Journal: mundane

TODAY

Out my window:  Damp.  Cloudy.  Mild but humid.  We've had lots of rain this June.

Clothing myself in:  Jean shorts and a t-shirt.  And I have my hair up and my bangs back in a headband because I am realllllly in need of a haircut.

Around the house: I got some of my old stuffed animals out for the kids to play with.  They think my Alf doll is scary.  Any other "Alf" fans out there?  I've cleaned some more stuff out of storage and sold a few things on FB the past couple weeks.  Looking at another trip to Goodwill or somewhere like that in the near-ish future.

 

The baby/toddler:  Saying more and more words.  Cheesecake, done-mommy, down, "and me" (shouted urgently if he feels like he's missing out on something the big kids are doing).  He will repeat just about anything.  Lots of interest in the potty.  Yesterday I think he only had two wet dipes all day.  We'll see if anything comes of this.  Keeping my expectations low.

 

The kiddos:  Finishing up on their reading goals for the library Summer Reading Program.  Their sunflowers are growing so much, and Gemma had her first bloom this week. 

In the kitchen: Spaghetti and homemade meatballs with canned green beans; shredded crock pot pesto chicken with spinach and tomatoes on focaccia (long name, but actually not super fancy or difficult at all), salads with crispy chicken on the top, oh my we've been having so many salads this summer.  It is so tasty and so super easy!!!  We got these honey-crusted sunflower seeds from Aldi that we've been putting on them.  I am not typically a sunflower seed person, but these things are amazing.  They no longer carry them though.  I am going to cry when ours are gone.  Steak/chicken wraps with lots of fresh veggies tonight and tomorrow is up in the air.

Crafting: Gemma has been braceleting up a storm and I altered a dress for her and took her uniform jumpers out so they will fit her next year.

Learning:  Schoolwork in the mornings has been going pretty well.  We've been working on stuff for half-an-hour give or take, 3-4 days a week. 

Reading: Mainly the same stuff as last week. We've been enjoying some picture books by Patricia Pollaco, and are getting towards the end of By the Shores of Silver Lake.  I really appreciated the picture book recommendations in this post.

Watching:  Meh.  Not much of anything exciting.

Bringing me joy: Reading to Gemma at bedtime.  Family walk in the nature park.  A visit from my uncle from DC.  Pretty orchids from my hubby.  Minimalism.  The Litany for Liberty.  Time outdoors.  I'm not a huge outdoor person, but I like it this time of year all right and oh it does wonders for the kids' moods. Which in turn does wonders for my mood.

Thinking about: Meh.  Not much of anything exciting. 

This was a short post.  Apparently there is not much going on in this neck of the woods.  CHEERS!

Pictures to share:  

Nature walk.  They were letting their butterflies go.  Sometimes they can be so sweet with each other, I love it!

Seven Quick Takes: summer reads, ponies and plastic surgery

Seven Quick Takes is being hosted this week over at Team Whitaker.

1. Good books abound lately, we've all been doing lots of reading, myself included.  I read in such spurts it is ridiculous.  It's like 5 books at once or nothin' with me.  But I am enjoying this reading spurt I'm in and making the most of it.  Heck, maybe this time it will last.  When I was a teenager, and even a young unmarried adult I constantly had my nose in a book.  Not always the most practical thing anymore, but I do enjoy it when I can.  Currently on my end-table are The Book Thief (just started, the writing style is odd but I'm intrigued enough to keep reading); Siblings Without Rivalry (much as I loved How to Talk, this one just isn't quite resonating as much, so we'll see if I finish it); and The Hidden Power of Kindness (I really am liking this.  Reading a few paragraphs a day, just enough to munch on and mull over as I go about my day).  Some faves with the kids lately: The Hoppameleon, Thunder Cake and a few others by Patricia Polacco, and we're working on Caleb's Story (of Sarah Plain and Tall) and By the Shores of Silver Lake.
2. The kids, and even I, have been enjoying time by the (kiddie) pool on the deck.  It's just nice to be outside, even on the hot days.  Is it just me, or do other people's kids fight/spat less when they are outdoors?  I don't know what it is, but there is so much less drama when we 'take it outdoors'.
3. We are finally settling into a summer groove, the first part of June was packed with Art Camp, VBS and a family reunion, and now we pretty much have nothing, haha.  I love the more relaxed pace of our mornings and evenings, but honestly kind of miss the routine/structure that school brings during the day.  See aforementioned spatting.  ;-)  It's all good though.  Some days (like this morning) are great!  Playgroup, time at the library, everyone is relatively pleasant to each other for the most part.  And then some days (yesterday) I am ready to purchase the next ticket to anywhere but here.  OH life.
4. I saw this article about The Sign of the Cross on Facebook and it was so interesting and informative.  If you've ever wondered why some people make The Sign of the Cross "backwards", check this out.
5. Wow.  Only five?  Man, there is just not much going on.  How about pictures of the big kids riding the miniature pony at my sister's?  Gemma's legs were almost too long, haha.
    
6.  Every time I drive past the local Catholic hospital and see their marquis advertising cosmetic plastic surgery I am like, really?  Is that truly in line with your mission so much so that you promote it in big flashing letters for all to see?  For real??  So my hubby said I should look up their Mission Statement (see above link).  I am dubious.  Am I the only one who thinks about these things?
7. Clem has been showing some semi-serious interest in the potty.  Not enough to potty-learn, but enough so that I switched him from the pre-fold/snappi combo to Flip and a folded Econobum since it's a little easier and faster on and off.  He had been telling me he had to poop like 2-3 times an hour and I couldn't figure out what the deal was until I realized he was telling me when he was pottying.  So we're just kind of being chill about it.  Kolbe did the same thing when he was about this age but then didn't really potty-learn until around 3, so I have no high expectations.  Helping a child learn to use the potty is both exciting (no more diapers!!!) and exhausting (you have to go again???).

OK, that was seven.  I made it!  Not without talking about the weather and the toilet, but hey! what can I say?!  Happy June everyone, stay cool!

Journal: reunions, routines, and lots of rain!!

TODAY

Out my window:  Sunny and mild.  The weather has been remarkable, we've had so much rain that we actually wish it would dry out a bit (thought I would never say that again!!).  More in the forecast tonight and tomorrow.  We had 3 1/10 inches in one dumping last weekend, goodness!!

Clothing myself in:  bleh.  I have gotten a few new pair of shorts for summer from Old Navy and Target and one off the local swap page that I'm really enjoying.

Around the house:  We had overnight guests last Thursday/Friday in conjunction with a big family reunion on my mom's side of the family.  We had lots of fun (with the guests and the reunion)!  Trying to settle into the "new normal" that Summer brings, which has been hard because we've had VBS, Art Camp, the guests and the Reunion all in a two-week time period.  Nothing like everything at once, we have hardly anything on our calendar for the rest of the Summer haha.

I got some additional juice glasses from Montessori Services now that Clem is no longer using a sippy and ordered a little glass pitcher and some enamelware mugs as well.  I really like all these items, they are so cute and durable.  I'm hoping the pitcher will save trips to and from the fridge for milk refills during dinner.  Now if I could just get Clem to drink cow's milk...  

 

The baby/toddler: We flipped him front-facing after our "big" (1.5 hour) trip this past weekend.  At almost two and 23 lbs we probably could have kept him rear-facing for longer but he is so.stinking.long.  He had mixed emotions at first about being turned around, but now he enjoys telling me "ready, GO" when we are sitting at stoplights, and seems utterly fascinated watching traffic out his window. 

The kiddos:  Gemma really liked VBS again this year.  She was so excited it was CatChat and we have already listened the heck out of the new CD.  It really is very catchy music, for which I am grateful.  She seems to be loving Art Camp (put on at our local Catholic High School) and is very excited for their art show tomorrow!!  The first couple weeks of Summer were rough on her, the girl just does not do well with change.  I asked her if she missed school and she quite frankly answered me, "yes".  She seems to be settling in though, although she and Kolbe have been sparring more.  It's as if she feels she has to re-establish some sort of dominance around here or something.  Sigh.  Gemma's beloved fish Flowercup died this past Sunday, so we had a little "service" for her at the pond behind the house.  She has taken it pretty well, and we are waiting on any new pets since we are planning to be switching bedrooms and such later in the Summer.  Eventually I would really enjoy a 10 gallon aquarium somewhere in the house, so we will see if now is the time for that. 

Kolbe liked VBS too, but it stressed him out.  He was borderline nightmarish to be around last week.  It made me really glad he is not enrolled in preschool this Fall, because after last week I think I would have called and un-enrolled him.  I think it was just a little much for him.  But like I said, he did seem to have a good time, and never said he didn't want to go, and he has mellowed out considerably this week, so all's well that ends well I suppose.  I have started working on his Handwriting Book with him, and he is making some great strides with his pencil grip.

We took the kids to a water park/pool thing at the reunion and oh my we had fun.  I think it was very similar to what we have at the Y here, so now I am really looking forward to doing that a few times this summer.  The kids LOVED the water slides and Clem even had fun going down on my lap (after Aaron convinced me that I would not, indeed, die.  I am a big chicken).  It was a great afternoon despite being a bit chilly.

In the kitchen: Fajitas, crispy chicken lettuce salads, fish muffins, maybe some linguine (I have a bunch of grape tomatoes in the fridge I need to use). 

Crafting: oh for heaven's sake.

Learning:  VBS, Art Camp, a little "school" work here and there.  Hoping to settle into a more regular routine with that once our other activities are over.  Gemma's reading has really been taking off.  On nights that Aaron is working late or mowing and I am putting Clem to bed, she puts Kolbe to bed and has read him to sleep on more than one occasion.  LOVE. 

Reading: Finished Something Other Than God.  It was a great story of conversion.  The atheist aspect, and the fact that she landed in the Catholic Church made it all the more poignant.  Where She Went, which is apparently the sequel to If I Stay which I read a couple weeks ago.  And it appears there are one or two more after this. 

Watching:  New series of Duck Dynasty starts tonight!!

Bringing me joy: Time with extended family.  VBS and the wonderful Catholic community we are blessed to be a part of.  The kids playing with toys that were mine as a child.  Singing VBS songs with the kids and listening to them in the van.  Laughing with my Aunt about how crazy my kids are at Mass (she raised four boys and a girl, so I think she gets it).  Time outdoors in gorgeous sunny weather.  Watching my kids play with their second cousins...the kids of the cousins with whom I played as a child.  A new swimsuit.  Pentecost.  Chocolate.  A tasty glass of wine and cold beer on hot days.  Reading to Gemma, and all the kids.  New pictures of the kids (see sidebar).  Visiting my sister's farm.  An hour (ALONE!!!) in Adoration, and the prospect of getting to do this weekly this summer.  Chatting with my mom.  A quieter schedule on the horizon.  I have so much for which to be grateful, despite the crazies.

Thinking about: Routines.  I hate to be super schedule-oriented, but oh my, my children thrive on at least a general routine and rhythm to our days.  I enjoyed the reunion and VBS and everything, but if we had another week like last week I think my kids (and consequently me) would have completely flipped out.  Sheesh. 

Pictures to share:  

Some pics from the reunion...

Me with  my Aunt Kathy, her hubby Stu and my Uncle Don (and an uncooperative Clem).  Pic 2 is with my cousin Jess (and an even more uncooperative baby).  She, her hubby and their two kids were our overnight guests.

The kids had their first (and only if it's up to me) time on a trampoline.  And everyone lived and I don't think I even have many more grey hairs!!

Clem thought he was hot. stuff.  I am in the background trying not to have a heart-attack.

Some group shots, there were around 60 there from four generations (a few of my grandma's siblings came the first day).