Last day of February

Lent begins tomorrow.  As usual, I'm not ready, but since this is usual, I know that there is time to do the things I might have hoped to do before hand during Lent.  In fact, Ash Wednesday is a really great day to to things like make a Lenten Calendar (a la Jessica at Shower of Roses) or make a crown of thorns on a poster on the wall and then let the kids pick a color of marker to draw flowers on the thorns, knowing which color of flower stands for the sacrifices made by them.
It helps to do these things on Ash Wednesday because, well, we'll be fasting and abstaining, so it's good to distract from, well, food.

I can't figure out how to rotate the photo, but this year I bought a king cake, which actually came with a little plastic baby to hide in the cake.  The baby stands for Jesus, whom the Three Kings found.  The colors stand for justice (purple), power (gold), and faith (green).  It's traditionally eaten on Mardi Gras, the end of the season that began on the Epiphany, the feast of the three kings.

I bought it, but then we all got the stomach flu, so only some of us ate it.

And only some of us are celebrating the final day of being able to have sweets and treats before Lent begins tomorrow.  Actually, having the stomach flu and shrinking your stomach isn't a bad way to head into Ash Wednesday...you know, always looking on the bright side.

Who is almost 8 months old?!  And why is he holding a giant glue stick at a basketball game?  Mama knows how to keep him happy, that's why.  #homeschooledbaby

You know my twin niece and nephew were in the NicU, and are now happily home!  Unfortunately, they are still preemies and as I mentioned, we just got the stomach flu.  What is a poor doting Aunt to do?  Steal over to my sister's house and knock on the front window for a peek, of course!  No germs!

The glare form the window didn't make for the best pictures, but I got to see them!!

 

I cannot wait for the day when I can actually hold them!!

In my own home, I am hoping to get a lot of Spring Cleaning done this Lent.  I like the ideas of 40 bags/40 days, but I'm pretty sure I can't get 40 bags this year.  I can weed out our clothes again now that we're through the bulk of the winter.  I know there are things like Christmas outfits that can be packed away.  Organizing closets is top on my list of to-dos.  Believe it or not, I cleaned out our garage on a nice day this past week.  But our car is in super need of a deep clean after the winter grime.  (I hear tell that we're due for another snow storm, so I might just hold off for a few more weeks on that one).  I'm hoping to get a big Spring Cleaning list up so I can keep track of what I've actually accomplished, but don't hold me to it.  I'm already out of time and simply blogging to procrastinate returning to the fray!  We're waiting on a new delivery of Sprite--let's hope we return to good health soon!

Late February

Things have been busy since I last posted!  We did have a successful Valentine's Day party.  I think there were about 30 kids and 7 moms? The little girls made a marathon out of "ring around the rosie"--apparently this game can be played indefinitely!

 And the boys?  Crab-football.  (Just to keep them somewhat corralled and somewhat constructively occupied).:)  There were crafts and snacks as well.  But never never enough time for chatting with the moms!  I think I'm going to have to re-think this...I think we need a mom's night out!

The weather has been outrageously awesome!  I have had the joy of watching my niece, who became a big sister twice over when my sister delivered her twins!!

I took my kids-plus-one on a nature hike.

The highlight was finding a nest.

And...I need to record that when my brother was visiting he insisted that I get out -twice- with him alone for lunch.  Now, I don't really go out alone, and I don't really go out for lunch.  Sort of not really in keeping with the general job description!:)  BUT, exceptions are made when my brother is home!  I went out.

I think I've mentioned that my brother is a hipster.  The truth is, he's just very urbane and very fun and awesome in general (I only have one older sibling, so I do adore a bit, pardon the gush).  So, when we go out, he doesn't let me just meet him at the local coffee shop.  Nope.  First it was a German pub for Weinerschnitzel and kraut:

And then, Vietnamese?  Pho. Green tea and Spring Rolls.
 

Back to diapers!
I'm out of time!

February Daybook

I'm going to go ahead and try to finish this post--it was written over the course of several days...just ignore any time references.

Outside my window:  Ooh, yesterday it was SPRING!  Sunny and mild; my heart did leap.   Today...still spring, but in the foggy/muddy/wet vein of things.  Actually, it's still quite cold.  I took my little ones out on a walk one afternoon just to get out of the house.  We found a nice little ditch of mud to explore.

So, yes, mud and wet is the theme.  Boots can come off on the porch, but what to do with your dog?  Reina comes in all bouncy and energetic (not unlike Tigger in Winnie-the-Pooh) and all I can do is direct her to her kennel until she can dry off--lest she hit her favorite roost: the couch!

But then again, not everyone lets a living rug lounge on the living room couches.  I'm still undecided as to whether this makes me a good or a bad dog owner.  I err on the side of being too permissive.

Sort of the days that you look at your big furry labradoodle and think, "WHY???!!!!!"

(putting "get dog groomed" on my to-do list)

And I should point out that sometime last fall (I think) we got new couches to replace the dreaded sectional--notice the dark charcoal grey color.  That's called living and learning.

A few plans for the week: were cancelled when Aragorn twisted his ankle at practice last night.  That's gonna bruise up and look a whole lot worse before it looks better.  His double tournament games are looking like possible cancels.  Gimli has a double-header tonight, though, so the family won't go into basketball withdrawal any time soon.

I'm updating this now that it is a week later.  This weekend we had 10 (ten) games, two tournaments, and concession duty.  Ouch.

Around the house (from a week ago):  Since we thought we were sick of the Patriots, we went ahead and decided to root Falcons.  Then we witnessed the most amazing comeback ever and sort of switched teams mid game.  I still felt bad for the Falcons, but it was a fun game to watch.  

And now for the crazy reveal.  As in, revealing our family's craziness.  We decorate for the Super Bowl.  Well, I let the kids do it.  Are we alone in this? Yes?

Now to pick the rest of the tape off of the ceiling.

Looking forward to:  Valentine's Day!!  I hope everyone stays healthy, because we are planning a party in our local library basement and I really really want to see all of my friends again!  As all of our families grow, it is just too hard to get together.  I hit up the Oriental Trading Company for fun crafts and surprises.  My kids are excited.  Now I just have to go buy about a dozen boxes of Valentines!  (**Shout out to my beautiful little niece "Heni" who will celebrate her very first birthday that day! Can we just say that that is the perfect day for a little girl to turn One year old?!  Love you my Henina! xoxo)

Prayers please:  For my baby sister, who is all grown up, but still pulls on my heartstrings like the day she was born.  She is pregnant with twins and scaring my pants off with her daily contractions.  She's getting close...she's 34 weeks!  It could be a few more weeks, but she's got me on pins and needles.  Twin pregnancy is a wild and crazy world that for all of my children I cannot imagine navigating myself.  My sister said that if I had twins, I would love my children so much that I'd just do it.  I guess.  My sister is making it look easy. 

Thankful:

--For my sister (the preggo) dragging me and my kiddos to the local gym for homeschool gymnastics once a week this past month or so.  Gets us out of the house and some exercise.  Plus, I refuse to let my sister traipse around town without me--someone has to keep an eye on her!

--For any time I can find myself in the Adoration Chapel.  5 minutes, an hour--I'll take any time I can get!

--For Galadriel reading four (4) Nancy Drew books in the past week or two.  She's on a reading tear and this girl couldn't really read.  I'm not sure if it's the vision therapy or the fact that she turned 10.  Either way, I'm so so thankful!

I better go ahead and publish this--or it will be another month un-blogged!  Have a great week!

February 4th??

Wait... that means this little fella

is SEVEN months old?!!!!

Oh yeah!!!

  

Last Day of January

I know I've been entirely absent...lets see if I can give a quick little update.

Look who's sitting!!

Love this shot of his hair!  And no, it will never be cut! 

Almost 7 months old?? Where is my newborn?!  And he cut two teeth too!  I'm not ready for any of these milestones with Sam, but I cherish every detail of his little self.

Looking ahead...Candlemas is February 2nd.  I am pretty much addicted to having blessed candles to light during family prayer time.  I really really love having them blessed on this Feast of the Presentation.  

These are from the Dominican Sisters in New Jersey! (summitdominicans.org)  You must check out their website, and if you are lucky, when you order from them you might get one of their little newsletters that updates you on their life.  I was entirely charmed by the very funny and joyful glimpse I got into life as a cloistered nun!  

I absolutely have to add that the fact that they have a golden retriever (named Sabina) reminded Galadriel and I of her favorite mystery series about nuns!  

When I ordered the beeswax candles I added a candle snuffer to the cart.  It was only $10, and it supports the nuns--I had to buy it!  My kids absolutely love it, as children do.  And I just have to say, candle snuffers.  That's all.  I'm just saying.  Would it be weird if I started a collection? 

I couldn't give up this one last strand of Christmas lights, the ones in my kitchen.  I plug the lights in as I get my coffee and skip the glaring overhead lights until I'm a little more awake.   So, we updated the look: Galadriel and I ditched the Christmas garland she had made and replaced it with a felt heart garland that she sewed for me.  

And are we seeing the sunshine in that window?!  Yes, the picture is over exposed and I don't know how to work my new phone's camera.  But after two weeks of too much grey, I am very (VERRRYY) happy to report that the sun doth shine!

Have a good rest of the week!  And don't forget to get your throat blessed on Friday- the Feast of St. Blaise!!

Pictureless

My phone is messed up, so I have no photos.  Well, I do, but I can't get them onto the computer.  I'm working on this.

In the meantime, blogging takes a hit without photos.

Sam turned 6 months old and is saying "Da-da"!  I am pretty sure he says it cuter than any other baby did before.  Is it just me, or is every new baby always always always the cutest you've ever had?!  I'm telling you, Sam is record-breaking darling!  Plumpalicious.  Love. him. so. much.

Was that gush too much?  Please, just indulge a mother of 9.  I'll stop. (for now)

We are back at it with school.  Yikes!  Lots of work cut out for us from here on out!  Galadriel and Aragorn are almost through their vision therapy (more on that in another post).  Galadriel has shown awesome improvement in school, and now we are hitting Spelling hard.  Aragorn is doing a "writing workshop" with me, in which I also got him started on keyboarding skills.   I discovered "typing club.com" and I really like the old-fashioned way it teaches to type (i.e. no games, simple lay-out).  I've got my first 4 using it now.

I am doing speech therapy with Legolas, who (unlike Gimli) is able to form all of the sounds, but out of habit speaks incorrectly.  Did you know you can google "how to teach [whatever letter] sound" and you can find instructions?  I tried it with Gimli and wasn't able to help him (we went to therapy for about 6 months a few years ago so he could "get" his /r/s and /s/s.)  With Legolas, he's able to make all of the sounds, so I have to be consistent about practicing and reminding him throughout the day in order to help him make those sounds the way he speaks.  I hope that made sense.  Anyway, the chart on-line that I found gives kids until they are 8 years old to be able to make the sounds on their own, so Legolas, still 4, is at least on a good path for now.

Always something with kids, isn't it?!

Rosie just finished her first "Wreath" in Little Flowers.  My sister hosted a very small group and Rosie absolutely loved it!!  Unlike Arwen and the older boys, Rosie wasn't raised with weekly playdates and celebrations, so this was very special for her.   If I can get my act together, I want to do Blue Knights and Little Flowers this semester...I just have to order some books and go ahead and schedule it with a few friends!  Sounds easy, doesn't it?  I've been meaning to do this since Fall! (hello baby #9).

Guess that's it!

We have 8 (yes, 8) basketball games this weekend.  My sister has a baptism up in MN, which I am sadly unable to make (sob) of her sweet little baby GIRL!  And while I'm talking about sisters and babies, say a prayer that my sister who is expecting TWINS can get Baby A to FLIP!!!  Because right now the baby's breech and she's looking at a c-section.

Ok, my time's up.  Fun to be back:).

Caroling

My neighbor is a cantor at our church and has a beautiful voice.  Our daughters are in choir together.  This year she invited our family to join hers in a night of caroling in our neighborhood.

I didn't give my boys or my husband the option of staying home.  A-caroling we would go!

There was a group of about 20 of us, just three families; as usual, we made up more than half of the group.  It was dark, which helped with those of us who might have been a little timid to show our faces as we sang for neighbors.  Eowyn had a jingle bell shaker.  Sam fell asleep in our jogger stroller, all bundled up in his fuzzy bear bunting.

"Angels we have heard on high!"  We sang out.   I tried to follow the key set by my lovely-voiced friend.  "Tell what may the tidings be, which inspire this heavenly song?"

Suddenly I found myself caught up in the words that I was singing, verse after verse of each song.

"Come to Bethlehem and see Him whose birth the angels sing; Come adore on bended knee, Christ the Lord the newborn King."

I was loudly shouting, singing, to help lead my children in doing the same, to make our group's efforts sound robust...but also, finding myself very moved indeed by this strange evangelization.  I was belting out into the cold night air, to my neighbors and to anyone who might hear, to "adore on bended knee, Christ the Lord!"  Commanding, really, but more inviting to join "all ye faithful."

"O Come let us adore Him"

The gospel was preached over and again as we made our way through the ice and snow, singing for our neighbors.

"Noel, noel, Born is the King of Israel"

We came home freezing and hungry, but my heart was full and warm.  I felt a little like those angels, I think, announcing "Christmas" to the shepherds on the night Jesus was born.  I hadn't expected the night to turn out that way.  I was moved by the kindness and warmth with which we were received--with cookies and requests to sing another song for the 95-year-old grandmother who made her way slowly to the door.  I hope and pray that those warm hearts receiving us with joy and gratitude is a reflection of how our  Lord is received in their hearts on Christmas day.

"Gloria in excess Deo".