The Weekend in Pictures

Just in case you didn't know, it is the Solemnity of St. Peter and St. Paul today. I didn't know until I uploaded these pictures to the computer and found the one below which had been taken by Jacob. He has a way of reminding me of important events. Solemnities denote the higher ranking feasts in the Church; essentially solemnities are to be celebrated as a Sunday: food, fun and rest - oh yeah, and try to make it to Mass. When I stayed at Madonna House for a summer solemnities were a Big Deal in a community where manual labour was pretty much non-stop. There was no denying a solemnity at Madonna House - there was always plenty of food, flowers, fun, family and REST (and wine on really special solemnities) . In the words of one young guest, "Yay Solemnity." In a complete aside, Hannah is writing in her address book and just asked me what Jesus' phone number is. I confessed my lack of 411 knowledge and she said, "Darn, I wanted to call Him." Perhaps the above gentlemen know the 10 digit code. Also, relating to Hannah, sometime during the past 2 weeks she has begun to acquire a Valley accent. Actually her accent is even more specific to our immediate locale. It is incredible and it seemed to arrive overnight. I remarked on her new intonations yesterday and she seemed quite chuffed to be speaking Valley. Jacob overheard and said, "I have one too." Other than the fact that he says mudder, fadder and brudder (mother, father and brother), Jacob's accent is not as strong as his sister's. However, he had to compete and spent the next while imitating everything his sister said in his best Valley speak. Perhaps we had better teach her some stronger Valley sayings to deal with her twin.

So, if you don't have a pool or even a kiddy pool - because it's still at the farm in the storage barn where your parents have left it since last summer - then use a bucket. Our kids do. It sort of promotes sharing... and I imagine interesting stories in years to come.

See, Joseph likes it.

And, if you really oppose sleeping in your own bed and have been sternly warned by your father that he better not find you sleeping on the floor THEN sleep in the playpen - why not?

And here is just one of the highlights of our weekend. This is our friend G covered in our children. He's sort of like flypaper to children under seven years of age. He's engaged to the beautiful young woman below, L. L is the daughter of a family who are friends of our family but more like family - if you know what I mean. G and L stayed with us over the weekend to attend a local wedding. I think that our kids are delighted by his upcoming addition to one of their favourite families. I just hope they don't jump on him at the wedding.

Beautiful, isn't she? G and L are a wonderful young couple. It was refreshing to be around them and to watch as their relationship continues to grow. They are both deeply devoted to their faith and to living out that faith. They remind me a lot of Dave and I when we were engaged and I am sure that they are starting out on a wonderful adventure.

Triathlon/duathlon pictures to come.