Journal: SB 2K16 (and aimless wanderings)

TODAY

Out my window: Nice.  The pear trees are beautiful, if not a bit past their peak and things are getting greener every day.  A bit of a cool-down over the weekend but overall the forecast is still beautiful Spring.  Lots of good outdoor time this spring break.

Around the house: I made some new chore charts for the kids and put them on the fridge.  They had some old ones in their rooms, but I have added a few chores over the past few months (Gemma has graduated from some of her chores and passed them on to Kolbe and moved onto new things for herself) and it was just time to be a bit more intentional about it.  Plus I updated the format as well.  I bought some fun stickers to mark off the squares and intend to reprint them weekly to keep some novelty going and also make tweaking them easier.  Wow.  I just wrote a whole paragraph about chore charts.  I am sorry.

 

The kiddos: Enjoying spring break...it's always a little taste of what summer vacation will be like.  Trying to weigh our options for screen time, we have scaled wayyyyyyy back on TV and it has been so.nice. Not that we ever watched a ton, but I will be honest it is such a sanity-saver at times with the five and under crowd.  But now that the kids are getting older, I don't know.  Ditch it all together (for the most part)?  Gemma is still happy watching preschool shows (Blues Clues, Clifford, etc.) and I just don't really want to navigate all the trashy tween TV out there.  And computer time.  I let Kolbe play "educational" sites twice weekly (Clement likes to watch and occasionally Kolbe shows him how to do something) but Gemma doesn't do any computer (at home) so trying to decide what will be best for all of them come summer.  I think we will stick with no TV during the week, as that has been great this school year but they don't exactly take well to mandated-quiet (reading) time and they (and I) need a midday break.  Sigh.  This hasn't really been about the kids.  Curious what screen-time looks like at other households with kids in the 4-10 range...

Back to the kids...we haven't done anything terribly exciting this week but we sat down and made a list of things we wanted to do last Friday and we've accomplished most of them and had fun too!: play at the park, fish fry, make protein bars, dinner with grandma/grandpa and cousins, birthday cards for the neighbor, crafting afternoon with our friend at the care home, donut shop, sheep shearing at the zoo, plant pumpkin seeds (I think we will wait until after the cool-down this weekend for that one) and we still have a dear friend whose husband passed away last month that we'd like to visit.  It has been a very good week.

In the kitchen: It has been a week to try new recipes!  

Sweet and Salty Chicken: Very tasty, a bit messy, but definitely worth repeating!

Bacon and Brussels Sprouts Pizza:  Good, I salted the Brussels sprouts and added some baby bellas. Next time I will ditch the bacon and use medallions of link Italian sausage and maybe add some thinly sliced romas. The ricotta cheese was a super-nice touch that I don't think I would ever have thought of.

Irish Soda Bread: A fun "treat" for St. Patrick's Day! 

Looking at pulled pork, a pot of Mexican chili, lasagna and meatless egg casserole to round out next week, with some leftovers in there somewhere as well.  ;-)

Learning: meh, it's spring break.  The kids have gotten very into origami and I am trying not to let it make me lose my mind.  The words "easy" and "origami" should never appear together in the same title.  Ever.  I took the week off with Clem's Letter of the Week and we will jump back in with Cc, Oo and Qq coming up the next three weeks.  Gemma has taken to pointing out places that are missing commas in children's books.  The apple does not fall far from the tree, folks.

 

Reading: Gemma and I are really enjoying Caddie Woodlawn together!

Watching: Aaron has gotten into this show called Forged in Fire. It is actually kind of interesting.

Bringing me joy: Confession.  Time with my family.  Snuggling with the kids in bed at the end of the day.  A fun, busy Saturday.  Gemma, oh  my she is growing up so much and parenting her is just such a joy.  She is turning into a real, rational person!  It is good.  So, so good.

Thinking about:

Pictures to share:  

DONUTS! (The one with Fruity Pebbles on top was every bit as disgusting as it looks.)

Journal: almost Christmas

TODAY

Out my window: Cool, cloudy, but still above average temps.  Maybe some colder weather/precip this weekend?

Around the house: Fresh balsam scented candle, Christmas music, wrapping gifts, kid crafts, doing some cooking, brining a chicken for Christmas eve.  Good stuff.  Monday was a really good day with the kids.  Yesterday was abysmal.  Today is off to a rocky but better-ish start.  I am trying (operative word here being trying, as there is plenty of failing going on) to offer it up for so many who are going through hard times.

 

The kiddos: Gemma has really taken off on reading chapter books on her own.  Here I was all angsty that she'd never read chapter books by herself and now that she is I'm all, "I wish she still wanted to be read to more."  BAH!  Never happy. Her latest fave are these Bailey School Kids ones (it's a series), which (to me) fall under the twaddle category, but I read one (yawn) and there's nothing objectionable (besides some minor school misbehavior, which I'm not worried about rubbing off on my rule-follower), so alas.  I know I read plenty of Babysitter's Club in my day, and I'm sure those aren't much better, haha.  I checked her out the first Ramona book from the library and she has been reading it too (I remember reading anything Cleary dozens of times as girl, but haven't felt compelled to read any aloud as yet).  And Charlotte's Web I think.  She reads like I million things at once (I'm one to talk).  But enough, I really didn't intend this to be a post about books.

Kolbe seems to be enjoying the break most of everyone.  He is my sleeper, first one to fall asleep every night (we've been putting the kids to bed about 1/2 hour or so later than usual) and always the last one to wake up.  And generally, he has been pretty happy and content.  (I think Gemma misses the structure of school days, and I believe Clem may miss the quiet mornings where he is my only child.)  All the kids have been enjoying playing on the Santa Tracker which is this interactive app thing on our AT&T Uverse.  We don't do/have video games/tablets around here so this is a special thing that they enjoy during Advent/Christmas.  And it's pretty interactive so it's not like they are just sitting there zoned in front of a screen.  But I'm probably just rationalizing.  

Clement has been my angry elf of late.  He is just very #three which can be very #challenging.  But that's OK.  This ain't my first rodeo and this too shall pass.  This morning he woke up about 5 screaming that I took his bowl.  Um, OK?  So I asked if I needed to get him a bowl to which he growled, "yes."  I brought him one and he grabbed it, curled up and immediately fell back asleep.  This middle-of-the-night-angry-request-for-random-items gig is nothing new with him either.  #whatever 

In the kitchen: I made these soft ginger cookies yesterday and they are delish.  I used butter instead of margarine (do people still use margarine?), used half WW flour and half brown sugar.  They were fantastic, did I mention that?  Otherwise this week it's been grilled meat with baked potatoes, green beans and broccoli/rice casserole, homemade pizza (YUM!), lime chicken tacos (modified an old recipe for something else, and they were a HUGE hit with the kids), chili, running the smoker tomorrow and typical Christmas over-indulging feasting over the weekend.  Up next week I have honey chicken and goulash on the menu so far and that's about it. (I'm not taking any time off work over the break so I have to have some semblance of a plan that I'm willing to execute.)  Oh, and I am going to make a batch of cinnamon rolls for breakfast tomorrow.  Planning to make the dough today, refrig it overnight, set the alarm for way early and pull it out to rise, and then roll and bake them when I get up. 

Learning:  Aside from reading and our Jesse Tree, nothing structured.

Reading: The kids and I are reading The Family Under the Bridge and we have so enjoyed our Picture Book a Day selections. Some faves this year have been Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree, various versions of The Gingerbread Man, Charlie Brown, Apple Tree Christmas, Petunia's Christmas and The Night of Las Posadas.  I am too lazy to link.  I am making my way slowly but deliberately through Fire Within.

Watching:  We watched an interesting show about earthquakes on The Weather Channel last night.  I can't believe I just typed that...  The very sad part of this story is that we actually turned down free tickets to Transiberian Orchestra last night because it was going to be too late of a night. #lame

Bringing me joy:

Thinking about: Growing in virtue.

Pictures to share:  

Picmonkey is fun.

Journal: that week we watched way too much TV

TODAY

Out my window: Sunny but mild (enough). The heat (and humidity) seems to have broken a bit, we'll see what the rest of the Summer brings.

Around the house: Television. ugh. Lots of television. (Well, lots of DVR. The kids do not have free reign on the remote or the guide). Poor Kolbe has been so sick this week. It started with a sore throat Friday/Saturday AM that I didn't think much of, but by Sunday had turned into a full blown double ear infection and by Monday morning his left eardrum had ruptured. He has also had a high fever, very red eyes, a cough, sores in his mouth and a random rash on his upper thigh. But he seems to have turned the corner this morning (and so far no one else is sick.....) Thankful we have a daddy who can keep a close eye on his ears. So in the meantime television it is.  Usually the kids get to watch 2-3 shows after lunch, but this week it has been on and off pretty much all day every day.  Which I don't love.  But the few times that I am sick I know that nothing feels better than laying on the couch, sleeping, and having some TV on in the background.  So on we trudge.  Max and Ruby, anyone?

I have a love/hate relationship with the TV.  Part of me would like to just quit cold turkey.  Part of me knows (and likes) that it is a reasonable distraction (when used in moderation) for the kids.  I would totally boot cable but then we wouldn't get any Royals games.  I could do without the other stuff we watch, but I (and especially Aaron) would really miss MLB 6-7 months of the year...  #firstworldproblems

 

The kiddos:  Well, you know what's going on with Kolbe.  When he has felt good enough to be up and around we've played lots of Chutes and Ladders.  

Gemma seems to be doing well.  She has been so into baby dolls lately, which is a totally new thing for her.  I even found an easy pattern online for a simple fleece dress (fleece! no hemming!!) and we have made a few of those.  She is currently borrowing an American Girl bitty baby (I think that's what it's called) from Grandma's house and she looooooooves this doll because its eyes close.  I am thinking I am going to need to overturn one of my "nevers" and purchase an American Girl (oh my word) baby doll for Christmas.  Unless anyone else knows of another quality doll whose eyes close.  I know she is probably (maybe?) getting on the upper end for playing with dolls (maybe not? I remember playing with dolls when I was probably too old to play with dolls), but even so...  How long do girls usually play with dolls?  And in other Gemma news, her school-is-coming-induced-anxiety seems to be way down from what it was last year and the year before.  Thank you God.  I am glad she and Kolbe will have each other at school this year.

Clem is Clem.  I have been trying to prepare him for the changes that are going to come when the kids start school next week, it's going to be a totally new world for him!  I think we'll have fun.

In the kitchen: This week:

pizza

grilled meat with broccoli and rice casserole

crispy chicken salads (these have been at least once a week this summer)

meatloaf, mashed potatoes and roasted broccoli

creamy tomato tortellini

I made a batch of Alton's oat waffles this week that went over very well with the little people in our house. I also made these twice baked potatoes one day last week and they were soooooo good.  About one in every five, maybe ten new recipes I try is a real keeper, and this DEFINITELY falls into that category.  I buttered the potato skins before baking, used more garlic than it called for (go figure) and added some green onion when I sauteed the kale.

Learning:  The kids are currently working on coloring pages (does anyone else HATE printing coloring pages because it is SUCH a pain), dot to dots and mazes.  At least they are not watching TV.

Reading: I read Getting the Marriage Conversation Right earlier this week. It was written prior to this year's supreme court decision but after all the Prop 8 stuff (so in that sense, it is a little "dated", but the message is really timeless).  It was really good though, especially the FAQ part (which made up probably half the booklet).  I have often thought that maybe the state just needs to get out of the marriage business entirely, but this book made an incredibly compelling case for the importance of the state's involvement in promoting "traditional" marriage as the basic unit of society, simply because in "defining" [traditional] marriage, the state really isn't defining anything, but simply reaffirming a universal reality.  It was a short read (like, under an hour) but it really helped me clarify my thinking on the issue, and the talking points were incredibly beneficial in helping one stay on track and keep focused in a conversation (not that I have many of these conversations...), as often conversations tend to derail when points are brought up that really aren't applicable to the issue at heart.

I am loving, LOVING Theology for Beginners. Seriously, after being taught this stuff in class last year the doctrines are just coming alive!  It is like brain candy.  Yes.  I am a nerd.

I also skimmed/sped-read Simplicity Parenting yesterday.  It was good-ish, but nothing earth-shattering (to me) and definitely seemed lacking as there was no religious aspect to the book.  I suppose to a family who is neck deep in activities and household clutter there would be some good takeaways, but I didn't find a thorough read to be worth my time on this one.

Watching: heh heh heh.  See above...

Bringing me joy: Time with the kids.  I am so grateful I get to spend all day, every day (excepting school time, for which I am also grateful) with them, I love them so much.

Laughing with Aaron.  We watched several Jim Gaffigan clips on his phone the other night and were totally cracking up.  Then last night there was this commercial (and I can't for the life of me remember what it was for or find it online) where a guy keeps missing shots with things he throws, and he tries to throw a cabbage at his grocery cart and misses and it blows apart, and, well, maybe you had to be there.  But it was so funny we rewound it and watched it again.  And laughed.  Again.  Yep.  Had to be there.

Thinking about: Shtuff.

Pictures to share:  

Big fish, little fish (can't believe they have fished and CAUGHT in August!!)  And can someone please tell me when the heck Gemma started looking like such a big kid.

 Really guys?

Clem will sleep anywhere.  Sometimes I do funny things to him when he is asleep because it is entertaining.

Journal: Summer, it's all good

TODAY

Out my window: Cloudy and a rainy morning.  Maybe more rain?  It has cooled off (relatively speaking) too.  We may? be done with 100 degree days for the Summer.  I'm not holding my breath, but anything is possible.  Overall it has been such a nice Summer weather-wise.  Grateful.  It's all good (as Pete the Cat would say).

Around the house: Getting uniforms all geared up for the kids' school year.  I need to move Gemma's buttons over in her new big jumpers that I am **hoping hoping hoping** will fit her for the next three years (until she switches to skirts).  I got five pair of pants for Kolbe, between the online and in store prices and coupons (Children's Place), everything averaged out to about $8 a pair.  And his undershirts were essentially free since I had Kohls cash from when I bought Gemma's white polos.  I have five plaid shirts for Kolbe that were given to us (oh my, so grateful), everyone has socks and I think their shoes fit.  We are just about ready to go!  I always wonder if we save more or spend more on clothes with uniforms. It's hard to say.  Even if we spend a little more, I am a HUGE fan of the convenience factor (among other reasons).  They definitely simplify mornings.  We got all of Kolbe's supplies and I need to take Gemma out on a "date" to get the rest of hers, then we should be set for Open House.  She is on the third year of the backpack that we got when she was four and I figured we'd use it through kindergarten and then let her get something else.  She has never asked, and it works, so why not?! #minimalism  Summer has been good, real good, but I am looking forward to settling into our new routine this Fall while I savor these last few weeks (EEK, three from today!!).

 

The kiddos:  They have been wonderful.  Really.  I mean, some days I want to tear my hair out and run from the house and maybe never come back because #parentingissohardsometimesitmakesmewanttodie, but overall this Summer has just been amazing.  They are getting older and it is easier to do things with them because we aren't working around naps and diapers and strollers and toddler tantrum volatility (oh we still have those, but as the kids get older it's just different).  There have been more instances than I can count that they have gone off and played, together, nicely, for hours.  Hours!  Playing things like "Pickel and Marshmellow (Gemma's spellings) the dogs" or "restaurant" or some craft they make up with lots of cut up paper, and maybe it makes a huge mess THEY ARE GETTING ALONG!!!!  There were years I thought this day would never come, but I guess after dancing with the chaos for so long I have either learned to embrace it or the kids are just growing up.  Or maybe a little bit of both.  And while we would love to welcome another little baby into our family if that is meant to be, I feel like we're in a very good place right now.  And it's all good.  And I'm grateful.

We started swim lessons this week.  We were going to do them in mid-June with just the older two but then there was the whole HFM debacle and we ended up rescheduling.  As peeved as I was about that whole situation and everything we had to cancel and miss out on, everything has fallen into place so nicely.  Better than I could have planned (**sheepish** #itsallgood).  And now that Clem is three (technically, he still insists he is two because it is "not my brifbay amymore") I went out on a limb and signed him up too, knowing full well he may revolt, and he LOVES it.  Watching him is the most adorable thing.  And they're really pushing Gemma too, which is great.  My kids are kind of wimps when it comes to water (which I suppose is less stressful than them running headlong into 15 ft of water without thinking about what could happen), but nevertheless it is good to see them becoming more comfortable in the pool.  I think a Y membership may be in our not so distant future.

In the kitchen: This week:

• tacos
• spaghetti and jarred marinara sauce (which garnered a, "You're the best, mom!" from Gemma. Thanks?  It took me three minutes...) and chicken salads for Aaron and me.
• loaded baked potato and chicken casserole with roasted broccoli
  
• hamburgers
• baked salmon with sides TBD

I was lamenting my lack of exciting sides last week to a friend and she told me about a tasty salad she made.  Since I can't leave anything alone I kind of morphed her recipe and another (thanks Vicki and Sarah K.) into a big 'ole bowl of awesome.  A cup each of quinoa, corn and black beans.  Green onion, diced tomato and cilantro to your taste.  Mix that all together and toss in a dressing of olive oil, lime, jalapeno, cumin and garlic all blended together.  Try it.

Learning:  Blah.  We have read a whole. ton. but other than that we are still on our streak of pretty much not doing any educational activities.  At all.  Yup.  True story.  But oh, have we read some good books.

Reading: I need to do another Read Aloud Thursday post, but in the meantime we're working on butterfly books this week (Fafallina and Marcel was super cute and we checked out What's the Difference between a Butterfly and a Moth again...it's so informative) and I have a stack of Caldecott medal and honor books from the years that we all were born which will be fun to tackle soon.  We also checked out James Herriot's Treasury for Children and it was superb.  The vocabulary and writing style is just exquisite.  Quality literature.  The type of stuff I love when my kids love!!  I was really sad when -- after several evening readings -- we finished it, but the kids asked to keep it longer so maybe we'll read a few of the stories again.

Watching: MLB. And Aaron has discovered this new reality show about people who blacksmith swords and knives in some sort of contest format where they have to kill dummies filled with ballistics gel and slice cow bones in half.  I do not kid.  Where do they get their ideas for this stuff?

Bringing me joy: Spending time on a real date with my hubby this weekend.  My parents kept the kids overnight.  As nice as it was, we both decided the house was too quiet and we missed those little crazies a ton and we were glad it was only one night.  HA!  Spending time with the kids.  They bring me so much joy...holding Clem's hands when we walk.  Watching them play.  Talking with Gemma about more "grown-up" things.  Snuggling with Kolbe at bedtime.  Watching them interact.  Watching them grow.  I cannot imagine my life without them.  Life is good.

Thinking about: The coming school year.  Gemma is already struggling with some anxiety about the year to come.  She has done this every year.  I truly can identify with her, I struggle with anxiety myself, probably more than I am willing to admit most of the time.  So it is very easy to get inside her head.  But it is so hard to help her.  I am finding, however, in helping her I am helping myself deal with my own...stuff.  And it's just...interesting.  And exhausting.  But it's what helps us grow.  I have been thinking a lot about the ways that God refines us...if we will simply step back, and step outside ourselves and let.Him.work.  Let Him prepare us for the perfection, the completion, He calls us to.  For eternal life with Him.  He is constantly reaching His hand out to us.  How often do I snub Him?  Think I know better?  Refuse to reach back?   Big thoughts tumbling around in my head.

Pictures to share:  

I have not taken many lately.  Sometimes -- I find -- it is good to just experience life.

CHEERS!

Journal: Fourth of July, middle of Summer

TODAY

Out my window: Hot and windy.  The weather for the Fourth was nearly perfect.  Very light wind, not too hot.  It was a great day!  Warmer today, but the ten day is definitely bearable.

Around the house: I went through my closet/drawers and packed away the clothes I don't wear, or that I wear but don't particularly like.  If I haven't missed them in six months to a year I will donate them.  I also went through all our baby/little girl clothes tubs that I have packed away and was able to get rid of three tubs' worth, still saving enough that were we to have another girl some day she would be adequately clothed.  We came into so many clothes (gifts, hand-me-downs, consignments, etc.) with Gemma, and I kept everything.  We do not need everything.  To that note, if anyone knows of someone with a little girl who will be wearing size 18 month clothes this winter, I would love to pass a big bag along to them.

 

The kiddos:

CLEMENT will be THREE this week.  Three!!!  He is obsessed with the word "poop".  He sings it, he says it., he yells it, he whispers it.  At home.  At Church.  And Church.  It is apparently the awesomest word ever.  (See picture below of the firework aptly named "The Poopy Puppy".  So fitting.)  He has gotten very emphatic with his final consonants, especially when he is trying to make a point.  He can't say words with "R" blends at the beginning.  Or rather, he changes the "R" to an "L".  Gleen instead of green, clunchy instead of crunchy.  I may or may not encourage these words by pronouncing them wrong myself, and will be admittedly devastated when he grows out of this speech habit.  He thought fireworks were pretty neat.  We let all three kids stay up last night and they had SO much fun.  Clement thought the big loud ones were pretty cool as long as he was sitting on my lap.  I'm glad he still likes to snuggle with me sometimes, because he reminds me more than once a day, "I are NOT a baby," said in the sternest, most grumpiest tone you can imagine.  He is a funny kid.

KOLBE was our little pyro on the Fourth of July.  I am glad firecracker day only happens once a year.  He was pretty careful though and had so much fun.  He thought lighting things after dark was pretty much the best thing ever.  He seems to have grown out of his food sensitivities.  Back in May we were at an anniversary celebration and he was positively heartbroken he couldn't have a cupcake, so we fudged and let him have one and figured we'd just take the hit, but then he didn't react to it by breaking out.  Since then we have kept up our typical eating habits at home but have loosened up at grandparents', parties, Church functions, etc. and save for one flare-up after a DQ M&M blizzard, he has weathered it fine.  I am so immensely relieved.  This makes school, and all the food that goes along with it, seem much more doable come this Fall.  Sigh.  Thank you God.

GEMMA is having a good Summer, but I can tell some days she's a little under-stimulated.  I have some guilt about not doing enough educational things with them in the summers (oh, I had plans for math and handwriting and phonics lessons...), but then if I offer to go over math facts or something equally "exciting" it is typically not met with open arms.  (Understatement.)  We really have done some cool "out of the box" educational stuff (and read a ton of great books) this summer, so I rationalize that they can do their bookwork from September to May, and focus on some more of the non-traditional learning activities during the summer months.  That's fair, right?  I hope the first semester of school treats her well.  In Kdg and 1st Grade she seemed to really hit her groove...about February.  Sigh.  I am hoping maybe with Kolbe being in school too (albeit half day) it will make things a little easier.  It's not that she dislikes school, she really seems very content with it overall.  Blah, I don't know.  She will also be preparing for the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and Eucharist.  It will be a big year.  We got her uniforms the other day.  They are pretty big, so I am hoping we can squeeze three years out of them (at which point she'll switch to skirts).

All three kids recently had doctor appointments, here are their height and weight stats (this is mainly for my record-keeping purposes, you can skip this part).
Gemma: 7 1/2 years, 53 inches (96%ile), 52.1 lbs (47%ile)
Her hair is finally growing and she was so excited it was long enough to do a "star" on the Fourth of July!!
Kolbe: 5 1/2 years, 47 inches (94%ile), 42.6 lbs (49%ile)
Clement: 3 years, 37 inches (46%ile), 27.6 lbs (12%ile)

In the kitchen: Planning to try and get our digestive systems back after the Fourth and all its, um, festive eating.  Ugh.  Grilling today, homemade pizza tomorrow (I found a great new crust recipe), salads, beef stroganoff and ribs the rest of the week.

Learning:  Blah.  See above.

Reading: Check out my latest Read aloud Thursday post for what I'm reading with the kids.  I am almost finished with Happy Are You Poor.  It has been an incredibly impactful read, and I've been discussing it with Aaron quite a bit.  It is a perspective-changer, that's for sure.  I need to get back into Introduction to the Devout Life, and now that I'm finished with Theology, I picked up a copy of Theology for Beginners as a bit of a review, and for some future Theology work I may be doing.

Watching:  MLB mainly.

Bringing me joy: Family.  Friends.  Summer.  The kids and I are visiting area Churches for daily Mass twice weekly this summer, and that has been a really neat opportunity that I am enjoying immensely.  The kids have been doing pretty decent with Mass, and usually there is a fun new playground at which to play...an added bonus!

Thinking about: Always something.

Pictures to share:  

Three (two pictured) of our very favorite readers visited from out of state, so we had to take some pictures for the blog!!!