I'm planning our trip to DC a little more in-depth this evening.  We're going to leave mega-early Friday morning so that we can make it to the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception for 8 a.m. Mass.  Then we'll mosey into DC to walk the mall, take in some serious Smithsonian buildings, wave at the Capitol building, and then go off to take touristy pictures outside the White House, Lincoln Memorial, and Jefferson Memorial.  Should we have our wits and any energy left, we're going to take the kids swimming at the hotel pool before tossing them into bed.  By then, John should have to go set up for his conference.

Tomorrow will be spent out and about picking up various sundries to make sure our cooler is stocked.  I also have to drop off meals for our priest that I miraculously finished, do laundry at the laundromat (boooooo), and give the kitchen, bathroom, and my bedroom a very thorough "once over" so that we don't come home to a wreck.  I got the living room and kids' room done today. 

I don't think I can pull it off, but I usually prove myself wrong.  We'll see.

Thomas has been really into sharks lately.  We went to the library and he checked out every shark book they had on the shelf (I think the grand total was four, just to keep things in proper perspective).  We then hit the video section and picked out a couple of videos on sharks and ocean creatures. 

Thomas has one shark toy, which isn't enough for him when the variety of sharks is so vast.  So he built some.

This is a thresher shark:
 

This is a blacktip reef shark:

This is a hammerhead shark:

If you look closely, he's got the anatomy right on the reef and hammerhead sharks.  The thresher was tricky and he's still working to perfect it.   Like my mom says, "There is no grass growing on that boy."

We went to the ground breaking for our new home yesterday.  It was rainy and rather miserable.  On my way across the lot to the site, I stepped into the wrong spot and sunk my foot down into the mud up to my ankle.  Joseph saw me do it and thought it was the coolest thing ever.  He spent the rest of our time at the site trying to do the same thing.  Such a boy!

We found out the name of the man that made this home possible for us.  His name is Dick O'Neil.  His wife is Edith.  Please keep them in your prayers as he continues to try and battle his cancer.  

Today found us at the library.  We are now loaded with books on sharks, the ocean, and the numerous creatures therein as well as a few dinosaur books.  We also got some nature videos of the same subject matter.  I'm going to sit the kids down for some of those books and movies in a second so I can get a few pumpkin rolls baked and some granola made.  I've taken on cooking for our priest again now that John will not have to go away a bunch the next few months.  We're hoping to go with him on his trips to DC and Buffalo in November.  We'll see though.

My love, prayers, and thoughts are with all of you.  I've kept up with your blogs and will try to make contact in the next few days.  Hopefully no later than tomorrow.

God bless!