Week in Review: A Retreat with Connections, St. Nick Came, NYC Fieldtrip, and What We're Watching

Happy Friday!  As the countdown in my kitchen yelled at me this morning, "Only 13 more days until Christmas!"  Ok fine, it didn't yell, it doesn't even make noise.  It's just wooden blocks, but it certainly feels aggressive when Brendan runs down to change the number each morning.  The countdown is ON, people.

On Saturday, I was able to attend a Women's Advent Retreat with my friend, Michelle.  It was hosted by the Diocese of Providence, Rhode Island and the speakers were two Franciscan alumnus, Heather Khym and Kristen Fisher.  Heather is famous for being one of the Abiding Together podcast hosts, and Kristen looked suuuuuper familiar to me.  I realized that she was from Maryland, and thought she looked like the wife of Phil's old college roommate, and when there was a chance to talk to her I said "You don't happen to have a sister named Andrea, do you?" She did indeed!  And she knew Phil because they graduated the same year with the same major.  Also my nephew and her niece dated for awhile.  Small Catholic world.  

Then I turned to Heather Khym and stumbled over my words (hey she's practically Catholic royalty) and told her that our sons were friends at Franciscan right now.  We also realized we both graduated in 2001, lived in the same dorm, and ON THE SAME FLOOR, to which I blurted out "I CLEANED YOUR BATHROOM!" and she laughed and said thanks for that and we took this photo:

Heather Khym and her former toilet cleaner and Michelle

Bet y'all didn't know that I worked in Janitorial Services for the 2.5 years I lived on campus to receive a $500 discount per semester.  It was worth it for the moment when Heather Khym called me hysterical :)

Anyway, the day was really nice.  Food was great.  Talks were meaningful. Songs were beautiful.  The Cathedral was breathtaking and we were able to have Mass, go to Confession, and pray for the Pope in order to receive the plenary indulgence of the Jubilee Year.  It was a very special day, and I am glad I forced myself to go and had a good friend who invited me. 

 

 

Our kin dated!

Our sons do SENT ministries together!

Since I had to leave for the retreat bright and early, I missed the kids receiving their St. Nick gifts, but Phil sent me photos (the modern day 6th love language):

The two college boys were on their Household Retreat this past weekend, where Eamon and the other newbies were officially inducted!  In His Image now has two proud Martin members:

A former IHI household member turned friar prayed over them

How to make an Ugly Christmas Sweater even uglier?  Tuck it into your high-waisted pants!

Friendsgiving - and we love Andrew's friends so much

Maggie had a Latin fieldtrip to New York City where they went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, ate at the Hard Rock Cafe, shopped around the city and went ice skating at Bryant Park.

This week started out with a sick little Brendan, who complained of a sore throat and had a fever, that eventually turned into a trip to urgent care when he told us it felt "like a bomb was going off inside his ear".  He had an ear infection and is now on antibiotics and doing so much better.  I sacrificed and took two days off of work to stay home with him.  The things mothers do for their babies.  JK I am always more than happy to have an excuse to skip work.  Plus let's get the sicknesses NOW and not ON VACATION m'kay?

Pre-Antibiotics with a bomb in his ear

Post-Antibiotics and catching up on schoolwork

The pill is in on the trend!

Let's see what else happened this week?  OH!  JP came home late Wednesday night, after a few days spent celebrating the end of the semester, as well as visiting friends in Michigan and Steubenville.  Andrew and Eamon finished finals on Thursday and are heading with friends to New York for the weekend before attending a silent retreat in Connecticut next week.  I am waiting for a few more grades to come in so that I can wrap up teaching this semester and also wrap my mind around the three classes I will have next semester.  Online Accounting classes are popular!

Xander had his first winter track meet which was actually a scrimmage and he was not pleased with his performance in the 1000m but hey, there's nowhere to go but up!

Andrew captioned this photo "Non Chalant King"

Declan and Brendan's Chess Club finished up this week with a pizza party (which Brendan was sad to miss) and a 4th place trophy for Declan and a medal (18th place??) for Brendan.

We got the little boys the Grinch Meals from McDonalds for dinner one night before going on a dinner date.  Win-win:

Phil tried cooking Hasselback potatoes for the first time, which were really good smothered with garlic butter, but I mean, WHAT ISN'T?

My youngest sister is recovering from neck surgery and Maggie and I went to visit her with some gluten-free treats so that her daughter could partake.  These Monster Cookies were sooooo good and I'm going to make them again this weekend for my work's cookie exchange because one of my co-worker's also has celiac disease.

I am hoping to get the gifts wrapped this weekend while watching Hallmark Christmas movies.  I'm not typically into them, but this year they are calling my name.  We also watched All Her Fault (very good!) for thrills and chills, Leanne (so funny!) and subsequently her comedy specials, and are currently watching Castle Impossible for inspiration, and Stumble and St. Denis Medical for kicks and giggles.  Anything else you'd recommend that we try?

Have a wonderful weekend everybody!