Overheard

Isaiah, 3, stepped in front of me as I came through the kitchen door. He said, "Can you pick me up?" I did pick him up and I cuddled him for a minute, kissed him, and set him back down. I took another step toward the living room and he stepped in front of me again. "Can you pick me up again? I love pick ups," he said.

Maria Gogia

Overheard

"Mom, do you know what?" said Noah, 5 1/2. "Sometimes, I love Maria SO MUCH that I forget that I'm supposed to love God even more."

Overheard

Only on a play date with my Catholic girlfriends and their children, would you hear the following dialogue:

Me: Oh, look at all the beautiful princesses in here! Wow, girls! What beautiful princesses ... and Thomas!

Thomas (7): I'm a pri ... [wait for it--you think he's going to say prince, don't you?] priest!

::

60 minutes later, there are five girls between the ages of 4 and 6 running around changing, "We are nuns! We are nuns! We are nuns!"

Overheard

I'm laying on the couch watching Ca$h Cab and cuddling a sleeping Maria. Madeleine, 7, is sacked out beside me on the floor, nursing a headache. As the host asks the questions, I answer them out loud. Often, I'm right and my answer comes right before the contestant says the same thing. Madeleine looks at me, makes a face, and asks, "How can they hear you all the way from here?"

Birthdays Week

On Isaiah's birthday, he, Noah, Maria, and I went to an indoor playground. They had lots of fun! There are many things to play with at the indoor playground. There is a play structure similar to one you would find at McDonald's, but much, much bigger. There are also Little Tykes castles and playhouses all over. There is a walking track for moms which can also be used by children to drive Little Tykes fire engines, cars, and tricycles at top watch-out-mommy speed.
Poor Noah skinned his elbow. Maybe he took a corner too fast on that scooter?
Morgan turned 8 last week. I can't believe that all this time has passed since we had our first child ... and that we've had four more since! Here she is with her baby sister.


Even at 3, Isaiah is only beginning to match his shoes well. Here he is with a mixture of the two pairs that he wears to play in the mud (it's wet here right now). He's proud and ready to go outside! He has also taken to calling his baby sister "Maria-go-gee-uh." (Hard Gs) Then when I laugh and copy him, he corrects me. "Mom, that's Maria Catherine P-------." Ooh, sorry mister smarty pants.

Gibbons and Kids

Things in My Backyard

April 24

Springtime!

It Was Snowing Petals!

Who is Entertaining Who?

Overheard

Noah, 5, was observing a rather scruffy looking Gila Monster at the zoo. "Look, Mom! This Gila Monster is shredding its skin!"

Overheard

Isaiah, 3, said, "There is Maria. She is sleeping her head off. When she cries her head off, I will give her a hug."

::

Morgan, 8, was singing La Cucarracha. She told Noah to guess which country the song came from. "I'll give you three choices: Texas, Mexico, or Africa."