Week in Review: Olympic Excitement, Spectacular Sunsets, Family Togetherness, and Superbowl Sundae

 Happy February Friday!

This week brought the stomach bug to the parents in the Martin house, and while the male species got a mild case, the female didn't know if she was going to make it through the night.  But she did!  With the male's help, whatta guy.  He was also the cause of spread virus but still, it was as romantic as it gets nowadays.

I'm very excited for the Olympics to start and hoping the Opening Ceremony doesn't offend my faith this time.  

What were they thinking?

Let's just have a nice non-political celebration of these awesome individuals who make me cry because they are so talented and determined and strong, m'kay?  Also me:

Catholic Schools Week got split into two weeks due to snow days, and the only photos I got were of the "Parent Picnic" where Maggie got to appear as the third parent she's pretended to be all her life:

It was also crazy hair and wear your clothes backwards day, in case you think he always looks like this.

And the 100 Days of School, where Declan turned his favorite bball player into the number 100 and Brendan dressed as a centenarian who has fallen one too many times and now wears a life alert (he just wanted an excuse to wear Maggie's old boot):

JP said this block of med school, spent learning about the musculoskeletal system and neurology, has been easier than their first block.  Can you guys believe that (God willing) everything keeps moving smoothly forward, these young guys may be your physicians one day?  Babies!

It's been a week of beautiful sunsets as well, and Maggie is nutso about making us pullover the car to take photos, which we all appreciate:

I guess winter in New England can be beautiful!

My parents left a puzzle for us, and it's been a challenge!  But did you know that if you sit down to work on a puzzle, all your kids and your husband will come by to chat/help at some point?  If you build it, they will come :)  We used to do a lot more "forced family fun" and gather everyone up and head out together somewhere - a museum, a park, a zoo - to spend time and create memories together, but these days it's much more about having family time naturally at home - watching a show together, reading books, praying a rosary - and that's been great too.  The needs and demands of little kids and a mom dying to get out of the house to do something different has shifted monumentally through the years, and I'm enjoying these cozy unplanned moments so much.

Phil had a work dinner for his DRE job this week, and Brendan wanted to make sure he came up to say goodnight when he got home.  I told him I would try to remember to tell Phil, so Brendan came back a minute later with this note to help his old mom's memory :)

When you check in on your college boys and they send you back a photo after a daily Mass they just attended together.  Be still my heart.

Jesus is their homie

And when that college has a gym named after your uncle's grandfather, you get to attend the memorial basketball game when family comes into town.  That little guy has healed wonderfully since his surgery from gastroschisis:

Oh!  I almost forgot the biggest news of all was that Maggie found a prom dress!  We went to Frugal Fannie's, awful name but great prices, a self-proclaimed "fashion warehouse" and spent three hours trying on almost every dress they had that didn't have slits up the leg (her big no-no) and one of the last ones she tried was the one she picked.  She's going to look like the beautiful princess she is, next step is to get it tailored.  This experience was so much better for the both of us, as we remained positive and worked on our own, as opposed to having a "personal dresser" helping and pushing sales.  Plus the dress was $140 instead of over $600 - winning!

I need to get ready for the big Superbowl game...the thought of food is still nauseating so I have been waiting to plan a menu when things don't sound disgusting...but that may not occur in time.  We will obviously have our traditional superbowl sundaes for dessert, but I need help with the food.  What are y'all making?

Have a great weekend everybody!  Stay healthy and GO PATS!!!!!