Week in Review: A Getaway, Retreat Weekend, and We Bought the Cottage!

Happy Last Friday in March!  This month typically feels really long and boring to me, but it seems to have flown by this year.  I want to shoutout a very Happy Birthday to Haley (today) and my Mum (Wednesday) - love you both so much!

I made my mom a Lemon Meringue Cake

Phil made Haley her favorite cookies

Last Friday, Phil and I headed up to New Hampshire for a weekend getaway with friends.  I don't think we've ever done something like this but we figured that JP was home to be in charge, and he won't be living with us after July so we might as well take advantage :)  It was a fun time without many pictures, except for a walk we took in the mountains one morning:

A trip to Zeb's for some chocolates in North Conway:

And an 80s band playing at the mountain restaurant (see those skiers through the window?):

JP sent some pics so we knew everybody was ok:

Brendan taking a prayer break

Pizza for dinner is always a winner

Meanwhile, our college boy and high schoolers all happened to be on three separate retreats that weekend!

Maggie was attending a Diocesan retreat that she wants to help lead next year when she's a senior, Eamon was leading a guys retreat at his high school, and Andrew went with his SENT Team to a middle school to lead a retreat.

Maggie and Eamon at their NHS prayer service

Maggie and friends on retreat

Retreat teams run on Dunkin

Andrew giving his talk

I just want to clarify that my kids are WAY better than me when it comes to retreats and being super active and vocal about their faith.  Maggie came home from retreat and said "I just love retreats so much.  I wish I could go on a retreat every month."  I, personally, dislike retreats in general and have to force myself go on them every once in a while.  But these kids love to lead and serve and share their faith any chance they can, and it makes my heart so happy.  They inspire me to do more, truly.  

And if you're wondering how they got to be this way despite having a mom like me, well, you should meet their father :)  Also, I praise their Catholic schools for giving them opportunities to serve and the confidence to lead, as well as our parish and the priests they've had in their lives as role models.  All of the sacrifices are worth it when they turn out so good (not perfect!) just really, really good :)

Anyway, moving on to more worldly topics.  Andrew sent this picture of a friend giving him a haircut.  Can you imagine stepping off that elevator and seeing that sight?  College boys y'all.

Hair, hair, everywhere!

Maggie and I went to a spin class this week, and I was happy to get in 12 miles in the 45 minute workout.  Spin class always seems so long for the first 30 minutes, then it flies by when you realize there's only three songs left.  I like to countdown my exercise in songs remaining!  The instructor makes the room dark except for some twinkle lights at the front of the room, and I can just focus on the workout and not see what I look like doing the workout, as opposed to the other classes I take which have us staring at a giant mirror the whole time we're bopping around.

Brendan has been practicing lots for his first ever piano competition next month.  He will be performing the same song at the same age as Xander did five years ago and is really hoping he places first too.  It's a lot of (self-induced) pressure to be the youngest!

Duet with Dad

In Ice Cream Cottage news, we announced our Season Three opening date:

And this week, we bought the building after two years of leasing!  

I asked Phil for a photo of the closing, and this is what I got.

Have a wonderful last weekend of March everybody! 

 

Do you know why everyone is so tired on April 1?  

Because they just finished a 31 day March.

:)