Big Veggies

We are no slackers when it comes to growing veggies in this family.

We are no slackers when it comes to growing weeds either.

Thankfully, we also grow big helpers.

William's turnips!

Joe's turnips.

Andrew's pumpkin.

Fifteen Kids and Counting

For four crazy-loud and fully entertaining days this summer, we had FIFTEEN children and FOUR adults living in this house.

Yes, my brother Tom and his wife Anne Marie arrived from Idaho with their eight kiddos and immersed us in life in their world—which is clearly almost as crazy as life in our world. We had nineteen of us living in this four-bedroom house. Add heat indexes above 100 degrees each day, and it was a cooker here in more ways than one.

Never have we laughed so hard or had quite so much fun.

Oh, how I wish these cousins were growing up next door to one another.

Here's hoping that the Lathams come back very soon.

Cousins!
Eight Lathams + seven Leones.

My sister-in-law, Anne Marie, with her beautiful daughter and her adoring niece, Marguerite.

Therese and Marguerite were ga-ga with all the baby-holding opportunities.
(Girls: Lucia was that age less than a year ago! Okay, so Lucia was at that size for only about a day!)

Sisterly Love

There is napping. (Yes, we do have beds in this house.)

And there is playing. Lucia is catching up with Marguerite (seated) size-wise!

Religious Freedom Rally

Joe was invited to join the distinguished ranks of Sen. Glenn Grothman, Rep. Evan Wynn, Julaine Appling, and Matt Sande to speak at our most recent Stand Up for Religious Freedom rally at the Federal Courthouse in Madison. Always a defender of the good, the beautiful, and the true, Joe gave a rousing speech—successfully out-shouting the very vocal protestors with unarguable, unassailable facts.

I was very proud of Joe. Those who know Joe know that he is nothing short of opinionated. But he is also logical and well-reasoned and has a great way of engaging the audience with well-constructed arguments. In this case, he was not arguing a claim for a patent application.  Rather, he was arguing that people of faith in the Unites States of America should be free to practice their faith, and no government should require its people (employers, in this case) to purchase goods or services (insurance, in this case) which contravene the tenets of our faith.

Joe Leone, you rocked the house and did an amazing job. I love you for telling it like it is.

Our friend, Syte Reitz, wrote an insightful post, featuring rally-goers, Joe and Lucia Leone.

Rep. Evan Wynn (for whom I am now working, incidentally) introducing none other than Joe Leone.

Joe Leone, doing what he does best—talking.  ;)
What an amazing defender of religious freedom I have in my husband.

Just after Joe finished speaking, he grabbed Lucia and posed for this photo.
And just as this photo was being snapped, protesters turned their signs to ensure Joe and Lucia had a nice little backdrop. Lovely, eh?