Journal: almost spring. really. maybe.

TODAY

Out my window: Sunny and lovely.  You should see the 15 day forecast.  I know I shouldn't call it yet, but I'm saying early Spring.  Time will tell.  Because obviously I shouldn't count on the groundhog.  But I did move some plants back outdoors to the deck...

Around the house: Let's see, several things.  Gemma had this little shelf in her closet -- which I have dubbed "the traveling bookshelf" because it has spent time in nearly every closet/storage area of our house -- but it was too small to house her books and other items so it was just kind of a disorganized mess and nothing ever got used because it was either lost or too difficult to wedge from the bottom of the pile.  I should have taken a before picture.  I was all set to buy her a nine-cube for her room (which is the smallest bedroom in the house but has an amazing capacity for holding a large amount of furniture, really good door and window placement is all I can figure) when I realized that the kids have grown out of many of the toys on the nine-cube in the basement and it is more storage than we need.  So I hauled it upstairs to her room and we got it all organized (I wasn't too big a control freak about this, maybe, well sort of, um, nevermind...), but we're both really pleased with the results and the traveling bookshelf went to the basement to house the games and toys that actually get played with.  Win win and I didn't spend a thing.  AND the dog's box STILL fits in her room at the foot of her bed.  

I made a little Valentine's bunting for over the fireplace with all the Valentines the kides made us.  I kind of love it and will probably leave it up awhile even though Valentine's Day is over.

Starting to think about Spring wardrobes for kids.  We have most of the stuff we need, just a few holes to fill in.  Speaking of holes, I have thrown away three pair of Clement's pants and one pair of shoes in the past several weeks because they were literally threadbare.  Apparently little boy clothes can make it through exactly 1.75 little boys.

Trying to figure out my negotiating tactics for AT&T because we are paying too.friggin.much. for phone/cable/internet.  #firstworldproblems 

The kiddos:

Gemma started piano lessons last week.  I think it's going to be a really good fit and her teacher lives FIVE MINUTES from our house.

Kolbe started spelling words (as in, taking spelling tests) at school this week!  He is doing so many things I never dreamed he'd be able to accomplish.  That sounds lame and sappy.  I am just so pleased with how far he has come this year.

Letter H this week for Clem.  He has decided he doesn't want to do school, but if I call it "letter H (or whatever) things" he is good and will gladly work on activities.  Just rolling with it, I'm not here to force anything.

Starting to think about Summer activities.  VBS is a sure thing, and swim lessons at some point.  Art Camp maybe? Now that we are members at the Y, I think we will take a little more advantage of some of the things they have to offer...looking at baseball for Kolbe and a tumbling class for Gemma.  I don't want to be insanely busy, or turn myself into a taxi service, but it will be nice to have some things to keep us out of trouble (HA!) while school is not in session.

In the kitchen: This week hamburgers, beef stroganoff, hot dogs (see below) lime chicken tacos, salads (maybe) and veggie and shrimp tortellini. I have chili and Dijon chicken on the menu for next week which is really planning ahead for me.  Now to make a grocery list. And finish meal-planning the week....  I have made a couple batches of pumpkin and banana bread.

Learning:  The school had their annual Read Night this week!  Hot dog dinner, storytime in the library and games and crafts in the classroom.  It's such a good time.  I remember, as a teacher, going back for an evening activity after teaching all day wasn't always the most appealing thing in the world, yet just about every teacher was there last night, and they went out of their way to make it a "groovy" (that was the theme) good time for the kids.  So grateful for our school/Church community (and that they are one in the same).

Working the past week on establishing our Lenten routines and rhythms.  Simple and meaningful.  Doing the Lenten Cross readings (think Jesse Tree for Lent) again which I love, I think we will almost exclusively use the "real" Bible this year (vs. Children's versions).  The  Prayer from Morning Prayer is always a nice daily reminder/refocus for the season.  I was all excited to use this book but then as Ash Wednesday neared I just wasn't feeling it, and we're not doing the prayer garden this year either but have some neat activities for alms that involve helping other school kids and Kolbe has a little daily calendar of kind acts from school.  We are saying a decade of the Rosary at bedtime for a priest friend of ours and his new endeavors and I will tell you...the family rosary has always terrified me.  So much so that I've never even tried it.  We will do decades in the van along with a CD occasionally, but seriously, the kids are STRAPPED INTO ONE SPOT AND LISTENING TO THE PRAYERS ON A CD so how hard is that?  I mean, it's still meaningful, but it doesn't take heroic effort or anything.  Bedtime prayers are a huge source of angst for me so this was a dicey move, but it's going fairly marginally well. We've only broken one Rosary and as long as no one puts his Rosary in the wrong spot in the prayer corner we have mostly avoided knock-down drag-out fights.  Clem even beaded his own Rosary late last week (just a loop of beads, we leave off the anchor part when we make kid rosaries) and he and Kolbe have both been pretty diligent about wanting to follow along with the Hail Mary's.  I will report back post-Easter if I really live through this. 

Reading: Finally (long story) finishing The Moffat Museum with the kids.  I am totally nerding out over checking out great books each week for Clem's Letter of the Week.  This week my fave was Cactus Hotel which I really would like to own some day.  Making good then not good then good progress with Fire Within.  It's so rich.

Watching: usuals.  Aaron has gotten into this show about people who make knives.  It is mildly interesting but sometimes TV just seems like such a waste of time.  Bleh.

Bringing me joy: Prayer and carving out daily time for meditation.  Read Night with the kids.  Watching the kids' play that Gemma wrote (Mary Had a Little Lamb) this weekend, they were so adorable (see picture of the baa-baa lamb).  I love them.  Even when they push me to the edge of my sanity.

Thinking about: Blah.  I should just take this category out because either a.) by the time I get to the bottom I don't feel like hashing out more of my random brain-dumps, or b.) whatever I am thinking about I don't particularly feel like sharing for any random person on the interwebs to peruse.  So yeah.

Pictures to share: See above. I have tried for far too long to figure out how to embed the Mary Had a Little Lamb play and I'm not getting it.  Peace out my friends!!!

Journal: Summer is coming

TODAY

Out my window: Hot.  This weather is just all over the place.  Highs in the mid-nineties (for real) all this week, but then it looks like it should be a little more moderate come next weekend/early the following week.  The kids are begging to play out in the pool.

Clothing myself in:  Jean shorts I got on a FB resale group ($5 well spent!) and a t-shirt.

Around the house: Took a few more bags of stuff to Goodwill this week.  I am finding that getting rid of stuff has kind of a snowball effect.  The more you get rid of, the more you realize you don't really need.  I have a few items (wedding gifts we've still never used) I'd like to try to consign. 

 

The baby/toddler: New words this week: ready, sissy, bubby, choo-choo, ball, go (which he likes to proclaim loudly at the end of every song during Mass).  He has an opinion about everything, including his wardrobe.  He is always heartbroken if "choo choo" or "ball-ball" shirts are dirty.  His belly-button is doing this funny thing.  I noticed he had been messing with it and it has, like, popped all the way out.  It's a little bizarre.  He didn't have an outie before, now he has a back-and-forthie.  Weirdness.  I never took him in at 18 months because that was smack in the middle of cold/flu season and the doctor's office is not my fave place that time of year, so I'm thinking of taking him in for a combined 18 month/2 yr well-child visit and make sure everything is OK with it.  Aaron says he figures he'll just say to keep an eye on it for now.  Anyone ever seen this?

 

The kiddos:  Started swim lesson this past Saturday.  First Gemma was super excited and Kolbe didn't want to go.  Then Kolbe was super-excited (so much so that Friday night he hollered at us from bed at 8:45 PM, still awake, to ask if it was time to get up yet) and Gemma was trepidatious.  They both ended up having a blast!  We go every Saturday in May, and we'll see about a 2wk session later in the summer.

They are obsessed with talking about underpants and poop.  Really?

They are getting to be so good at fishing, they can pretty much fish by themselves, including taking the fish off the hook and tossing them back in.  They do hit snags here and there, but for the most part I am amazed at their skills.  I am so happy for them.  When I "fished" as a kid it was a stick with a piece of yarn tied to it while I sat on top of our dog house.  True story.

In the kitchen: Sushi last night, leftovers (sushi and some stuff from the grill) today.  Spaghetti, crispy chicken salads with homemade vinaigrette, chicken picadillo, chicken fajitas, baked fish... lettuce salads and steamed veggies for sides.  Maybe a broccoli salad with the fish.  Lots of fresh fruits: straberries, watermelon and cantaloupe have been frequent faves of late.  I have a new drying rack and one-quart stainless-steel saucepan thanks to an unfortunate mishap last week.

Crafting: Who are we kidding?  I should probably remove this before I get accused of being some sort of crafting imposter.  I'm not even sure why it's here in the first place...

Learning: Gonna buckle down and finish up this school year!!  Looking forward to the change in pace summer will bring.  Thinking about Kolbe's needs next year which -- aside from his speech classes -- mainly include lots of time to play and be a little boy, reading books and doing some simple "school" stuff together.  I'd like to work some on handwriting/fine motor activities with him, just so we can hopefully get his pencil grip looking a little better before kdg.  He knows his numbers really well (much better than Gemma did at this age) and his letters less well (not quite as well as Gemma did at this age).  He spends much less time coloring/drawing/writing which I'd guess is gender-related.  We may try library story-time regularly next Fall.  He went a few times last year, and then a little boy apparently hit him (I wasn't in there with him :-( and he has never wanted to go again so I haven't forced the issue.  

Reading: Started Sarah, Plain and Tall with Gemma.  Got the Children's Book of Virtues from the library (maybe some mealtime reading?)  Reading Unbroken myself (Erika have you read this?  I think you'd like it...) and have a handful of teen-fiction on the hold-list at the library.  I go through spells with personal reading, I am in a reading-spell currently.  Probably need something religious to round-out my book-stack.  Still working through The Joy of the Gospel here and there.

Watching:  River Monsters finale is tonight.  We've been watching Outrageous Acts of Science and it's pretty cool.  Cosmos should be wrapping up I think??  It's been so thought-provoking.

Bringing me joy: We have a Bishop!!  Watching his Ordination on television was the next best thing to being there...actually, considering the fact that I have three young children, it was probably better than being there.  Time outdoors with the kids.  Having a good friend with whom to hang out during swim lessons.  Walking with Clem.  All Clem's new words.  My older kids' love for the outdoors.  Chatting with my hubby.  A tasty bottle of wine. 

Thinking about: I wonder if I have seasonal affective disorder.  I am always so much happier this time of year, and have trouble wrapping my mind around just how I survive winter every year...  I am hoping summer vacation is not too much a shock for Gemma.  I think she likes school more than she lets on, and she seems to thrive on predictability.  I have tried not to talk too much about school being out as I don't want to stress her out.  We'll see what the next few weeks bring, I know they are going flyyyyyyyyy.

Pictures to share: 

A couple weeks old...the Lenten Cross was so great this year.  Looking forward to it again next Lent.

Seven Quick Takes: Lent, protein shakes, cute babies and more...

Linking up with Jen at Conversion Diary again this week for Seven Quick Takes.  Mine certainly won't be as entertaining as hers, but alas...

1. Yesterday when the baby woke up from his nap, he got up and opened the door all on his own (he sleeps on the floor), ran down the hallway to the living room, and shouted "BOO!" at us.  It was sooooo cute!
2. I pulled this DVD out today, I do each year around Holy Week (for the kids).  It is so beautifully done, in a cartoon sort of way.  Really.  If you are Catholic, Christian, whomever.  Check it out.   I will be honest, I always tear-up at the end when I watch it with the kids, a beautiful depiction of the Easter story for even the youngest viewers.
3. Today is the Feast of St. Gemma, and being a Friday it was also Show-and-Tell.  I checked with her teacher in advance and Gemma was able to bring her St. Gemma (First Class) Relic to show her class.  Pretty neat.  
4. I am enjoying our Lenten Cross Readings with the kids so much.  I made the cross and icons and everything three years ago, and it was way above the kids then.  I almost got rid of it, I'm so glad I had the foresight to hold onto everything.  This year I correlated about half the readings with our Children's Bible (the other half just from our NAB) and it has been just great.  We do our readings each day at breakfast.
5. The weather today is so gorgeous...baking Feast-day cookies (per Gemma's request) and playing outdoors are on the "to do" list this afternoon.
6. We finally found a protein shake that we like AND has an acceptable ingredient list.  Check out Designer Whey.  This is my sanity saver most mornings (because if I do not eat breakfast, I turn into a bear.  For real.)
7. I read several good articles this week.  Portraits of Reconciliation was a beautiful reflection on the Rwandan Genocide, 20 years later.  And I really liked this Catholic Mama's take on modesty.

PEACE OUT!!!

Journal: Hello March (and snow)

TODAY

Out my window:  Snowing.  On March 2nd.  poo.  This had better be the. last. blast.  

Clothing myself in:  Jeans, tank, sweatshirt.  Picked up some new tops at Maurice's, one dressier one and a handful of "mom" things.  ;-)  A friend posted some articles a couple weeks ago on mommy fashion (haha, I know, I can't believe I just typed that), and one of the articles I clicked thru to (not even going to attempt to find it) talked about dressing in threes.  IE- Jeans, shirt and shrug.  Slacks, sweater, chunky necklace/scarf.  etc.  For whatever reason this was very helpful for me.

Around the house: We got a new shower curtain for the master bath, but we have to exchange it because one of the holes was not slit so I couldn't put the ring (also new!) through it.  Annoying, but certainly a first-world problem.  I'll be anxious to get it exchanged and hung, it will look really nice.  

Gearing up for Lent.  My motto this year is to keep things simple yet meaningful, and to follow through.  I decided (rather last minute) to go ahead with the Lenten Cross Readings with the kids.  I tried this three years ago and it was too above them but I have high hopes for this year.  I went through the reading list and divided it up between reading from our regular (NAB) Bible and our Children's Bible (that I love) and refurbed the cross-board a bit.  Still trying to decided whether to do them after homework time or after dinner. Hmmmmmm...

 

The baby/toddler: Starting to repeat lots of words/sounds.  I ordered him some more prefolds from Green Mountain as ours are getting beat. up.  Part of this is probably because I am lazy and dry them in the dryer more often than on the rack (ahem, the rack is currently in the basement storage room).  They've gotten heavy use with 2 kids though, and a bit of use with Gemma too, so I can't complain.  Even buying more, I know they've saved us money.

 

The kiddos:  They've enjoyed playing with the dress-up clothes and our play instrument set/Gemma's keyboard lately.  Last week they put on a play called "Scared and Not Scared" that involved jumping over a booby-trap they made out of a pile of beads in the living room to various demo music played on the keyboard.  It was highly amusing listening to them running around saying booby so many times.  Yes, I don't get out much.  On Monday we ran some errands and acquired some balloons.  I have a rule in this house that says only one balloon can be blown up at once because I hate balloons.  Really, hate them.  There are currently like seven balloons in my living room, because apparently I suck at rules.  I also broke Gemma's heart when I broke down and told her that I do not like playing Candyland.  Just let me know where to mail my application for 'mom of the year'.

In the kitchen: Pork cutlets, potatoes and either brussel sprouts or asparagus (fresh! a sign that spring will come!!); homemade pizza, tuna melts on Ash Wednesday and Fish Crisp on Friday.  Probably will find something special/fun to do for the kids on Mardi Gras.

Crafting: nada.  I apparently over-exerted my crafting muscle last week, haha. 

Learning:  Finishing up on a few "R" things this week with Kolbe and mainly focusing on Lent.

Reading: The Joy of the Gospel.

Watching:  The usual.

Bringing me joy: The coming change in Church seasons.  Even though Lent is "hard" and I'm not necessarily looking forward to that in the material sense, seasons like Lent and Advent are such beautiful opportunities for growth.  And the coming (hopeful) change in calendar seasons.  Also a whole afternoon and evening date with my hubby, complete with leisurely shopping and a taaaaasty dinner out at a nice quiet restaurant.

Thinking about:  A friend who was diagnosed with leukemia (after going through breast cancer/treatment a year ago).  My heart is so heavy for her and her family, she has kids that are my kids' age (and older, there are ten!!) and I just can't imagine...  I am praying that they can find peace and joy as they embrace this cross.

A few articles to share, first this one about "tough love" (I put that in quotes as it's not the 'usual' tough love that comes to mind).  I thought it was a beautiful reflection on love in general.  Even when it's tough.  And then this one, The One Thing Christians Should Stop Saying.  So good.  A few quotes:

First, when I say that my material fortune is the result of God’s blessing, it reduces The Almighty to some sort of sky-bound, wish-granting fairy who spends his days randomly bestowing cars and cash upon his followers...God is not a behavioral psychologist.

Nowhere in scripture are we promised worldly ease in return for our pledge of faith.  In fact, the most devout saints from the Bible usually died penniless, receiving a one-way ticket to prison or death by torture.
I’ll take door number three, please.
If we’re looking for the definition of blessing, Jesus spells it out clearly. (then he goes on with the Beatitudes).

It really was a thought-provoking article.  Go check it out.  (I linked it twice so you'd be sure to read it.)
 

Pictures to share:  

Journal: Halfway through Lent

TODAY

Out my window:  Winter is getting its last digs in.  The forecast this week gives me hope though...we should hear mowers firing up by next weekend!!

Clothing myself in:  New jeans (oh these are so comfy), fuzzy warm pink sweater, grey socks with colorful stripes on them.  

Around the house: There are so many fingerprints on my windows and mirrors.  Sometimes when I see them I smile at the thought of the crazy happy little children who left them.  Other times I'm just like, "wow, I have really dirty windows".  AH, well.  Kids do wonders for OCD, let me tell you what.  Aaron is champing at the bit to get out and start working in the yard.  He's already in the process of cutting things back and thinning out grasses, etc.  I seriously think even snow wouldn't stop him at this point. 

 

The baby: Has discovered his voice and oh does he have lots to say.  He seems to be sleeping a bit better now that those two teeth have broken through.  I can feel me jinxing myself as I type. 

 

The kiddos:  We've been going to Stations of the Cross one afternoon a week at our Church, and it's been going relatively well.  This week, however, as Kolbe was jumping up and down on the kneeler and singing Jingle Bells at the top of his lungs I had to question whether it was really worth it.  Gemma seems to get a lot out of it, and I really do enjoy praying the Stations, so on we shall trudge I suppose.  I giggled when an older lady came over and told me what a beautiful family I had afterwards.  Maybe she really likes Jingle Bells...

In the kitchen: I had to laugh after I posted my menu last week because I ended up changing almost everything.  Instead of the Beef Stew I did French Dips and steamed veggies.  Then instead of Loaded Chicken Breasts I decided to make Chicken Fajitas, and since I had the time I made my own tortillas (recipe here) and oh my wow, they were amazing.  Easy but a little time consuming.  I will definitely be making them again, and hopefully exclusively at some point.  This week the "plan" is homemade bierocks and applesauce; Chicken Picadillo served with salad lettuce and corn tortilla chips (think Taco Salad);  Baked Salmon, steam veggies and mixed grains; for Friday probably a salmon, vegetable and pasta casserole (based on a recipe in my Betty Crocker). 

Crafting: thinking, thinking, thinking... nope.

Learning:  Handwriting lesson and extension activities with both kids; hopefully a reading lesson or two with Gemma; trying to make more focused time each week to sit down specifically with a pile of library books; St. Patrick's Day craft...hoping maybe just maybe this book gets returned to the library in time for us to check it out; we've been working more on cutting lately (Kolbe did great with these, Gemma is working through this book); Gemma can count to 100 unassisted now, it took working a lot on counting by 10s and suddenly it clicked.  She has started to grasp the concept of addition lately as well.

Reading: Still working though Fill These Hearts and Catechism readings.  Looking forward to browsing (maybe reading?) Rome and the Eastern Churches and hopefully better understanding what unites and divides East and West; I have several fictions on hold at the library.  Finished Happy Little Family with the kids and we're ready to start either All of a Kind Family or Heidi.  We started the Great Illustrated Classics version of Heidi and I had to put it down until we could get an unabridged version from the library.  It was sorely lacking in my opinion.  I picked up a copy of Hey! Listen to This from the library upon the recommendation of a friend and it is just a delightful little collection of short (or parts of) stories.  I liked it so much I went ahead and purchased our own (used) copy to have sitting around. 

Bringing me joy: Our Lenten Prayer Garden.  The visual it provides of our prayer intentions is great.  The kids love it too.  We'll be doing this again next year. Gemma's love for her Catechesis classes.  Almost spring.  Reading with the kids.  Clem's babbles.  A big fluffly pile of clean diapers.  Turning the radio on right in the middle of the 4th movement of Beethoven's 9th Symphony.

Thinking about: Sacrifices.  And Kindergarten.  I am starting to lose that warm fuzzy feeling I had about it going into this year leading up to Kindergarten.  When I'm completely honest with myself I know  a big part of this is that I simply don't deal well with change (and neither does my daughter).  But that aside, there are just a few things that are making me nervous/unsettled about it.  Ultimately I just want to do what is best for our children and family. 

Pictures to share:  

The big kids hard at work

My squishy little guy!

Journal: Lent

TODAY

Out my window:  Sunny.  Warmish.  As I type this (Sunday) the deck door is open and a nice, fresh breeze is blowing in.  Still February though.

Clothing myself in:  Well, I'm in sweats and a t-shirt now, but EARLIER I was wearing a grey sweater with a turquoise tank underneath, some pinstripe black dress-pants, my black flats and a necklace!!  I also ordered some clothes from GAP and Kohl's so we'll see what I think, and got a new pair of brown flats that I really like from Maurices (they're just a leeeeetle too small but they're so cute I'll take the hit).  I'm even toying with the idea of skinny jeans...  Baby steps.  

Around the house: Made some baby food for the baby (see below).  Need to dust blinds and clean windows (I've started...).  Lent is in full-swing.   I've been noticing our electric bill has been creeping up each month.  My best guess is laundry (namely dryer), as the laundry seems to have increased exponentially between adding a fifth member and the kids getting bigger so I've started to use my drying rack for more than just diapers.  I am wondering if I can rig up some sort of clothesline on the deck this summer...  Oh, and I finally packed our Nativity away (it sits on our fireplace mantle from late November thru February) and spent a whole day rearranging some of our decorative items around the house only to put them ALL -- yes, every last one -- back in their original spots.

 

The baby: Has been dabbling in a bit of solid food, he doesn't seem too impressed though.  Seriously, who makes such a face over bananas and sweet potatoes?!  None of my kids have been quite so, um, expressive of their dislike.  He'll get the hang of it I'm sure.  We got the high chair out this past week, and it has been a nice place to put him while we eat dinner as he is getting too squirmy and grabby for my lap, so we'll just try a few bites each night since he's in there anyways.  I like his new bibs.  They do great with the dribbly goo that goes along with first feedings.

The kiddos:  The fasting we decided to do with the kids is going SO much better than I thought it would.  Gemma is actually really diligent about it.  I should have more faith in them I suppose. The day before Lent I sat down with them and they chose some things they like (food items, toys, etc.) and we assigned one to each day of the week from which to fast, and then I put it on our fridge charts.  Kolbe is doing fine with it, as he seems to take his cues from Gemma on most things.  I never would have attempted this with Gemma when she was three.

Crafting: I made our Alms jar and am pleased with how it turned out. 

In the kitchen: Chicken, garlic and ranch pizza; Tacos with fixings; Minute Steaks with mashed cauliflower and potatoes and steamed veggies as sides; Salmon Pasta Casserole 

Learning: Made Lenten pretzels with the kids (and their cousin) one day last week.  Finished up on birthday thank you notes and the kids made their Valentines.  Enjoying our Forty Clues for Forty Days Lent book and trying to find a small extension activity to do that goes along with each day's clue.  I also picked up We Have a Pope after this week's announcement and the kids (and I) enjoyed it immensely.  Gemma is very curious about all this and has talked about it quite a bit (especially at bedtime, when she traditionally has her deepest thoughts).  She should remember this when she is an adult, so it's neat to experience this time in Church History with her.   Starting to think about what things I'd like to do with Kolbe next year when Gemma is in school.  

Reading: Still finishing up on Unconditional Parenting, I kind of set it aside.  I've actually gotten ahead in my Catechism reading for the Year of Faith, as it dawned on me I can read out of the actual Catechism book instead of just my inbox.  I am so clever.  I requested my first title from The Catholic Company's blogger review program, a children's book of saints, and am looking forward to taking a look at it.  All our saint books still seem a bit above my kids.  From what I've heard I have high hopes for this one.  I'll report back. 

Bringing me joy: A family Valentines date to the zoo.  Surviving Ash Wednesday Mass with all three kids and no daddy along.  Watching Gold Rush with Aaron, bummed this season is almost over.  Gemma telling me, "you tell great stories, mom," after one of my bedtime stories.  Trust me, my stories are not very good.  She was so genuine about her compliment, I really think it's one of the nicest, most heartfelt compliments she's ever given me.  Watching the kids with their "fishing poles" (sticks with ribbon tied to them and a bobber tied to the end).  They practiced casting on the deck for quite some time, and then did some "real" fishing with them in the pond later in the day.

Thinking about: Pope Benedict XVI's resignation and who our new Pope will be.  Chuckling at the media and their skewed fascination with all things Catholic. 

Pictures to share:  

I interspersed them in my post this week.  Nothin' else.