Journal: December, it's all good

TODAY

Out my window: cloudy, cool, dreary.  Lest you be fooled, it has been sunny and unseasonably warm all week (like upper sixties some days).  Cooler next week, but still warmer than average.  I'm not complaining.

Around the house: Nothing much of note, gift wrapping is mostly done.  All the Christmas decorations make things feel so cozy and cheery.  I'm getting the piano tuned this week.  It has been sadly neglected for, well, I am scared to look how long.  But now that I've been playing it more (I accompanied for the Christmas program at the kids' school and will be doing another thing with the same music teacher in February, so I actually have a reason to practice) it makes sense to keep it tuned.  That and I'm pretty sure it is better for the piano to not let it go un-tuned for long periods of time.

 
The kiddos: Looking forward to Christmas break!!  Kolbe had his "Santa's Workshop" (an annual thing they do with the kindergarteners at our school) on Friday.  It was two hours, the first hour being various centers in the classroom where they made some ornaments, santa hats, did puzzles, played BINGO, etc., then they had recess and came back in to the lunchroom and built gingerbread houses with graham crackers and lots (and lots and lots) of frosting.  I got to go and help out and it was a great afternoon!!  I felt like a frequent flyer at the school this week, between music rehearsals and the program and then the Santa's Workshop.  Sooooooo much fun!! 

In the kitchen: This past week we had crispy chicken salads, spaghetti and meat sauce with steamed baby carrots, German sausage and sauerkraut, and my hubby grilled meat on Thursday with some great leftovers that kept us from having to eat the tears of our forefathers for dinner Friday night because I was just done and that blasted dinner fairy didn't bother to show up (again).  Up next week: shepherd's pie (most likely), more salads, maybe some chili, chicken parm, steamed broccoli, other stuff....

 

Learning: Jesse Tree, really enjoying the readings this year and I love our simple yet colorful ornaments.  Our tree is starting to take shape, even though Clement is dubious that it is really going to look like a tree.  I caught him trying to rearrange the ornaments one morning he was so frustrated with it!!

Reading: Enjoying our Advent Picture Book a Day selections immensely.  I've rearranged a few things, but we are mostly sticking to my original list, and I have also grabbed about a dozen (maybe more?) other Christmas titles from the library (some new to us, some old favorites) that have gotten lots of mileage in our book basket.  We are reading The Family Under the Bridge at breakfast.  I read it with Gemma last year and this year everyone is enjoying it.  Gemma and Kolbe have been referring to each other as Monsieur and Madame, haha.  I have started Fire Within.  It is going to be a good read.

Watching: I actually left the lunch dishes in the sink (this NEVER happens around here) and watched How the Grinch Stole Christmas and A Charlie Brown Christmas with the kids this afternoon.  Love!!

Bringing me joy: Accompanying for the Christmas Program.  Man I miss playing the piano, it was so much fun!!  Reconnecting with a good friend.  Reading good books. Errands with the kids in weather that does not require coats and hats and gloves and insanely cold blasts of wind every time I open the car doors.

Thinking about: always something!

 

Pictures to share:  

I am so glad that there is only one "S" in Christmas!

Journal: has it been almost two weeks?

TODAY

Out my window:  Cool morning, warm forecast.  Maybe Fall will come in November.  More likely it will be winter and we will skip Fall.  Oh well.  The kids have been playing outside a ton (that's where they are currently).  Last night they were thrilled to realize they were out so late they tripped the motion-sensor light before coming in for bed.  Fridays are nice.

Around the house: Meh, not much.  The bedroom situation is still up in the air, although I don't think she'll be moving back downstairs anytime soon.  We usually put the dog box in the baby (currently Gemma) room during winter, but I have no idea how it is going to fit with our current setup.  Aaron assures me everything will work out fine.  He always does this, and amazingly things always do seem to work out.  Still, I am dubious.  I ordered some new candles for our Advent wreath.  I believe we got 3 years out of the last set, so I am happy with that.  We could probably limp through with them for another year, but they are pretty discolored and we had wick issues last year.  This time I went with 3x4 inch pillars instead of 3x6s. Don't ask how long I spent shopping for them.

 

The kiddos:  Gemma seems to have hit a bit of a rough patch of late.  She has matured so much in the past six months or so, and I know I need to look at how far we've come (because believe me, its far), but it's still frustrating.  She is growing up and I think she is experiencing some emotional growing pains.  But enough of that!  She was really excited about some pictures of the Pope they looked at at school yesterday.   Like, super-duper excited.  She wrote out, verbatim, the directions for how to get to the website and everything.  She said it was www.vat, I figured out the Vatican.va part from there and as soon as we got to the website she was able to navigate it into English and find the photo page.  I was pretty impressed.  She also started spouting off all the Internet safety tips she has learned, which double-impressed me because we don't do much Internet at home and admittedly haven't talked a lot about that.  Don't get me wrong, we will eventually when the kids have more access at home, but for now I am very pleased with what they're teaching her at school.

We had the kids' pictures taken at school as we have with Gemma the past two years.  I really debated, because it's pretty pricey, but decided to go with it mainly due to the convenience, plus they turned out really nicely the past two years.  Not so much this year.  Gemma's head was tilted really funny (which I understand, and we could retake if we wanted but retakes are over a month away), but both kids' pictures seemed to be somewhat out of focus and had funny looking shadows in them.  I returned them and am hoping the refund process will be straightforward.  We'll stick with Portrait Innovations or another avenue for the foreseeable future.

Clement is so cute.  The lady we visit in the care home gave him some stickers on Wednesday afternoon.  He has literally carried them everywhere since then.  He even slept with them Wednesday night.  He is so proud of them.  

Kolbe is always glad when the weekend comes. He seems to like school, he definitely tolerates it.  He isn't quite as head-over-heels for it as he was at the start of the year, but he doesn't despise it either.  I was a little anxious for his school conference to see how he was doing, and I was very pleasantly surprised at what his teacher had to say.  Handwriting is more a struggle for him than it ever was for Gemma, but then he will go and surprise me with how beautiful he can write.  I suppose I should stop obsessing so much.  He is learning his sight-words and is starting to sound out /cvc/ words as well!  He is very excited to learn to read!!  He also talks about school a lot to me...what he had for lunch, what they did or read, different kids in his class, so that is fun.  They do this "Zero the Hero" thing every ten days (10th, 20th, 30th day of school), that I am guessing will culminate on the100th day of school, and he really gets a huge kick out of that.  School has been very good for him.

In the kitchen: This past week we had the first batch of Mexican chili of the season, chicken enchiladas, tuna/salmon casserole and breakfast for dinner.  Up next week is pulled pork with potato casserole and some steamed veggies, homemade pizza, crispy chicken salads, stuffed bell-peppers and a family birthday party.

Learning:  I got my little accordion folder back out to keep track of the kids' school things (papers that have to be learned/signed/returned, flashcards, etc.)  I made some handwriting pages for Kolbe on this website.  I still use the Handwriting Without Tears method with him though (just with the regular lined paper they use at school), even though they use ZB at school (the letter formation is similar for the most part).  The HWT just makes sooooooo much more sense IMHO. I wish the school used it but oh well, I am pleased with what we are able to supplement at home.  Clement loves the Mat Man song and can build Mat Man all by himself while listening.  It is adorable.  I am so glad we purchased the wood pieces set for capital letters, it is a great manipulative.

Reading: I have started Farmer Boy with Kolbe at his request.  He didn't even want to read our own copy, he wanted one from the library, haha.  I am not sure it will keep his interest, but we are reading it in the van while we wait for Gemma at pickup so we'll see.  Almost finished with Rufus M. with all the kids and then we will read The Moffat Museum.  Gemma and I got to page 170 of Ginger Pye and it was just too scary for her, oh she likes it a bunch and wanted to go on but then she would get so freaked out by the "unsavory character" that I made the executive decision it was time to put it down.  We started First Farm in the Valley last night.  I think Ginger will be a great read aloud with all three kids here in a few years.  Clem's favorite book of late has been Press Here.  He loves being read to and will also sit and read it to himself, and oh how he giggles.  We read Angel int he Waters and On the Night You Were Born as part of Respect Life month, and we will also be reading Horton Hears a Who soon.  And since it is now October, I pulled out our (very own, squeal) copy of Too Many Pumpkins this past week.  That is probably in my top 10 list of favorite picture books.  LOVE it!  Both kids' teachers send e-newsletters in which they include a book title or two of what they've been reading in class, so I've been expanding on that by checking out said books plus other books by the same author or illustrator or whatever.  This week we have been enjoying a big stack of books by Don Freeman.  The kids took a particular liking to Earl the Squirrel. I have stunk at personal reading lately. I need to get back into it.

Watching: MLB postseason.  Gearing up for Gold Rush!

Bringing me joy: Snuggling with the kids.  "Dates" with Aaron after the kids are in bed or before they are up, or even the quiet time we have to visit on his day off when the kids are at school and Clem is playing on his own.  Tasty beer.  Good friends.  Fall flowers.  Cooking.  Having the deck door open on cool mornings and evenings. 

Thinking about: Oh, a lot of things.

Pictures to share: 

I have taken so few pictures of late, it is insane. Here are a few recent ones I took of the kids when we went to a party downtown last weekend.  We felt so classy.  ;-)

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: good times

TODAY

Out my window:  The snow is MELTING!  It has been really nice out, and the forecast for the next 7 days doesn't even go below freezing.  So awesome!!  I still remember Spring two years ago, I have pictures of the kids playing on the deck in short sleeves and barefoot the first week in March, and the trees were all bloomed out.  Could it be?  I will not get my hopes up...  I will not get my hopes up...  I will not get my hopes up...

Clothing myself in:  Dark-wash bootcut jeans from Maurices.  A brown patterned top with a cami under it and a coral colored shrug on top.  Bare feet.  (!!!!!)  And speaking of feet, guess who got three new pair of shoes for $17 at Kohl's yesterday?!!  A pair of black leather (!!) dress flats (to replace the non-leather ones that I destroyed traipsing through the woods last Fall when we took family pictures), some ruby-red flats (fun!) and my summer bum-around flip-flops.  Woot!  Good times.  

Around the house: I did a bunch of reorganizing in the storage room(s).  We have two separate rooms that are linked together (it's hard to explain) and I got stuff moved around where all our kids' stuff is in the back room (bedrail, car-seats, bouncy-saucer, packed-away toys, tubs and tubs and tubs -- oh my -- of clothes, etc.) and the front room is our pantry, Christmas decos, and other stuff that is packed away.  We had a bunch of old big boxes (like from toilets and our glider rocker) that were just sitting around and I collapsed and recycled them all too. 

 

The baby/toddler:  Spent several nights this week screaming in my face during the night for no apparent reason (teeth).  Good times.  His bottom two molars have broken through though, and the past few nights have been much more...bearable.  He is repeating more and more sounds each week.  He loves Gemma's toy kitty.  He likes to push around the shopping cart and stack our bottles and tubs from the kitchen cabinets.

 

The kiddos:  Were on the news!!!  Daddy gave me the afternoon off yesterday (cf new shoes) and took them to the zoo and the news was there doing a story on the nice weather.  They miked, mic-ed, (how do you spell that word?) Aaron up and followed him around for like 15 minutes I guess.  It was really cute, we DVRd it and the kids loved seeing themselves on TV.

In the kitchen: We're baking a smoked-turkey tonight and making broccoli salad and brussel sprouts and our neighbors are bringing over a potato dish to have dinner together.  We miss our neighbors so much in the winter when we don't see them outdoors as much, so it will be good to get together.  French Dips on whole-grain sourdough tomorrow, b-fast casserole, maybe a pot of chili and definitely a left-overs night this coming week. 

Crafting: Cringe. Shudder.  Nothin'. 

Learning:  Qq week this week.  Some good picture books and I still need to figure out an activity for preschool co-op.  Thinking something to do with ducks (quack).  Gemma has a whole laundry-list of tasks to do during homework time (sight-word flashcards, review spelling words, read a book, handwriting practice, etc.) so I made her a little checklist to go through each day and hung it on the fridge.  It has cut down on (a little of) the craziness during homework time...when Kolbe is clamoring for my attention as well and Clem is usually busy eating a crayon or dumping water on the floor.  I ordered some counters to go with our math manipulatives and am looking forward to using them, especially as Gemma is beginning to learn about subtraction.

Reading:  same.  Hoping to do more read-alouds with the kids this summer.  We've kind of fallen off the boat with that and I miss it.  I need to get more books on CD for the kids I think.

Watching:  Oh Goldrush is so painful, it is hard to watch.  I can't believe the season is almost over.  Pawn Stars is becoming less enjoyable, it used to be so interesting learning about all the stuff that came into the shop and now they have all these little made-up side-plots and such and it just isn't nearly as fun to watch.  For us.  Because we're lame.  Some Olympics.  Aaron has gotten into this show about Oak Island that's kind of interesting.

Bringing me joy: Good times...spending time with a dear friend of ours who is now a priest and attending his Mass of Thanksgiving where I also got to reconnect with his sister (who is a Dominican sister, and was my best friend in high school).  An afternoon off, spent going to confession/spiritual direction, shopping and aforementioned Mass.  By myself.  Seeing the kids on the news, and seeing how excited they were to see themselves.  Nicer weather and hope for Spring.  Looking forward to a date with my hubby.  Sweet new picture (see sidebar) of my big 19-month-old!! 

Thinking about:  Lent preparations.

Pictures to share:  

Hundredth day of school

My boys

 

My hubby and me.  We never ever take pictures together.  And when we finally get one, we are wearing colanders on our heads.  Good times, folks, good times!

Journal: Sickies

TODAY

Out my window: Dark. And cold.  Oh winter...

Clothing myself in:  Black yoga pants, red tank, college alumni sweatshirt.  Ponytail, with my SHORTER hair.  Got a haircut and gosh I feel like a new woman.  However, I currently smell like curdled milk.  AHHH motherhood, so glamorous.  

Around the house: The storage room had been getting a bit sloppy, so I tidied things up in there a bit.  I have been organizing some of the children's things as well.  I have random keepsake items of theirs (Baptismal candles, baby books, birth announcements, Kolbe's doggie shoes, etc. etc.) stashed in several random places, and as we have more kids it is getting hard to keep track of which "special spot" each item is in.  I organized all the things and have them in three piles on the bed in the basement, next time I get out I am picking up some plastic tubs and each child can have their own keepsake tub.  This little bit of organization makes me absurdly happy.

 

The baby: Is sick.  :-(  Fever and very congested cough.  He has definitely lost his spunk.  Hopefully lots of nursing and snuggling will have him on the mend in no time.

 

The kiddos:  Sick too.  Gemma woke up on her birthday morning (Friday) with a fever and cough (now you know where Clem caught it) so that changed her birthday and the weekend plans pretty drastically.  She still has a fever today but seems on the mend now.  Maybe?  Kolbe can't decide whether he's going to get sick or not.

In the kitchen: Minute Steaks that Aaron's grandma sent us (from their beef cattle...trying to explain this to Gemma was highly amusing.  Apparently it had not dawned on her yet that we eat cows.); Baked Ziti; Honey Chicken; Fish Crisp.  Steamed veggies, fried zucchini, applesauce, 3 bean salad and probably some brown rice as sides.

Crafting: Nope.

Learning:  Got through several handwriting lessons last week and worked on numbers and counting and such.  Kolbe can count to 20!  Who knew?!  He is really starting to talk a lot more, he surprises me with something new he knows almost every day.  I think he's been holding out on us. ;-D

Bringing me joy:  

• Learning about NASCAR from my Dad and Uncle, the experts.  Bet you thought NASCAR was only for rednecks, not so!!  Now you know.
• Spending lots of family time together at home this weekend.  Bummed to have sick kids, but thrilled to have nothing to do and time with the fam.  Christmas was busy and Aaron hardly had any time off, so to be honest the past weekend was kind of a bright spot, sick kids and all.
• Seeing Gemma so excited about her birthday presents, a jump rope and a hula-hoop. 

Thinking about:  Gemma starting kindergarten and how that will change our lives and family dynamics.  A lot.  I'm excited but a bit trepidatious (apparently that's not a word) as well.  While we feel that traditional Catholic schools will be the best educational fit for our family, it will be a really big change, and I don't always do well with change.  Neither does my daughter.  But I'm sure we'll weather it and settle into a new normal eventually.  We always do.  ;-D  Also thinking about money and kids and allowance and all that.  Gemma got some birthday money and I think we are going to let her open a bank account with it (and spend a little on some sparkle nail polish)!  Regarding that topic, I would like to read this book.

Pictures to share:  

Gemma and her birthday balloon.

I asked Kolbe to smile for a picture to frame.  This is the best I got.  I will not be framing this but it makes me laugh.

The big SIX month old!!

The kids with their joint birthday gift, a new BIKE!!  Kolbe will still mainly ride the red trike that was Gemma's, but we gave them this as a joint gift since it will be his eventually.