May Ending Daybook

Outside my window...
It's rainy and chilly.  The last chill before melting.  Too bad it couldn't be sunny, so I could enjoy it.

Giving thanks...
Our co-op is done, and this week is a little holiday until we get back into our summer studies.  It is a much needed break to get some things done and to not do anything.

I am thinking about...
Our Little Oratory.  Making a specific place of prayer in our home.  We pray in the evenings just in the middle of the living room and already have a mantle of pictures and statues, but I'm going to clean it up some and dedicate the little bookshelf next to it for our faith-filled books and items.

In the schoolroom...
Here are some pics from the end of school happenings.

From the kitchen...
We have all felt this stomach bug going around the house.  It feels like we just keep giving it back and forth to one another.  I made Virus-Killing Soup today to kill it in it's tracks.  I hope it works.  Other than that...bacon.  Bacon is good.

I am creating...
A little oratory and a summer plan.  I don't just want to revert to TV and electronics all day every day, so I have to be purposeful.  I have to have a plan...a rhythm...to break.

I don't ever want to forget...
Adoration this week.  I went by myself with Marley.  We read about Mother Teresa.  We did my evening prayers out loud together, and then Marley colored quietly for the rest of the time while I read my Carmelite readings.  It was bliss.  Normally there would be other people coming in and out because of the hour of this Adoration being open to the public, but no one came.  It was just Jesus, Marley, and I.  

I am working on...
Forgiving myself and not turning to guilt when one of my great plans doesn't succeed to my expectations.  This is a hard one for me.  I need to learn to let go.

I am reading...
The Little Oratory.  Get a copy.  It's practical and sensible, which are two things I like in a plan.

I am praying...
For family.  One prayer answered.  Praise God!

I am struggling...
With self care.  One little slip in my sleep, eating, or going to the gym makes a hole in the other areas.  I'm trying to get back on track, and I know what I'm missing.  I just need to do it.  Stay tuned.

I am hearing...
The dishwasher.  I cleaned our dishwasher today for the first time.  It was DISGUSTING.  It's not working right and unfortunately, just when we came into "extra" money, we need a new dishwasher.  ("extra" meaning we got a break with what we set it aside for and once we gave it a new place to go, something broke.)

Around the house...
We have a new chore and discipline system that is working out so far.  We attached commission payments to the chores, and they're going strong.  The kids get "paid" on Sundays and have tithing, saving, and spending envelopes for their money.  The commission thing is fairly new, but the chores and discipline have been working out for a bit now.

One of my favorite things...
Rest.  I'm getting some this week in between my cleaning projects, and it's nice to not have to worry about school for now.  This week off was definitely a good idea for all of us to recharge.

A few plans for the next week...
Kaelyn has court for her accident.  Pray please.  Marley has her operation for her teeth.  Pray Please. A marriage talk and fundraiser for our co-op.  I'm on the decorating committee, which means someone tells me what to do, and I go do it.  I have no decorating bones in my body.

A picture thought for you...

I think Logan's a dog in this picture while daddy and Marley have tea.  

What a Weekend!

I.AM.TIRED.

We had a whirlwind weekend.  Friday was the kids' last day of co-op.  We had a half day and then field day.  The kids loved it, and I only got one picture.  I know.  I stink.  I was busy chatting away and being social.  

Saturday Kevin worked on the car almost all day.  I cleaned and got some Paleo food made.  We hung out the rest of the evening.

Sunday was church.  Rory altar served and then after lunch, we hiked.  All of us...even Kaelyn and her boyfriend.  It wasn't too bad with the kids.  I was expecting much worse, so I was pleasantly surprised.  We let the kids play at the park there afterwards for a little bit.

Monday we hit the gym first thing, so we wouldn't have to feel too guilty (even though I still did).  Then we were off to my parents.  We had lunch there and went to the park.  We checked out a new world market that opened up and found some good cheap finds.  Next up we headed to Nana and Papa's.  At this point it felt like I was running on fumes.  I started to not feel well and missed a lot of good food for dinner.  We got home and everyone went to bed and woke up early this morning.  WTH?!

Oh yeah, and Marley and Rory got haircuts.  For some reason, I don't have a pic of Rory.

That last picture is what happens when Rory and Logan are left unsupervised.  

Wordless Wednesday (With a Few Words)

What a trooper!  Besides getting his teeth pulled, he got the rotovirus on top of it.  Throwing up after just having your teeth pulled.  Ugh.  No good.  He's great now and the stitches are working their way out.  Thanks for all the prayers!

Rory's Birthday

I totally missed writing a blog about Rory's birthday.  I believe I did my to-do list on that day, which pretty much explains Rory's birthday.  She had play co-op and play practice on that day, so we didn't celebrate much.  We saved the festivities for later on in the week.  Roll cam!

The traditional streamer door.

She wanted a rainbow cake...

Rory's cousin, Sam, wanted to take her to the mall for her birthday.  Me and the littles hung out while they shopped.

KJ and I took her out for the day.  She wanted to go to Sonic and to the shops downtown where her co-op is.  She was on the search for a rotary phone.  For real.  First, she wanted to go to Sonic.

There's no inside to these places.  You pull up or walk up or drive through.  It's pretty cool.  I didn't eat anything there (PALEO), so I got a slushy.  It was delicious.  We got her rotary phone home, and it actually worked.  She squealed so loud, I'm sure you all heard it but didn't know what it was.  If only I had known that rotary phones and Garbage Pail Kid cards would be so popular these days!  Happy Birthday, Rory!!!  XXXOOO

*Sigh*

I totally meant to blog last night and then Rory threw up.  She started early this time, so it wasn't as painful as being ripped from a deep sleep.  It was the virus where she throws up every 20 minutes.  She stopped about midnight.  I tried to move her to her bed, but she wasn't having it.  She slept while I rested until around 3am when I had a coughing fit that woke her up.  I went to bed and told KJ that I had to get back up and make sure she didn't wake up and turn on the TV.  He got up and went upstairs.  I passed out.  I got up at 6a, and he hadn't been able to sleep either.  So I will not be blogging.  I'm sorry.  I have lots for you when I can.  Ciao!

To Do

I need to make a to do list and blogging is on it, so I thought two birds, one stone.

• get KJ to reply to rude comment guy on email
• mail Hershey Park tickets and email that I received them
• make two Paleo meals before the meat goes bad
• call computer company about group order
• make a parrot costume, soldier costume, and flower costume
• make a bottle rocket launcher
• do a science project on immiscible liquids
• get Gabriel Network clothes together since I bought the high chair for one of them
• submit receipt for reimbursement of said high chair
• mail package to my seester
• get mom a gift for mother's day
• play on saturday

Did you catch the make costumes in there?  Yeah...like how it just rolls off the keys as if I'm all cool with it?  I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I'M GOING TO DO!  It'll be a miracle if I can pull this all off.  Pray.  Please.

Logan's First Communion

One event down, a couple more to go.  Logan received his First Communion this weekend.  He was pretty excited about it.  First he had to prepare and do a packet of lessons about the Eucharist.  After finishing those six lessons (each roughly an hour long), he had to present a First Eucharist tri-fold poster.  We had no direction about what was to be on this poster, so talk about improvising.  

We did a lap book for some of it.  It provided a bunch of cut outs that open.

I think it turned out nice.

I insisted on an all white suit.  When I was little my dad would wear an all white suit every Easter.  For a while it was cool, then it was embarrassing, and now it's cool again.  I prepared Logan for being the only boy in all white.  The only part I forgot about was his socks.  He was wearing gray socks.  Nana said I should've gone bolder with the color of the socks.  Hot pink would've been perfect!  He totally rocked it.

What a boss?!

We got a photo shoot in the grotto afterward.  Logan was inside taking a group photo, so the girls goofed off while waiting.  I feel bad that we didn't get any pics with the grandparents or Uncle Brian and Aunt Paula that came to support him too.  :(

It was a great day.  We came back to the house and had lunch with Grandma, Nana and Papa.  Logan opened some awesome gifts.  Thank you to everyone who made it so special!