TODAY
Out my window: Sunny (after a cloudy rainy morning) and wet. Low 50s. Very moderate 10 day forecast.
Clothing myself in: Jeans, black tank with a gray design on front, gray 3/4 sleeve cardigan. Double socks. Unless I am wearing athletic socks, I always double socks. And they have to be mostly cotton or they drive me nuts. Odd?
Around the house: The holiday decorations give our home such a cozy feeling. I love it. The boys and I took a load of donations in early this week.
The baby/toddler: Oh goodness. He tells two knock-knock jokes.
1. Knock knock. Who there? I ARE!!!
2. Knock knock. Who there? Poop. (said in the most delicate voice you could imagine).
That kid.
He has such a strong mind and will. This is very challenging at times. Oh patience. (click on the article, it was very good.) I am sure this will serve him well later in life. Hopefully I can escape his (and his sister's) childhood with at least a few shreds of sanity left.
The kiddos: Gemma was back to school this week. We enjoyed the break, but it's always nice to get back into our regular routine. I was talking to Aaron, and he was commenting how the kids get the whole week at Thanksgiving, and two full weeks at Christmas, and that's so much more time off than we got as kids. I reminded him how much longer our summers were (3+ months) as kids. Honestly though, I will take more breaks and less summer. If it were up to me, several 1-3 week breaks during the year and a 6ish week summer would be perfect (or better anyways). HA! Like it's up to me.
Kolbe is Kolbe. We have been so careful with his (and consequently the whole family's) diet. Nothing that has the word "artificial" or anything unpronounceable (for the most part) in it, and his face looks great! He had a rough time about the first two weeks of November, and I am convinced it was the Halloween candy. Debating our options for next year. For Halloween, and all the extra food that comes with school as well. I have been very unmotivated to do much "school" work with him. Part of it is probably laziness, but part of it is just wanting to let him play and do stuff that is self-led. School is so much work, the rigor of Kindergarten was a bit shocking to me last year (I am not being sarcastic). I want him to be prepared, and I do think he will be "ready" for school, but I don't want to overwhelm him before he has even started "real" school. I know for a fact he is not in the same place academically as Gemma was at almost 5. Not that it matters. So much about which to think...
In the kitchen: honey chicken with brown rice and edamame, meatloaf with roasted brussels sprouts and broccoli, spaghetti and meat sauce with canned green beans (I have a very soft spot in my heart for canned green beans. odd?), and a very hearty batch of chicken noodles. We will be eating leftovers tonight. Next week looking at a new chicken recipe our neighbor gave me, a batch of chili, some baked fish and maybe the bean enchilada casserole I was going to make tonight. Speaking of the kitchen (I suppose this fits best in this category), I got a job! A very part time one. A priest friend of ours asked if I would cook part time for him and the other priest in residence at his parish (which is just a few miles away, not our parish). I wasn't looking for a job, but have often said I like the idea of parish work long-term. To have such an offer fall in my lap seemed like something I should seriously consider. I have high hopes it will work out quite well. I will cook all the food at home and deliver twice a week + some light grocery shopping. I start Christmas week.
Crafting: hahahahahaha, yeeeaaaahhhhh...
Learning: See above. ;-)
Reading: Still working my way through My Sisters the Saints. I read Clare's Costly Cookie with Gemma a couple months ago, and she loved it so much she has been requesting random chapters each night at bedtime. If you have a precious daughter between the ages 6-9, I would highly recommend this compilation of stories to help children (namely girls) grow in their personal relationship with Jesus. It is truly beautiful.
Watching: We watched an interesting show on public television about Neil Armstrong the other night.
Bringing me joy: Advent. New job. Hanging out with the boys during the day. A shopping date with just Clement. Finishing the mail merge and Christmas letter without killing anyone or breaking any pieces of electronics. And getting a family picture with everyone looking and smiling!! Christmas cards just need assembled now.
Thinking about: I think we already covered that. At any rate, I am not in the mood for any more thinking currently.
Pictures to share:
The boys with their homemade air hockey game. We have gone through wayyyyy too many straws the past few days. And somehow this game always ends in a straw/light saber fight. Star Wars, you had to make your presence known in our home at some point. It has happened. My husband is thrilled, I am just confused. I think there is something in the male genome that must help you understand all that. I still am not even sure who's a good guy and who's a bad guy. #boys
Gemma at her new homework workspace, the desk in the basement. Why it took the entire semester to realize this may be a better fit than the kitchen table still has me shaking my head...
