Dinner

I was not sure what was going on. They placed me in the high chair but this time secured a wide piece of cloth around my neck. Almost like what my daddy wears to work. They all lined up with these eager faces and I didn't know what to expect. Daddy began waving something in my face and everyone had their mouth opened saying ahhhh. What was going to happen?

New Sweater

I love my new sweater on my half birthday!

Six Months Old

Today I am devoting to my Benedict. Half a year old and already he has won all of our hearts over.

Cooking up Trouble

Tomorrow Benedict is 6months old! He has been here for half a year! I can not believe it. At 6 mos. I introduce solids and it is a BIG deal! I always let Tony give the first taste of real food since he misses out on a lot of the feeding fun the first six months. Kids and I will stock up on fresh veggies as I do the greenies first before any sweet fruits. It is a process but nothing but the best for my growing baby boy! I know once he gets the taste of his first donut or sip of pop my efforts of healthy organic fruits and veggies will have some competition but for now it is all about healthy choices. Side note: the cookbook used in his picture was given to me by my mother and I was going to set him in the pot but he wouldn't fit. Too big!

The King of the Golden City

For past few weeks Julia has been working on an allegory for Reading. It is a book about a child and a king. There is quite a lot if symbolism and thematic content thru out the story pertaining to her Catholic faith. She was pleasantly surprised today when she discovered that she was to construct the "King's house " today which happens to be a church. I will let you literary buffs do the work on figuring out the symbolism of who the child, king, house, and golden city may be. She enjoyed constructing the project out of whatever she could find in our craft cupboard.

Lily Beatrice

Not to be out of the family blog Emerson wanted me to mention her pet rabbit Lily. This has been a true work in patience for her. She obtained lily in April 2011 and she was only 4-6 weeks old. We were told she was a female (not) and discovered she was born on Nana's birthday. Thus, she was dubbed lily since Easter had just passed and Beatrice after Nana. Lily Beatrice ahh the turmoil Emerson has endured to develop and bond with this rabbit. She was persnickety, aggressive, and a bit snobbish in rabbit world. Every morning I have watched Emerson diligently clean that cage and sit in the laundry room for at least 30 minutes. She talks to the rabbit, reads books to her, always hoping and praying this "wild thing" would befriend her. Well right after Fall we had a break thru. Emerson proudly exclaimed Lily let her hold her. Then I noticed the rabbit sitting in her lap and as we blog she is playing with Blaise and Emerson. I imagine she is one of those slow to warm up folks. But, when they do warm up you have a friend for life. Emerson feels it may have something to do with fact that lily is really a Lyle and a bit perturbed at us for not noticing all these months. But we just can not change his name as we love Lily Beatrice. So we continue to be patient!

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!