Dishes

I have this pet peeve that when I wake up in morning my sink should be clean and without dirty dishes. Every night before I goto bed I do a wipe down of entire kitchen and then rest easy. Normally it stays clean...,but lately a ghost has been consuming peanut butter sandwiches and orange juice at night and every morning I am greeted with a dirty knife, plate, cup and sometimes bowl. Time is of the essence in the morning.... I don't like spending it cleaning up from night before! It makes me grumpy I admit. This morning was no different... And I found myself letting it rule my attitude. Then the "ghost" whom shall remain nameless sent me a text which reads as follows:
When two people love each other it is a wonderful thing, but when two people love God and each other this is the kind of relationship from which the future of the Church will spring. When you both burn with a love of God the fire will consume the impurities of your human love. The more you love God the more you will be able to love each other-mustard seeds
I know if I did not have God in my life the little thing like a sink full of dirty dishes could fester into a much bigger thing!

Boys Life

At Benedict's last doctor appointment Blaise and I made an amazing discovery. They have a magazine for boys! Not your typical highlights but a bona fide dirt, snakes and mountain climbing type of magazine. He made me read it to him cover to cover. I am embarrassed to admit this but he liked it so much there was talk of smuggling it out in his jacket! I assured him we would look at the library or research it online and possibly locate another issue. Well yesterday at the library my faithful librarian helper showed me years of back issues you can check out. Blaise was in boy heaven. Tony has told me he also had a subscription thru the boy scouts? I chuckled at idea at Tony being a boy scout...I suppose all little boys like adventure and dirt and things like that!

The Orange Hat

About two weeks ago Blaise had commented that he liked Papa's hat. Orange is Blaise's favorite color. Papa kindly gave it to Blaise and it became his favorite wardrobe piece. He wears it around the house, when he eats, brushes his teeth, plays with toys, and goes in van. The only time the hat "disappeared" was on Sunday mass, but we miraculously found it the next day. I explained to Blaise that gentlemen like his dad and papa never wear hats in church. He was not too keen on it but agreed. He loves his hat and it is cute and I hope a phase until warmer weather.... He has shared it with Benedict and told me when he outgrows it then his brother can wear it all around! Oh boy!

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....