Weekend at the Farm

This past week was our 15 year anniversary.  BB and Poppy had offered to take the children so we could get away, but we decided we'd rather have a staycation and just stay home and get stuff done.  So the children went to the farm Friday and Saturday, and we picked them up Sunday morning in time for church.  They had the time of their lives- they were all sad to leave.  :)

When they got there the first thing they did was plant corn in the newly plowed field.  :)

Julia and Marc got to drive the tractor and golf cart around.

Then they cooled off with hours of swimming.

After dinner they enjoyed the riding toys.  Big Bubba was putting in the battery to Charlie's tractor.

Like last time, everybody wanted to sleep in the same room.  Tucker and Charlie liked their beds made out of cushions.

BB did remark that there were shoes all over the house and she finally had to find a place for them. That's why we have the shoe bucket at our house!  :)

Saturday Poppy let Marky put out fertilizer.  He showed him how to hook up the machine and do it by himself.  He later told me that was his favorite part of the trip.

Watching from the top of the barn.

Julia brought some of her horse ribbons to hang in the barn.  So cute!

Marky also made the fire for S'mores.

 

Thank you BB and Poppy!   Your home is a wonderful retreat!  Thanks for keeping our sweeties.

Flowers for the Fairest

The month of May is the month dedicated to the  Blessed Mother and we always go with friends to the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament to have a May crowning and a picnic.   We went on Tuesday, and a Franciscan priest was able to meet us,  pray the rosary with us, and lead us in singing.

 

 

Julia caught a frog-

  

After our prayer and song time we headed over to the field for a picnic.  

Julia, the horse whisperer, brought a bag of carrots and fed all the horses and even a little donkey.  :)

We sang Happy Birthday to one of our friends. 

  
And we went to see my baby boy Nathan Michael.  I can't tell you how I miss him.  This June would have been his fourth birthday.  I will never forget his sweet face and little hands and feet. 

After the picnic the children and I went through the gorgeous shrine. 

We were so happy to see the grave of Mother Angelica.  I love the verse she chose- "And we, with our unveiled faces reflecting like mirrors the brightness of the Lord, all grow brighter and brighter as we are turned into the image that we reflect; This is the work of the Lord Who is Spirit."  2 Corinthians 3:18.  Don't we think of a bright little face when we think of Mother Angelica?

Sister Mary David, who is buried beneath, is actually Mother Angelica's mother.  She became a Poor Claire nun as well.  

For the first time, the children and I toured the Eucharistic Center.  It's a very beautiful building and I love how they put all of our theology of the Eucharist in an orderly, beautiful way.  

St. Thomas Aquinas-

It was such a beautiful day.  I feel so blessed to live so close to this place of transcendent beauty.