Merry Christmas 2013

A visit to the stable on Christmas Eve

Just what I always wanted!

Underwear!?!?

Daddy, help me!

Tie shoes!!!!!!!!!!

Cutest Christmas Baby!

What is it?!?!

Merry Christmas from Environs!

Happy Fourth of July

Father of all great nations and ages, we recall the day when our country claimed its place among the family of nations; for what we have achieved we give you thanks,  for the work that still remains we ask your help, and as you have called us from many peoples to be one nation, grant that, under your providence,  our country may share your blessings with all the peoples of the earth. (The Collect from Independence Day Mass)  AMEN!

The Boy with the Loaves and Fishes

From my prayer reflection today -
Every person is valued and has some gift, no matter how small, that can feed the hungers of the human family.
Monsignor Gregory E.S. Malovetz

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

Take me out to the ball game
Take me out in the rain
Allergic to peanuts and Cracker Jacks
I don't care if we never get back
Cause its root root for the Brewers
When they lose it's a shame!
For its one, two, three strikes
We're out
At the ol' ball game!

At Home Journal vol. 8 Sapping Season

Outside my window : cold but sunny sapping weather
Clothing myself in: jeans, sweater, mud boots and wool socks
The baby: is nursing and growing like crazy...up to 17 lbs. now! Still a honey. Rolled over last week!
The kiddos : have been able to get outside a bit.   This has improved relations immensely!  Since posting last time that bedtime had improved...we've reverted.  Ugh!  A few late nights will do it I suppose. 
Around the house :  we're all things maple ... books from our shelves and the libraries, boiled our 15 gallons of sap with the neighbors' this weekend. We're hoping for a quart or two of our own when its all done.  I gave a 'field trip' to 17 kids (homeschooling or home from school ) and parents this morning of our small sugaring operation.   It was fun and went well. 
In the kitchen : HAM and the various leftovers it can be used in...I'm thinking potatoes and ham, pea soup, sandwiches ...hmmm what else?
Bring me joy: maple syrup, Easter alleluia!  Visitors coming. And a big birthday surprise!
Thinking about : Living Easter joy the next 50 plus days, keeping things simple and tidied...
Pictures : Boiling sap as a family!  Fun!

FYI: Posted this all from the phone ...not the neatest but not horrible to type with babe in arms.

Happy Easter 2013

 

Jesus Christ is risen today!  Alleluia!  O triumphant holy day!  Alleluia!

 

Happy Easter!

Holy Thursday

Lord, I want to be your disciple.
Help me to show greater discipline
in seeking what is truly important
and not the trivial.
I know I have denied you
countless times.
Please help me to always return to the cross,
to the Eucharist,
to You.

At Home Journal vol. 7

Outside my window:  Cloudy.  We got a dusting of snow this weekend but the lawn is showing 80% I'd bet.  Kate and I have been noticing lots of robins and I'm hoping one will nest on the ledge by our front door again this year (I cleared it off for them!!).  Our neighbor tapped one of our maple trees last weekend.  The weather hasn't cooperated for the sap to run much yet but we've got 1/3 of the 5 gal. bucket full.  Hope to have more next week as I plan on having a group come check it out!  Field trip to the Snyders!

Around the house:  We're gearing up for some spring cleaning all to be completed before Triduum.  Wish the bug had bit sooner in Lent.  It has been needing to be done.  And now I've got some motivation as Easter and Kate's birthday approach.  It will be nice to have done for hosting company! 

The baby:  He's the sweetest thing.  Pretty much growing cuter by the day and so interactive!  I need to take more pictures of him. He just woke up so we'll see if I can get this finished in one sitting!

The kiddos:  The girls have been really into crafting lately.  Mostly coloring and cutting, pasting if I'll let them, play-doh, markers, stickers and so on.  Kate has been going through this "I don't like any food you feed me" phase.  I hope it's a phase!  Ugh!  And she's been whiny!  I could do without the baby talk.  On the plus, she's all about turning 5 and all the rights and responsibilities that come with it!  Can you believe she'll be 5 soon?  I can't.  Julia still is struggling to master #2 on the toilet.  Ugh, those diapers are the worst.  I've been trying not to obsess over or over think it.  She is nearing the whiny threes and has picked up a few 'lessons' from her big sister, much to my chagrin.  Oh, and I must mention the singing!  Everything can be a song or spoken in "Mother Goose" tongue.  Kurt is VERY amused and eventually annoyed by this.  She gets it from me.  Bedtimes are improving all around.

Bringing me joy: Getting rid of stuff.  This is difficult for me.  As is organizing.  But when I buckle down and do it I find it so satisfying.  Now if only it wouldn't be such a messy process and my kids wouldn't interrupt the action. Hehe!  Some days and weekends filling up in the future- a concert for Katie's birthday gift, family visiting to celebrate, a Brewers game and weekend in Milwaukee, a trip to Green Bay, a family reunion, swimming lessons, the 4th of July etc.  I know, summer seems far off but I'm still excited.

Thinking about:  The disaster that was me at Mass this weekend and how I can prevent  that from happening again.  How the roots of the word Eucharist - Thanksgiving - and the root of the word thank - think.  So when I think of something...I am in a sense thankful for something.  And how do I pray with that in mind.  Holy Week and what's got to get done.

Reading: Just finished Son, the last book in The Giver quartet.  Got a few others I'm looking forward to from the library...we'll see. 

Pictures to share:  These are from last year at this time.  The chicks come soon!  Happy Easter! We're looking forward to their arrival.  On another note-- Interested in chicken?  Place your orders now!

Katie said that when she turns 5 she might hold one! 

Home Journal vol. 6

3-13-13
Outside my window: Sunny, nearly snowless, though I thought I caught on the news last night that it was a bit nippy. I haven't ventured outside my home since Saturday so I really couldn't tell you but I wouldn't mind finding out! Seems springy-er. Its amazing what a few hours north will get you though, my dad was busy plowing 9 inches of snow this Monday!

Clothing myself in: Smart-wools, Brown boots, dark blue jeans, gray top and tank (the top is maternity but still fits nice) I had on a sweater but was sweating and the finishing touch-- one of the girls just gave me a Hello Kitty sticker.

Around the house: We're recouping from having a really sick kid so though I've been trying to keep a handle on things there is a pile of unfolded laundry waiting me in the living room and some folded clothes to put away in a basket hiding in our bedroom. I think I just finished washing the last of the sheets and blankets. I've got the crock-pot on supper duty. I'll just boil up some noodles before Kurt get homes and throw a veggie in the microwave. Presto! The girls are progressively messing now that Julia is feeling better and Katie has a playmate again.

The baby: Has been as usual wonderful! He's continuing to be cheerful, easy going and such a love. I think he gets that from his dad. I was/am a bit concerned that he'd catch our in house bug but am putting hope in my antibodies and that yummy mommy milk. In the wee hours of last night I woke up panicked after he'd spit up that he was going to start throwing up. Kurt calmly reminded me that it could have been the Hoisen sauce I had with my chicken last night. I think he was right- note, lay off the Hoisen (but oh was it tasty!).

He hasn't hit any milestones of note but he turns 4 mos. this week. I still haven't got any stats on the boy but we'll finally be heading to a well child check-up next week. Barring another flu outbreak.

The kiddos: As aforementioned, Julia caught some sort of stomach bug which started with throwing up on the kitchen floor on Saturday and proceeded to escalate to throwing up quite frequently (every 20-30 min.) into the wee hours of night. God bless Kurt for taking the late hours so the baby and I could sleep. It continued on into Sunday with a high fever that hung around till Monday. Yesterday the fever went down some and we attempted to get her to start eating again (which has proven difficult). Today she's ornery and very vocal...a good sign, no fever and she hasn't thrown up in 48 hrs. Katie has been missing her sister A LOT! She's been pesky and antsy. I am glad to know how much she really enjoys her days playing with JuJu. I can't quite imagine the transition to Kindergarten when Julia will miss her undoubtedly more! She is definitely showing more signs of readiness for more learning. Her current habit is copying words/letters she sees and asking what she wrote. (Examples include- AFV (from the TV show), days of the week from the calendar, dedications and words from favorite storybooks, etc.) I also caught her sounding out letter sounds as she wrote. We made a school visit the end of February (I know, I need to post more regularly) and it went well. We'll go back again in May for an afternoon in the classroom.

Alright...I got interrupted by a child, then white smoke, then a feverish baby and now we'll try and finish it today...as the avoiding sickness did not occur and my fevering baby is currently sleeping peacefully I am not making guarantees.

In the kitchen: I made General Tao's chicken (w/ Hoisen sauce) this week for the first time. It was a modified healthier recipe from Cooks Country magazine. Yesterday we had crock-pot roast today it's become beef stew. Tomorrow something without meat.

Bringing me joy: The news of Pope Francis! It was great to share the moment of his announcement with Katie. And to celebrate as a family! Especially enjoyed Simcha Fischer's Papamoon article this a.m. Only a fever- as in the baby hasn't thrown up (yet) and this brings me copious amounts of joy. The thought of getting a haircut. Funny how just thinking about it makes me happy. I'm in that post-pregnancy stage of hair loss by the handful. I will be ecstatic to get out of the house and have someone chop it! The sacrament of Reconciliation.

Thinking about: Making a good Lent, worries about sickies, praying more often, loving my family each day to its fullest. And with that, the baby is stirring.

A Vision in Plaid or 50 Shades of Flannel

 

At our belated family Christmas we wanted to get a family photo (my side of the family) while we were gathered at Mom and Dad's.  We thought we'd do everyone dressed in flannel and then realized we'd also be on a plaid couch.  With 7 grandkids ranging from 7 to 2 mos. getting everyone looking good is easier said than done but my sister-in-law had a tripod and and a remote for her camera so it was possible we'd all be in the shot without someone running back and forth.  For your enjoyment...a picture progression.

 

Setting the stage...and catching my best angle.

Checking the camera with my SIL behind it.

Is this thing working?

Surprise!  (Can you tell who's related by their surprise faces?!?!)

Each of the kiddos wanted a chance to press the remote...ha!  There were a few from this set that aren't posted here.

And yes, we did get a keeper! 

What my baby wore today...

Though we're in Badger country there is a family contingent that cheer for Michigan State.  This post is for the Spartans.   Thanks for the duds MI family!

Join up with What my baby wore today at One Simple Mama....it's way more interesting than what I wore today!

Home Journal vol.5

Good Afternoon!  I'm overdue for a post.

Today out my window:  Snow and cold.  We got another dusting in the wee hours of the morning today.  Enough to make the plows come out again and I saw a car accident coming home with the kids from the grocery store.

Clothing myself in:  Khakis, blue-green long sleeved long tail tee from Duluth Trading Co.'s sale. and my neck warmer scarf (a birthday gift from Duluth Trading Co.) that's khaki and cream patterned, wool socks and sensible brown shoes.

Around the house: We're regrouping from a extended trip north to my parents house last week.  Lots of laundry, a half dozen bags of hand-me-down for the girls and Erik and the presents from our family Christmas and visits lying around.  I've also discovered Julia is definitely growing into the next size (mid-season, ugh) and am trying to sort clothes and wash our sheets- envision clothing tornado!  The kitchen doesn't look horrible though and the kids and I did master some grocery shopping this a.m. after hitting Candlemas celebration.  If I can conquer the clothing this weekend the week will look a lot brighter!

The baby:  Aw, he's such a happy fellow!  He really brightens the day for all of us.  So laid back and pretty content to just chill.  He's so 'chatty' lots of baby talk probably more than I remember coming from either of the girls this soon.  Though he's still in the needy stage it is an easier needy.   As the church ladies say, "Small kids, small problems..."

The kiddos:  Its been peaks and valleys with them the past few weeks.  I don't think I mentioned that Julia has given up her 'boo' just before Christmas.  It has been a mixed blessing.  Its great to not have to hunt for the pacifier at nap and bedtime  but we've discovered she's still so oral that EVERYTHING goes in her mouth (where once the boo prevented this).  Countless times a day I'll say, "Take that out of your mouth," or "Don't put that in your mouth," or "Please don't lick that!"
Bedtimes in general have been tough for both girls.  They are in the same room in the same bed that seems to be part of the difficulty.  I'm not sure if I want to keep battling on that front or find help to move them into separate beds and/or rooms? 
They do however have good times.  I have been REALLY amused with their imagination play.  They were playing 'birthday' the other morning and Katie opened up an Ipod 'just what she wanted!' (We don't even have an Ipod in our home.) And earlier this week I over heard them playing 'wedding Mass'  Katie was in her wedding dress and Julia, I think, was the priest.  There was a procession and singing and at one point I over heard Katie tell Julia, 'say the Lord be with you...and body of Christ.' 

In the kitchen: We're going to have a cheeseburger ring this week.  Friends gifted us one as a meal awhile back and the girls really liked it.  Also, I'm thinking pork from the freezer, a chicken (love this recipe), maybe soup with the leftovers?  I'm not sure what else- haven't really conquered the menu making.

Learning:  My friend said she'd read somewhere that having a baby in your homeschool sets you back 6 months.  I feel like that is where we're at with our home pre-school.  We're kinda doing the letter L this week (and next).  I can't seem to get on the ball with our plans and book ordering.   After making up the calendar for this month we found out that Kate will be going to visit her new school.   We'll get to meet her teacher and see the classroom where we plan to send her to Kindergarten in the fall.   Wow, that went FAST!  One other thing I wanted to mention here was that we've really enjoyed the Scholastic video series that reads/animates stories.  We just returned one featuring Mo Willems stories and a great bonus segment that taught the kids how to draw Pigeon from "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus."  We've also gotten the one featuring Chicken and Egg stories and The Robert McClosky series.

Reading:  Just finished, The Star of Kazan;  Also, finished Eve by Anne Carey and have the next one in the series waiting for me at the library.  My mom sent me home with Girl of Fire and Thorn, which I think I'll start next.  My pile also includes the newest Kate Morton book and another YA book, I think its called Enchanted.  I had been doing awesome on keeping up with some spiritual reading, too. Unfortunately, I forgot my bag of books (including my prayer journal) at my folks when we left in a hurry, grrrr. 

Bringing me joy:  I really enjoyed our time up north with my family.  We got to do Christmas, finally!  I'd forgotten how much I LOVE ice skating.  I took the kids out on the lake and donned skates myself.  It was pure pleasure.  My SIL sent me home with a disk full of  family pictures!  And I'm also happy that Kurt's back for the weekend.  He's been taking a course this week out of town and driving back and forth, ugh.  I'm looking forward to two weekends of fun- I'm going to the Martha and Mary Conference and then toward the end of the month I'm making plans for Women's Weekend.  I think I'll be taking a bread baking class!

Thinking about: Colleen Duggan's posts-- this one and this one.  I'm also thinking about work.   Babysitters.  And being the best version of myself towards my kids and husband.  How quickly we've come to February and I'm expecting this short month to go, too fast!

Pictures to share: Well, I'm saving a few for a future post or two but here you go--

The big cousins getting ready to ice skate.

Ice skating!

Snowmobiling!  The verdict is still out as to whether Katie gets her driving skills from her Mom or Dad.

 

Cousins Erik and Isaac (born 2 months apart) meet for the first time!  Can't wait for future Christmases together!

Feel the Love?

At Home Journal vol. 4

Outside my window:  foggy, chilly and wet...though I do notice more daylight hanging on in the afternoons since we've passed solstice.

Around the house: things are in need of some cleaning.  After the bustle of the holidays passed cleaning was the last thing on my list.  Now, the kitchen floor is hollering for a good wash and the bathrooms would like a scrubbing, especially the toilet.  Julia is not the neatest potty trainer.  Makes me cringe to think about Erik giving it a go!  We've also started cloth diapering again.  So the laundry is once more on schedule...guess that's good.

The baby: is sleeping on my chest as I type this in the Ergo- that both of us love.  He continues on schedule of eat, sleep, poop and is quite content most days unless he has a bubble from one end or the other.  And a content baby means BIG smiles and gooing come our way quite a bit!

The kiddos:  have been at eachother the past few days.  And that leaves me at them...leaving none of us very happy about things.  They have come to new levels of arguing and I am trying not to play referee but things continue to come back to me.  Ugh.  I feel like  I need to renegociate my contract. :)
Katie enjoys bringing Julia to tears and tantrum and Julia enjoys rubbing Katie the wrong way and so the endless cycle.  Currently, Julia is in tears again as Kate has hidden her doll..."Katie make me mad!"  While Katie is harping, "Go check behind the couch...it's not scary."  Argh!

In the kitchen:  We enjoyed a Herb Roast Chicken yesterday.  If you're a fan of easy whole chicken recipes I highly recommend this one!  Kurt also dazzled us with Brie en Croute  that he used to make with Ken and Pat at the Wisconsin House many moons ago.  Delicious!  We also had a friend gift us a freezer casserole that I used this week Wednesday.  A nightmare ensued with Katie 'no casserole'.  That is one thing I don't like about being the one to chose the menu...you can't please all tastes all the time.  We'll see what the weekend holds.  I think Gooch's Pizza Saturday as we don't get FOX and want to watch the Packers in the playoffs at least for a bit.

Bringing me joy:  My mommy friends who keep it real.  We got together yesterday for an Epiphany party.  They are the best!  Baby smiles and snuggles.  A new author, Kate Morton, who's books I've been enjoying.  I got to read The Forgotten Garden over the holidays and loved it and all the fairy tale, Secret Garden references.  Now I am in the middle of reading The Distant Hours. 

Thinking about:  balancing time with my spouse and children...sharing love.  Struggling to work on the plank in my own eye before seeing something in some else's.  Staying healthy and away from the flu without going into hibernation which just the thought of makes me crazy.  My extended family up north, I miss them.  Our Christmas was canceled due to flu.

Picture to share:  Well, I can't seeme to get Blogger to upload right now so it looks like we're pictureless.  But if you're on Facebook check out the video I posted this week!

Advent and Christmas in Pictures

I have been hoping to find time to write more about our Advent and Christmas but find myself busy enough away from the computer.  I loaded these pictures just after Christmas and still haven't composed a post.  So, I'm just going to caption the pictures and call it good...moving on from here.

Decorating the tree.  The ornament has a picture of her first Christmas, December 2007.

Lots of low hanging ornaments!

Working together.

We put the trees up while my mom was here.  The girls thought it was so fun and I was so grateful for the help! 

Erik and the baby friendly Nativity

My brother John visited in Advent to seek out nomination for "favorite Uncle," sorry Tom!

 

Katie helping write some of our Christmas letters.

 

Some lucky folks received letters signed by her hand!

 

Cutting out Gingerbread Cookies!  We'll definitely make these next year- YUM!

 

Just before Christmas (the 20th and 21st) we got our snow!  Beautiful White Christmas!

 

When the cousins arrived we celebrated with ribs off the smoker!  Jacob ate his fair share!

Christmas morning!

 

 

She wound up with those socks in the Snyder $10 exchange...along with her coveted nail polish!

 

Two sledders!

 

Christmas pretzels thanks to Aunt Micki and Mary Frances.  Beautiful and delicious!

 

Playing Fibber with the cousins.  Just the glasses with noses for the game are funny!

 

And finally, a cute baby picture...all tuckered out from the holidays!