It Seems Rather Ridiculous...

...to be picking buckets of tomatoes at the end of October.

Pumpkin Patch, Part II

After some barrel train rides, the kids and I took a ride out to the pumpkin patch.

I told the kids they could pick whichever pumpkins they wanted, as long as they could carry them!

How about this one, Mommy?

Here's my little pumpkin, fast asleep even on the super bumpy hay rack ride.

The kids loved doing these duck races and played there for a long time.

Can you tell he likes to swing?

If you look close you can see a little tooth there on the bottom.  He's working on tooth number six these days.

Dominic gets ready to shoot down the rocket ship slide.

Joseph rides on one of the large trikes.

It is always interesting trying to take a picture of all the kids by myself, but here they are with the loot from the pumpkin patch.

Anthony was having a good time playing with gourds (and no, Joseph did not throw that pumpkin!).

Pumpkin Patch, Part I

One day last week, I took the kids to the pumpkin patch with our homeschool group.  Oh, we had a glorious time!  There were lots of neat things to play on, like this giant slide.






Hey, big brother, you look funny. 



Catherine took a turn on the zip line.





Catherine and her friend, Anna.




They had lots of fun on the enormous jumping pillow.




I somehow managed to capture all the kids at once in a picture.




The boys loved these neat diggers in the large sandbox.  Joseph would have stayed there all day, I think. 




Lunchtime!




Then they rode on the barrel train.




Over and over again.



Homeschool Science and Art In One

In our 5th and 6th weeks of school, we studied the human body and at the end I had each child in turn lay on the easel paper and I traced around their bodies.  Then they got to color and decorate them. 



As you can see the boys did not color theirs very much, but they sure had fun with them, and were excited to hang them up from the mantel.  Dominic drew in his face up on the top of the head, which looked really funny.  Anne liked coloring her hair and fingernails.




Catherine spent several hours one afternoon and drew in some of the organs and blood vessels.  The long sheets are no longer hanging up, but I can't bring myself to throw them away yet.  I'll have to do it secretly anyway.



Weekend In Victoria

The weekend before last we made our first trip to Victoria, KS, where Dan's mom lives, since Anthony was born.  Dan's oldest niece got married at St. Fidelis Church, a.k.a. The Cathedral of the Plains.  Catherine got to help bring up the offertory gifts and she did a great job!



When the bride and groom came out of the church, everyone threw rose petals and it made a lovely picture.




After the wedding, we went to the reception, where the kids entertained themselves(and us) until it was time to eat.




Joseph shows off his new goose egg and bruises, acquired during the above-mentioned entertaining of self.




Anthony got to meet his godmother, who was also mother of the bride. 




Anne was excited to see the starting of the dance.  We all joined in the Grand March and the kids were thrilled.




Poor Anthony was a bit overwhelmed and a lot tired by the time this picture was taken.




Trouble #1 and Trouble #2.  Joseph and his cousin, Aloysius, sport coordinating bumps and bruises on their faces.  Luckily no dishes and/or glassware were broken during our time there.  Fancy receptions and 2-3 year old boys do not go together very well.:)




The next day, it was time for more playing with cousins.




Wild turkeys with St. Fidelis in the background.




Checking out the farm equipment.




More exploring.



And a visit to Grandpa's grave at the Victoria Cemetary on the way out of town. 

7 Months Plus

Hi!  I turned seven months old last weekend and my mom is just now getting around to telling you about it.



I don't suck my thumb, I just like to chew on it because I've been getting some teeth.  I have 3 so far.




I weigh 20 pounds now.




They call me Anthony, but my real name is Mr. Destructo.




I have learned to crawl and I have the calluses on my knees to prove it!




Nothing is safe from me anymore, as long as I can reach it.  (Maybe that's why my mom is behind on everything lately!)




I'm still cute, though, so my mom can't get too mad at me.



A New Cousin And A New Child Of God



As usual, I am behind on posting pictures.  These were from almost two weeks ago, when we got to meet Dan's newest little niece at her Baptism.  Here is Dan with Evelyn Grace.



The boys are very interested to see their tiny cousin.





How prudent is it to let a 4 year, a 3 year old, and a 2 year old be in charge of Anthony in the stroller? :)



All the girls watch as Baby Evelyn gets dressed in her baptismal gown.



Here is the wee one in the Brungardt gown, all ready to get baptized.  She felt so light compared to big boy Anthony.



Dan's brother holds Evelyn Grace as the waters of Baptism are poured over her head.





Then Father Sam rubs the spicy-smelling chrism oil on her head.





A new child of God held by Fr. Sam, surrounded by her parents and godparents.  (Yes, we were honored to be chosen as her godparents.) 



Dan's brother, his wife, and their beautiful family.



Our family with Fr. Sam.