Journal: Has it really been over a week?

You'd think I could keep up with weekly journal posts, especially since I'm really not doing any other blogging to speak of (besides reviews) anymore.  OH life.  Sigh.  Yawn.  

TODAY

Out my window:  Windy windy.  Storms coming?  

Clothing myself in:  Denim bermudas and a t-shirt.

Around the house: Threatening to get room darkening drapes for the master bedroom. It seems like I've done some other things, and even thought, "oh I should blog about this."  Whatever they were they are escaping me now.  Just keeping up.  Gearing up for a very busy June with two weddings, Bible school, swim lessons, a family reunion and some other stuff. 

 

The baby: His new nickname is "tricky baby".  He is fast and curious (haha) and he does not like to be distracted.  Mama has to be pretty creative with the 'ole bait and switch.  He has also been rising with the sun lately (yawn), hence the threatening to get room-darkening drapes for our room.

 

The kiddos:  Gemma read her first book all by herself, Jack and Rick.  So proud of her!  We are not quite half-way thru Teach Your Child to Read.  She likes reading all right, but she still definitely prefers being read to.  I am hoping as she has more success she will begin to want to read more on her own, but I sure don't mind reading to her!

Kolbe has been a little tricky lately.  He's gotten more aggressive with Clem since Clem has gotten more mobile.  Like, he likes to sit on him and rough him around.  Brothers!  Clem needs to gain some poundage and agility to keep up with his big brother.  Soon enough, boys, soon enough.  Please do not rush the end of my sanity.  I'm enjoying (??) these last few shreds of it.

In the kitchen: Chicken/salad wraps; homemade pizza; Baked Salmon; salad, and asparugs for sides.  Celebrated my hubby's birthday on Monday with a cookout at the inlaw's and made Sarah's tasty Quinoa Black Bean Salad.  Lately when I make a lasagna or pizza or something I will double or triple the meat I cook and put the extra in the freezer which makes for easy meal prep down the road!  We got Aaron a kitchen scale for his birthday, and it is quite helpful for dividing out things like that.

Crafting: HA! nope.

Learning:  I ordered these Unifix Cubes for the kids and am really excited to get them.  Hello hands-on Math!  I also cut apart one of our old jumbo wooden Rosaries that looked like it had been attacked by termites (the cross part anyways) and the beads make great lacing/pattern activities for both kids. 

Reading:  I added 10 pages of St. Francis to my daily to do list to keep me honest and help me finish in a timely manner.  I am really getting into it.  Finished The Running Dream and just started One For the Murphy's.  Can you tell I'm on a teen-fiction kick?  It is nice and light and easy (and not smutty) and a good break for my brain.  Started Charlotte's Web with the kids.  Gemma really likes it.  Also got a sound recording of Winnie-the-Pooh for an upcoming day trip.

Watching:  The backs of my eyelids?  Haha.  Seems as soon as I get off my feet for the day I crash anymore.

Bringing me joy: Going "frogging" with Aaron and the kids one night last week.  When we have decent rain around here, a temporary pond fills up about a quarter mile from our house with toads and chorus frogs.  We caught one of each on this particular evening (and I forgot the camera, boo).  Gemma caught the toad, and seeing her hitch up her skirt and wade through knee deep water to pick it up just made my day.  She likes her nail polish and hair things, but the girl ain't afraid to pick up a frog.  I like that.

Thinking about: Education.  Common Core.  How beginning this August we will be in "school" mode for many, many more years.  Trying to find some concrete ways to be more patient.  I have been working on not yelling.  I have been trying to squat down and get down on the kids' level when I speak to them, especially if I am frustrated with them.  Trying to see things, life in general, from their childlike perspective.  Trying to ask them to hand me things rather than grabbing them out of their hands in anger (in an effort to be a good example).  Still trying to figure what exactly to do when Gemma flat our refuses.  Thinking about how to handle kid apolgies.  I would rather encourage not demand them...but what to do when they (Gemma) refuses has me a little stymied.  Oh that girl, does she have a strong stubborn will, strong impulses and a fiery temper.  Yowza.  Reminds me of someone else I know....  Just my vocation as wife and mom in general and how to live God's will and desires for my life to their fullest. 

Pictures to share:  

Journal: Week of May 20

TODAY

Out my window:  Warm and muggy.  Survived the big storms over the weekend unscathed.

Clothing myself in:  Monday clothes.  Very glamorous.

Around the house: Caught up (thru March) our photo albums and updated some pictures in frames.  Working on the monthly photo-collages for Clem's first-year calendar.  I wish I had just done this for all my kids.  So easy and comprehensive.  Oh well.  I also am working on getting all of our photos uploaded to SmugMug.  Cleaned some light fixtures and the front windows and blinds.

 

The baby:  He was sick a couple days last week.  Mainly just a fever and lethargy.  Teething?  He was one snuggly little guy whatever the case.  His napping of late has been abysmal.  I am so much less anal about sleep with my third, it is kind of funny.  But I still wish he would nap better. Lately I'm lucky if I get 15 minutes out of him in his bed/on his floor.  He sleeps on me great, but the more kids we have/more we have going on the less convenient that is.  He is currently snoozing in my arms while I type and the kids are watching TV.  He will sleep in the back-pack carrier or the stroller or car though if we are out and about so I suppose I shouldn't complain.  When he is awake he gets around and likes to get into just about anything his curious little hands can reach.  Except for toys.  Toys are apparently boring.

 

The kiddos:  I'm not sure what to say.  Sometimes they play so well.  Sometimes they fight so horribly.  I have been trying to parent them in a more peaceful and loving way...especially thinking about the way I talk to them.  If I don't want Gemma to say, "knock it off," in a snotty, disrespectful tone to me, then maybe I shouldn't say it to her.  Trying to look at things from their perspective instead of mine.  Sometimes I do better than others.  Motherhood is hard.  I liked this article on the topic.

They have been playing in the backyard a lot and I am so grateful for the times they play nicely out there for long periods.  Gemma has a really nice [farmer's] tan.

In the kitchen: Baked Ziti; Pulled Pork with Quinoa and Black Bean salad; family bday dinner; Fish Crisp; lots of fresh fruits and veggies in the fridge to prepare for sides...we are loving all the spring and summer fresh produce around here.  Aaron will probably grill something this week too.

Crafting: Helped Gemma make a couple pillows for "Baby Lamb" and "Buttercup" her stuffed lamb and bunny friends.  And that's about it. 

Learning:  We went to the zoo last week -- just the kids and I -- and had so much fun.  Hoping to make it over there again this week maybe.  

Reading: Started St. Francis of Assisi: A Biography, my latest Catholic Company review.  This is a little off the beaten path from my usual fare (in a good way), but my SD recommended it, and then it was on the CC review list so I took that as a sign I should read it.  I kind of wish I were reading it on an e-reader (which I don't own), because there have been more words than I'd like to admit that I should be looking up.  I also requested The Running Dream from the library because it looked good (stumbled upon it on Amazon).  Still keeping up with Catechsim readings [most] days.  Just started section III.  The part at the end of section II on marriage was great.  Every married Catholic, or Catholic considering marriage, should read it.  It is short but oh so good.

Watching:  Nothing out of the ordinary.  I got this TV survey thing in the mail after doing a phone survey which entailed locking myself in the baby room while Kolbe or Gemma (or maybe both of them) screamed at me from the other side of the door and it is kind of stressing me out.  My husband channel surfs too much.  :-) Why do I let myself get roped into these things?  They paid me like $30 for the last one I did though, so maybe they will send me more money.  Money in the mail is fun.

Bringing me joy: Spending an hour in Adoration.  I appreciate Adoration so much more now that my life is so, um, loud.

Thinking about: Having a plan for storms.  We really have no plan.  I mean go to the basement yeah of course, but it got kind of iffy looking Sunday afternoon and I was grabbing shoes and flash drives and stuff in case we had to head down.  To the creepy area under the stairs that is probably spider infested.  And we should probably have water down there?  And food maybe??  Or an axe?  Or a radio that doesn't rely on electricity...  I don't know.  See, as much of a planner as I am, this is something I really have no plan for.  And probably should.

Pictures to share:  

Gemma with the birdhouse she painted.  This has been an ongoing project since Christmas.  She is hoping Daddy will help her hang it tonight.

Kolbe: "I drew a eleshant!!!!"  He was very proud, he's been really into the magnadoodle lately.  That is one toy that is really a favorite around here.

Clem at 10 months!  Seriously.  Where has this past year gone?

Journal: Mother's Day

TODAY

Out my window:  Spring.  Finally.  Oh thank you Jesus.  And from the looks of the forecast, it should be summer by the end of the week.

Clothing myself in:  Skinny jeans (Maurices), pink tank and yellow top (Target), grey shrug (Old Navy...juniors dept., haha) and brown flats (Maurices). Actually presentable enough to post a pic for once.

Around the house: I'd like to do something with the toy corner in the living room but I don't know what.  Currently we have a milk-crate size basket of random toys and Clem's play cube.  Then our religion-type books and some library books are usually over on the fireplace.  And there is a basket of baby toys under one end table and books under another.  I'd really like to consolidate all this stuff in the "toy corner", but there's also a lamp and a vent there, so my options are really limited.  It's not a ton of stuff, I just feel it could be better organized (it's the OCD part in me that constantly has to be organizing something...I think it's a coping mechanism).  I'd like to do a nine-cube but there's just not enough space.  Maybe a modified version?  I saw some cool benches at Target too but the space is pretty small, so between that and the pesky vent (I could move the lamp) I just don't know...   Ideas??

 

The baby:  Ten months.  He is proficient at crawling now.  And pulling up.  And apparently climbing stairs.  And getting into things.  The other day he got into something Gemma had painted and before I knew it his face was blue (from the paint).  I'm not ready for this.  He's sooooooo cute though.  He really likes to say "dadada".  Every once in a while he will throw a "mama" in there, but mainly just "dada" and lots of other babbles.  Did I mention he is cute?  And that he eats dirt?  And paper?  Heaven help me.

 

The kiddos:  Gemma has been very trying lately.  Please say a prayer for her (and me).  She is always planning something, last Tuesday or Wednesday I believe Aaron was putting her to bed and she was totally stressing out on him saying, "it's almost Mother's Day and I have SO MUCH I still need to get done!!"  Silly girl.

Kolbe is just cute.  I love the way he talks and his silly little personality.  He is my funny little man.  Did you know he can touch his nose with his tongue?  We are still trying to get to the bottom of his food issues.  Last summer it dawned on us he had a sensitivity to artificial dye (gives him pretty bad eczema around his mouth) and we've cut that out (all except the occasional junk when we're out and about, ugh) but he still has some issues.  Recently we figured out that caramel color has been causing it (even though it is supposedly "natural") and he even flared up after a (very small!) bite of 100% Maple Syrup the other week.  How does that make sense?  I'm glad his only issues are the skin ones, but I'd still like to get to the bottom of this.  Not really wanting to attempt an elimination diet though.  

In the kitchen: Sushi for mother's day (thanks hubby) and pound cake.  Funny story on this (tangent alert).  I will preface by saying that my hubby is a great cook and very proficient in the kitchen.  So Aaron had picked up a bunch of strawberries and mentioned that it would be nice if I made a pound cake to go with them.  I really had intended to do this, but just hadn't gotten around to it so he decided to make me one for mothers day and found a recipe online.  The following conversation ensued:

Aaron: So we only have frozen butter.  Can I use frozen butter for this?

Me:  No.  It has to be softened.

Aaron: Melted?

Me: No, softened.  It's a balance.

Aaron: (puts butter in microwave and measures sugar in bowl).  So how many tablespoons are in a cup?
Me: [quick google search] sixteen.

Aaron: What order am I supposed to put all this stuff in (he had just jotted the ingredients and amounts down), maybe you should print the recipe.

Me: It's a cake hon.  Cream butter and sugar, add eggs, then flour and milk.  By the way, do you need me to get the mixer out for you and show you how to use it?

Aaron: Mixer? Why would I need a mixer? I have muscles!

Me: SERIOUSLY, Aaron?!!!

Aaron: Maybe you should just make the cake.

He was pretty proud of his mad manipulation skilz.  I was amused.  And I made the cake.  True story.

Sesame Chicken; Stuffed Green Peppers; family bday dinner; and Tuna Melts are on the menu this week.  Fresh brussel sprouts, asparagus and lots of fruit in the fridge to use as well.

Crafting: Mended a pair of Aaron's pants and a (brand new) bag from Target that had a rip in the seam.  Does that count?  Also helped the kids make these cute little handprint flowers for their godmamas and grandmamas for Mothers Day.  We wrote prayers on the fingers and turned them into spiritual bouquets.  They were really cute.

Learning: Nothing out of the usual.  I've been giving Gemma more worksheets (mainly math, science and just general kdg readiness stuff) and she really enjoys working on those.  She's getting better at writing with a pencil (vs. crayons) and is even using a correct grip more regularly!  Almost ready to start Letters and Numbers for Me (our next handwriting book).  I need to check if we have this video about Our Lady of Fatima on our DVR.  Thinking about and looking forward to things to do with Kolbe next year.  We are signed up for Bible school (Gemma) and swim lessons (Gemma and Kolbe) this summer, so that should give us some fun things to do. 

Reading: Finished Navigating the Interior Life (see my review HERE).  Still working through the Catechism daily (mostly) for the Year of Faith, and really enjoying it.  Trying to read from the Bible every day.  I am part-way through Beyond Baby Talk, which a friend loaned me.  It's good, but seems (at least so far) to deal with language more than speech, whereas Kolbe's issues are speech not language.  It's still interesting enough though.  Also reading a bit about Ignatian spirituality.  Any recommendations along that vein would be appreciated.

Watching:  Caught a couple episodes of Survivorman that we hadn't seen.  Debi, your boys would like this show.  Still enjoying new episodes of River Monsters each week during its season which I'm sure will end soon (it was really short last year).  Seriously?  How many more river monsters are really out there?  This show just can't go on forever.  Sadly.  Oh, and we also watched a show the other night on cults, it was on History (or H2, I can't remember) and it was really fascinating.    

Bringing me joy: My vocation. 

Thinking about: Mother's Day.  It has really evolved for me.  I'll just come right out and say my first few mother's days were plain miserable.  I cried and had some pretty amazing pity parties for myself, let me tell you.  I thought Mother's Day was supposed to be perfect?!! All about ME!!  But then I readjusted my expectations.  And probably grew up a little bit (it does happen).  Mother's Day is really just another day, contrary to what Hallmark would have you believe.  I mean, don't get me wrong, it is a beautiful day to recognize and celebrate the gift of woman and motherhood (I really like what our priest had to say about this in our bulletin this week); but when it's all said and done, maybe I should spend the day embracing my vocation rather than escaping it.  My kids will tell me happy mother's day a million times but they'll still act, how shall we say, like their usual selves as well. Gemma will melt down over a million random things and Kolbe will decide that he wants to buy a fishing pole instead of going to Mass and obsess and whine and cry about it for 45 minutes.  Clement will pull on my necklace and nurse through all the parts of Mass when I should be standing.  Aaron will make me a nice dinner, but I'll probably still have to clean up the kitchen.  We'll mix a batch of strawberry daiquiris but then we'll have to interrupt our drinking them to clean dog poop off Gemma's bare feet.  But you know what?  That's OK.  Motherhood - in all its "glory" - is my life. Sometimes it's important to just celebrate that.  By being grateful for and embracing the gift of my vocation, with all its blessings and difficulties too.  This year we had a lovely family walk, and a day with very few out-of-the-house obligations.  The kids threw fits and I cleaned up the kitchen (more than once) and the floor could use to be sweeped.  Swept.  Again.  BLAH!  Oh yeah, and I made my own cake.  But this is my life.  And I am content.  Happy.  God is good...all the time.

Pictures to share: 

Wearing their "running hats"

 

Look what I can do!

Family.

Catholic Company Review: Navigating the Interior Life

I recently received a Catholic Company review copy of Navigating the Interior Life: Spiritual Direction and the Journey to God by by Daniel Burke (of RCSpiritualDirection) with Fr. John Bartunet, LC, STL.  As per the back cover, this book aims to answer various questions about spiritual direction...What is it?  Is it for me?  How do I find a spiritual director?  It gives a clear map for understanding the general direction of one's soul, working with a spiritual guide on this journey, and growing in peace and holiness. 

I have been blessed with the opportunity for regular spiritual direction from a local diocesan priest for the past three years, but was still intrigued by the description of this book, and am glad I read it.  The first half or so of the book deals with knowing whether one is in need of or ready for spiritual direction and how to find and approach a spiritual director.  These very detailed chapters helped me to reflect on God's hand in my journey to and through spiritual direction, and gave me a great sense of gratitude that the opportunity for spiritual direction came about for me when I wasn't even really actively looking for it.  God is so good.  Were I not currently seeing a spiritual director, I would have found these chapters immensely helpful in getting the ball rolling. 

The latter half of the book dealt more with the interior life, the trajectory of one's soul, and the three ways.  It started with a survey of sorts helping one to identify his or her root sin, providing ample opportunity for prayer and introspection.  I found it helpful to read and pray through this part before the Blessed Sacrament and the peace and silence He provides.  This book also quotes and speaks extensively about St. Teresa of Avila, namely The Interior Castle.  I actually brought the book to a recent meeting with my spiritual director, and really found it helpful to discuss some of the (more overwhelming, in my opinion) aspects of the interior life with him.  He was able to help me apply what the book said to my current state of life as wife and mommy of three young children better than I would have been able to just reading it on my own.  If you are interested in this book, I would definitely recommend reading the first half on your own, and the second half with some sort of direction. 

The last section of the book provided an in-depth glossary of terms in regards to spiritual direction and the interior life, plus appendices containing information about schools of spiritual direction (for those wishing to become spiritual directors...in fact my SD even commented that there were some great sections in this book on how to be a spiritual director!), and christian meditation, plus detailed end-notes referenced throughout the text.

I liked this quote from the last page, and think it sums up the entire book quite well. "In the end, this book is about acquiring self-knowledge in the context of God.  With that knowledge we know where we are, we know where the life-giving water is, and we have some sense of how to get at it."

BOTTOM LINE, if you are interested in learning more about authentic Catholic Spiritual Direction or looking for a spiritual director, this book (along with the author's website) is a great resource I would definitely recommend.  And as for spiritual direction in general, I highly recommend it.  Regular (every 4-6 weeks) spiritual direction and confession have brought some much-needed peace and clarity to my some often-times crazy life/vocation.

This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Navigating the Interior Life. The Catholic Company is a great resource for all your seasonal needs such as First Communion gifts as well as ideas and gifts for the special Papal Year of Faith.

Review: Brother Francis DVDs

For his Feast Day last year, Kolbe's godmother gave him a Brother Francis DVD entitled Let's Pray.  I couldn't tell you how many times Kolbe has requested and watched it (he enthusiastically refers to it as his "ball-ball DDD"); he really really likes it.  I like it too, the songs are catchy (the Our Father actually still brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it), the animation is bold yet simple, and the message is aimed perfectly at the 3-5 year old crowd, with its explanation of what prayer is and why we pray.  It also talks about how we can pray through our "doing", and tells the story of St. Therese, who did little things with great love (cue music). 

I recently contacted Herald Entertainment to inquire whether they had any DVDs available for bloggers to review and they sent me a copy of Born into the Kingdom along with a companion coloring book.  This DVD was similar in length (less than 25 minutes) and format to Let's Pray, and covered the story of Creation, original sin and its consequences, finishing up with the gift of Baptism.  While we've read the story of creation numerous times from various Children's Bibles, I don't think we've ever watched it, so I appreciated my children being able to experience the story in this way.  Plus, when we read the story of creation, I don't always follow it up by talking about Baptism, so I really like how that was all tied together for young minds who might not otherwise draw those conclusions.  I found it a little odd that they depicted Adam and Eve hiding because of fear without mentioning their nakedness, but I suppose I can understand why they did that, being television and all.  I also didn't particularly appreciate their analogy of Baptismal Grace being like going to the doctor to get a vaccine when you are sick (for various reasons...even my hubby commented on that from the other room as he listened along), but overall though the big pieces of the salvation picture: Creation, the Fall, and salvation through Christ and Baptism were woven together very well in a way that was probably a bit over my three-year-old's head, but still very age-appropriate for preschoolers and even K-2 I would think.  I particularly liked the catechesis it provided as it walked step-by-step through the Rite of Baptism.  

This DVD would make a GREAT Baptism Anniversary gift, or present for an older brother or sister in anticipation of a new sibling's arrival and/or Baptism.  Of the two DVDs we have viewed, Let's Pray is definitely my favorite, but they are both well done and I look forward to viewing more of the DVDs in this series with my young children.

I was provided with a review copy of Brother Francis: Born into the Kingdom by the publisher Herald Entertainment in exchange for my honest review.