Timberrrr!

You want to know a way to make a 4 year old stand still? Have him go outside and watch tree cutters! At approx. 8 this morning we heard chainsaws. Blaise rushed to window only to discover that Old Hickory was coming down! Several large dead trees were here when we all built our homes and each year one or more are taken down, either manually or by the wind!
This particular one the kids loved as it was especially spooky looking on Halloween! The tree cutters informed me they were donating all the wood to an older woman that carves the hickory into furniture?!? Interesting I thought!

Nature Versus Nurture

Last night at Emerson's ballet class Julia brought her sketch pad and began drawing some of the girls dancing. Another mom began raving about her "talent" and how great she was. Julia is a humble kid and smiled and kept drawing. The mom began inquiring on my own drawing ability to which I laughed hysterically and showed her my stick figure rendition of drawing. I began pondering the old question is it Nature or Nurture...environment or genes...although I firmly believe all things come from God, He does allow certain things to happen. Every morning when I wake up I see this little cat picture painted by Julia when she was 3. I know her desire to be artistic began at an early age, but was it nature or nurture? I also know Tony has a lot of creative folk on his side and my mom is awfully crafty herself so I do believe part of it is genetic. Recently, Julia began designing prayer cards for people. I found that to be a prime example of using your talents for the greater good. When I look at a beautiful photo or painting I always think how blessed that individual is to have been given that particular gift. I find it sad when people tell me they aren't good at anything. We all have special gifts, a little self exploration will bring them out.

Bird Watching

Been watching the "birds" too busy to blog today! Happy Wednesday! Love me

Baby Talk

Our Pediatrician gives out free magazines to just about every parenting magazine available and today I was surprised with an article about music, books and dirt! I knew the importance of music and reading which we do every day! But here's the kicker: a little dirt won't hurt! They actually recommend a little less germ x and a little more play time in dirt! Benedict recently had his first exposure to sand and what you didn't see was me washing his feet and hands after, then
rubbing his hands and feet with sanitizer, putting on new socks and shoes and throwing all his clothes in wash when we got home! Lol! I do this with all my kids! Maybe I will try and relax a little bit but I'm still toting my pocket-bac with me!

Bubble Wrap

Ok so this is something that the kids did last week but I have been preoccupied with other important things to gab about so it is delayed! The kids definitely want to remember this in our blog so here goes: you may recall how I mentioned Tony is always bringing stuff home from work! Random things, well last week he brought home approx. 15 feet of the large packing bubblewrap!
I decided to tear it into large strips and let the kids go at it! They jumped, they rolled, they used scooters, bikes, and roller skates on it. I have never seen so much fun with something as ordinary as bubble wrap. Of course it brought out a few curious neighbors wondering? Gunshots? Fireworks? Oh just them homeschooling Taratuta kids! Lol
We received many smiles though and one guy wanted to join in! The only downside was the wind picked up occasionally and blew the bubble wrap down the street whereby three kids went screaming " save it save the bubble wrap!"
My neighbors must love us!

Weekend Highlights

I'm sitting here eating leftovers thinking about what a great weekend it truly was! My parents came over this afternoon and although I forgot to take pics! I can verbalize that we ALL had a blast! My mom brought some yummy taco dip and pin wheel sandwiches and spinach dip and Tony fired up the George Foreman and cooked bacon, sausage and of course all the sweets too! Lemon cupcakes made by my mom and our orange supreme cake with a cross shape on top! My favorite moment was when I was sitting down at dining table and my girls were there and my mom. The boys were watching some sports show and us gals were gabbing about the past! Isn't that what girls do? We gab and talk over things while we eat and clean up and relax. It was truly a nice day and one that I will recall with my girls! "remember the Easter when Nana and Papa came over..."
Enjoy some highlights I may have missed mentioning....

Happy Easter

Tony and I are on way to 8 am mass with the family! We are heading home to Belgian waffles, cinnamon rolls, cheeses and wine ( Tony) and some fruit salad. May you all have a blessed Easter today and rejoice that He is risen!

Meijer Garden

It was a gorgeous day! The butterflies hatched, some last week, but there were still a lot of chrysalis hatching today! Trees and flowers and sculptures by Butterfield of horses out of scrap metal and drift wood! This place would be a photographer's dream! Two separate wedding parties showed up to have photos done on site and the girls and I watched in awe! Benedict had his first feel of sand and the touch of palm leaves!

Egg Hunt

500 eggs...two nights of stuffing with candy, money and stickers.
Hide them all around the yard, invite the neighbors over... Fun fun fun!
Wait, who left two new bikes in the woods?!? Could it be the Easter Daddy? Wow, legos in the woods? No way! Such excitement! Now we are off to Meijer Gardens for the butterfly hatching.

Clone

Ok, I say this every month but here we are again! Nine months old today! I can't wrap my head around how quick you grew and how LONG it seemed we had to wait for you to arrive? I am officially calling you my clone baby. You are exactly alike my Julia. Your vocabulary and comprehension is amazing and every day a new " trick" or word comes out! Your siblings are instrumental in teaching you as well. Your favorite thing seems to be attempting to walk or climb! You love going outside now and watch the bikes and kids go by! Your favorite board book is any of the repetitive ones like "five little monkeys" and "five little ducks"!
You are smiley and jovial but have expressed concern when newcomers come by. Here's what you don't like: bananas, diaper changing, and being left alone in your play yard! We discovered you do know how to cry and have been saving it up for nine months! Everyone thinks you look a lot like Emerson did at this age, maybe a bit more chubbier!
Happy Nine Months Old today! Love, Mommy

Good Friday

"mommy, why do we call it Good Friday if all those bad things happened to Jesus and he died?"

Because Blaise, Easter is the victory over sin, death and evil!

Today the kids and I will do some last minute stuff before the weekend like dye the eggs, ( an egg symbolizes new life) and we are shopping for our Easter meal on Sunday as well as we are going to do the stations of the cross and honor the Passion of Our Lord.
Tonight Julia will watch the Passion with Tony and I. She is fully aware and ready for what she will see. I will try to post pictures today but I hope and pray that this afternoon the focus of all of us can be on the Victory we are about to celebrate.

Baby on Board

Tony and I recently read a newspaper article that soccer moms were the demise of rising sales in mini vans. I guess we made it "uncool" to others to desire such a vehicle?!? To me it seemed a nonsense article, for is not that the purpose of such a vehicle? Where else would I transport said children? Shall I strap a few to roof of Tony's PT cruiser? Or better yet leave some home? I know I say this in jest and woe to anyone that criticizes a mom in her minivan...we recently gave our Old Bessy a make over and donned her with our pro life stickers and family tags. I had to laugh at a comment made by a stranger when we all piled out " it's like a clown car at circus... They just keep coming out!"
Well praise the Lord they sure do!

Shopping

I never used to wait until last minute to get the kids ready for holidays. I was the type that would plan a month in advance what we would all wear down to color of our socks! Well, four kids later life is different. Today we had to race around searching for the perfect outfit for Julia for Easter. I also needed to upgrade Benedicts church attire! I knew shopping with Julia would be challenging! She has a very specific, unique sense of style! I also knew her dad and I had certain expectations of Easter attire. So with a prayer and a goal we left at 8:30 this morning. Surprisingly enough Julia found just what she wanted at our first stop and then it was off to search for Benedict! Emerson is my little shopper! That girl will shop and shop until she drops! She loves ti look at accessories and she loves to help pick out stuff for the boys. So I am not surprised that she talked me into two outfits for Benedict as they are soooo cute according to Emerson!
I am just glad the shopping trip is done and mission accomplished!

R. I. P. John Deere

Blaise's tractor has run it's last load! He sadly informed us his beloved tractor wheels are cracked and can no longer take him zooming around the house! No more hauling leaves, unloading mulch or taking the neighbor girls for rides! We looked into a new set of treads but decided against it. I thought Blaise would fall into a tailspin of depression but Toys R Us kindly inserted in Sundays Paper a picture of a beautiful blue monster truck ride on toy. To which he whispered to Daddy " that one is good for big boys like me"

The Interview

Last week for my Writing Workshop I am in I was asked to interview somebody that I wanted to learn more about. I have been curious about my Grandma Connell and her life as a child, so I emailed her and asked her if she would agree to answering my questions. I had to compose a formal biography about her childhood and submit it to my mom. My mom said I could freewrite some of the neat things I learned. Grandma Jan was born in her house in Alpena, Michigan on August 15, 1937. Her favorite subject in school was reading and English just like me! She grew up with four other siblings named Larry, Marian, Gerry and Jeannie. I asked her what kind of chores she had to do and I laughed when she said: too many! I feel the same way! She had to weed, carry wet laundry outside and hang it on a clothesline, fold and put it away. She washed dishes by hand, swept floors, dusted, and picked strawberries. My mom said she probably didn't get paid for it either which is crazy to me all that hard work. My favorite thing I learned about my Grandma is that she loved to read comic books. I think that is so cute I have a picture of grandma with her feet up reading marvel comics! Sooo funny!
She liked mysteries too! I found out a typical day for her was chores first, just like me, and then she could go outside and play theater or ball. Grandma's life sure sounded fun minus the work but mostly I was surprised how much alike we are.

Palm Sunday

Awhile back my MIL gave me a little statue of Mary with praying hands. I keep her on top of my amoire so that every morning when I wake up I have a constant reminder to pray. Two years ago the girls got a great idea to fold the palm leaves from Palm Sunday and put them in between Mary's hands. Today we will go to mass and wave our palm leaves in church. Only one more week to celebrate that Jesus is risen! The kids are getting excited about Easter and we will color some eggs and are planning a HUGE egg hunt. Daddy loves hiding the eggs and I will get some jelly beans. We don't taint the meaning with talk of anything secular we just rejoice that Christ has risen for all of us! The readings are long today and Emerson has expressed concern about her legs and will she be able to stand, but I know she will. This upcoming week is Holy Week and several days will be spent at mass. To be honest I used to dread taking the little ones to the longer masses, but God gently softened my heart and I realized how selfish I was being thinking of my own comfort and feelings. I embrace the opportunity to experience it now with all four of my treasures for I know there is NO greater gift than taking them in to the real presence of Our Lord!

Game Day

Awhile back Tony and I started this tradition with the kids where we have a game night. We drag out the board games, deck of cards, puzzles and after dinner we sit around playing and snacking until way past a proper bedtime. We have been doing it sporadically since Julia was old enough to play candy land and now with the age differences in our house the range of games varies. Today we have a surprise for the kids! One new game for each of them! Now I usually try to prepare finger foods and snacks that are unique to the theme of the games...these three games have got me stumped....good thing I have all day to ponder this one! What I love best about game time is watching all their little personalities come out.. Emerson is the shark! Watch out she is in it to win it! Much like her dad who never believed in letting the kids win on purpose. Blaise is learning the finer points of sportsmanship and taking turns and Julia is much like me, non competitive and more interested in chatter than strategy. We always make the kids shake each others hands and congratulate the winner, daddy still needs help in that one...especially when he loses to Emerson in chutes and ladders!
Regardless, it is a lot of fun for all. I make one rule and we stick to it: all phones off, only positive talk!
Happy Gaming!

When it rains it pours...

Cold, wet, rainy, and damp! Hail or Sleet not sure what to call it! That describes the actual weather I have witnessed in last few hours. Figuratively speaking it has been one of those days! Woke up to another dead battery! Yes again! On my way out door everyone ready to go and no way to get there. A friend tried to help me jumpstart it but it was no use! Ever see two blondes and six kids try to charge a battery? It was fun while it lasted and I say that sarcastically. I was in despair for about a minute and then got myself busy. Which isn't hard to do.. made some popcorn for the kids, cut up some strawberries for the shortcake tonight, and got the house in order for this weekend. It does look dreary and dismal out there but according to the kids this weather makes for great puddle jumping and worm searching. Hey who knew?!?

An Angel

Tony is always bringing junk or trinkets home from the office. Where he finds this stuff is beyond me...sometimes it goes right in the trash, but last week he brought home this little Lennox Angel ornament. He said it was just laying around and would one of the girls like it? Well one angel and two daughters.. Hmm how does one decide. Then I had a God moment or shall I say The Lord pounded my head with a hammer and said to me... This ornament was not meant for your children but for the little girl across the street that recently lost her daddy suddenly. She needs to know an angel is with her always. The girls are busy drawing pictures and they will take the angel over sometime next week when things have settled down. I am thankful that Tony brings the stuff home you never know what purpose it may serve.

Rough Night

Ever pull an all nighter...?oh sure back in the day when we had no kids an all nighter was no biggie. Tony had to pull one last night. Poor guy had to stay at his office all night long while new computers were installed. So after working a full day and picking the girls up from church he came home long enough to eat dinner and go back to work. He was there until 6am. He came home exhausted! Yet, he had to shower and go right back at it. No, he can't take the day off or order someone else to do it. The buck stops with Tony shall I say. He will work another 8 hours and then come home and collapse for sure! Back in the day this would have been no big deal, but my spring chick is almost reaching a milestone in birthdays and I think the all nighter did not agree well with him! Please pray for Tony today that he can make it thru today and safely drive home. As a reminder: Banker's hours no longer exist!