A Storybook of Grace

 We finally made it to Six Flags for the first time.  My dad had given us season passes December 2019, but because of COVID of course, we couldn’t go.  Until yesterday. We had fun.  It was hot here!  86!  And I was amazed that our oldest four, ages 12, 10, 8, and 7 went on their first roller coasters.  Well, it wasn’t Ryan’s first, but it was for everyone else.  They were so brave!  And they had fun.  The park could use some TLC around the property, but the rides seemed to be in really good shape.  Thankfully!  It was a pretty long day and we all crashed last night.  Lucas, who only really eats puréed foods that we spoon feed him and who doesn’t take any liquids by mouth, and doesn’t really care for food, out of nowhere, started grabbing fries yesterday and sticking them in his mouth!  He does not put food in his mouth, he rarely even touches food.  He is usually scared by it.  I don’t think he actually ate any of the fries, but we were all so surprised that he did that to begin with!

 Hello there and happy Monday!  Hope you had a great weekend.   Ryan did his 3 hour oral challenge test at the allergist’s office on Thursday.  We cooked up some shrimp and bagged a shell and took him in, where he ate some shrimp and had the shell rubbed all over his arm and then they waited for 3 hours to see if anything would happen.  And nothing did!  He is so excited to be eating shrimp again.   Friday Sean and I and the four girls went Sam’s shopping.  We have started to leave the boys a little bit now since Ryan is older and can babysit now.  They have been doing great with that extra responsibility/ freedom.  Sean felt totally outnumbered taking all the girls and me to the store!  HA!  Saturday Sean and Ryan went to a church BBQ after my therapist session.  Then it was off to Dunkin’ for a ginormous iced coffee with mocha and a drive around town.  We also stopped at a park in Wadsworth or maybe it was Waukegan.   We went on a little hike after church yesterday.  The day was gorg

 The kiddos and my husband helped me to feel special for Mother’s Day.  We went to church and had a dedication for 7 of our children.  Dedications are simply giving children back to God, but also pronouncing that we will do our best to raise them to know and love God.  The church family in turn says that they will be there to help and support us on this journey.  It was really sweet.  The pastor read verses we picked out that our meaningful to our family and then prayed over each child.  Ryan was the only one to not get dedicated because we did that with him already when he was a baby and we lived in Florida.  We had not done the rest because our last church family in TN didn’t really do dedications.  They may have done one that I can recall, but that’s about it.   Hailey bought me a dozen roses and I got both store bought and handmade cards.  Sean bought me a Dooney and Burke purse and an Orca cup.  Ryan bought me the game of Sorry because I had told him how I liked playing that game

My uncle and aunt took us out on their boat and to Caladesi Island.  The kiddos and Sean got burnt!  We had a cookout at their house afterwards.  I missed out on the Caladesi Island part of it.   Frnechy’s!  For Ryan’s 12th birthday.  We all wondered why T backs have made a comeback on the beaches.  Just sayn.   Pappy’s pool.  We stayed at Dad’s for the week. The kiddos went in their pool everyday I think.   Weaver Park in Dunedin.  We saw two manatees.  It was awesome.  I’ve never seen manatees around Dunedin before.   Clearwater Beach sunset walk.  :)  Dunedin Causeway A stroll in downtown Dunedin  Friday night Capogna’s tradition with the family.  When we got home, Scarlet had been missing for almost two days, but she finally returned Sunday morning, thankfully.     Our trip was fun, it was warm, and it was of course great to see the family.  The kiddos did great on both plane rides, which was awesome!   We got back and it has been eventful.  Andrew’s allergies have been crazy.  Nat