Our Magnum Opus

Winter Doings

A light Michigan snow at St. Mary Shrine in Mio.  (Previous Galbraith generations helped build this grotto.)

Regina is on her outdoor winter trip with Wyoming Catholic College.  They build and sleep in quinzees, ski, snowshoe etc.

the grand toddlers enjoy the snow

We have a grand puppy. Her little Russian self enjoys the snow so much she never wants to come back in.  But she has accepted the children as her litter mates and is happy to curl up with them.

Staying warm and cozy inside. (Notice the naked tree.  We put the toddlers 'skills' to good use; they helped us take the ornaments off the tree.)

 

deer on our pond

Regina Earned Her WFR

Affectionately called 'woofer'.  Wilderness First Responder.  Regina was on campus at WCC when Blaise's class returned, having just earned her certification.  We're very proud of her, few 17 year olds have completed this course.

Blaise takes on WCC

Arriving back from the freshmen COR expedition, Blaise was looking a little pirate-y.

The student body begins the 2018-2019 school year with Matriculation Mass

 

Farewell to Blaise

Off to Wyoming Catholic College!  We are going to miss him so much!  Blaise is the fourth child to leave home for college, and it does get easier, but not much. 

Our traditional Dairy Queen farewell.  Kevin J. phoned it in.  :)

Regina is 17

Regina spent her 17th birthday in the Denver airport waiting for a delayed flight to get home from PEAK. (Wyoming Catholic college's summer program for interested highschoolers.)  In spite of a nasty cold and missing a few of the activities, (she was evacuated from the backpacking trip) she had a great time.  We celebrated the very tired birthday girl the day after she got back home.  Monica baked pasties and Celestine baked a layered sponge cake with cream and berries.

So There Was This Solar Eclipse...

It's a long story but Kevin, Blaise, and Regina drove to Wyoming to see the solar eclipse and bring back a van load of Inshal and Monica's stuff.  Then the guys drove back home but Regina remained on campus with Monica while Monica completed her WFR (Wilderness First Responder) certification.  Then Regina came back with Monica, Inshal, and a couple other Wyoming Catholic College grads. Regina loved being on campus and clearly her heart is there.  I think she found her place.

Missing My College Girl

Monica is my oldest daughter, and one of my best friends.  I cherish every chance I get to talk to her.  I am so happy that she has the opportunity to attend Wyoming Catholic College.  It's quite a trek across the country, and she has only been home for Christmas break.  She may not be home for summer!  Students cannot have cell phones on campus so a phone call is rare (though she messages me most days) consequently phone calls are especially precious.

She continues to bake and sent this photo of a baptism cake she made for a professor's new baby.
A friend who shared their ski cabin with us one year, recently sent us this poem after reminiscing over their cabin guest book. _{(can't get the pic to turn)}

On spring break the Wyoming students headed out to the mountains for a week of caving and canyoning. are they not adorable?!

breathtaking 

November Culture

At Wyoming Catholic College the students take a trip to Salt Lake City to the ballet or opera.  They dress up and pair off with dates.  Fun.  This year they attended the ballet and Monica went with her pumpkin head from Halloween, Inshal. They clean up real nice!  Happy 20th Birthday Monica!

 

Monica's Freshmen Trip

In the age of communication we are not used to being out of touch with our loved ones.  On WCC's Freshmen trip there is no communication except snail mail going in or out with the weekly re-ration supply, carried on horseback of course.  :)  So the letters than came from Monica while she was out there in the mountains were more precious than gold to us!  She arrived back on campus tired, dirty, fit, healthy, and with a fresh, happy confidence.

The wonderful books the freshmen class will explore!

And... all cleaned up for convocation!  God Bless their school year!

 

Summer's End

It is still hot but football practices have begun for Dominic, volleyball practices for Regina, and we've gotten a jump on our homeschool school work.  St. Augustine's classes begin in early September.  So summer is over.  But the pool is still up.  And did I mention that it's still hot?  Ugh.  Actually the forecast predicts cooling to begin tomorrow.  Yay!  Out in Wyoming, the temps have already dropped to become quite fallish. Monica is still out in the Wind River Range on the last day of week two of her freshmen COR Expedition with Wyoming Catholic College.  We got a letter from her.  They can get mail in and out once a week when the horse people bring up the re-rations to the mountains.  We have never been so happy to get a letter.  We gathered around to hear it read like a family in the old days.  As in before the internet.  of course, she sent a sketch.

Regina and Lydia

How mom spends her summers

pile of kittens on the tractor seat (the coveted spot for all our cats)

Dad, KJ, and Aunt Kari took a crowd to the water park while Mom was in Wyoming

Regina (not looking at the camera LOL) and friends at the Miles Christi girls camp

the Vacation Bible School helpers on the last day, Regina is on far right.  After the kids age out of VBS, they love to come back as helpers.