Graduation!

Last weekend we flew to Maine for a long weekend so that I could attend the graduation ceremony for my Master's.
Thursday afternoon we hopped on a jet plane and had an uneventful flight to Portland, with a short layover in Baltimore.  There was one great event during that layover though....I finally got to meet my friend Jennifer in person.  She was also in my program, but since everything was online, you don't get to really meet your classmates.  She and I connected through Facebook and have been talking for the past year and a half (and praying for each other--geez! the praying that got us through!)  and so I was over the moon to finally meet her in person, and get to celebrate graduation together!

Official events didn't start until Friday evening on campus, so we spent our time sightseeing and relaxing. We spent Friday at Bug Light, swung by a family cottage and then went swimming before heading off to campus.  

On campus (which is GORGEOUS) we participated in the baccalaureate mass.  I was able to be an EM, and that was an amazing experience.

Saturday morning started out super rainy and depressing, but we were back on campus for the ceremony.  About halfway through, the sun came out and by the end of the ceremony we had amazing weather.

IT'S GO TIME!!!

statue of Mary Catherine McAuley, founder of the Sisters of Mercy, who founded Saint Joseph's

(how many times do you want to guess this Lady interceded on my behalf)

 (this is the view from campus.  gorgeous)

BRING ON THE PhD PROGRAMS!!!

Saturday afternoon we went to Portland Head Light and walked around.  It was absolutely breathtaking some of the views it had.  Trevor liked climbing around the old buildings that were still there!

Sunday we went to church with Jennifer and her family at the Cathedral, and then went to Freeport until we had to head to the airport for our trip home.

Easter 2014

Holy.  It has been over a month since I updated this thing.  Well, I've been busy finishing this little thing called graduate school which has somewhat taken a monopoly of my time.  In the midst of all the studying, we have done some fun stuff!  So, here goes....

Easter was nice, we spent it alone in Portsmouth and just did stuff here locally with some friends.

Everyone loved their baskets in the morning and then we went to Church with our friends and then hung out around the house all day, throwing some egg-citement in there (hah.) for Trevor by having an Easter Egg Hunt for he and Max.

Spring Break: Starters

For the first time since Trevor started school our spring breaks do not align (usually we are both off the week after Easter.  This year, Trevor has the week before and I have the week after).  Bummer, but we are making it work.

To start things off right, we loaded the kids into the car on Friday afternoon and headed to Bluebird Gap Farm.

Trevor Turns 5!

Welp, T-rex is five.  FIVE, I said.  I have a five year old.  When did that happen?

I thought it would hit me when we signed the contract for kindergarten at a new school next year.  Nope.  Maybe when he brought home the spring school photos and he looked all grown up with his new haircut?  Nope.  I don't think it has fully hit....But yeah, he's five, and we had a blast celebrating!

Cake by Sweet Temptations Dessert Cafe

Every child got their own in-flight lunch based on what their parent told me they would prefer.

When the wind wasn't horrible, the photo booth area was a hit too!

Favors could be picked up from the baggage claim area at the end of the day :)  

Airplane toss....when the wind allowed

Everyone loved loved loved the bounce house.....

when I said everyone loved the bounce house earlier, I did mean everyone.  After everyone left, the big kids jumped in for a good time.  

Trevor insisted that "Mr. Adam" come to his party--thanks for coming and playing along guys!!

All printed party materials are form OwliePowlie.  

Happy Friday!

Perhaps spring has finally sprung around here!  We spent the afternoon outside enjoying the weather, and I will say, Olivia had a great time swinging!  Hopefully, it won't decide that tomorrow it should be 10 degrees a-la-winter again, and we can enjoy more days like these!

In other news....

--Trevor turned 5 last Friday.  We celebrated with an airplane themed party here at the house.  It was amazeballs.  I kid you not.  Big fat birthday party post to come, once I edit the pictures and get all my stuff in order.  [I feel no rush, since the 'Happy Birthday Trevor' banner is still up in the kitchen]

--Graduation is in T-minus-43 days.  I spend most every second I have that is not at the office or with the kiddos working on schoolwork.  I will make it, but wow, it is going to be quite the ride to get there.  

--Just started my second diet bet with friends...am loving to host them and work towards a goal....Last month, one of my great girlfriends walked away with close to $80 for winning.  Hopefully I will find my pocket lined with some extra cash at the end of this one!  

--Lenten goals....workin' towards them.  Fr. Barron is well, awesome.  His daily reflections are short, sweet, and strong.  De-cluttering is....going...I have gotten through my room and through the kitchen, but I really need to get moving on the rest of the house.  

.....research on Latin American liberation ecclesiology calls......

Lent 2014

Lent 2014 starts tomorrow with Ash Wednesday....so today, being Shrove Tuesday, I am eating and drinking all. the. things. in addition to laying out my final 'plan' for Lent.

I am not a fan of giving things up...for me at least, it doesn't always bring about a lasting change. It is more my style to set a goal, or choose something to focus on.....giving things up may come as part of that...but it is more likely to be a lasting change--which is the goal of Lent anyway, right?

So, for Lent 2014:

• Declutter/Organize the Stuff--I do a great job of sifting through stuff and getting rid of the bulk of the papers/mail here and there, but then it ends up with a pile to be filed, to be put away, to be something-ed.  But those piles is really as far as it gets.  Now, the piles are neat and they are all consolidated into one place, but just having all the "stuff" staring at me makes my mind just as cluttered as the piles, just knowing they are there.  Spring cleaning is going to get wrapped up into this as well.  I have a gazillion ideas pinned on my organizing board on Pinterest, now I need to actually put them into action.  
• Family Faith Formation:  We can't seem to get ourselves scheduled so that either of us could attend one of the small groups this Lent, so we will be participating in the Living the Eucharist program at home as a family, using the family reflection guide. 
• Personal Spiritual Formation:  I am going to focus on my personal formation by doing Fr. Robert Barron's daily reflections.  It really couldn't be easier, I signed up online and they will be delivered to my inbox first thing in the morning.  We'll see where it takes me.  

So, not giving anything up, but some goals that will hopefully set me up for some growth and change.  We'll see how it goes on the other side of the 40 days.  

Trevor's Valentine's/President's Day Program

Due to some crazy snow delays, Trevor's February program at school was moved to this past Friday.  He did a great job and made big improvements in how he was up on stage.....he sang along and really got into it for the whole time instead of only doing the songs that he really knew.  We were SUPER proud!