Paul in Roma, Italia

Paul had the amazing opportunity to go to Rome with FOCUS this past week Oct. 20-28. While I cannot write about his experience, here are just a few highlights from his trip.

Michael, Paul, & Rob

Paul and Dan at Villa Fatima where they stayed

Paul at the Colosseum. 

Inside St. John Lateran

The heads (skulls) of St. Peter and St. Paul

Papal Audience (We got to know Daniel one of the Swiss guards who is standing at the front right of the pope mobile when we were in Rome 3 years ago.)

Pope Benedict XVI

Dan, Joe and Paul in St. Peters

Paul going up to the chapel of St. Ignatius

The chapel of St. Ignatius where he lived the last 12 years of his life.

Dan, Joe and Paul in St. Peters

Paul at St. Paul outside the wall (stunning basilica). 

Tomb of St. Paul

Inside of St. Paul outside the wall. The images of all the popes are around the top just above the pillars.

Alter of St. Leo the Great in St. Peters

The description of the Altar

Dan and Paul were able to meet up with Fr. Tait who we know from Madison, WI.

Lastly, Paul in front of the Trevi Fountain.

Rock Creek Pumpkin Patch

We went with our Mom's group to visit a neat pumpkin patch on the North end of Denver the second week of October. It was a beautiful day, not too hot but still a little sunny. We had a blast talking while the kiddos played in the bouncy houses and pet the animals. We also got some fabulous pumpkins for decoration. Too bad that the maintenance guys were installing new carpet in the apartment above us so that we had to do without naps after an eventful morning. An early bedtime it was!

Eating a light picnic lunch after all that hard work!

Sophia and Anni very excited about the bouncy house.

Two little munchkins, a scarecrow and a pumpkin!

Excited to go pick out pumpkins from the patch. They were inseparable, and hated that they had to get into their own cars to drive up to the patch. 

This one Mommy, I want this one! Now to carry it all the way back to the car, doh.

Sarah taking Sophia down the slide as I had Leo in the Ergo fast asleep.

So many pumpkins!

Beautiful sleeping baby.

Cheese...

(All photos taken by the lovely Alzbeta Volk, www.alzbeta.net)

Pictures of the Growing Littles.

As we are settling into being a clan of four, and learning how to get things done again, here are a few pictures taken this fall amid all the craziness.

Leo bears the brunt of Sophia's sticker extravaganza.

Dot painting on our deck.

Leo and Daddy.

Hanging out.

Sophia is a chap stick addict.

Relaxing on a Sunday.

Where one goes, the other must follow. Even into the baby play mat.

Pretty girl.

It is so nice to have such a great helper in the kitchen. Wash away my girl.

Leo with Godfather Bryan and Daddy on the deck.

Maple pecan chicken for dinner. Yum!

I have the best seat in the house.

My first coffee cake ever baked in my new bundt pan courtesy of William & Sonoma.

Hello!

Leo loves watching the Broncos!!! Too bad he can't reach the clicker.

Big smiles!

We are getting set to hit the road in November when Paul gets back from Rome. Many more updates to follow.

Leo's Baptism

We had a very difficult time setting up a time and place for Leo to be baptized since the priest at our new parish of St. Jude was having surgery and was unable to perform his baptism. The deacons at the parish do perform baptisms on certain weekends, but we were having a hard time finding a weekend that worked with Paul's travel schedule. Paul had an idea to ask Archbishop Aquila, who is the newly installed Bishop of the Archdiocese of Denver, but was the Bishop of the Fargo Diocese while we were in high school and college, to do Leo's baptism. He said yes and we picked a date!!!

Leo was baptized on September 16, 2012 at the Church of St Jude by Archbishop Samuel Aquila. It was a beautiful ceremony with his Godparents Bryan Wilburn and Kimberly Lammers as well as several members of our family and friends in attendance. 

Handsome boy all dressed in white!

Right before the ceremony at St. Jude's

Beginning prayers.

Bishop blessing the baptismal font water.

Leo being cleansed of original sin.

Not so happy about being wet.

Bishop holding Leo.

Bryan, Kim, Bishop, Leo and us.

No More Pagan Baby :)