Frankly My Dear

When I was younger I loved the classics. Classic books and movies. I remember my aunt inviting my mother and I over one evening to watch Gone With the Wind. We ate popcorn and enjoyed the show. My cousin and I were five years or so apart but I idolized her and I recall feeling so grown up sitting there watching it with her. I dreamed of the time when I could snuggle up with my own daughter and watch the classics. Julia's study of the Civil War created the perfect excuse to do this. We popped our corn put the younger ones to bed and settled down to a blast from the past. Several hours later I realized Julia was looking at the ceiling?!? What is wrong I asked? Is it scary? Are you confused? No she replied just wondering what Rhett and Scarlett have to do with the Civil War?!?
Am I discouraged that she doesn't embrace the classics like I do? No not really because her passion lies in NatGeo and Animal Planet and I can respect that. It is funny how as a child I had these dreams and visions of how it would be when I had my own daughter and I am really learning that "frankly dear it doesn't turn out as we plan"!

Good Reasons

This morning we received not so good news about the van. I am a pessimist the glass is broken and can not be fixed. This year I resolved to be positive no matter what. Tony called this morning and said we are looking at a steep cost for fixing the drip coming out of van. Something about a rack and a pin? Who knows, my attitude went south immediately and I groaned. Not five minutes later Emerson came to read her lesson out loud to me..it is devotional stories and this is what she read...."nothing happens to us that God does not know about 'from all eternity'. Whatever He causes or allows, He uses for our good. Evil things still happen, but you know that He turns what is meant for evil into something good, something that will bring us closer to Him, and makes us fit for Heaven."
I am sitting here reflecting how quickly God has gently reprimanded my poor attitude and lifted my slumping heart. As I feel revived I received a verse from my hubby who obviously is in sticker shock himself:
So many people in the world do not know Jesus. Of those that do know Him, many know His name, few know His ways. -mustard seeds
I think Tony and I have the message, thank you God!

Mission Accomplished

I had this flaw when I was little. If I couldn't do something perfectly I wouldn't attempt it. It kept me from experiencing a lot of neat things growing up. I didn't want the girls to make same mistake so whenever we start something we always finish it. I don't think my family took me seriously when I said I wanted to learn to knit. There was a time issue, a supply issue, and to be frank...I was clueless how to knit. When my mom gave me my first lesson in Friday I had no idea how she would motivate me to finish the project. The girls have watched in awe as my ball of yarn becomes a scarf. They have encouraged me and inspite of the uneven rows of knitting and imperfect result I am so proud of myself that I finished it. Julia asked if she could keep my first project and Emerson has asked when can we go and buy some pink yarn to make her one. I am chuckling inside as I wonder why they seem so excited?!? But then I recall how special I felt when my mom gave me one of her first knitted items. It felt nice to wear something "made with love"

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!