Summer Vacation

The summer is rapidly coming to a close. To mark both its and my own departure, the twelve tribes that still reside at home had two relaxing days of exploring the neighborhood. On the first day the four youngest and Mum and OTP picnicked at Valley Forge Park before listening to a "Once Upon a Nation" story teller who also played the bass recorder (an uncommon instrument Johnny could label). From there we went to St. Peter's Village and Abe impressed and horrified everyone with his risky rock climbing.

On family vacation day 2, I joined everyone on a train ride down to Old City where we listened to "Once Upon a Nation" storytellers, visited numerous historically significant sites, and enjoyed dinner at the Sahara Grill, a great little restaurant between 13th and Broad that was introduced to us by the Ereksons. We got home in the nick of time. A rather violent lightening storm began just after we had all gotten inside.

Johnny Dangling from a Tree at St. Peter's Village

The Talented "Once Upon a Nation" Storyteller

Inside of Christ's Church, Once the Tallest Building in the USA

A trip to Petrucci's

We celebrated Jacob and Lizzy's Birthdays' together by a BBQ since Jacob and Lizzy's Birthdays' are so close together. Mimi, and Baby Jacob came over the day after the Birthday slash BBQ on Lizzy's Birthday. Baby Jacob sang a beautiful 'Happy Birthday to you' to his aunt Lizzy (it was so cute), and we (meaning Lizzy, Mimi, Baby Jacob, Abby, and I) set off for an ice cream cone at Petrucci's ice cream store and petting zoo. Here are some fun pictures of the event.

Baby Jacob as cute as ever!

Looking at the Chickens.

Jakey and Mimi.

This goat wanted us to pet him so much that he stuck his head out of the gate and got his head stuck (though I wasn't too worried about it because there were several scratches on the gate and my guess was that they did it often enough that he would eventually get his head back in).

Sorry folks there are no pictures of the miraculous, marvelous, beautiful Lizzy but she was the person taking all the pictures so of course she didn't take any pictures of herself.

Girls' Week

The following several blog posts (5 to be exact) further explore the content of the Broadway hit Girls' Week. A review of a new piece Adversity for Fun, which opened only last week with performances by Abraham, Johnny, and Charles Muldowney, will follow in the next issue of the 12 Tribes' Blog.

Chanticleer

It may have been the hottest and most humid day of the summer this year, but we had an outdoor excursion anyway. Chanticleer is one of my favorite places to be in the world, and it has been on my "things to see before I go back to BYU" list. Mom and the girls humored me and we swung by the pleasure garden on the last day before the boys got back from scout camp. Even in the oppressive heat, the gardens and house were beautiful and pleasant to be in. And the scents! Simply heavenly.

We cooled down with another swimming trip afterwards.

Shopping

We had several shopping extravaganzas during the week, of which you can find some of the pictures here.

The Schwans were generous enough to invite us over to swim in their pool... It marked the first dives of the season for all of us girls.

It's Uncanny How Much Shana Can Do

Just when we thought she had maxed out on her talents (I mean, how could can any one person be good at so many things?), Shana pulled out the canning card. During the boys' trip away from home a little peach canning party took place. Apparently this happened last year, but seeing it in action and hearing about it are two entirely different things!

Shana's helpful accomplices

Individual Members

Abby the Agile (responsible for cutting and boiling)

Bekah the Bold (responsible for peeling the peaches in ice cold water)

Shana the Shrewd (responsible for everything else, especially taste testing)

The finished product

Lush Peaches

and Blueberry Peach Preserves

A Walk in the Park

Valley Forge Park is so beautiful this time of year. It's a great place to meander around, play Frisbee, and bask in the setting sun while chatting.

Latest on Broadway

Curtains open to Mom in the kitchen preparing a delicacy for Sunday dinner that the family has not enjoyed in some time: Kielbasa. There is greater silence than in previous scenes, no piano in the background, no loud chatter, no radio blasting. Lizzy enters from stage left, holding freshly picked tomatoes to her nose.

Lizzy: Whose Nutty Bars are those?

Mom: Ours.

Lizzy: (dubious, the jaw drops just a little) Seriously?

Mom: Yup.

Lizzy: (jaw drops a few more inches) Why?

Mom: We're on vacation! We're going to eat ice cream and granola bars and all sort of good stuff. I picked some things up from the store yesterday for this week.

Lizzy: (stands in stunned silence for a moment, laughs, and then starts on a salad for the meal)

The characters Abby and Bekah, who have been strategically placed in the audience, stand up and cheer loudly. As the curtains close exuberant applause is to erupt.

Have fun doing the Boot and Paddle boys! On our vacation back home, we're having an all girls week (if you don't count Jake, who's at work almost all day, everyday). Hey, even all of the pets are girls these day.

Real World Experience

We have officially lived and become true members of the Bridgeport community. One of the local Catholic parishes had its fundraising festival this weekend, and it's apparently a big deal in these parts. Several churches have summer feasts, but this was the famed Italian festival with rides, games, food, gambling, and drinks for everyone (over 21 of course). The Muldowney family marched down the road to enjoy this slice of local life and it was...an experience! Everyone enjoyed food, the fire department's band, the dollar land, and the crowds to varying degrees but overall I thought it was a rather enlightening venture.

Who knows whether or not we'll return next year now that we've been initiated.

Fourth of July

A highlight of this Fourth was watching the grand kids enjoy Boompa's preparations for their amusement. Under Dad's orders and hard work, the yard and house were tidied from stem to stern, the pool was dragged out, and the sandbox was opened: all ingredients for a lot fun. The coolest part of the pool for the little boys was probably stepping on the edge and letting the water flood the yard. Is there better entertainment than watching two toddlers having the time of their lives?

Aside from the superb dinner show, the food was plentiful and delicious. It was quite a feast, with everything from fancy soda in glass bottles to authentic Bratwurst to a great variety of frozen delights. Everyone was stuffed to the brim as we watched the classic Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. What a movie...

The evening closed with sparklers, some distant fireworks, and a greater appreciation for friends, family, and the freedom which is ours.

Refilling the pool after it had been emptied a bit

Lord of the Sand Box

Master of the Water

Enjoying the victual

Brain freeze

Reading books

It Must Be Summer

In celebration of Little Ann and Melissa's eighth birthdays and out of respect for our Fourth of July guests (Dad couldn't take the stench anymore), we held our annual dog washing. Abe was kind enough to do the dirty work this year.

Melissa rolled in a dirt pile shortly afterwards and Little Ann got into the sandbox...

Philadelphia Debut

From the land of trees and brotherly love, we are pleased to present...

Claire Muldowney

in her Philadelphia debut

Great-Grandma and the Star

Aunt Abby and Claire

Sleeping Beauty

Boompa's Favorite Way to Nap

Being Cool with Booma

Happy Mother's Day!

Preparations started days before with Shana carefully planning the meal, creating lovely decorations, and delegating cooking assignments.

Then the day of the crew began putting everything together as Mommy sat upstairs working on her blanket project (which is turning out quite nicely).

The head chef was at work in the kitchen putting together ham pie, raspberry lemonade, lemon piccata chicken, and rice while her "helper" put together very strange sorbet cookies.

The rest of the meal (delicate cucumber sandwiches, romaine hearts with goat cheese dressing, and divine lemon pies) came with the arrival of the rest of the family. Everything was carefully arranged before Mother came downstairs.

Everyone enjoyed the meal and sharing memories about Mom and Mom mom, as well as the wonderful woman in the family who take care of their children and family members so well. We're so grateful for all of the woman in our lives who have contributed to our growth and happiness. Happy Mother's Day to you all!

The Mother of us all

The other Mother of us all

Beautiful mother and son

Everybody ready to partake of the victuals

Cuteness

The master mind of the occasion