Throwback Tuesday

We found this video last night and watched it and laughed and laughed. It's amazing how Cordelia is so … Cordelia. Her speech patterns, her observations…it's just darling. :)

My Babies in April

 Dodgeball is the new obsession.

Last week, CML and I went for girl time. : )

 She is a little me. Here she is, reading a novel over dinner. That weekend, she read 8 chapter books in 2 days.

 Meanwhile, Cody is still deep into Harry Potter (we are now reading The Goblet of Fire).

 Sometimes he looks so giant and gangly. And then I come in to check on him, and he's fast asleep, upside down, with his head on Bidi. Just like always.

Cody's First Communion!

On May 31, 2008, Cody John Paul was baptized. Remember? This and this and this, too.

Almost exactly eight years later, he celebrated his first Holy Communion at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, out here in the exurbs. It was a wonderful, beautiful day. We were so proud of him!! And boy, was he excited…so much so that he showed up before 5:00 a.m. in our room, fully dressed.

The only thing that made him a bit sad was not having Uncle Walter with him. So he decided to wear one of Uncle Walter's ties. JVL did, too. And he asked me if there was any way he could carry my grandmother, Mary Byrnes, with him. (I cried.) I pinned her "Mary" brooch on his pocket, so he carried their memories and love with him to the altar. (I cried again. I cried a lot.)

 These are the two most gorgeous (twin) guys in Woodbridge. Just look at them!

We had a lovely party at the house afterward. My absolute favorite moment was when I came through the kitchen, where I had left the tiny kids table clear for any of the 11 kids roaming around the house and yard. This is what I found instead…





Congratulations, dearest Cody Bear. We love you!!

My Doubting Thomas

Yesterday…

Cordelia: Mom! I am SO MAD at Cody for being SO MEAN to me that I'm trying to figure out what mean thing I can do to get him back!

Me: That's so hard. I know you're upset and frustrated. But we just came from church, so maybe instead we should try to think about how Jesus might want us to handle this anger.

Cordelia: He would want me to get back at Cody.

Me: Actually — one of the most challenging things that Jesus asks us is to be kind to those who hurt us. He even asks us to pray for them, instead of looking for ways to take revenge.

Cordelia: I don't think so, Mom. I'm pretty sure He never said anything like that, because it makes no sense.

Me: Well…I know it's definitely not something that comes easy. But I can promise you He said it.

Cordelia, suspicious: Where did He say it?

Me: Well, in the Bible. More than once.

Cordelia: Hmm. Maybe, maybe not, Mom.