a day in my life

1 December

2011-12-02T11:09:00.001-08:00

August 25, 2011

2011-08-25T23:38:00.000-07:00

Oh, you know when you wake up to all your dumplings in one bed, it's gonna be a good day!

Good day it was, it started out with Cap'n Crunch (thanks mom!) and yogurt for the gluten free peeps. I love hearing Abbie ask for "Cap'n Crunch", I call it Captain Crunch, always have, probably always will.

They got a move today (Bambi) and there were tears. It is extremely hard to find a move that doesn't make these delicate little hearts sad. Movie days in the summer are rare around here, they don't come around too often.

My Bo :) I love that he sleeps with Jameson and sits by Eleanor during meals. He is so sweet and could quite possibly be my most favorite dog ever.

She's not quiet too often, and she's rarely alone. But today I caught a moment during the "big kids" movie, she was playing with the wooden kitchen.

I had help vacuuming, if that's what you call it. Doesn't her face say it all!

We lost a tooth today!! His first of many. I seriously cannot really comprehend what really happened. My BABY boy lost a tooth! That's big time. That little tooth has been loose for quite awhile, and there are three more loose behind it. I hope they are all out at the same time and he has a big open square in the front! He's growing up, almost a first grader and I can't wait to walk this path with him.

NC in pictures

2011-08-18T11:07:00.000-07:00

kisses and tears goodbye, forgotten camera, red-eye flights, airport americanos, early morning carolina skies, more coffee, walmart (with a cat), tired crabby toddler, hot, hot and humid, laughing while trying to drive the u-haul, moving boxed in said heat and humidity, more walmart, sleeping in...kinda, getting ready in one bathroom like we did 10 years ago, target, more starbucks, late night nail painting and life talks, peanut M&M's, early morning flights, saying goodbye, more flights with tired crabby toddler, airport food, seeing my 4 loves again.

All in all, an amazing trip that I will treasure always!

1:16pm

2011-08-03T13:26:00.000-07:00

A very typical Wednesday afternoon around here. Some of us sleep, some of us play and some of us work.

Easier than words

2011-07-18T19:59:00.001-07:00

What we've been up to...

Teamwork

2011-06-20T23:09:00.001-07:00

Papa's Day

2011-06-19T22:32:00.000-07:00

Today we took the train into Los Angeles to have tacos and margaritas on Olvera Street. The train ride was lovely (we got to be together instead of caravaning in two cars), the food was yummy and the company was my favorite part. I am soaking up this last summer with my sis before her move to Nashville, I can't believe I just wrote that :( and spent the day with two of my most favorite guys. Happy father's day!

Summertime

2011-06-18T11:51:00.001-07:00

We are knee-deep in summer over here, and it feels so good! The days are full, long and glorious. Yesterday the kids wore their bathing suits all day, had otterpops and we ate two out of three meals outside on the patio. There was mud, mega doses of mud. They ask to go outside first thing in the morning. It's almost as if summer is beckoning them. They can't not be outside. I take up my spot at the table out there with them, my coffee, camera and reading material in hand and that's where we spend most of our day. It is as it should be.

I think the sunshine and fresh air is doing wonders for my state of mind and overall well being. After being in a slump for awhile, I am seeing the light at then end of this dark tunnel. Bill helped me discover I have pmdd. Thanks honey! This was news to be, but it all made perfect sense. I had been feeling down and if I didn't know better I would have called myself depressed. I didn't feel like it or I just convinced myself that I shouldn't be. Afterall, I had a wonderful marriage, amazing husband, healthy happy kids, enough money, a nice house. Why was I feeling this way? I did seem to feel good a lot of the time, but when I didn't I felt bad. I did a bit of research and put myself on a strict regimen of vitamins and supplements specifically for the symptoms I was experiencing, and what'da ya know...I'm feeling much better! In his efforts to help me, Bill also gave me a little "prescription" to follow. He said I needed a hobby! I had plenty. Sewing, knitting, photography and other crafty things I like to dabble in. The problem is that all those but one take lots of preparation and time, something I don't have too much of. So he asked me to work more on photography. It is easier to do while taking care of 4 little kids, so he says! (If you don't include all the hours organizing, editing and uploading photos!) All of the time consuming steps can be done easier while kids are sleeping. So I told him as part of my "therapy" I would. I took a photoshop editing class and learned so much. Next up is more hard core photography and composition class. I am LOVING it! I always enjoyed it as a hobby, but now I am learning more and spending more time focused on it , I am so glad he made me do this. I am focused on becoming the best I can be so that I can photograph my families memories.

The days will continue to be full with more camping trips planned for next month, recitals, DIY kitchen facelift, even more popsicles and bathing suit days and swim lessons. I say bring it on!

Heavy Heart

2011-06-01T13:23:00.000-07:00

Last night I learned of a local young soldier that died serving his country. He was 19 years old, and married only 5 months. I also learned of a sad, sick group of people who maybe would be at his funeral today protesting. I then learned about a wonderful group of people called Patriot Guard Riders who would be there to shelter and protect the soldier's family. I met one of them today. My heart is so heavy. It is hard to see the beauty and joy today, I'm looking at the world with tarnished glasses on my eyes. I pray for peace for Army Pfc Ramon Mora Jr's family and for the repose of his soul. May he rest in peace.

(We were at church today for our end of year party when his funeral mass was taking place. I wanted to take this picture to remember this, when I felt such sadness and gratitude in the same moment. Also, the flag flying at half mast.)
http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_18178535?source=most_viewed

Movie Night

2011-05-20T20:41:00.000-07:00

Bill was having a "star party" at work (telescopes, cameras and astronomy related things) showing off some new programs they've been working on. So, since he won't be home until after midnight I thought the kids and I would have some fun of our own. We had pizza and movie night. We watched Sleeping Beauty, and from the blank stares on their faces, it was a big hit!

Today

2011-05-18T23:25:00.000-07:00

-Pictures of these cuties I took today make me smile. I see a resemblance, yet they're so unique.

-Glad that we have two more wacky Wednesdays (Abbie's theology class, violin, and usually errands of some sort)

-I'm looking forward to some summer projects. I won't mention them all. That way I won't feel like a loser when I read this in the fall and realize I didn't do any of them. I am planning to paint our kitchen cabinets though.

-Super excited that Carly comes home in two days!! This will be our last carefree summer before she becomes a married woman. We have already planned lots of "Target Tuesdays" and Starbucks trips!

-We've celebrated lots of milestones lately...birthdays, first communions, mothers day. I have felt very full of gratitude!

Today I found Happiness...

2011-03-30T21:56:00.000-07:00

- in spending time in the violin makers shop, getting my growing girl a new, bigger violin (she's already practiced 3 times today!)

- in dinner with my mom and the kids.

- in picking the brain of my new friend Kris who has 15 kids, ages 25 to almost 2. I left feeling happy, grateful, and relieved.

- in watching Jameson jump around again! He got another bee sting which kept him pretty quiet for a few day.

- in Eleanor wearing her first of many pairs of Salt Water Sandals.

Finding Happiness

2011-03-25T11:45:00.000-07:00

This girl who spent some quiet time with her mama this morning. She is so sweet and funny. So grateful she's ours.

The "big kids" playing together this morning. I sat and listened to the sweet sound of them talking about how to build their town.

The rain that poured from the sky. I am grateful that our plans for the day were cancelled and all we have to do today is enjoy one another and this beautiful day.

Bill surprised me this morning with coffee. He had already left for work, but came back to bring me my precious americano. I love him.

These two were making bookmarks for family and friends. I should learn from them to be more generous.

I am feeling happy today. Happier than I have felt in awhile. I am slower, and more thoughtful. Working on making these habits that stick around.

Shook

2011-03-23T21:18:00.000-07:00

I am reading this book tonight. On page 27 I begin to cry, my EXACT thoughts, feelings, emotions are written in this paragraph. It is the EXACT place I am at. I was shook to my core. This book is speaking to me. God is speaking to me.

"I wake to self-hatred. To the wrestle to get it all done, the relentless anxiety that I am failing. Always, the failing. I yell at children, fester with bitterness, forget doctor appointments, lose library books, live selfishly, skip prayer, complain, go to bed too late, neglect cleaning the toilets. I live tired. Afraid. Anxious. Weary. Years, I feel it in the veins, the pulsing of ruptured hopes. Would I ever be enough, find enough, do enough?"

Full day

2011-03-19T22:20:00.001-07:00

The Pen

2011-03-17T13:40:00.000-07:00

The week is flying by, and for that I am grateful! It's been a good, full week. We finally have a wonderful, AP family supporting doctor for the kids. After months of searching and asking around, he was right under my nose. The husband of a good friend of mine. I just didn't even realize he had a family practice. I am so excited to have a doctor who homeschools and doesn't vaccinate his own kids, what a blessing he is to our medical community!

Baseball is keeping Jameson busy. He love, love, loves baseball practice. I don't love trekking out to the field with 4 little ones, keeping them happy for an hour and trekking back, but seeing him so excited and eager makes it worth it. We have our first game Saturday. I am excited about the snack bar and bleachers, two things that soccer didn't provide. Bill and I are hoping that he likes baseball better, besides, baseball uniforms are so much cuter!

After last months bee sting reaction, we have to carry an epi-pen for Jameson. Even though his sting was on his leg, his was reaction was severe enough to necessitate an epi-pen. If he had been stung closer to his head, it wouldn't have been good. I've learned that bee sting reactions are more severe each time you are stung, and can happen in half the amount of time...pretty scary! We were told to administer it right after the sting, even if he doesn't appear to be having a reaction. The fact that there is a hive in our neighbors tree (which extends into our yard) makes me very nervous. I am hoping we never have to use it, but I do feel better having it. I need to show him and Bill how to use it, although I'm pretty sure Bill wouldn't be able to do it due to his trypanophobia.

We've been trucking right along in school. A few weeks ago I planned out the rest of the year. Mostly, so I would know when we are done. It helps you to keep going if you know you'll be out of your misery soon, right? Not that I'm comparing homeschooling to misery or anything ;) We should be done the last week in May. So excited! I have really enjoyed this year, but I will enjoy our summer more!

I'm back

2011-03-14T12:13:00.000-07:00

(I really intend to blog most days, but it just never quite makes it to the top of my to-do list. I think I am afraid of not doing it "right", I couldn't even explain what "right" is, but I am going to blog anyway, I'm forgetting too many things I want to remember.)

Eleanor's cast came off last week!! It even came off a day early due to an abscess on her little toe, yuck! I had hoped that as soon as the cast came off, her walking would resume like normal. That is not so. She continues to walk just as she did with that horrid thing on, on her toes with her leg slightly out to the side. Everyone assures me that it will just take some time and she will walk normally, I'm not so convinced. I'm anxious about her Dr appointment tomorrow so I can get his advice.

Jameson is obsessed with flying. He asks me daily if he can sprinkle salt on his head to help him fly. I suppose they have seen Peter Pan a few times. He is quite serious when he says it, and think I just might let him try it one of these days. He won't believe me when I tell him it *probably* won't work anyway.

Funny Abbie moment...while folding clothes the other day she asks me"Mommy, why are all my things made in China??" I chuckled inside and then proceeded to fell slightly crappy. We talked about why, I gave her the 6 year old version.

Ada is sweet as sweet can be. She spends a lot of her day with me, she makes me laugh.
Just a normal Monday here. School lessons, lunch, quiet time, dancing and playing outside.

Happy Birthday Eleanor Jane

2011-01-07T01:44:00.000-08:00

Eleanor turned one. It seems like she has been one for a while, due to her walking for the past two months and definitely not acting like they others at this age. She absolutely picks up on their behaviors! While I wish I had planned a super fun day for her, our usual Wednesday activities stole her day. It's a good thing she won't remember! My labor with her was really rough, and it is still difficult to look back and reflect, since it was really hard on me physically and mentally. I had 26 hours of labor, and I'm sure Bill was sick of me asking when it was going to be over. Indeed, it was eventually over at 9:05pm on January 5, 2010. Eleanor Jane was born into the water in our room and I was so relieved it was over. By now I had realized how fleeting those first few moments and days were.. Our amazing midwife has tucked us in bed and we went to sleep as a family of 6. It seems fitting that on the night celebrating her birth one year ago, I woke to find all 6 of us in that same bed again. Words just cannot express how I feel about Miss Nora. She feels like the soul of this family right now. The other kids truly love her, and I think they just know how special she is. Watching them interact and help her has made me realize that one of our greatest gifts is siblings. I am so thankful for your joy and life Eleanor, I can't wait to watch you grow this year!

Dish Hill

2011-01-03T00:11:00.000-08:00

We had some good friends over, who have 5 kids under the age of 7. Add them to our 4, and it makes 9 kids age 7 and under. (In my little house I might add.) It was refreshing to spend time with a fellow homeschooling, Catholic mom who truly understands the joys and sacrifices of this calling. There was lots of food, fun and toys strewn all. over. my. very. little. house. Bill was super helpful tonight and climbed dish hill and conquered while I put all the toys back in their homes. I will be thanking God tonight for good friends, and a helpful husband.

Welcome Thomas

2011-01-02T00:42:00.000-08:00

Thomas popped the question and Carly said "Yes." I am so happy for them! He went to breakfast with my Dad this morning, while we were having a girls shopping day. After receiving my dad's blessing, I knew he would do it right away, that ring was burning a hole in his pocket. I am so excited for them to be starting this chapter of their lives together. He is a great guy who loves her to pieces. May God grant them many years of marital bliss.

Catching Up

2010-12-30T23:18:00.000-08:00

I seem to do this...blog in spurts. I do a lot of blogging in my head and therefor don't always feel the need to type it all out, plus it's always late when I have time anyway. I can't say that there would have been may happy posts lately anyway, as I seem to be struggling. I can't quite put my finger on exactly why, but I have some theories. It's part normal, busy mom of 4 paired with issues of my head and heart that have me doing lots of thinking and praying. I feel like I am coming closer to some answers and that feels really good! Christmas was wonderful. It felt warm and comfortable. We spent the night at my parents house Christmas eve and I slept on the floor. I felt like a kid again, in a good way. I tucked my kids into bed with family and drifted off to sleep amidst the glow of the tree. The days since have been just as wonderful. Organizing, cleaning, coffee..lots of coffee and soaking in the joy of the Christmas season. I'm looking forward to a nice quiet new years eve with Carly and Thomas, champagne and dominoes!

NaBloPoMo 16

2010-11-16T21:35:00.000-08:00

Our chalkboard is done, and I couldn't be happier. The kids are loving it and I am starting to accept that there will be chalk dust and white footprints on the floor. It is one of my favorite things about the house.

NaBloPoMo 11

2010-11-11T22:41:00.001-08:00

My boys.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

NaBloPoMo 9

2010-11-09T23:17:00.000-08:00

She's walking, like really walking. It's quite hard to believe since she went from crawling to standing to walking in just a few short days. I totally love it when my babies walk. I look forward to this moment. The beaming toothy grins all full of accomplishment are enough to make my heart burst. I am a proud mama tonight! (And excited for a 1/2 birthday celebration tomorrow. I've had a special request for "black" cookies for dessert, and I will deliver!)

Progress

2010-11-08T12:41:00.001-08:00

We are finally making progress with some of our projects around here. Today the handy Bruce is here helping with this wall. It will eventually be a chalkboard, after a few coats of chalkboard paint. I have actually liked seeing it white after having it red for so long. I'll enjoy it while I can since in a few days it will be black.

NaBloPoMo 7

2010-11-07T21:31:00.000-08:00

The kids had a fantastic time playing in the leaves at my parents house this afternoon. I however, did not have a fantastic time combing said leaves and pine needles out of Abbie's hair.

NaBloPoMo 6

2010-11-06T22:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Friday and I think that's a good enough reason for not blogging. Today was full. Full in a good way. There was no appointments, no schedules. No meal planning or menu. No people to see except the ones we wanted to. No places to go except the ones we wanted. In their proper order:

starbucks
farmers market (then home to drop off food)
linens & things to make a return
sonic for lunch (diet cherry limeade and foot long hot dogs..yum!)
homegoods
target (with my lovely parents)
home

The kids are all sleeping, finally. The couch and my knitting needles are calling my name.

NaBloPoMo 4

2010-11-04T21:26:00.001-07:00

I just love this picture!

NaBloPoMo 3

2010-11-04T00:06:00.000-07:00

This amazing quilt that resides on Adeleine's bed is one of my most precious earthly possessions. This quilt was hand sewn by my grandma when she was about 10 years old. She is currently 82, which makes this quilt a whopping 72 years old! It is in absolutely perfect condition! I have several other quilts that grandma made (as does most everyone in the family), but none are this unique or well-cared for.

That black star used to be a dress that belonged to my great-grandmother who died 65 years ago. It's totally trippy and amazing that she wore that so long ago. I obviously never met her, but I look at the squares often and wonder what else they were before they became stars. When she first gave it to me, my first reaction was to fold it and put it away. It was beautiful and special and I wanted nothing to happen to it. My grandma reminded me that "quilts were made to be used". She was right, what good would it do, to be folded in the closet. I reluctantly spread it on the girls bed, and we talked about how special this was to mommy and the family. That it was old and should be well cared for. I was so honored to be the receiver of such a wonderful piece of our family. So as I tuck my girls in, I am made aware of the love of my grandma and her mama for me and our family, and I can smile and rest knowing they are sleeping under their love as well.

NaBloPoMo 2

2010-11-03T00:02:00.000-07:00

Today was election day, and all 6 of us marched down to our itty, bitty public library and excercised our right to vote. Not only did the adults make their voices heard, the kids had a great civics lesson. We talked about why we vote and Abbie wanted me to name every person I voted for. I was prepared for all the elderly people running our polling place to ask me why the kids weren't in school at 9:30am, but not a single question or comment. They were very helpful, and very complimentary of the kiddos behavior. I am a bit ashamed to admit that I essentially copied Bill's sample ballot. I have no time to read up on these things like he does, and we usually agree anyway. It took some convincing to get me to vote yes on prop 19 which would legalize marijuana in small amounts. I still kinda go back and forth about it, but can it really make the drug situation here any worse? (Maybe kids won't smoke pot anymore if they know their parents can, maybe parents will start giving it to their kids?) It didn't pass so I guess we'll never know!

NaBloPoMo 1

2010-11-02T11:21:00.000-07:00

I was really excited to attempt NaBloPoMo this month. Here it is November 2nd, and I have already failed. Instead of feeling defeated, I will prevail! I'll just pretend I posted this yesterday.(It was Halloween, and she was sick, but oh so sweet! We had a good time reading books, playing ponies and taking pictures.)

Speed

2010-10-19T23:55:00.001-07:00

As I pulled in the driveway after a lunch date with friends, I glanced in my rear view mirror and saw that 3/4 of them were asleep. The tricky part would be keeping them asleep. I figured I had a good chance since they played hard at the playground. 1, 2, 3 tucked in...I was successful! As I locked the front door after carrying the last one in I muttered a quiet "yes!" This NEVER happens. I actually has some time to do what I wanted to do. Abbie went to the kitchen to find a snack and I did a quick pick up of the living room and kitchen.
Abbie: "mama, can we do something just you and I?"
Oh no, this wasn't in my plans! I wanted to fold laundry, do breakfast dishes, start dinner, sit down and knit, check email. I had such grand plans for this sacred time. I had a dilemma!
me: "Would you like to help me fold laundry?" (This usually works.)
Abbie: "No, I want to do something funner. Can we sew my cape?" (We didn't have that much time.)
me: "No Bee, We don't have that much time, the kids will be waking up soon. Would like to help me cook dinner, we're having soup??" (This usually works too!)
Abbie: "No, let's play a game."
At this point all I can think about is how I want to tell her to go to her room and read her book. Go color me a picture or find something quiet to do so I can finally fold that laundry, or for once start dinner without little people all over me in the kitchen.
me: "What game do you want to play?"
We go into her room to find a game. I remember that I recently taught her to play speed and it is a relatively quick game. Maybe we can play a few games and still have some time to myself.
me: "Do you want to play speed?"
Abbie: "yeah"
We get the deck of cards and head into the living room. We play 3 lovely games of speed. I am starting to feel really good about my decision to spend this time with her, and not doing chores. As we are wrapping up our last game, I suggested she go take a bath. At that very same moment, I hear Eleanor cooing from her bed. I realized that anytime I wanted for myself was just a dream now. I kept myself from feeling resentful to these precious girls who wanted nothing but my love and attention. It is true what they say, there will always be chores, but these little people will not always be here. As I get ready to go to bed tonight, I know I made a wonderful decision. My eldest and I don't get a lot of alone time, and I am so so happy I decided to spend it with her.

Tidbits

2010-10-17T21:11:00.000-07:00

- it's 9:14pm but it feels like 11:14pm. I am tired and it's been a long week
- I have quite a few DIY home improvement projects on the brain. They're all really good ones and fun, but I can't really stop thinking about them. There will be lots of craigslist this week.
- Sundays are becoming my favorite days. Mass, Denny's, visit with the 'rents.
- Hoping to resolve some stomach issues with Jameson this week. New meds, labs and ultrasound this week.
- Excited to go apple-picking with our homeschool friends
- Officially became a school, our name.....Ash More. I love it and the meaning.
- Soccer season is over and I decided I am most definitely NOT a soccer mom. I think baseball may be my sport. Jameson on the other hand loves it!
- Thrilled to be Carly's confirmation sponsor. I'm so happy for her!!

- A new Dyson rocked my world this week. This is the second Dyson I have owned and I LOVE them!! This one is even better than my last one...James Dyson you're my hero!
- All our laundry and sheets are clean, folded and put away. It feels really good to start the week with empty hampers.
- Google reader has changed my life! All the blogs I read (there are lots) in one spot! I wish I had know about this long ago, it saves me so much time and I can get them all from my iphone too!
- Looking forward to a full week. Hopefully this cool weather will stick around, it finally feels like autumn.

Road trip to Sacramento

2010-10-04T22:14:00.000-07:00

We had a great trip to Sacramento a few weeks ago, to visit Bill's family and see his Grandma for her birthday. The car ride up there (which had me most worried) turned out great thanks to 4 new Wee Sing cd's (I love these soo much, they remind me so much of my own childhood) and lots of snacks. We were able to walk around downtown, visit the Cathedral, tour the Capitol building and enjoy lunch on the lawn there. Our hotel was amazing, with great views. The trip was going swimmingly until Saturday night when Adeleine somehow (still unknown) got bit by Bill's uncle's dog. I am quite sure she did nothing to provoke him, so I was not too happy. A trip to urgent care the next morning confirmed that stitches were needed. After tears and promising her anything she wanted (she settled on soda-her first ever!) we dried our tears, got a balloon and hit the road. We finally arrived home at 2am, Sunday and everyone (yes, all six of us) piled in our bed and went to sleep. That short little trip messed me up for a week and am just now getting back to normal, but it was so worth all the late nights getting packed and late night driving. Sleep is overrated anyway.

On My Toes

2010-08-20T21:23:00.001-07:00

Oh, these little people keep me on my toes!! I feel kinda bad for saying it but, I am sure glad this week is over! We started back to school this week, and we have a new student! Yes, Jameson is joining us at the table and will be learning all about letters, numbers, history, science and reading. The new schedule that comes from this is wiping me out. The entire morning is feeding them and schooling them, then feeding them again. When lunch is over and quiet time begins Eleanor is usually waking up, so goodbye mommy time. It will all be fine as soon as I snap out of our summer fog and realize how lucky I am to be doing this with them!

As busy as our week has been, I have really enjoyed them this week, maybe even a little more than usual. We visited a really neat local park (for like an hour since it was so blazing hot!), made Nora some baby food (whenever that tooth makes an appearance, we will be ready to spoon feed her the organic goodness we all so lovingly helped make). We spent some time with Grandma too, but the most exciting is what happens tomorrow...Jameson has his first soccer game. He is all ready with cleats, shin guards, uniform and ball. I'm so excited for him! I am glad this busy week is over and ready to relax a bit with my honey.

My boy

2010-08-18T15:04:00.001-07:00

(I'm trying this blogging from my iPhone thing)

My boy and I are hanging out in the car while Abbie has her violin lesson and the little girls are asleep. He loves to change the cd's and we talk about baseball and when he grows up he wants to build a railroad. I told him he never had to grow up and get bigger, he insisted he does.

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Tuesday

2010-08-11T00:19:00.001-07:00

We made our weekly trek to the park to meet our friends. Today's weather made it perfect for splashing in the wading pool, and mamas chatting while nursing babes under the shade of the big trees. I think we were all refreshed by a day with great friends.

Sunday Best

2010-08-09T12:56:00.000-07:00

It was just an ordinary Sunday, getting dressed up for church and visiting family.

Flyin Solo

2010-07-30T13:01:00.000-07:00

I'm almost done with my first ever week of solo parenting. Whew! I have a new appreciation for single parents and Bill. I guess I never really knew how much he really does. As predicted, I didn't sleep much (I think my earliest bedtime all week was 11:30pm). I find it ackward and strange to go to bed with out him, so I just preoccupy myself with mind-numbing tv to forget. (I did get catch-up on a few shows). We filled our week with two trips to Ikea, visits with Aunt Carly and our first experience at Sonic. I was less than thrilled, but the kids enjoyed the car hops with roller skates. I think skates have been added to the Christmas lists.

I'm very much looking forward to Bill's return tonight. I realized while he was gone how unique our love can be these days. The respect and kindness we have for eachother is becoming rarer and rarer, as marriage has become disposable. I suppose if you don't think you can leave, at some point you have to decide to be kind or be miserable. I feel so blessed to love him so deeply and feel his love for me and our family every minute of everyday. We make an awesome team! Welcome home Billy!

Big shoes to fill

2010-07-27T18:01:00.001-07:00

I'm playing both roles while he's on a business trip this week, his longest ever. I wore his birks to take the trash out and they made me smile.

July 24

2010-07-24T22:45:00.000-07:00

Quick re-cap of the week:

-We started off rocky when Eleanor got a few shots Monday. I always feel sick about it. I don't feel any option I have is good enough and our selective/delayed schedule is barely good enough for Bill, our pediatrician and myself. I felt lousy and guilty, even though she did great.-I finally finished Adeleine's waldorf doll. It was intended to be a birthday present, but better late than never, right? She won't name her, which kinda bothers me. If she doesn't pick one soon, Abbie will do it for her. So far we have "Sparkle", "Diamond", and "Jason Jack", all curtesy of Abbie. I was very glad to fininsh it. I plan to make Abbie one for Christmas. Then everyone will have their own, and maybe we can get rid of the cheap plastic dolls made in China. Now I can move along to some Christmas knitting too!

-Miss Nora Jane has been spending some time in the highchair while I'm in the kitchen. No food for her yet, but she enjoys the commotion that we call dinnertime. She's really starting to feel like part of the family.

-Dinner with the family tonight was a trip "up the hill" as my Grandma would say, to our local mountains for dinner. The food wasn't great, the restaurant was super outdated and smelled funny, but the animal heads on the wall made up for it. Bison, deer, moose, elk and a "cantaloupe". Jameson was talking about antelope but kept saying cantaloupe and we all had to hold back the laughs. I have learned to enjoy the precious, fleeting moments when Carly is home. It doesn't really matter where we spend them...even stinky restaurants!

Meet John

2010-05-24T11:13:00.001-07:00

John is the very beloved pet of Jameson. After many months of snake talk around our house, we decided to indeed get a baby cornsnake. We read books before we would commit to anything, making sure that we knew what we were getting into. I am hoping that he will be pretty low maintenance, the only difficulties being remembering to lock the cage door and watching him eat day-old mice. EEK! Jameson is over the moon about him, and in a weird way, he feels older and more mature to me. I do have creepy visions of him becoming the grown-up reptile enthusiast that I saw in the reptile store, with the snake tattoos all over his arms. For now, he's still my little boy with his first very own pet.

My Evens

2010-05-18T00:16:00.001-07:00

A few firsts

2010-03-31T21:40:00.000-07:00

Just as spring arrived and the weather turned simply beautiful, wouldn't you know that we would be plagued with sickness. Abbie was first with a high fever, headache, Jameson followed a few days later, Adeleine got lucky and escaped with a nose that still has not stopped running, Eleanor got congested, and Bill and I got the worst of it, ironic isn't it! After waking up with a scratchy throat, I proceeded to go to gymnastics and ballet and came home with chills, headache, and bodyaches. My fever reached 103.5! It was during this time when we experienced a first. While all 5 of us (minus Bill since he was not yet home from work) were bundled on the couch watching the Sound of Music that for the first time since having 4 children they were all crying at once. I don't even remember now why, although I am sure that each one had a different reason. Within a few minutes I had everyone calm and quiet and we were back to the von Trapps. It was quite a scene, one that I hope doesn't repeat itself anytime soon.

And today...a beautiful sound was heard at our house! Eleanor laughed for the first time. All the kids were so excited. It truly is the most beautiful sound. I am so blessed to have another little voice in this house, and I can't wait to hear more from her.

9:59 am

2010-03-19T12:39:00.000-07:00

Beds made, dishes still to be done, baby sleeping and the Sound of Music being acted out for me (So Long, Farewell). I want to remember this.

Weekend

2010-03-08T23:51:00.000-08:00

My Monday got off to a late start. There was so much to do. Dishes to wash from a lovely dinner with family, laundry to do, and kids to ready for activities (gymnastics and ballet today) I just wanted to rewind to the weekend, where the pace is slower. There is so much more there. More patience, more time, more conversation. It was a good one since Carly is home for the week. So this week there will be more sister to enjoy all it all with.

Motherhood.

2010-03-04T01:12:00.000-08:00

So I have wondered what my first post after a long hiatus would be about. With so much happening in the last few months (the biggest being pushing out another human in a Rubbermaid tub in my bedroom) I didn't know where to begin. After the timing of finishing a humbling book and it being lent and all, I knew where I was to go with this. Motherhood.

I really try to look the part. I try to be the mom that has the clean, cutely dresses kids. The mom who has the healthy, yet yummy snacks. The mom who is patient and always kind. The mom who is on time. The mom who has it all together. The mom who is happy.

I have lots of parenting books that offer all kinds of advice. How to get your baby to sleep, how to discipline...oh how I love my discipline books, how to be a great parent, how to parent boys, how to parent girls, how to talk to kids, yada, yada, yada. But none of them can prepare you for motherhood really and truly.

I would like to think that I am managing 4 kids well. We have mostly good days with a few not-so-good moments thrown in occasionally, but this. is. really. hard. I have always said that keeping a child alive (fed, clean, out of danger) is really not the difficult part of being a parent. It is being there emotionally, mentally, spiritually and nurturing that little person into a decent big person, and in the past few weeks I am finding motherhood even harder because I am a selfish person. Aren't we all? Isn't this what caused the fall of man? I am certainly no different that Adam and Eve when it comes to being a sinful person. The moments when I start to think about what I can't do because I have 4 beautiful children are not good moments for me. They are reminders that I live a very blessed and rich life filled with smiles, hugs, laughs but I sacrifice to have them. Isn't that what motherhood is all about? The days of sleep and impromptu trips are over! We sacrifice every day, hour and minute to give our children all of us. The demands of motherhood are unrelenting, and can wear on you, until you see a smile, hear a laugh or dry a tear. I am slowly working out of this selfish place and opening my eyes to see the beauty and gift that I have right in from of me, because isn't that what motherhood is all about?

Get your Hanna Dresses Now!

2009-11-06T11:05:00.000-08:00

Moms of girls!!! Hanna Andersson is having a sale and most of the dresses (specifically the playdresses) are on sale! These are the softest, most comfortable, long-lasting dresses made of cotton that has been tested for lots of different chemicals. They were $25 a few weeks ago and I got a few. I also have some from ebay that are still in great condition, they will last a long time so they can be passed down, so it's totally worth the price! The girls have quite a few matching ones and with leggings it's a cozy, cute outfit!
(I got the girls christmas dresses for there also, they have lots of really cute christmas outfits on sale still!)

Perfect Timing

2009-11-06T10:43:00.000-08:00

How do grandmas know just what you need?? Jameson is running a fairly high fever today and complaining of a headache, so pretty early this morning I realized we would not be able to do the fun activity we were planning, but instead would be camped out on the couch in jammies. I got a call from my grandma that she had some things to drop off for the kids, and it couldn't have been better timing. New books for everyone, just what we needed for a day spent on the couch. Yummy apples from Oak Glen (did she know we just ran out of apples??). Jello, perfect for the boy that doesn't feel well. Not even 11am, and we have read a few chapters and enjoyed the apples. I feel so blessed by her today! It's going to be an ok day afterall.

The televisionless kids

2009-11-04T18:50:00.001-08:00

This is what happens when kids don't watch t.v. They imagine, create, play and explore. It's been a year or so since they have watched television shows, but we did allow certain movies every once in a while, it's been about a month since they have seen tv or movies and I can't imagine ever letting them watch anything again. I am really proud of breaking our tv ways, and wondering if I will see a difference in Adeleine since she will basically grow up without/very little tv watching.

At least it's all clean

2009-10-26T11:04:00.000-07:00

I have kept up on the washing, but clearly not the folding. Last night we didn't even sleep in our bed, I was too tired to fold and slept with Jameson. Please tell me I am not the only one who has ever done this??

Catch-Up

2009-10-22T13:05:00.000-07:00

I didn't quite realize how long since I have blogged, it would really be impossible to catch-up on all our happenings since then. So in a nut shell; 1st grade, apples, vegetable soup making, trip to North Carolina, baby growing, ballet, swim lessons, room re-doing, baby preparing, book reading, knitting, knitting and more knitting, bonnet making, farm visiting.

Most recently, it was the insect fair and pumpkin festival. 3 pumpkins, 2 hours, 90 degrees, 10 tired legs, 457 pictures later and 2 Madagascar hissing cockroaches later we were home. I am realizing that having baby number 4 will make leaving the house even harder. It was a fun outing, but so exhausting and all I was thinking about was how this would have been if there were 4 of them.

So, for now we try to stay home, read our Autumn books, eat apples, and enjoy the time before the gentle rhythm is disturbed, and a new rhythm is created.

Perfect Day

2009-08-24T11:21:00.000-07:00

Yesterday just might qualify as a perfect day in my book. If I had a checklist, yesterday could have checked everything off.

Mass (during which everyone behaved)...check!
family grocery shopping...check!
quiet time (included nap for me)...check!
time outside...check!
time to knit...check!
early bedtime...check!
time with hubby...check!

If only everyday could be so lovely!

Finding Our Rhythm

2009-08-21T13:42:00.001-07:00

As the summer is drawing to a close, we are settling into a new rhythm. It is quiet and peaceful. Our time is organized and our days are thoughtful, how I think they are intended. I have found time to read, knit and stop to savor all the little moments that pass too quickly. I have lots of hopes and dreams for this year, praying that I can bring them to life.

Consuming my thoughts

2009-07-31T13:28:00.000-07:00

Homeschooling my 1st grader is all I can think about. (Yes, she is barely 5, but she finished a kindergarten math book at the age of 4, can read almost any book she wants...including mine, and was begging me to start first grade.) How could I tell her no. I take this responsibility pretty seriously. Just like we consider our children's eating habits, exposure to tv, (or lack of!) vaccinations with great thought and consideration for what is best for them. Bill and I put a lot of thought and time into choosing books and curriculum for Abbie (and Jameson.) This time around, we didn't choose a "boxed curriculum" where everything but the kitchen sink is included. I have to use the books we chose to make my own lesson plans and plan out library visits, field trips, and schedule our morning. I never understood what was so hard about being a teacher until now! So this is what I spend my evenings doing, and I never really thought I would enjoy it as much as I am. I am looking forward to starting in a few weeks after swim lessons are over. Now, I need to figure out what to do with the 15 month old during school time. Thoughts?

Prayers Coveted

2009-07-24T22:12:00.000-07:00

I received news today at my ultrasound that I have complete placenta previa. I was pretty devastated, even though I know that it is likely to move and make another homebirth a possibility. The 10% chance that it won't, and that I will be scheduling a c-section is very frightening. The baby looked fine (still waiting official word from the radiologist though) so that is the most important news I could have heard. I should have listened to my husband when he told me not to read about it on the internet though, I am really scared now! I will have another u/s at 28 weeks, so for a few more months I get to sit and wonder what my placenta is doing. Great :( So please pray that my uterus gets nice and large and that placenta moves out of the way, making a vaginal birth a possibility again.

Lost Addict

2009-07-23T08:20:00.000-07:00

So yesterday, during the Ikea/Costco shopping extravaganza, I purchased a whit orchid at Costco. We have this massive tall, long dresser in our room, so I thought this massive tall orchid would fill some room nicely. But, everytime I say the word "orchid", either to my self our outloud I think of Lost. Then I get sad, bitter and angry that I have to wait 6 more months for it to come back. Then I remember that this is the final season, and I am really sad. The silver lining is, this season, I will get to watch with a newborn snuggled in my arms.

Summer

2009-07-21T23:00:00.000-07:00

So I will do a quick re-cap of our summer.

May
-Adeleine turned one!
-Carly turned 19!
-got a pot-bellied pig
-found out I am pregnant
-got rid of pot-bellied pig
-felt very sick and tired and did nothing for the rest of the month

June
-Abigail turned 5!
-7 year wedding anniversary
-Camping for Abbie's birthday
-ballet recital

July
-Independence day
-finished Abbie's floor
-lost the chihuahua (sad, but yea!)
-thought we were having twins
-pretty sure I am just having one baby

Oops, I just realized that I can't add any pictures since, they are all still on the memory card, all 1000 of them, maybe tomorrow!

Loser Mom

2009-07-21T22:41:00.000-07:00

So, it's been awhile since I have blogged and part of that was purposeful, part of it was lack of time. I have this thing that happens to me every so often, maybe it happens to others too. Reading other people's blogs makes me feel like a loser and a failure. Seeing and reading about other people's peaceful, creative days filled with delicious homemade meals, crafting galore, and the pictures to prove it makes me wonder what I am doing wrong when dinner is grilled cheese and a can of soup and I haven't sewn a stitch in weeks, let alone documented any of it with pictures. I have been settling arguments, feeding mouths ALL day, wiping butts ALL day and nursing a toddler ALL day!! There is no time for sewing, knitting, making fabulous meals and heaven forbid I takes any pictures because that would mean having to use my messy, disorganized house as a backdrop. Then I have a few days to ruminate on all of this, and I realized that no matter what people say, this happens to everyone. Not everyday is as perfect as they may blog about. When I spend most of the day reading books to the kids and making forts out of blankets, I realize that I am doing what really matters. They will remember the hours spent on the couch reading fighting over who sits on what side of me, and all the card games we have been playing. It makes all the guilt from the unfolded laundry go away, when I think about the guilt I won't have when they are grown. So it's ok with me that this is where I am in my life, I think my days are spent with three amazing little people, and I wouldn't have it any other way!

Growing up is hard to do

2009-05-01T19:12:00.000-07:00

Adeleine is walking. Starting today, her primary means of mobility is walking. I knew this day would come, but I didn't think that it would come so fast. She is showing me in many ways that she is becoming her own person, and I am so blessed to be her "mama".

There's a first time for everything...

2009-04-29T20:45:00.000-07:00

and today, the kids and I shared a first. Their first taste of Kool-Aid and my first time making it as a mom. I had leftover cherry kool-aid (which wasn't used to make a drink) and it sounded good, so I offered to make some. At first they weren't too excited, but as soon as they saw the big smiling pitcher on the side they knew it must be good. It tasted just as good as I remember and I was quite nostalgic. Remembering my childhood, and the excitment my brother and I shared when getting to pick out our own packet of kool-aid. ( I was a cherry or grape kind of girl, hew was more the strawberry kiwi or raspberry type which I am sure was blue) This happened about once per year usually in the summer, when I guess my mom was feeling quite nice. Other than that kool-aid was one of many forbidden foods in our home. I am going to have to do damage control tomorrow, I am sure of that. I am quite certain that Jameson will request kool-aid for breakfast, and I just might say yes :)

I love IKEA

2009-04-28T17:28:00.000-07:00

I really, really love Ikea, and do my best to fill my house with their goodness. I look forward to the whole experience from the underground parking lot, to the golf pencils and marketplace. I read the catalog at least weekly looking for something that I didn't see the last time I looked at it. Bill cannot stand the store. There are always lots of people (which creep him out) and I make him walk around the showrooms everytime we go, even if we need nothing up there. I am constantly changing what style of rooms I want, and whenever this little house stats to get to me, I know that one thing will help...a trip to Ikea. A few new pillows, curtains, or a vase will help me love my house again for a few $. I decided to count some of the things purchased at Ikea in my house. Keep in mind that I didn't open any cabinets or drawers, this is what I could see just walking into a room. My Ikea count was 124. That is a lot for my modest 1250 square foot home. I love thee Ikea and I hope my love continues to grow.

Meet Casey & Quack

2009-04-07T22:56:00.000-07:00

All I want to do

2009-04-02T16:39:00.000-07:00

is curl up between their velvety skin and sleep. They are the sweetest pups ever, seriously...ever.

Ice Ice Baby

2009-03-26T23:08:00.000-07:00

We all lived through the days of "mixed tapes". Bill is still fond of making them, only in 2009 they are in CD form. We stumbled upon a "mixed cd" entitled Rap 1 made by Bill in approximately 2005. (I guess there was a Rap 2 in the works maybe?) Bill popped it into the cd player and I was instantly taken back to junior high. Songs such as Kris Kross-Jump, Paperboy-Ditty, House of Pain-Jump Around, Snow-Informer and Vanilla Ice-Ice Ice Baby. I suppose that since ice ice baby was one of the only songs that the kids could understand, it became an instant favorite. Now when we get into the car, before the buckles are even buckled, I have two requests for ice ice baby. They have no idea what the song is about, but their favorite part is the "boyyyyyyy" at the end of "yo vanilla, kick it one time boyyyyyy". Who know..maybe their generation can bring him back.

Dishwasher Love

2009-03-18T00:08:00.000-07:00

Whenever I need to cook or clean the kitchen, all I have to do is open the dishwasher. Adeleine will sit and pull all the spoons and forks out and play with them for a long time. It keeps her busy longer than any toy we own, and these days I need to keep her busy. Not only do I love my dishwasher because it scrubs nasty dishes so I don't have to, it entertains my 10 month old.

That kind of day

2009-02-11T18:12:00.000-08:00

We just had Irish oatmeal for the second time today. I did change it up for dinner and added bananas instead of the blueberries we had this morning. Does that make me a bad mom? It was just that kind of day.

Blessed

2009-02-11T14:18:00.000-08:00

A dear friend of mine had her third baby in the wee hours of the morning, and I am so happy for them that she and baby boy are doing well. Makes me remember my third baby, and how it seems like it was just a few weeks ago I was in the same place. I will admit that my womb aches a wee bit when I look at old pictures and remember the days I spent curled up in bed with Adeleine. I wanted the whole world to go away and leave us alone, I was totally in love. I hope that one day I am blessed enough to experience it again.

It is starting early

2009-02-03T14:52:00.000-08:00

The mud play that is. It seems that our 80 degree weather in January has tricked them into thinking it's June. I love the ideas of kids digging, smearing and wallowing in the cool mud on a hot summer day, but in reality it is my own personal hell. The dirty laundry that it creates means a daily rinsing, soaking and washing or their clothes and my rugs. They come into the house stand on the rug, wipe their feet and leave huge skid marks behind them. Shortly after I wash hands, arms, legs, feet, faces and dress them in clean clothes, they go out and do it again. This happens everyday, several times per day x 2 kids. It just happened today....I won't tell them to stop playing in it, but I must control my OCD tendencies. Go away hot weather!!

Sleep, Prescriptions and Puzzles

2009-01-15T17:28:00.000-08:00

That's what we have been doing, or trying to do. A few nights ago Ada was awake from 2:30am-6am. Bill had left earlier that night on a business trip, so I was alone alternating between pacing the house and sitting at the computer. She was screaming anytime I would sit or lay down with her. I spent a lot of that time also crying, wondering what to do to help her. Taking her to urgent care wasn't really an option, so I walked the house and surfed the net. The next morning, after wheezing and coughing so hard she was gagging, I took her in. Double ear infection with pus, fever, and pneumonia. No wonder she didn't want to lay down. A breathing treatment, antibiotic injection, cough syrup and tylenol later she was my happy baby again. Her regular pediatrician thinks it could also have been RSV, so I am glad we stayed home from all our playdates.

During all this time at home we have done lots of puzzles and trying to catch up on sleep. Bill will be home tomorrow and hopefully life will return to normal.

Birthday Boy

2009-01-08T13:43:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was Jameson's third birthday. It is quite hard for me to believe that my sweet, sensitive boy has been with us for three years. I remember very vividly all the details of his birth, but shortly afterward the memories start to become blurry. I want time to stop so I can snuggle with my boy, thats what he likes best! We had a good day yesterday and I tried hard to make it special for him. Breakfast was his favorite, waffles and for lunch we went to John's Incredible Pizza. Dinner was mac & cheese, peas and salad. He loved his presents from us, especially the sword and shield and his razor. He slept with his sword and took his razor in the bathroom woth him this morning. It was a great day...Happy Birthday sweet boy!!

Last few weeks

2009-01-05T15:18:00.001-08:00

I am in love.....

2009-01-02T16:40:00.000-08:00

with this and this. I have a new addiction to photography...I cannot stop taking pictures ....HELP ME!!!

2008-12-11T21:32:00.000-08:00

Wow, I go months without a post and this is #3 for today! Just more of the kids and the lovely gingerbread house that we did with Lauren and her kiddos. It was fun but tasted like cardboard....what do you expect from a kit that was probably made months ago. We got blue potatoes from our co-op and mashed them and they made a great shade of purple. Jameson liked them, but Abbie said she didn't like them, but would like them better if they were pink. She is such a girl.

What's under our tree?

2008-12-11T12:55:00.001-08:00

Modelling wax (Jameson), doll stroller (everyone), Rainbow stacker (Adeleine), 2 more playsilks (everyone), stockmar crayons (Abigail), painting boards (Jameson & Abigail). They are also each getting a book and their own handmade teacup. Stocking contents will be a toothbrush, Schleich animals, a few beanbags and an orange. Everything is ordered and on it's way except for stocking stuffers!

Signs of the Season

2008-12-11T12:08:00.000-08:00

Seasons of Patience

2008-12-08T11:16:00.000-08:00

You wouldn't know it from reading my blog, but I think about blogging everyday, and I even blog in my head. I write long, random blogs while changing a diaper, folding laundry, preparing a meal. I guess that's all the blogging I am going to do during this season of my life. The needs of three kids is more than I could have imagined. It would be easy to keep them fed and fairly clean, doing only what is necessary to keep them alive. It the nurturing and time that takes a lifetime. I have been trying to focus on them, and less on "what I have to do." I convince myself that beds must be made everyday, showers must be had, floor must be mopped, dinner must be perfectly balanced and warm. I was really fooling myself. I would love to be able to do all those things and spend tons of quality time teaching and nurturing the kids, but that is not the current season. My children need me. That's it. My time, my attention, my love, my kindness, my direction, my encouragement, my bedtime stories, my hugs. That takes about all I have. Everything else but our basic needs does not fit in my day. I am very tired and feeling very fragile, but I realized that this is what they will remember. Time as a family and family traditions. This needs to be my focus, not appearing like the picture perfect wife and mother. I want to be my version of perfect, and that means putting down the mop and begging mother Mary for patience and help to make it through the day. I need it today!

2008-11-20T14:17:00.000-08:00

I really have a lot to blog about and lots of new pictures, but a serious lack of time. Bill is on a business trip and we have a sniffly teething baby spending lots of time in the Ergo. Maybe tonight if I am not too sleepy...

(I find it very funny that I just made a post about not having time to post....as if anyone but me really cares if I post :))

Feast of Sts. Jude & Simon

2008-10-28T11:24:00.000-07:00

Today the Church celebrates the feast of Sts. Simon and Jude whose names occur together in the Canon of the Mass and are also celebrated on the same day. Possibly this is because they both preached the Gospel in Mesopotamia and Persia where it is said they had both been sent, but in actual fact we know nothing for certain about them beyond what is told us of their being called as Apostles in the New Testament. St. Jude is the author of a short Epistle which forms part of the New Testament.

However meagre in details is the history of these glorious apostles, we learn from their brief legend how amply they contributed to this great work of generating sons of God. Without any repose, and even to the shedding of their blood, they "edified the body of Christ"; and the grateful Church thus prays to our Lord today: "O God, through the work of the apostles you have spoken your Word of love, your Son, into our world's deafness. Open our ears to hear; open our hearts to heed; open our will to obey, that we may proclaim the good news with our lives."

St. Simon is represented in art with a saw, the instrument of his martyrdom. St. Jude's square points him out as an architect of the house of God. St. Paul called himself by this name; and St. Jude, by his Catholic Epistle, has also a special right to be reckoned among our Lord's principal workmen. But our apostle had another nobility, far surpassing all earthly titles: being nephew, by his father Cleophas or Alpheus, to St. Joseph, and legal cousin to the Man-God, Jude was one of those called by their compatriots the brethren of the carpenter's Son. We may gather from St. John's Gospel another precious detail concerning him. In the admirable discourse at the close of the last Supper, our Lord said: "He that loveth Me, shall be loved of My Father: and I will love him and will manifest Myself to him." Then Jude asked Him: "Lord, how is it, that Thou wilt manifest Thyself to us, and not to the world?" And he received from Jesus this reply: "If any one love Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and will make Our abode with him. He that loveth Me not keepeth not My word. And the word which you have heard is not Mine, but the Father's who sent Me."

The churches of St. Peter in Rome and Saint-Sernin at Toulouse dispute the honor of possessing the greater part of their holy remains.

(St Jude is my favorite saint, and was going to be Adeleine's name if she had boy parts. Maybe next time? I am excited about today. I have been anticipating it for a few weeks! During our family prayers this morning, we busted out the special feast day candle, red alter cloth and my fav...the incense. Other than having to stay home and wait for the plumber, today is a great day!!)

Father, you revealed yourself to us through the preaching of your apostles Simon and Jude. By their prayers, give your Church continued growth and increase the number of those who believe in you. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

We Miss Her

2008-10-17T15:19:00.000-07:00

My sister is coming home for Thanksgiving!!!! When she left for college in August, I told the kids that they would see her in November. I knew that they really had no concept of how far away it was, but it has seemed like an eternity. There was a question for awhile about if she was really coming home, since flights were $$$ and she is coming home for Christmas 2 weeks later. She found out that she has to leave campus during thanksgiving, so she is coming home! The kids are so excited, so to help them countdown the days we made a paper chain and they can tear them off daily. It was a fun little project. The weekend plans include a family trip to the library, a few outdoor projects and family pictures after mass on sunday...wish us luck!

2008-10-15T21:04:00.001-07:00

We had a great day today. We did a little learning time and then headed to my favorite park to play. Abbie kinda embarassed me while there by telling all our weird family secrets to a sweet grandma with her granddaughter. She left shortly after that so I think I scared her. Oops! After that I tackled the 6-7 loads of laundry that needed to be folded. I dumped it all on the couch so that I had to fold it in order to sit. We then had a nice healthy dinner followed by a easy bedtime! Tomorrows agenda includes a trip to Target and more laundry!

The awesomest park ever.

2008-10-10T11:35:00.000-07:00

Massive play equipment, lots of grass, swings, shaded picnic area and 3 minutes from my house = my perfect park!

Apples

2008-09-17T16:21:00.001-07:00

So, I hadn't really wanted this to be a "homeschooling" blog, but just more a journal of thoughts and days, but we had so much fun and I am so excited about our new "nature study" that I had to share. I like the idea of very relaxed unit studies. Since the kids love nature and I wanted to do more than just "sit at the table learning" for nature, I decided that each month will have a theme and we will learn as much as we can all about our nature theme. This month we started a few days late, but I chose apples as out theme. We took a trip to the library last week and got books about apples and Johnny Appleseed (which Jameson thinks is a hilarious name and starts calling everyone "mommy appleseed", "Ada appleseed", etc) and put them in their seasonal reading basket.
We went to the store and bought all the different varieties we could find, and as I washed and sliced them, we talked about their names and how they looked, felt, etc. They thought that granny smith was a pretty funny name! (I am noticing a theme...a 2.5 year old things everything is funny!)

We let them boil, added cinnamon, organic sugar, and nutmeg and our applesauce is so yummy! I left the skin on and I like it so much better that way. We are planning a trip to Oak Glen to go apple picking next weekend, so that should finish up our study this month. I don't know if I should do leaves, or acorns next?? Any ideas??

Feast of the Nativity of Mary

2008-09-08T21:13:00.000-07:00

Mary was born to be the mother of the Savior of the world, the spiritual mother of all men, and the holiest of God's creatures. Because of her Son's infinite merits, she was conceived and born immaculate and full of grace. Through her, Queen of heaven and of earth, all grace is given to men. Through her, by the will of the Trinity, the unbelieving receive the gift of faith; the afflicted are tendered the works of mercy; and the members of Christ grow in likeness of their Head. In Mary all human nature is exalted. We rejoice in her birthday, as the Church has done from the earliest times. This is one of the three birthdays in the Church Calendar — the Birth of Jesus (December 25), the Birth of John the Baptist (June 24) and the Birthday of Mary. All three were born without original sin, although Mary and Jesus were conceived without sin, and St. John was cleansed of original sin while in the womb at the Visitation of Mary.

According to the 1962 Missal of Bl. John XXIII Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, today also commemorates St. Adrian. The liturgy of Our Lady's Birthday in Rome included a procession from the church of St. Adrian in the forum. It is possible that he is a martyr of Nicomedia who suffered during the Diocletian persecution.

We celebrated with homemade vanilla cake, complete with candles and singing! Today is a very blessed day...where would we be without her...?

First Baseball Game

2008-09-05T16:22:00.000-07:00

We took Jameson to his first baseball game with Grandma & Grandpa last weekend. I was SOOOO excited for him, more excited than he was. He wore his his baseball shirt, his glove and big boy underwear and was ready to go. We ate hotdogs, peanuts and the weather was perfect. We left after the 7th inning, before the kids got too stir crazy. It was the last Quakes game of the season. I can't wait to go back next year!

Cutest baby in the whole world

2008-09-05T16:11:00.000-07:00

She is the happiest baby....and I love her to pieces!

Yesterday.

2008-08-28T11:42:00.000-07:00

Good but long. There were no naps by the bigs, so the energy level in our house was very high! We went to the park with a friend in the afternoon, and then to Grannie Fae's for dinner. The park was great! Neato play equipment and sand area. There was also a nature center that had real live deer, owls, tortoises and a racoon. The kids were wet and sandy, so it was great for them and I got some much needed time with a great friend. Dinner at the in-laws was good, and I didn't eat too much so I was proud of myself. I was down 4 lbs this morning to 150lbs. So I was stoaked....all my hard work is starting to pay off! Hopefully today I can tackle the laundry situation and get back on track and sew Abbie's doll sling...she has been waiting so patiently!

Productive Weekend

2008-08-25T10:11:00.000-07:00

Bill and I were very productive this weekend. It felt soo good to climb into bed last night and not feel like all we did all weekend was sit around drinking coffee and reading books (although thats not all bad!) Here was our weekend:

- clean off patio
- put 2 coats of paint on our bedroom bookshelves (yeah...it's finally done)
- put drawer hardware on shelving unit
- paint new shelf for living room
- hang new shelf in LR
- found a new home for Pixel :(
- visited with Mom, Dad and Grandma Bobbie
- went to mass
- visited Great Grandma Peggy
- washed diapers..twice!
- made homemade bread
- made homemade organic chicken stock
- made yummy dinner of wild alaskan salmon, garlic fries and broccoli
- played puzzles and math games with the kids
- watched another episode of Rome

All this while still changing about 8 diapers a day, taking 2 year old potty on the toilet about 6 times a day, feeding everyone three meals a day, dealing with 4 year old attitude and 2 year old tantrums and finding time to love the 28 year old also! NO wonder I did not want to get out of bed this morning! I actually feel asleep last night before Bill was finished reading our nighttime prayers..ooops. The kitchen is a mess, and laundry is everywhere, but I am enjoying hearing the bigs playing together, watching Adeleine sleeping and feeling blessed that this is my life!

Queenship of Mary

2008-08-22T13:22:00.001-07:00

Father, you have given us the mother of your Son to be our queen and mother. With the support of her prayers may we come to share the glory of your children in the kingdom of heaven. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

2008-08-22T12:45:00.000-07:00

I have been gushing over the birth of little (but big), Adeleine. Her birth was very much anticipated since I was quite unsure what exactly would happen. After two hospital births and two epidurals, I was starting to question what I was thinking and how it would all play out. How would I endure painful contractions for an unknown amount of time, and after all that, push the baby out?? I had an awesome, highly recommended midwife, I had done my hypnobabies for 10 weeks, I had surrounded myself with positive people who knew that homebirth was safe and they were praying for me. Was all this enough? Along with a lot of praying by me...it was! When L the midwife arrived she checked me and I was already 10 centimeters. I started feeling like pushing and a few minutes later Adeleine Rose was born weighing 9 lbs 8oz. I was on a birth high for weeks and weeks. All I wanted to do was think about it and I could not believe that I had done it and it went perfectly! I am still in awe that God allowed my body to create this perfect human being and then have an amazing (not very painful) birth. I am so blessed.

Old Friends

2008-08-20T14:26:00.000-07:00

I am very happy and excited to have talked to an old friend today. We have seen eachother a few times in the last few years, but we connected on the internet today, so keeping in touch is a whole lot easier now. We worked together for almost 4 years and we were quite the duo. We were total opposites, yet great friends. We listened to eachother and had a deep respect for the other, which made us great fiends and working buddies. I left when Abbie was born and she is still working there. She had a baby last year and I think thats what has made her a softie :) She was a great friend to me, and I an excited to see her again!

Sadness in the South

2008-08-14T10:43:00.000-07:00

Ada and I got back Tuesday night from North Carolina, where my parents and I bid farewell to my BFF, my sister. It was so hard saying goodbye, and when we hugged, I didn't want to ever let her go. I told her I loved her, would miss her and to be smart! She is an awesome person and I know that she will be wise and have a great time. I was still at the hotel sleeping when my parents said their goodbyes, but I can only imagine how hard it was for them to leave their pampered princess 3000 miles away! My mom will have a hard time adjusting to LOTS of time to herself since my Dad works long hours and has a nasty commute and my bro (who is still at home at the ripe old age of 25) isn't often home. Luckily I have enough laundry and grocery shopping to keep us both busy!

My wonderful husband took two days off work to stay home with the bigs while we were gone. He did an awesome job of handling everything. When I got home the house was clean, laundry was folded, and he even did some organizing! I was so proud of him! I was so happy to see them. I have never spent a night away from Jameson and only after I had James did I spend the night away from Abbie, so it was a little hard leaving them in the airport.

I am in love with North Carolina! The architecture, the accents, the food, the trees overgrown with ivy, the way everything is closed on Sunday, the church steeples, the friendliness, the porches and the slower pace of life. If my parents were ready to leave I would move tomorrow. I would be sad about leaving good friends and our church, but I long for those things for my kids. We would miss a lot of Bill's family here and it is important to us both that our kids know and love even the extended relatives, but being able to sit down as a family more than 1 or 2 days a week and have dinner and being able to fish, hunt and explore nature in your backyard are really important to me. Those things are available to us here, it just takes sacrifice (for the family dinners possibly moving so that Bill doesn't have such a long commute and more camping trips and organized outings for nature). No one is ready to leave yet, but each time I go out there my desire to up and leave intensifies. As I had lots of time to ponder moving and living somewhere other than Cali I made a mental list of requirement I have for any state we would move to. My list is as follows:

1. must have state trooper not highway patrol (This may come from watching to much COPS!) silly...I know!
2. car dealerships must use those metal nameplate things that they put on the back of the car (usually opposite the name of the car, and almost always the dealership name is a man's name)
3. must have places named "Bojangles", "Piggly Wiggly"...where else would you find names like that
4. must talk with an accent. I heard they cutest kids talking all southern in walmart (which leads me to the next requirement)
5. must be Walmarts on every corner (I try not to go very often, I am more of a Target girl) but they are everywhere and a true sign you are not in CA
6. must have a battlefield in the state. How cool is that!?! We went to Cowpens in SC, and it was amazing to be out in a field and imagine that a real revolutionary war battle was fought right where you are standing. I was thinking of all kinds of neato things you could do while homeschooling when studying the revolutionary war

So, the trip was good. I am trying to settle my brain of crazy thoughts of moving tomorrow (my mom isn't helping this since she is just as eager to move as I am). I am focusing my thought and prayers on my sister who is 3000 miles from all her family in a strange city with no one she really knows. I pray for her to meet good friends who value her as much as we do and for her to be comforted in her times of loneliness. I love her and miss her tons!!!

2 recent obsessions

2008-08-08T22:56:00.001-07:00

Two of my new favorite things are:

1. Rome. Bill rented this last week and now we are hooked! It's juicy drama and historical. It ran on HBO for two seasons and we are quickly watching season 1. I recommend it to anyone who doesn't mind graphic killing, graphic sex and likes history.

2. True Lemon. I almost always have lemon in my water and I use so many lemons (and our newly planted trees don't have fruit yet) that I run out a lot. I found these at Vons and love them!!! Nothing artificial, no sweetners and made with real lemon oil. They taste just like real lemon and are easy to take on the go.

2008-07-31T13:01:00.000-07:00

Abbie has 3 little stuffed dogs that she has been playing with the last few days. As she was playing with them this morning I asked her what their names were. She told me Jack, Maxie and Paddie. I didn't think anything of it until Bill said "isn't that funny?" It took me a minute and I realized what he was talking about. What's even funnier, is that I don't even call them Maxi pads!

Good news and bad news

2008-07-30T09:30:00.000-07:00

1. The air conditioner in the van is fixed, and it cost us $0.00. I guess sometimes it pays to have a Kia with a 60,000k mile warranty on everything! I am running errands today just so I can enjoy cold air again!

2. I do not like earthquakes...never have and never will, unlike my husband who thinks they are "fun." The 5.4 the rocked us yesterday has me wondering if every big truck that drives down our street is the rumble of another quake. I screamed yesterday when it started and scared the kids, so I think I have damaged them forever. My neighbor even came over to make sure we were ok because they heard me. I was quite embarassed :(

3. My sister is leaving in 6 days for North Carolina :( I am so sad that I don't even want to discuss it or think about it. My entire family is going to be so sad. I will be going with Adeleine out there and flying home with my parents to help move her in. The kids will miss her terribly, so will Bill. I almost can't quite comprehend her not being here.

The many faces of Adeleine

2008-07-29T20:32:00.000-07:00

I thought it was time for a few pictures of her. She totally melts my heart!

Memorial of Sts. Joachim & Ann

2008-07-26T11:26:00.001-07:00

God of our fathers, you gave Saints Joachim and Ann the privilege of being the parents of Mary, the mother of your incarnate Son. May their prayers help us to attain the salvation you have promised to your people. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Spring cleaning in the Summer

2008-07-22T09:25:00.000-07:00

So after swim lessons and a play at the park, this is what I will be doing the rest of the day. Cleaning both the kids rooms and washing and organizing Ada's diapers. We have been working with the kids on cleanliness. You would never know though! I think the problem is too much stuff! Part of my cleaning will be purging a lot of junk. I am tired of tripping over plastic princess shoes.

Happy Belated Birthday.

2008-07-16T18:10:00.000-07:00

Happy (a day late) Birthday to my wonderful husband. There are not powerful enough words to describe what he means to me and our family. He is my best friend. He is Abbie's hero. He is Jameson's baseball buddy. He is Adeleine's snuggler. He has a faith sustains him and encourages me. I am so blessed just by waking up next to him every morning. I love him dearly!

Thumb Suckers & Alters

2008-07-11T10:42:00.000-07:00

My little Adeleine has found her thumb. I know the comfort she is feeling after being a thumb sucker for 13 years! I have mixed feeling about her choosing this way to self-soothe, but I don't think there is much that I can do about it. It does make my life a little easier :)

Keeping me busy these days has been planning our family alter after reading this. It has taken a lot of work, but has been a neat little project for Bill and I. It will be a very special place when we are done. Abbie was kneeling in front of the crucifix this morning praying and talking about how today is Friday and we are sad because Jesus died on Friday. I am so glad that she now has a place to do this so reverently. I am stoaked to go to church Sunday, after attending a different church on Sunday with Bill's family, I realized this week that I felt like I was missing something and I wanted to go to mass. I realized that it was because it has been almost 2 weeks since we had been to Guasti. I never realized that going to mass and receiving communion was such a big part of my life...only 2 more days!