Presents

Oh Joy! Legos galore! Tony sat and helped Blaise build his sets. It only took two hours but the bonding will last forever! It is nice for a little boy and his dad to share that moment!

Birthday Cards

Blaise received two special birthday cards. One from his Grandma and Grandpa Connell and one from his Nana and Papa Koppela! Thank you for the generous gifts! The Lego Company thanks you as well!

Drip drip drip drip drip drip

Tony and I ventured out to treat the kids to hot fudge sundaes. It is our Saturday thing. We do treats once a week after dinner. As we loaded up the van I noticed what looked like a burnt sienna color of liquid sitting on our garage floor. I was perplexed and after some investigating and a call to my mechanic we sadly discovered old Bessy has a leak. I never wanted a van I always thought they were hideous and huge. Four kids later I don't know what my options would be besides Old Bessy. She isn't really that old but that is what the kids and I call her. We were advised not to drive her at all until she could be looked at so tomorrow morning we will take turns in the hamster mobile going to mass. We had planned on surprising Blaise and doing something special for his upcoming birthday on Wednesday, since Tony will have to work late. So in a scramble we quickly pulled together and got a cake, ice cream and his favorite foods. While he is snoozing Julia helped me blowup balloons and decorate the house. So in between shifts of going to mass we will also celebrate with him. I think he will enjoy the fact that we will just hang out and dote upon him. The Lego store isn't going anywhere and as soon as Old Bessy stops leaking we will go there. I am ashamed of myself when I think of how embarrassed I used to be over driving a minivan. As if I was too good or something, I love that thing and you don't know what you have until you "lose it".

Rations and Glue

Julia has a weekend project. She has been put on a ration system as a reenactment of Civil War times. No I am not making her sleep in a bunker and choose north or south...but I set her up with some supplies and asked her to make glue. With a little assistance she discovered flour and water could work and the artist in her began making paper mâché objects. In the process we discussed rations and other uses of flour and water during Civil War days.

Food for Thought

Tony subscribes to a daily Catholic post that sends him daily inspirational thoughts. Last night while working out at the gym he sent me one. It was just what the kids and I needed this morning over breakfast.
Develop the ability to give people: a healing look, a healing word, a healing touch. -mustard seeds (daily catholic institute)
In a society where the kids are bombarded with a "me me message" what a great thought to start the day. Thank you Tony for once again grounding your family.

What does oil and yarn have in common?

You been missing me? I have been busy today! We got up and drove to my folk's house...my mechanic (papa) said it was time for an oil change. He does my vehicle stuff for me and I am appreciative. While there we killed two birds with one stone...I made good on another resolution and my mom gave me my first knit lesson. She set me up with my first pattern and ball of yarn too! Do I expect to be as talented as her?!? No, but if this scarf gets done before Spring I will be pleased. Her speedy fingers made it look so easy. While visiting the kids got to open up some belated gifts from great grandma. My highlight of the day....seeing Benedict babble away on Nana's lap. He almost said Nana!

Happy Birthday Month

Besides Blaise's birthday this month it dawned on me there were several people in my family that also celebrated or will celebrate soon! One special lady is my grandma Koppela who is 89 today! As we speak she is soaking up some Florida sun enjoying her day! So Happy Birthday Grandma, Aunt Stephanie (belated) and Aunt Sharon! We love you all and hope your day is blessed!

Civil War

Julia has been studying the Civil War in history. I am not a huge history buff like her dad so I have to make it fun for the both of us otherwise we would fall asleep amidst the text. On top of her textbook reading we started a fun study of one family living in the north and one family living in the south. She reads a diary entry and then gets to do an activity. Here is the irony of today's lesson and how "far" our society in regards to women has come. The story she read today was about an affluent young girl Emily Parkhurst from the south. This girl went to school and painted pictures of flowers. Back then if your family wanted to let people know how intelligent you were they would hang your paintings on a wall and people would know you were educated. I am laughing at this notion as I look around my kitchen and fridge! I must have the smartest girls on the block!

Progress Chart

I love a good reward system! Especially if it encourages one of my kids to do something they may struggle with. Sixth grade math has really challenged Julia. In our curriculum they offered a reward chart for encouragement. It was actually meant for smaller children but we modified it according to age. It is best to begin small and increase the prize. Every day that Julia completes her math in an hour she gets to color one square. When she takes a test and scores 90% or better she gets three squares and every once in awhile I let her do two squares for good attitude. So far she passed the farm ( animal crackers), the train station (stickers), library (new book), school house (pencil set), bank (dollar or lollipop ), grandma's house (bake cookies), fish pond (new goldfish), store (trip to dollar store), zoo (stuffed animal) and FINALLY home which is a tea party with friends! Whew! They have all taken to it but Emerson finished hers first and made up a new one for herself for the rest of the year. Second grade math seems easy for her so next year we will make her chart for book reports as she detests those! Loves to read but doesn't see point in writing about it. I was thinking today wouldn't it be nice for moms to have one! Imagine our prizes: quiet bath, full night of sleep, clean house, warm cup of coffee waiting for us in morning...ahh one can dream can't she?

Car Wash

Blaise's Aunt Jenny is a preschool teacher. When we visited she showed him some things she had done with her students. His eyes lit up when he saw the soapy water table. I sometimes need reminding that little boys don't always want to sit and practice penmanship and reading. I was really proud of myself when I let him spread the play dough out yesterday all over the floor. This morning I decided it was time to break out the soap and water. He played in it all morning. He washed his cars and counted how many cups it took to fill up a pitcher. It kept him entertained while his sisters worked on their school work. It was unusually quiet at one point and I expected to walk into a flood on floor. To my surprise he had put on my gloves and was wiping down the sink! Hey this is not a bad idea after all! Kudos to Aunt Jenny! Now the shaving cream idea?!? Don't know if I can handle that one!

The Frying Pan

I went into Julia's room this morning to find little bits of scrap paper all over her floor. My immediate response was to toss them in the trash, but I know better. Julia and Emerson are like Tony. Every little thing means something to them. I recall the first year Tony and I were married I was organizing the kitchen. I came across this small old frying pan. At that time news reports were talking about the Teflon and metals coming off in your cooking. Having no idea where the young bachelor had obtained the pan I threw it in a dumpster behind our complex. I mentioned it to my newlywed sweetie what a great job I had done! He looked at me with shock and ran out to the dumpster, dived in and retrieved the fry pan. I stood there in shock. Who had I married? What was wrong with him? He better take a shower before he gets near me. He came walking back in clutching the pan to his breast and looked me in the eyes and said the following "that hurt me! My mother gave me this pan"
I couldn't believe it. Now I am sure it was not a family heirloom, and it had no value. Here is the lesson I learned. I tell this to the kids too...Tony came from a large family and things meant something. Even if it came from a yard sale the idea that his mom had given it to him was the point. I felt horrible. Now as the years have passed I still throw stuff out, Tony still hoards it... I won't touch his car that is his hiding place for his stuff. I do a monthly sweep in the house though and the girls know that if it isn't put away it will be thrown out. It is about compromise. I have come a long way and I know Tony has too. Just the other day he finally threw out the socks with holes in them! Good job honey! Now about that fry pan, I did end up throwing it out, but not until I made sure it wasn't a family heirloom!

Allowance

It is quite improper to discuss money and what you may or may not have. This is what we tell the kids. But, when it comes to hard work and allowance the house is a buzz of busy bees. Tony is the money man. He calculates, configures, and estimates what each penny should be for. He created an incentive program for the kids so each child is motivated to get their chores done. I want the kids to remember that they are hard workers and can accomplish their goals. They get so excited when paid, and oddly enough they are turning into little savers. Emerson is saving up for a dog, Julia wants a new hamster cage, and Blaise has his eye on a firetruck Lego set. Could we go out and buy these things for them, absolutely. Do we want to? I want to see them succeed and feel a sense of pride at doing it by themselves. They are all great helpers and rarely exude laziness. I think their strong work ethic is definitely hereditary. For now a dollar a day is sufficient as long as the chores are done!

Day Off

At my appointment today the nurses asked me what my plans were for the rest of the day. They know our family well and were teasing me that I should tell Tony the doctor was backed up and I should go shopping, get a manicure and a massage! Ha! As it turned out we had a super nice day painting, studying maps, cooking and playing. The way I look at it a manicure is a waste of money for me....I am a nailbiter. Now the massage...there's a thought. Gee when is the next banking holiday?

Sledding

The girls are still talking about their visit with Laura and Jeffrey. "when can we go again?" "when can they come here?" One highlight I failed to mention was sledding. I received all the details on our two hour drive home. It seems the cousins have a massive sledding hill near their grandparents house. The girls chattered away about walking across a road up a huge hill and sliding down all of them in a toboggan. It seems it was more fun going down together piled on one sled as opposed to all of them going separately. I am thinking of a small hill one that we have near our own house...imagine my shock and awe when they tell me it compares to twice the size of that hill. It is times like this I am envious of the kids. Imagine their freedom they experienced frolicking in the snow and chatting away with each other. No cares in the world. Uncle Jeff, the cool uncle, was sweet enough to trudge outside and take a photo for me so I could fondly remember this day. He also is a fellow blogger and writes published articles for the Cadillac newspaper. Julia, a potential author, found that amazing and dubbed him her new mentor.

Freedom

Today is a banking holiday honoring Martin Luther King jr. Last year I made Julia read his entire speech regarding freedom and we discussed equality. This year I am including Emerson in on the subject so I decided to make it a bit easier. Unfortunately, since we don't have a babysitter YET... I have to schedule doctor and dental appointments on banking holidays. Tony is manning the home front while I get to go to my annual exam. Yippee! Tony will drive me and take kids out for a donut while I see the doc. This is our normal routine when mommy has an appt. And a nursing baby. Benedict has been having tummy troubles the last two days so I am sparing Tony the diaper changes. In honor of Dr. King we will certainly make a special dessert and I think Tony can find a documentary on Netflix about equality and freedom. I am very appreciative that Tony does this for me...his days off are few and far between and I am sure the last thing he wishes to do is drive to the gynecologist but God love him he does it for me because he loves me!