I got very lax this year on updating the kids pictures.  Since we don't have "school" pictures I try to update the older kids once a year and get the babies more often since they change so quickly.  So today, Matthias had his 6yr old pictures taken and at 10 months, Veronica had her 9 month pictures taken (only a month late).

Matthias insisted on wearing khaki pants and a polo shirt.  He really wanted a green shirt (since green is his favorite color), but the only green one is now a play shirt.  So then he wanted yellow, but being yellow, they get stained easily.  So his second favorite color was out.  So he settled on red.  And looked very cute too.

This is the picture he picked out to hang on the wall for the next year.  As they get older I try to let them pick the one they like best.  He loved this one.

This is the picture I picked for the grandparents

Veronica is normally very smiley, but today she decided that the serious look was in. She would NOT smile at all during the entire photo session.  The poor girl taking the pictures worked very hard and I finally told her it was fine if she didn't smile. I think she was relieved.   I LOVE this dress Veronica is wearing. My mother bought it for Evelyn and I always loved it on her. So when Beth passed it on to me for Veronica I couldn't wait for her to wear it and I knew I had to have her pictures taken in it.  So here is my smile-less girl in her beautiful dress; still looking adorable.

Grant's Pumpkin Whoopie Pie

I've spent 3 days this week turning last years, still frozen in the freezer, pumpkin into muffins.  There was one large bag left from last year that hadn't been made into pie, bread, muffins.  So this week I've made well over 100 muffins ranging in size from mini to jumbo; all tasty and going quickly.  In one batch I had a small amount left that was too little to fill a muffin tin, so I poured into a small baking dish and made a "pancake" type muffin.

Grant saw it and immediately thought of whoopie pies.  So I made a second "pancake" and he filled it with whipped cream today and is waiting to enjoy it after lunch.  It looks great.

There are just some things that are too cute to pass up and these shoes were one of them.  The best part was that they were on clearance for $3 at Target.

Little girl stuff is definitely cuter and more fun that little boy clothes and shoes and even those have come a VERY long way in the 14 years since I started purchasing baby clothes.

I tried to get a picture of Veronica wearing the shoes, but every time I tried to take a picture she would crawl over to me.  They look very cute on, especially with ruffle socks and a dress.

Story Time

Grant heard Veronica fussing after a nap today and asked to get her up. I came down to the living room a few minutes later and found him holding her on his lap reading her a story.  They both love each other.  He loves holding her, playing with her and taking care of her. He can always do without diaper changing and is thankful that those are VERY few and far between.  And she adores him. 

I love how she's looking at him.

Hair bows and Cheerios

Things change quickly around here and if you blink too quickly or leave for work in the morning you're bound to miss something.  A week ago Veronica wasn't putting anything in her mouth and now she's feeding herself Cheerios and is thrilled by this new found independence.  This does mean she's discovered she can put anything in her mouth, from the Cheerios to what ever treasure she finds on the floor.

Along with her newly discovered skill are hair bows.  She has BARELY enough hair, but I can get a clip in her hair.  I know I'm more excited about this than she is, but she leaves them in.

Check out this smile!!!!

I think she's loved

These boys can not get enough of Veronica.  I think having a sister was the best thing that ever happened to them.  Every morning she gets up and it takes a good 7 minutes for everyone to say good morning to her.  Everyone has to hug her and kiss her and practically yell their good mornings.  Then she is carted here and there, given a million toys to play with and basically the center of attention for most of the day.  I think she can practically do no wrong with any of them.

This morning Augustin insisted on holding her on his lap and having his picture taken with her. 

Making the switch official

I've debated on switching over to Blogger for over a year now, but it's hard to leave what is familiar and Xanga has been the only place I've ever blogged.  It's been 3 years since I started blogging and there is a lot of history over there and it's hard to move on.  I've got my entire blog saved and I think it's time to make the switch official.  I fall isn't the official start of a new year, but fall always seems like a good time to start new things as so much changes.  Summer is over, the garden is basically done and it's the start of my quieter winter months.  I don't think there is really anything quiet about life in any season of the year, but fall always signifies the return to normal for me.

What is normal...days spent home schooling, staying home and getting into a routine the works for us.  Summer is fun, but it is hectic for me and I always enjoy a return to the quiet days of fall and winter.  Summer involves camps, running around, swimming with friends and lots of afternoons outside.  Fall means quiet days inside with books open and school being done, baking, reading on the couch, Latin being chanted aloud, catechism questions being memorized and games being played.  We have a set schedule of school, work and prayer that makes the day flow and I enjoy the rhythm of these days; they are peaceful (in a non-hectic, non-running around sense) and organized.  Everyone knows where they are supposed to be and what they are supposed to be doing at any given time.

So with the new "normal" that comes with fall, I thought it was a good time to make a change here too.  The name of my blog has stayed the same as we are still and will always be the Domestic Church and what you will find here is "Our Domestic Church" as we try to live out the liturgical year in our daily lives whether it's simply through prayer or a special celebration of saints days and liturgical celebrations.  Why the change you may ask, there are several reasons, but the main reason is that there have been several requests to be able to post comments on what I share and Xanga didn't allow that without registering.  Here, anyone can comment, so please feel free to share your thoughts.

I will end with a cute picture, since I find blogging most enjoyable when there is a picture to share.  This was taken two days ago when upon seeing the camera out, Samuel said, "Take my picture with Veronica."  He just adores her (as do all the boys) and always wants to have his picture taken with her.