I found it!

Auntie Kat and her "cuteness". And I see Cookie Monster, ham that he is, made his way into the picture as well.

A Rare Visit from Auntie Kat

The first picture was supposed to be a picture of Brendan with his beloved Auntie Kat, but it was the last picture I took before removing my media card and inserting into my media card reader only to receive the message that the card was empty and needed to be reformatted. What?! After panicking (okay - flipping out) for a few minutes, I downloaded a software called Card Recovery and all 166 pictures minus the picture of Brendan and Auntie were saved. So glad to have the photos back, but sad that there is no photo Brendan and Auntie.

Ciara and Auntie Kat.

Áine (mid-chew) and Auntie Kat.

Auntie Kat and Ciara posing in front of Santa Monica Beach. The important place for us was the Tudor House across the street where we had just enjoyed tea :o)

We enjoyed our time with Auntie Kat who graciously immersed herself in our schedule. She tolerated Ciara's latest TV addiction - Wife Swap. The night she arrived, Áine was asleep, but we took Auntie in to see her. Áine's hand reached out of her blanket for her and Áine felt her nails like she used to and then Auntie spoke and Áine shot up in that bed and just had to come out for a visit that first night if only for a few minutes. So sweet! Thank you for coming out here, Trina the May-May! (don't ask)

Better late than never

4th of July...

Áine after a day of seizing :o(

Ciara is enjoying the fireworks from a local high school straight from our back yard.

Brendan is his usual happy smiling 4th of July self.

Faster than the speed of a camera shutter

Here is Miss Áine Clare excitedly awaiting the arrival of her pediatrician.

Today's Gospel reading... a fave of mine

Jesus said: "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."
Matthew 11: 28-30

Striking fear into the heart

Ciara was asked to assist her brother in cleaning his room.

Within seconds, after a panicked call for help, Ciara shakily pointed to an item on the carpet and asked if it was real or fake. Upon closer inspection, Mom announced that while it may no longer be moving, it was in fact real. Ciara proceeded to lose her ever-lovin' "I am 10 years old but 16 in my mind" mind and ran screaming from the room swearing to never re-enter said dwelling, to never wear the dress she had on, and to beg for a shower.

The fearsome object of this panic? Here goes...

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Needless to say, big brother the collector of all things animal, happily flapped his hands and jumped for joy as Mom hurriedly picked it up and disposed of it not so properly in the nearest trash can.

Food for thought... some faves

“Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today.”
Thich Nhat Hanh


"We plant seeds that will flower as results in our lives, so best to remove the weeds of anger, avarice, envy and doubt, that peace and abundance may manifest for all."
Dorothy Day


"Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty."
Mother Teresa


"Self pity is our worst enemy and if we yield to it, we can never do anything wise in the world."
Helen Keller