7 Quick Takes Saturday - September 29, 2012

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Happy Feast of the Archangels, and happy feast day to my baby boy! I think we'll have angel hair pasta for supper to celebrate.

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I need input! I'm planning a graduation reception/party for Collin on the day he goes through the University of Phoenix commencement ceremony (November 10). Any ideas for food, drinks, decor, etc.? I'm thinking a general gaming/poker theme. Any great party food that can be made ahead of time and frozen, or a cookbook with such recipes? Give me your ideas!

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My mother and stepfather are flying down for Collin's graduation! Mom hasn't been here since early 2010 (she came a month or two before Violet was born) and my stepdad has never been to our house, so I'm very excited!

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I signed up for FlockNote's "Read the Catechism in a Year" mailing list. What a cool idea for the Year of Faith!

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I tried to get a picture of all 4 kids looking at the camera and smiling last weekend. This was the best of the lot. I love Gabriel's expression!

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The fall 40 Days for Life campaign has started up again! Join in at a location near you!

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I'm so thrilled that Kara and her family have been able to publicly announce that they are Nico's family!!! So happy and excited for them!

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Don't Read My Blog!

Instead, go check out the e-mail that Heidi sent out yesterday, as posted at Leila's Orphan Report blog!! You won't believe how God is blessing their adoption of Peter through the incredible generosity of others!

Then come back and read my blog. (If I can ever emerge from baby teething purgatory long enough to bang out an actual post...)

7 Quick Takes Friday - September 21, 2012

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Conga-rats!

HE'S DONE! HE'S DONE! COLLIN IS DONE WITH COLLEGE FOREVER!!!!

It's not "official" per se, although he has submitted his application for graduation. But there's no reason to expect that his application won't be approved, especially given that he's graduating with a GPA of 3.88 (with honors!). I'm so proud of him, and so happy to have nights/weekends back with him!

He's going to go through the ceremony on November 10, and the ceremony will be streamed live via webcast. That's awesome news for our friends and family who won't be able to attend in person! Now I just need to find time to make and send graduation announcements...

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Collin surprised me last weekend with tickets to Les Miserables. I was so thrilled! Seeing a professional production of Les Mis is a bucket-list item of mine, and I was so happy to be able to cross it off. (And a huge thank you to Kara for watching the kids!)

I had no idea we were going until we got to Kara's place, and even then Collin wouldn't tell me what we were seeing, just that he was taking me out on a special date night. I guessed it, though, and shrieked aloud with joy.

The show was phenomenal. There was a technical glitch in the middle that cut short "The People's Song" and caused a short delay, but otherwise the production was flawless. 

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Before the show, we ate at Casey Moore's Oyster House. It was fantastic! Collin said they were the best oysters he'd ever had, and my chicken piccata was scrumptious.

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Yes, I will be having one of these.

Girl's night tomorrow night! Woohoo! 8 Catholic women plus one adorable newborn baby (my goddaughter, baby Monica) - it's gonna be a good time!!!

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 Speaking of my goddaughter --

Isn't she freaking adorable?

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True, that.

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Brant was born January 2007. This touches my heart because the first baby I lost to miscarriage was due in July 2007.

His family may be eligible for an additional $10,000 grant!

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7 Quick Takes Friday - September 7, 2012

Collin and I had a wonderful anniversary! Thanks to Kara and Heidi, who split up our children between them, we had 24 kid-free hours. It was glorious. We spent them at the Talking Stick Resort.

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This is the view from one of the topmost floor of the hotel (the 14th, I think?) Our room was only one floor below.

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We stayed in a "Club King" room, meaning that we were in one of the Towers and had access to the Club Lounge. The Club Lounge, formerly the Presidential Suite, offered a free hors d'oevueres reception every night. And when I say free, I mean free -- food AND alcohol. Plus, they offered a continental breakfast every morning. (A nice one, too -- they had mini quiches and egg-and-bacon muffins along with fruit, cereal, bagels, etc.)

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We had a marvelous dinner at their five-star restaurant, Orange Sky. Pretty fancy place -- it had a dress code and everything. (The people in front of us at the reservations desk were turned away because they were wearing shorts and flipflops -- yes, really.) The meal cost about the same as our room (!) but it was, hands down, the best meal I've ever had in my life. I had the Jidori Chicken and it was indescribably amazing. I moaned aloud with pleasure when I put the first succulent bite into my mouth and experienced the flavor explosion on my tongue. It was that good.

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We told our server we were celebrating our anniversary, and look what she brought out for us! It was as good as it looks, too.

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We also spent some time at Shadows, the cigar lounge.

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It was truly a fantastic stay. And on Monday night, we got the best gift of all -- our new goddaughter was born! Welcome, Monica Gayle!

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Take a look at Janie. Isn't she a doll?

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!