Journal: life is good

TODAY

Out my window:  Cloudy.  Cold.  It is clearly still winter, and the 10 day forecast doesn't give me much hope.  OH well.  

Clothing myself in:  Jeans, hoodie, blah blah blah, the usual.

Around the house:  Pulling Lenten stuff together, can't believe Ash Wednesday is this week!  I ordered a speaker for my iPhone and I am looking forward to that coming.  (Thanks again for the review, Kansas Mom!  Despite the long and drawn out conversation I had regarding this via Facebook, I still ended up going with the xBoom.)  The iPhone on its own is just not quite loud enough, for stuff with the kids and even for podcasts for me while I'm cooking etc.  I hope to begin using the music capabilities on my phone a little more (see below).    

 

The baby/toddler: I can't get this kid to wear a coat.  Even when it is cold.  Super cold.  Even when he is shivering and says, "I freeeeeeeezy tode, mommy."  "Do you want your coat Clem?"  "NO!" he will scowl at me.  Silly kid.  I always feel like the bad forgetful mom, carrying her coatless toddler around in the cold.  But really!

 

The kiddos: Not much new.  Gemma seems to be hitting her stride again.  She did this last year, she had a rougher first semester and then once we settled into the second semester I remember (last year) seeing this huge shift in her.  And I am seeing it again this year...less argumentative, less sassy, more helpful and grown-up acting.  I have heard before that children experience a period of balance from their birthday to their half-birthday, and a period of imbalance from their half-birthday until their birthday.  Gemma would be a good case-study for this one, because the difference in today's Gemma and the Gemma of six months ago is unbelievable.  I know part of it is that she is just growing up. But the ebb and flow I've seen is definitely intriguing.

Kolbe seems to have leveled out.  Things with him have been good.  He had kindergarten screening last week and it seemed to go well.  We'll see what the "results" are.  We're still planning on half-day for him. 

In the kitchen: Let's see, this week between us and the priests we've got meatloaf, steamed broccoli and roasted potatoes; honey chicken, green beans and rice; meatless egg/vegetable "breakfast" casserole; and a black bean tortilla soup.  If anyone has some tasty, protein-y meatless recipes to share, toss them my way!  Oh, and since Friday afternoon we have gone through three cartons of strawberries and about 3/4 of a cantaloupe.  So glad that more good fruit is starting to come in season!!

Crafting: OH heavens.  Homemade brownies?

Learning:  Kolbe has been really into science lately, so I am trying to follow those interests to the best of my ability (and patience for messes, etc).

Reading: Theology, Philosophy, Confessions.  One of the priests I cook for let me know which translation of the Confessions he recommended.  After purchasing it, I found out that Frank Sheed (who wrote my Theology book) has also translated the Confessions.  Intriguing, but I am planning to stick with the Chadwick translation for now.  My SD loaned me a copy of this commentary on Mark's Gospel I am anxious to take a look at.  I'd like to read Marialis Cultus soon.  Bible.  I'd like to get some ribbon bookmarks for my Bible, and am contemplating purchasing some sort of zip-cover for my beviary.  I have a growing collection of small cards (from funerals, priest ordinations, little notes, etc.) shoved in the front back, and interspersed throughout that I am becoming increasingly worried about were I to drop it somewhere.  Not that I ever drop things.  Or go anywhere.  But even so...

Watching:  Meh.  Not much of note.  

Bringing me joy: Life.  It is good.  Sometimes finding the Good -- finding peace -- in the unexpected just really knocks you off your feet.  Realizing that you are not in control can be hard, yet very freeing.  Confession.  Such a gift.  The sacraments in general.  Unexpectedly getting to hear Fr. Philippe speak at Mass.  A REAL date with my wonderful hubby.  Ear buds.  Listening to classical music via iTunes radio on said ear buds while reading. Aaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!  Oh, and the Benedictines of Mary are coming out with an Easter CD!  Yay!!

Thinking about: This song by Jeremy Camp.  A priest friend of mine referenced it in his homily (podcast) from last weekend and it just really struck me.  It is funny how you can hear a song multiple times (as I had this one) and not think much of it, and then one day it just hits you.  We have been talking about the redemptive act in Theology, so between that and just life in general it just came at a good time.  In fact, it was my very first iTunes purchase.  I feel so 21st Century.  But I feel a little less 21st century asking if there is any way to get free iTunes (seriously, there is some of that classical stuff you should not have to pay for).  And how do I get music that I already own (either via CD or I have some stuff in GooglePlay) on my iTunes?  I probably just need to mess around with it a little more... 

Pictures to share:  

Can you believe, for the first time ever I think I've got nothin' this week!

Journal: sickies, it was bound to happen (alternately titled "come on spring")

TODAY

Out my window: sunny and the weekend and early next week are supposed to be gorgeous.  Almost Spring, right?  Right??

Clothing myself in: The same thing I have worn for the past 3? more?? days.  Yeah.

Around the house: Sickies. Gemma came up last Sunday night about 10:30 and told Aaron she didn't feel well.  It has been pretty much same story, second, third, fourth verse ever since.  Luckily we only had one puker, and she only puked once.  Mainly lethargy and fevers.  Gemma missed Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday school.  I kind of felt badly not sending her back Wednesday afternoon, but alas she went back Thursday.  And Friday.  And then I picked her up Friday afternoon and she was tired and cold and weak and came home and crashed on the couch to the tune of an almost 104 fever.  Come on!!  Clem got hit the lightest, he was only feverish for one day and has been fine since.  Kolbe got hit last but seems to be pretty much recovered now.  But then, so did Gemma.  Sigh.  Our last round was a year ago January, so we were due I suppose.  Even so.  Come. On. Spring.

 

The baby/toddler: He is funny.  He loves playing games from our game closet.  Trouble and Connect 4 are favorites. He will sit and pop the Trouble bubble and move the little pawns to different spots, yelling, "I'm winning!  I'm winning!" all by himself.  It's pretty funny.  He also likes to pack up his backpack with random toys and other things and wear it around all day.  Or push his things around the house in his shopping card.  Lately he is adamant that he wears his shoes all day every day, often his hat as well.  There are only a few shirts that he really likes, on the days those aren't clean it is a tough sell getting him dressed.  He can take himself to the bathroom completely on his own now.  He shimmies up on the toilet backwards and shimmies right back down when he's done.  Sometimes his underwear are on backwards and inside out, and his shoes are on the wrong feet about 50% of the time, but if he wants to do it himself I am all for that.  He is completely weaned, hasn't nursed since my last blog post.  Hasn't even asked.  I figured weaning him would be a little more difficult, he really liked nursing, but I suppose he was ready to be done.  First time I haven't been nursing or pregnant (or both!) since before I was pregnant with Gemma.  Ages and stages. 

 

The kiddos:  Like I said, Gemma has spent most of the week sick.  I was encouraged though, from my kid whose favorite activity is *not* going to school, the first thing she said when she realized she was sick Monday morning and wasn't going to school was, "but it's PE day.  I'll have to miss PE."  And something else, though I don't remember what it was now.  Sometimes I wonder if she likes school more than she lets on.  She has a "best friend" now, and this makes me smile.  She never really clicked with anyone last year, and that had me just a wee bit concerned.  Because I like to worry.  But she has made good friends with a sweet little first grade gal in her class from a wonderful family, so that makes me happy for her.  I don't want her to be the most popular or have the most friends, those things don't matter, but I did really want her to find at least one good friend, and she has.  God is good.  

Kolbe.  Kolbe Kolbe Kolbe.  Kolbe has been my tricky one lately.  I don't know if it's growing pains or his age or what, but he has just been a ticking time bomb the past 2-3 weeks.  And when he gets set off it is just a matter of weathering the storm, which can last anywhere from 10 minutes to two hours.  Usually on the longer end.  I do not kid.  We have figured out some triggers, and removing those has helped, but even so oh this is more trickeration than I was looking to deal with.  Sigh.  Parenting.  It ain't for the faint of heart. 

In the kitchen: Hmmm, this past week I made quesadillas and creamy tomato tortellini, cornbread and bacon stuffed pork chops, salads (with crispy chicken for us, a side dish for the pork chops for "The Fathers" as we've dubbed them), and French dips with whole grain sour dough (from the store) and green beans.  Because you have to serve green beans with French dips, didn't you know?  Next week is grilled meat (with mashed potatoes/cauliflower and steamed asparagus for TF), something TBD, spaghetti with meat sauce and roasted broccoli and cauliflower, fish a la foil and my dear hubby is planning to make sushi today.  Oh, and we bought our first cantaloupe of the season, but haven't cut into it yet, so the jury is still out.  Along with being ready for Spring weather, I am ready for all the fresh fruit that will come with the season change as well.

Crafting: no.

Learning:  We've read a few books this week.  And watched dozens (I do not kid) of hours of television.  Because TV is educational right?  It is pretty much the only thing we do when we are sick around here.  I have offered to read to Gemma and for the most part she hasn't even been up to that.  Spring will come. (Spring will come, Spring will come, Spring will come.)

Reading: My Theology is about the only thing I've gotten to this week.  Oh, and I got a new Bible and am beginning the process of incorporating regular Bible reading/meditating (starting with the Gospels) into my day.

Watching: Keeping up with Gold Rush.  A friend loaned as The Lego Movie (if you click the link it will take you to a great website that reviews movies as well as books I am told) so we will probably watch that soon.  Since we obviously have not watched enough television of late.

Bringing me joy: Reading from my new Bible.  Dear friends.  Snuggling Clem.  Gemma falling asleep on my lap.  Kolbe's apologies.  As tenacious and difficult as he can be, he is always very apologetic and remorseful.  Which helps.  (Looking for the silver lining here, people.)

Thinking about: lots of things.

Pictures to share:  

Fun at the school's annual "Read Night".  Look at those happy faces.  It is fun to let the kids splurge and eat things we don't normally buy or eat once in awhile. Even though we had to bring Kolbe his own food, at least we were able to find some suitable substitutes.  Clement must have been looking at some other camera.  Two for three ain't bad.