Oldie but Goody

I love vintage toys! I am not one into the noise, batteries, bells and whistles!
When I discovered the old toys that I used to play with when I was little were making a go around again I was ecstatic! My favorite toy was a record player that had colored records (plastic) and it was red and yellow and you could wind it up and it played row row your boat...I recall playing with it up north at my grandma's house.

Bunk Bed Update

Several have asked... Here is the result of Tony staying up late.... Finally the boy has a place to sleep! This weekend pictures will be hung and new bedding for both bunks purchased!

Baptism Anniversary

Many moons ago a priest encouraged the families to celebrate the day we baptized our child. He encouraged us to get out the baptism candle, and remind the child about the special day they became apart of God's family. At a baptism the parents ask the members of the Catholic Church to welcome their child and help them encourage their child to grow up as a follower of Jesus. Today is Julia's anniversary of her baptism. She requested lemon meringue pie for dessert and an opportunity to have one on one prayer time tonight. I always make a big deal about their baptism day and get them excited about it, not only for myself but so that when they are older and that date on the calendar rolls around they will recall the promises made to God when they were mere babies! I will still probably make them a dessert and send them a card, even if it seems silly...for that's what moms do isn't it! We had planned on just pie today but we all know I am worst cook in kitchen so I bought a box of lemon bars as a back up just in case! The pie was a process and I had hoped to have my mom here who is a much better cook but old man winter threw a monkey wrench into that! So I hope the pie turns out I have no idea the difference between yolks, whites, stiff peaks and meringue until smooth... Stay tuned for results!

Holy Hero Lent Adventure

During advent the kids and I did an adventure via Holy Heroes website. Every day they waited with anticipation for the printables and videos to come. It was a lot of fun and so for Lent we decided to sign up and take on the challenge of another adventure. This morning Blaise asked me if he was going to do Holy Heroes and I said yes. He then proceeded to get my phone and show me how to look it up and print them out. Today's adventure involves a secret code, a road map, and a crossword puzzle. I really like this site for two reasons: free, and they do have products for kids that are reasonably priced to grow their faith. I don't normally endorse stuff but I do recommend Holy Heroes!

The Squeaky Wheel

Finally the bunk bed fiasco has been resolved! I have spoken to Fed Ex several times and Tony has too! Nothing worse than phone tag and customer service reps that are hard to understand! We had to sign an affidavit and prove we were not in receipt of original beds. The company shipped us another set and lo and behold folks guess what was delivered to our house today... Not one but Two huge boxes of bunk beds..... Are you kidding me?
Well of course one box will be denied and sent back. All we care about is that the boys have beds! Thank you St. Anthony finder of lost things!

Pattycake

I normally save all the big WOWs for my monthly updates of Benedict. But in lieu of my short term memory loss I have been having due to stress, well I thought I better mention this one early! My little bundle of love is clapping his hands. It is the cutest thing to see his chubby little hands together and he claps about three times in a row. We were doing patty cake with him last night and if you're happy and you know it! He joined right in and it took me a minute to realize he was clapping! I am thrilled as I do "baby signs" with all my babies and now we can add a few more to his language. Being top heavy though he does topple over with glee after a few claps!

Flutter Your Wings

Sometimes Emerson goes in her room and shuts her door and all I can hear is her radio blaring and a thumping sound. If my dad is reading this he may chuckle and recall that in our home growing up I used to do the same thing. I loved to dance. Never took long term dance lessons just a jazzercise class I think...but boy could I crank up the radio and jump around like a mad hatter. Our home was older so the ceiling would shake and I remember hearing once or twice " turn it down"!
Tonight I was surprised to find myself racing up the stairs and storming into her room. When I asked her what she was doing she informed me she was pretending to be a butterfly at the butterfly ball. Umm how can I argue with that? She told me she was spreading her wings and practicing her butterfly moves....at once I was transformed into a carefree girl dancing around my room without a care in the world. My audience was cheering me on and I was filled with joy. Flutter your wings my child before the time comes when your forget how good it feels to just dance!

Ash Wednesday

Today begins our Lenten Journey...we are going to St Mary mass at noon. Forty days of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. At the end of our journey we celebrate that He is risen!

Mardi GRAS

Tonight our church had a Mardi Gras party for the kids. Call it one last hurrah before Lent! There was a lot of beads, masks and games. Candy and more candy was the main staple. I heard many moms tell the kids to enjoy as tomorrow was lent! It was comical almost until Emerson confided in me she had a tummyache...it was then we made our exit. On way home we discussed what we wanted to do as a family during Lent. We decided more time to read some of the Old Testament stories and more time to say prayers before bed. Emerson mentioned wanting to give some of her allowance money to the poor box at church and Blaise said he would try to be quieter during mass. Julia and I really want to continue our study of the mass and personally I would like to watch less tv at night and read more of my devotionals instead. I think tonight was fun but I am definitely looking forward to abstinence from our excessive behaviors. Less is more!

Paczki Day

Come on did you really think I would forget?!? Today the kids and I discovered that Paczki are a Polish Catholic tradition. Considering they are part Polish on Tony's mothers side they talked me into celebrating a part of their heritage. They are also part Finnish on my dad's side and Finns are known for their spas... Hmmmm wonder where I can find a local spa?

Be-attitudes

God blessed me with a willful child! I say that positively because I know when she is an adult her strength and stubbornness will make her succeed in whatever she puts her mind to. That being said, it doesn't make it an easy task to raise such a child. I was a pleaser growing up... I pleased my teachers, my parents, my friends, I did whatever they told me out of FEAR of losing love, respect and friendship! It made for an unhappy existence thru no one's fault but my own. I am truly glad that Julia is courageous and strong and not fearful. She recently shared with me a poem she came across. It is not written by her but certainly speaks volumes of who she is. I always tell her she only must please God first and she agrees with me.

BE humble enough to realize you still have a lot to learn.
BE ambitious enough to know you can be anything you want to be.
BE easy enough on yourself to enjoy, to laugh, to have fun.
BE mature enough to take responsibility for what you do.
BE proud enough to take care of your body, your mind, and your spirit.
BE confident enough to see that who you are inside is more important than how you look outside.
BE wise enough to choose your friends carefully.
BE absolutely sure that, wherever you go, whatever you do, YOU ARE LOVED by God.

Author unknown

Inventory

Spring Jackets (check)
Sunglasses (check)
Justice Jeans (check)
Old Navy tees (check)
Shoes (check)

Getting a jumpstart on spring shopping for four ( exhausting)

Shopping and Food

Need I say more...