Week in Review: A Retreat, A Mission, and a Full House

Happy Friday!

Today Phil and I have our annual skin checks at the dermatologist, an appointment I dread all year but still make myself go, with the promise of a lunch date after.  Moles and Rolls, Derm and Dine, Basal and Basil, and that's enough, Colleen.  

Lots happening this week, so without further ado...

Maggie and Xander went on a retreat over the weekend.  Maggie was a leader and Xander was a participant, and they both said it went awesome!  

Maggie with her team

I can suddenly picture Xander as a future clergy member

It was really, really weird only having two kids in the house on Sat and Sun, but then JP and Eamon and Eamon's friend arrived in time for dinner on Sunday, and the retreatants returned home, and all the beds in the Martin Casa were once again filled.  We were just missing Andrew, who is loving life on his mission trip in Arizona this week:

They have been helping at a school all week (and playing with the kids at recess!)

Look how close to the border of Mexico he is!

He said In n' Out was legit

Cacti!

Andrew and his partner leading a retreat for 4th graders

The crew before leaving Ohio

JP drove his car home from Pittsburgh, following Eamon and his friend in the Honda Odyssey, which we were told needed a new engine by a mechanic in OH and was not worth replacing.  Our mechanic here said if we could get it home, then it would probably be worth fixing, since the mileage is under 130k.  Phil and I spent Sunday praying for a safe journey, and thanks be to God, they made it all the way home.  Jesus took the wheel, y'all!  Our mechanic replaced the timing belt and something else mechanically, and we are waiting to hear back about what else is needed.  

Playing volleyball down by the beach

Hiking and rock climbing in Rhode Island

Eamon requested this Chicken Gnocchi soup for dinner one night

Declan had a project due, where they had to create a children's book about the phases of the moon.  His partner wrote the story and Declan illustrated.  I was completely unaware that Declan had such cute drawing skills!  I want to turn their work into a real book if I can get my hands on the story.

Declan's heels have been hurting him after basketball, and JP diagnosed him with Sever's Disease, which is basically exactly what Xander has going on with his knees.  These boys are just growing too fast!  I got him these to wear in his shoes and he says it helps a bit.

We announced the opening date of Season 4 of the Cottage:

There's nothing like a guest coming to stary for the week to make you deep clean your house and do a home improvement project...so we got a new shower door in the upstairs bathroom!  This bathroom is teeny tiny, and the new clear door makes it look a lot bigger.  Shoutout to my dad for helping Phil with all of our home projects:

This temps really warmed up this week (we were in the 50s and 60s!!) and even though I opened a window directly in front of my treadmill at the gym, it was quite the sweaty workout on Tuesday: 

I get pretty mad when the gym isn't cool

You can't really see it, but I bought a Sticky Grippy for the back of my phone, that still holds my license and credit card, but also lets me stick my phone to the screen of a treadmill or elliptical so that I can watch a show without having to look down too much.  A very niche product, but I'm very happy about it.

The YMCA celebrated anyone who worked out at the gym over 150 times in 2025, and I got a certificate and tshirt *pats herself on the back*.

We finished watching Season 4 of the Traitors (and then I told Andrew to immediately apply for Season 5 even though I'm sure he didn't), and are currently watching the 2nd season of Paradise, which is soooo good:

We palate cleanse with St. Dennis or Stumble, and have been fitting in episodes of The Chosen as a family because it's Lent.  It's a great show but I seem to need a liturgical season to encourage me to watch it.   Mea culpa.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!