Back on the grid

I know that a lot of time passes between my posts, but this time I have a good excuse.  I have been fasting from the internet this week in solidarity with some of my team mates to spend time in prayer for a supporting church for Jo.  Okay, it is the wimpy way out but someone needs the energy to keep this house running.  I did get plenty of time to think about Jo and how God is going to get her here.  Some great reading, quiet time and sewing got accomplished too.  On Thursday I went to the Knitting and Stitching Show at the RDS, where incidentally Bon Jovi will be playing in June 2011.  "Shot through the heart and you're to blame, darlin' you give love a bad name."  Anyway, I was one of at least a thousand people there buying fabric, yarn, books, ribbons, buttons, and mops.  Mops?  I can't really say bad things about people who buy mops at craft shows since my friend Deanna and I did the same thing last December in Huntsville.  Good times.  I bought myself a Christmas present and some other fabric before I made a bee line for home.

In other news, our friend Jocelyn was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes on Thursday.  She is doing great at the hospital while they learn all there is to know about JD and work on getting her sugar number down.  Dannon and Gabe spent the night with us and will trick-or-treat with us later this afternoon.   We would have gotten an extra hour of sleep last night because of the time change but Bailey wasn't feeling well at 4:30 AM and Gabe is an early riser.  Sick kids are kind of like babies in that their bodies don't tell them they get another hour of sleep and to take advantage of it.  I can feel a nap coming on...

Autumn Doesn't Rhyme With Ya'll

Pizza, pizza.

Eve and Bailey

Master Chef Peter Maguire

Second verse, same as the first.  A little bit louder...

The hard knock life for us.

Come to mama.

Child labor.

Apparently Scott got some slack recently for saying fall instead of autumn but you can't say 'Happy Autumn Ya'll' if you are trying to rhyme.  This season has been very beautiful.  We picked blackberries yesterday but ran out of jelly jars last night.  I guess it's cobbler from now on.  The Maguire clan invited us over for homemade pizza last Saturday night.  (Notice the stone pizza oven built by Mick and Peter--impressive.)  Following full bellies it was guitar jam session to the tune of 'Sunshine of My Love' with a little 'Hotel California' thrown in for good measure.  That's all for now, happy fall ya'll!

We passed inspection!

No, not home inspection, although Scott probably thought that was what we were trying to pass with all the cleaning I was doing and wanting him to do.  We passed the Education Welfare Board interview with the very nice Sarah who assessed us on our ability to home school our children.  It turned out to be easy peasy, lemon squeezy.  (And yes I do know that peasy and squeezy are not actual words.)  We did find out that if we wanted the kids to attempt the Irish leaving certificate through the school system, that home school is not an exemption for knowing Gaelic.  Clearly, we won't be teaching them Gaelic so now our options for a high school diploma have been narrowed down to exclude taking the Irish exams through the school system. 

On another note, the Ellis family will be adding another person to their family tomorrow when Jess marries Rob.  Be praying for a great day and a wonderful marriage.  Congrats!

Road Trip!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Rock (of Cashel)

"I've got the fever and the only cure is more cow bell."

Chicken!

You know it's fall when the ivy turns red.

Minutes before the Smiths got in trouble for being on the playground equipment.  Personally, I think it was the Hook 'Em Horns sign. 

We went to Tipperary this past week with our team for a little relaxation and bonding time. On the way we stopped at the Rock of Cashel and on the way back we toured Kilkenney.  Autumn is in full swing here and the leaves are beautiful.  Earlier today, Scott umpired the Baseball Ireland Little League championship game.  He almost threw out one of the coaches.  Maybe they won't ask him to fill in again.  Since the Mariners were short one player Davis got to fill in for center field and caught an amazing pop fly.  Tonight Scott and I met some baseball friends at the only Cajun restaurant in Dublin, Tante Zoe's.  I had blackened catfish and Scott ordered 'the best jambalaya he has ever had.'  It was certainly a bright spot on this rainy Saturday.  Next stop: their favorite Japanese restaurant.  Once again, enjoy the pictures.