More photos with grandma

Blaise loved scaring gram with his huge fake tarantula he bought with his birthday money! Eek! He scared some old people with it too! Girls loved showing gram the stuffed bunny and legos they got today! I think gram liked toys more than kids!

Grandma

We were ten minutes away from grandma so we could not pass up a visit!

Mall

Pictures say it all

iPhone 4s

Ok so let me remind you leading up to February 14 our family is discussing the little things we do or have that we love, appreciate, treasure ect...As I have stated in past in no way shape or form should a material item surpass our love and devotion for God, but it can be a tool to bring us closer. Tony and I love our little phones. We download apps to read the missal, I can always snap a quick picture of kids, and we have been able to connect with old friends and relatives via Facebook. Technology can be a good thing if used within reason. Today Tony gets an upgraded version of his phone. He is like a kid in anticipation of that coveted toy at Christmas! I am thrilled for him as he loves learning all the new ins and outs of any new gadget! So we load up the family today and make the drive to 12 Oaks. Normally the kids dread going for the long drive to apple store but as luck would have it Aunt Stephanie and Uncle Steve generously sent birthday money for all so they are on a mission as well! Thank you thank you thank you to them the kids were so excited and appreciative. So we are off! Pics and updates to follow thru out day!

First Confession

This morning at 11 am Emerson will make her first confession at St. Augustine church. I have been preparing her for it for awhile now by sharing with her my own first confession experience. It has been really special for me sharing these firsts with my children thru their eyes as I did not come into the faith until I was an adult. I am what they call a convert. Not to toot my own horn but many of my mommy homeschool friends are converts and we seem to take these moments in our kids lives VERY seriously for we missed out on them as children. Emerson has memorized her act of contrition and written down her sins on nine pieces of paper. I laughed heartily when we went thru them as I explained to her not liking my cooking or not enjoying reading a certain book was not a sin! Her innocence and passion for a just heart refueled my own conscience and so as a family we will all go to confession today and not fearfully participate but joyfully celebrate that God is loving and kind and VERY forgiving! I love the feeling of a clear conscience....

St Blaise Feast Day

Well the family just got back from celebrating Blaise's feast day. We went to a children's mass and holy hour in honor of St. Blaise. Blaise and Tony said the rosary together and we all got our throats blessed even baby Benedict. It was a great time and I loved kicking off the weekend this way! If one ever feels far away from God you need only to sit by a child and listen to them pray. If you can't sense God in that then I am not sure where you will sense Him.... Father spoke tonight about the President and his "decisions" regarding health care and a woman's choice... I won't get going on that one...you need only to look at my bumper sticker on old Bessy to see how I feel! All in all we celebrated Blaise's feast day just how he wanted although he gets his special cake tomorrow!

Construction Paper

We love construction paper. You can make cards, pictures, and signs for your friends or family! During the 1860's paper was mass produced so artists and amateurs began experimenting with paper art. Immigrants from Poland brought a special technique for beautiful cut designs. I am part polish so I wanted to try it out myself. Julia, 10

Music to my Ears

A few months back Blaise began waking up two or three times a night! While the baby slept like a log the 3 year old was keeping me up! I was exhausted! Julia got a brand new cd player for Christmas and gladly offered hers to Blaise. So as any mom of four would do I wrapped it up and surprise! Blaise received his first electronic gift in time for New Years! This has been the best regifting item ever! I love love love the fact that we are now getting a sound sleep. Blaise turns his cd on at night and when he happens to wake up he puts another cd in and listens to it until he falls asleep again. Now it has led to him memorizing Geronimo Stilton, Magic Tree House and Nate the Great....so when you hear him shout "cheese niblets!" it is music to my ears!

Math Club

I love math club. It is fun and I get to be around my friends. Today we learned about measuring and converting a recipe. We made an Alfredo sauce and sugar cookies. My whole family enjoyed it a lot. Mom liked it because all she had to do was boil noodles. Math club + friends= fun!

Random Surprise

I love waking up in the morning and finding my coffee sitting on the countertop, cream added waiting for me. Sometimes I make the coffee for Tony... With our keurig the kids can even easily make the coffee for us! Simply put, the random act of kindness is a ripple effect...Tony makes me my coffee, I eagerly help him get out the door on time....Emerson sets the table for breakfast without being asked...Julia offers to clean up.....all because of a cup of Joe!

Hallmark Holiday

Valentines Day is my favorite hallmark holiday. My favorite color has always been red and I love making paper hearts and cards with the kids. It wasn't until a few years ago that Julia and I researched who St. Valentine really was. Yes, Virginia there is a St. Valentine. So, for the next two weeks we are focusing on love. Love comes in all shapes and sizes....there is the deep love from God that is unconditional and then the sweet baby love from Benedict and the constant strong love between Tony and I. I have a mother/daughter love and a mother/son love. I think when you have to gush a lot about it you are trying to convince yourself that love actually exists in spots where it is nonexistent. Instead I want to focus on some "small" acts of love that may normally go unnoticed. My first proclamation of love on February 1 is this: I love looking into my baby boy's eyes and feeling like I am the greatest person in the whole world he has ever laid eyes on!

Dentist

Agh! Nobody likes going to the dentist. Especially me! Not because if fear but logistics. Awhile back I developed pain in my wisdom tooth and I knew it meant something was arise. I put off going just due to the fact that finding someone to come and watch the kids, and work around school was a hassle! Well the pain became unbearable and so today the girls are loading up their backpacks, Blaise is filling a bag of legos and Benedict and I had a long chat that morning naps at the dental office are now the latest trend. Am I nervous? Not so much about what the dentist will say, but the mere fact that I will be sitting in a vulnerable position. It is times like this I really find myself praying and reminding myself that in the grand scheme of life this is a mere moment. On a positive note Old Bessy is back from shop and is running like a top. God is good and always provides peace of mind...even at the dentist.

St. Vincent

Today is the quarterly year clean out the closets and basement donation day! With four kiddies and a pack rat hubby we seem to explode with "junk" treasures, and things that we don't use! Donation day is total therapy for me! Out with the old I say...ok so it isn't all old but it is nice to clean out the basement and for a few days feel a sense of tidiness. Also I like the kids to feel charitable and paying it forward to a catholic charity is a great way to instill in them the value of generosity.

Physicals

Every year around this time Julia and Blaise go in for a physical. They have birthdays close together so it makes sense. Today was that day! Blaise was anxious he always is! But Julia went in excited to learn how much she weighed, and how tall she has gotten! Normally I am excited to see all the new developments, but with the recent changes in health care...yikes I was there over two hours and most of it was answering questions and looking at the doctor looking at HER laptop! It was a little different but we managed to get thru both physicals. The kids are healthy and growing fine!