mass with children, a new expirience every week

Jeff and I have always attended mass as a family, for the past year that has included one more. Champ is at the age where he doesn't sit still for long, doesn't understand when to "talk" and so forth. Mass has become a bit of physical and mental gymnastics. First we try to formulate small, quiet distractions that will keep him entertained while seated. There is only so much you can do with books, a string of Mardi Gras beads and so forth. Then as he squirms the physicality comes in as it takes all you have to keep him from flying over the pew into the people in front of you, or darting into the aisle.

Well last night he added a new complexity, an upset stomach. Poor Champ began emptying his stomach right in the middle of the Eucharistic prayer. All over all three of us. (As children get bigger, everything about them gets bigger.) I tried my best to wipe everything down with wet wipes and Jeff took him to the bathroom. After signaling the usher that our pew needed attention after mass, I found Jeff and Champ huddled in the back of Church. Poor Jeff was frustrated that we live in a very large affluent parish and they failed to stock the bathroom with hand towels. We don't usually skip out of Church following communion, but we figured God understands. Champ was taken home, stripped, and washed from head to toe.

As an update, he didn't have a good evening, but woke up this morning thirsty and hungry. He is keeping down water and Cheerios so food will be re-introduced slowly.

every day...adventure.

flag on the play

Happy Halloween to everyone. This post is a day late, but many know why. Yesterday was one of those days where all of the balls I am juggling fell squarely on my head.

I woke up with a swollen eye...pink eye. So I spent my day getting an appointment, seeing the doctor and getting that fixed. On top of the eye, I am battling a cold. ugh. I am supposed to be on a plane right now to New Orleans, but I am here on the couch. A combination of the contagious eye, inability to wear contacts and going offshore just fell apart. The silver lining on the cloud, is that I am here with my boys for extra days.

Now for the real reason everyone checks our site, the Champ. This year's halloween costume was inspired by last year's. I again made the costume myself and I am improving. Last year I made the costume the morning of Halloween, this year the night before...small steps, but forward steps none the less.

For a reminder, last year Champ made the perfect football.


This year, he again remained in the football theme, but as a referee. He was the only referee in his whole school. The setting for the pictures is the school courtyard. Last week all of the children were given pumpkin seeds to sprinkle on the ground and make wishes. Following their afternoon nap, the yard was filled with magic pumpkins that their wishes had brought. So Champ is sitting in the "magic" pumpkin patch.



This is the trick-or-treating picture from school. All of the children were loaded up and escorted through the building for goodies. Champ liked the fruit chews.

I have to admit, my goal will be that he always has as unique of a costume at this year. This week Jeff even began thinking of his costume for next year...it will likely only get more unique from here.