Bulletin boards

The girls and I volunteered to freshen up four of the bulletin boards at school. I found some templates on the Teachers Pay Teachers website and found inspiration for another idea on Pinterest. I am so excited with how they turned out – and apparently they are getting rave reviews from the staff as well 😊

PPFL Banquet 2022

We were invited to attend the 2002 Prenatal Partners for Life banquet this evening. Mary Kellett contacted us to see if we were available to use three of the tickets purchased by a group who was no longer able to attend and wanted to offer them to someone else. We were able to take Shecklet #3 with us. It was her first “fancy” dinner.

During the presentation part of the event, we heard the story of a family who lost their little girl due to a chromosome defect. They were blessed to have a few days with her prior to her passing. It turned out that the little girl is the sweet baby who is buried next to Astrid. I ran into her mom while exiting the restroom and introduced myself. She told me that it is her MIL who will leave flowers at Astrid’s grave when she visits her granddaughter. I have often wondered who is behind the heart-warming gesture – now I know.

Happy birth day, Astrid! 2022

Two years since we said goodbye. It feels like yesterday and forever ago all at the same time. A friend posted this quote from St. Oscar Romero on social media and felt it was a accurate description for what I often feel when I shed tears about not having Astrid physically present with us.

We visited the cemetery tonight after dinner and brought flowers and mini cupcakes to celebrate our sweet little saint. Happy Birth Day, Astrid! We love and miss you so much!

Book week at school

K-5 got to dress as a favorite book character for school today. Shecklet #3 is from the House of Slytherin (Harry Potter) and Shecklet #4 is Fancy Nancy. (Extra special thanks to Grandma Patti who made #3’s cape on short notice!)

For the middle school, it’s “Read my shirt” day. Shecklet #2 had several to choose from and chose his “Tyrannosaurus Deer” one. He told me he wore it because his science teacher (one of his favorite teachers this year) likes dinosaurs and so do her kids, who he has a sweet connection with as well.

Early breakfast with Dad

There’s a local restaurant that Jake has taken Helena to in the past. This morning, he had a breakfast date with both of the girls 💗💗

Easter 2022

We attended 8:30 mass this morning to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection. The church was full – it was great to see! Shecklet #1 ran the cameras for the livestream and we sat in the pew directly in front of him (at the back of the church.)

After coming home, the kids got changed and hunted for their Easter baskets. Shecklet #4 found hers before mass. We then headed to Grandma Lois’ house to join a few other family members for Easter lunch/dinner. The kids had fun playing with one of their littlest cousins – hunting for eggs, going to the park, and just making her giggle.

The egg hunt this year was full of laughs. Some of the plastic eggs that were hidden in the backyard were found by squirrels who managed to gnaw their way through the plastic and eat the chocolate candy inside!

We even got to see one of Jake’s younger cousins (who was our flower girl almost 20 years ago.) Yes, 2022 is the year of our 20th anniversary! It doesn’t seem possible.)

Battle of the Books – 2022

After missing out on the battle of the books competition last year, (thanks, covid,) Shecklet #3 was excited to participate this year. The first school competition was in December and her team was one of the top 5 to advance to the spring competition. All total, she read about a dozen books between the fall and today’s event. I’m so proud of here.

Here she is with one of her closest friends – and fellow book lover.