer league, and we were finally "allowed" to see him play this week.  He always downplays his games and says they're not worth watching/they are going to lose/it is bad weather but I put my foot down and told him to pick a game we could watch and it finally happened.  His cutie patootie girlfriend met up with us to watch for the first time as well (she played in her own summer league that just ended) and guess who scored?  Yup, #17 my Eamon Philip.  I think we were the lucky charms for him that night and this is why you should always want your mom to go to your games and cheer you on and not be embarrassed about her yelling.

Phil and I tried a Lebanese restaurant to grab something quick before the game, and this chicken shawarma wrap was filling yet light.  I keep thinking about it.

We also made turkey burgers this week, and I was reminded why we eat beef burgers normally.  I just don't love turkey in any form.  But we are trying to eat healthy and lower my cholesterol so it was worth a try.  I've been making overnight oats every day using these jars and filling them with oats, almond milk, chia seeds, ashwagandha, protein powder/greek yogurt and some peanut butter - delish!

A Quick Getaway to Kennebunkport and Ogunquit, Maine

Work has been so busy lately (my regular accounting job...as well as The Ice Cream Cottage) but they had to replace the server at work, which meant I couldn't use the accounting software, which meant that Phil and I were able to squeeze in a quick 24 hour getaway last Friday to Ogunquit, Maine.  We woke up on Friday morning, took the dog for a 4 mile walk (because we knew the kids wouldn't be walking her while we were away) and drove up North!  We stopped at Popovers in Portsmouth, NH and had yummy breakfast sandwiches AND popovers - delish.  We were full until dinner.

We drove straight to Kennebunkport, Maine and rented electric bikes for a half day in order to see the town.  Kennebunkport is a BEAUTIFUL coastal New England town, made famous by the Bush compound there.  We did see Walker's Point estate, and drove right past the secret service agent(s) parked in the driveway.  What a waste of taxpayers money to have round the clock secret service for retired presidents who aren't even there!

LOVE (see it?)

Phil, your tourist is showing.

Sadly after about an hour of riding, I had a crash and fell off the bike.  I just got too close to the curb trying to stay out of the road and hit it and fell off onto the sidewalk.  My right knee got the worst of it and has a big cut plus I scraped and bruised my other leg and my arms/hands and bumped my head on a rock wall.  It was a crazy moment and I keep reliving it *shudder* and realizing how much worse it could have been.  

The roads are just so busy in the summer between the pedestrians and bikers and cars, and there isn't a dedicated bike lane or path, that we really shouldn't have been riding bikes at all.  Lesson learned and in the future we will only rent bikes if there is a bike path or it's a less busy season.  After my fall, a lady walked down from her enormous house overlooking the ocean to check on me.  She said she saw what happened, and asked if we wanted to come up to sit in the shade (it was 90 degrees) and have a cold drink.  I really should have taken her up on it (I would have LOVED to see her house up close!) but I was too embarrassed and shaky and crying to want to be seen by anyone.  I knew I was okay, just banged up, so we rode back to the bike rental place and dropped off the bikes early and headed to the hotel in Ogunquit.  We stopped at CVS for some bandaids and ointment and chocolate, of course.

Week in Review: Aloha, Easy Eats, and Our Toilet Has a Problem

Look who made it home from Hawaii on Wednesday night?  And brought home a coconut thumb piano for Xander's birthday!

JP was driven home from the Boston airport by his friend's parents (who live in New Hampshire, so that was REALLY a nice deed) and has lots of photos and stories to share.  I'll just post a few here, and hopefully get him to write about his adventures soon.