Cheap Summer Fun!

We don't break the bank when it comes to summer break.  

Start with a few  friends over .. spend a couple hours splashing around in the pool .. end with a backyard camp out.  

Next time we'll work in some s'mores.

Karate Kid

     We have failed to document something of importance that took place in our little family within the past year.  Five years after starting his first martial arts class, Twitter earned his Junior Black Belt.  The test was intense. Check out the determination .. and sweat.

Congratulations, Twitter!

For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and self-control.

2 Timothy 1:7

Bless us, oh Lord, and these thy gifts ...

Rogation Days 2012

The prayer we say before meals is but a brief acknowledgement that everything we have, have ever had, will ever have, comes from God.  HIS bounty is endless. So we recently took part in a liturgical celebration at a dairy farm to show our gratitude.  Dairy farm?

Well, Rogation Days, as the Catholic encyclopedia explains it, are three days of prayer before Ascension Day instituted by the Church to appease God's anger at man's transgressions, to ask protection in calamities, and to obtain a good and bountiful harvest.  Cows .. milk .. butter .. bread .. harvest -- connection? 
Anyway, this is a beautiful tradition that begins with a procession while chanting the Litany of the Saints ...

Twitter was one of the servers.

Fr. S and big Joe

CoCo prayed along sometimes but mostly kicked up the dust in her cowgirl boots.

Fr. S blessed the field with incense and sprinkled holy water, imploring God to be generous, not just with His provisions for us, but most especially, with His mercy.

Then it was back to the farmhouse ... 

 

 

 

... and mass celebrated outside under a tent ...

... followed by a potluck featuring fresh ground hamburgers (thank you, cows!)

The kids got to play ...

and mingle with their friends.

But as you can see on Little Man's face, he wasn't feeling well. We took leave early, missing out on a tour of the farm and a chance to pet the animals. 

 

 

On the way out we swung past the milking machines ..  giving thanks, once again, to God for His gifts.

 

 

We give you thanks, Almighty God, for these and all thy benefits.  

You who livest and reignest forever and ever.

Rodeo Roundup    

Little Man's penchant for all things cowboy got a boost recently ...

A sweet young mom recently invited us to the rodeo in her hometown of Plymouth.

Can you say "Giddy-Up!"?

It was our first time going to the rodeo ...

and the cowboys AND cowgirls were amazing -- 

particularly because they were ONLY IN HIGH SCHOOL!

These teenagers impressed us with their riding...

roping...

and round up skills ...

And talk about TRUE GRIT:

You couldn't help but cringe watching them get tossed around like rag dolls.But oh, the admiration!  What these kids were able to do showed hard work, determination, perseverance, courage -- all the stuff that built this country! Gotta love it!

And the kids ... 

They had a great time, of course! 

Fun on the Farm ...

 A while back we went on a play date field trip to a friend's home farm out in the country.  

They have at least two acres, nine kids, lots of laundry...

and during our visit ...

a pen of new piglets PLUS some precious little peeps!

Little Man and CoCo had a great time handling their new feathered friends (scientific observation, right?)

Not sure if the little critters enjoyed our company ...

But we had a great time!

Now back to the books ... sigh ...