The King of the Golden City

For past few weeks Julia has been working on an allegory for Reading. It is a book about a child and a king. There is quite a lot if symbolism and thematic content thru out the story pertaining to her Catholic faith. She was pleasantly surprised today when she discovered that she was to construct the "King's house " today which happens to be a church. I will let you literary buffs do the work on figuring out the symbolism of who the child, king, house, and golden city may be. She enjoyed constructing the project out of whatever she could find in our craft cupboard.

Lily Beatrice

Not to be out of the family blog Emerson wanted me to mention her pet rabbit Lily. This has been a true work in patience for her. She obtained lily in April 2011 and she was only 4-6 weeks old. We were told she was a female (not) and discovered she was born on Nana's birthday. Thus, she was dubbed lily since Easter had just passed and Beatrice after Nana. Lily Beatrice ahh the turmoil Emerson has endured to develop and bond with this rabbit. She was persnickety, aggressive, and a bit snobbish in rabbit world. Every morning I have watched Emerson diligently clean that cage and sit in the laundry room for at least 30 minutes. She talks to the rabbit, reads books to her, always hoping and praying this "wild thing" would befriend her. Well right after Fall we had a break thru. Emerson proudly exclaimed Lily let her hold her. Then I noticed the rabbit sitting in her lap and as we blog she is playing with Blaise and Emerson. I imagine she is one of those slow to warm up folks. But, when they do warm up you have a friend for life. Emerson feels it may have something to do with fact that lily is really a Lyle and a bit perturbed at us for not noticing all these months. But we just can not change his name as we love Lily Beatrice. So we continue to be patient!

Dinner Guests

I thought I was done blogging for the night...considering I am exhausted and ready for bed but my kiddies begged me to post this one as they all find it fascinating. We live in a small town yes, but I still consider it the burbs. My dad goes north for hunting and seeing wildlife like most people. I just have to look out my back window to enjoy nature! Now look close as this camera on this phone is not greatest but we counted at least seven!

Mom lost her voice

Ok so my voice is hoarse, my ears are plugged I can't even perform the smallest task without feeling sinus pressure. I get this thing every year and I know it is going to be over with sooner as opposed to later but it doesn't make for an easy school day. Since I can't talk a lot to the kids I am choosing my words carefully. If I don't see it then it isn't happening. This has led to the following observations: someone made themselves a peanut butter sandwich with my cheese spreader, pop is only consumed on a birthday and it MUST be someone's birthday today in the world, the rabbits made a burrow out of all my white cleaning rags?, somehow the train table made it all the way to other side of room, cereal counts as lunch right...
My all time favorite observation was "Blaise told me it was ok to do the computer when I asked him"
Since when does a three year old make the rules! I better get over this sinus thing before Blaise decides to teach drivers Ed to Benedict!

Organized Mess

Homeschooling the kids after a break has been a blessing. Their little minds are refreshed and willing to comply. Julia even finished her math in record time. What I have noticed is the difference in learning in boys versus girls. My girls are methodical and organized and neat. I have always felt that meant they would have a successful day. Blaise has opened my eyes to a new way of learning. Boys do not like sitting still. They generally don't care to use an eraser unless it can be projected at their sister, and don't get me started on what occurs when left alone with glue, tape, and or scissors! This new hands on approach to learning has forced me out of my comfort zone! It has taught me to change my expectations not change who he is. Everyone who truly knows me knows what a neat freak I am. I have had a love affair with Dyson for years now. I just have to let it go and if Blaise is learning how to add cheerios by dumping the whole box out on the floor and counting up...well it is what it is. When the little stinker goes to Harvard some day I hope he takes really good care of me!

Coincidence or Not?

Dear Julia,
I came across something last night while cleaning out my night stand. After further investigating I realized the awesome gift I had given myself and you in the future. In April of 1997 right before I married your daddy, I was in a bookstore and fell in love with a memory book written from a mother to her daughter. Recalling my own mother had given me a poetry book one year for Christmas I decided to buy this book. Mind you the thought if children was merely a wish or hope let alone a little girl. I bought it anyway and began filling out what I could. Imagine my joy and surprise in 2001 when I discovered my firstborn would be a girl. I recall digging thru boxes and finding said book and thru the years have been filling it out for you and writing my memories of you in it. When you turn 18 you will receive it. Here is the awesome work of God: I had thought I had lost the poetry book given to me back in 1990 by Nana. When I looked in my nightstand last night there it was sitting under your book. I don't keep much in my nightstand and I am generally a tidy person. I looked thru it and read a few poems and decided it would be a perfect book to write in and add stuff for your sister. So now I wonder...how did that book get in there? Coincidence or not? We know the answer to that don't we!

Sparty Fan

One of the first things Tony told me about himself is that he LOVES MSU!
I never paid much attention to football myself but with three guys in the house now I guess I have no choice. I decided to document how a fan watches the game! My hubby has these weird rituals. Snacks 30 minutes before game, push the couch as close as you can to tv, yell and scream, pace, run up and down stairs to check Internet when they are losing as it is too painful to watch on tv, and when they do win scream and jump around like your pants are on fire! Oh well! I can enjoy my night now that they won!

Blood test and Socks

As a part of the new year one of Tony's responsibilities to our family is updating his life insurance policy. I get upset when he talks about the "what ifs" but I know being responsible for four children is something he takes seriously. He always has told me he wants his children to be securely cared for. So at 8 am after an all night fast a lady came to the house took his weight, his blood pressure and some blood work. We all know Tony faints at sight of needles and blood so it was really impressive to me that he did this. As a reward to himself the guy finally went out and replaced his socks. He even found matching ones for his buddy. I plan on living a long blessed life with Tony. This year will be our 15 year mark of marriage. In this day and age where statistically speaking 50% end in divorce I feel pretty lucky. But I am thankful that Tony thinks of the future and the "what ifs" too!

Monday Blues

There is a hum in the house this morning as everyone realizes that I have put our liturgical calendar back on the dining room table along with the lesson plans and books. It is time to get back in to school. I noticed we are on week 19 which according to my records means we are a little over halfway done! They don't see it that way but I can almost taste springtime around the corner! Ha ha! Tony is home due to banking holiday and has some honey do stuff to take care of and I am completely under the weather now. No bother as my kids remind me I can stay in my pjs and still get some learning done.

Reading

One of my absolute favorite things to do when I was little was to read. I started at an early age and would devour any book my mom would give me. It was a wonderful escape for me and unfortunately as I have gotten older and busier my days of reading for pleasure have gone by wayside. In an effort to get the house organized for 2012 I came across an old book of Tony's and realized it was perfect for me. I also just received a book in mail from my MIL that was passed out in her church and it is written by a convert that I followed back when I converted to Catholicism. Tony and I are going to read it together chapter by chapter as our devotional time in the evening. Even though I feel lousy today I am excited to get a jumpstart on reading.

Positive Thoughts

Good Morning 2012!
The slumber party lasted well past midnight but everyone had a good time! Since one of my new resolutions is to focus on positive and avoid all negative I am going to delicately explain my night. This is first year I stayed up way into early morning. Seems a little head cold sprang upon me and I couldn't sleep. When I finally woke up I noticed Tony must have wanted me to try out my new pretty dish gloves as the girls had left egg nog filled cups all over the house and party food on countertops. I hope all that moving around helped my snuffy nose as it sent me into a coughing fit which woke up the sleeping beauties. No bother as we have a 10:30 mass to make! Maybe focusing on the positive will be easier in 2012, but just in case I have a back up plan! How can you not look at this face and not smile?!?

Party updates

Silly string, fashion show, confetti cake!

Bag game

We started the hour by hour bag game where every hour they search for a hidden bag: the first one contained a craft and second one beads for freeze dance competition. The next few bags will be bubble ball drop game, silly string party and a fashion show around the house! House is rocking!

Non alcoholic floats

The pajama gang is getting fueled up on ice cream and egg nog before they make their time capsule resolutions.