Advent-- I am never prepared! All I can think about it the turkey and getting thanksgiving organized and then BOOM- it's the first Sunday of Advent and here I without my advent candles or handy Magnifact.
I'm so thankful for the organized Church year that recognizes we as humans need a routine, time to reflect and time to prepare. I have not quite been on the ball last Sunday but I have the rest of this week to root through the Christmas stuff to find the Advent Calendar. It's a work in progress =)
Meanwhile it was great to have my big kids back from their trip. The little and big ones genuinely missed each other! It's great to see that their sibling relationships are so loving. We put together their playmobil advent calendars and we went over some math, matching, general talking about advent etc. It was really great to have them all around the table!
I had to dig up one of my favorite versions of the
Magnificat by Fr. Stan
Click HERE
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Election
We live in a land that is truly amazing and blessed. Historically it is really great gift to have a non-violent change of administration and that is something that just shouldn't be taken for granted!
Our family was very disappointed with our choices for canidates. It's amazing that so many of us say we are Christians, yet we cannot demand candidates that share our worldview.
But I think that hits on the heart of the issue. We have no collective worldview.
What protestantism brought us was a fractured and broken form of Christianity. It's like a smashed mirror where bits and pieces of traditional Christianity (Catholicism) cannot be made out clearly so each individual is making up his own version. How can we be a light to the world when we have no unity? For anyone who really wonders about Christianity how can they find the "real" deal?
This is the tragedy of our separated brothers and sisters in Christ and the legacy of confusion.
It's so foreign to us that someone could consider the issue and not vote pro-life. Somehow you MUST have a way to prioritize issues that matter to you and given the promises Obama made to expand abortion I just cannot fathom how the choice was justified. But the time to argue against his election is past. He IS our president and now we must continue our work and we must push our friends who voted for him to work along side of us. Don't let them forget what is at stake. We can still pray and have HOPE that Obama will listen to those who disagree with him. If he truly hears our sound arguments how can he fail to hear the cries of the unborn.
We must also work for the conversion of souls. Not JUST our president and the administration but we need to be ministering to everyone we know and love, especially Catholics who have not been properly catechized. Many people are coming into the Church in today's world as they realize the protestant churches they have grown in are no longer adhering to the teachings of Jesus and the Apostles. They also are clearly hearing Jesus' call for UNITY-- that they may be ONE. A true beacon to the world...
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Tuesday
The little kids missed co-op last week due to serious colds. Poor Nate had an ear infection to boot and was just miserable.
I finished up Molly's costume for Halloween and I have one last thing to do for Alexander's.
On Saturday we had some wonderful guests. It's always amazing to hear people's conversion stories and I am especially struck by how many people come into the Church in part because of the Church's stance on contraception. You would that that due to mass secular acceptance of contraception that the issue would be more of an impediment. I think as protestant churches continue their downward spiral it becomes more and more clear that the Catholic Church is indeed the Church of Jesus Christ.
On Monday we went to a Palin rally with my mom and a family friend. It was such an adventure! We parked blocks away and there was a lot of debate on what to take and what not to take. The newspaper had reported that you couldn't have bottles and snacks. I had received an email saying they weren't allowing strollers. In the end we decided to take the stroller and food and if we couldn't get in we would just stay outside the gates. We were in line from 10 something until almost noon. I can't imagine not having snacks and drinks for the kids! We would have really been miserable. As we went through security I was chastised for having the snacks but they let me through anyway. My mom bought buttons to share with the kids.
Xander has been really excited about what is going on with the election. He seems really confident that McCain will win because he sees so many stickers on cars, signs along the road and he notices the advertising. I have no idea why he has selectively not been able to 'see' the Obama signs. Interesting!
Molly wanted the DRILL BABY DRILL button but I used my mommy persuasion to get her to pick the "it's a girl" with a pink elephant. Obviously we can save this one for future elections! --but she kept chanting DRILL BABY DRILL all day long. It was pretty funny. When Sarah Palin started talking Molly became very excited and declared, "Hey! that's the lady on all the buttons!"
It really wasn't supposed to be so cold... but when I started feeling a few raindrops I made the decision to run for it. We only stayed for a bit of Palin's speech and then started high tailing it back to the van. We were just a few blocks away when it started to rain more steadily and we managed to actually get inside the car before it really started coming down!
To keep the kids motivated on the fast walk back to the van I had been promising we could go to the krispy cream and try to get hot donuts. I had no idea that Nathan would be the one who liked donuts so much! Even Max ate his donut and he usually only eats the sprinkles.
I finished up Molly's costume for Halloween and I have one last thing to do for Alexander's.
On Saturday we had some wonderful guests. It's always amazing to hear people's conversion stories and I am especially struck by how many people come into the Church in part because of the Church's stance on contraception. You would that that due to mass secular acceptance of contraception that the issue would be more of an impediment. I think as protestant churches continue their downward spiral it becomes more and more clear that the Catholic Church is indeed the Church of Jesus Christ.
On Monday we went to a Palin rally with my mom and a family friend. It was such an adventure! We parked blocks away and there was a lot of debate on what to take and what not to take. The newspaper had reported that you couldn't have bottles and snacks. I had received an email saying they weren't allowing strollers. In the end we decided to take the stroller and food and if we couldn't get in we would just stay outside the gates. We were in line from 10 something until almost noon. I can't imagine not having snacks and drinks for the kids! We would have really been miserable. As we went through security I was chastised for having the snacks but they let me through anyway. My mom bought buttons to share with the kids.
Xander has been really excited about what is going on with the election. He seems really confident that McCain will win because he sees so many stickers on cars, signs along the road and he notices the advertising. I have no idea why he has selectively not been able to 'see' the Obama signs. Interesting!
Molly wanted the DRILL BABY DRILL button but I used my mommy persuasion to get her to pick the "it's a girl" with a pink elephant. Obviously we can save this one for future elections! --but she kept chanting DRILL BABY DRILL all day long. It was pretty funny. When Sarah Palin started talking Molly became very excited and declared, "Hey! that's the lady on all the buttons!"
It really wasn't supposed to be so cold... but when I started feeling a few raindrops I made the decision to run for it. We only stayed for a bit of Palin's speech and then started high tailing it back to the van. We were just a few blocks away when it started to rain more steadily and we managed to actually get inside the car before it really started coming down!
To keep the kids motivated on the fast walk back to the van I had been promising we could go to the krispy cream and try to get hot donuts. I had no idea that Nathan would be the one who liked donuts so much! Even Max ate his donut and he usually only eats the sprinkles.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Diapers
I've gone back to cloth diapering. I'm thinking it might help Max want to potty train. Several people have asked me what I ordered so here is my info!
I have a big aversion to aplix/velcro. It always seems that the velcro leaves scratches on the little legs or tummy. In the past I was using snug-to-fit Snap-to-fit fitted diapers which I loved, but they don't make these anymore!
I don't have a problem using prefolds and a snappi under a cover and I already had prefolds so I ordered a few covers. I got a variety of Bummis snap wrap, litewrap and I also just use some gerber plastic pants that I had gotten on clearance for $2.99 (for a pack of 8!)
I also got some all in ones to try. I've never had any of these but they are really super easy.. I found a pack of 5 kushies all in ones on www.kidssurplus.com and I also bought some SposoEasy snap diapers from www.greenmountaindiapers.com . The only worry I have in all of these is the fit on my boys. They don't have the chubbiest legs and I think there is the potential for some wetness to wick out into pants.
I've also broken out the babylegs for max so he can wear a diaper and legwarmers around the house.
I have a big aversion to aplix/velcro. It always seems that the velcro leaves scratches on the little legs or tummy. In the past I was using snug-to-fit Snap-to-fit fitted diapers which I loved, but they don't make these anymore!
I don't have a problem using prefolds and a snappi under a cover and I already had prefolds so I ordered a few covers. I got a variety of Bummis snap wrap, litewrap and I also just use some gerber plastic pants that I had gotten on clearance for $2.99 (for a pack of 8!)
I also got some all in ones to try. I've never had any of these but they are really super easy.. I found a pack of 5 kushies all in ones on www.kidssurplus.com and I also bought some SposoEasy snap diapers from www.greenmountaindiapers.com . The only worry I have in all of these is the fit on my boys. They don't have the chubbiest legs and I think there is the potential for some wetness to wick out into pants.
I've also broken out the babylegs for max so he can wear a diaper and legwarmers around the house.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Our Pumpkin Hunt
Ok, so everyone else had the same idea to go to a pumpkin patch on monday. It was a little too crowded to accomplish a really great family portrait! Better luck next time. Actually, I am thinking I should have enlisted some of the other moms to be assistants for me and then taken their pictures in return =)
Nate loved seeing all the "puppies". I think I may take the kids back to do the swings and hay barn in the next couple weeks. Molly had a rough time finding a pumpkin because she wanted TWO pumpkins and being told she could only pick out one had a crippling effect on her scouting abilities.
Nate loved seeing all the "puppies". I think I may take the kids back to do the swings and hay barn in the next couple weeks. Molly had a rough time finding a pumpkin because she wanted TWO pumpkins and being told she could only pick out one had a crippling effect on her scouting abilities.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Another Ordinary Week =)
Let's see.. This week we were really busy. More soccer, Xander was reviewing some vocab words and continues to practice those math facts. Molly is able to read quite a few words but insists she is not reading =) I guess we will have to call it something else!
I had a lot going on with a big charity event, pulling card sets together and then several email inquiries. It's amazing how they all come in and hit you at once sometimes! The big event was great and it's just really so uplifting to be around a group of like minded positive people!
On to the pictures..
It was a beautiful week and we managed to spend a lot of time outside. On Thursday we even took some of our school work with us to the park. Nate decided he would wear his little baby rosary around and I just thought he was wielding it as though he was rambo and the rosary was slung across him like his little ammo clip.
I also managed to get the kids bathed this week ;)
and I finished Molly's dress! She was soo happy about the pockets I added!
and I managed to find the perfect costumes for the kids. Here Molly is wearing Nate's and it will really simplify things if she also wants to be a penguin rather than sailor moon. Max can be a bit grouchy over things and Halloween costumes ...well there was no even getting him to talk or look at any. He does love penguins so when I saw these on clearance I thought it was worth a shot and he loves it! He's already asked to wear it twice and it stayed on until bedtime!
oh and finally this one..
One afternoon Molly walked in from outside with Max following right behind her. "Mommy I picked you this pretty flower!" and not missing a beat Max chimes in "and Mommy I picked you this piece of small grass!"
It doesn't get more lovely =)
I had a lot going on with a big charity event, pulling card sets together and then several email inquiries. It's amazing how they all come in and hit you at once sometimes! The big event was great and it's just really so uplifting to be around a group of like minded positive people!
On to the pictures..
It was a beautiful week and we managed to spend a lot of time outside. On Thursday we even took some of our school work with us to the park. Nate decided he would wear his little baby rosary around and I just thought he was wielding it as though he was rambo and the rosary was slung across him like his little ammo clip.
I also managed to get the kids bathed this week ;)
and I finished Molly's dress! She was soo happy about the pockets I added!
and I managed to find the perfect costumes for the kids. Here Molly is wearing Nate's and it will really simplify things if she also wants to be a penguin rather than sailor moon. Max can be a bit grouchy over things and Halloween costumes ...well there was no even getting him to talk or look at any. He does love penguins so when I saw these on clearance I thought it was worth a shot and he loves it! He's already asked to wear it twice and it stayed on until bedtime!
oh and finally this one..
One afternoon Molly walked in from outside with Max following right behind her. "Mommy I picked you this pretty flower!" and not missing a beat Max chimes in "and Mommy I picked you this piece of small grass!"
It doesn't get more lovely =)
Friday, October 3, 2008
This Week
This week we finished our first quarter of school! Proof that we are making progress. I want to find some samples of Xander's handwriting in particular to post so you can really see the improvement there.
Here are a few pictures from this week:
On Friday Xander did more exciting things with circuits and added double didgets. Molly got to go on a field trip to the Church where they got holy water. This afternoon while the kids were playing we overheard a serious discussion between Molly and a 4 year old neighbor. Molly was showing her the holy water and then we could hear, "Now repeat after me!...In the name of the Father......" !
Here are a few pictures from this week:
On Friday Xander did more exciting things with circuits and added double didgets. Molly got to go on a field trip to the Church where they got holy water. This afternoon while the kids were playing we overheard a serious discussion between Molly and a 4 year old neighbor. Molly was showing her the holy water and then we could hear, "Now repeat after me!...In the name of the Father......" !
Monday, September 29, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
National Book Festival in DC
whoa.. whole lotta walkin' involved in this one.
Thankfully, I had some amazing mother's helpers that came with me. Such a great idea and huge kudos to the husband to suggesting that! He is brilliant!
So, we made our way into DC via metro and stopped at the Sackler for our usual bathroom breaks. We checked out the Seascapes Exhibit which became a source of inspiration for me later when we took some pictures on the mall as we were leaving. Dwight Tryon inspired sky:
We really only did the PBS tent with the kids, who are still really excited about the book making kits they received. Nate was terrified of the big plushies. So unlike Xander who laughed hysterically at the Philly's mascot.
We had a lonnng walk to where I wanted to eat lunch! In retrospect we really should have just eaten from the special event carts or gone over to the national gallery but we took a nice hike and I think we were all thankful to sit and have lunch! Surprisingly the kids did not eat all that much. I thought they would be famished but maybe it was too hot or maybe they managed to chow down on the snack I let them have at the sackler more than I realized. Highlights were Xander's jokes and Max cracking up over them. He kept laughing and calling himself a blue piece of paper. You really had to be there. After that late lunch we got to look around at the dinosaurs, birds and shells!
Dan had a good time doing all of his event things and I got to meet a couple of his friends which was very nice. I like to put faces to the names that float around!
It was a lot of fun but soo exhausting! Once again- thank goodness I had help!
oh and for future reference: everyone loves to ride the trains except for Nate.
Thankfully, I had some amazing mother's helpers that came with me. Such a great idea and huge kudos to the husband to suggesting that! He is brilliant!
So, we made our way into DC via metro and stopped at the Sackler for our usual bathroom breaks. We checked out the Seascapes Exhibit which became a source of inspiration for me later when we took some pictures on the mall as we were leaving. Dwight Tryon inspired sky:
We really only did the PBS tent with the kids, who are still really excited about the book making kits they received. Nate was terrified of the big plushies. So unlike Xander who laughed hysterically at the Philly's mascot.
We had a lonnng walk to where I wanted to eat lunch! In retrospect we really should have just eaten from the special event carts or gone over to the national gallery but we took a nice hike and I think we were all thankful to sit and have lunch! Surprisingly the kids did not eat all that much. I thought they would be famished but maybe it was too hot or maybe they managed to chow down on the snack I let them have at the sackler more than I realized. Highlights were Xander's jokes and Max cracking up over them. He kept laughing and calling himself a blue piece of paper. You really had to be there. After that late lunch we got to look around at the dinosaurs, birds and shells!
Dan had a good time doing all of his event things and I got to meet a couple of his friends which was very nice. I like to put faces to the names that float around!
It was a lot of fun but soo exhausting! Once again- thank goodness I had help!
oh and for future reference: everyone loves to ride the trains except for Nate.
Co-op Friday
It sounds like the kids had a really good time on friday. It was funny because it was raining and Molly was really excited about the prospect of not having to go to "gym". When I asked her why she replied, " I don't want to have to do all those push ups!"
Her class brought in musical instruments and learning about the procession into church at the beginning of mass.
Another funny from the week before was that she looked around at the parking lot as we were leaving and said, "Mommy when can we get a big car like everyone else?" --meaning one of the 15 passenger vans!
Daddy stayed home so Nate got a reprieve from his co-op experience. Max had brought his thomas trains with him and he really wanted to play with them the whole time. We did puzzles but they were very tricky-- even for the grownups!
Max did participate in coloring his big and little R and making his alligator puppet (in the photo below)
One of Xander's teacher's let me know that Xander worked out a great problem and they even used his work as an example for the other kids! Go Xander! With the addition of math blaster to the computer I hope he can just get his "math facts" down so he can move on to some more complex math =) I know he will love it! He seems very good with simple algebraic concepts.
Her class brought in musical instruments and learning about the procession into church at the beginning of mass.
Another funny from the week before was that she looked around at the parking lot as we were leaving and said, "Mommy when can we get a big car like everyone else?" --meaning one of the 15 passenger vans!
Daddy stayed home so Nate got a reprieve from his co-op experience. Max had brought his thomas trains with him and he really wanted to play with them the whole time. We did puzzles but they were very tricky-- even for the grownups!
Max did participate in coloring his big and little R and making his alligator puppet (in the photo below)
One of Xander's teacher's let me know that Xander worked out a great problem and they even used his work as an example for the other kids! Go Xander! With the addition of math blaster to the computer I hope he can just get his "math facts" down so he can move on to some more complex math =) I know he will love it! He seems very good with simple algebraic concepts.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Thursday
Today we observed the pre-storm and storm weather. I think we need a barometer!
We managed to get all the outside toys put away and then had a bit of a wait before the rain started. Molly's game was canceled but did some school, I installed math blaster for the kids (which Dan fixed when he got home!),we read some books
and I managed to get some documentation of Nate and his stinky toes.
One of the biggest accomplishments for this week will probably be locating the hard to find Pokemon Mac n Cheese. I bought every box they had!
We managed to get all the outside toys put away and then had a bit of a wait before the rain started. Molly's game was canceled but did some school, I installed math blaster for the kids (which Dan fixed when he got home!),we read some books
and I managed to get some documentation of Nate and his stinky toes.
One of the biggest accomplishments for this week will probably be locating the hard to find Pokemon Mac n Cheese. I bought every box they had!
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
G for Grocery
I was the victim of one of the worst bagging episodes to date. My chicken was put in with the bread, which was put in the bottom of the cart... I don't think they train people about proper bagging anymore. What makes it worse is that I actually go to a lot of trouble to "group" items on the belt that should all be put in one bag... so it should be as easy as bagging in order...but these baggers have their own ideas.
This is the way we mop the floor...
...mop the floor,mop the floor.
this is the way we mop the floor so early in the morning.
Probably one of the kids favorite chores. If you try this at home- use baby wash instead of floor cleaner.
this is the way we mop the floor so early in the morning.
Probably one of the kids favorite chores. If you try this at home- use baby wash instead of floor cleaner.
Molly's Team!
More fun playing with this new plug in I have for editing photos. I'll get a picture of Xander's team at his game this weekend!
First Day of School (Co-op)
Today was the 1st day of co-op. Max was a little hesitant at first but he warmed up and had a lot of fun..
Molly said she had a great day! She was very worried that they would give her chicken for snack so she was happy to just get a bagel pizza. The first thing she told me when I picked her up was "guess what? Snack was just a pizza and I said 'no thank you' and I didn't have to eat it!"
She was a little perturbed to hear Xander say that they gave him two puddings when he said no thank you to the pizza. ("heeeyy!!!" frown)
Xander was very impressed with the circuitry he got to do. They took a battery and made 'wires' from tin foil, added a light bulb, completed the circuit and boom!: light.
When we got home the kids played outside and Molly made this fantastic bouquet for the wedding being held on the deck outside.
St. William of York International Fall Festival
Our internet has not been very reliable so I am not getting things posted like I thought I would!
On Sunday we went to mass and then came back to check out the IFF event at church. It was soo hot. We went and hid out inside the activity center checking out the white elephant stuff to take a break from the heat. I seem to have missed out on getting pictures of a lot of our friends! Opps! I always mean to take pictures but take far fewer than I realize.
(again with the plug in but I thought this really works for fun family lifestyle stuff so..)
On Sunday we went to mass and then came back to check out the IFF event at church. It was soo hot. We went and hid out inside the activity center checking out the white elephant stuff to take a break from the heat. I seem to have missed out on getting pictures of a lot of our friends! Opps! I always mean to take pictures but take far fewer than I realize.
(again with the plug in but I thought this really works for fun family lifestyle stuff so..)
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