All I Want for Christmas is...

Logan's front tooth has been loose for a couple days now.  It has literally been hanging on by a thread.  He complained about how much he wanted it out because it was hurting this morning.  I had him put an ice cube on it and went downstairs to tell Kevin that he would have to pull it.  Kevin, of course, did not want to pull the tooth because who likes to cause pain to their kids?  We also put some Orajel on it to be extra sure there would be as little pain for him as possible.  What happens when you lose a tooth on Halloween?  I guess we'll find out!

Props to Kevin for pulling it off.  Get it?!  It didn't hurt Logan a bit, and I'm so grateful to Kevin.  There's no way I would've done it.  ;)

I'm Sorry, Daddy!

I completely forgot my dad's birthday blog.  I'm sorry!  Here's pics of his birthday bash.

I LOVE this picture!

Happy Birthday, Daddy!  I hope it was a great one and look forward to many more!

Weekend Ramblings

Weekends always start with pizza night at the in-laws.  It's been a long standing tradition, but I think we're starting to veer away from pizza…at least for the grown-ups.  That night Kevin and I curled up on the couch in our comfy clothes and caught up on some shows.  It was pure bliss.  

Saturday morning Kevin and Marley went to help Uncle Brian pick up a table they were given.  Rory, Logan, and I went to the gym.  At noon it was Logan's last game of the season for baseball, and IT WAS COLD.  Rory forgot her jacket which sent my head into a tailspin.  Luckily we had a blanket with us that she curled up in.  Kevin and Rory left early to go pray in front of the clinic for 40 Days for Life.  We finished up the game and headed to the coach's house for awards.  The kids played out back while hot dogs were cooked.  Just so you know, one of the kids was kicking a football and hit me right on my shoulder.  It hurt A LOT, AND he didn't even apologize.  Moving on.  That evening Rory went to watch Ben Hur with her class at her History teacher's house.  She was pretty excited, and I hear she had a lot of fun.  Unfortunately, she didn't get to bed until 1030p and woke up at normal 630a this morning.  She has NOT had a good day.

This morning Logan woke up not feeling well.  Rory said she didn't either (as she normally does when Logan doesn't).  Kevin and I flipped a coin to see who would get to go to church and who had to stay home with the kids.  He won and got to go to church.  While he was gone, I decided to tackle cleaning the kids' room.  I am determined to declutter.  I was walking by the kids' room when I heard Rory tell Marley what a pain she always is.  I reprimanded Rory that we don't talk to others that way, and she said (with her head jiggling and more sass than I can convey) "You and daddy do it all the time.  I'm just learning from you."  At that point I told her to wait for me in the bathroom because she was getting her mouth washed out with soap.  I'd never done this before but had threatened it.  I grabbed a new bar of soap (Dove…in case you were wondering) and told her to open up.  She didn't, so I shoved it in there and rubbed it around.  I was not very happy at this point.  I left her in the bathroom gagging and crying.  She brushed her teeth and was good for a little bit after that.  Emphasis on the little bit in that sentence.  Kevin got home from church and left with a sick Logan to sell popcorn for the cub scouts.  They were the only ones signed up, so they had no choice.  He got some sales, blew up the bathroom, and came home.  We went to Nana and Papa's for dinner.

Can I tell you how great it was that I didn't get out of my jammies until about 230p this afternoon.  I really needed that.  I got the kids' room done and the laundry.  There's still a lot I wanted to get done, so I guess I'll have to plan some more "in my jammies until 3p" days.  Hope you all had a relaxing weekend!

Wednesday With Words

Another history unit is coming to an end.  This means another project, like the bridge and armor.  This list of ideas has to pertain to Jesus, so some of the ideas were; making an angel out of clay, making a poster advertising Joseph's carpentry shop, making something out of wood, etc.  I thought, "Hey!  Brian is good with wood.  We can ask HIM to do the project with the kids and then we don't have to do anything!  Score!"  Of course, Brian obliged and we got to thinking of ideas.  We settled on making a stool out of wood.  Both Rory and Logan would help to make one stool.  

A couple of days later since we didn't have to start working on it until the night before, we got a Family Fun magazine in the mail.  They have all these neat craft ideas for kids and such.  One of them was string art.  You take a piece of wood and hammer some nails into it in a picture.  Then you take string and tie it around the heads of the nails in whatever pattern or design you want.  I thought this might be a much better idea (A.K.A less of a headache), and off to A.C.Moore we went to get the materials.  

Because we can't tell Marley that she can't make one.

Logan's.  I thought this was fitting with him receiving his First Communion this year.

Rory's.  It was hard getting that string to behave.  She did a great job.  I think they're all beautiful.  And props to Kevin who said to draw the design on a piece of paper and nail it to the wood to rip off after.  This was a lot easier than the bridge and armor.  Yay!

Decisions

I've been making some big decisions.  They don't include adding to our family, packing anything, or operations.  Ha!  I'll share them shortly, since sometimes it's good to let these things sit before they're committed to, especially if you're me.

We had a great weekend hanging at my parent's house for my dad's birthday (pics coming).  On Sunday I had my Carmel meeting and a Thirty-One meeting.  I host the Thirty-One meeting with another gal, and we have about 50 people register for each one.  This October was Thirty-One's 10 year anniversary, so we had a birthday party.  I bought 50 party hats, 50 party blowers, a cake, plates, napkins, balloons.  It was a lot.  I just had to get through last night.

Since I did, I now just have to get through November 2nd.  It's a ways away, but it's lurking there and teasing.  It could possibly be one of those big blow up days where everyone has everywhere to be and no one can be there.  It'll make sense later, I'm sure.

I forgot to mention that in between my meetings, my in-laws fed me AGAIN.  We had hawaiian meatballs and while I'm not big on pineapple, I just don't put any on my plate.  :)  It was a nice calm before the storm.  

Tomorrow is school.  Rory and Logan have presentations to give and neither of them is ready.  I have to let it go and apologize to their teacher.  I couldn't give them the time needed to go over it a zillion times this weekend.  I'm afraid it's going to be highly noticeable.  Oh well.  I don't want to not put as much effort into it because that's what I'm seeing from other kids, but...just this once won't hurt.

Moving on to happier thoughts...

She is so mine.

Whoa! Thankful Thursday

I'm not entirely sure why, but this here blog is blowing up with views.  I'm thinking it has to do with the St. Francis wolf cookies that were made for Logan's Cub Scout Wolf Den.  Here is the link to the proper credit for these cookies.  No stealing done here!  Now onto Thankful Thursday.

-for so many people viewing the blog
-the three littles on the mend from various illnesses
-catching up on some much needed cleaning
-slowing down
-lesson plans done for tomorrow
-our co-op
-new and old friends
-daily gift giving

There's always more, but this is right now.  Enjoy your weekend!

Our art wall getting plenty of action from a bunch of sickies.

Cub Scout Cake Night

Last year was our first cake night.  We had no notice remembered late and had to make a themed cake.  Last year it was citizenship.  This year it was what I love about scouts.  Logan liked fishing and spending time with daddy best.  This cake night happened during Hell-o week last Friday.  We baked the cake Thursday and Nana helped him decorate it Friday.  I was at the vendor event and Kevin was on THE work call.  

I had seen something on a blog for the feast day of St. Francis.  They were wolf cookies.  Logan's in the wolf den this year.  Nana was a lifesaver for this project.  Sometimes I tend to be a little *whispering* controlling.  I know.  It might come as a shock to some of you.  You can bet I was on my way to the vendor fair trying not to call and see how things were going, or to add another idea or thought to make sure they were on the right track...my track.  Then, I would take a breath and let it go.  I had to.  I was already running on empty and I had to let go of something.  My 7yo's cake was it.

Apparently, Kevin couldn't get off the phone with a lot of time to help.  I texted Kevin and asked him to take a pic if he could and send it to me.  I was so pleasantly surprised.  Thank you Nana and everyone else who helped.  It sure took a load off my worry radar.  

The Cub Scouts run it so that each kid gets something.  The big prize is some measuring cups.  Everyone else gets a wooden spoon.  Last year Logan got the measuring cups.  This year he got a wooden spoon.  I don't know the rhyme or reason, but I love a wooden spoon as much as the next person.  Here's all this in film.

These wolf cookies are Pepperidge Farm lemon cookies, dipped in chocolate with white chocolate chips.  You don't have to use the lemon cookies, but the design is what you're looking for.  So..what do you think?  Rice krispie boat, gingerbread men cookies, swedish fish...wonderful!

Re-evaluating

I made it.  I am alive (don't know about well) after this weekend.  I'll do a quick run through.

*Friday noon - left school to take Rory to the dentist by 1245p.
*330p - left for vendor fair
*9p - left vendor fair
*10p - arrived home
*Saturday 645a - left to go back to vendor fair
*345p - left vendor fair
*6p - left for Light the Night walk
*930p - home from Light the Night walk
*Sunday morning 830a - left for church
*1230p - left for Thirty-One party in West Virginia
*515p - arrived at in-laws to join family for dinner
*630p - home and vegging

On top of it all, Kevin was on the phone almost the entire weekend...starting Friday morning.  While he didn't have to be in front of the computer the whole time, he was still on the phone.  

I can't begin to describe how I'm feeling.  Worn out and exhausted just don't seem to suffice.  I would venture to say that I am bone tired.  It's making me rethink some things.  While the kids are in their extra curricular activities, I think I need to tread lightly on other things I am adding to the week.  I just can't hang.  I'm not getting to the gym, and I'm starting to see just how much things are slipping.  The gym isn't about just working off the calories, as ridiculous as it sounds, there's something therapeutic for me (mentally) about the gym.

So here's my line of thinking.  I'm going to look at the week and fill in the kids' activities.  Then I'm going to add two family dinners.  Kevin and I normally eat with the three youngers, but these are dinners that include Kaelyn.  I'm going to make sure Mass has a slot, and confession has been on the back burner.  My prayer life?  Let's not talk about that because honestly there might not be that much to talk about.  I feel like when my relationship with God is not strong, then my life is not strong, like everything is out of whack.  I'm trying to get to the bottom of it because normally there's something else I can blame it on.  Know what I mean?  Right now I've got nothing else other than my own fault.  

I think I'm also extremely lacking in sleep.  There was a week there somewhere that Kevin and I were going to bed around 9p every night.  I think that week went really well.  That might be the link to it all.  Maybe I'll try that first rather than reconfigure everything, but that's never been my style.  ;)  It's all in or go home.

I think the Thirty-One journey is over.  I'm not quitting, but I'm not striving to make my leadership numbers anymore.  It's going to have to be ok.  I can't put into it what I once did.  It's not "paying" off. So right now I'm just going to stand.  (Ephesians 6:13)

Did you notice I changed my picture?  Meghan took an awesome one of the fam at the walk.  They came to the walk with us again.  It's nice to have friends supporting us.  There's something about our kids getting together.  It's like a perfect storm.  It was a wild and crazy night at the cancer walk.  

We got to the walk late.  There was no edible food left, no shirts for the kids, and no more balloons.  Next year, we go earlier.  When we were going to leave Saturday evening, Marley ate a taffy and ended up with half of it in her hair.  I had to do the peanut butter trick and a shower.  Good times!

Updated for Fall

Yay for a new fall look!  It was chilly today.  Isn't that lovely?  It's supposed to be colder tomorrow, but it's going to rain.  I don't like cold rain, but beggars can't be choosers.  Tomorrow is a VERY busy day.  Please pray for me.  I just have to get through this weekend.  

Here's a pic of one of the beautiful sunsets we've been having.  Maybe this is God's promise that we'll all be ok even if the U.S. is being fedexed to hell.  That's how I'm taking it!  Wish me luck!

On The Mend - Daybook

Outside my window...
It rained and winded today.  Fall temperatures are arriving tomorrow.  I can't lie.  I'm squealing with excitement.

I am thankful...
For this past weekend.  I canceled everything and just got stuff done around here.  It's not exactly "restful" but I didn't have to rush to get to the next thing.  That was relaxing.

I am thinking about...
This week.  I'm calling it hell week.  There's a lot to be done, and I'm feeling overwhelmed.  I tried to get a head start this weekend, and I got a lot done, but there's so much more.  I just have to make it through this weekend.  ;)

In the schoolroom...
I've shown you the Roman projects.  We have gotten into a groove with schoolwork from our co-op.  Rory even had to write a persuasive speech, and she tried to persuade her teacher to give less homework.  I think it worked a bit.  There's a definite change to the amount.  We were even able to do a fall craft project. The kids want to buy decorations.  I told them we're making them instead.  I'm sure I'll regret it later.

From the kitchen...
We went gluten free for two days last week.  Then I took Marley to the doc and she told me not to go gluten free.  Apparently Marley is "failing to thrive" like Rory.  I asked if it was possible that I have tall skinny kids.  She admitted it's possible, but she wanted blood work.  We got that done today.  Poor Mars did great.  FOUR TUBES WITH FASTING.  I think I was more stressed than she was.  The doc said that if we go gluten free then I'll have to count their calories.  I have NO TIME for that.We're trying something else instead.  Pray for good test results.

I am creating...
Christmas lists;  Something they want, something they need, something to wear, something to read.

I am working on...
My prayer life.  We did two novenas to Saint Therese.  I'm asking for miracles.  I'm begging for miracles.

I am reading...
Nothing right now, but I have books in waiting.

I am praying...
MIRACLES!

I am hearing...
Downton Abbey.  Yay!

Around the house...
I have implemented chores.  I just can't remember to have them do them.  Instead when they start fighting, I give them each a chore.  I think my house will be cleaner this way than assigning chores and a specific time to do them.  

One of my favorite things...
Apple TV.  All our shows play and the next day we watch them.  It's lovely.  There's no commercials.

A few plans for the rest of the week...
You don't want to know.  Seriously, it'll tire me out just to type it.  

Photodump...

On My Political Soapbox

Politics is NOT my strong suit.  My knowledge consists of plugging my ears and singing," Aaaaaa-men.  Aaaaaa-men.  Aaaaa-A-men. A-men. A-men."  That's what I would do when I was little and my sisters made me watch Children of the Corn.  Let me back up.

I've been reading a blog that talks a lot about Moral Imagination.  This is loosely translated, but it goes something like this.  Children these days are missing the inherent right and wrong, good and evil message that most of us got when we were young.  It involves the books we read, movies watched (or didn't watch) and so on.  For example, dragons are evil.  Period.  The end.  Yet, in today's society, we have movies that turn them into nice creatures such as How To Train Your Dragon.  Vampires are evil, fictional, characters but we personify them and have them fall in love in movies and books today.  The message is being lost. The teaching of good and evil may still be happening, but it isn't being reinforced through examples, stories, etc.  Think Disney.  

I have a strong sense of good and evil.  All bad I've done in my life, I knew was bad.  This is why some things are so blatantly clear to me in politics because duh, it's just bad.  There doesn't have to be a reason or an example, one just KNOWS it's bad.  This is how I feel about politics.  Don't explain to me what's happening because it makes me mad because someone is always doing something bad.  It's as plain sight as common sense most times.  

I get what little information I know from Kevin.  He launches into the whole story and nitty gritty on something, and I instantly feel like plugging my ears and having some gospel music singing time.  People are doing bad things.  People that we are supposed to trust to look after us and take care of us.  It's sad.  It's dragons and vampires trying to be good.  It's looks normal because we're seeing it everywhere.  

(climbing off soapbox)

I'm done.  But since I decided to go and get all serious on ya, I'll leave you with a funny.  This is in honor of my geek husband.

And one more...This was a tweet from Robin Williams about Canada in honor of my seester.

I couldn't agree more.

Roman School

I got pictures for you today.  Today was the day I had to get through.  You know how you talk to yourself, "You just gotta get through the 1st.  Just get through the 1st."  Well, it's here and ending and I survived.  We even made it to Mass on time for Ms. Saint Therese.  :)  

The day wasn't too bad except that I'm still not feeling well.  Rory and Logan are studying the same time period in History.  This means they do a lot of the same work.  They had to do an end of the unit project on the Roman Empire.  They had a list of suggestions.  Logan decided to do a roman bridge out of lego, and we steered Rory toward a roman armor outfit.  I take full blame.  I thought she'd be really interested in it.  It's done now.

We had to borrow Nana and Papa's legos for this bridge.  Daddy and Logan worked hard on it.

Kevin worked hard on this project too.  Now...onto the next month.