{gratitude lately}

hockey tryouts are finally over

sleeping in on a weekend morning

making homemade pasta together with Pete

new workout gear

watching college football on TV

a new suit for Drew

my favorite Christmas blend coffee

sharing a special bottle of wine from our trip to Italy

a gift from Pete's Dad of winter sunshine in a box filled with grapefruit and oranges

anticipating all my boys home for the long Thanksgiving weekend

45

*yesterday*

new driver

Drew turned 16 on Thursday and has been waiting anxiously to take the road test to get his driver's license. The first appointment time we could get was a month away and so we decided to do a 'walk-in' for the test.

Thursday he had a lot of tests at school and so our plans were to go early Friday morning, which was a day off of school. We left our house at 7am and was in (a very long) line at the DMV by 7:30. After waiting for 45 minutes, the line was cut off just cars ahead of us- and we were turned away for the day. I felt so bad for Drew, he had been so excited and now would have to wait even longer. Monday was Veterans Day and the DMV was closed. Tuesday morning we woke up even earlier and arrived at 6:15am and waited in line for 4 hours!! Finally it was Drew's turn and after the long morning I think I was more nervous than him. :)

But perseverance pays off!  We have a new driver for the green car!

birthday visit

Saturday we went up to SJU to celebrate Tyler's 22nd birthday. My parents were able to join us for the day and I think Ty enjoyed showing them around the place he has called home for the past 3 1/2 years.

Tyler showed us his favorite view on campus.

Grandpa and Grandma with Tyler.

We went to the American Burger Bar for a birthday lunch.

And the back to Tyler's apartment for some birthday pie. :)

Happy birthday Ty and thank you for letting us share the day with you!

Drew's birthday

Drew's 16th birthday was filled with presents, homemade cinnamon rolls on the 'I am special' plate, dinner at Osaka hibachi grill, and cannoli torte birthday cake.

I think that smile says it all... It was a great day! :)

Happy 16th Birthday

My baby is 16!! Not sure how this can be?! 

Happy birthday Drew, we love you!!

Happy 22nd Birthday

The words from the birthday card we gave Tyler say it all.

"Sometimes things work out well. Sometimes life is good. Like you're given a son to care for and love. So you try to bring him up well, to let him know how important he is to you. And before you know it, he's an adult, looking you in the eye and grinning with that smile that comes straight from the heart. And you think to yourself, "Hey, he turned out good." And your own heart fills up with love again."

Wishing for you a very happy birthday!

Notre Dame weekend

Friday morning we packed up the car and headed out on a road trip to Notre Dame to see Jake. My parents joined us on this trip and we met up with them in South Bend.

Friday evening we took Jake and a couple of his friends out for a great Italian dinner at Parise's. 

This was such a fun evening and it was and it was so great listening to Jake and his friends talk so excitedly about school and all of their activities. I loved all of the smiles and laughter.

Saturday morning we met up again with Jake and he gave us a tour of campus.

We stopped for breakfast in the South dining hall,

visited the Grotto,

saw the inside of the dome in the Main building,

stopped by fundraiser that Jake's dorm was having,

saw the 'player walk' (this is where the football players walk from mass at the Basilica to the Stadium),

stopped for a beverage on the patio of O'Rourke's,

and saw the Notre Dame football team play Navy.

Notre Dame weekends are always so much fun and it is always so great to spend some time with Jake!