Dinner Guests

I thought I was done blogging for the night...considering I am exhausted and ready for bed but my kiddies begged me to post this one as they all find it fascinating. We live in a small town yes, but I still consider it the burbs. My dad goes north for hunting and seeing wildlife like most people. I just have to look out my back window to enjoy nature! Now look close as this camera on this phone is not greatest but we counted at least seven!

Mom lost her voice

Ok so my voice is hoarse, my ears are plugged I can't even perform the smallest task without feeling sinus pressure. I get this thing every year and I know it is going to be over with sooner as opposed to later but it doesn't make for an easy school day. Since I can't talk a lot to the kids I am choosing my words carefully. If I don't see it then it isn't happening. This has led to the following observations: someone made themselves a peanut butter sandwich with my cheese spreader, pop is only consumed on a birthday and it MUST be someone's birthday today in the world, the rabbits made a burrow out of all my white cleaning rags?, somehow the train table made it all the way to other side of room, cereal counts as lunch right...
My all time favorite observation was "Blaise told me it was ok to do the computer when I asked him"
Since when does a three year old make the rules! I better get over this sinus thing before Blaise decides to teach drivers Ed to Benedict!

Organized Mess

Homeschooling the kids after a break has been a blessing. Their little minds are refreshed and willing to comply. Julia even finished her math in record time. What I have noticed is the difference in learning in boys versus girls. My girls are methodical and organized and neat. I have always felt that meant they would have a successful day. Blaise has opened my eyes to a new way of learning. Boys do not like sitting still. They generally don't care to use an eraser unless it can be projected at their sister, and don't get me started on what occurs when left alone with glue, tape, and or scissors! This new hands on approach to learning has forced me out of my comfort zone! It has taught me to change my expectations not change who he is. Everyone who truly knows me knows what a neat freak I am. I have had a love affair with Dyson for years now. I just have to let it go and if Blaise is learning how to add cheerios by dumping the whole box out on the floor and counting up...well it is what it is. When the little stinker goes to Harvard some day I hope he takes really good care of me!

Coincidence or Not?

Dear Julia,
I came across something last night while cleaning out my night stand. After further investigating I realized the awesome gift I had given myself and you in the future. In April of 1997 right before I married your daddy, I was in a bookstore and fell in love with a memory book written from a mother to her daughter. Recalling my own mother had given me a poetry book one year for Christmas I decided to buy this book. Mind you the thought if children was merely a wish or hope let alone a little girl. I bought it anyway and began filling out what I could. Imagine my joy and surprise in 2001 when I discovered my firstborn would be a girl. I recall digging thru boxes and finding said book and thru the years have been filling it out for you and writing my memories of you in it. When you turn 18 you will receive it. Here is the awesome work of God: I had thought I had lost the poetry book given to me back in 1990 by Nana. When I looked in my nightstand last night there it was sitting under your book. I don't keep much in my nightstand and I am generally a tidy person. I looked thru it and read a few poems and decided it would be a perfect book to write in and add stuff for your sister. So now I wonder...how did that book get in there? Coincidence or not? We know the answer to that don't we!

Sparty Fan

One of the first things Tony told me about himself is that he LOVES MSU!
I never paid much attention to football myself but with three guys in the house now I guess I have no choice. I decided to document how a fan watches the game! My hubby has these weird rituals. Snacks 30 minutes before game, push the couch as close as you can to tv, yell and scream, pace, run up and down stairs to check Internet when they are losing as it is too painful to watch on tv, and when they do win scream and jump around like your pants are on fire! Oh well! I can enjoy my night now that they won!

Blood test and Socks

As a part of the new year one of Tony's responsibilities to our family is updating his life insurance policy. I get upset when he talks about the "what ifs" but I know being responsible for four children is something he takes seriously. He always has told me he wants his children to be securely cared for. So at 8 am after an all night fast a lady came to the house took his weight, his blood pressure and some blood work. We all know Tony faints at sight of needles and blood so it was really impressive to me that he did this. As a reward to himself the guy finally went out and replaced his socks. He even found matching ones for his buddy. I plan on living a long blessed life with Tony. This year will be our 15 year mark of marriage. In this day and age where statistically speaking 50% end in divorce I feel pretty lucky. But I am thankful that Tony thinks of the future and the "what ifs" too!

Monday Blues

There is a hum in the house this morning as everyone realizes that I have put our liturgical calendar back on the dining room table along with the lesson plans and books. It is time to get back in to school. I noticed we are on week 19 which according to my records means we are a little over halfway done! They don't see it that way but I can almost taste springtime around the corner! Ha ha! Tony is home due to banking holiday and has some honey do stuff to take care of and I am completely under the weather now. No bother as my kids remind me I can stay in my pjs and still get some learning done.

Reading

One of my absolute favorite things to do when I was little was to read. I started at an early age and would devour any book my mom would give me. It was a wonderful escape for me and unfortunately as I have gotten older and busier my days of reading for pleasure have gone by wayside. In an effort to get the house organized for 2012 I came across an old book of Tony's and realized it was perfect for me. I also just received a book in mail from my MIL that was passed out in her church and it is written by a convert that I followed back when I converted to Catholicism. Tony and I are going to read it together chapter by chapter as our devotional time in the evening. Even though I feel lousy today I am excited to get a jumpstart on reading.

Positive Thoughts

Good Morning 2012!
The slumber party lasted well past midnight but everyone had a good time! Since one of my new resolutions is to focus on positive and avoid all negative I am going to delicately explain my night. This is first year I stayed up way into early morning. Seems a little head cold sprang upon me and I couldn't sleep. When I finally woke up I noticed Tony must have wanted me to try out my new pretty dish gloves as the girls had left egg nog filled cups all over the house and party food on countertops. I hope all that moving around helped my snuffy nose as it sent me into a coughing fit which woke up the sleeping beauties. No bother as we have a 10:30 mass to make! Maybe focusing on the positive will be easier in 2012, but just in case I have a back up plan! How can you not look at this face and not smile?!?

Party updates

Silly string, fashion show, confetti cake!

Bag game

We started the hour by hour bag game where every hour they search for a hidden bag: the first one contained a craft and second one beads for freeze dance competition. The next few bags will be bubble ball drop game, silly string party and a fashion show around the house! House is rocking!

Non alcoholic floats

The pajama gang is getting fueled up on ice cream and egg nog before they make their time capsule resolutions.

Rocking around the Clock

Ok so this was the theme we came up with for our New Years Eve slumber party. Julia helped me make the invites and we decided attire would consist of pjs all day long. I love thinking of themes for parties but I struggle with what to feed them? My mom suggested Fridays potato skins so we are going to try them. I also am letting kids experiment with ice cream and hot cocoa, egg nog, pop, and juice. I never let the kids drink this stuff so when I bought it you should have seen Emerson's eyes bug out! Good thing this is a once a year deal. We are buying a confetti cake as my baking pans are on vacation after the Christmas rush. For games we are playing find the alarm clock, and an hour by hour present hidden in bags. Each bag contains: party hats, balloons, blowers, silly string...all the necessary new years eve celebratory stuff. I also am having a fireworks stomp. It consists of bubble wrap placed all over floor. You basically let the kids go crazy jumping and popping and it sounds like fireworks. I haven't mentioned this one yet to Tony! Happy New Year Dear!
To wrap it up the girls are camping out until midnight watching A Dolphins Tale and waiting for the ball to drop. I am hoping to make it until midnight I never have as of so far but there is a first time for everything right?

Feast of the Holy Family

Today I awoke with the anxiety and magnitude of what the kids and I needed to accomplish. Then a little whisper reminded me that today the kids and I were making home altars for feast of the Holy Family. It settled my heart to reflect in that as opposed to the four stores we needed to stop at, the numerous things on my to do list ect. Focus on the positive that is my new mantra right? Once a year girls have made little prayer altars in their rooms and this year Blaise gets to join them. We centrally have always met at the dining room table for prayers but it is nice for them to have that quiet spot in their rooms they can flee to. I try to teach them one character quality about Mary and Joseph they can imitate and it isn't hard to come up with a long list of choices. Currently Julia has become fascinated by the lives of the saints and saint Joseph is one of them. I am giving her a book today called Practical Devotion to St. Joseph, which I believe was Tony's in college. My MIL may have sent it I can not recall but regardless I stumbled upon it and have secretly been hiding it for her. This year I plan on turning my grandmothers buffet server in to a year round home altar. The kids have been helpful in collecting prayer cards, vase for flowers, tea lights, and scripture books. I am on the hunt for some runners to match the colors of the liturgical season and we should be set. Today we will busily set up the altars and there is where I will find my daily peace.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, be the Heartbeat of our family; bless us and be with us always.

"Be still and know that I am God."
Luke 10:41-42

Tony

Although he didn't want to...I told him it's for his kids. Here are daddy's resolutions.
1. Work out at the gym at least 5 days a week so I can fit into my high school jeans.
2. I won't steal the candy out of the prize buckets when the kids are sleeping.
3. Buy some new socks.
4. Join the men's group at church.
5. Take the girls out on a daddy daughter date once a month.
6. Take Blaise to some MSU games.

When it snows it blizzards

Ever hear the old expression when it rains it pours? Well I am using snow as my analogy as it has been snowing all day getting worse as my day has been getting worse! Started out good as we bundled up and jumped in van to go see Judi. Noticed few flakes! Noticed my van wouldn't start! Dead! Real bad timing as kiddies realize we are not going to farm! I call my hubby who tells me to use my phone app for free roadside assistance. I call and charming gentleman tells me for 65.00 smackeroonies he will come and give me a jump! I can not justify the expense so I said no! Meanwhile Julia informs me she feels sick and wants to go lay down. Whole time it is snowing harder and harder. My knight in shining armor pulls up in his hamstermobile and we sit there watching utube videos on how to jump start a van. When I finally get on the road two hours later I realize I am not feeling to peachy king myself and the roads are slick! Wanting to remain positive my oldest reminds me "when God closes one door He opens another "! I guess so and I will keep repeating that as I just discovered when we got home that I left the garage door open! Snow galore!

Friendship

I have had an assortment of friends in my life and have lost touch with some but a few have remained. Once you have children you tend to gravitate towards others with kids. My mommy friends have become like family to me. One in particular is my dear friend Judi. We both homeschool and our daughters are around the same age. We naturally have a lot in common. She recently had surgery and is on the mend. We are going to see her today and help her out. When I was pregnant with Benedict she was instrumental in helping with my kids and cooking for us and just being a shoulder to cry on when hormones kicked up. She has a strong Catholic faith, is honest and trustworthy. I am so lucky to have met her. God really placed her family in our life at a time when we needed it. I saw a card once that said friends are the family members that complete us. In my case this is certainly true! Get well Judi and don't worry about a thing!