Book Review ~ part II

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey

Oh Mr. Trenton Lee Stewart did it again!

I was glued once more to the pages of this book. 

Dishes were left to build a small hill, lunch resembled PB & J, "what math" I mumbled inbetween a line or two....

Just kidding!

But, I did search for any time available and did carve out  time to sit and read.

Book 2 (the first beingThe Mysterious Benedict Society)

dives us right into the lives of the amazing four; Kate, Reynie, Sticky and Constance.  This time though their friendship takes on a different task.  What is to be an exciting reunion with Mr. Benedict becomes an adventurous journey to save Mr. Benedict.

The schemes, excitement, and clue finding continue with the Perilous Journey and I found myself more intrigued with these four kids jetting off on their own to save the adults...yet again!  Their skills have blossomed as their trust and loyalty to one another has.

Mr. Curtain is back, of course.  But the added wickedness of his plot to control is...

Aaahhh sorry can't go on.  Really the book is great and should be read.

The age group is still around 9-12...but I haven't been 9 or 12 in, well, in a VERY long time.  So I'd say it's a fun read for most ages.

Up next, and already read, is the review for

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma

A Cupcake for a Birthday

I thought I'd post the pictures of Rose's birthday from...oh a month ago!  I just never got around to posting them.

Our Rose is a connoisseur of cupcakes.  She enjoys making them, decorating them and of course eating them.  So when I asked her what theme she wanted for her birthday she made a very obvious choice.

Cupcake Wars

The idea was pretty simple.  Each older member of the family was to make their own set of cupcakes.  The guest at the party were then to taste/judge each cupcake and Rose would be the announcer to which baker made the best tasting cupcake.

~ menu ~

by me

Dark chocolate cupcake with a peanut butter frosting

by Lucy

Vanilla & mango cupcake with a mango glaze

by Max

Simply white cake with a cream cheese frosting

The guest arrived for an early dinner and then we were off for a quick t-ball game with Rose

If memory serves me, I think they won.

We all had such a great surprise with the unexpected visit from my sister and sister-in-law.  They drove 3 hours to celebrate Rose's birthday.   It was a huge, happy, shock to see them walk through the doors.

Just awesome!!!

Our nephew, little D, with Princess

We were filled with sweets, grub and drinks by the end of the night...Papi ended up bringing out his disco lights from back in the day...yikes!

Oh and the winner of the cupcake war....

Max!

(I won't even write what he used for the cupcake...but it was in a square shape)

The Wind and Sea Obey Him ~ week 4

Yay!!!  We were able to celebrate our fourth week last night.  It was an impromptu feast but we all enjoyed it very much.

The Good Shepherd's Garden Party

Week four

~ Menu ~

Deviled eggs boats with gluten free pretzel sticks for the mast

& fruit strips for the sails

Cheesy fish crackers

Pretzel nets

Chocolate "Leviathan" cake

Spinach & Mushroom pasta and garlic bread

(no barbecue for us this night)

"Sea" water

Sea shells adorned the table

(The mast was still being worked on by Lucy)

"...Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm...."

Mathew 18:23-27

Sorry the kids really wanted their Papi's lemonade...but it is water ;o)

Leviathan

"...Yonder is the sea, great and wide, which teems with things innumerable, living things both small and great. There go the ships, and Leviathan which your formed to sport in it. These all look to you, to give them their food in due season..."

Psalm 104: 24.30

Off to Catholic Cuisine for the link up

and fellowship

Garden Party ~ week one

Our family purchased The Garden of the Good Shepherd: A Sticker Calendar to Count the Fifty Days of Easter a couple of years ago.  Each day of the Easter Season is marked with a sticker and bible reading; filling the scene of the Good Shepherd.  The weeks are marked by a different theme; week one the Good Shepherd is presented, then His table is set, we follow with God's Glory and continue on until the 7th week of Easter.  It's really is a wonderful addition to our family.

Last year we joined in with various families in celebrating the Easter season and this calendar.  Both Jessica and Charlotte came up with the weekly menus and called it The Garden Party.  We had a blast doing it.  Once again Catholic Cuisine is hosting linky to share in ideas again this year.  We are late in joining the party though.  What with two confirmations, several big birthdays and many other life issues it's a wonder I'm still sane finding time to do the readings. 

But here we are :)



~Week one~

The menu

Mini Shepherd's Pies adorned with the Shepherd's Crooks

God’s Sheep

Graham Cracker Gates

Ewe and Ram Cupcakes

Lamb’s Wool

Wolf Paw Cookies

Little ones always like to help with eating projects

Here both Rose and Princess are making the Shepherd's Crooks

using Charlotte's idea of adding the dough shapes right on top of the mashed potatoes

This isn't the greatest of pictures but they were so good!

We had our Garden Party split between two days.  The mini shepherd's pies for dinner.  The rest of our menu was enjoyed along we a few cousins.

We even had this gluten-free version of the gates for Rose.  Oh my Rose has had a time with her skin and allergies.  She is now on a gluten free and dairy free 'diet'.

Instead of cupcakes for the ewe and ram we had mini brownie cups and used the whipped cream for the decorations.  They came out very cute.  But now pictures....

they were gone b4 I could get the camera.

We did enjoy our Lamb's wool and wolf claws...

and hope to join in more weeks very soon.

Visit Catholic Cuisine for the links to weeks

one-four

Week 5 is coming up

Baseball memories

Father and son

take on a game and some fireworks afterwards

Max hadn't been to a professional baseball games in years.

He was so excited about going

and more

so after he found out it was ONLY going

to be his Papi and him

Since it was also fireworks night they got to be on the field to watch them

This must be a great thing for a young kid...it major league ball and all.

According to his phone call after the show Max thought,

"This was the best night ever and...and....and...."

All I can say is that the boy was pumped up on sweets!



Family Hike

I don't know what happened here, but I had posted these pictures two days ago and now it's all gone.  Since I have no clue what I wrote previously this post is going to be a quick paste and click thing.

Aaaagggg computer :(

Papi had wanted to take us on this specific hike for months.  When we finally made had the time to take it we went.  Thankfully my FIL's chemo was also going better than expected; so we were able to take my MIL along with us.  We haven't been able to spend a lot of time with her so we were very excited to have her company.

This wasn't a strenuous hike so the kids had a free range of exploring and wondering off to do

I just tried to catch up to take photos

or cut them off at the past to snap a shot

This was such a rare day that my MIL was able to spend a long period of time with us.  Since my FIL's illness she (MIL) has been by his side 24/7

It didn't mean though that she didn't

call him the first chance she got to check in

:-)

The girls insisted on taking their 'girlie' princess backpacks along

 

Papi and Lucy checking out the little frogs inhabiting the creek

Rose being Rose and finding all sorts of critters

Lucy climbing and conquering these boulders
...me praying that she'll be able to conquer all her boulders

We stopped for a moment to pray the Divine Mercy

such the Catholics as we are...

it was quite beautiful

With the load of activities and commitments I'm so glad we had this day.

They are precious moments

:-)

Art for Our Lady

Kimberlee from

Pondered in my Heart

  

is once again hosting this month long project, ATC Swap for

Our Lady. 

 The guidelines are simple and all are invited to participate, even us mommies.  Our family has participated in both the Marian ATC Swap and the All Saints swap that occurred in November. 

All Saints ATC swap 2010

I don't know which part made my family the most excited; creating their cards or the receiving cards.  All I know is that once they mailed out their own cards, our mail carrier was never more popular or her arrival more anticipated.

Please visit Kimberlee's site for the complete details and most importantly her address. 

Keep in mind the ATC card should be postmarked by

May 28th

Enjoy :)

Blessed John Paul II

"Those who have faith know that one day they will come to judgment before God. Newman notes that many people are too busy seeking riches and worried for about all sorts of things. They are too busy for God. Happy are those who through faith already touch the Risen Christ"

by Cardinal Newman for beginners

"And now the longed-for day has come; it came quickly because this is what was pleasing to the Lord: John Paul II is blessed!" Pope Benedict said during his homily.

Santo subito!