Journal: well well well

TODAY

Out my window:  Rainy.  It has turned into Seattle here, it is nuts.  It's because we dug a well.  Seriously, they started digging, it started raining.  OH well (haha).  In all honesty though I am thrilled for the rain, the days (and nights) have been so cozy and the cooler weather in July is AHHHHHmazing!

Clothing myself in:  Typical Monday fare, sweat capris and a T.  Monday is laundry and catch up from the weekend day so we usually don't get out of the house much.  Oh, and my hair is in pigtails per Gemma's request.  

Around the house: Well, outdoors we had an irrigation well dug and then had a big 'ole pile of disgusting smelly goop removed from our front yard a couple days later.  The lawn is in shambles with a few dead/dying spots from the goop and huge ruts from the truck.  Aaron has his work cut out for him this Fall, but it will look really nice again when everything is put back together, and will especially be nice to not have to spend so much time (and MONEY) watering in the future.  Unless it keeps raining like this, and then, well....

I hit another de-cluttering kick so I have been going through things, sorting, organizing, putting things in places that make more sense, tossing.  Etc.  Feels SOOOO good.  I requested this book from the library and am intrigued to take a look at it.

I also mopped my kitchen walls.  Yes, you read that right.  Our kitchen is red, and the walls were looking really dusty, but the ceiling is vaulted so they are really tall.  So I got one of my Rubbermaid Reveal pads wet and then squeezed it out really well, put it on the mop (sans sprayer) and had at it.  My husband thought I was a little nuts but then he was quite impressed with the results, soooooooo....

And we are finally the proud owners of Corelle.  I thought maybe we could go without it, but our regular dishes are really bulky and heavy and I am becoming less and less a fan of putting hot stuff on the plastic kiddy plates, so Corelle it is (for the children's dining-ware anyways).  Thankfully I was able to find white, so it goes with our regular dishes (which are white...yes, we are that exciting).  For now I just got 6 cereal bowls and 6 lunch plates.  Trying to find a good option for children's drinking (non sippy) glasses.  Any suggestions?  Something that doesn't spill super easy.  And glass kind of scares me for multiple reasons.

 

The baby: Has pretty much settled into one nap a day, which has been pretty nice.  It makes it a little harder to get out of the house (mainly in the mornings) because it kinds of throws things for a loop if he falls asleep in the car, but he has been napping from 11:30-1:30, give or take a bit on either end, and it seems to be working out really well and has made bedtime a much more regular, reasonable time.  I am dreading kindergarten pick up, but alas it is what it is. 

 

The kiddos:  Had so much fun playing in all the silt that ended up in our curb/guttering after the well was dug.  Seriously, you have never seen finer dirt.  They played some in the rain.  I've been trying a little more to rotate toys in and out and this seems to help pique their interest more in what we have, though given the choice they spend most of their days at the table with scissors and paper and crayons.  And tape.  Lots of tape.  My kids like tape a lot.

In the kitchen: Honey Chicken and Fried Brown Rice tonight with something green on the side. A couple weeks ago I was going to make some rice pilaf but then decided to try fried rice on a whim and it turned out sooooooo good.  Hopefully I can remember how I did it.  Homemade pizza and salad.  Making some egg casseroles and a pound cake for a family birthday party.  Baked salmon, focaccia bread and something green.  Aaron ran the smoker yesterday and we had some tasty smoked steaks when our friend Fr. Matt came for dinner last night.  I made some green beans and potato casserole for sides, so tasty leftovers in the fridge this week as well. 

Crafting: Does darts in pants count?  And I am looking at making plastic-canvas covers for the end-tables, sofas and a couple tissue boxes (inside joke).  

Learning:  I printed out some calendars and have been jotting 2-3 learning activities (either written work, crafts, learning toys, manipulatives, flashcards, etc.) on each day.  This has been a good fit, and nice reminder to get things out and actually use them.  I have been all over the place with our "home school" organization lately, so this seems to be the latest good fit.  We'll see how things evolve in a few weeks when Gemma starts school.  I will probably start Kolbe's letter of the week activities after Labor Day once we've hit a good groove with Gemma being away.

Reading: I have not done much reading lately.  I started The Tale of Despereaux though and it promises to be a light, easy read.  Reading Up and Down the River with the kids. 

Watching:  Looking forward to the new Gold Rush Off Season episode this Friday!!!!!!!!!!  And Shark Week/Shark Fest is next week.  Set your DVRs!

Bringing me joy: A quiet weekend hanging out with my fam.  Watching Fr. Matt read The Story of St. Gemma to Gemma.  It was really sweet.  Wonderful, amazing husband who is calm and sane when I act like a nut-job.  Chatting and doing stuff together after the kids are in bed.  Snuggling a sleeping Clem.  A pair of new (knock-off) toms. 

Thinking about: How things will be when school starts.  It is going to be sooooo different.  For everyone.  It's kind of like the end of a pregnancy, in that we are to the point where I know change is eminent and I am just ready to get rolling with it.  Not that I want to wish away these last few weeks (sniff), but I just don't like change so, ummmm, yeah. 

Pictures to share:  

Celebrating his birthday with extended family.  I love his expression.  Everything else I want to share is still on my camera, so maybe next week.

Food-for-Thought round-up: July 26

Emotional Security - This was just a good reminder.  Nothing earth-shattering, but I'm glad I read it.

Some thoughts on Humanae Vitae and NFP - I don't really want to start a big debate about this, I've witnessed enough Facebook threads on this topic of late to make my head spin.  SO many strong (and often misinformed) opinions, whew.  But this article (and I actually didn't read the whole thing) did provide some good information I thought.  And if you have never read Humanae Vitae, two words...read it.

Mercy and Confession - I am so grateful for the opportunity for regular confession and Spiritual Direction.  This article had some good, concise nuggets of wisdom about the Sacramental Grace we receive from Reconciliation.

Sexy Little Girls - Sigh.  I hate this trend.  I can hear my daughter telling me "we don't say 'hate' mommy," but this is an instance where I will unashamedly say it.  I got a Penney's ad in the mail the other day and I seriously couldn't tell what age the kids were in the ads because the style of clothing made them look so much older than they probably were.  It was just weird.  And I'm not even talking modesty strictly.  I mean, yes, modesty is an issue, but some articles of clothing, even if they are modest, are not intended for a five year old girl to wear.  I didn't completely identify with everything the author said (perchance it was her atheist perspective??)  but she made some good points.  

In the parenting category:

• Going Against a Toddler's Will - I liked this, especially the distinction between "soft" and "hard" rules.  So many parenting methods are so big on "consistency" no matter what, and that has always bugged me, as I do believe different things carry different weights, and also that you have to pick your battles sometimes depending on things like tiredness, hunger, etc. This was a good read.
• Truths About Consequences -  Some of the "consequence based" parenting styles I've seen and read about just seem so arbitrary to me.  This summed up my disdain for that approach to discipline quite succinctly.  I thought some of her model conversations were a little wordy and/or forced, and not exactly what I'd say, but I agree that consequences are often simply a euphemism for punishments, and that we teach our children much more effectively through our own example and secure relationships with them than through rewards and consequences.
• The Sweet Spot - I'm not there yet.  Not really even close.  But I liked this article a lot and thought maybe some of you out there could relate and appreciate it now.  Maybe I'll come back and read it here in 5-7 years....

Food-for-Thought round-up: July 21

Some good thoughts (that I could use to read daily, or maybe hourly) on self-control:

• The Freedom of Self Mastery - "But I still struggle.  Four active young children, a nursing baby, and a full household to manage often makes it difficult to convince my body to do the will of my spirit."  Yup, that is one of my hugest struggles lately too, the discipline to get. out. of. bed. in the morning.  I used to be such a morning person, and lately I have so many excuses.  Accountability here...6:30 every morning this week.  Ask me how I'm doing.
  
• What to Do When You May or May Not be a Control Freak - " Every impulse to seize control — is the Holy Spirit’s invitation to practice self-control.  Every nerve jolt to freak out, melt down, start yelling, fly into rage or panic is a divine cue to slow down, breathe deep, start praying, and lean into God.  Every instinct to control something is God’s nudge to control myself."
  
• And sort of along that vein, Don't Squash My Emotions.  If you don't read the whole thing, at least read the first paragraph.

Moving on...

Emotion begets emotion. When our friends are happy or sad, we feel happy or sad. Maybe we feel twinges of tears during tissue commercials, or serious anxiety while watching contentious political debates. Being in the room with an angry individual, especially a loud angry person with big aggressive movements, can (and should) cause anxiety or mirrored anger. And parenting is no different. We come face to face with our children’s mostly raw, unhinged, loud and pure emotion once, twice or a hundred times a day. - See more at: http://coreparentingpdx.com/2013/dont-squash-my-emotions/#sthash.Q1y9w2Us.dpu

Emotion begets emotion. When our friends are happy or sad, we feel happy or sad. Maybe we feel twinges of tears during tissue commercials, or serious anxiety while watching contentious political debates. Being in the room with an angry individual, especially a loud angry person with big aggressive movements, can (and should) cause anxiety or mirrored anger. And parenting is no different. We come face to face with our children’s mostly raw, unhinged, loud and pure emotion once, twice or a hundred times a day. - See more at: http://coreparentingpdx.com/2013/dont-squash-my-emotions/#sthash.Q1y9w2Us.dpuf

Emotion begets emotion. When our friends are happy or sad, we feel happy or sad. Maybe we feel twinges of tears during tissue commercials, or serious anxiety while watching contentious political debates. Being in the room with an angry individual, especially a loud angry person with big aggressive movements, can (and should) cause anxiety or mirrored anger. And parenting is no different. We come face to face with our children’s mostly raw, unhinged, loud and pure emotion once, twice or a hundred times a day. - See more at: http://coreparentingpdx.com/2013/dont-squash-my-emotions/#sthash.Q1y9w2Us.dpuf

Emotion begets emotion. When our friends are happy or sad, we feel happy or sad. Maybe we feel twinges of tears during tissue commercials, or serious anxiety while watching contentious political debates. Being in the room with an angry individual, especially a loud angry person with big aggressive movements, can (and should) cause anxiety or mirrored anger. And parenting is no different. We come face to face with our children’s mostly raw, unhinged, loud and pure emotion once, twice or a hundred times a day. - See more at: http://coreparentingpdx.com/2013/dont-squash-my-emotions/#sthash.Q1y9w2Us.dpuf

Emotion begets emotion. When our friends are happy or sad, we feel happy or sad. Maybe we feel twinges of tears during tissue commercials, or serious anxiety while watching contentious political debates. Being in the room with an angry individual, especially a loud angry person with big aggressive movements, can (and should) cause anxiety or mirrored anger. And parenting is no different. We come face to face with our children’s mostly raw, unhinged, loud and pure emotion once, twice or a hundred times a day. - See more at: http://coreparentingpdx.com/2013/dont-squash-my-emotions/#sthash.Q1y9w2Us.dp

Today we celebrate our seventh anniversary, and this made me appreciate this Marriage Crucifix post all the more.  What a beautiful way to begin and foundation on which to build a marriage. 

From the "interesting" files:

• Concerns Rising Over Slow Appointment of Bishops.  We are currently without a Bishop, and after reading this I'm wondering if it will be awhile...
  
• And one from Huff Post that caught my eye after the pony debacle last week.  The Disturbing Evolution of My Little Pony.

In the recipe department, my hubby made ceviche today.  It was pretty good, he'd been wanting to try it for a long time.  That wasn't the exact recipe he used, but it was a good place to start.  He used silver corvina for the fish.   

And related to food, another one from Huff Post, From Oreos to Apple Slices was inspiring. IMHO... Cookies and snacks and such weren't quite such a bad thing 20-30 years ago when many snacks were homemade, and the processed foods weren't quite as full of the junk (dyes, preservatives, partially hydrogenated oils, fat and sugar replacements, etc.) as they are today.  What this mom did was really great.  Yes, serving healthy snacks takes more work, more prep time, more creativity and effort.  But who's to say it isn't worth it??

Check in with SimpleMama for more Food for Thought.

Journal: woe is nap

TODAY

Out my window:  Sunny and hot.  My lantana is thriving, my begonias look terrible, and I have a new pot of basil on the deck.  

Clothing myself in:  Grey sweat-shorts and a t-shirt from my hubby's office.  

Around the house: Cleaned the kitchen cabinets with Murphy's Oil Soap this morning and dusted the rest of the house.  Beginning to think about Fall wardrobes (and Gemma's uniforms) and have started picking up a few things here and there for the kids.  OH clothing.  Got the older kids each a new pair of tennies (found some really durable looking Carter's ones for Kolbe, am curious to see if they will be as good as they look.  For under $15 the price was right).  Took Gemma's uniforms and a few of my pants to my alterations gal.  Trying to figure out how to get the baby to nap somewhat regularly and for longer than three minutes.  He seems to not want to miss out on all the coolness that apparently goes on while he is sleeping, and he gets woken really easily by two unnamed others who happen to reside in our residence. 

 

The baby one-year-old:  Had his birthday last week.  He was getting to the end of his chicken pox, so it was a quiet birthday around the house.  The kids wrapped up a bunch of our toys from the toy-box and he opened them and squealed with glee at all the "new" toys (that he'd just been playing with not two-hours previous).  Yesterday I was sitting in the kitchen and watched him - with my own eyes - stand up in the middle of the room and take three steps towards me.  I don't think I would have believed it if Gemma hadn't been sitting there watching too. None of the others have had first steps until closer to 15 months, so I didn't see this one coming!  He hasn't taken anymore since then, but he has been standing up a lot.  You are growing TOO fast, baby.  He's so sweet though, and it's so much fun to see him discovering new things and becoming more aware.  He's about half a pound shy of 20 lbs. 

Sigh, as alluded to above his naps have been all over the place.  One nap isn't always enough, but if he gets two then bedtime is really late, and for whatever reason Kolbe and Gemma and especially Kolbe like to be really loud when he is finally napping and he gets woken up.  A lot.  And I am beginning to think he will probably fall asleep in the van every day when I go to pick up Gemma from half-day kdg.  And did I mention he doesn't transfer well from the carseat to his bed?  Today he has napped for a whopping 10 minutes, and the later it gets in the day the less inclined I feel to try to get him to sleep.  I'm sure he will fall asleep in the high chair at dinner and the 2 minute respite will be enough to tide him over until 10pm.  ACK!  All this kind of makes me want to lose my mind.  I never knew sleep would be such a cause for angst in my parenting. 

 

The kiddos:  

GEMMA and I went school shopping this past weekend to get her school supplies and a few more clothing items she needed for her uniform.  She also got to buy a new pony with her own money.  This was her first time to spend her own money and it was...memorable.  The blasted ponies come in bags where you can't tell what they are, and after she paid we walked off to the side to open her pony and it was this blue and black gothic looking one named "Spitfire" and she absolutely dissolved into a pile of tears.  My heart totally and completely broke for her.  Long story short, we talked it through and I ended up "buying" the pony back from her and she tried again with much better results ("Apple Stars" was much more her speed than "Spitfire").  She is now saving up to buy "Rainbow Dash" (she costs $4.04, so it will be awhile).  We are going to start giving her an allowance here when school starts.  AND, she lost another tooth this past weekend too, so she got some tooth fairy money for that (half of which she shared with Kolbe...heart-melt moment).  We are both getting excited for kindergarten.  I know it will be happy and sad...the space will do us good, but I will really miss her too.  She is my clean-up queen and helps with the baby a lot, and she can be really enjoyable to have around.  But it's going to be a good year.  At Kohls yesterday I bought her a copy of Curious George's First Day of School and I'm going to give it to her on her first day.

KOLBE is three.  He has been acting very three lately.  But aside from that he is so very sweet and still likes to love and snuggle so much.  We were out to eat last night and he turned to me, gave me a kiss and a big hug and said in his sweet little voice, "I love you mommy."  Just out of nowhere.  It made me kind of tear up a bit, just thinking that some day he'll be a big high schooler who probably won't want to give his mama a hug and kiss out in public.  But maybe he still will.  He is such a sweet little boy. 

In the kitchen: This past week we had some Beef and Veggie Stew; Loaded Baked Potato Casserole and green beans; homemade pizza; a night out to eat; and shrimp linguine tonight.  Up next week is tacos; chicken, broccoli and rice casserole; fish crisp and some other stuff TBD.  Enjoying lots of fresh fruit around here lately!!

Crafting: I have some material that is the same pattern as Gemma's school jumper and I'd like to make her some sort of hair thing with it.  However, I have no idea where to even begin. 

Learning: When the kids were sick I was looking for more things to record for them and discovered that there is some really neat children's programming on EWTN.  Some of their favorites are Cat Chat, The Donut Man and My Catholic Family.  Been working on some telling time with Gemma and started her new handwriting book with her.  Kolbe has really been liking his Kumon cutting and tracing books lately.  Trying to take full advantage of the many learning items we have accumulated by pulling different ones out each day.  You know, while the baby naps.  Oh wait...  

Reading: I finished St. Francis!!!!!!!  My review is here.  The last 10 or so pages reading about his death were so beautiful.  I'm looking forward to my next review, Yours is the Church.  I need to jump in and start catching up on some Catechism reading too, I am sooooo behind.  Reading Schoolhouse in the Woods with the kids.  Gemma really likes these stories so I went ahead and ordered used copies of the other two books in the Fairchild Family series, plus another one by the same author.  Our dear friend Larry from Church gave us this Children's Bible and I've been trying to read either a story  from there or a saint story each day to the kids at breakfast time.  I had just been thinking about another children's Bible that was a little more substantial than what we had, and this one seems to fit the bill.

Watching:  A bit of the All-Star game, which made me reminisce, as Clem was born the night of the All-Star game last year.  

Bringing me joy: Chicken Pox are over.  Celebrating seven years of marriage this weekend.  Thinking about the upcoming school year. 

Thinking about: Naps?

Pictures to share:  

The birthday boy.

Toothless

Kolbe's drawing of Thomas

Reached their reading goals!

Loaded Baked Potato Casserole

I saw this recipe on one of those photo + recipe things on Facebook and it intrigued me, so I copied and pasted it into a word.doc and then did a few things to make it my own.  We will definitely be repeating it.

There are several steps to this recipe so I will explain it in steps, as that makes more sense to me.

START WITH
2-4 Chopped potatoes (depending on the size, I used two [rather large] baby reds and a sweet potato)
Toss in a bowl with:
a generous amount of olive oil
salt, pepper, garlic, paprika to taste
Sriracha (or another hot sauce) to taste...I made ours mild enough for our kids, but it would definitely be tasty a little spicier

Mix well and then scoop potatoes out and put into a well-oiled 9x9 pan, leaving any juices in the bottom of the bowl.

Place 9x9 in 450 degree oven and stir every 15-20 min. until done (about 30-40 minutes)

MEANWHILE:
Chop: 
3-4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
a green (or colored) pepper
some baby bella mushrooms

Toss these all in the bowl the potatoes were in and add more oil/sauce/spices as desired to marinate.  Stick in fridge.

IN ANOTHER BOWL MIX:
6-8 oz grated cheese (I used extra sharp cheddar)
4-5 chopped green onions
5-6 slices of crumbled bacon (you will obviously need to cook this at some point prior)

Once the potatoes are done remove them from the oven, dump the raw chicken on them and the cheese mixture on top of that.  Kick the oven back to 400 and bake until chicken is done, around 15-20 minutes.  

Serve with something green on the side and top with your choice of toppings, we enjoyed sour cream on ours.

ENJOY!

Catholic Company Review: St. Francis of Assisi A Biography

St. Francis of Assisi: A Biography (Revised) by Omer Englebert  took me a long time to read.  This book was good.  It was not my usual fare (which is probably part of the reason it took me so long), and only the third (I believe) biography/autobiography of a saint that I have read (the others being The Story of A Soul: The Autobiography of St. Therese, St. Monica and her son Augustine, and another relatively short biography of St. Monica).  I have read lots of stories about saints here and there, some a paragraph long, some several pages or chapters, but if you ask me to tell you something about any given Catholic saint, a few facts is the best I can do.  Maybe.  After reading this biography I truly feel like I knew St. Francis.  I may not be able to parse about him for hours on end, and there were a lot of names and dates and places that I found difficult to keep straight, but this was namely due to the fact that I didn't have uninterrupted stretches to read and study this book.  That said, I did get a lot out of it, I'm glad I read it, and I'm glad it was a review copy because I think it kept me honest and helped me to actually persevere to the end. 

As was alluded to on the first page of the introduction, many people love St. Francis...even non-Catholics.  He has a universal appeal that at times people try to "remake in their own image" (direct quote).  This book made me appreciate even more this appeal, but on a much deeper level than those who, through honest ignorance or misguided devotion, reduce Francis to an animal-loving, tree-hugging social worker. 

I am not going to give another biography as part of my review, but simply note the things that struck me most while reading his life:

• His undying love for "lady poverty".  The poverty to which Francis and his brothers espoused themselves was inspirational yet hard for me to even begin to fathom.  A truly beautiful thing.  It definitely gave me pause as I looked at my own life and all my...things. 
• It is hard for me to contemplate getting anything done without a computer, or email or telephone, not to mention electricity and all the other modern communication conveniences of this day.  I marveled over the saint's travels, whether they were to preach, care for the sick, or the process of seeking approval for his order from Rome.   The fact that, during his travels, he would often run into others from his order without texting or tweeting their locations amazed me as well, considering these were travels from Italy to France to Morocco and everywhere in between.  It was an interesting glimpse back in time.
• Along this vein, I found it fascinating reading about the process of beginning a religious order, and all that involves.  Francis not only worked to reform the Church from clericalism and other issues of the day, but he had his share of reformation to do within his order as it grew as well.   I was also slightly amused at some of the "back-and-forth" between the Franciscans and Dominicans.
• Reading of his many, oftentimes strenuous travels and the number of lives he touched while he was living was very interesting.  He was truly a man for others, and loved as a saint even before his death.
• His willingness to and preference - even love - for suffering was striking.  I wish I could suffer with a fraction of the grace with which he suffered.

This book was a very detailed account of the life of St. Francis.  I will never remember half of what I read, I'm quite certain; but I am also certain that I have a much deeper respect and love for this saint of saints after reading his life.  And reading this has definitely given me more of a desire to continue reading the lives of the saints.  My uncle, when discussing this book with him via email, mentioned that there is no better reading than the true, authentic biographies of the saints.  It takes more brain-power than a "fluff" novel, or even many other religious books, but it is definitely worth the effort.  I can say with certainty that I will be looking for another saint biography to begin sometime in the near future (and am definitely open for recommendations).

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 St. Francis of Assisi: A Biography (Revised). The Catholic Company is the best resource for all your seasonal needs such as First Communion gifts as well as ideas and gifts for the special papal Year of Faith.

Food-for-Thought round-up (3rd edition)

Pizza and Big Emotions - I liked this.  I have a three-year-old who has tantrums just like that, over the same type of things.  Like, seriously, I had to go back and make sure I didn't write the article, it was that eerily familiar.  And he's not being a bad boy.  He's just being three.  It is always encouraging for me to read something like this.  Keep the faith, Monica, the threes don't last forever.  And seriously, whoever invented the "terrible-twos" clearly did not have a three year old.  Two is hands-down wayyyyy easier than three (IMHO).

Study Finds Benefits of Delayed Cord Clamping - We've delayed clamping/cutting the cord with all three of our children, and will with future ones as well.  Not too much more to say about that, but I saw this and felt compelled to share.  I had no idea about this until my doc delayed it with our first and hubby explained why after the fact.  Since then we have been sure to specify in our Birth Plan.  

Anglican Prayer Beads - I had no idea any other denominations had "rosaries".  These look neat, and I really like the prayers that go along with them. 

Screen Rules - We're still several years away from this being an issue.  Currently we have a set time of day (after lunch) that the kids get to watch a few shows from OnDemand or the DVR, plus sometimes an episode of Little Bear before bed.  Any other TV watched is initiated/monitored by mom or dad, and the kids don't use the computer or any other electronic devices yet.  So much to think about...

Some info on Shingles Transmission -  I found this particularly interesting, especially since several people had expressed concern that my children with Chicken Pox could give them shingles.  This kind of puts that myth to rest.

What Happens When You Deprive Children of Scary Stories - A friend of mine shared these quotes with me when I put something on Facebook about being a little weirded-out after reading Hansel and Gretel to Gemma last week.  Sound off, I'm curious as to others' thoughts (and experiences) on this topic.  I think it comes down to perspective...those stories seem much stranger to an adult who lacks any sort of imagination (me) than they do to children whose entire days are often comprised of pretend-play and the like.

Unfinished Work - My sister shared this one, and it sums up my feelings about the Fourth of July and America in general fairly well.  I used to be so patriotic, and lately I just feel jaded and cynical about the whole political process.  I don't have the mental energy to hash all my thoughts out here now, but Simcha made some really good points.

Top Ten Feeding Mistakes Parents Make - This was interesting, although I definitely didn't agree with it all.  I thought the first two were pretty good.  I was pretty "traditional" with the way we fed Gemma and mealtime was miserable with her.  I was much more relaxed/open-minded with Kolbe, and haven't done really any purees with Clem and they both were/are great eaters as babies (we start limited solids around 7-8 months and Clem is just now getting to the point at 1 year where we'll give him about anything).  I go back and forth about milk, the two older kids drink quite a bit of it and I don't really limit it.  It doesn't seem to be a huge problem so thus far I've let it go.  And I definitely agree with the picky thing (that it is very normal with the toddler/preschooler crowd) and I think you just have to pick your battles on a day-by-day basis.  We have a "no thank you bite(s)" rule at our house for foods served at mealtime that kids would rather not eat.  And while I don't necessarily bribe with desserts, on the flip side of the coin if you are not "hungry" enough to eat a good dinner, you're not hungry enough for a treat either is my motto.  The "no banned foods" thing got me thinking too, because there are some foods and drinks that I will absolutely not allow in my house.  Kool-Aid.  Soda pop.  Processed snack junk like Twinkies and [most] crackers and potato chips.  That said I understand that there are birthday parties and school functions and such where my kids will have those things but as far as I'm concerned those foods are not welcome in our home.  Not even in moderation  ;-)  And the boundaries in the kitchen thing...at least at this point if my kids are hungry I will let them eat.  They know, though, that if it's bedtime or right before a meal their options are pretty much limited to "apples or carrots".  And I really don't have a problem with that, I mean, it's healthy, who cares if it's mealtime or if they fill up on it?!  I'm sure my tune may change through the years but that's where we are now.  At any rate, the article gave me some "food" for thought, haha.  Regarding kids and diet, I think Eat Healthy, Feel Great is a really good book that explains healthy food choices in a very kid-friendly way.  My kids (especially Gemma) really got a lot out of it. 

What are some of your thoughts on kids and diet? 

Journal: Chicken Pox part deux

TODAY

Out my window:  It. Is. Hot.  The landscape around the neighborhood is kind of depressing, so many big trees were lost in the windstorm.  It looks so different and this won't be remedied anytime soon.  Bleh.  

Clothing myself in:  Meh.  I did get a fresh haircut which feels good!!

Around the house: Our garbage disposal quit working yesterday.  It actually ended up being a short in the switch (which caused the dishwasher to be without power as well).  Thankfully it was a relatively fast fix, the electrician was out this morning and got the power back up and running.  Dishwasher is humming as I type.  Creature comforts...it is odd for me to think that 50 years ago probably no one had dishwashers or garbage disposals.  I should be more grateful.  While the electrician was out, Aaron took the opportunity to have someone help him hang new light fixtures in the kitchen and dining room, and so the kitchen renovation begins!!  We've picked out our counter-tops and backsplash, and have a pretty good idea on appliances, sink and faucet.  Looking very forward to getting started here in a couple months!!

 

The baby: Would be the 'part deux' of the Chicken Pox mentioned in the title.  He took them pretty well up until last night which was incredibly rough.  Like, he would sleep for 5-10 minutes and then be restless for 10-15 minutes.  Back and forth.  All. Night. Long.  It was a long night, and he's pretty clingy today.  Hopefully he will be on the mend soon, he has a BIRTHDAY on Thursday!!  I don't like to see him sick, but part of me is really glad he ended up getting the pox and we can just be done with it for these three.

 

The kiddos:  Are a little stir-crazy, being in quarantine mode again but not having the edge taken off due to being sick themselves.  Lots of basement play, and they've been playing in the backyard some too.  Their latest favorite outdoor activity is Easter Egg hunts.  For real.  They take the parade candy and gum they got from the Fourth of July parade and put it in the eggs and hide them all over the yard.  So funny.  Keeps them entertained though.

Firecrackers made a big impression on Kolbe.  Lately he has been building and lighting pretend firecrackers made from random toys and kitchen items.  It is very cute.  

Gemma seems to have turned a corner lately.  We still have our issues, but she has been doing better in the listening and sass departments, and actually showing some contrition when she does get sassy and angry.  Baby steps.  This makes my heart happy though.

In the kitchen: Pork Cutlets and Quinoa Black Bean Salad; Spaghetti and greens; Cheesy Chicken Tostadas; Baked Salmon, rice pilaf and veggies.  And probably some sort of tasty birthday treat for the big ONE year old. It will definitely be a quiet birthday with him still being contagious.

Crafting: I mended a hole in Gemma's blankie....

Learning:  I have some telling time stuff all ready to go for Gemma, and some watermelon books and a paper plate watermelon craft to do with both kids.  Gemma read most of Hop on Pop last week.  The big kids both reached their reading goals for the library's Summer Reading Program so the two of them and I took a trip to the library together to hand in their charts and get their prizes.  It was fun doing something just the three of us.

Reading: I am getting behind in my Catechism and really should be finished with St. Francis by now.  Sigh.

Watching: My uncle was telling me about a show by the name of Zero Hour that I'd like to check out OnDemand.  Anyone else seen it?  Some Royals baseball.  That's about all.  

Bringing me joy: Reminiscing about the past year with our sweet Clem.  I can not BELIEVE it has been a year since his birth.  Watching the kids play, especially Kolbe and his firecrackers and listening to Gemma with her ponies.  Good friends.  Chatting over the fence with the neighbors in the evening.  Gemma and kindergarten.  I have made peace and I am getting really excited for the school year, I think she is just going to love it, especially getting to learn so many new things.  I am excited for her and excited for this new stage in our family.

Thinking about: How old Gemma seemed at a year.  Clem still seems like such a baby. I think your perspective must change the more kids you have??

Pictures to share:  

The kids went to their first parade on the Fourth of July.  We all had fun!

Food-for-Thought round-up (2nd edition)

A Pox on the CDC's Vaccination Agenda - This was an interesting read I stumbled upon after just going through a round of chicken pox at our house.  I would definitely lean towards thinking the chicken pox vaccine is doing more harm than good, for various ethical and safety reasons.  A few things of interest from the article: (quoting)

Indeed, since the introduction of universal chickenpox vaccination in the US in 1995, the vaccine has been found to have only limited effectiveness,[2] with 1 in 5 children receiving the original vaccine experiencing “breakthrough” infections.”[3] This is why, at present, children on the CDC’s immunization schedule receive two doses. But increasing the number of doses isn’t working either.  For example, in 2006, a chickenpox outbreak occurred in a population of Arkansas schoolchildren with 97% immunization compliance. When the researchers looked at the difference in outbreak cases between one-dose and two-dose children, none could be found.[4] (the footnotes can be found at the end of the article if you click on the link)

and

Chicken pox vaccine is also grown with living cells from aborted fetal tissue. Known as “diploid” vaccines, they carry their own set of biological and obviously moral risks.  As far as the precautionary principle stands, injecting virus-infected human cells, alongside powerful immunotoxic adjuvants, into the bodies of healthy children in order to ‘protect’ them from a benign, immune-strengthening bout of chickenpox, sounds like the very definition of insanity. But as it stands today, millions of parents and their pediatricians consider this not only sound practice, but necessary to prevent infecting others.

Oftentimes people examining the effectiveness or necessity of compulsory vaccination fail to mention the aborted-fetal link, so I was impressed that this article touched on that.  For more info on aborted-fetal vaccines and their dangers, take a look at this video or more info here.

Homemade Watercolors - We go through a lot of watercolors around here, so I'm intrigued.  Definitely debating about trying these.

How Same-Sex Marriage Won - I like how this tied same-sex marriage to the wide-spread acceptance of contraception.  As my husband said, contraception really paved the way to many of the "evils" we see in today's society.

Is Cursive Writing Dead? - I can (sort of) see both sides of this one, but I definitely fall into the camp that leans toward thinking cursive is still very necessary.  I mean,on a very basic level, how does one sign one's name if one cannot write cursive?  Am I missing something here??  I think cursive teaches attention to detail, it teaches kids to slow down and take pride in their work.  I think it can be an art in and of itself.  I remember my grandma's cursive always perfectly slanted and beautifully written with those flare pens she was never without.  Maybe I'm just an old sentimental fuddy-duddy, but do away with cursive?  Methinks not.  If cursive is not taught to my children in school, I intend to teach it to them at home. 

Lactivism, aka I'll teach YOU how to feel about nursing - I really liked this. Three kids in, I feel like I've really come full-circle with the whole 'nursing' thing.  I've never used formula (and my younger two have actually never had a bottle), but with my oldest I would pump at home and then bottle-feed her in public.  I feel silly about this now, but that's where I was.  With my second, in looking back I am probably a little guilty of some of that in-your-face "lactivism" that I've definitely witnessed, namely in perusing threads and strong opinions on Facebook.  I feel like I've reached a happy medium with my third, and will probably be in the same place I am now with any subsequent children.  I keep an "all purpose" light-weight blanket in my diaper bag that I use as a blanket/changing pad/nursing cover/burp cloth, etc. etc.  If I am out in public and in close quarters (namely the pew at Church comes to mind) I will toss this blanket over my shoulder when I  nurse.  Otherwise, if I am at a park or in a large gathering where there's lots of space, I typically just nurse.  That said, I will add that I am rather small-chested and I always wear a tank under my shirt that I can pull down the neckline of so there just isn't a whole lot of anything being shown.  If I were somewhere and didn't have my magical blanket and my baby (who nurses on demand) needed/wanted to nurse, I am confident of my ability to discreetly nurse him in a "non-in-your-face way" without offending anyone. Or rather, if anyone chooses to be offended I am of the mindset that this is their problem.  And I say that with all due respect.  Like I said, I've really come full-circle.  I feel very strongly about the importance of breast-feeding...from nutrition to bonding and everything in-between.  But it's not my job to convince the general public of this by being obnoxious. 

And along the lines of breastfeeding, I didn't read the whole thing but The Risk of Not Breastfeeding was an interesting and unbiased paper.

Here's one that really doesn't need any commentary...Blessed John Paul II to be Canonized!!!! 

And another one from Catholic AP.  Finding God in our Parenting Weakness.  I liked this quote a lot: 

I am not called to create perfect experiences for my children.  I am not called to create a perfectly tidy house for my children.  I am called to lead my children to heaven, even when it’s messy, inconvenient, and downright infuriating.  

In the recipe category...we don't have (or have room for) a dehydrator, but I think I may try these homemade fruit roll-ups in our oven.  I remember loving my mom's homemade fruit roll-ups, and I couldn't agree more with the author's sentiments on the store bought ones.

For more Food-for-Thought visit Simplemama.