Lent - Week III

Since last Sunday …

... the kids enjoyed making snowmen, but sadly watched them rapidly melt away.


… we enjoyed reading Longfellow’s poem, Evangeline.

… I tried a new soup recipe -- a delicious ham and vegetable.

… I began reading Winnie the Pooh to The Baby.

… we made a sticky mess devouring some really sweet grapefruit.

… I took Miss Rose shopping for an Easter dress.

… my DH and I voted in the ND Republican primary (and our guy won).

… I hosted our monthly Little Flowers meeting. The girls studied piety and St. Cecelia. They made bracelets and ate fruit kebabs while they were learning the colors of the robe of piety (a la Father Lasance).


… I got lost trying to find the pool where phy ed swim classes are going to be held this month.

… The Baby got mad at me that she couldn’t swim with the big kids during phy ed.

… I went out with some other great moms for Brazilian barbecue for our monthly Mom’s Night Out.

... I tried a yummy new fruit.

… I left my family for thirty hours for a night at a hotel with a couple of girlfriends and a Saturday Lenten retreat.

... I laughed with my girlfriends.

… I cried at the retreat. a lot. It was good.

… we celebrated Miss Sunshine’s tenth birthday with Mass, an afternoon at the zoo, a wonderful dinner, chocolate peanut butter ice cream, and a couple rounds of Apples to Apples (Disney Edition).

... we loved the baby goats.


... The Baby got the hang of feeding the goats on her own.


… we gloried in a weekend of warm weather (almost 70 degrees!) and sunshine (ahhh, Vitamin D!).

… we welcomed Pip to our family.


Happy Lent! See you next week!

Lent - Week II

Since last Sunday ...


... my husband has been on spring break.

... we were forecast to get a foot of snow and looked forward excitedly to a blizzard.

... we got less than an inch of snow and were very disappointed. (I think I will encourage my children to pursue meteorology -- in what other profession does one get paid so much even when one is so wrong so often?)

... our homeschool phy ed class performed the Irish jigs and reels the girls and I taught them for their parents. And they did pretty well, if I do say so myself.

... we spent two nights at a local hotel -- swimming, playing cards, watching Little House on the Prairie, and relaxing together.

... my baby turned three!


... I missed a step and thought I broke a bone in my foot. It's still sore, but I'm not limping anymore -- I think it's just bruised.

... I appreciated my husband. a lot.

... I got a haircut.

... we attended Stations of the Cross at our parish.

... I got my menus done and groceries in the house for all meals through next Sunday.

... my DH and I watched Courageous -- good movie.

... we attended a pancake breakfast fundraiser for Saint Gianna's Maternity Home.

... we went to the zoo and the library and grilled pork chops.

I pray you are all having a blessed and fruitful Lent. Until next week ...

Lent - Week I

So, I meant to post something Tuesday, saying I wouldn't be around here much during Lent, but I never got around to it -- we were too busy celebrating Fat Tuesday with grilled hamburgers, french fries, vanilla malts, popcorn, and a movie (by the way, The Mighty Macs is a good one for the whole family).

Since it's Sunday, I thought I'd stop by for a minute and fill you in on our week (while Daddy and the three big kids are sledding). Next, I'll go check Facebook, too ... I've been going through withdrawal the last few days. It's good to be more intentional and focused on other things though.

(this year's Lent calendar)

This week ...

... we all attended Ash Wednesday Mass at the University where Daddy teaches -- all of us, that is, except Miss Rose, who was home sick (and very disappointed).

... we started counting our sacrifices and good deeds with dry beans.

... we prayed The Divine Mercy chaplet at three o'clock each day.

... the big girls and I taught our final homeschool rhythms class -- we have spent the last month teaching the phy ed class Irish jigs and reels.

... we got our first real snowfall of the winter (!) and were able to take an afternoon off to go sledding with friends.

... the kids and I attended Stations of the Cross with the students from our parish school.

... we made the decision to add another non-human member to our family. Stay tuned for more.

... we attended our first Lenten Friday fish fry of the season.

... we went to see a local production of Rumpelstiltskin. The Baby was not impressed and she and I spent the better part of the play in the hallway talking about monsters and playing school.

... we enjoyed dinner at the house of some friends.

Today we are celebrating Miss Rose's 11th birthday. Every birthday we celebrate causes me to wonder at how time flies. Today we are enjoying being together at home. It's snowing again. We had a big brunch together after Mass. We played cards. We'll have her favorite spaghetti and meatballs for dinner (which we've had every year since she could say "pasghetti"), followed by banana splits and maybe a movie. I'm so proud of the young lady she is becoming.

I pray you all have a blessed and fruitful Lent. See you next Sunday. Maybe.

Seven Quick Takes - Volume 16

Seven things I love about my husband ...

-- 1 --

He is a man of prayer.

I've always admired this about my husband --
no matter how busy he is, he is faithful and constant,
never forgetting what is most important.

(with The Baby having morning prayer time last winter)

-- 2 --

He loves to spend time with me.

My husband thinks a weekly date night is important.
And he doesn't want to share me with anyone else.

(last week before the symphony)

-- 3 --

He loves his kids.

He cherishes one-on-one time with each child
and tries to get it as often as he can.

(with Miss Rose last summer on vacation)

-- 4 --

He gets up at night with the kids.

Knowing I'm with the kids all day,
and knowing that a good night sleep for the teacher is
essential for the success of our school days,
he is the one to get up with sick kids and scared kids
and whatever else the night brings.

(with Miss Sunshine)

-- 5 --

He cleans toilets and showers, among other things.

And he makes a killer weekend brunch.

(makin' bacon on vacation)

-- 6 --

He is a source of strength.

When I am anxious or overwhelmed, he holds my hand and prays with me.

(swinging The Boy on an early spring walk)

-- 7 --

He works hard.

At whatever he does.

Yet strives for balance.


Happy birthday, Sweetie!

I love you!

And I love that you chose to spend your life with me and the kids!

Wordless Wednesday - Take a Guess

Seven Quick Takes - Volume 15

-- 1 --

The Quick Takes

I had to go back quite a ways to see what volume of Quick Takes this was -- I haven't done one in quite a while, July to be specific. I thought I would use the opportunity to catch you up on some things that have happened around here while I was on my (unintentional) blogging break.

-- 2 --

The Job

I'm in the process of transitioning from a full-time salaried worker to working on a contract basis. This will be the first time in twelve years that I will be free -- free from having to work a certain number of hours or having to do a certain amount of work each week.

I am very much looking forward to it and to the changes that it will (hopefully) enable our family to make.

As an aside, I don't recommend working full-time and homeschooling.

-- 3 --

The Arm

August 27
The Boy falls off his scooter going down the hill in front of our house.
Mom does all the "checks" and determines his arm is not broken.

September 2
Mom finally brings The Boy to the doctor,
where it is determined his arm is, in fact, broken.
(Doctor consoles Mom saying it is a minor break
and he couldn't tell until it was x-rayed either.)
Arm is splinted.

September 6
The first of many trips to The Bone and Joint Center --
Specialist #1 agrees a splint is sufficient.

September 27
Specialist #1 determines split can come off, except for gym class and rough play.

October 7
The Boy slips WALKING (really!) down the cursed hill in front of our house.
Mom KNOWS the arm is broken without any "checks."
Doctor confirms and splints.

October 11
Specialist #2 determines The Boy needs surgery.
Apparently, this is not a minor break this time --
Mom can see that clearly from the x-ray.

October 12
The Boy undergoes a forearm reduction.
Anesthesia and The Boy do not get along for most of the day.

October 18 - November 16
Many more visits to The Bone and Joint Center for x-rays --
The Boy accumulates an expensive impressive sticker collection.

November 16
The cast comes off.
The Boy gets an expensive custom-fit camouflage splint.


November 16 - December 15
The Boy goes to occupational therapy.

Today - January 27 (exactly five months after first fall)
We visit The Bone and Joint Center for the last time
(at least for this injury).

-- 4 --

The Piano

We acquired a piano in October, only having to pay for moving and tuning costs. Miss Sunshine is going to begin taking lessons, as soon as I have a minute to figure out the who and when.

-- 5 --

The Baby's Latest Trick

I love this -- every time I put her in her Vikings outfit, she puts her arms in the air and yells, "Touch-up!" ...


... and then she lowers them and yells, "Touch-down!"

-- 6 --

The Cookies

Yesterday, as I was busy working, working, working on the aforementioned goal (see #1), the cookie jar was magically filled with homemade oatmeal raisin cookies (my favorite), without any intervention on my part, thanks to Miss Rose. (I love big kids!)

-- 7 --

The Date Night

It's Friday. I get to spend the evening with the man I love. Need I say more?

Have a great weekend.
And go check out more Quick Takes at Jen's.

Wednesday Wisdom

Perform faithfully what God requires of you each moment,
and leave the thought of everything else to Him.
I assure you that to live in this way will bring you great peace.
(St. Jane Frances de Chantal)

I long to give you everything, O God,
and yet I am weak and fickle like a child.
Hold me and remind me, moment by moment,
that You are with me and that I can do all things through You.
(Danielle Bean and Elizabeth Foss, Small Steps for Catholic Moms)