On the Homefront

One of our favorite places to visit is Brookside Gardens.  We are so lucky that it is within walking distance of our house!  Every year they have this amazing butterfly exhibit where live butterflies fly around one of the greenhouses.  It runs from May until September and we usually go a few times- I am even considering splurging for the family pass this year so we can go TONS of times.   Our first visit of the spring was yesterday.  I think we might do this project so we can do something artistic with the butterfly theme and tie in a little history.  (I am not planning to go in depth on the Holocaust though- I think 6 and under might be a little young).

Brand new

Yes, happy birthday to our “baby” (although he will not hold that tile for much longer).   The fun in this house increased exponentially ever since Brendan’s arrival.  Perhaps that is just life with more children, but there is something special about the first born son.  All the women in this family just adore you, Baby B, and your daddy is relishing every minute of wrestling and basketball.  {I am sorry this post is a day late, but we were too busy celebrating yesterday for me to get to the computer.}  We are sure that St. Joseph smiled when you arrived on this special feast day two years ago.  St. Joseph the Worker, pray for us, and pray for our little man that he may continue to grow closer to our Lord as he grows older.

Child of God

Sweet sleeper

Big night out!

Brendan in the swing

A little older-another swing ride

Chubby baby

Joyful child

Go Eagles!

Laughter in the leaves

Snow bear

Devouring a wooden piece of watermelon

Handsome fella

Perfect puddles for perfect feet

Running... always running!

Myriam

Mary and Therese

Brendan

Therese and Brendan, Mary and Jude

Cathe and Leo

We love Spring at the zoo.  The weather is not too hot and the animals are really active.  The summer crowds have not descended on DC yet and we can pretend the zoo is all ours if we get there early enough.  Hopefully we can fit in a few more trips before DC humidity descends and pregnant mommy cannot handle the sweat and swollen ankles that result from chasing the kids around the zoo and keeping Brendan from climbing in with the animals. (Yes, he does try.)

May we please take him out?

Watching Francis eat

I wondered why Brendan was so quiet during our math lesson the other day (he usually loves stealing our manipulatives and using the abacus as part of his farm set up).  I found him happily watching Francis (yes, Therese named him after the Saint who loved animals so much) devour his lettuce.  It actually had me considering more pets to add to our “classroom.”  Now… how do I convince Tim?

Preparing the soil

Planting seeds

We love the fact that homeschooling science requires more time outdoors playing in the dirt!

The beautiful- and happy!- couple

We witnessed Tim’s brother, Pat, marry Erin Snyder last week on the shores of the Dominican Republic.  It is wonderful to see Pat so happy and we are blessed to have a new sister-in-law and lovely aunt.  Congratulations!  We are looking forward to sharing many more happy memories with you as you embark on this incredible journey.

The wedding party strolls the beach

Nan with her son and new daughter-in-law

McGovern ladies- Nan and all three daughters-in-law

The cake

Pat and Tim prepare for the ceremony

Who is that handsome guy?

Waiting for the bride

Exchanging vows

Spending time with St. Francis

Standing with Our Lady

Therese and Mommy (taken by Myriam)

I took the kids to the Basilica of the National Shrine on Holy Thursday morning for a pilgrimage with our friends, the Hebert’s.  It was gorgeous weather and after visiting the Blessed Sacrament and going through several of our favorite chapels, we strolled out to the Mary garden to start on our second set of Mysteries to the Rosary (we do one set each way in the car and one while we are there… I did the fourth by myself later in the day to complete the entire Rosary).  I only took a few pictures and then Therese and Myriam went to work photographing the beauty of the day.  Most of the “artistic shots” were taken by Therese.  She filled the camera!  These are only a few of her captured moments.  Thank you to the Hebert’s for a wonderful morning and joining us for a beautiful pilgrimage.

Stopping to smell the daffodils

Mommy and Myriam (taken by Therese)

Josh and Therese pray a decade of the Rosary on their own

Therese positions the roses and Rosary for perfect shot

A view of the Basilica

Trees in bloom

A wide view of the garden

Two pregnant mommies

Therese and Josh

Brendan

He has poured blood, sweat and tears into this project at work and the final product can be found here.

He will be mortified when he sees I am bragging here but I have to shout the good news from the rooftops (or at least our blog, which is read by very few, but still…). The Bivings Report recently listed the top five think tank websites and guess who made the list? You have to scroll down because they are in alphabetical order, but it says that “The Heritage Foundation launched a new version from the site in the last few days. The new site is terrific, and in my opinion the best of the sites listed here.” Great, great news for my main man.

Oh, by the way, it was his blood and sweat and mostly my tears that went into it. He is amazing though, isn’t he? We are going to celebrate in a myriad of ways in the Dominican Republic next week.