That Makes my Job Easier

Tonight was a regular bedtime routine around here. The three older kids went down at eight, and Mom spent a little quality time with James. (Yes, I know he is a year old!) At eight thirty he said good night to Dado and went to bed. Gracie is usually already sleeping when he goes down, and tonight was no exception. For the last two nights we have been listening to his joyful excitement after we put him in bed. It is this rather loud laugh that he sucks back in and it makes Mom and Dad giggle. Neither one of us has ventured in to see what is causing the excitement for fear that he may want to get out of bed.

Tonight Mom had to run to the store to get some much needed cheesecake supplies. After returning from the store there were a few items that needed to be put in the bathroom. When Mom walked down the hall this is what she saw...

Now, our kids have read early but this is the youngest by far! We must not be challenging him enough because that is a dictionary on his left.

Seriously, we do allow the older kids to bring books to bed. (because they can read) My guess is that Gracie puts the books at the end of her bed when she wants to go to sleep. When we put James to bed he must stand up and get them. This is what has been entertaining him the last couple of nights. Party is over! Now that he is busted we will be confiscating the books from Gracie's bed tomorrow night!

And Then There Were Four...

Update...

Beedle--Rounds 1-4--32 wins
Gus--Rounds 1-4--22 wins
Dad--Rounds 1-4--47 wins

Special props to Beedle for picking a Final Four team--UConn

Dad had two Final Four teams--UConn and Villanova

This has been great fun! I think they will like it even more next year!

A Hilarious Sequence

Beedle, please don't stand so close to the ledge!

Beedle, be careful! Don't get too close to that alligator!

I told you. Warned you twice!

Note: No Beedles were harmed in the creation of this blog entry.

Play it Again, Sam!

Sam came for a sleepover Saturday. He was supposed to just come for the evening, but the kids (and Mom and Dad) couldn't wait. We picked him up right after lunch time so we could go and have a fun day. Wasn't the weather absolutely gorgeous? Seemed like a perfect day for the zoo and that's where Sam wanted to go. So Dad, Gus, Beedle and Sam headed to the zoo. They had a fantastic time. Here are some pics...

After the zoo, we stopped at Albertson's for a little fuel (candy). We then hustled to Blockbuster to pick out a movie for the night before heading to our next destination--the park. The boys had brought their light sabors to stage fight scenes on the hills. Here are pics of Sam and Gus dueling and R2D2 (Beedle) looking on...

While they were in character, three other boys came running up saying, "Are you guys Star Wars fans, too?" Ah, friends! The six of them quickly assigned each other characters and used the large playset as their home base. They ran and played and expended a lot of energy.

After working up a thirst, the boys were treated to snoballs. We made a stop at Old Tyme Grocery and they picked out their frozen treats. Of course, the silliness ensued as they became fascinated with the colors of their tongues. Laughing and snoballs--what fun!

We picked up some pizza on the way home and made it back just in time to start a campfire and have them play a while. They finished their evening with a few bites of pizza, their movie, brushed teeth, a prayer, and a series of hearty laughs before dozing off.

The sweet smell of Mom's buiscits aroused and awoke the household Sunday morning. They sat down to watch a movie, but their fancy quickly turned to sleeping bag sack races and pretending to be catipillars. A google of giggles this morning! Unfortunately the fun ended with Sam's parents coming by around 9:30 to pick him up. But, there is no doubt that the Chopins look forward to Sam coming back for another sleepover. Thank you Sam for making our weekend great!

Why Ask Why?

Maybe it was the yucky stormy weather.

Maybe it was the pretend flowers.

Maybe it was because Mom had been talking about spring.

Maybe Dad was thinking about the work we did in the yard this weekend.

Why ask why? Mom will just believe that Dad brought home these beautiful roses because he is so in love with his wife and daughter. That is what we will believe. We will smile and feel loved and share that love with everyone around us. Thanks Dad for making us smile today.

Brusha! Brusha! Brusha!

James had his first trip to the dentist today. (All of our kids saw the dentist today). According to Mom, James did very well. He was very comfortable in the chair and had no problem with the wonderful staff at Dr. Keaty's office. And with his first visit came his first toothbrush. Beedle, being the great big brother he is, took it upon himself to load his brother's brush with toothpaste and, brusha, brusha, brusha, he brushed his little brother's teeth. James really liked it. Of course, it was the toothpaste that he really liked. Wow, our little man is already brushing his teeth! Thanks to Beedle for his help! A career in dentistry perhaps?

The Book He Could Not Put Down

The book he could not put down was Pelly and Peck. Apparently it was good because when I went to turn off the reading lamp, this is what I found. Beedle was fast asleep, with his book propped open on his knees. How far we have come in one long year!

Blokus, Anyone?

After coming highly recommended by some of Mom's friends (maybe even you), Mom decided to purchase the family game Blokus. For those of you who are not familiar with Blokus, it is a game similar to Tetris that makes you think about shapes and their positions. Tonight, Mom, Gracie, Gus and Beedle took on the challenge. There were lots of laughs and a ton of excitement coming from the dining room table. Nothing like a family game that challenges the brain and warms the heart! Blokus, anyone?

It's Madness, I Tell You, Madness!

Here's an update on the Madness at the Chopin's house....

Beedle: Round 1--23, Round 2--6, Total wins--29...Beedle got some key wins but, unfortunately, his selection for the National Champion, the mighty Vikings of Cleveland State, loss in a valiant effort against Arizona. I still applaud him for his courage to pick the unthinkable.

Gus: Round 1--16, Round 2--4, Total wins--20...Gus learned a valuable lesson his first time picking his bracket--you can't pick with emotion. Picking teams he was fond of (LSU, Texas A&M, and USC--three of his Final Four teams bowed out in the second round) came back to bite him. But I applaud his loyalty. Win or lose, his colors run true!

Dad: Round 1--26, Round 2--14, Total wins--40...I don't mean to brag, but this is probably the most amount of success I've had in picking winners.

Bring on the Sweet 16!

A Glorious Sunday!

It was decided last night by Mom and Dad that we would fore go our usual attendance at 9:00am mass and make the high mass at 11:00am. It was for selfish reasons (more sleep), but we still were rewarded with an absolutely glorious day! Mass at 11am was beautiful and the kids behaved as close to perfect as we could imagine. We were especially proud of Gus who actively took part in mass, singing and praying. He's growing so much. We did notice that there was no active sign of peace during mass; it was skipped and immediately went to the "Lamb of God" part. The irony is that Mom and Dad both agreed that there was a tremendous amount of peace in the hearts and souls of our family.

After mass we looked for perpetuation of glory and headed to Cracker Barrel for a family Sunday dinner. We ate a great meal and were rewarded with wonderful customer service by our waitress, Alicia. She was very thoughtful, friendly and attentive. When we went to inform the manager of the great service Alicia gave, he told us that Alicia was leaving in five days to return to the Philippines for good. God's timing is amazing. We were able to appreciate her gifts and talents before she left. We pray that her return is safe and that she is able to spread her joy to all the ends of the earth.

When we got back home, we put James down for his nap and headed outside to soak up some sun and get some yard work done. Dad raked the oak leaves that seem to fall heavier and heavier each year. Mom worked really hard in the flower beds. It had been a long time since they had been weeded out and she put forth a tremendous amount of effort. They look new and improved!

While Mom and Dad worked in the yard, the kiddos entertained themselves. Beedle had Jedi on the brain--he dressed up in his Jedi cloak and tunic and sought to rid the back yard of Siths. After all were defeated, his next obsession was creating a solid diaper. Dad asked him, "Beedle, are you wearing a cup?" He said, "No, it's my solid diaper." (It's actually a plastic elbow pad with velcro straps.) He's so creative!Gracie was in an exploratory mood. She became obsessed with bugs. She found a one-legged cricket and had a lot of fun catching and releasing it. She dug for worms and found a tiny one. Gus got his kicks playing Cajun Horseshoes with anyone who would dare challenge him. He's getting better every time he plays. Here's a pic of him playing with Mom.

Later in the afternoon, the kids dressed in their swimsuits and Dad turned on the sprinkler. They ran and ran and ran, and once again, felt the glory of another Glorious Sunday. God, we thank you for this amazing day where, once again, we felt peace and joy and the gift of family!

Life Lessons

Overheard on the car ride home from Grandma and Papa's:
Dad: Gracie, please bukle up or the police will put you to jail.
Gracie: What is JAIL?
Gus: It is a very long time-out!

Update on Madness

After Round 1, here are the standings....

Beedle--23 out of 32
Gus--16 out of 32
Dad--26 out of 32

I'd like to point out that the boys did a great job of bravely calling a couple of upsets (#13 Cleveland St. & #11 Dayton)

Gus again voiced his frustrations about losing a few games. I assured him that he should not be mad....even if it's March Madness!

We'll keep you updated after the round of 32.

Spring is Here

Standings

Just an update on the games.......It is 6:40pm and currently Beedle and Dad are tied with only one loss. Gus is not far behind with only three losses. Gus was so sad, but we assured him.....it's a long tournament! It's Madness, I tell you, Madness!

Dado's Day

Dado loves sports competition! Football is his favorite, but any playoff, in any sport, is exciting for him. He and his dad would always pick their favorite teams and make it a personal competition as well. Since his father passed away his friends have indulged him and played along with him. But today is the day he has waited for! Today is what he has dreamed about since he found out he was having a boy so many years ago. He waited patiently, and talked about it each year. (This was boggling to Mom when she was changing diapers or just trying to teach them words at all!) Today both the boys made their picks and Dado was grinning ear to ear and chuckling with each pick. They could have picked Lafayette High and it would have been GREAT! I am sure in the years to come there will be many discussions of how to pick a good team, ranking, individual player strength, coaching, but for now they made picks. Today is they day Dado has waited for. Thank you boys for being all that we ever dreamed of, thank you for being you!

The Luck of the Catholic?

How great it is to be Catholic! We celebrated in style today. All the kids got to color and learn about Saint Patrick. We have a cute little Veggie Tale movie short about Saint Patrick as well that the kids got to watch today. But the most exciting part was definitely the baking and consuming the baked goods!

All the kids got to help make cookies and a special cheesecake. The sugar cookies are always a hit, but this was the first time we made a cheesecake. Mom borrowed a spring pan to make the cake but Dado said that it would be an investment he would be willing to make. I guess that means the kids did a good job. After a beef stew (about as Irish as we get around here) we enjoyed our goodies. The kids brought the neighbors some shamrock cookies and then settled down for a few themselves. They had to enjoy their cookies with a glass of milk, while Mom and Dado put a bit of Baily's in their cup! Go Irish!

Growing Up!

James is happy these days! He is growing up, and life is good. Walking around, playing with the others and now sleeping in a bed, are all signs to us that time is moving along. What mixed emotions we have. Everyone, hug your children tonight; give them a call if they are not at home. Time is not standing still, and although we are proud of all their accomplishments, and hopeful for all that is to come, this moment is passing, and will never be again.

A Dynamic Duo

During Lent Mom has a precise deep cleaning project going on. We have been doing really well and are all feeling a lot lighter now that two thirds of the house has been reorganized and lots of items have been purged. The daily chores have taken a back seat unfortunately. So Sunday was a day to catch up. A big thanks to Dado and Gracie who did Mom's least favorite chore-folding socks. There is something about matching a sea of white socks that look a lot alike but not exactly the same that drives Mom batty. The two worked together so diligently yet had a great time. They were laughing and playing. What a dynamic duo!

Night Out

Thank you Gigi and Nanny Wanna!
Mom and Dad took the night off and went out on a date. The older kids were estatic to get to sleep at Gigi's "fixed" house. Gigi is always the gracious host and rented a couple of movies to entertain the kids. They were most excited that she allowed them to sleep on the new sofa bed. They gave it the ultimate compliment, "It was just like staying at a hotel!" Even James was a great sport and spent his first night away from Mom! Thank you Gigi and Nanny Wanna for giving Mom and Dad an opportunity to go out for the evening. Thank you both for being so loving to our children so that they do not mind (actually, they desire) Mom and Dad's abescence. This makes our evening out free of any guilt and we can enjoy it. Thank you for also being so generous with your time and so kind about the sacrifices you have to make.

A Night with Nate

Although Nate comes to our house every day, we were compelled to have him sleep over tonight. Aunt Laci has been tired in the morning and Mom thought that she and JJ deserved a date night. And did I mention we love Nate! It is good for us to have some fun time outside of school time and we really celebrated. The kids wanted tacos for dinner and Nate learned that spinach on tacos is very tasty. Everyone cleaned their plates. Gracie and mom made treats while the boys got ready for bed. Carmel apples and chocolate covered strawberries were our special treat for the special night. Although Nate was a big boy spinach taster we could not convince him that "fruit is your friend." The rest of the kids (did I say Mom and Dad?) ate his treats for him. The boys were tickled to go to bed and they really did sleep! Thanks Nate for coming and staying the night. We love you and are so happy that we are getting to be a part of your life!

Sometimes Kids See More Clearly

Today at Target Gus overheard a mother telling her child to shut up. He told me that she needed to get help from Fox News. "If she gets that program she will know how to handle the kid without frustration," he said. We promptly went to the next isle and all said a prayer together for the mother and her child. I am always amazed at the education the commercials provide for our children--sometimes for good, sometimes for bad! Join us tonight in prayer for all those who are feeling the stress of the world placed upon them.

Waking Up Wednesday....

Our family is playing catch up this morning. Dado usually leaves to work out at five. He took a well deserved break today and slept in. Mom did the same, waking up at seven thirty, and ran to have the door open for our extras. Aunt Laci is suppose to be at work for seven thirty! Gracie got out of bed when B.J. and Eeiah's dad drove up after eight. When mom realized it was after eight thirty she called Aunt Laci and woke her up. (She gets a first trimester pass as well.) Mom then still had to rouse the two older boys out of bed. Not much hope of moving very fast today! For a family who is up and moving at seven in the morning this was definitely a day for all to catch up on their sleep. Has everyone else adjusted?

Happy Birthday Khaki!

Today our Khaki turned 31 years old! We celebrated her birthday with a crawfish boil at GiGi's house.Uncle Eric did a fantastic job of preparing the crawdads. The kids played and played in the yard. And Khaki just soaked in another birthday. All this over crawfish....and birthday tirimasu!

Khaki, we love you and we wish you the happiest of birthdays!

Oh, and Did We Mention?

Guess who lost his first tooth at the crawfish boil? Beedle! He's been having a loose tooth for a couple of weeks and we knew it was just a matter of time. He came running outside of Grandma Dee's house with a washrag in his mouth and an elated look on his face. And, of course, holding in his hand his prize possession--his first lost tooth! He was so happy. He called his Mom to tell her the good news. We all celebrated and, of course, begged him to show it to us as often as possible. We're proud of you, Beedle!

Crawfish Season, Once Again

Clean 'em. Purge 'em. Boil 'em. Season 'em. Peel 'em. And eat 'em! That's what went on at the Ardoins on Saturday--a crawfish boil! Uncle AJ organized a crawfish boil for family and friends and it was a wonderful day. The turnout was great--both in people (over 50 showed up) and crawfish (five and a half sacks)!

Mom and Mrs. Erin made a trip to Houston to see the Ikea store and pick up some much-needed storage furniture. Four kids with no wife and mother was not going to keep Dad away from some boiled crawfish (his favorite food). So he loaded up the Fab Four and headed over to Eunice (Savoy) for the festivities.

The crawfish just seemed to keep coming. While a batch was boiling, the kids were working on cleaning them (I say "cleaning"--they really just pulled them out of the bucket and played with them). But there was always a crowd around the table scarfing down some marvelous mudbugs.

And to top it off, we were even entertained by the fabulous original songs of Jake Stevens. He played a bunch of great ditties, including the ever-popular and well-timed "Crawfish Season".

The kids played and played and played with their cousins and new-found friends. Even James got in on the fun.As the sun set, and the last of the crawfish were savored, the crowd slowly dissipated and the Fab Four, after much-needed baths, said their good-byes as they headed home, content and with full bellies.

Thanks again to Uncle AJ for inviting us and orchestrating this wonderful crawfish boil. Also thanks to Poppa and Grandma Dee for hosting the get-together. It was certainly a crawfish boil to remember!