Baby Well

20lbs! Eating well!
Above average for milestones!

Lucky Seven

Benedict is 7 months old today... The past month has been a plethora of new foods and tastes. He loves green beans, peas, avocado and just yesterday we tried carrots. He eagerly eats anything but unfortunately the barley and oatmeal upset his tummy so we are waiting and reintroducing that later on. He is a crawling machine and speeds all over the house now. He does this peek a boo game where he hides his head and if you shout " peek a boo" he giggles and looks right up at you. It has been fun watching his personality blossom. He tends to be more serious than my others but I think he is just in awe at all the activity going on around him. He is copying some hand gestures so I have been doing baby signs with him the last two months and I noticed he makes the cup sound when I show him his cup. I have always done sign language with all my kiddies and I noticed it really helps the communication process as toddlers. He still loves looking at his button face in a mirror and his favorite thing is utube videos of his cousin Stevie. He laughs and laughs wondering how that baby got inside the phone?!?!
Today he goes for a well baby check up and I am sure he has grown as he is getting heavy! My little lucky 7! How I love him!

Marzipan Decorations

In the South well to do ladies had tea parties and the hired help (slaves) made marzipan for tea. I don't see why the ladies could not make their own marzipan as it was fun to do. They probably did not want to get their hands dirty but they sure got their conscience dirty as slavery was wrong. Julia, age 10
My favorite part of the process was making a hamster out of the marzipan. I also liked painting them with food coloring.

Mustard Seeds

I love my daily dose of mustard seeds that Tony sends to me! Especially on a Monday morning: school, laundry, post office, grocery, more school , ballet and put away laundry...ugh but then I reflect on this:
Remember when things get tough just take one day at a time, praying and working. When things get really tough just take it one hour at a time, being friendly to those around you and doing what you have to do. And when things get really, really tough, just take life moment by moment. Do the best you can and leave the rest to our Lord. We have to give Him our "five loaves and two fishes." Then He will work the miracle and feed the "five thousand." Grace builds on nature and so we have to do our bit. -mustard seeds

More photos with grandma

Blaise loved scaring gram with his huge fake tarantula he bought with his birthday money! Eek! He scared some old people with it too! Girls loved showing gram the stuffed bunny and legos they got today! I think gram liked toys more than kids!

Grandma

We were ten minutes away from grandma so we could not pass up a visit!

Mall

Pictures say it all

iPhone 4s

Ok so let me remind you leading up to February 14 our family is discussing the little things we do or have that we love, appreciate, treasure ect...As I have stated in past in no way shape or form should a material item surpass our love and devotion for God, but it can be a tool to bring us closer. Tony and I love our little phones. We download apps to read the missal, I can always snap a quick picture of kids, and we have been able to connect with old friends and relatives via Facebook. Technology can be a good thing if used within reason. Today Tony gets an upgraded version of his phone. He is like a kid in anticipation of that coveted toy at Christmas! I am thrilled for him as he loves learning all the new ins and outs of any new gadget! So we load up the family today and make the drive to 12 Oaks. Normally the kids dread going for the long drive to apple store but as luck would have it Aunt Stephanie and Uncle Steve generously sent birthday money for all so they are on a mission as well! Thank you thank you thank you to them the kids were so excited and appreciative. So we are off! Pics and updates to follow thru out day!

First Confession

This morning at 11 am Emerson will make her first confession at St. Augustine church. I have been preparing her for it for awhile now by sharing with her my own first confession experience. It has been really special for me sharing these firsts with my children thru their eyes as I did not come into the faith until I was an adult. I am what they call a convert. Not to toot my own horn but many of my mommy homeschool friends are converts and we seem to take these moments in our kids lives VERY seriously for we missed out on them as children. Emerson has memorized her act of contrition and written down her sins on nine pieces of paper. I laughed heartily when we went thru them as I explained to her not liking my cooking or not enjoying reading a certain book was not a sin! Her innocence and passion for a just heart refueled my own conscience and so as a family we will all go to confession today and not fearfully participate but joyfully celebrate that God is loving and kind and VERY forgiving! I love the feeling of a clear conscience....

St Blaise Feast Day

Well the family just got back from celebrating Blaise's feast day. We went to a children's mass and holy hour in honor of St. Blaise. Blaise and Tony said the rosary together and we all got our throats blessed even baby Benedict. It was a great time and I loved kicking off the weekend this way! If one ever feels far away from God you need only to sit by a child and listen to them pray. If you can't sense God in that then I am not sure where you will sense Him.... Father spoke tonight about the President and his "decisions" regarding health care and a woman's choice... I won't get going on that one...you need only to look at my bumper sticker on old Bessy to see how I feel! All in all we celebrated Blaise's feast day just how he wanted although he gets his special cake tomorrow!

Construction Paper

We love construction paper. You can make cards, pictures, and signs for your friends or family! During the 1860's paper was mass produced so artists and amateurs began experimenting with paper art. Immigrants from Poland brought a special technique for beautiful cut designs. I am part polish so I wanted to try it out myself. Julia, 10

Music to my Ears

A few months back Blaise began waking up two or three times a night! While the baby slept like a log the 3 year old was keeping me up! I was exhausted! Julia got a brand new cd player for Christmas and gladly offered hers to Blaise. So as any mom of four would do I wrapped it up and surprise! Blaise received his first electronic gift in time for New Years! This has been the best regifting item ever! I love love love the fact that we are now getting a sound sleep. Blaise turns his cd on at night and when he happens to wake up he puts another cd in and listens to it until he falls asleep again. Now it has led to him memorizing Geronimo Stilton, Magic Tree House and Nate the Great....so when you hear him shout "cheese niblets!" it is music to my ears!

Math Club

I love math club. It is fun and I get to be around my friends. Today we learned about measuring and converting a recipe. We made an Alfredo sauce and sugar cookies. My whole family enjoyed it a lot. Mom liked it because all she had to do was boil noodles. Math club + friends= fun!

Random Surprise

I love waking up in the morning and finding my coffee sitting on the countertop, cream added waiting for me. Sometimes I make the coffee for Tony... With our keurig the kids can even easily make the coffee for us! Simply put, the random act of kindness is a ripple effect...Tony makes me my coffee, I eagerly help him get out the door on time....Emerson sets the table for breakfast without being asked...Julia offers to clean up.....all because of a cup of Joe!