Daddy is home

Emerson has been missing her dad. She loves being with me but she is so thankful her dad is home! Me too!

Sunday Morning

It is one of my favorite times of the week. I don't have to rush around with housework or school I simply have to get the family ready to head out the door. I get to sit for 45 minutes sometimes longer....it is my time to grow my faith as I listen to our priest. Any of the week's stress is washed away in an instant as I say "ahhh I am here Lord, I made it!"
It is like being refueled for the upcoming week. When I was in high school I had a civics teacher that always said the same thing every Friday to us as we left ..."do yourself a favor go to church on Sunday"

Waste Management

What is it about boys and garbage? Blaise adores the garbage men that come every Monday to pick up our trash! He waves and tells me one day maybe he will drive a garbage truck. From time he could drag a trash bag he has always helped with trash! He collects my trash cans every morning for me so I can empty them! I am so thankful for my little buddy that helps me!

Bottomless Pit

Ok so I have been fretting and fretting about Blaise and his diet lately! One trip to Grandma Jan's house and my nights of worries can stop!

Molasses Cookies and Ovaltine

Everyone has been asking how Blaise is doing. Well here is the update. Tony's mom has really made him feel at home. He has been showered upon with cars, trucks, and a cool suitcase on wheels that he loves to pull around. This morning he tried Ovaltine drink which his daddy used to drink. He loved it I am told. Grandma made some molasses cookies and he gobbled one up! I will have to get recipe!

Good Nights Rest

My mind is a blur this morning as to what exactly I am thankful for. With my son away I had planned on getting a good night sleep. Blaise is famous for toddling in at 3, 4, or 5 in morning to see if it is morning. I am guilty of thinking yahoo it is not my problem this weekend and I am sleeping in! Well ever hear of Murphy's Law...he came knocking on our door in wee hours of night in form of booming screeching fireworks! Not the pretty kind either, the screeching, fizzing annoying kind that lasted for hours it seemed. After finally settling down Emerson and reassuring her it wasn't a hunter shooting at our house, I laid down....then I heard it ..."mommy is it breakfast time I am hungry" ok so I am thankful for that nap I will be taking later on today! Zzzzzz

While the cats away

Ok so the boys are having their fun and we ladies (baby too) intend upon having our fun! We decided to go shopping at Hobby Lobby first and then we had a lunch guest! An afternoon puzzle was just the thing to pass the time and now we all put on our cozy pjs for a movie and popcorn affair! The girls miss daddy but are enjoying this girls weekend. (I see a tradition being set here) the boys go away and girls have their fun!

Road trip update

Well the boys arrived safely in Petoskey and it appears they are having a blast!

First Snow

Well the boys left at the crack of dawn this morning. The morning seemed so quiet without Blaise waking up the house. I peered out my slider only to find snow! The kids are ecstatic and thankful and I must say the excitement wore off on me..snow brings snowmen, snow angels, Jesus's birthday, Julia's birthday, and of course Blaise's birthday! Lots of celebrating and family time! I know it means bundling up and cold weather and dry skin! But isn't it gorgeous and pure that first snow!

First Road Trip

Well the boys are hitting the road in the morning. Tony has the day off of work due to Veterans Day. He has been wanting to go visit his mom in Petoskey and I thought it would be perfect weekend for a boys trip! It is another rite of passage in our house. Each of the girls have had a turn traveling with daddy and now his firstborn son gets to go. Oh the excitement and thrill of male bonding. Blaise packed his sleeping bag and blanket and toothbrush. They will eat fast food and stay up late. They will talk about the cars and trucks they pass on the freeway and they will laugh at silly things. Memories will be made and a little boy will become even more enamored with his daddy, his hero.

I am thankful for:

Look at all the fluffy things, high up in the sky. They float and change, they're all so strange, they swoop and dip and glide.
Like a white ball of yarn unraveling,
Or an enormous cozy mitten.
I search for things up high, like an elephant or kitten.
White, white, white, is all I see..so lovely, yet so proud, as it hovers above me....
I'd say it's a cloud! Julia Taratuta, 9

First Playdate

Well Emerson has reached a major milestone in her life. This morning at 6am I heard rustling around to discover her cleaning and making her bed. When I inquired what she was doing she gladly shouted "my friend is coming over today" but not until 130 pm I said!
Yes it's true her first play date. Oh she has tagged along on numerous playdates with her big sis and she has played with Blaise's toddler friends next door. This time it is truly about her and a budding friendship. She has this unusual sparkle in her eye as if she has finally reached a rite of passage. I am happy for her and can't wait to see what mischief the two of them concoct. For wherever you find Emerson you will find the life of the party!

My Mosquito Man

Ok so this is much more light hearted. Cinderella had Prince Charming, Snow White had her own knight in shining armor...I have my mosquito man...able to get them with one flick of a towel..unafraid of heights, relentless until death. What more could a girl want!

Thankful Sister

I am thankful for my sister. She shares her books and things with me. She is so generous. I should try to be more generous and loving back to her. She shouldn't have to do loving deeds and have me do no loving deeds back to her. I can do little things to make her happy like compliment her pictures that she draws. I like to write letters to people so I am going to write one to her. Today, I am going to play with her. I love my sister so much and I like to help her when she makes mistakes or does something wrong. I play dolls with her even when I'd rather play something else. Emerson is the best sister in the world!

Daddy Seahorse

The kids wanted me to write this....we recently read a story about seahorses. The male seahorse carried the eggs tenderly in His pouch until birth. This is factual and I found it fascinating. At first my cynical side was thinking bet that sea horse didn't experience labor pains! Then I thought about how God carefully carries me thru the day. Tenderly and gently. The next couple days are going to be hectic for our family....I am just now feeling better after being sick. The kids are antsy too! We have art classes, appointments, hair cuts, and of course housework. I woke up feeling frazzled but then I thought about the daddy seahorse carrying his children lovingly thru the ocean. Hiding them safely from harm of other fish, waves, even sharks. I know God is carrying me, even on the busiest of days.

Food pyramid

Today in science Emerson had to work on learning the food pyramid and the requirements for a healthy body. With our recent bout of illness and an over abundance of sugar from Halloween I felt it perfect time to make this a family activity. The girls caught on super quick about what is a good choice for healthy eating...being a vegetarian myself I beamed with pride! But, I was surprised to see what a 3 year old considered healthy! Blaise's pyramid consisted of following: Grains: popcorn and bread
Vegetables: carrots and green m&m's
Fruit: purple grape juice
Milk: chocolate milk and ice cream
Meat and Beans: he decided at this point he would be a vegetarian too!
Does this worry me? Yes it does that is why I am constantly hiding little veggies and fruits in places you would never imagine...recently spaghetti squash found it's way in pasta and sauce! Yogurt was filled with magic berries that make you strong! I will do what it takes but oddly enough when he goes to other people's houses he eats like a horse! Maybe I should ask for cooking lessons for Christmas.

Election Day

Today is a day to vote! It is our right and privilege! I am thankful for that. I will be there in line with all four kiddies! Regardless if you vote yes or no or for a specific candidate please vote! Otherwise you can not sit back and complain about the way things are going!

Goodbye Sparky Gordon

Today was a sad sad day in our household. We had to say goodbye to a dear friend. Our little mouser went back to the farm. My son was especially upset as he named the cat Sparky. Even though the cat came to us with name of Gordon we all agreed he looked more like a Sparky. The furball pretty much won his way into all of our hearts but after a horrible asthma attack it was apparent Tony's allergies would keep us from keeping the cat as a permanent pet. It is moments like this I struggle to find something to teach the kids to be thankful for. The tears and sadness outweigh any attitude of gratitude. Time does heal all wounds and I suppose time moves faster for the young.....for that I am thankful.

Four months old!

I can't believe it and I say this every month but my baby boy is 4 months old today! I am thankful I made it this far. Ha ha I am serious number four was a real eye opener. Benedict reminds me a lot of Julia. He is extremely happy and throws a smile at anybody. He is very content in any one's arms and has played "pass the baby" on many occasions. I think what has made him so unique is how strong he is. Already belly scooting and rolling and rocking to whatever it is he wants. He is almost able to hold himself in a sitting position before he falls over like a weeble wobble. Benedict is becoming his own little voice and discovering his place in our family.

Extra hour of what?

Well we had to turn those clocks back and that led to a conversation of what would you do with an extra hour? Tony wasted no time in saying he would sleep, but I wanted to really think about it. A whole hour to myself? Would I waste it on extra chores or tv or computer..then I read my morning devotions today... Why not give an hour to God. It hit me that quite often my prayers are jumbled, interrupted, or half finished with the bustle of raising a family. Julia recently received a package in mail from St. Philomena foundation and I look forward to reading it for my extra hour. Maybe even two hours if I can sneak away that long!

Game night

Once a week we try to have a family night. The kids love this time. We play a board game or we work on a puzzle. I started thinking about how the oldie but goodie hobbies are still around. In an age of technology you can still find people, like my mom, working away on a 500 piece puzzle. My grandmother is in an old folks home and they have oodles of puzzles laying around for people to work on. The other day Julia asked me what checkers was? Shocked, I immediately had to find an online version of the game. I am thankful that these hobbies still exist. Sitting at a puzzle or a board game forces the family to pause, take turns, laugh together and just enjoy each others company! We discovered this about each other: Tony is still just as competitive, Julia has an awesome memory for facts, Emerson is really patient and dedicated to finishing the challenges, Blaise likes to throw the die, and Mom is still trying to perfect the cheese popcorn recipe from Taratuta side.

God the artist

We are thankful for the colors of the season. Julia and Emerson

Meet my mouser

Although not an animal lover I have allowed the kids to acquire bunnies, fish, and a hamster. I am never fond of mice in fact I am utterly terrified of them. Every Fall one or two attempt to set up shop in our garage! It totally freaks me out and I beg Tony to PLEASE take care of it...I have threatened to get a cat if need be. Well this Fall I came across a homeless mouser. My dear friends that live on a farm came across "sparky" recently. It seems people have this notion that since they live on a dirt road they are taking in all sorts of strays. Well I am thankful I can have a sense of humor as you can see Sparky isn't pulling his weight! class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;">

The small things...

I am a simple person, a plain Jane if you will. I always tell the family it's the little things that make me happy and grateful. Waking up to my little smiling faces makes me happy. Catching my kids hugging each other when noone is looking. Watching the birds at the bird feeder enjoy the seed my son threw out to them. Listening to prayers at night and hearing them asking for blessings upon their pets. Discovering my husband mopped the floors just to be helpful. These little things grow the gratitude in my heart. Recently Blaise asked me to read him one more story at bedtime just to "spend more time" with me. I melted and of course consented. It's the little things...

Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.
-Mother Teresa

Employees

Tony just let me know it is Employee Appreciation Day at work! He is thankful for all his co-workers and all the stuff they put up with!

TGIF

Thank goodness it is Friday! We made it thru the week...the kids are feeling better...Tony only has to work a "little" bit tomorrow....and the sun is shining right now!

Art

Imagine her surprise when she opened up her art book today and saw her activity for today. "this is perfect mommy"

Jan

Well the brain cells are on fire around here this morning. Everyone is thinking of what they can be thankful for. Collectively as a group we all mentioned grandma Connell at one time or another. She is so encouraging to the kids always sending them positive tidbits of mail and little things from garage sales. She keeps Tony on his toes by reminding him how to stay healthy and for me well she is faithful, humble, sweet and content. We love you grandma Jan and I know she would rather have me post a picture of a card she sent Julia then one of herself so here goes: