7 Quick Takes: My Baby's Birthday

1) 

My "baby" (my sister gets mad that I still call him that, because he's a big boy) is TWO today!  He is so so so excited.  He's been talking about his birthday for 2 weeks, and he wants a Dora Balloon and some cake.  Easily pleased that one.  We celebrated with Phil's side of the family this week.  

Cousin Maura turned 11 this month!

My little leftie.

2) 

The best thing about the baby's birthday is how excited the other kids get.

Right now Andrew is learning to play Happy Birthday on the piano.

Maggie: "We're going to let him do anything he wants today, even ride my scooter."

Then they figured out they could ask for whatever they wanted and pretend it was Xander's idea....

J-P: "Xander says he wants donuts for his birthday".  

3)

We celebrated his birthday last weekend with my family.  There are 5 summer birthdays amongst the littles...

  Pinata Time!

The pinata finally broke, and all Alexander got was half a twizzler and a pair of glasses :)  

4)

 Did you hear?  The Prince's name is George ALEXANDER Louis.  

They're gonna call him G. Xander for short.

5)

This is non birthday related, but it's one of the most exciting moments of our married life...

Our student loan debt is paid off!!!!!

Status: Paid in Full...have there ever been sweeter words written?

It's taken us 11 years to pay off about $70,000 of student loan debt.  We've scrimped and saved and sacrificed in order to do it, and it is so rewarding!  Happy Dance!

Now we can finally start saving for the next house with four bedrooms!

6)

But back to this guy...

Like his shirt says, yes girls, he's single.  Shocking but he doesn't want to be tied down quite yet.  He's got places to go, people to see, and lawns to mow.

7)

Alexander Blaise, you have a rockstar name, and you are our little rockstar.  You are the funniest, smartest, cutest, sweetest little 2 year old I know, and I am honored to be your Mom.  You have brought so much joy and laughter and fun to our lives, and like Eamon once said "Without him, we would have nothing."  So very true.  We love you to the moon and back.

Superstar

Make sure you turn up the volume (and I apologize that my voice is so grating...)

5 Favorites

1)

So many blogs to read!

Thanks to Jen's everyday post linkup, I have had my fill of good reads.  Which is rare in the summer months, and like McDonald's...I'm lovin' it.

2)

Summer Vacations.

Oh pooooooool boy!  You missed a spot.

As you're reading this we are heading down to visit Phil's family for a few days.  Unlike my normal Type A Vacation style, I am trying not to plan a  n  y  t  h  i  n  g so that my kids can just play with their cousins, run around outside all day, and swim to their heart's content!  I'm not even going to worry about bringing exercise clothes or videos.  I'm seriously taking a break.

3)

Red Baron pizza.

I feel like I'm confessing a sin, but there are (too many) times when 9 pm rolls around and Phil and I are hungry for second dinner, and we cook up one of these delicious and inexpensive pizzas.  It has to be Supreme, and it has to cost $3.00 or less.  I eat 3 slices and Phil eats 5.  Because I make sure he eats more than me so I feel like a lady :)

4)

Royal Baby Princes!

What's his name?  What does he look like?  

And how did this petite princess give birth to an 8 lb. 6 oz. first born?  It must be the commoner in her ;)

I heard Alexander is in the running for a name, and my Xander was like:

I guess he doesn't want all the world's future babies to have the same name as him.  Selfish.

5)

And I saved something delicious for last.

Smores from stores.  For those times when a campfire is more scarce than a unicorn.

Head off to Hallie's Grace's Place for more Five Favorites!

Track Club Nation

Martin Fraternization

 Sweet Hydration

Clothing Coordination

Muscle Elongation

Cousin Adoration

Javelin Admensuration

Big Catapultation

Pure Elation

 Great Formation

Running Recreation

No Expectations

 Long Saltation

 Fast Acceleration

Proud Sensation

Final Relaxation

(with a Xander photo bomb)

Sista, Sista

Gosh I loved that show.

Did you all hear the gospel reading on Sunday, it was the story of Mary & Martha.  This reading always frustrates me because I am such a Martha, and I feel sorry that she seems to be so misunderstood. 

 If Jesus, Our Lord and Savior, was coming over to your house for a meal, wouldn't you go absolutely nuts to clean up and prepare food for Him?  Wouldn't you want to try your hardest to serve Him perfectly?  You would blow your grocery budget in order to purchase the finest foods and create a to-do list to make sure all areas of your home were neat and tidy, I mean, Jesus might have to use your bathroom!!

You finally get the house in order and Jesus arrives.  Now it's time to cook dinner!  You say hello and quickly excuse yourself to show the Son of God just how much you love and care about Him by creating a delicious masterpiece.  You really wish you knew where your sister was, who was supposed to be helping out in the kitchen (she already slacked off in the housecleaning department) when you hear her talking to Jesus in the next room.  You peek in and see her sitting on her lazy behind without nary a thought for how dinner will just magically appear.  The nerve!  Must be nice, you think to yourself, as you march in there and say:

"Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.” 

And Jesus responds:

“Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

Wait a minute...WHAT?!?!?!  What does He mean?  Mary chose the easy part, while I'm stuck doing the hard part.  I wish I could just sit around and listen to Our Lord and ask him questions and adore Him, but there's too much to do.  And if I don't do it, obviously nobody else will.

But what if Martha had decided to sit next to Mary and soak up Jesus' wisdom and teachings, then when He was done, they both got up and made dinner together?  They both would've chosen the best part, and everything still would've gotten accomplished.  Why does Martha take it all on herself to do, do, do, and constantly be a busy bee all the time?  Why does she do it with a poor attitude?

Why do I do the same?

Why is it so hard for me to sit still and pray and reflect on God's teachings?  Why do I always buy into the lie that there's never enough time for prayer if I want to get everything else accomplished?  That's the devil's trap.  

Back when I was a graduate student, I used to go to wake up at 5:30 am, go to daily 6:00 Mass, work out at the gym, shower and get to my accounting job by 8.  Then I would work my 8 hours, drive home, cook dinner and head to class from 6-9 pm.  After class, I would head home and study and do it all again the next day.  It was a crazy busy time, and on the days I would think I should skip Mass in order to have more time to get everything done, those were the most hurried and scattered days of all.  It was like going to Mass actually refocused and re-energized my day which gave me more time to get everything else accomplished.

The same is true with prayer.  When I willingly give God my time, He rewards me by having a much more balanced and good day.  It doesn't matter what we accomplish each day if we don't have a relationship with Him.  

Jesus was right (duh!).  Mary did choose the good part, and Martha and I need to hear that lesson and learn that when it's time to serve, we should do it with a joyful heart, and when it's our relationship that needs a little tending to, that we slow down and focus on that.

What She Wore Sunday

Or actually, on Saturday to the Vigil Mass.

Crazy hair courtesy of just getting out of a pool.  It's gonna catch on.

It's the dress we won from Kelly's Giveaway!

Maggie got so many compliments in this dress, which she just hates (opposite day) and it truly looked lovely on her.  It was handmade by Erica from Just 11 stitches, and we couldn't have been any happier,  her son even picked the fabric and I think he has a calling :)

 Erica also makes super duper cute owl hats, as seen on Grace's offspring.

Go shop around for yourself, and thanks again, Erica!

{Linking up with FLAP}