Field Trip to the Zoo

It is FREEZING (actually colder than freezing) here in Minnesota. And my kiddos are driving me crazy with their pent up energy. It was time for a field trip -- somewhere with lots of room to move. So, after Mass and Science Friday with Papa, we picked up Subway and went to the Minnesota Zoo yesterday.

This was The Baby's first trip to the zoo (that she was awake and alert for) and, after the initial shock, she seemed to really like the aquaria (thanks for the Latin grammar review, Father B!), both the one in the tropics area ...

... and, especially, the dolphin tank.

My older kids love the Ocean Trail and spent quite a bit of time trying to touch the sharks and rays.

By far the coolest thing we saw was a new animal to the Minnesota Zoo -- the leafy sea-dragon.

Thanks, Papa, for joining us for a fun afternoon at the zoo. (Seriously, this is the best picture I could get of these five at the end of the day! Mission accomplished.)

On the Move

Mom has been dreading this stage since we moved into this house before I was born. Why? I'm not sure. I think it's great.

She says the house isn't really baby-proof, whatever that means. She complains there's not a lick of carpet anywhere -- what's carpet? I do know that it hurts when I lose my balance and bump myself on the floor. And it's really easy to find every little thing I can to test in my mouth. For some reason this freaks Mom out and she's constantly putting her finger in my mouth to see what I'm testing -- I don't particularly enjoy this. There are no doors at the top or bottom of the stairs, so now Mom's complaining about climbing over a gate that she uses to make sure I don't fall down these, although I'm very interested to see what stairs are about. I also hear her complaining about the old baseboard heaters in every room -- I guess I haven't gotten close enough to those yet.

Right around Christmas, I finally figured out how to move this body of mine wherever I want it to go. I especially like to help out in the kitchen around dinnertime -- Mom is especially busy then and she's fun to watch.

Can I get that drawer for you, Mom?

Are we broiling anything tonight?

Let me help you unload those pretty Christmas dishes.

Mom seems to want me to play with the magnets on the fridge. I put a few on the floor, but that doesn't seem very helpful. I can't understand why every time I want to get the cookbooks out for her, this stupid stool is in the way. Well, I guess I'll just help unwrap these ramen noodles instead.

I'm so proud of the big girl I'm getting to be. Soon I'll be helping my Older Sisters.

If Mom will stop putting me in this cage just when I'm being most helpful!

Ten Whole Hours!!!

Those cute pictures I posted before I went to bed last night ... The Baby slept for ten. whole. hours. in a row!!!

And she was all smiles when she woke up.


And that means that Mommy slept for eight whole hours in a row!!! And that means I'm feeling pretty good this morning.

And there's a new dusting of pretty white snow on the ground.

And it's almost the weekend.

And school's gone pretty well this week.

Life is good.

Enjoy the little things.

My soul, give thanks to the Lord,
all my being, bless his holy name.
My soul, give thanks to the Lord
and never forget all his blessings.
(from Psalm 103)

Wordless Wednesday - My Blanket Clutcher

My Daybook - January 4, 2010

For Today... Monday, January 4, 2010

Outside my window... it's FREEZING -- it's supposed to get around ten below zero tonight, not including the wind chill factor. I don't really like it when it's THIS cold because the kids can't get outside for very long in the afternoon for recess, which means they have extra ants in their pants, which means I'm going crazy by three o'clock. Man, I miss my large finished basement!

I am thinking... about what 2010 has in store for our family. It will likely include a difficult move away from friends and family and familiarity. We're still praying for the miracle it appears it will take for us to stay where we are. I am also praying that I can be open to whatever the Lord has in mind for us next.

I am thankful for... a return to routine after weeks of Advent and Christmas activities.

From the school room... Today was the first day back to school -- enough said.

From the kitchen... The refrigerator is still pretty full of holiday leftovers, so we worked on making room for new stuff today. Last night we had our friend Father B over for dinner. I made the Corsican Beef Stew he spied in my Italian Cooking Encyclopedia on one of his recent visits. It was scrumptious -- perfect for a cold, wintery night.

I am wearing... black warm-up pants, a T-Shirt that reads "I'd Rather be in Italy" (wouldn't I!?!), and a gray hooded fleece.

I am creating ... plans for the rest of the school year.

I am going... to go pick up The Older Girl from dance. And then I am going to catch up on some work while I wait for my DH to get home from an Evening of Recollection.

I am reading... work-related stuff. always.

I am hoping... I get a good night sleep tonight. I need to catch up after a weekend of partying too late.

I am hearing... The Boy race upstairs to brush his teeth "in a timely fashion" so that he can look at books while I go get his sister instead of going right to bed.

Around the house... one more week to enjoy the Christmas decorations.

One of my favorite things... surprises. Bishop Sirba was in town last night and stopped by to say hello.


A few plans for the rest of the week: Get back into the school routine. Catch up on work stuff. Stay warm.

A picture-thought I am sharing: Father B is worse than an uncle! (Or better according to the kids!) I was ready to throw him out in the backyard in the snow with my super-wound (thanks to him) kids last night.


For more daybooks, visit here.

Christmas Recap

The Advent tree was transformed on Christmas Eve morning.


The table was set for Christmas dinner.


The snow began to fall.

We ventured to my parents' for clam chowder and Christmas Eve festivities, but returned home about ten o'clock to get ready for Midnight Mass. I wish I had pictures of our eleven o'clock trek to church for carols and Midnight Mass. There was so much snow on the un-plowed roads, and so many car owners digging themselves out, we decided to take sleds to church instead of the van. It will be a Christmas memory I will never forget -- trudging through the heavily falling snow, singing carols (and yelling at the kids to not get too snowy and wait until after Mass to play and climb the mounds).

We made it home about two in the morning and the kids quickly opened their traditional after Midnight Mass gift (new pajamas) and devoured a piece of angel candy (another after Midnight Mass tradition), before heading to bed so Santa could come.

When I was little, Christmas morning always involved a certain routine. The three oldest of the four children in our family slept upstairs, while my parents and my youngest brother had their rooms on the first floor. We were never allowed to come downstairs on Christmas morning until everyone was awake and ready to go. We would sit at the top of the stairs and wait for my parents to "make sure Santa had come." They would get the camera ready and their coffee. We would sit at the top of the stairs and wait. And wait. And wait. It probably didn't really take more than a few minutes, but the anticipation used to kill us.

And now I do the same thing to my children. I make them wait. Just a little bit longer. I get the camera ready. My DH gets the coffee. And when all is ready, we snap a photo of those waiting in anticipation at the top of the steps.

And, yes, Santa came. And he ate his favorite cookies. And he spilled his milk. And he took some carrots for the reindeer. And he left a thank-you note.

And the stockings were full...

... except for The Baby's (I haven't had time to make hers yet, and the company stopped making the jumbo size that my other three have!). But she had a nice big basket instead.

The Girls were very excited to get a pile of horse stuff -- books, a DVD, a puzzle, Horse-Lovers Monopoly, and, best of all, riding boots for camp this summer.

The Boy was pretty excited to add another instrument to his collection.

My first time hosting Christmas dinner went very well -- I was too busy to snap pictures though. We had pomegranate martinis, spinach-stuffed mushrooms, and rumaki for appetizers, and marinated tri-tip steak, mashed potato casserole, roasted asparagus, and pomegranate salad with honey balsamic vinaigrette for dinner. Our pastor stopped by later for coffee and cookies.

We are still enjoying leftovers, and cookies, and a few more holiday parties.

We celebrate the twelve days of Christmas by giving our children one gift each day -- as the number of children increases, so does the number of "family" gifts -- in addition to their new jammies, they have each received a new ornament for the tree (another tradition) and a magazine subscription. Family gifts have included ColorKu (I'm getting addicted to this), Pattern Play and Magnetic Mosaics (my kids love this kind of stuff and will play with it for hours), a GPS and geocaching handbook for fun at the State Parks this summer, and an oil lamp ("like Mary and Laura [Ingalls] had").

Four days to go -- Merry Christmas!

Prayer for a Blessing on the New Year

O sacred and adorable Trinity, hear our prayers on behalf of our holy Father the Pope, our Bishops, our clergy, and for all that are in authority over us. Bless, we beseech Thee, during the coming year, the whole Catholic Church; convert heretics and unbelievers; soften the hearts of sinners so that they may return to Thy friendship; give prosperity to our country and peace among the nations of the world; pour down Thy blessings upon our friends, relatives, and acquaintances, and upon our enemies, if we have any; assist the poor and the sick; have pity on the souls of those whom this year has taken from us; and do Thou be merciful to those who during the coming year will be summoned before Thy judgment seat. May all our actions be preceded by Thy inspirations and carried on by Thy assistance, so that all our prayers and works, having been begun in Thee, may likewise be ended through Thee. Amen.