Journal: Autumn, rags and cheetos

TODAY

Out my window: Sunny, on the cool side of maybe barely warm, Fall shadows.  I was marveling on the way home from half-day kindergarten pickup today how long the shadows are at high noon.  Highs in the seventies and lows in the fifties over the weekend, but about 10 degrees warmer on both ends next week.  So says the forecast.

Around the house: Some new (Fall) potted plants on the deck that hubby just finished stain/weather proofing.  We have a couple years left with the current flooring, and something (read: new flooring) is going to need to be done.  It's such a nice space though.  Planning on lighting the chiminea up this weekend.

I got started on my Fall blinds/window cleaning (is there anything worse than cleaning mini-blinds?  I will answer for you: no.) and then became irritated with all the rags and bowls of vinegar water (that I spilled, on carpet, TWICE) and paper towels and spray cleaner, etc. etc. etc. sooooo..... 

I will admit to immense intrigue over all the microfiber cloth hubbub out there, so I purchased some e-cloths.  I think I will like them, and they should eliminate the need for window, stainless steel and countertop cleaner chemicals.  That just leaves the stuff I use for tubs and toilets (and I don't care who says what about chemicals, I like bleach in my bathrooms) and Pledge for dusting, but I may even punt that for microfiber.  Maybe.  I used the rags yesterday in the kitchen and then for some blinds and windows and couldn't believe the ease of use.  The results were pretty good too, particularly on glass and stainless steel.

I have found some new clothes (some long sleeve tees, a hoodie, some jeans and sweats) for myself for Winter and am feeling very content with those purchases.  I would like to find some capri/workout sweats that a.) are not super tight and b.) do not have the little band cuff things around the bottom.  I am beginning to think such a thing does not exist.

Last week I thought I broke the wash machine but it was just a quarter that got wedged in the spinny thing on the bottom.  Aaron fixed it.  And then I vaccumed over the vacuum cord and it took a chunk out of it but I didn't electrocute myself.  And Aaron fixed it too.  And he stained the deck.  And fixed the toilet (I actually didn't break that). And now the smoke detector in our bedroom is randomly chirping so add that to the list.  It has been a productive week, even if some of the productivity has been self-inflicted by my lack of carefulness.

That was all very random.

 

The kiddos:  They are currently playing school, which they spend an immense amount of time doing when they are not...at school.  haha.  Gemma is always the teacher.  She is very bossy and very particular (where does she get this?) and it works until one of the boys decides to have an opinion.  Which luckily (for her) may not happen until an hour plus of this game.  She has them trained where she will say "class class" and they immediately look at her and say "yes yes," and then she gives them their marching orders directions.  Future teachers and army drill sergeants can thank her.

Today Kolbe got very sad at school because the lunch staff wouldn't let him have the Cheetos served with the school lunch due to his food sensitivities.  It was a miscommunication (he has only had one issue with school lunches this year and we're still trying to figure out what caused him to flare up).  I was pleased they were so diligent, even though Kolbe could have had the chips, and we worked out what we'll do in the future so all's well that ends well but boy was he sad when I picked him up.  Absolutely, positively devastated.  Like, he hadn't eaten a bite of his lunch and was bursting into tears devastated.  It just broke my heart.  So anyways, Gemma comes out after school this afternoon and apparently she had gone over to comfort him in the lunchroom (she gets there about the time he is leaving) and found out what happened.  So she hops in the van and what does she do?  Pulls a bunch of Cheetos out that she had shoved IN HER JUMPER POCKET from her own lunch.  My heart nearly burst.  These kids.  I am so glad they have each other.  Like I said, all's well that ends well.

In other Kolbe news, he has recently learned to swing himself so that is pretty exciting.  I should try to post a video...

Clement sure enjoys eing the only kid at home in the mornings.  He plays well by himself and we run lots of errands together and it is just good times all around.

In the kitchen:  

Tonight: Nantucket Baked Cod.  I have never had the real thing from Red Lobster, but I think this version is pretty tasty, I've made it at least a half dozen times for us and/or my job.

Tomorrow: I am making a bunch of German Potato Salad for a family get together this weekend.  For dinner we will eat the Fisherman's Feast box dinner for four that I picked up on a very good deal at Sams a couple months ago.

Sunday: family get together

Monday: spaghetti and meat sauce with roasted broccoli and cauliflower and maybe some focaccia bread

Tuesday: the children will eat hot dogs.  Don't judge.  Aaron and I will eat something else that is yet to be determined.  Leftovers?  Salads?  Who knows.  Trust me, it will be spectacular.

Wednesday: white chicken chili

Thursday: something from the grill?  Or maybe leftovers from our amazing dinner on Tuesday.

Friday: swiss tuna melts on WW English Muffins with canned green beans

Learning:  Ask Gemma.

Reading: I haven't read a bunch this week but I picked up a copy of The Joy of Full Surrender someone had given me and I like it.  Continuing to enjoy Saints of the Roman Calendar as it applies.  Gemma and I finished The Year of Miss Agnes (so great) and will start Ginger Pye tonight.  Still reading Rufus M. at the breakfast table/snacktime/lunch on non-school days with all three kids.  The kids each get to check two books out from the school library (Gemma has read a chapter book a week the past two weeks!!!!! I thought I'd never see the day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and I try to keep a steady diet of true-good-beautiful (and fun!) picture books coming from the hold shelf at the public library as well.

Watching:  MLB.  A little bit of Ken Burns' documentary on the Civil War.  It's interesting enough, but I am not a huge Civil War buff.  Some of his other stuff (the Dust Bowl one comes right to mind) has been just amazing though.

Bringing me joy: A new nephew/godson.  Prayer.  Autumn weather.  My kids, they are so seriously amazing.

Thinking about: My utter dependence on God.  For everything.  Every.Thing.  This has really struck me of late. 

Pictures to share:
I seriously got nothin'.  And I can't figure out how to share that video of Kolbe...
TGIF everyone!!  Enjoy the weekend.

Journal: the new school year

TODAY

Out my window: Windy and warm, but overall the weather has been really mild. The light is slantier and the days are getting shorter.  I can tell Fall is coming.

Around the house: It is quiet around here.  I had no idea adjusting to having the two big kids in school (even though Kolbe is only half day) would be such a big deal.  But it is really quiet around here.  I think I already said that.  I will continue below...

 

The kiddos:

Gemma has had her best start to a school year yet.  She actually had to miss her first day because she had pink eye, so that was a pretty big deal.  I think it actually ended up being more traumatic for me than it was for her, but we weathered it and she is settling in and seems to really like her teacher and is getting along well with the kids in her class.  She LOVES having Kolbe at school with her, she is in full-on big sister mode.  The last two years, Aaron walked her in every day and sat with her until her class walked by because she didn't want to go in the "kiddie holding pen".  This year, she won't even let Aaron walk in the building with them. Once they get to the sidewalk they say goodbye to him, and she walks Kolbe into the building and drops him off in his designated location and then walks herself to the place where second grade waits.  She really likes her teacher and homework has been a relatively painless event each day.  I am so grateful.  We had some really rough first semesters the past two years, and this year seems to be starting off in a much more positive direction.  Providentially, on the first day of school our neighbor gave us a really nice, sturdy child size table/desk that fits in her bedroom perfectly.

Kolbe likes school a lot.  Lunch and recess are his favorites (and we have lifted all food restrictions for him when out and about and he has been doing just fine with that! YAY!!).  I believe school will be a bit more academically challenging for him than it is for Gemma, but he seems to be keeping up and he feels like such a big kid going to school every day.  He loves to talk to me about things that happen at school too, which is exciting because Gemma really never says much and I have learned to just not press the issue with her and simply let her talk if she feels like it.  The irony is that Gemma is my louder, more bubbly kid, and Kolbe is my quiet one.  Oh well, I'll take it.  There are 17 in his kindergarten class, and I'm so glad he has the same teacher that Gemma did.  

I was worried that having to get two up and around in the mornings would mean we would need to get the kids up even earlier.  Gemma got up at 6:30 in kdg and actually had to move back to 6:15 in 1st due to some chronic breakfast table piddling issues.  This year after a few days of 6:15 and way too much extra time on our hands the kids have been getting up at 6:25 and that is giving us more than plenty time!  I think they both enjoy having a sibling doing the same thing they are (if that makes sense).

In other news, we found out today that Kolbe's ruptured ear drum is completely healed!!

Clement is having a harder time adjusting to the change in routine than anyone (well, I may be giving him a run for his money).  Part if it I am sure is that he is #three and going through all those fun things that #three year olds do, but he just seems a little off without the other two around in the mornings.  He plays really well by himself though, it is cute to see him get so engrossed in toys and other activities completely on his own, something he's never really gotten the chance to do before.

All three kids have been getting along together and playing together so nicely.  It just makes my heart happy and our days so much more pleasant.

In the kitchen: 

This week: lasagna and sauteed summer squash/zucchini; crispy chicken salads; shredded Mexican chicken soft tacos; some sort of pasta, squash and shrimp or chicken fettuccini-type dish tomorrow night I think and still trying to figure out what we're going to have tonight.

Next week: homemade pizza; chicken and twice baked potatoes; beef stew; cod?; I will fill in more blanks later in the week.

Learning:  Just keeping up with school routines and homework and such.  So far the homework seems very manageable for both (Gemma's good attitude has helped this immensely). I will say, I am glad that Kolbe is half-day and we can tackle his homework when he gets home (he needs quite a bit of help/direction), and then I can give Gemma some time (it's not so much help that she needs as it is attention) when she gets home.

Reading: We have enjoyed the Jamela books so much this summer. They are just adorable picture books.  I don't know if it is because they are written and illustrated by the same person, but there is just something really great about them.  Kolbe checked out the audio book Count on Culebra for maybe the fourth? time this week.  It's fun, and the accents just make the audio version.  Finished The Middle Moffat and started Rufus M this morning.  The breakfast table, after our saint/Bible reading, seems to be the best time for family read-alouds currently.  We have some dedicated time for picture books before bed.  Gemma and I are reading The Year of Miss Agnes at bedtime as well. I got each of the olders a book for the first day of school.  Kolbe's was Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes (the Pete illustrations just crack me up).  His speech teacher introduced us to Pete and Kolbe has really liked him ever since.  For Gemma I got Little Nellie of Holy God, which I thought was very appropos for her big second grade year.  It is a beautiful story that we've read together numerous times, and I think she even read it on her own once or twice.  I am excited to begin a few other First Communion preparation books with her in the coming months.  The kids both had their first trips to the school library this week.  I am so glad they have that opportunity.  Gemma got a Magic Treehouse book and she actually started reading it on her own (this is big for her, she still hasn't gotten into chapter books independently).  We'll see if she perseveres, it's due next Wednesday.

Watching: MLB.

Bringing me joy: My kids, they are so awesome.  A bit more time in the evenings with hubby now that said children's bedtime is earlier.  Watching baseball with said hubby.  Nicer weather.

Thinking about: Trust, surrender, forgiveness. Oh my.

Pictures to share:  

Gemma helping Kolbe get ready on his first day of school.  She was so helpful, and so sad she didn't get to go.  She has been such a sweet big sister to him this past week.

Traditional front door pictures.

Together.

Journal: this and that

TODAY

Out my window: Spring.  Beautiful.  

Clothing myself in: jeans, gray tank, pink T, a trusty pair of Old Navy flip-flops

Around the house: We spent our Friday evening (we are so exciting) hanging the new (bigger) framed family picture and rearranging the other pictures around it.  My hubby is smart and very particular, which makes for well, correctly done projects.  All the measuring and laser levels made my head spin.  I could have figured it out on my own but it would have taken a lot longer.  It looks really nice.  I really like the proportion of the 16x20 frame in the middle surrounded by the four 8x10s.  My MIL gave us an Easter Lily.  I put it on an end table in the living room and Clement insists that it is a Christmas tree.  OK?  I am excited for our Lenten things to be packed away and to get our Easter/Spring decorations out next weekend!  We don't have much, but a little bit goes a long way.

We have a spot that is adjacent to both our dining and living areas (which are also the two areas that we pray as a family) that I would like to start collecting some art which I can rotate (and then, if we ever move to a bigger house, we will have more art for various spaces).  We currently have a Holy Family picture and a picture of Christ Suffering that we hang there during Lent.  I am looking at this print of The Presentation.  I love the events in Jesus' life that point to his (and Mary and Joseph's) obedience to the law.  As a child, for whatever reason, I didn't understand (or really even respect) Judaism at all.  I want for my children to realize that Christianity is the fulfillment of 1500-2000 years of a faith through which our redemption was brought about, and that our roots aren't simply traced back to the time of Christ.  I digress.   I wish there were more places to buy sacred art locally.  We have one shop that has some gorgeous icons, but we already have several in our small home, and as much as I love them I would like to keep things diverse.  We have a large print of Vogelstein's Let the Children Come Unto Me (a great Hobby Lobby score) an icon of The Last Supper and the traditional Guardian Angel image, plus various other small images.  So I am leaning towards The Presentation but have yet to purchase it.  I have heard good things about art.com though and man do they have selection!  Sometimes I get paralyzed by all the analyzing.  Decisions, decisions...  NOW I am rambling...

 

The toddler: His latest thing to say is, "Oh. I fordot."  About everything.  Things he truly forgets, and things he had no way of forgetting because he didn't know them in the first place.  He cracks me up.  He has gotten very talkative at bedtime, which is both endearing and annoying.  I love conversing with him.  He has started going to sleep without someone laying with him on a semi-regular basis though so that has been nice.

 

The kiddos: We had Kolbe's IEP this past week and he will be "graduating" from speech this Spring and no longer qualify for services come kindergarten. I am amazed at the progress he has made in the past two years.  I will really miss his speech teacher, I like her a lot and will be sad for him to lose that connection, even though I know he will make many more great connections with teachers going to school.

Gemma is counting down the weeks to summer vacation...just 8 to go!!!  The change in pace will be nice, even though summer always gets a little long in the tooth.  Can't believe next fall I will only have one at home in the mornings!

In the kitchen:  

Last week:

• Monday: German sausage, fried fish (see picture below) stewed lentils and veggies and steamed broccoli
• Tuesday: it seems like it was a mish-mash of leftoveres
• Wednesday: for lunch we had no more leftovers, so Aaron had picked up some yellow-fin tuna on a really good deal at the grocery store meat-counter a few weeks ago that we had tossed in the freezer.  I pan fried it in coconut oil with some ginger and sesame seeds and we ate it on lettuce/veggie salads (I found this superfood salad-mix at Sams that is really tasty) and oh my.  Best "tuna sald" I have ever had.  Dinner was chicken enchiladas. I always add baby bellas and black beans and this time a bunch of cilantro (good call) and make my own cream of mush.
• Thursday: carry-out
• Friday: smothered tilapia, canned green beans and grapes

This coming week:

• Monday: spaghetti and meat sauce, roasted broccoli and asparagus, applesauce
• Tuesday: honey sriracha chicken, fried rice (aside, I have made fried rice probably a half-dozen times and always just winged it, and it always turned out pretty good.  I finally decided to look up a recipe, and all the recipes I find say use cooked cold rice - I always just steam it and popped it right in the wok - so I will be curious to see if that makes a difference. They also all have you cook the egg(s) separately, whereas I always just toss them right in as I saute.  Curious...), steamed green beans
  
• Wednesday: egg "breakfast casserole" with lots of fresh veggies and b-fast sausage, fresh fruit
• Thursday: TBD, Aaron often cooks.
• Friday: something simple for us since it is Good Friday, and meatless breakfast casserole for the Fathers.

Crafting: The boys and I painted the bulletin board for their room that we have had for several months, for the spot in their room that has been empty since August.  We are go-getters around here! 

Learning:  Getting back in the swing of preschool co-op with Kolbe's friend Levi.  This past week we did a little craft for the Feast of the Annunciation.  The next several weeks we will be talking, planting, reading and painting sunflowers.  I always love an excuse to check out this book.

Reading: Kolbe has been enjoying the Mercy Watson books read aloud immensely.  We have had a slew of good picture books lately.  Trying to be very intentional about reading at the breakfast table each day.  Gemma and I are about to finish Little Farm on the Ozarks and will start In the Land of the Big Red Apple next.  I am keeping up with my usuals.  Reading the Gospel of Mark and enjoying this commentary, chapter by chapter.  I find the commentary (at least this one), helps to not only clarify the meaning of various passages, but is also giving me more on which to pray/meditate.

Watching: not much.

Bringing me joy: Spring.  Family. 

Thinking about: Peace.  Faith.  Trust.  Being refined.  God's love for me.

Pictures to share: Big fish (who became dinner).

Journal: snow days

TODAY

Out my window:  Cloudy and oohhhhhhhh it's cold.  About 6 inches of snow on the ground from this past Tuesday.  Gemma got two snow-days out of the deal so it was a fun week, and we were able to play in the snow Tuesday before the mega-cold set in.  Would you believe I shoveled the entire driveway (the neighbor helped a little, God bless her!!) by myself!  Twice!!  I wasn't nearly as sore as I thought I'd be, guess these kids keep me in better shape than I give them credit for.  I digress.  I think it's hardly hit double digits the past few days.  More crud on the way maybe?  I'm ready for March, and SPRING!  But then, I have been since November, sooooooo...

Clothing myself in:  Black long sleeve shirt, pink tank, jeans and black socks.  A step (or several) up from sweats and a hoodie...we had preschool co-op here this morning.

Around the house: I put the poinsettias and the Nativity away.  Still a few Winter things lingering around, I usually don't get all our winter stuff put up until March-ish.  When it's really Spring.  I also packed away a bunch of kids' clothes that were over-flowing in the laundry basket downstairs.  OH clothes.  And now I am starting to think about clothing the kids for the next season.  Sigh.  Sorry, for the dramatics.  ;-) 

 

The baby/toddler:  Oh teeth.  He is working on his bottom two molars and has a little infected spot where one of his top eye-teeth will be.  If you look at him wrong, or don't look at him, or touch him when he doesn't want to be touched, or...you get the picture, he will scream in your face.  And  maybe throw himself on the floor and cry too.  He has been realllllly grumpy.  But he's still so cute.  He can say "hi" and "mama" and "dada" and knows how to say what the puppy-dog, kitty-cat and monster says.  He is starting to repeat more sounds....ohhhhh it is so fun when they start talking.

 

The kiddos:  Gemma enjoyed her snow days and it was nice having her around (read: it was also really nice not to have to leave the house).  Her reading has really been improving.  I try to have her read a book (to me with help) a day and yesterday she chose Popcorn.  I was dubious, as normally I have her do a Level 1 or maybe 2 Green Light reader, but she plowed right through it with very little help.

Kolbe is very excited, we ordered (and got) a booster for him and Aaron put it in the van yesterday.  He feels like such a big boy (even though he hasn't gotten to ride anywhere in it yet).  He is way over the height, and almost to the weight requirement, and he was getting very difficult to get in and buckled into the carseat so we decided to go ahead and make the switch.  He has also started wearing big boy underpants to bed instead of a pull-up, as it had been months since he'd had a wet, so he is feeling quite accomplished about that as well.  Last night he snuggled on my lap and told me he loves me "the best".  I think he thinks you can only love one person at once, as he's done this before.  I find it very endearing, and Aaron doesn't seem to mind too much.  :-)

In the kitchen: This week we had a homemade pizza.  I put white sauce and a combo of beef/Italian sausage and topped it with a bunch of kale and mozzarella  ohhhhhhh it was tasty.  Honey Chicken on Tuesday and a big 'ole pot of chili when the cold-cold weather hit.  Chile rellenos with some leftover ham in it tonight.  Looking forward to a big crock pot of beef and veggie stew early next week. 

Crafting: My "editors" (ahem, yes you) have been on me for my lame answers on this one, so deleting the whole category would probably be in my best interest, as I'm sure I will get another email about this, but I'm thinking about some sort of decorative piece for our side server involving a candle and split peas and a big glass vase.  We'll see.  Would it help if I blew the glass and grew the peas??  ;-)

Learning:  Gemma requested I get a bunch of books about penguins from the library as they had been learning about penguins at school, so she was excited when they arrived on the "special shelf".  She was reading as soon as she got buckled into the van, did my heart good hearing her so enthused about reading!  Kolbe and I did letter P this week (timely with all the penguins) and also had some snow activities and pulled out our pile of "snow" books on Gemma's days off school.   

Reading:  Still working through The Joy of the Gospel.  Good stuffs, I tell you.

Watching:  Looking forward to the Olympics.

Bringing me joy:  Snow days.  Kolbe-snuggles.  Big fluffy snowflakes.  Aaron picking Gemma up from school so Clem can nap, uninterrupted.  Morning Prayer.  Time with friends.

Thinking about: Chores.  Gemma has been doing some small chores around the house (folding diapers, towels and socks, emptying the trash, little things like that) to earn money for Walk in Sister's Shoes at school.  We had never paid for chores before, but this has been working out pretty well since the money really isn't for her, per se.  Walk in Sister's Shoes ends right around Lent, so I think I will have her continue with small chores like this during Lent to "earn" her alms for the Alms jar, and do the item-counting (see post linked below) with Kolbe each morning after she has gone to school.  After Lent, she should be pretty used to doing these things so I think I will then introduce the idea of a chore chart and regular (unimbursed) chores around the house.  We'll see how it goes.  I have also started thinking about Lent, and plan to do pretty much the same thing we did last year, with the addition of a little more "fasting" type activities as the kids get older. 

Pictures to share:  

Some (very belated) birthday pics:

Gemma with "Whiskers" the kitten from her kdg teacher, and Kolbe with his remote control "tractor" (as he calls it) on their bdays

After our bday shopping trip at Academy Sports.  Gemma got a "girlie" bike and Kolbe a spiderman fishing pole.  This boy loves him some fishing --- like father like son.

And the baby, because he's cute.  And because I feel sorry for apparently only taking 2 pictures of him the entire month of January.  Oops.

Journal: sigh.

TODAY

Out my window:  Cloudyish.  Warmish.  It's kind of starting to feel (and look) like Spring.  Although there is still some chilliness in the forecast this week.  I am beginning to be quite dubious about that mangy groundhog and his predictions, although I don't quite have the voracious hate for him my uncle (I know you're reading this) in Denver does, dubious I am.  If Spring gets much later we're going to be into Summer and then we will officially have had no Spring.  Poo.  Sigh.

Clothing myself in:  Black capri sweats and a t-shirt.  And - in the interest of full-disclosure - there is a big green, crusty, dried up booger on my shoulder.  Not mine.  Sigh.

Around the house: Trying to make the house a friendly place for my children to play and live and go about their days without driving me to want a beer at 9am.  Lately, they refuse to play in the basement without me.  Which is really handy, considering the laundry, kitchen and pretty much everything else I do is on the main floor.  Which leaves me wonder why exactly we have toys down there?  Many times as they have been politely asked not to, running around the couch and screaming like banshees still reamains a favorite activity.  What, us?  Run around the backyard?  Why on EARTH would we want to do that when we have a perfectly good couch to run around?  Seriously, going outside to play should be viewed as something fun not a punishment, come on kids.  And bedtime.  Oh it ebbs and flows around here, and currently it is not flowing.  Sigh.

 

The baby:  Working on tooth number 6 and may or may not be responsible for aforementioned green booger.  Had his nine-month pics taken this week.  Cutie pie. 

The kiddos:  They have been difficult lately (see "around the house").  Some days I feel like all I do is yell, overreact and lose my temper.  I read something about parenting recently that encouraged parents to put things in three baskets: "non-negotiables", "negotiables" and "things to let go".  I really liked this (in theory) but am having trouble with the practical application.  I tend to be very black and white, and kind of a control-freak and this has a way of turning every little thing into a battle.  Which is not fun for anyone.  Sigh.  Parenting is hard. 

In the kitchen: Meatloaf, zucchini, sweet potatoes and greens salad (artisan lettuce and spinach); Spinach and Gouda Chicken with some sort of veggie side; Pizza (I have FINALLY mastered a crisp, thin-crust!!!) and probably more salad; maybe some sort of soup on the chilly day this week; Fish Tacos with cole-slaw; thinking about sushi this weekend

Crafting: nope.  sigh.

Learning:  This week is our last Catechesis class (sad), so Gemma is working on notes for her teachers.  She is really into writing her own notes to people now, her spellings CRACK. ME. UP.  Kolbe can almost write his name, still needs help with the B.  This really shocks me, as we haven't exactly worked on it very much.  He does hang around with Gemma a lot though, so maybe that's it.  Working on some handwriting this week and more cutting, and Friday Kolbe has his speech/hearing screening.  The kids are going to plant the sunflower seeds they harvested last year this week as well. 

Reading: About half-way through Bible Basics for Catholics, need to finish it as it is ILL and due Saturday.  It's easy reading thankfully.  Sneaking up on paragraph 1400 of Catechism (Mary, where are you?)  Still looking at those fictions on my end-table.  Should finish Heidi with the kids this week. 

Watching:  About 1/3 the way through the first episode of the new season of River Monsters.  The ever-present (lately anyways) Duck Dynasty.  So many reruns, my husband is obsessed.  Watched episode 3 of The Bible and was slightly disappointed at the way a few things were portrayed.  I still like it overall, and the perspective it gives on most things has been very accurate and thought-provoking as well.  Episode 3 was the first time I saw a major discrepancy between it and the actual Bible, so I will be curious to see how the rest of the New Testament goes.  My main issue with it has been the amount of time it spends on some things almost to the exclusion of others.  I know it's hard to sum up thousands of years of salvation history in (less than) 10 hours, but even so, in my opinion they've left out some really integral aspects of the story.  Have been discussing the violence aspect too, and honestly I can see both sides.  Biblical times were very violent, but Hollywood really loves violence too.  So I don't know.  Jury's still out on that one.  Two episodes to go.  

Bringing me joy: The pot of flowers on my deck. 

Thinking about: How to get a handle on myself so I can be a better example and leader for my precious children who deserve so much more than what I give them most days.  Parenting is really, really hard.  Sigh.

Pictures to share:  

Peek-a-boo!

I'm not purposely boycotting my other kids, I just haven't had a chance to upload anything to my computer with the USB issues.  This one was a couple weeks old, he was playing on our floor one morning and rolled under the bed!!

Journal (12th edition)

TODAY

Out my window: Sunny.  Cold.  Supposed to be mild(er) today, and then get cold (relatively speaking) tomorrow and into the first part of the week.

Clothing myself in: Aw, do I HAVE to??  Grey sweats, tank and navy sweatshirt that is too big but I wear it because it is comfortable even though I don't particularly like how it looks.  Yes, this is my life.  And I'm getting a cold sore.  Bummer.  It has been a long time since I've had one, I mainly have them under control it seems through diet/supplements, but alas...  Bleh.

Around the house:  Christmas decos are mainly up.  Advent has been nice so far. Trying to just slow things down and focus on what's important.  "People before things," in the wise words of my spiritual director.  As easy as this sounds, it's not always.  Trying though, and Advent has provided a great time and motivation to really focus on this.

In the past few weeks I successfully completed the mail merge and printed envelopes with addresses and return addresses for our Christmas letter (this is always a miracle in and of itself, I only do a mail merge once a year and I never quite remember how...pins and needles until it's actually done).  THEN, I finally decided to buckle down and write the letter.  Starting out is always the hardest part.  Once I did that it took about 10 minutes, a day to sit on it and tweak, printed it.  Got the pictures ordered with a really good deal from Shutterfly.  Got some professionals done of the kids (now I'm out of order on when I did all this, but I'm too lazy to go back and correct myself).  Folded, stuffed, stamped, SENT!!!  Whew.  Don't ask how many.  (115).  Seriously, I have tried to cut our list and I just can't.  Do I have a problem?

Hoping to tackle gift wrapping this coming week.  Done with shopping for the most part.  

Wow, that was all very random.  Sorry.

 

The baby: Is rolling now.  He had been going back to front for a few weeks (although I just actually SAW him do it for the first time earlier this week).  Just this morning he figured out the front to back thing.  Now I have to watch where I leave him!!  And the floor is just such a safe spot with an almost five and almost three year old in the house.  OH dear...

 

The kiddos:  

I'll start with Kolbe...HE DID IT!!!!!  I am ready to call "The Great Potty Adventure of 2012" a SUCCESS!!!  We haven't had any accidents for over a week, and only a few "false starts".  AND, I don't have to remind him to go.  He heads into the bathroom and does his business all on his own without being told.  YAY!!!!!!!!!!  He is still in diapers at night, and I've a feeling he probably will be for awhile, but by golly we've got days down!!  The big success was celebrated with a package of "Thomas" underpants from St. Nicholas.  

Yes, St. Nicholas.  He visited this week bearing adorable chocolate Santas, holiday t-shirts for the kids, some Xylitol gum, hair-things for Gemma, patron saint prayer cards and the aforementioned undies.  As tradition holds we read this book, and the kids watched the CCC St. Nicholas story (I DVRd it from EWTN) several times in the past few days.  Gemma was so excited for his arrival (and Kolbe too by default) that she wanted to put her shoes on the fireplace first thing the morning of the 5th.  I had to remind her she would actually need to WEAR them that day, and she could put them out at night before bed and it would be fine.  It's fun seeing the kids look forward to these traditions in our family.    

In the kitchen:  Chicken Linguine, Meatloaf (I really should blog the recipe, my neighbor brought it to us after Clem was born and it was awesome.  It's my new favorite meatloaf recipe), TACOS for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, maybe Salmon Noodles (from my Betty Crocker cook book), but I may change my mind by Friday on that one.  As of now I'm not feelin' it, but that's what the "menu" says....  I'd also like to make some parsley pesto (loosely following this recipe), a neighbor (different one) brought us some parsley from her garden and I've found this to be a great thing to have in the fridge.  And while I like basil pesto better, the parsley stuff is definitely more versatile.   

Crafting:  My kind neighbor (another one yet...we have the greatest neighbors) is letting me use her serger to finish the edges of a blanket that Kolbe will be getting for Christmas.  I tried it out the other night on some scraps, and plan to take the actual blanket over to finish some night next week.  It is fleece that I got on a SUPER good deal on Black Friday.  So excited about this!!!  I have some other sewing ideas bouncing around in my head, we'll see how soon they come to fruition. 

Learning:  Mainly Advent activities.  We're using this Jesse Tree book as part of our morning prayers, and while we're not actually doing a Jesse Tree, I printed these coloring pages out and Gemma is coloring them to hang on the cabinet as we go.  It has been a really good opportunity to immerse the kids in Scripture a bit more (we're also reading the stories from our Children's Bible) and talk specifically about Salvation History and God's covenants with His people.  Still plugging away with reading lessons.  Gemma is making some great progress.  This week we will start working on our Salt Dough Ornaments.  We will. 

Reading:  I recently finished Unplanned.  The story itself was really remarkable.  I think the thing that resonated with me most though was its testimony to the power of prayer.  Very powerful.  

Bringing me joy: A clean oven, thank you MOM.  Yes, I have the coolest mom ever.  She totally cleaned my nasty-gross-gnarly-I'membarassedthatsheevenlookedinit-oven for me and it looks AMAZING.  It was a complete surprise too.  Long story but I went to put a lasagna in the oven for dinner on Monday and had to do a double-triple take.  I thought I had somehow been crazily transported to a mystical world where they have clean ovens. 

Some time away with the baby and hubby.  Aaron had some continuing ed about 3hrs away from home last Fri./Sat.  And my dear parents (yes, the same ones who cleaned my oven) took care of Gemma and Kolbe while we were gone.  It was their first night away from home (aside from when Clem was born) so it was kind of a big deal.  They had fun, my parents had fun, and the baby and I got some uninterrupted shopping time in the "big city" while daddy was in class.  Plus getting to visit with Aaron uninterrupted in the car was kind of amazing.  AND we went on a date to a restaurant where someone else cooked and cleaned up after the meal, AND they had live jazz music.  Who knew such things existed?! (haha)   It was relaxing, but as cliche as it sounds there really is no place like home.  

Advent.

My squishy baby.

Kids who play well together (no, it's not always this way, but boy when they do it is WONDROUS).

The music on this CD.

Thinking about: How long this post is.  Congrats if you made it to the end!!!  Any thought that I've had of late is probably summed up in the above paragraphs, so I'll spare you any more insights into my wacky head. 

Pictures to share: 

The kids in their St. Nick shirts.

 Clem.  Always amused by his older siblings.

Kolbe drew a person!!!

We did a "photo-shoot" with Max the dog one day when we were playing out at the park. 

Journal (10th edition)

TODAY

Out my window: It feels like Fall.  It's nice.  Highs in the 50s or 60s, lows in the 30s or 40s, slanty light, trees are past peak.  The kids played this afternoon at the park with one of the neighbor kids and we all had a nice time outdoors, albeit a bit chilly.

Clothing myself in: jammies

Around the house: I wiped the kitchen cabinets down with Murphy's Oil Soap today.  Good stuff, good stuff.  Takes away all the grime (we don't have cabinet pulls, so the wood gets really grimy) and leaves the house smelling so fresh.

 

The baby:  Is noticing his surroundings so much more.  He is starting to take an interest in toys and rattles and such, and loves sitting in the bouncy chair and "playing" with the big kids.  He is so entertained by them, it's wonderful.  Even though most some days I feel like I am losing my mind, I feel like I've really hit my groove with three. 

 

The kiddos:  Aaron set up the train set for the kids (they got it for Christmas last year and I packed it away because it kind of drove me crazy).  They are much better ages for it now and have been having a lot of fun with it.

Kolbe....I think we have FINALLY turned the corner with this potty process.  I started putting him in regular underwear (not training pants, not pull-ups) this week around the house (no pants, just underwear)....and he GOT it!!!  Several days now he has had no accidents, AND he's been telling me when he has to go, going back to the potty, pulling his undies down and doing his business all on his own.  I'm not calling it yet, but we are soooooo close.  YAY!!!!!!  And while I'm talking about Kolbe, he is so funny, he wakes up at LEAST once during the night hollering for his "tudders" (covers).  He kicks them off and is somehow incapable of re-"tuddering" himself so he just yells "tudders mammy, tudders mammy" until I come in, and after I cover him he says "shanks mommy" in this sleepy little grateful voice.  It would be kind of annoying if it weren't so darn cute.

Gemma has it in her head that a kitten is going to come to our house and knock on or meow at the door and she will rescue it and keep it as her pet in a cage that daddy will bring home from his office (??) and I will give her a milk bowl for it and we'll get the kitty milk from the store for it and she will take care of it and when it grows up to be a cat she will let it go and get a new kitten (kid you not, she said that).  She has been through her plan with me no less than 100 times.  I finally snapped and said (rather crossly), "GEMMA, we are NOT getting a kitten."  It didn't even phase her.  She has big plans, I tell you.

In the kitchen:  Lazy Sunday Casserole; Pizza with red sauce, meat, mushrooms and bell peppers; Thanksgiving feasting

Crafting:  I designed a little photo collage in powerpoint to have printed for our Christmas cards.  If anyone hears about Walgreens doing 4x6 free prints like they did last year around this time, please let me know!!  I am very pleased with how the collage turned out.

Learning: Read a handful of books about pilgrims and Indians this week and made paper plate pilgrims.  We mixed our own "face color" which was fun for the kids.  Also made these paper Indians with watercolors and crayons.

Bringing me joy: The thought of my hubby having some time off this coming week for the holiday.  He rarely has time off work, so when he is home from work on a regular work day it is a real treat!!!!

Thinking about: How far removed we are from the whole "first time parent" scene.  This is neither good nor bad, and I am by no means claiming to be any sort of expert when it comes to parenting.  It has just dawned on us of late that we're not really "newbies" anymore. 

Pictures to share: 

First fire of the year on a cold Sunday last week.  With hot chocolate and some stories, it was quite cozy.

Journal (6th edition)

TODAY

Out my window: Chilly.  Sunrise.  Love this time of day.

Clothing myself in: Pink sweats that are worn thin and a red sweatshirt, equally (if not more) worn.  I really should care more...

Around the house:  Hmmmmm, uneventful-ish I suppose.  I was in charge of a Respect Life event at our parish that had to be cancelled (presenter had a medical condition and was unable to travel) so I've had DVDs and brochures and stuff I've been trying to get to people. 

I think I finally have all the kids' summer clothing out of the closets, AND packed away and organized.  Winter wardrobes are pretty much set, although I think Gemma needs a few more shirts and it is a pipe-dream to think Clem will fit into what he's wearing now all winter...  AHHH clothing, it really just never ends.

 

The baby: I put him in a pair of sleep-sack jammies that Gemma wore as a baby (yellow duckies, they were gender neutral).  He was very snuggly.  (Switching gears.)  I love how he smacks his lips when he is hungry, it's just like he is talking to me, and he knows I will listen to him.  Sooooo sweet!  Speaking of the little guy, Aaron just brought him out to me...guess our bed got lonely.

 

The kiddos:  They played together really nicely this week (for the most part).  I am always grateful when this happens, it makes me so glad that they have each other.  On Thursday they had dental appointments (all was well, it was Kolbe's first check!)  They were verrrrrry excited about the prizes they got to pick and bring home. 

In the kitchen:  Meatloaf; Quesadillas; Baked Salmon with steamed veggies and some sort of grain (seriously, one of my fave meals); my hubby's homemade chicken noodles; making this fabulous Black Bean Quinoa Salad to take to a family dinner.

Crafting:  Ergh.  Maybe I should just remove this category, since I added several of my own.  I craft in spurts.  This is apparently a dry period...

Learning: Gemma had her first Catechesis of the Good Shepherd class this past week.  I really can't say enough wonderful things about this program.  And Gemma, oh my, she just radiated joy after her first class.  Seriously, I've really never seen her quite like that.  When asked about it by her grandmas, she told them, "it was perfect".  Wow.  Thank you Jesus.  

We took a "leaf walk" yesterday, and the kids did some crayon rubbings when we got back. Well, Gemma did.  I think Kolbe tore the paper off a crayon (his latest favorite activity) and scribbled a bit.  I hope we can do another walk in a week or two and get some prettier leaves, we have definitely not hit peak here yet.

Reading:  (thought I'd add this one)... Mary and Me, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms, Little House on the Prairie (with the kids) 

Bringing me joy: Beautiful Fall weather and time spent outdoors.  A fresh haircut (about 2.5 inches).  A nice family photo (see below).  Kids who play nicely together.  Time with family, immediate and extended.  A beautiful new nephew and his mama who is doing such a good job with him!  A new battery for the laptop (seriously, absurdly pleased about this, and a bit annoyed that the old one only lasted 2yrs and change...)

Thinking about: How our mornings are going to change soooooooo much next year when Gemma is in school.  Currently the kids get up around 8.  We do fine getting to Mass by 9 on Sundays, but we skip a few things and I really have to "crack the whip" so-to-speak.  As it is, most mornings (since we typically don't have anywhere to go) we have a set routine but we are pretty leisurely with it.  That is all going to change.  A lot.

Pictures to share:
Gemma in her pigtails (new for her) ready for her first night of Catechesis.  I think she was a bit nervous, hence the contrived, overly cheesy smile.

Kolbe put his shoes on all by himself for the first time and was quite proud.

Sleepy Clem.  There is something soooo cute about sleeping children, it just makes me want to take pictures of them.  Aaron says when I look at the (big) kids when they are sleeping it helps me like them again.  ;-D

Family photo from our trip a few weekends ago.  This one just may end up in the Christmas cards.  We'll see what we end up with in the meantime.