Journal: well hello there

So I took a little hiatus.  See sidebar for the big little addition to our family.  :-)
TODAY

Out my window: Hot.  Summer.  There is a piece of masking tape across the sliding door to remind people to "mind the gap" when they walk out, as we're having the siding redone and there is a plank out of the deck so they can get to the siding below.  No one in my family knows what "mind the gap" means so they look at me like I'm psychotic when I say it.  I think it's funny.  My potted flowers are staying alive as long as I water them, and I really like how they look on the deck this year.  The purslane has gone crazy.  As has the "tiny" tomato plant that our neighbor gave us.  It is almost as tall as the Japanese Maple (which is admittedly a smaller tree) and has started using the deck as a trellis.

Around the house: New siding is the big thing now.  And then Aaron will be painting. Gulp.  We ordered new chairs for the dining table as ours look like kids have been using them for the last 10 years.  Sigh.  We can't have nice things.  Weighing options for bedrooms once the baby gets older.  Right now she's in a bassinet in our room at night and a pack and play in the basement for naps.  She will grow out of the bassinet soon though so we'll probably bring the pack and play upstairs to our room since we have ample space and set the crib up in the basement for naps.  After that who knows.  The plan is to have a girls' room, a boys' room and a homework room.  Still debating who will use what rooms and which beds.  We have a year or so.  I got a new laptop about a month ago, so that's been pretty great (the other one was going on 7 years and, how shall we say, showing its age) and found a new purse that can fit a small diaper clutch and lightweight blanket (which is all we ever need, amazing how much lighter I travel with four than I did with one) along with my things I need.  I have found TJ Maxx to be a great place for quality purses (even nice label ones if you care about that sort of thing) at a fraction of the price. I also got some shoes for work and updated my Sperrys. 

The kiddos:  Not gonna lie, this summer has been kind of awful.  The fighting.  The loudness. (I think it is amplified and I become hyper-sensitive when there's a sleeping baby in the house.) Kolbe broke his arm so that put an abrupt end to baseball and swimming.  And a lot of other outdoor things that require throwing, catching, running, riding or climbing.  Which is pretty much everything.  The fighting.  Did I mention the fighting?  Holy moly, people.  We need the school year.  The structure brings us order and balance.  Or at least it cuts down somewhat on the insanity. Clem recently celebrated his fifth birthday, he had a great day.  He had been gearing up for his birthday for months and it didn't disappoint.

The baby: She's pretty great.  After 3+ months, guilt or sentimentality or something won out and I decided to order a baby calendar like the one I did for Clem.  Not a baby book, but a nice keepsake for milestones and such.  Hopefully I can fill in the holes in the first three months between my Facebook feed (lol) and a few notes I've kept on my phone.  Maura is an easy baby.  She's had some more restless nights the past week or so, but often only wakes up once or twice, which is unlike any other child I've had.  She naps pretty well, nurses well, burps and spits up a ton, smiles all the time, likes her hands, is growing out of the bouncy chair (she wants to sit up. ACK, slow down girl!!) enjoys the stroller and likes being worn.  She is easy-going with all the coming and going and even does decent with the noise (even so I still tend to get pretty psycho when the kids are loud while she is sleeping).  We love her.

In the kitchen: Sushi night (homemade) tonight and steaks out for our 11th anniversary last night.  Up this week: lasagna, hamburgers, some other sort of grilled food, probably a salad night.  I have some potatoes I need to use for a starchy side with something, for vegetables I am so boring and just steam a bag of something frozen nine times out of ten.  I realized how lazy I was when I was towards the end of my pregnancy and absolutely bemoaning the fact that I had to tip and tail green beans.  Hashtag lame.

Learning:  I downloaded summer packets for all three kids from Teachers Pay Teachers.  And that's as far as I got.  Didn't even get around to printing them.  Sigh.  They really loved them last summer and even worked on them some during the school year so maybe I will get around to it?  They have done lots of reading.  It's really cool having TWO very independent readers, and Clem really likes CD books.

Reading: I've been in a rut.  Currently making my way through Chiara Corbella Petrillo and Middle School General Music: The Best Part of your Day as I will be teaching a section of sixth and a section of seventh this year.

Watching: mainly MLB.

Bringing me joy: I am pretty excited about my work schedule this year.  I am still cooking for Father (even though he moved parishes, it was still neighboring enough to where we live to work out!) and I will still be teaching, albeit a scaled back schedule, as referenced above.  I will teach between 2-3 hours on a rotating schedule of two mornings one week, three mornings the following. I think it will be just right, and it brings me joy to be able to keep a foot in the working world (which I LOVED last year) while still being primarily at home with the baby and a half-day kindergartener, and my other kids after school each day.

Thinking about: Paths to holiness.  Keeping my patience in check.  Priorities.  

Pictures to share: 

The family on  July 4, after the annual parade.

birthday boy with his loot

happy girl

monthly couch pic!

Journal: the long part of Summer

TODAY

Out my window:  Sunny.  Hot.  We have reached the historical "hottest part of summer" the next three weeks in these parts.  I looked out on the deck a bit ago and my poor vinca looked so sad.  Water.  Oops.  No rain in the 10 day, although we had an inch the other night.

Around the house: We got the kids' school supply lists last week and promptly hit the store for school shopping.  Sometimes I am probably too task-oriented, but it was nice to get it done.  The big kids both had a small handful of stuff from previous years they were able to use again this year, and I was pleasantly surprised at how small Clem's supply list was.  Maybe because we pay tuition for preschool they provide more supplies?  Who knows, but I was glad it consisted of about four things.

I purchased a small white-board to put menu planning on the refrigerator as I am so tired of answering the question "what's for dinner tonight/tomorrow, etc.?" fourteen times a day.  Or an hour.  Little things like this make me nerd-out wayyyyy too much.

 

The kiddos:  Clement celebrated his fourth birthday last week!  And he stayed four after his birthday this year!!! It was a fun, quiet day.  He requested strawberry shortcake again like last year, but mysteriously only ate the strawberries and cream off the top both times it was served.  We had cake for breakfast (it's tradition), hot dogs for lunch, and he had I think five? seven? helpings of meatloaf for dinner.  It is his favorite.  Kolbe had a ball game that evening.  Clem got some Hot Wheels cars and tracks including the loop the loop that they had been trying to create for months with their flat tracks (grin).  Finally, after eight and a half years of parenting, we have found a toy that our kids enjoy, don't tire of, and will play with, together, for literally hours (they have had a small amount of track since January birthdays that has gotten played with all the time, hence buying more for Clem's birthday). I feel so accomplished.  I truly never thought I'd see the day.

A funny story about Clem's birthday.  His godfather came up to him when we were over at my parents' and, speaking to him like a big man, pulled his wallet and a wad of $1s out and said, "so Clement, how many years old are you this year?" as he thumbed through the money.  Clement cocked his head, looked at him dead-serious and said, "oh, mayyyybe one hundred."  That kid!  We decided to start giving him allowance at 4, even though the older kids didn't get any until they were 5.  Those younger kids....  He defintely, as evidenced by the convo with his godfather, has a decent grasp on the concept of money.

And one more story, because I have no other place to keep record of this stuff: my parents (at my suggestion) got Clem some new jammies for his birthday.  Almost everything he has is hand-me-downs, so I thought he would enjoy some that were his very own.  They even got spidey ones!!  He was very polite and thanked them, but when we got home and he was in the shower I asked him which ones he wanted to wear to bed that night and he answered very seriously, "mom, can you just take them back please.  I really like the ones I have.  Just, take them back."  He was excited when I told him he could exchange them for a few more Hot Wheels tracks, so we had a fun shopping trip and he ended up being very happy with his present.

The kids (especially the older two...and me...) have gotten into puzzles lately.  We finished this 500 piece one in 3-4 days.  It was so much fun!!  Kolbe got some new clothes (I am hoping the athletic material will help keep at-bay his horrible neck stretching habit).  Can you tell which shirt is his favorite (these pics were taken on two different days)?

  In the kitchen: See aforementioned white-board. And don't ask me again.  ;-)

Learning:  I've been working on my online course and some lesson planning for the coming year.  I am getting so excited to get back in the classroom.  I've spent some time working at school and getting my room ready as well.  We've been diligent about our 20 minutes a day for the library reading program and I think everyone will hit their 60 days by the end of the program.

Reading: Academia.  Not much else.  Blah.  Academic reading is the worst.  Someone reminded me today that, "they get paid for writing, not content."  Truer words were never spoken.  Blah.  I'm almost 3/4s the way there though.  Once I muscle through next weekend's assignment I should be done.

Watching: Mainly baseball. Honestly not much else. Looking forward to some cozy nights watching Gold Rush with Aaron this fall.  The kids have enjoyed this summer's season of American Ninja Warrior.

Bringing me joy: My faith. Kind words. Connecting with old and new friends. Prayer.

Thinking about: Life and time, specifically our time here on earth. A seminarian from our diocese died in a tragic accident this past week and it has really made me reflect on how little control we have over our lives.  We give ourselves all these illusions of control (from keeping a clean house to meal-planning to a million other things), and especially with our littles still safely under our wings (for the most part) I know I get caught up thinking I have so much control over my life.  Not so much.  I am thankful that He who made the moon and stars cares deeply about me and those I love, and I pray that they may find consolation as they unite their sufferings with His.  God is good...all the time. Even in the midst of grief and suffering.  His will be done. In me and through me.

Pictures to share:  

Birthday hats were a much-anticipated part of this year's celebration. 
Even the stuffed animals got their own.

The sweet birthday boy.  Grandma surprised him with a cake at family dinner night.

Me and my honey.  We will celebrate 10 years of marriage this week.

7 Quick Takes: pumpkin seeds, apple slicers, wait...SEVEN?!!

1. Learning loops.
   
   I've been thinking a lot about our summer schedule, as there are only FIVE WEEKS left in the school year!!!  We have some nice activities to keep us out of trouble busy during June (a few camps, swim lessons, baseball for Kolbe, and Gemma will continue with piano lessons).  Things will pretty much come to a grinding halt around the Fourth of July though...  I am trying to not be terrified by this prospect.  I have always tried to do some learning activities at home with the kids during summer, and it's always either been met with pretty huge resistance or we just get busy with other things on the days/times I scheduled educational stuff and any "structured" learning simply gets left out.  I don't have much higher hopes for this year, but I do have an idea.  Learning loops.  I've broken down some activities I'd like to see the kids do regularly (math facts, independent reading, journaling, letter writing, handwriting practice, etc.) into three categories..."Reading", "Writing", and "Math".  I know.  So creative, right?  It's really a wonder no one has thought of that grouping before.....   Anyways, there is also a fourth category, "30 minutes of free computer time".  I'm typically not much for bribes and rewards (except for when I turn into the dragon version of myself) but the system will go like this... You complete the prescribed amount of work from each category (we will aim for one category per day and I am sure there will be days we don't get to anything) and then you get to do the magical fourth category.  Motivation.  It's motivation. Because it has become apparent that the lure of the glowing screen on my laptop is pretty darn strong, and if I schedule math on Monday and writing on Wednesday and computer on Tuesday and Friday, I can GUARANTEE you they will make time and remind me 400,387 times that it is a computer day, but somehow it doesn't work the same for the math and writing days.  Go figure..  I will report back.
2. Pumpkin seeds.
   
   The kids saved seeds from their jack-o-lanterns this past fall and we finally got around to planting them in some pots this morning.  They have illusions of a pumpkin patch in our yard, which is an odd thought considering the fact that Aaron has put his foot down and said no pumpkins in the yard.  Numerous times.  And I reminded them of that this morning and somehow it didn't phase their plans.  So we'll see where this project takes us.  
3. Birthday.
   
   Oh 36, am I really approaching my late 30s?  What the....????  How did that even happen?  My kids were so good to me yesterday.  Clem even insisted on wearing his six-month-old Mater birthday hat (that he found littered on the ground somewhere last Fall and went on to claim as one of his most prized possessions) to Mass in my honor.  I was...amused.   So were the people around us. At least he didn't insist that I wear it.
   
4. Windows.
   
   I cleaned them again this morning.  The outsides anyways.  Because wouldn't you know like the WEEK after I did my spring window cleaning it rained juuuuuust enough to blow dirt all.over.them.  Like, enough dirt to obscure your view when looking out.  Ridiculous, ugly, dusty nastiness. I kept hoping subsequent rains would wash them off, but no dice. At least this time I only had to do the outsides.  And my ecloths make it pretty easy-peasy, I must say.  Also, speaking of Windows, I really wish my almost six year old laptop would quit asking me if I want to install Windows10.  Seriously, I think this poor old dinosaur would blow up if I tried that.  Hopefully one of the kids doesn't accidentally install it for me.
5. OH my word...it's been forever since I've done this.  SEVEN things?!?!?!!  Trust me, I can't remember the last time I've had seven things exciting enough to actually blog about.  And judging from the above, this post isn't any exception.
6. Bible.
   
   Psalm 25 has been my absolute fave lately.  I went through a phase where I read the 23rd Psalm almost daily (because, right? I am so creative and no one has ever thought to read Psalm 23 on a regular basis before) and one day my eyes wandered over to Psalm 25 and it is so beautiful, and now I find myself returning to it daily.  I particularly like verse 15...
   

   "My eyes are ever toward the Lord,
   for he will pluck my feet out of the net."

   What a beautiful image. Stop focusing on my failures, and obsessing over what I have or may have done wrong.  Keep my eyes on the Lord. Love others. Do His will. Always.  He'll take care of all that other stuff.
7. Apple slicer.
   
   I want an apple slicer so bad.  Something like this.  Apple slices are my go-to snack for the kids, and they especially like to eat them at bedtime.  When the thought of grabbing a paring knife and carving up yet another ~#&($&^$"#+% apple is enough to make me want to jab said knife through a wall.  OK.  Maybe I need therapy instead of an apple slicer.  But if a $10 kitchen gadget can buy me that much peace, maybe I should just buy myself one for my birthday because it's cheaper than therapy.  Seriously, when I am carving up the 47th apple of the day, the only thought going through my head (aside from a keen resentment for the fact that my kids are always wanting me to feed them...seriously, what is wrong with them?) is that  I just know that I could solve all my life's problems by owning an apple slicer.  If you own one and your life still has problems, just keep it to yourself, OK?

   

   the image I see in my nightmares...

   Peace out, friends!
   (Find more Quick Takes over at This Ain't the Lyceum!)
   

January birthdays 2016 part II

With the kids' birthdays being so close together, and thus always celebrating (with grandparents) together, we try to be sure and do some things to make their individual days special.  For whatever reason, "Birthday Brownies for Breakfast" has become the tradition.  This year Gemma also took brownies as her school treat, so I made THREE pans for her birthday!!!  She requested M&M's on top.  Kolbe had been talking about brownies with frosting and sprinkles since last Summer, so we pulled that one off too, even found some dye-free sprinkles for him to go on the cream-cheese frosting I made!

Kolbe was very kind to let Gemma help him decorate his brownies before breakfast.  He is such an empathetic kid.

Gemma got some hair bows and a water bottle for school (that I later destroyed in the dishwasher...oops) for her birthday.  I had noticed how silly all her bows were looking in her hair lately, and it dawned on me that it was because they were intended for toddlers.  HA! The new bows are great, she likes them a lot!  She also got a coupon for a date with mama to pick out some new tennies, and her own copy of Happy Birthday Jamela. And yes, the kids get to open their presents first thing in the morning!  Gemma wanted me to hide hers around the living room this year because apparently I did that several years ago and she thought that was super cool.

Gemma wanted me to take a picture of her at her "birth  moment". Officially an 8 year old!!

 I had lunch at school with both kids on/near their individual birthdays.

Kolbe has had a "4" shirt and a "5" shirt and he was reallllllly hoping for a "6" one, so he was pretty excited to open that first thing on his birthday morning.  He also got the book "Swimmy".  And, he got a "big kid" bike and we took a shopping trip to Academy (a fun winter-afternoon activity) so he could pick out a new helmet (complete with a spike mohawk across the top).  Pictures of bike and helmet forthcoming, I didn't take any.  :-/  Kolbe has gotten really into legos again (he can now follow the directions by himself with VERY little assistance) and he got a cool submarine set from Gemma's godmother (so sweet) for his birthday and a helicopter set for his Baptism anniversary.

We had burgers and fries and ice cream sundaes out for dinner on Kolbe's birthday, and now we are back to eating clean! Happy Birthday to our BIG kids!!!

2016 "birthday week" part I

Well, another birthday week has successfully come and gone around here.  Whew!  We kicked the week off a week ago Friday when Gemma got to help her Grandma Evelyn decorate the birthday cake for her friend party; and Kolbe and I (and Clem) shopped for and assembled his school treats (Hershey's kisses which ended up breaking his face out :-(, "natural" suckers and bracelets he and Gemma had made).  That was a fun afternoon.

Then on Saturday we had five sweet girls from Gemma's grade over to our home for a couple hours of birthday fun!  They played and made homemade shoe-lace bracelets and ate snacks and cake.  Daddy and the boys went to see The Charlie Brown Movie at the dollar (which is actually $3.50 now) theatre.

Then on Sunday we had my parents and Aaron's dad (his mom was out of town) over for chicken noodles and cheesecake (tried my hand at swirling chocolate!) and the kids did their official "blowing out of birthday candles"!

To be continued...next up, their individual birthdays!

Journal: update, because all my reader are asking for one

 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 Penguins
Caddie 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