Seasonal Snapshots

Might as well start with the seasonings...  Don't worry, the subjects do get better.

BEFORE: Cacophony in the cupboard

AFTER: Salty, spicy, seasoning sweet  melody.  It's amazing what a $5 organizational rack and turntable will do to a spice cupboard much in need of a makeover.  One of those taunting tasks on the "to do" list that I finally got around to sometime in November.

Cake for Luke's feast day-previously mentioned but not pictured.  Simple yellow layer cake from scratch with chocolate frosting (best luck I've had with frosting yet) , sprinkled with almonds and a little bit of cherries on top for color.

Praline pumpkin torte which I'd been wanting to try for a while but was given the perfect opportunity when Jen Jab and Fr. Lehnard stopped by for a visit.  Yes, those are raspberries on top.  Apparently the previous cake took all the cherries I had.  Apricot almond chicken, noodles, and broccoli was the prelude.

Luke's new ride and his many co-pilots after hanging the clothes out in late October and enjoying the sunshine while it lasted.  Lucky for Luke this activity is transferable to the basement where he enjoys a thorough spin and slide in the laundry basket through my legs, under the table, and with plenty of bumpy roads and sound effects.

Preparing the pile.

High knees through the leaves.  He was quite tentative in exploring this new medium as he walked gingerly through the outskirts of the pile.

Little man's preference to toss the leaves in the air rather than run or jump through them.

Wouldn't sit still for a photo shoot so I added a little tickling and extracted a silly grin.  Luke Francis 21 months. He is quite the character and has a new found interest in "buod-ders" (aka boogers).  Don't worry folks, for Luke the novelty is in talking about them not extracting or consuming them :-).  Recently, we've been working on "boy" and "girl".  He is far from mastering the concept but it's oodles of fun to hear him say "boy" and "dir-dle" which sounds an awful lot like "turtle" as he shrugs his shoulders.

"Tamra" investigation.  Only still shot I got from the whole batch.

Hey there bright eyes.  Augustine John at two months.  The eyes are still blue and his hair is still dark.  Doctor seems to think his eyes will stay blue but we'll see.  I'm leaning toward the prediction that his hair will stay dark which I'm sure daddy won't mind.

Two month tummy time training session for tiny tot #2. Now almost a month later he's getting in an intense workout as he kicks his legs and twists for a windup to roll over and Guess what?! Guess what?! Guess what?! .................................. Today (1/4/2013) he pulled the banana on his buzzy chair all by himself! Woot! Woot!

Seriously mom....now?!!?  Can't you wait until I turn to my better side???

Sleep sack and  hat made for Augustine by my Godmother and Aunt.  Thanks Aunt Karen!  Can you make these in adult sizes? :-)

Capturing the cozy.  Other notes that register on the cuteness scale include the giggles and squirms that Augustine exudes when we take an outfit off or put a new one on on the changing table.  He has a very many tickle spots.  Augustine watches Luke like a hawk and is affectionately known as "Dust- tin".  Just yesterday, Augustine was letting out some serious yelps as Daddy was finishing up with Luke on the potty.  Once Luke got his pants on he ran into the other room, looked at Augustine in his bouncy chair and said a quick "Hi!" in a higher pitch voice and Augustine immediately stopped fussing.  Too bad mommy and daddy's efforts aren't rewarded with such a quick result.

Augustine John Schafer two month official statistics. 13 lbs. 13 oz. 23.5 inches long.  Harmless blood blister on top of head that appeared between 1st and 2nd month will likely disappear before age four.  Survived administration of five vaccines: one oral and 2 in each leg handled expertly by a team of nurses followed instantaneously by an eruption of tears and a fire red face.

Luke and the homestead.  If you look closely you might be able to see Yute's boots.  An eligible title for a Dr. Seuss tale if you ask me.  Those boots have gotten a bit of wear including sled riding at Grandma and Grandpa Francis's.

Our very own frosty with a pumpkin stem nose, onion set eyes, and a shell for a mouth.  Frosty is a new found celebrity in our household due to the cartoon Christmas classic but probably more appreciated thanks to Aunt Mary Rita's gift of a snowman container that shelters "tandy!!" and "teets".

Luke adding a helping hand in penguin, camo, and plaid.

High knees again.  Consistent in his workout regimen I guess.

Much to Grandma Francis's disdain we do indeed still have pumpkins on our porch.  Someday I'll find something to do with them whether it's a splattery physics experiment or gently stirring them in with the other garden compost for adding nutrients to the earth and likely some random pumpkin vines.

Excuses Excuses

In addition to starting a new job and raising two boys under two years of age, half of November and practically all of December was swallowed up by sneaking around and constructing Pete's Christmas present. We have a three gift formula modeled after the gifts presented to the baby Jesus by the magi.

Gold:  frivolous or expensive gift fit for a king
Frankincense: something to be used for spiritual purposes
Myrrh: something homemade

Here's what I came up with...

Gold and gems of ministry quilt

Close-up of Blue Base gold gift

Frankincense: Service Quilt

Red quilt zoom

Sham Wows

 I pulled Pete's mom into the project in mid-November when she attempted to drop off  some of Pete's t-shirts that he was storing at her house since we got married by saying, "So, I hear you've been saving t-shirts to make quilts for your kids someday.  What do you say about making one for Pete?"  And so the adventure began.

I am quite the amateur when it comes to sewing.  I don't even have a machine of my own so I borrowed my mother's and proceeded with the guidance of a small book that Cathy bought about t-shirt quilts made simple.  After rifling through Pete's closet and remaining t-shirt collection at his parents we acquired some 24 ministry t-shirts  or so from various conferences, mission trips, retreats, or events.  The original plan was to make one queen size quilt.  I wish I would have had a photograph of Cathy's face when I said, "I think we might as well just make two."  There was a momentary silence than an exclamatory, "Two!?!?" followed by a nervous giggle that dissipated quickly when she realized I was serious.

The workdays to follow were driven by the ongoing struggle between the intrigue of possible beauty of the finished product and accomplishment and the devastation of blundering, beyond repair, the beloved archive of a comfortable wardrobe.  I only wish I would have kept a journal of the various episodes to document some of the drama.  At this point, however, I shall only document some of the highlights and lowlights that contributed to the rollercoaster experience.

In no particular order...

Lowlight #1-  Keeping secrets from my husband.   I mean, I definitely wanted him to be surprised but it was very difficult to conceal so many joys and sorrows and laughs and frustrations from the person I am one with.


Highlight #1 - Pete's mom describing the adrenaline rush and saying "I feel like monk" during one of our many secret meetings while an unsuspecting daddy was away earning a living.

Lowlight #2- Realizing that there was a tangle in the bobbin thread that was messing up the stitching after the top of the 1st quilt was nearly complete.
 
Highlight #2  -Grandpa Schafer as the stealthy Subway supplier- taking orders, running out for sandwiches, and seriously helping to leave no traces of evidence by smuggling out wrappers and other incriminating remnants to be discarded elsewhere.


Highlight #3  - Making the pillow shams ALL BY MY SELF.

Lowlight #3  -  Hearing Pete say upon opening the third and final gift, "No.... Not the orange shirt."  (He assured me later that he was just joking but I'm not entirely convinced)

Highlight # 4 -Aunt "Yinda's" expression and exclamation as she and I were moving the extra table back under the stairwell when the creak and clatter of footsteps above announced that Pete arrived home earlier than expected.

Highlight #5 -Getting to know Pete's sister Lisa's in-laws better while having the privilege of using an open arm quilting machine Ed's father got for his mother many years ago

Lowlight #4  -Hearing the news of the Newtown, CT school shooting while working on the quilting at the Snyders.

Lowlight #5  -Ironing.... although it's growing on me.

Highlight #6   -Finishing the quilts entirely on  Monday, December 17th. A whole 8 days before Christmas.

Lowlight #6   - Neglecting some of my wifely duties or postponing them to a later date to have more time to work on the quilts.

Highlight #7   - Pete mentioning on the way over to his parents' to open his gifts, "It sounds like everyone knows about this gift except for me and my dad" and me, unable to contain the laughter, "You think you're dad doesn't know about it!!!!????!!"

Lowlight #7  - All the miscellaneous threads and random straight pins that littered the floor after any given workday.

Lowlight #8   - Realizing after completing both quilt tops that we had completed "the easy part"

Highlight #8   - Luke's strawberry jam contribution to the display.


Highlight #9   -My mom needing her sewing machine back to construct my dad's "costume" for the Gospel choir concert days before the big party workday which included Aunt Linda coming from Medina.

Lowlight #9   - Cutting one of the larger square sets too small and needing to add extra fabric to correct the mistake

Highlight #10  - Meandering...the quilting pattern that I used that isn't really a pattern at all.

Highlight #11   - Taking advantage of Small business Saturday and getting a discount at A Quilters Haven

Lowlight #10/Highlight #12  - Hearing the skepticism and doubt of Aunt Linda's swimming friends as she relayed the saga and intentions of my project in addition to the fact that I have two young boys and succeeding regardless.

Highlight #13   - After intentionally wrapping the two quilts in different shaped packages to draw out the novelty and the "big reveal" Pete's dad says nonchalantly after the first quilt is opened, "Wait 'til you see the other one."

Highlight #14   - Spending quality time with family, united for a common cause.

Highlight #15    - the finished product(s) to bring comfort and warmth and suitable adornment for the boys' bunk beds someday.

Back to the Grind

I've drawn it out far too long I know.  Any suspense or anticipation has fizzled out I'm sure and finally posting this now will probably be rather anticlimactic. But I promised.


I have a job.



Pray for me.



The week after Thanksgiving I started working at Little Flower Catholic Parish.  It's actually the parish Pete grew up in and Grandma Schafer works there too as the sacristan.  For all those that are fans of "The Office"-  I am the Assistant TO THE Director of Religious Education and unlike Dwight am quite satisfied with the humble title.  Unfortunately, right now I am the Assistant to the DRE that doesn't exist.

When I first signed up for the gig it was rather exciting because I would be assisting our friend Bonnie who Pete knows from his college days at Ohio Dominican and I got to know when I started working in ministry in 2007.  I could work a MAXIMUM of 20 hours a week, pretty much set me own hours except for Sunday mornings when the Religious Ed classes are happening, and bring Augustine along since he is pretty much at the eat and sleep phase.  Since Cathy is already at the church for Mass in the mornings I bring Luke along and pass him off to Grandma and Grandpa for one "long day" a week and otherwise set the hours so that I leave once Pete gets home from work to watch the boys.

Less than a week before I was supposed to start Bonnie called me up to let me know that she got a new job and would be moving to Columbus- which was and is GREAT especially since Bonnie's parents, sisters and brother-in-laws, and growing number of nieces and nephews are all in Columbus.  Still, it's a little bittersweet since I wouldn't be working with Bonnie after all and her dedication and contribution from all her years a Little Flower will be missed.  Part of the conversation I had with Bonnie that day was that I could "opt out" since there would be quite a bit of change in the near future.  Scary as it may be,  Bonnie and I both agreed that God certainly had a plan in the making and it was beginning to unfold. So I decided to stick around and see how it all panned out.

As usual though, I am reminded  and humbled by the fact that God does not work on our time.  God works on God's time.  And so, this Sunday, January 6th Religious Education classes start back up at Little Flower Catholic Parish where there is still no DRE and I, the lowly Assistant to the DRE, am clocking in my hours, strictly monitored by my husband not to exceed twenty, and attempting to keep things functioning somewhat smoothly until a new DRE is hired.  I'm enjoying the work so far and it seems to fit rather nicely with family life with some minor adjustments like attending Mass on Saturday evening rather than Sunday morning, and instituting some crock pot meals.  But plain and simple, there is NO WAY that I could do all that is necessary in 20 hours a week and there is NO WAY that I am giving up more time away from my little men, Luke and Augustine, nor my big man Pete.

I'm managing a tiny bit of stress in wondering when a new DRE will be hired, who it will be and whether or not we will work well together- that is where  I  need your prayers.  But other intentions are welcome for the applicants, the selection process, and the parish.  And...it's not too late so if you know of someone that might be interested they can check out the job posting at  this link and scroll down to the bottom of the page for specifics or send me an email for more information.

Just so you don't think we're perfect

Here you have it... Luke Francis Schafer is NOT perfect.  And neither is his mommy for leaving him unattended even for those few moments.  Unfortunately you cannot hear the sirens from the highway that seemed to chime in at just the right time in the scolding.  I've told Luke that the police come when people "Break the Law". I dub the police threat "hyperbolic discretionary parental expression" - kind of like telling kids there is a Santa Claus, but it does weigh on my conscience ever so slightly.

Similarly, I get a twinge of guilt when I say, "Only on paper.  We only draw on paper." As I pointed out in this specific instance yet again.  Especially considering my artistic inclinations and advocacy for creativity,  I think Elise, you're lying to the kid.  You know full well that crayons can be used on canvas, on eggs, on stones, on candles, and other countless mediums to produce a stunning and beautiful effect.

I found soon after this video and putting Luke down for his nap that crayon works on carpet as well.  Who knows where else I'll find the versatile blue wax tomorrow.  Nonetheless the mess cleaned up and I chalked the display up as normal developmental behavior for a 22 month old.

Augustine too is NOT perfect.  His otherwise adorable and pleasant demeanor has been marred by the appearance of his first diaper rash.  Nothing too serious and now that I've got experience I can do my best to eradicate it before it gets out of control.  Besides, it's probably my fault and an indication that we need to "strip" the cloth diapers with a couple extra hot washes to get rid of any soap residue which may be causing the irritation.

My beloved husband Pete, as rockin' awesome cool as he is, also is NOT perfect.  In fact, he is holding an important family treasure hostage...

Although Pete won the rights to the Gless Family Fantasy Baseball Champion trophy last year it never seemed sensible to cart the thing to Maryland and then back to Ohio.  The honorable statuary constructed from Pete's grandfather's standing ash tray and other nostalgic memorabilia sat inconspicuously at Grandma Schafer's for at least the past 8 months.  Pete "discovered" it there when he was picking Luke up just over a week ago while I was at work.  As you can see, it now sits prominently displayed in our dining room even though Pete came in near dead last in this year's competition.  Apparently, the rightful owner of the trophy resides in Florida.  Perhaps by ratting my husband out to such a broad audience will encourage the REAL champion to claim their prize and expedite its removal???

Last but not least, disputing popular belief, I, Elise Schafer, am NOT perfect.  I forgot to set out the name tag basket at RCIA for work last night, for goodness sake! AND I don't floss my teeth everyday!  (Although, I've started flossing more frequently given Luke's interest in the practice).  On top of all this,  I'm keeping secrets from my husband regarding his Christmas gift and have supported and implemented the "if it's yellow, let it mellow" philosophy for our household in attempts to conserve water!!!

I'm sure there are plenty of other shortcomings that people could add to the list. Or start generating a critical list of their own less than perfect tendencies.  When it comes down to it though, it is our imperfections that make us human.  That's not to say that we shouldn't strive for greatness, but rather take a step back and realize that those accidents, insufficiencies, mistakes, or blemishes in life provide countless opportunities for us to grow and learn. 

I'll be posting again soon with the news about my job and the vital statistics of Augustine's upcoming doctor's appointment but couldn't help sharing the little challenges of the day.

Peace for now.

Celebrate Good Times

Go Ahead...pump your fist in the air to that familiar groovy beat...Cel-e-brate Good Times C'MON! Regarding today even the trivial has been fabulous!  I got a jumpstart to the day and actually awoke before either of the little ones let out their morning whimpers.  Who knows what time exactly Pete arose but at the very least I need to commend his awesomeness.  A little zonked from a productive weekend last night I drifted off to sleep on the ultimate sack with Augustine.  Pete tended to Luke, washed the dinner dishes, and got the trash out to the curb before coaxing me into to bed for a more restful sleep.  Earlier in the evening he finished the dinner I had begun (after all, he is the pasta master) and spent some quality time with Augustine so that I could take Luke for a hour long walk around the neighborhood.

So for starters let's celebrate those amazing people in our lives that lend a helping hand, inspire the slightest smile, or smooth our ruffled feathers when we're spooked.

Secondly, can I get a hip! hip! hooray!!! for getting in a forty minute workout, showering, doing two loads of laundry, completing correspondence with tenant, unloading  the dish drainer,  bathing Augustine, settling two youngsters down for their afternoon snooze after preparing them lunch, and scrubbing the floor (a chore I've been trying to get to for over the last week)?  And another hooray! for getting this blog posted.

Although it's been just over three weeks since the next events of note I will say that some of the time was spent rounding up the digital images from the parties.  I forgot our camera for the first and was too involved in the second to take pictures.

Congratulations to the new Mr. and Mrs. Stephen James Francis III !  On October 26th the older of my two brothers married his beautiful bride Sarah.

The Ceremonial Vows

Exiting the Church among bellringers

Luke doubly decked with dress-up clothes and ding-a-lings

Augustine at the wedding

 At the reception, Luke was enamored by the punch fountain and easily ran three miles while at the hall.  Pete and I split the time chasing after him and had considerable help from Aunt Tess.  Although I'm usually more than willing to get in a good workout, I can honestly say that my previous conditioning didn't do much to prepare me for the mile long jog in 3 inch heels which hadn't been employed for at least the past six months!

Luke groovin' with hula hoop and glowstick

Twistin' with Luke

 It was an eventful week getting Luke, Augustine and myself ready for the rehearsal dinner on Thursday night without daddy because he had conferences.  It was our first "formal" dress up outing since Augustine's birth and I won't pretend that I didn't spend any time agonizing about what could go wrong.

Of course, ten minutes away from the restaurant I hear a tiny voice implore "potty" from the back seat.  A tiny voice that is smartly dressed in khaki pants, orange and rust plaid button down, brown casual shoes, and big boy underwear. "Don't go yet." "Don't go yet!""We're almost there." "Don't go yet." begs mommy from the driver's seat. As we approach the road upon which LaZiza's sets we are greeted by the devastating reflective orange circles that accentuate the stark black and white phrase "ROAD CLOSED".

I repeat my frantic "Don't go yet" verse as I turn with the flow of traffic and pull into a nearby Wendy's, lug the boys through the duo of heavy doors and into the ladies' room.  Grandma Francis joined us outside the bathroom doors having been dropped off after my quick phone call to inform her of the situation and the likelihood that we would be a little late because of the extra stop.  Despite the minor detour the night went swimmingly and without accidents.

The couple days before the rehearsal dinner I had spent making cookies for the cookie table at the wedding.  Here is a picture of the "oopses".  Apricot pinwheels, peanut butter sandwich cookies, buckeyes, split second cookies with blackberry jam, and haystack invention I made with leftover chocolate from dipping the buckeyes.


The wedding was great as was the reception.  A good time was had by all and it was the first time Aunt Kate and Uncle Andrew, in addition to most of the extended family, got to meet Augustine.

The weekend continued with Augustine's baptism at Christ the Servant Parish on Sunday, October 28th during the 11 am Mass.  Aunt Tess and Uncle Adam Maione graciously accepted the role of Godparents and many family and friends came for the Eucharistic celebration and the luncheon to follow- even the new bride and groom.  We are abundantly blessed with people to help raise the boys in the Catholic faith!

Schafer baptismal gown tailored by Aunt Linda out of my wedding dress gets another showing!

Augustine John I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Augustine with Godparents

The happy crowd

More recently cheers have filled the Schafer household upon the acquisition of a quarter of a cow and a half of a pig from great Grandpa Taylor and the Wise family in Randolph respectively.  Not having the freezer capacity of our own Viceroy helped deliver our consumable cargo to the Maione residence for safe keeping.  Grandma Francis seized the opportunity to deliver an early Christmas present and dropped off a new chest freezer last evening to help store our wares.  She and Luke had fun playing in the box too.

 Luke is a little chatterbox as of late.  Some of his ramblings are near impossible to decipher but other words we can discern despite less than perfect pronunciation such as "Yute" for Luke, "booot" for book, "moat" for milk, "yid" for lid, "fin-yer" for finger,  "teet" for treat, and "Aw-eeee" for Auggie. Other words he says quite clearly are "happy" and "honey" which surprisingly enough the pediatrician suggested using as a remedy to help ward off the sniffles since most other over the counter medicines aren't suitable for children under 2.

Grandma Schafer must have been practicing with him too because when my mom held up a picture of Sr. John-Mark and her fellow desert nuns and asked who it was, Luke confidently replied "Sel-weee" on more than one occasion.

He's handling big brother responsibilities pretty well and helps out by "gently" shoving Augustine's pacifier in his mouth and even shares his blanket (which he now denotes as "body" for some reason) by laying it on his unsuspecting younger brother.  The habit of kisses on the top of the head that began at the hospital has continued. It's pretty darn cute.  So cute in fact that it escapes a scolding even though Luke insists on delivering at the most inconvenient times.

Big brother kisses on birth day

 Augustine does what six week old babies do-mainly eat, sleep, poop and grow.  We did do a little dance last night, however, when we finally got him to take a bottle successfully after a few failed attempts.  We were scared mommy and daddy's date night on November 24th for my 10 year high school reunion may have been kaboshed!

Although I don't have pictures to document it, he has also started smiling and interacting with "coos" and "goos" this past week.  He is awake and alert a fair amount of the day and at his one month appointment measured 22" long and weighed 11 lbs. 13 oz.

October 25th (20 days old)

15 days old (first day in cloth diapers)

3 weeks

5 weeks old

Last but not least it seems I have landed a part-time job.  I'm pretty excited about it and both Pete and I think it will suit our family well.  I should be starting up after the Thanksgiving holiday. Sorry for the suspense but I'll give more details at a later date once they are all worked out.  Plus I have to prepare for a talk I'm doing in Pete's classes tomorrow on marriage and discernment. (Come Holy Spirit :-)  !!)

So long for now but please do send along any happy news worth celebrating.

The Living Dead

Chugga-chugga, chugga-chugga, chooo! CHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!  I'm needing to let off a little steam.  It's been one of those mornings.  Luke was in a particularly sour mood and it doesn't help that both him and I are getting over a minor case of the sniffles.  His appetite has been non-existent and he even refuses his beloved milk.  Add in a dose of jealousy whenever I have Augustine in my arms and rasping, drooly, snotified weeping for some reason he can't even remember.  I did manage to get a few bites of food shimmied down his esophagus, a few books featuring green sheep, a scholarly mouse, and Tomie dePaolo's Poems read, and settled him down for a nap with some relaxing music and a soothing massage.  Then, of course, I started in on my daily dose of laundry only to discover that half way through the cycle I forgot to add the detergent...an awkward snort escaped from my lungs as a discombobulated combination of a cough, sigh and laugh.

In order to relieve some pressure and distract the depressant hormones I decided to ramble a bit and share some cute pictures before engaging in my workout which will sweat out the remaining nasty.

Because Augustine's Baptism and luncheon to celebrate conflicted with our neighborhood trick or treat time we teamed up with the other Schafer boys to tromps around their Grandma Wolverton's neighborhood.  With all the commotion of the week (my brother Stephen and Sarah's wedding and Augustine's baptism) I, regrettably, did not have time to manufacture clever, homemade costumes which I hope to do in the future and so extend my gratitude to Debbie and Anita for outfitting my boys for the Halloween festivities.

What have you done to me?

Mommy Lion Fish

 

Some of the Schafer boys

Furthermore, the challenging a.m. coincidentally increases my prayer time.  Lord, give me strength and patience.  Keep my voice calm and my hands tender so that I may be compassionate and loving in times of trial.  

Inspiration and hope soon leak in as I call to mind many I know that have conquered the housewife crusade.  In particular this week I remember my grandmother Barbara Taylor.  Grandma Taylor is my only grandparent that is deceased and I remembered her fondly this week as we celebrated All Saints' and All Souls' day.  The communion of saints is a glorious belief that I have only come to understand more fully in the recent past. 

As I watched my own mother floss her teeth during our Saturday visit the vivid memories of my grandmother with floss dangling from her teeth, her weathered hands grasping the tops of our heads as we paraded through the threshold, the no-questions-asked tone of "Eat your apple.", and the rosary tangled around her knotted knuckles in the pew in front of us at church inundated my mind.   Barbara raised ten kids of her own (4 boys and 6 girls (including my mother who is a twin- I mean, my mom alone would be trying but add in another with identical genetics-YIKES  ;-)  !!!!) And had upwards of 30 grandchildren before she died in July of 2005.

I certainly have moments where my grandmother's presence is unmistakeable even though her feet no longer connect with the earth.  It is amazingly comforting and fortifying knowing our prayers are united with countless, holy people both living and dead.  All of us are called to holiness whether we are St. John of the Cross,  Blessed JPII,  or Joe Schmo that sat in the last seat of the third row in your third grade class.

To celebrate the holy day of obligation,the Solemnity of All Saints, on November 1st,  Luke, Augustine, Grandma Schafer and I joined Pete and the student body for Mass at Archbishop Hoban High School. The female faculty and staff went GaGa over the two little ones as did many of Pete's students who had only seen digital proof of their existence up to that point.  After Mass we had a smidgen of time to explore daddy's classroom and snap a few non-traditional school photos.

All Saints...Pra-ay for us!

Class at Hoban

Front of the class

Telling secrets during the lecture

We've been caught!