White Poodle

When my mother was clearing out my grandmothers place she generously let the kids and I come and take any of grandma's knick knacks for keepsakes. Grandma had so many unique and unusual things it was amazing. One little trinket that Emerson fell in love with is a white poodle statue. I have no idea where he came from or his story of why my grandma had him, but we love putting him out as part of our spring decor. Recently a friend of mine told me she had seen him before in an antique store?!? I am not interested in if he has value or not, his cheeky little look is enough for us!

Dog Sitting

Ok I know yesterday I said I was coming from a place of no, but this obligation was pre-awakening! This is Isabelle! Our neighbors dog that needed a little tlc while her family is away. My dog experts have fed her, walked her and played with her! This is only a 48 hour gig but she is one pampered pet!

Saying No is saying yes to the Kids

A very spiritual friend of mine has written the most beautiful blog recently. I can not get it out of my mind. The summary of it is basically moms need to not feel guilty about saying "no" to certain things... Paring down is how she called it...but I digress let me start at my own beginning. I have done an injustice to my kids. This year in an effort to work on my social anxiety issues I may have gone overboard "yessing" myself to death. I have agreed to just about everything put in front of me, and although the kids have been kept VERY active and busy I have sent myself into a horrible tailspin where I can't come up for air. Many know my situation and I am pretty much flying solo without any direction. Sure people sweetly offer to help, and although I appreciate it, how does one dump their own mess onto another's lap and walk away to relax?
So as not to plagiarize my dear friend Amanda I will be coming from a place of No! I will say it politely and kindly and please don't hold a grudge or be upset....
The kids are almost done with school and the recital and communion and religious Ed will be done at end of May! We will take a break from art class this summer and 4h will be done by end of July! All the other engagements will be placed on hold until further notice as God is telling me I need to say Yes to my family...we need to sit on the grass and look at clouds, collect bugs, make sand pies and take walks. We need to have more time around the table and less time sitting in the van going from point a to point b!
Instead of rushing thru our prayers to get somewhere on time we need to spend more devotional time in prayer. It is going to be like when you go to a store and the clock on the front door says: out to lunch be back later!
That's me! I am finally saying no to the chaos and yes to the kids!
I always say " I am doing it for them!"
Now I need to put my actions into place!
Thank you Mandi!

Divine Mercy Sunday

Divine Mercy: the devotion focuses on the merciful love of God that is based on the writings of St. Faustina Kowalski. God wants us to recognize that His mercy is greater than our sins, so that we can call upon Him with trust, receive His mercy, and let it flow through us to others.
At 3pm we are taking the family to St. Roberts to say the chaplet and confession. God knows we love Him when we keep his commandments. Works of mercy for our family mean bearing each others wrongs, forgiving them, serving others and loving our enemies.
Happy Sunday from our family to yours! God Bless!

Who Knew?!?

My mom likes Hawaii Five O.
My cousin in Calif. posted a cool vegetarian food pyramid.
My aunt and uncle in Trout Creek are monitoring the weather.
My sister in law in Chicago bought a new mop. I learned what a chile could be used for in cuisine..and my sister in law in Wisconsin and I finally found a way to connect and stay in touch! This all happened via Facebook, in one day! Now I have always enjoyed my anonymity and privacy, and unlike most don't care to connect with Joe Smith from twenty years ago! But I did find it fascinating the information, random I will admit, gathered in only a few hours! Will I be able to keep up? Probably not! I prefer to have face to face time with someone! But I did love seeing my adorable nephews collage at 9 months old and viewing some old pictures of family I haven't seen in years! And yes I know my profile is skewed and not detailed, but hey have you seen my hubby's? Tito Widget? Check it out and God Bless!

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.