The Urchins

I know we can be pretty rough on the kids.
They are awesome, but because of their sheer numbers, it gets overwhelming. 
A lot. 
Ideas get thrown around.
Many are cockamamie (see here).
But some are just freaking awesome and the kids don't get enough credit.

When they had the idea to set up a stand to earn funds to donate to the Frederick County Food Bank, I'll admit, internally I rolled my eyes thinking it would be more things for me to clean up after.
Then things got real when they started raking in money and looking up what the food bank's most significant needs were.  
They earned $53! 
Yesterday we went to Wegmans and they spent on canned food and other sundries, staying entirely in their budget. 

It was great to watch them work together to determine the greatest need and figure out how they could get the most bang for their buck.
We're proud of these Urchins.
Wicked Proud.

It's Only Fair.

I tell the kids to not even ASK to watch something on television until their chores are done, rooms picked up, instruments practiced, they have done physical activity and their writing is done.  

So I really should get some writing in, too.

My chores will never be done and the kitchen looks like a tornado blew threw.  

The kittens were roaming the house for part of the night last night, until we got sick of our feet being attacked and then we put them back in the bathroom.

Herkimer is hissing at them and making it very plain that she is HBIC.  

PD gets that.  Tessie doesn't.  

I think kitties are getting more comfortable and Herkimer is accepting their existence.  We're still keeping them just upstairs, but they are MORE than ready to do some exploring.  

We'll see how the muttonheads do now that they're with the general population.  

The kids have been on a selling kick recently.  

They made bracelets, sun tea and cookies and have been peddling them in our driveway.

With the $$ they earn, they plan on buying food and taking it to the Frederick County Food Bank, which is very low this time of year.  

They've raked in almost $40!

These kids have great hearts for helping others, realizing that many of their classmates don't get to eat well when not in school.

Makes my heart happy that they want to help.    

Tessie - The Real Story

Since I rarely am able to blog without someone under the age of 11 looking over my shoulder, I couldn't tell the *real* story of Tessie last week.
Tessie has a brother.  He was named Duke at the shelter.
We knew that Tess was the cat for us right away.
After we initiated the adoption process, Jim brought up also adopting Duke.
He seemed cute, shy, very mellow and looked like he was continuously coming off a bender because whenever we went into see Tessie, Duke was passed out in the litter box.
Our kind of cat.
So we asked about him.
The people at the shelter were pleased, because they had been hoping to keep them together.
BUT.
We didn't tell the kids about it.
Partly because we didn't want this poor cat to have 16 names and partly because we wanted it to be a surprise.

We went in for our Adoption Interview on Saturday.  We all sat down with a very nice lady and talked for almost an hour about how to care for a kitten and how to best introduce Tess to Herkimer.
Then the Volunteer said, "Wow!  Looks here like Duke is getting adopted today, too!" and held up a paper.
Caroline responded, "Yes, he got his boy parts cut off yesterday so he can't help make babies and now he's going to a nice family."
In which the boys all gasped, held onto their crotches and croaked, "They cut off his penis?!?!?!?!"
I think the poor Volunteer might be scarred for life.  It took her a good five minutes to recover and stop laughing.
When adequately recovered, she explained that, yes, Duke had been "altered", but his penis was still there and that he was was going home with his sister.
THEN they figured it out and the shrieks of joy commenced.

The kitties are still sequestered in the bathroom.
Herkimer is becoming more accepting of their smell.  We've been leaving blankets that they have slept on in different parts of the house and putting blankets with Herkie's smell in the kitty area.
Last night we let them roam around the blue room a bit to get them accustomed to the smells and to let Herkimer get used to to the idea that they were there.
Herkie and the kitties have not met face to face yet.
Probably later this week.  Herkimer seems to be getting more comfortably walking in front of the bathroom where they are.  We're going to try to put some treats and some food near it, as eating in front of a foreign cat is a sign of acceptance.
It's a slow process, but since these muttonheads are in it for the long haul, we might as well go slowly.
We have been taking a fair amount of ribbing that not only are we the crazy kid people, we are now also the crazy cat people.
I can take that.

Here is Tessie:

Tessie is outgoing and ready to play.

Little Miss Jumps-a-Lot has figured out how to scale not one but TWO baby gates.  She enjoyed the view.

Here is Pheidippedes Duke.
Jim and I named him that  because Pheidippedes ran the first marathon and we could keep his shelter name, Duke, as a middle name and call him PD.
PD is shy, timid, purrs like an engine and just wants to cuddle once he is comfortable with you.

I have the day off from teaching Catechism today and we will be catching up with things around the house.
I hope.
I"m thinking a fair amount of time will be used for cat wrangling.
I'm cool with that.

Tessie

Because we think Herkimer might want a sister.
And a kitten was already in the plans before Herkimer sauntered into our lives.
And the kids started praying (again) for a cat.
And we had already agreed on a name.
And there have been an influx of kittens into the Frederick County Animal Shelter.
And we simply gluttons for punishment with not enough to do already...

Meet  the cat we have applied to adopt.
We filled out the paperwork on Tuesday, finished it up yesterday and are waiting for an interview and (hopefully) an approval so she can come home with us early next week.

Technically, her name is Daisy, though the kids have already decided on her new name.
Get ready for it.
Tourmaline Susan Ilion Dolphin.

Tourmaline-because it's a gem like a Herkimer Diamond
Susan-because she is dark like a Black Eyed Susan (the Maryland state flower)
Ilion - because it's the town next to Herkimer
Dolphin- because Nate threw a nutty and thought it should be her name

We shortened it all to "Tessie".

We have visited and played with her twice.  She seems pretty chill and is a purr machine.  She does not mind being handled by the kids and rolls right over on to her back to play.
We're hoping it's a good fit.
Going back to see her again today.

Introducing Tessie:

Herkimer got into the sauce when we told her she was going to be a big sister.
Going to have to limit that girl's access to the catnip from now on.  Took her a good hour to walk straight.

Boilermaker

I look forward to Boilermaker weekend every year.  

Family is there, which makes it like summer camp in a hotel.  

It's the perfect distance, a gorgeous route (once I get my a$$ to the top of the hill), great course support, awesome music, I get to mouth of to Senator Schumer when he teases me (EVERY YEAR) about my Sox hat, hanging with the Tolpas afterwards and the Saranac.  

Who can forget the Saranac?  

Good news is that my Dad still beat everyone in the family (by 20 seconds only!), so we keep our Designated Driver for next year.  

Only 360 more days until July 9th.  

Before the race.  Pops looks thrilled to be in the picture, doesn't he?  

We all certainly look happier after the race.  

Mrs Tolpa introduced the kids to half moon cookies.  These were such a special treat when I was a little girl.  I'm so glad the kids got to have them.  

It is impossible to get all of us looking in the same direction at once.  And so, so very wonderful to have everyone together.  

Prince Edward Island

Earlier in the year, when Jim was in Texas, it was difficult.
He was home for weekends and exhausted.
I was home with the kids and exhausted, though I would not have admitted it at the time.
It was stressful.  We wanted to be together as a family.  If that meant moving to Texas for a period of time, we were all in because we needed to be together again.
So when we were told that a move to Texas was not in the cards for us, we were mad.
Furious, actually.
Turns out the Plan the Big Guy had in store was better than we ever could have anticipated...but at that time, I was just pissed off.

So Jim told me to plan a family vacation.
Since we rarely get to go places where someone in our families don't live, I took this an an opportunity to go someone I've always wanted to go.
Being a wicked literature geek, the spots boiled down to Mansfield, MO or Prince Edward Island.
Jim, having the final decision, decided that a trip through Maine would be much more scenic than a drive through Indiana and Kentucky, and chose PEI.
Wow.
Everything fell into place.
We were able to plan to be there before the tourist season started where the rates would be lower and tourists would be fewer.  We landed a beautiful little cottage on a tidal river and planned on doing nothing but explore.
Prince Edward Island has to be one of the most beautiful places on the planet.
Just as L.M. Montgomery described, down to the scent of the lilacs and the way the farm land transforms instantly into the Gulf of St Lawrence.
More than once, I cried at the beauty surrounding me.
We were able to explore different Provincial Parks, PEI National Park, Green Gables and Victoria-by-the-Sea.
The time change and length of sunlight threw us off, but it was worth it.
Pictures don't do justice.
We're already planning on going back and exploring more of the Maritime Provinces.

Benjamin was unimpressed with the scenery.  After 10 more hours in the car, he was done.  

We hit mass at St Dunstan's Basilica in Charlottetown.  It was an eclectic place.  Traditional architecture, diverse congregation and music reminiscent of an Indigo Girls concert.    

Still lilac season in Charlottetown.  Paired with the lobster mac & cheese, the smell could be described as nothing but heavenly.  

The view from our front porch.  Flat Freddy had to get in on the deal, too.  

Lupins were growing wild everywhere on the island.  They were stunning. 

Cabot Beach Provincial Park.  The red sand and sandstone cliffs were amazing.  The forest grows up to the ocean.  The tides are huge, leaving lots of room to play and tide pools to explore.  

Anne's room in Green Gables.  All the details exactly right - from the wall paper to the bedspread to the brown dress with puffy sleeves.  

A family picture outside of Green Gables.  

I"ll admit it.
I cried when I saw the lilacs outside of Green Gables.  

Lover's Lane with the brook becoming in less of a hurry to get to the sea.  

The scenery was beautiful.  The mosquitoes were hungry.  Makes for a fast hike. 

But not fast enough to skip a picture.  We have to take advantage of getting a picture of the two of us.  For the past ten years we haven't been in many pictures together.  

Even the chipmunks are friendly in Canada.  He walked right up to us on the trail. 

Green Gables was as far back from the road as it could be.  

Because when I get the kids to sit for a picture, I really need Jim to start acting up!  

Exploring the tide pools at PEI National Park.

Nate carved a rock in the shape of a heart out of sandstone. 

I think this is the first family picture where no one had to be coerced to sit still.  Probably because a total stranger was taking it.  

The brook from Green Gables as it approaches the Gulf of St Lawrence. 

Who knew there were sand dunes in Canada?  

"Maybe I"ll have blue poop like Uncle Patrick!"

Caroline and I got to explore the river near our cottage.  Since it was tidal, we could walk almost across it a couple times a day.  The shellfish crunched with every step and clams were squirting everywhere.  

Argyle Shores Provincial Park.  The tide went out hundreds of yards.  It was beautiful.  

Everyone isn't looking at the camera, but at least no one is farting or sticking out their tongue.  

Nate found a heart shaped puddle at the beach.  

Exploring tide pools.

There were at least 30 crabs in this one tide pool.  Of course, the boys took them out and tried to make them battle cock-fighting style.  Because even in a place of amazing beauty, boys will be boys.  

hermit crabs!

Making goo castles as the tide came in.  All those clothes will be permanently clay colored.  

The kids brought some sandstone back to the cottage.  They pounded it down into powder and put water in it to make face paint.  They pretended they were wild animals for that afternoon.  I was impressed by their imaginations.

We got to ease into reality with a few more days at the Lake.
Here's to more wonderful summer adventures.  

Summer

It is summer, hence the radio silence.
We were able to host the wonderful Klofft family for a few days so Chris could speak at our parish on the Pope's Apolstolic Exhortation and we could just hang out together.  It was just so nice to see them and be seen.  In the almost five years we have been in Maryland, the Kloffts are one of the things we miss most dearly.  When we were all together, all was right with the world.  And that's a really nice feeling.
We're already contriving our next version of Camp Kloffson.

After Kloffts left, we had to snap back into semi-reality.
That was because I had one day to prepare for us being away for almost two weeks.
So, after dentist appointments but before the severe weather started, I shipped the kids off to other friend's house for the day.
Turns out there was a microburst where they were in the afternoon and after they finished sheltering in the basement, the rest of the day was spent picking up branches that had come down.
BUT it allowed me to pack everyone and clean the house.
AND the kids were exhausted from the physical labor.
Since nothing was permanently damaged, win-win, I say.
So we took off early the next morning for the Lake where, as usual, a wonderful time was had by all.
We got shoes for school, went to Calef's Store, went fishing, went swimming, went kayaking, played Legos and to spent time with Grammy and Grampy.
Simply marvelous.

If you ask Nate, he caught "eleventy-billion" fish.  The number was actually closer to 30 and it included some decent sized bass.  

Grampy fishing with the boys.

Benjamin losing a water fight. 

And then getting right back in the lake after declaring, "I HATE getting wet!"

Fearless Nate had no trouble jumping off the dock

But Big Sister had to lead by example.  

'Cause I'll be rocking kindergarten in my SCHOOL SHOES!

Salivating over the penny candy at Calef's Store

Sam built a really neat Lego scene where he was fishing and the other kids were swimming or jumping off the dock.  The raised area of Legos is the splash zone.  

Jim was able to get some work done and then we were able to set off on Part 2 of our Summer Adventure.