The tooth bully

Gus: (excitedly) Mom! My tooth came out!

Me: Oh! How exciting!

Gus: Yeah! All Jack had to do was punch me in the mouth and my tooth came out!

Hair Days of Summer

The days of summer are long and so is the hair on top of the heads of my boys....but not for too much longer!


For some, hair cutting is still a chore.

Becca taunts her brother.

Becca: Gus, could you change shirts, because that one looks a little fruity.

Gus: What??! Huh? I don't see any fruits on it!

Becca is back....

and the family rejoices...although she has more facial hair than we remembered. Hmmm.

Cool Word Art

Fun Catholic Stuff

Here is a great u-tube video-podcast by the Rosary Army that encourages living the Gospel in ordinary ways. It's called,
"That Catholic Show". Check out the website for more educational videos (excellent for short attention spans! Eh Hem...not wanting to name any names here). If you liked this video, you'll love the podcast that you can subscribe to for free. Oh and while you are at it, add the Rosary Army podcast to your i-pod as well. Great to listen to while you are working out at the gym or running errands around town. To share all my podcasts with my five kids while in the car, I purchased a great little
i-pod cassette adaptor that I pop in the tape player. Very inexpensive, yet extremely functional! Everyone can listen to the i-pod in the car with that little beauty!

Gus just being Gus

As we sat down to dinner, Gus wondered out loud,"Hey, don't I get something for being the funniest person in the family?"

Me and the boys

Summer is rip roaring along these days. Rebecca has gone off to her yearly Band Camp experience for a week which has left me with a houseful of testosterone driven boys. Gone for a week are the girl type behaviors of Rebecca and I slipping out for a quick pedicure or for trip to Southern Season for some jelly bean candy or gourmet chocolate. I have no one to eagerly volunteer for a late night trip to the gym or for a walk in the neighborhood. Nope. Boys are different. Instead I have learned some valuable skills from my boys this week. Skills that may impress my neighbors and colleagues one day.

Gus proudly demonstrated the furious "popping" sound of bubble wrap while sitting on it, "MOM, doesn't that sound like a fart?"

Nicholas demonstrated how one can entertain neighbors outdoors while squeezing his lips between the door and the door jamb while singing a song.

Jack's high pitched whine can help clean out any china cabinet.

and Henry, well he's still a baby, but he is a very useful alarm clock if any of you would like to borrow him. He'll get you up at any hour of the night and test your patience while he sneaks up the stairs determined to find his brothers.

All these talents and more await an unsuspecting future wife, but for now they are for me to enjoy. I'm blessed with a herd of boys whose enthusiasm and joy for life goes unmatched; but for my great love for each of them. It's been a wonderful week with just me and the boys, but I do believe it's time for a pedicure.

Laugh of the day...

A new priest, born and raised in Texas , is nervous about hearing confessions, so he asks the older priest to sit in on his sessions.

The new priest hears a couple of confessions, then the old priest asks him to step out of the confessional for a few suggestions. The old priest suggests, "Cross your arms over your chest, and rub your chin with one hand, and try saying things like 'yes, I see,' and 'yes, go on,' and, 'I understand.'"

The new priest crosses his arms, rubs his chin with one hand and repeats all the suggested remarks to the old priest.

The old priest says, "Now, don't you think that's a little better than slapping your knee and saying, "No shit...what happened next?"

HT: Teresa P.

Cousins

At the sight of Henry's large hulking size, Uncle Geoffrey exclaimed, "Henry, please don't eat my baby!"

You have got to love his thighs and little Mary's daintiness.

Poor blogging, great summer!

Now I know I have been a poor blogger of late, but who can really blame me with five kids at home for summer break, a great vacation to Myrtle beach with the Clemens family, vacation bible camp, and summer projects galore! We are making memories here at four crying out loud as quickly as we can, but have little extra time for details! Please settle for a picture bonanza of moments of grace and love! Oh, and happy 70th birthday to a gal who raised my handsome and ever-lovable husband, Chris!


Uncle Jon and Chris surrounded by grandbabies!! You can't misplace a grandchild or adult in our specially designed neon-orange t-shirts!!



The whole Clemens clan for a group shot. Wide angle anyone?


Jack and Gus: The boys of summer....and their castle!


No. They are not waving for help from the lifeguard....they are waving at ME!


Becca and best friend Lizzie at the water park!

Grandma Dot and Grandpa Pat at Dot's birthday celebration! Medieval Times no less!