TODAY
Out my window: OH man it's cold. I think it was 8 this morning, I joked with Gemma (who has a birthday coming up) that the weather was even trying to wish her a happy birthday! It's sunny but we are definitely in the throes of winter. Ugh. Is it Spring yet? Don't answer that.
Around the house: Yesterday we had five (FIVE!) little girls over. We decided second grade was a good age to let the kids start having a "friend" birthday party, so Gemma invited some of the little gals from her grade at school. We kept it very simple and low-key, and it was nice. They played for awhile, we bought some little beaded bracelet kits at Walmart and they made some shoelace braclets, then Gemma opened her cards and a few little gifts (we had said "no gifts" which translated into cards and small [some homemade] gifts. It was perfect.) Then we snacked and sang happy bday and ate cake and played a little more and we were done. Next year I think 1.5 hours would be plenty time (this year we did 2), especially when everyone is confined indoors (they begged to go and play at the park but it was soooooo cold and windy). But it was good. Other than that it is birthday week around here so we are working on getting school treats together, and are celebrating with grandparents and having special meals (chicken noodles, spaghetti, sushi and Freddy's!), making sure I have a few little gifts for each kid to open on their birthdays (whew, it was just Christmas) and then we have Baptism anniversaries next week. I really shouldn't complain, it is nice to have a busy January, because to me January and February are the loooooongest months of the year. But wow, all on the heels of Christmas. Every year. Oh well. The kids each get a "big" gift this year, Gemma a mirror for above her dresser, and Kolbe a big-kid bike (he hasn't gotten it yet, so shhhhh :-)
The kiddos: See above. I will be honest, they have really been trying my patience lately. I think between recovering from the holidays, getting back to school, surviving horrible ear and sinus infections and just the fact that it is January (shudder), it is just a rough time of year. Now I am just making excuses. But it's been rough. Some days have been really rough. I am soooo ready for spring (did I mention that?) when my kids can spend hours and hours and hours outdoors. Sigh. I am grateful for school and the rhythm and structure it brings to our days.In the kitchen: This week: spaghetti and steamed broccoli, sushi (that's Aaron's gig), chicken and noodles/rice, salmon and simple starch/veggie sides. Clem and I will be eating lunch at school with each of the kids on their respective birthdays this week. I still have a few holes to fill in on my menu. I am hoping the dinner fairy shows up... Riiiiiiiiight....
Learning: Working on sight words and addition facts with Kolbe. Practicing the Rite of Confession with Gemma, who makes her First Reconciliation in less than a month!! She has had lots of questions and I have been trying to answer them (and am being deeply humbled as I do answer them and realize that maybe I should follow my own advice a little more....)
Reading: Oh I was so happy to get my book corner all put back together when we took the tree down!! This month we have some great picture books about penguins from the library, and our usual birthday stack that I need to pull out (including favorites like A Birthday for Bear and Otis and Sydney and the Best Birthday Ever), and we have started reading Mr. Popper's Penguins together at the breakfast table! Gemma and I are working our way through (and loving) the Latsch Valley series at bedtime. I went through this horrible bout of paralysis by analysis when I was trying to choose our next read-aloud, so I sat down and made a whole list of books we'd like to read this year. Here is my "plan" so far (we may get to more, and it is definitely subject to change):
Mr. Popper's PenguinsCaddie Woodlawn
Rabbit Hill
some James Herriot
Little Britches
The Bears of Hemlock Mountain
Ginger Pye
Pinky Pye
and a friend of mine reminded me that April is the 100th birthday of Beverly Clearly, so I may throw some Mouse and the Motorcycle in there as well (Gemma has started the Ramona books on her own). Any recommendations? The rest of the read-alouds we've done are listed here. I purchased a few more picture books for our collection from Thriftbooks last week. Four hardcovers for under $16!!
I am still working on Fire Within (and will be for a long time).
Watching: Gold Rush. The Curse of Oak Island. A few other "nerd" shows.
Bringing me joy: I had to run a ton of errands on Friday, and after being cooped up with sick kids and all the usual holiday commitments and everything, it was really nice to feel so productive. Friday was a joyful day.
Thinking about: Sin and confession. Grace. Mice......
Pictures to share: interspersed above
