New doors!

We had to have our back doors replaced due to water damage. We took the opportunity to put in actual French doors instead of what was there, were only one door opened. Our friends husband did the work since he has a contract company. They did a great job for us and kept the cost as low as possible. Here is the progress over two days! 

Christmas break!

What a fabulous start to Christmas vacation! We let the girls open a gift basket from great Aunt Joan and Ucle Don (best gift basket ever!) which included matching pj's, popcorn supplies, movies and hot cocoa. After a Christmas movie and snacks they headed up for a sister sleep over. Good times! 

Elsie 4, Katya 8

I finally got around to snapping a few pictures of the July birthday girls. Overdue for sure, but I still feel these represent them at their current ages. I will send some out to the grandparents next time I order prints. 

NY trip

We stayed outside Mansfield  Ohio were the penitentiary is that was used in the filming of The Shawshank Redemption. When the kids are older we will go back for a tour. 

National park in the suburbs of Cleveland. We didn't drive into Cleveland, but this is were great grandma Elsie was born. Her father was a fisherman and he drowned in Lake Erie. 

This is the address of the birth place of my grandmother, Elieen Thompson. I assume just the facade is new on this building. 

Dinner at a funky little pub in Buffalo, the Blue Monk. Craig was in heaven, ordering a duck Ruben and trying local beers. 

Elsie and Eugene Brown were married in a Catholic Church in Buffalo (although neither one was raised Catholic). I'm not sure which one, so we went to Mass at the cathedral downtown. 

This organ was installed here in 1877.

Niagara Falls

After being so close to Horseshoe Falls, we were all pretty wet! 

Road trip fun.

Tired out! 

School year and go!

With school in full swing, things are busy around here! Katya and Reagan are apart of a leadership team at school. Katya started Brownies, and they are both in religious formation classes at church. Elsie is loving preschool, but out sick this week. Craig is flying to Maryland right now for meetings with the FDA. He will be home late tonight. Fall is in the air and we are loving the cool weather. I hope all are well! Much love and prayers. 

Morning rosary

Back from leadership boot camp! 

Star performer 

Sillies

Neighborhood Picnic