What's been up?

A lot has happened since I last posted or even looked at this blog!

The biggest change has been our new son Simon Peter! Born May 20, 2013.

I keep telling him that he is the sweetest, cutest baby boy in the world! :) He is a sweetie and a cutie!

His big sisters and big brothers adore him.

He's a Handsome Man!

He loves being outdoors and getting attention. He's a real smiley people person. He's also an expert teeth-grower. At 10 months old he has 7 teeth. Sometimes he bites my shoulder and I shriek, "stop you little parrot!" On April 4 he took his first crawling steps and just a few days ago he started pulling himself up to stand, holding onto things.

Other changes are the other kids growing like weeds! 

Zack is a teenager, 13. He's still a hard worker and plans on having his own lawn care business. He already has had a few clients here and there. He's studying equipment and techniques a lot on youtube and other websites. He has his own youtube account too.

Vincent's big news lately is that he was confirmed in April. We are proud of the fine young man he is becoming! Gramma Barbara was his sponsor. Vincent also has gotten into a variety of hobbies over the past year. There's been legos, minecraft, raising worms, fresh water fish aquarium, his new hamster Donna, and more!

Francesca has started kindergarten and is really great at math and writing. She's also really into drawing and coloring and is good at it. She hopes to have a yard sale soon so she can save up and buy a princess Duplo set. She enjoys playing with her friends, especially her God-sister, Lucia.

And last but nearly not least, Veronica. She is a smart cookie. She loves ballet dancing, gymnastics, jumping on the trampoline, pretending to be a princess, and talking about poop. Really, she is smart, I mean it.

Then there's Jason and I. We've been busy doing this and that and dreaming of going to Italy. Maybe just maybe we will ALL make it there someday. Besides that, Jason broke his wrist in February and had two surgeries. He's still recovering and going to physical therapy. I have been teaching a rubber stamp class at the homeschool group. It's keeping me a little busier but forcing me to do something creative, which I like.

Maybe I'll swing by here again someday, or my farm blog. Ciao!

"Modern" Motor Lodge

1950 Mercury in front of the Modern Motor Lodge

on Cherokee Lane in Lodi 2012.

Pipe Organ

We have a new pipe organ! It is from UOP and Jason even used it when he studied organ there years ago. For Jason's birthday we had a "Pizza and Pipes" party. A few days later Father Peter and the St. Patrick's organist, Madeline, came to see it.

Fresca Fun

My Favorite Chicks Holding Chicks

Walk For Life West Coast 2012

Here are my photos from last month's Walk For Life West Coast in San Francisco.

The route this year was changed. Market street was closed to traffic for us!

Vincent is a survivor of his generation. I am too. My mom was young and single but chose life for me and for herself!

Even a homeless man defended lives of humans

The girls on the walk

"A person's a person, no matter how small." - Dr. Seuss

At the end of the walk Catholic TV, EWTN, interviewed us for their show Life on the Rock. You can watch the show here, show #750.

Merry Christmas!

Monterey November

November 8 we got into the Monterey Bay Aquarium for free! We made a mini vacation out of it and drove the motor home to the area and stayed 2 nites. Here are some photos:

It was one of the aquarium's homeschool days, even managed to get the grandparents in free.

Here they are looking into one of the newest and grandest exhibits,

the Open Sea.

The jelly fish are always a favorite.

These guys are total opposites! When one's cooperative, the other isn't.

oh well, for when he's a teenager, it's proof he embarrassed me way back when.

We saw some friends too...

After the aquarium, we headed to the beach before it got dark...

(this abandoned gallery was on the way)