This and That

It sure has been a long time since I have posted regularly on ye olde blog, so here is a brief update based on the last couple weeks of my phone picture roll.

We finally got around to announcing the twins to the world via the interwebs. I had an idea that I thought would be just perfect, and I got it all set up . . . and the effect was beyond underwhelming (to put it charitably), as you can see! 

So much for that! So we had to quickly run to the store and buy some cute boy-girl outfits, twist my ARM, gee whiz! I have been dying to buy all the things but have tried to resist so it was fun to have the excuse. Of course, we had to include what Nonie said when she first heard the twins were on their way!

This pregnancy has required extra doctor visits, the most frequent being an every-two-week blood draw with my incredible PCP. It is thanks to Napro (and prayers, and God's mercy) that the twins are still with us, and to my doctor for working with me even though I hadn't been charting Creighton for a few months like many napro doctors require. Sometime I would like to write more on that, but for now am so grateful to have such a great doctor. (Side note, if you need a new doctor, I HIGHLY recommend Dr Young!)

Here is my standard view as I get my blood draw every two weeks. 

The phlebotemist is very understanding and often lets Chiara climb up in my lap during the draw.

Homeschooling is chugging along, we will finish week 11 tomorrow! The kids love homeschooling, and let's just say I have to go to Confession a whole lot more frequently now. One of these days I'd like to do a quick post on all the books the kids have enjoyed, so hopefully we can get to that, too.

This past weekend, we drove to Blackwater Falls in WV to see our friends who were competing in the North American Region Finals for Irish Road Bowling (Bol-Chumann na hEireann).

Have you ever heard of it?

It is something else! The course is about 1.5 miles of winding hilly road. Each contestant hurls a small cannon ball (I think it weighs about 2 lbs) down the road. Whoever finishes in the fewest strokes, wins. I didn't bring my phone because it was sprinkling, but here is an example of how the bowl (aka cannonball) is thrown. 

Pic from the Region Finals pamphlet

The spectators walk leisurely behind, and the kids have to stay well behind because the bowl can cause serious damage! Everyone had fun, and even Kia was able to walk most of two scores we saw. 

The sport started hundreds of years ago, folks in Ireland used small cannonballs and started a middle of the night competition on the roads. It is still fairly popular. Stephen has competed multiple times in Ireland.

Here is Stephen holding one of the steel/iron bowls so you see how tiny it is. Pic also from the pamphlet.

We have been chipping away slowly at our to do list to prep for the twins. I reorganized the pantry (yay!!! what luxury it is to have a pantry!) and by the grace of God it has stayed mostly organized over the past week, as you can see! 

We also went to the Peach Festival in Syria, VA a week and a half ago. It was such a nice drive to get there, and there is always good live music, pony rides, hay rides (best hay ride I have ever been on, it is about 30 mn long), a creek for the kids to play in etc. Very fun and dog friendly, I highly recommend it! It is significantly less crowded then their apple festival, which is also fun but much bigger.

So that is all for now!