Baseball (Part Deux)

Last night, we took in our second summer Rangers game as they took on the New York Yankees. This time Joseph tagged along as well (for his second big league game). We caught a break on the weather (only 84 degrees in July) and the boys did a much better job with the routine at the Ballpark. Michael got a kick on reading the player names on the big Jumbotron, but still has a way to go on picking up on the other details of the game. He was disappointed to learn Prince Fielder (among others) was not playing, but did his best to memorize the new lineups. Unfortunately, since the kids are still in preschool, we had to leave before the Rangers mounted a comeback in the later innings, but the boys saw plenty of excitement when the Yankees scored 7 runs in the top of the 6th. We have one more game to go this season (a Saturday game against the Angels), so we're very thankful to my Dad for this very thoughtful Christmas gift.

Independence Day 2014

The Lawler Family celebrated Independence Day this year in fine fashion. We started off with mass as St. Thomas Aquinas in the morning, followed by a neighborhood BBQ. Michael and Malcolm's fashion was provided by Wal-mart this year. After a lazy afternoon, Kim entertained the boys with songs from her patriotic songbook (the boys especially loved "You're a Grand Old Flag). Joseph did his customary crash around 7pm, so it was up to me to take Michael and Malcolm on their first fireworks extravaganza. They toughed out the heat and the long walk to the park, and enjoyed a great view of the fireworks put on by the City of Richardson. We also got a great surprise this weekend when we discovered a blue jay family had nested in our backyard. This is the first time that has happened since we lived here. Below are photos and video.

Spring Exhibition Night

The boys had their Spring work exhibition night last night. The older boys were told to choose a work project to show us while we were there. Michael has been working on spelling words from a photo or a replica, and also practicing writing numbers and letters on lined paper. Malcolm showed us how he matched colors and shapes to their respective spaces on paper. Joseph has been using his walker all over the room and keeps making progress on taking steps. He also eats most of the same menu as the older boys, so he is a very picky eater now. They all have taken to the Montessori environment really well, especially in regards to its structure and socialization. I'm not sure what we'd do with them at home because they demand so much stimulation. We are both very proud of how hard they've worked this year in school. 

 

Joseph's first weeks

Looking around

Not sure about bath time

Getting love from the big brothers

Sweet dreams!

Josephum Benedictum

At 6:43 AM, Sunday, March 17, 2013 AD, we welcomed Joseph Benedict Lawler to the world. Joseph, with an impeccable sense of timing, arrived on the Feast of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, whose feast day is heartily celebrated by Saint Patrick's adopted children, and all those who share their love of music, drink, and revelry.

Joseph spared his sainted mother a protracted delivery, and arrived with the strength and vigor befitting a child who arrives on a saint's day. Despite her own protests, Kimberly performed remarkably well for a woman under such duress, and finally accepted Joseph's arrival when it was all but over.

Mother and son have been resting peacefully since their first meeting, and we expect them both home tomorrow. Joseph has a fondness for sleeping and has taken well to life in this world.

His brothers Michael and Malcolm heartily welcome their brother to this world, no doubt plotting and planning what they can accomplish between the three of them.

We would like to thank everyone for sharing their prayers and wonderful affirmations to our new child and we hope you all can meet him soon.

We thank God for the new blessing he has given us, and ask all to pray for Joseph's namesake, His Holiness Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, and his successor Pope Francis.

Michael and Mama

State Fair

I'm behind on posting - it's been a busy month!  Here are a few pictures from our first family trip to the State Fair of Texas.  I enjoyed the livestock exhibits and car show a lot more than the games/carnival portions.  It was also nice to see the train exhibit and enjoy funnel cakes and random fair food.

Michael with his silly face

Longhorns seem even bigger up close

Beautiful day at the fair

So much fun ... time for a nap!

Another silly face

FFF 2011 - Family time

Here are a few more pictures from our vacation.

Chefs Lita and Michael

Feeding the ducks

Another one of Mama and her boys

Chapel of the Holy Cross

Canon and Malcolm

Wa-wa-wa

Cousins!

Checking out the clear night sky

Headline of the Year

(Source)

Family pictures

We did family pictures the other week -- Mike's idea was to try something different than our usual Target, and some friends from the ND Club have photographers they really love from McKinney who are really reasonably priced *and* give you the digital pictures with no fuss.  Their pictures looked great, so I was sold.  Things got off to an inauspicious start: Scheduling hiccups meant that we ended up having to go on a Sunday morning at 8 a.m.  Michael was only just starting to get better from a bad cold he had all week, so he was under the weather.  He also dropped Snoopy in the dirt on the way in.  And he was *not* smiling for the first ten minutes.  But somehow everything started working out and I was thrilled with how they turned out.  Link to the album below :)  (Mom and Stef, we'll get you the ones you liked!)