Spring Break 2011

I am so sad to see the week come to an end....

We had such a wonderful week!!

Our break started off with an awesome visit from GaGa...

The kids were spoiled with lots of love, attention, and, of course, presents...

We took the kids to Toys R Us...

OH MY WORD...

They both were so excited, everything they saw was "AMAZING."

 Gianna still wants everything, and most things will end up in the cart (and then Mommy will secretly take them out.)  But, Garyn finally, finally understands the 1 toy rule and no longer gets upset.....His deliberation time may be a bit longer, but he always makes confident decisions!!  Let's just say, we

have come a long way....(proud mama moment)

We took GaGa to our Children's Museum.  Although we go often,  our trips never disappoint.

Our favorites on this trip were: dinosaurs, barbie, water works, and Dora and Diego.

Of course, GaGa let Mommy and Daddy enjoy some "spring break" time too.  Ryan and I enjoyed a Sunday Mass ALONE, grocery shopping together and ALONE, a night to shop and go out to eat ALONE.  It was a great night....UNTIL.....

the story....

Ryan treated me to some new work out clothes, spent more than I wanted (man, those work out clothes are expensive....) Therefore, an expensive meal was out, so we went for a small meal at Chili's (which by the way is my favorite place to eat...much more my speed than an expensive meal at a 'fancy' restaurant.)

Anyways, if any of you know Ryan, you will know he is 'THAT' guy.....the guy who parks away from everything and everyone so his car doesn't get a door ding....

BUT for whatever reason (being at the right moment at the right time), this particular night, he decided to park "Hollywood," and park in front of the restaurant.  So of course, I questioned it.....but he responded, it will be fine.....

WELL,

No more than a few seconds passed, I was closing the door and WHAM!!!!!!!!!  A young man driving a large truck pulls out of a parking space and SCRATCH, BAM, hits the car and up on the curb he goes....I took one look at the guy and yelled for Ryan to call the police.  It was clear this guy was under the influence of something....

Long story short, police were called, the guy blew a 1.9 and was arrested on the spot....

Result of the evening:

Scratched car will need repaired BUT that is IT.....a car can be repaired....Thankfully, he hit our car and not another person on the road....
Moral of story- DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE!!!!

On Wednesday, our GaGa had to go home, but our break was far from over...

We packed, jumped in the car and drove to St. Louis, MO, for a few day getaway!
It was a WONDERFUL, FUN time
First stop, dinner at Fitz's Soda Shop; Rootbeer floats and good eats!

Garyn and Gigi looking and investigation the Soda factory

The kids looking through the glass at the city


We visited the St. Louis Zoo....
(for those of you who do not already know, we are taking our kids on a "Zoo Across America" adventure.  Last year we visited Cincinnati, Indy, Pittsburgh, and Louisville Zoo.)
The St. Louis Zoo has received 5 stars and is currently number 1 on our list of visited zoo's.
The best part about this zoo...IT WAS FREE!

Our favorite animal:
the Black Jaguar!!
Garyn has been waiting to see a black jaguar/panther/puma in person, and when Ryan researched the zoo, he mentioned to Garyn the zoo had a black jaguar.   So of course, it was the only thing he 'really' wanted to see....
Well, much to our disappointment, he wasn't out....the spotted jaguar was out for 'show.'  (Well, if you know Garyn, you know he wasn't going to be content until he knew why the black jaguar wasn't out.)
So, all by himself, he found a zoo keeper, approached them by himself, and asked about the missing jaguar.  He learned they do a jaguar change at 3:30pm because the two do not get along.....
Therefore, our day was planned around the 3:30 time of the "changing of guard."
Garyn learned how the change takes place...they use feeding time and bones to lead the animals to their appropriate spots.
We returned to the Red Rock just in time to watch the change....
I will say this:
IT was AWESOME!
Awesome to watch Garyn so excited, to see a Black jaguar that close was amazing....beautiful animal!!

 spotted jaguar

 the bone for the black jaguar

one happy, happy boy!


It was a full and fun day followed by pizza, popcorn, and ice cream!

Gigi watching Dewy's making our pizza!

On Friday, it was off to the Magic House.  This is St. Louis' Children's Museum.  It was an amazing place for kids.  Full of imaginary play, music, math, poetry and so much more!!!!!
Here are a few pictures to capture the day....

 We were capturing them in a bubble...awesome!

 I loved all of the different "did you know signs."

 Magnet fun!

 secret hideaway house

 this is what he said he wants to do when he "grows up"

 loved fishing

 ice cream anyone

just for you PapPap!

my little Jack and the Beanstocks

 Playing store was her FAVORITE

Future baby doctor??

Louis and Clark Adventure

Needless to say, it was a VERY fun and educational getaway!!!!


My life is good, my love is full, and my family makes my heart laugh!!!!

Staying Strong....

http://youtu.be/Sgm9lkTNQmc

Tonight Father Brendan reminded us to not question God when things happen....especially when things are not going "our" way.  It is this time, when we should be praising Him for standing with us, for giving us strength and hope and love.
So although I may want to question Him during this time in my life, especially during moments of self pity....I will not....Instead I will beg for Him to continue to stand with me and walk with me during these frustrating times....


You are Mine 
By David Haas 

I will come to you in the silence 
I will lift you from all your fear 
You will hear My voice 
I claim you as My choice 
Be still, and know I am near 

I am hope for all who are hopeless 
I am eyes for all who long to see 
In the shadows of the night, 
I will be your light 
Come and rest in Me 

Do not be afraid, I am with you 
I have called you each by name 
Come and follow Me 
I will bring you home 
I love you and you are mine 

I am strength for all the despairing 
Healing for the ones who dwell in shame 
All the blind will see, the lame will all run free 
And all will know My name 
 
Do not be afraid, I am with you 
I have called you each by name 
Come and follow Me 
I will bring you home 
I love you and you are mine 

I am the Word that leads all to freedom 
I am the peace the world cannot give 
I will call your name, embracing all your pain 
Stand up, now, walk, and live 

Do not be afraid, I am with you 
I have called you each by name 
Come and follow Me 
I will bring you home 
I love you and you are mine

Maya Angelou's birthday....

(I am a little behind on blogging so try and follow)

April 4th....was Maya Angelou's birthday...

I am writing because she is an inspiration, a favorite of mine.....

So for her birthday, 

I wanted to honor her,

Here is just a few of my FAVORITE poems....

Words are words.....

But, when she puts them together, they are POWERFUL!

Brave and Startling Truth,
for the 50th Anniversary of the United Nations


We, unaccustomed to courage
exiles from delight
live coiled in shells of loneliness
until love leaves its high holy temple
and comes into our sight
to liberate us into life.
Love arrives
and in its train come ecstasies
old memories of pleasure
ancient histories of pain.
Yet if we are bold,
love strikes away the chains of fear
from our souls.
We are weaned from our timidity
In the flush of love's light
we dare be brave
And suddenly we see
that love costs all we are
and will ever be.
Yet it is only love
which sets us free.
A Brave and Startling Truth
We, this people on a small and lonely planet Traveling through causal space
Past aloof stars, across the way of indifferent suns
To a destination where all signs tell us
It is possible and imperative that we discover
A brave and startling truth
And when we come to it
To the day of peacemaking
When we release our fingers
From fists of hostility
And alow the pure air to cool our palms
When we come to it
When the curtain falls on the minstrel show of hate
And faces sooted with scorn are scrubbed clean
When battlefields and coliseum
No longer rake our unique and particular sons and daughters
Up with the bruised and bloody grass
To lie in identical plots in foreign lands
When the rapacious storming of churches
The screaming racket in the temples have ceased
When the pennants are waving gaily
When the banners of the world tramble
Stoutly in the good, clean breeze
When we come to it
When we let the rifles fall from our shoulders
And children dress their dolls in flags of truce
When land mines of death have been removed
And the aged may walk into evenings of peace
When religious ritual is not perfumed
By the incense of burning flesh
And childhood dreams are not kicked awake
By nightmares of abuse
When we come to it
Then we will confess that not the Pyramids
With their stones set in mysterious perfection
Not the Garden of Babylon
Hanging as eternal beauty
In our collective memory
Not the Grand Canyon
Kindled in delicious color By Western sunsets
Not the Danube flowing in its blue soul into Europe
Not the sacred peak of Mount Fuji
Stretching to the rising sun
Neither Father Amazon nor Mother Mississippi who, without favor,
Nurture all creatures in the depths and on the shores
These are not the only wonders of the world
When we come to it
We, this people, on this minuscule and kithless globe
Who reach daily for the bomb, the blade, the dagger
Yet who petition in the dark for tokens of peace
We, this people on this mote of matter
In whose mouths abide cantankerous words
Which challenge our existence
Yet out of those same mouths
Can come songs of such exquisite sweetness
That the heart falters in its labor
And the body is quieted into awe
We, this people, on this small and drifting planet
Whose hands can strike with such abandon
That in a twinkling, life is sapped from the living
Yet those same hands can touch with such healing, irresistible tenderness
That the haughty neck is happy to bow
And the proud back is glad to bend
Out of such chaos, of such contradiction
We learn that we are neither devils or divines
When we come to it
We, this people, on this wayward, floating body
Created on this earth, of this earth
Have the power to fashion for this earth
A climate where every man and every woman
Can live freely without sanctimonious piety
And without crippling fear
When we come to it
We must confess that we are the possible
We are the miraculous, the true wonders of this world
That is when, and only when
We come to it.




Equality


You declare you see me dimly
through a glass which will not shine,
though I stand before you boldly,
trim in rank and marking time.
You do own to hear me faintly
as a whisper out of range,
while my drums beat out the message
and the rhythms never change.
Equality, and I will be free.
Equality, and I will be free.
You announce my ways are wanton,
that I fly from man to man,
but if I'm just a shadow to you,
could you ever understand ?
We have lived a painful history,
we know the shameful past,
but I keep on marching forward,
and you keep on coming last.
Equality, and I will be free.
Equality, and I will be free.
Take the blinders from your vision,
take the padding from your ears,
and confess you've heard me crying,
and admit you've seen my tears.
Hear the tempo so compelling,
hear the blood throb in my veins.
Yes, my drums are beating nightly,
and the rhythms never change.
Equality, and I will be free.
Equality, and I will be free.

http://mayaangelou.com/

WE CHALLENGE YOU....

ONE DAY WITHOUT SHOES.....WE CHALLENGE YOU!!!

APRIL 5, 2011....