Journal: midway through November

TODAY

Out my window: Cloudy and cool.  We had a nice rain last night and currently it is starting to rain again and there are little ice balls mixed in every now and then.  Weird.  It was sunny for a bit around lunch today, but Sunday and Monday were cloudy as well. Looks like we may have our first freeze of the season later this week.  I hear our weather is marginally better than Denver though.  So my sources say.... 

Around the house: We put the finishing touches on Gemma's upstairs room this past weekend.  I think we will still look for a mirror for above the dresser, but it turned out really nicely and I love having her back upstairs.  It's cozy, and amazingly there is room for the dog (yay?).  If we had it to do over again I suppose we should have just kept her upstairs in the first place, but we really thought we'd have another baby in that room by now. It's funny how things don't always work out how we "plan" them...

The kiddos: Looking forward to the week off school next week! We have a few fun things planned and the more relaxed mornings are always usually nice.  They've been playing a lot of games, their favorites lately are Trouble and Blam-o (which is Aaron's made-up version of war). I am holding my breath though, they've been playing out doors a looooooot and I am curious how things are going to shake out once it's too cold and dark to go out daily....

In the kitchen: Holy moly, I cooked up a storm yesterday.  Beef stew, chicken chili, chicken parmesan, focaccia bread, a white chocolate cheesecake (I actually made that on Sunday), spaghetti in red sauce and some steamed carrots.  I think that's all...  (this was for us and for my job, we don't eat THAT much around here).  We are going to work on some leftovers, since Aaron also had a big smoking project over the weekend.  On the menu for the rest of the week are tacos and my take on Alton's Baked Stuffed Flounder.  Starting to think about menu-planning for next week.  Broccoli salad for one of our get-togethers is the only thing I've got as of now.

Learning:  I have a whole stack of Christmas books from the library, and another one coming in a few days, so I'm looking forward to working on this year's Picture Book a Day plans. I found some new-to-us titles in this post that I'm excited about!

Reading: 

Some fun ones we've read of-late that aren't in this stack:
The Gift of Nothing
Exclamation Mark

The Quiltmaker's Gift 

and of course Turkey Trouble 

Clement was also very excited to learn there is a whole series of Mousekin books.

I've been working on Theology for Beginners; The Imitation of Christ; Deep Conversion, Deep Prayer; Introduction to the Devout Life; and Searching for and Maintaining Peace.  Links can be found over on my Bookshelf tab.

As far as chapter book read-alouds with the kids go, working on The Moffat Museum with all three and First Farm in the Valley with G.

Watching: Some Gold Rush, Booze Traveler, a bit of Bourdain and Zimmern here and there.  Nothing much of note.

Bringing me joy: Books. Prayer. November. Family. The kids. "Dates" with Aaron after the kids are in bed.

Thinking about: Inner peace.

Pictures to share:  

I got nothin' aside from what I shared above. 
PAX!

Journal: Autumn?

TODAY

Out my window: Cloudy, moist and on the warm side of mild.  It was fairly Autumn-like the past weekend, but overall it has still been very warm.  Highs in the 80s (approaching 90 some days) and lows in the 60s or even 70s.  We've left the window open a couple nights which is nice, but it definitely does not really feel like Fall yet, even if the slanty sunlight and shorter days are making it look like Fall. On the deck I have a mum and a few pansies, and the rest of my summer potted plants have seen their better days.

Around the house: I am really liking my microfiber rags, and think that the general purpose and window ones should be enough for about any task I have.  Lots of cooking to start the week (more on that below).  The kids are off school today and have had a GREAT day just playing with each other around the house and outdoors, which is very welcomed after a very angsty day yesterday in anticipation of the annual parish picnic (they woke up at 6am asking if it was time to go yet).  Recently (past 6ish months) they have been getting along SO well and I just love watching them together.  I am so glad they have each other.

 

The kiddos:  Well, about two weeks ago Gemma woke up sick during the night and called us and apparently we didn't hear her the first time so she came up the stairs and then puked on the carpet right in front of the bathroom door.  This was very very traumatic for her, and for the entire duration of her sickness she was terrified that she would puke during the night again.  Well, since getting better she has been getting needier and needier at bedtime ("just lay with me ONE more song, just a LITTLE bit longer"), and she has been waking up anywhere between 4-6am and needing someone to come lay with her.  Not the worst thing in the world, she has a queen bed, but still...  Then over the weekend she completely refused to sleep in her bed and slept on the floor in the boys' room.  She told us it's not fair, the boys have each other, and daddy and I have each other and she is all alone  And she makes a very valid point.  Even so, I am a little at odds as to what to do.  She did very well in the boys' room, and even helped Clem fall asleep last night, but still...  I am hoping that this will just blow over and we will be back to normal, but I'm not terribly optimistic.  I just don't get it though, she's had her own bedroom for over a year now and this is the first time we've had issues.  I guess maybe the puking episode was just that traumatic.  I feel badly for her and wish I knew how to make it better.

Kolbe, oh my he can be so intense and impulsive.  Sometimes it takes every ounce of patience I possess to make it through and I still look back and am ashamed at how I handled myself.  But yet I remember not so long ago Gemma being the same way (well, different, but the same) and now she has grown up soooooooo much and so many of the problems that were huge issues with her are just not even on the radar anymore.  Aaron and I were talking about this last night.  Parenting your oldest is so hard, everything is new.  It's so different with subsequent kids.  Still hard, but there is light at the end of the tunnel my friends.  Kolbe is a little more chill about school now that the newness has worn off, but he still seems to like it.  We have conferences end of next week, so I am really looking forward to talking with his teacher and seeing how she thinks he is doing.

Clem.  Oh I am so glad to have my little buddy to hang out with me in the mornings when the big kids are gone.  He is so fun.  Instead of saying, "thank you for _______,"  he says, "thanks you to _________."  "Thanks you to making me muffins for snacktime."  "Thanks you to buying me my basketball shirt."  Stuff like that.  It is so adorable.  When he is carrying something he doesn't want to drop (perler beads come to mind of late), he repeats over and over, "careful, caaaaaareful," and if he waits too long to make it to the bathroom he yells, "hurry, hurry hurry," over and over on his way back to the toilet.  He cracks me up.  Last night he woke up at 3am crying, haaaaard, because someone took his blue donut.  It took me about 10 minutes to calm him down.

In the kitchen:  

Today: a big batch of stroganoff for us/Father.  I love this recipe, the wine makes it taste sooooo good.  I always add a chopped onion and instead of the flour I make a roux.  We will have steamed green beans and applesauce on the side.  I also made some pumpkin bread today.  I've made this recipe twice, using an entire can of pumpkin and leaving out the banana.

Tuesday: crispy chicken salads.  We don't buy many convenience foods, but the crispy chicken tenderloins from Sams are so good and the ingredient list isn't half bad.  (andtheyaresoeasy)

Wednesday: honey chicken, wild rice, steamed broccoli and cauliflower

Thursday: hamburgers.  Aldi is out of their whole wheat buns for the season (sad day, and bread takes up too much room in the freezer to store), but Aaron found some on sale at the other grocery store 4 packs for $4 (they are usually about $3.50 a piece).

Friday: vegetable tortellini (thanks Mlada!)

Learning: Mainly school stuff.  I am trying to be very intentional about taking the kids' lead when they are interested in something at home (Kolbe loves science experiments, Gemma likes making books about things...she is on the hunt for information about flowers currently).  Lots of reading together.  Gemma and I are trying to go to weekly Eucharistic Adoration (for about 10-15 minutes) and then we do a little Catechism lesson together from our Jesus and I book. I am very pleased with the religion she is learning at school as well.  They are covering a lot.

Gemma is doing Little Flowers Girls Club this year (for the next four years actually).  She was sick the day of her first (monthly) meeting :-( but we did the lesson together at home and I am so excited for the year!  It has inspired me to get PACE back out, as it will weave in nicely with her Little Flowers topics.

Reading: Meh, I have been kind of lax on any personal reading lately.  Morning Prayer and Saints of the Roman Calendar as it applies.  Trying for daily Bible reading/meditation.  I go in spurts where I do better and where I don't.  With the kids: Rufus M. with all the kids and Ginger Pye with Gemma.  I can tell "Unsavory" is making her juuuuust a little scared, but not enough to stop reading it.  So many good picture books...Gemma requested that I get Violet Comes to Stay and Violet Goes to the Country again.  She told me she is going to write to the author and tell her to make more Violet books.  All three kids really like Eric Carle, and in the basket now is Pancakes! Pancakes! and A House for a Hermit Crab.  Life Size Zoo was an awesome library pickup, and Clement can't get enough of Ten Apples Up on Top.   I also have a stack of books about apples in the basket, and a stack of Autumn books ready to pull out here later this week.  OHHHHH there are some good Fall books.  I am so happy that we now have our very own copies of Fletcher and the Falling Leaves and Too Many Pumpkins.  I am seriously giddy about reading these books (nerdy much?).

Watching: MLB mainly.  We watched a little bit of the Republican Debate on CNN the other night.  OHHHHH Donald....  And people, PEOPLE!!!!  The Gold Rush Alaska season premiere is OCTOBER 16th!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bringing me joy: Reading with the kids.  Nice weather and lots of time outdoors.  Hanging out just me and Clement in the mornings.  He is so very #three these days, but when it is just me and him and we are not on a super tight schedule it is so much easier to be patient.  When all three kids are off playing and it is just me and Aaron hanging out and talking about anything and everything under the sun. Those are good times, such good times.  My life is very good.

Thinking about: Faith. Trust. Prayer. Abandonment. My relationship with God.  Whether or not to attend the upcoming library book sale.  Other stuff...

Pictures to share:  

Love.

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: Malbec! Happy Friday!

I am thankful for: Spring. The kids. Prayer. Good books. My wine re-corker thingy. Theology. My job. Awesome neighbors...they bring us tasty Asian food, love our kids, pick us flowers...  I could go on. We have got some great neighbors for sure. And shot glasses.  I am thankful for shot glasses because they make the best little vases for the flowers the kids bring me.  Couldn't tell you the last time I used a shot glass for its intended purpose (never?), but they make great dandelion vases.
 

I am enjoying: a glass of Malbec.  MMMMMmmmmmm...  Having our bookshelf upstairs and all our books OUT and AVAILABLE to little (and big) readers.  Oh my heavens, why did it take me upwards of 4 years to figure this out??  Previously our picture books had been behind closed doors in the TV stand, and my books had been on the bookshelf in the basement.  I finally decided I needed to do something about this (I am not sure exactly of the straw that broke the camel's back, but something snapped this week) so in a fit of impulsivity I moved the end-table downstairs, the bookshelf upstairs, put the kids' books on the bottom shelf, the ones I read/use all the time on the top shelf, and the rest of my books behind the closed doors of the TV stand.  Our former book basket resides beside the shelf and now we keep the library books there (instead of the fireplace).  I did all this realizing that the setup probably wouldn't be ideal but at least we'd have our books out and that was the important part...and we actually like it better than having the end table over there.  It has really opened up the corner and it looks soooo cozy. I am also enjoying the Benedictines of Mary Easter CD.  Sometimes I close my eyes standing in the middle of my kitchen and honestly it is like a little taste of heaven.  So beautiful.  Track 3 (The Clouds of Night) is one of my favorites. 

I am working: on a glass of Malbec. And a summer routine for the kids. We are planning to make a list of things we would like to do here in a bit.  I have been working on my library lists, and trying to keep us well stocked with good books.  I found a great list of picture books to inspire some library check-outs.  I have a thing for book-lists.  What are your favorites (book lists that is)?  We have read about 1/4 of these so looking forward to some new-to-us titles. Spent entirely too long planning next week's menu but got the grocery shopping done and forgot under 5 items. Yay me? It is a very lucky thing we are only a mile from the store.

I am reading: the usuals.  Theology, Philosophy (I cannot believe how much I love Philosophy, oh my word...), dabbling in a bit more Confessions, (I am just convinced this is one to read slowly) and have been working my way through Mark (almost done with my commentary) and the Acts of the Apostles as well.  Upon the recommendation of my faithful reader, I received a copy of Molly and the Tornado from inter-library loan today to read to the kids. We had a not-very-close-but-close-enough-to-pull-my-"things to take to the basement"-list-out-call the other night with a small storm cell, so the kids should get a kick out of this one. Or it will freak them out.  You never know...  We've been revisiting some of our old favorites as well, now that the picture books are out in the open.  Anyone else out there read And the Dish Ran Away with the Spoon?  We love it! For Mother's Day I really did not need (or want) anything, so I told the kids we would pick out several new (well, used on Amazon but new to us) picture books.  So far we have ordered Little Pea and Adele and Simon in America.  I am particularly excited about the latter.  Started the Samantha books with Gemma this past week, we are on book 3. I will be honest, I like American Girl books but do not think they are great.  If I had it to do over again I would just have waited and let Gemma read them on her own rather than using them as read-alouds.

I am cooking: black bean tortilla soup (this is no way an endorsement of Martha Stewart, it just happens to be a good recipe.  I did modify it a bit though...) for tonight, only it is already done!! I made it yesterday for the fathers' Friday meal and made enough for us so all I have to do is reheat!  My kind of dinner!! Next week we've got breakfast casserole, honey sriracha chicken for us and pesto chicken for the fathers, baked salmon for us, Nantucket baked cod for the fathers, some roasted cauliflower and potatoes and sauteed green beans as sides. Still have a few gaps to fill in next week. menu-wise. I made a tasty banana "cake" (quotes because it is pretty healthy for a cake) and we have more bananas in the freezer, so I may make another one in the next week or so.

I am watching: baseball! Catching an episode of Alton Brown here and there. I swear, I learn some sort of new trick or tip from him almost every episode I watch.  Good stuffs those Good Eats. Many evenings I watch the back of my eyelids. 

Pictures to share:

The kids and their grandma Mary (hubby's mom) on May day!  We made some impromptu May baskets and had so much fun!

Silly kids!

Journal: quick update

TODAY

Out my window: Dark.  It is unseasonably warm this past week and weekend.  Looks like Autumn returns on Tuesday.

Clothing myself in: jammies.  

Around the house: I finally put an art-line up for the kids.  Fridge-door space just wasn't cutting it.  Gemma has so many things from school, plus the things she makes at home, and now Kolbe likes to make projects plus his speech teacher will do little crafts with him.  Even Clem painted a paper plate pumpkin today!  So I got some twine from the dollar bin at Target and some clips and strung it across the fireplace on the two end-hooks where we hang our Christmas stockings.  It is sweet.  Definitely looks like children live in our house, but I like it.

The baby/toddler: He has this little swagger he does sometimes when he walks.  Cracks me up.  For whatever reason he hates having to go to the bathroom before his bath every night, so every night, without fail, I hear him tell Aaron, "but I ah-yeddy MAKE my pobbies!"  Even if it's been hours.  He is such a funny kid!

 

The kiddos: Lots of time outdoors lately.  Everyone is happier when we are outdoors.  Gemma has had a good week.  Kolbe tried to sharpen his finger in the pencil sharpener.  They have played together really well (mostly) this past week.  I record these things so I can look back and actually believe they happen.

In the kitchen: Tostadas, Breakfast Casserole, Spaghetti and a big 'ole pot of Halloween chili on the menu this week.

Crafting: The kids made paper plate jack-o-lanterns today, so I'm claiming that along with aforementioned art line, thank you.

Learning:  the usual.

Reading: I picked up The Mitchells series for Gemma and we started Clare's Costly Cookie tonight.  I have ordered used copies of The Children of Noisy Village and its sequel.  And I have The Family Under the Bridge from the library, but think we will wait on it until closer to Christmas.  I also picked up a couple used hardcovers for our Advent/Christmas library at home and have requested our November books from the library (I thought we'd take a break from our [formal] Virtues and discuss gratitude, aptly).

Watching: The World Series, of course.

Bringing me joy: The kids.  I love them.  They  make me nuts and test my patience in ways I never dreamed (or hoped) possible, but oh I love them.  They are each so unique and special and delightful in their very own ways.

Thinking about: The Ebola outbreak.  It didn't really have me too worried, until the few cases in Texas.  Even then I knew I was being unreasonable worrying about it, a.) because it wasn't incredibly likely to spread, and b.) if it was going to spread, there wasn't a whole lot I could do about it anyways.  But as I thought about it, it really hit home how many people, people...moms and dads, sons and daughters, sisters and brothers...are dying in Africa.  And how scared, and sad, and lonely and horrifying that must be.  I can't even imagine.  It is hard for me to fathom, or even think about for too long.  But it has made me pray more consciously for those directly affected, on my own and with the kids. 

Pictures to share:  

I like this little montage of Clem, at the park one day last week.  He was so focused on balancing.

Journal: Autumn, books, and babies wearing headlamps

TODAY

Out my window:  Beautiful Autumn day.  Fall has finally found its stride.

Clothing myself in:  Darkish denim jeans, a fuchsia tank with a black fleur de lis on the front and a black half-length sleeved cardigan/shrug.

Around the house: I went through our boxes of Christmas decos and consolidated things quite a bit.  There were a handful of decorations that we've accumulated through the years that either a.) we've never used, or b.) have no sentimental meaning.  Those went.  Packed a few toys away that don't get played with regularly (just dumped out, haha) and have sold a few things on Facebook this past week (purse, Chuck the Truck and our old Christmas tree is PPU). 

 

The baby/toddler: Oh he is so adorable.  I've had some one-on-one time with him on several occasions the past week and I love just being able to sit and soak up his cuteness.  It is funny, now that I have three kids, spending time with only one makes me wonder how I ever thought I was busy when I only had one kid.  Perspective.

 

The kiddos:  Kolbe and his daddy had their big fishing trip that they have been planning for months yesterday.  Only they got there to find out that trout season has apparently changed since the last time Aaron fished trout years ago, and now it doesn't start until November 1.  So there was a little disappointment for both of them, but they did some exploring and had a picnic and tossed their lines in a bit and caught a few other fish so the day wasn't a disaster or anything.  Just not what they were planning really.  I am so glad they had this time together!  They are looking forward to hopefully actually fishing for some trout here in a few more weeks. 

Gemma has had her ups and downs lately.  Today I got a call from the school nurse saying she'd been in a few times today missing me.  I was really pleased with how the nurse handled it, and thought it was really nice to get a prompt phone call about it.  I asked if this has ever happened before and she said never.  I was glad the answer wasn't, "well, this has been going on for five weeks," or something.  Hopefully we can work through this.  She has been having some behavioral issues too (at home not school to my knowledge) that we've been trying to work through though so I wonder if everything is kind of related.  Prayers, please, that she can settle into school.  She had such a great second semester last year, I was really hoping we'd pick up where we left off.  Sigh.  Nothing is ever simple or straightforward.  Other than that, she is all things Gemma.  Writing and drawing up a storm as usual, always an idea for a new book.  She has had an author come talk at her school twice this year and she always gets really stoked about that.  She has started liking to chat with me about her school day while she showers, which is nice.  Sometimes I have other things to do, but it's important for me to stay and listen as she is not one to always open up much, especially about school.  

In the kitchen: This week was beef stew, Sesame Chicken and brown rice, Tacos, leftovers, and Fish Muffins tonight.  Next week we have meatloaf with probably potato and steamed broccoli sides, Chicken Enchiladas (if I make it to the tortilla place), Spaghetti and Meatballs with canned green beans, Baked Salmon (I plan to come up with something exciting or at least semi-interesting for side dishes) and Aaron is going to grill some steaks this weekend.

Crafting: I bought Halloween costumes for the boys?

Learning: We've read some really good books lately.  Today we finished The Story of Holly and Ivy as part of our monthly virtue study, and we've read some nice autumn-themed books as well. I am so grateful for library books and the Internet to aid me in my quest for good books.  We had some strong feelings about Scholastic book orders and after entirely too much rigamarole decided that we are going to skip the book orders entirely.  There was a little drama involved in this (understatement).  I'll spare you the details, but I let things die down a week or so and then talked with Gemma and told her I do like the idea of adding to our home library with good, quality books, so could she think of anything she'd gotten from the library that she really liked and of which she would like to own a copy.  We talked, and looked at this and that, and ended up ordering a nice, used, hardbound copy of Thundercake from Amazon. 

I've let Kolbe start having some computer time.  Sigh, it was bound to happen.  We seem to have reached a happy medium with time he gets to spend (20-30 minutes 2 or 3 mornings a week) so I'm good with it.  OH technology.  I love you and I hate you.  

Reading: See above.  Still working my way slowly through "Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids", "The Hidden Power of Kindness" and "Theology and Sanity" (for class) and I browsed through "The Little Oratory" as I was able to get a copy through inter-library loan.  About halfway through "The First Four Years" and "Therese" with Gemma.  I will be glad to finish these and pick something else up, for her sake, she seems to be ready for something fresh.  The last two Little House book haven't captivated her nearly as much as the others, and Therese seems just a hair above her.  See my Bookshelf tab for links to all those titles, too lazy to re-link.

Watching: Post-season baseball, baby.  New season of Gold Rush premieres tonight.

Bringing me joy: Autumn.  Good friends.  My kids.  Success I've been having in my struggle with a particular vice.  Confession and Spiritual Direction.  Our crazy life (for the most part).

Thinking about:  Stuff.

Pictures to share:  

Gemma at her school Living Rosary.  She got to hold a flower and participate!  (I should have forced the flash, but felt badly enough having my phone out in Church).

Kolbe (and his trusty side-kick) playing the Angry Birds game his teacher let him borrow.

Love this kid!

Fire Safety Books

Fire safety is something I have always known I should talk about with my kids, but never have.  Finally, I checked a stack of books out at the library, but they sat in a bag for over a month.  (Mom of the year, right here.)  One evening Gemma started asking about fire safety and that was a great springboard to spend the next morning with our books and talking about our own family's fire escape plan.  I thought I would share the titles that we used, in case anyone else was interested.  I, personally, find it so much easier to explain something like this to my kids with a good book.  Most of the fire safety books out there are pretty generic, I'll list the ones we had but they were basically just the ones that were available at our local library.  Nothing special. 

Fire Safety  - Simple and to the point, good for a beginning reader.

Crawl Low Under Smoke - A bit more detailed, and really stressed the "crawl low" mantra, which is very important.

It's Time to Call 911 - This one talked about all the different times and reasons one might need to call 911, what one should say on the phone, and it had a little phone with keys on it so the kids could practice pressing 911.  The only reminder that this one needed, is that on most phones today (portable/cell) one must dial 911 and then pres "talk" or the green button etc.

Emergency! - This book didn't really teach any fire safety, but would be a cool book for probably PK-2 boys who want to learn more about rescue vehicles.

No Dragons for Tea: Fire Safety for Kids (and dragons) - This is the only "non-generic" book that I would highly recommend going out of your way to get your hands on a copy.  It was cute, it rhymed, and it covered literally all the fire-safety bases in a very non-scary way.   I am actually considering purchasing this book for our home library.

Please share!!  What are your favorite fire safety books and activities for kids?  Next up for us...stranger danger and personal safety, which will go very nicely with our Virtue of the month in October (Faith/Trust).  If anyone has any recommendations for good books on this topic, I'd love for you to share.  I may even do another post here in the near future to round up the good books we found.

Space books

Kolbe was curious about space and rockets last week so we built some rockets out of old paper towel tubes, I pulled up the launch of STS-135 on YouTube and we watched it and then requested some space-themed books from the library.  I love impromptu lessons like this, they seem to go better than the ones I meticulously plan out.  ;-)  I wanted to share some of the titles we got from the library and my quick reviews for anyone else who might be interested.

The first one was a Scholastic Blast-off Reader, Exploring Space: Space Shuttles.   It was a very informative look at space shuttles, although obviously written before they were retired.  It put things in simple terms for the kids to understand without dumbing them down.  

Then we got The Big Dipper, which is a book about stars and constellations, namely Ursa Major and Ursa Minor and the North Star.  We had this book during "S" week but Gemma didn't get to read/hear it then so I requested it specifically for her.  Both kids are looking forward to going outside after dark when the days get a little shorter to check out the Big and Little Dippers.

I was excited to find Me and my Place in Space, which has the same authors/format as Me on the Map (which we own and love).  It is a story that details the planets, solar system, galaxy, universe, etc. respectively.  It also addressed the possibility of intelligent life elsewhere in the universe in a very appropriate way I thought.

My favorite by far was If you Decide to Go to the Moon.  While fiction, everything it talked about in regards to gravity, the moon's landscape, life in space, etc. was factual in terms of correctness.  The kids really learned a lot from this one, and while it wasn't a religious book by any means I appreciated the author's subtle references to a Higher Power in the universe.  The illustrations were pleasant and interesting as well.

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!