Thursday, Second Week of Advent ... Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

We began the day with our traditional Marian feast breakfast of blueberry muffins....from the box...the only ones my crazies will eat.  I've tried a million and one different delicious, homemade blueberry muffin recipes, and they've not liked a single one. The box mix sure is easier, though!

This might be my new favorite Christmas book.  It totally brings to life the "whatever you did to the least of these, you did to me" verse.  And it has an invitation that encourages kids to give Jesus a present for Christmas.  This is a direction that we hope to be moving in with our Christmas giving, hopefully more each year...less for us, more for those who really need, the "least of these."

When I went to wake up Annie from her nap to go to gymnastics, here's what I found:

Not sure how there's room in the bed for her, but she INSISTS on sleeping with every last one of these dolls...names each one individually and sees to it that they are all in place.  The conversations she carries on with them while she's trying to go to sleep are absolutely priceless.

So far so good on the stomach bug...everyone seems to be in the clear.  Glory to God!

Wednesday, Second Week of Advent

Today was recovery day.  Last night, we went to bed with buckets next to everyone just in case.  Phil slept on the couch because my head was splitting open, and I just knew I'd be throwing up all night.

Praise God for his mercy!  We all slept ALL night!  What a relief!

So today we caught up on our books...books of the day and all of our St. Nicholas Day books.  Whew!  This mama was so tired of reading out loud by the end.

Still not feeling quite right, but much improved...

Tuesday, Second Week of Advent ... Feast of St. Nicholas

After a long night of being up with Mary-Grace and more middle of the night laundry than I ever care to do again, we celebrated St. Nicholas.  Well, a little...we did our best considering we were all waiting with baited breath to see who would fall victim to the stomach bug next.  Thankfully, it was only me, and I only got a smidge of it.  I emailed Courtney later and said, "As far as pukey bugs go, this one was nice and kind and gentle to us….or Ann Voskamp is just really rubbing off on me…"

So, we woke up to...

And that's about as far as we got.  Jacob got his school work done, and we veged out...

Monday, Second Week of Advent

I don't remember much about this day because it ended with a bad headache that became a stomach bug for Gracie.  Loads of fun, really.

However, I got these cutie pics of my littlest.

She found her Lucia crown in my room and wore it while making pipe cleaner candy canes with the bigs.

The book we never read!  Bad table manners at "Hot Chocolate" mean the book gets postponed.  And they outdid themselves in the poor manners department.  Seriously, who's their mother anyway?!

Sunday, Second Week of Advent

Today began with a run.

I've never typed that statement in all my life and been actually referring to the mode of exercise known as running.

Let me clarify...Mom and I are doing the Couch 2 5K program. We started almost a month ago because we want to get in better shape for a certain something around the bend.  Never in a million years did I think I might enjoy it!  I mean, I don't really enjoy it *during* the actual workout, but I feel exhilarated after.  Who knew?!

Then a trip to Wal-Mart with my littlest girlies.  We managed to get there early enough to beat the crazies. Phew.

We managed to squeeze in hot chocolate and a book.

I love that my little dude is man enough to take this awesome picture with that girly-looking book.

Little Flowers in the afternoon with my big girl...got to squeeze little man Davis and visit with friends.

We finally got around to that movie night...I LOVE this movie...The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey.  I still prefer the book, but I really do love what the movie adds to the storyline.

Saturday, First Week of Advent

This is the only picture I took today.  Our morning was a little nutty getting ready for Catechism, but, oh how I love our parish.  The kids had a great time in their classes, while we sat in church with Annelise (and Davis) and visited with Father.  After anticipated Mass, we did our book of the day, The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey, one of my very favorites.  It makes me tear up every time I read it.  We were supposed to end the evening with a movie night, but, ahem, little people meltdowns were through the roof.  Needless to say, it was early to bed after prayers.

I take that back...I did take more pictures than I thought...

I stripped her down before I let her dig into that petit-four!

But, before bed, Annelise became obsessed with blowing out the candles on our spiral.  She kept telling me, "One more time! I blow!"  Phil got this video....we laughed so hard.  It's so fun to have a toddler during this time of year.

Friday, First Week of Advent

We're being spoiled right now with gorgeous weather.  I don't want to take it for granted!

Today we read a favorite story, even more so now that we have a "Lucia" in our family.  I found a used copy several years ago for a very reasonable price, and I'm so glad I did because they are HARD to come by nowadays.

Annelise asks for "choca mulk" all morning long now.  It's adorable...that little finger pointing toward her Christmas mug.  And I love that mess of curls!

After Mass, we had homemade pizza, which I should definitely put on a regular rotation because it's such a hit; the bigs played outside, and Annie and I napped.  That is the recipe for a great afternoon!

My boy had karate and was rewarded for all of his extra help around the house lately, and I got to wander Target all alone for 35 glorious minutes.

Once home, we did our Jesse Tree and novena early so that Phil and I could go to Supper and Substance.  (Side note: we're already seeing our prayer being answered, so praise God!) The kiddos were thrilled to be with Nana, who brought them out for an "i-seam" treat.  We had a lovely evening listening to friends share about their life in missions.  It was inspiring.  Their challenge to the rest of us was to ask God what he's calling us to do that is extra-ordinary right here in this moment.  I'm going to ponder that for awhile.  I don't want to miss it.

Thursday, First Week of Advent

Another beautiful day.

The kids spent most of the day outside.

We played UNO.  I used to always be able to win, but my boy is getting good.  He beat me by a landslide twice today.

Hot chocolate and pistolettes, a new favorite.  A sweet book that reminded us of what's really important.  This intentional morning "tea time" was exactly what we needed. (The first picture shows her chunking wrapping paper behind her.)

Mass is always sweeter when the daddy can come with us.

Our Advent spiral began today...lighting one candle a day to journey with Mary to Bethlehem. (As a side note, Phil is quite concerned that we will have a blazing inferno once Christmas arrives and all those candles are lit!)

Annelise got to go first to open the door on the Advent calendar.


And to document proof of her post-bath curls:

Wednesday, First Week of Advent

I read a blog where the author often says that chronicling her days on her blog always make her see the day's beauty, even if it didn't seem so beautiful at the time.  Three days into this "blog everyday in Advent"commitment, and I see that she's so right.  It's akin to writing out my list of 1000+ things I'm thankful for....waking up to the beauty in each moment.

We had leftover breakfast biscuits for our reading time, and read Cobweb Christmas: The Tradition of Tinsel.  This one is going on the "buy" list for next year.  We all loved it.

We had a great library trip today.  I love our library ladies.  The know my kids by name, ask them about karate and gymnastics, and ask us to pray for them when they know we're on our way to Mass.  I can't wait to surprise them with a treat closer to Christmas.

What made this trip so great is that we've scoured our house for three missing library books for two weeks now.  I knew they'd been returned (three of those annoying little reader books that go missing because they are so flat.)  I found all three of them on the library shelves.  Turns out, those flat, little, annoying books don't just go missing at my house.  They go missing at the library too.

After Mass, the kids spent the rest of the afternoon playing outside.  The weather was perfect: cold enough to not get hot, but warm enough that jackets aren't needed.  We were surprised by a visit from Kessie and the kids, which made our day that much sweeter.  The kids got to play, I got to love on Davis, and Kessie and I got to visit face to face, a rare treat.

We began the St. Andrew Christmas Novena last night as a family.  We are asking God for a miracle...the one we have in mind would be glorious, though we'll be grateful for whatever miracle He sees fit to send.  We got these little cards printed up and cut.  I'm excited to add this tradition to our family's Advent celebrations.

Tuesday, First Week of Advent

Today was beautiful.

The weather was cold and crisp.

Skies were bluer than blue.

Hot chocolate and reading time were sweet...the kids loved toasted pistolettes with butter.

Mass was great...Father's homily just right...learning the new translation is a gift; it makes us all much more aware and pay much closer attention.

Jacob and Mary-Grace played an UNO marathon for about three hours.

I witnessed an unsolicited apology between siblings.

My girls played beautifully with each other.

Annie, Ava and I played with connectagons and castles.

We watched "Kit Kittredge: An American Girl" with Annelise yelling "Kick!" the whole time.

We had dinner with Granddad, always a treat.

We added the first ornament to our Jesse Tree...the stump.  We read about the shoot that came from the stump being our family line of faith.  We committed again to waiting well.

Monday, First Week of Advent

We decided to start doing our Advent wreath over breakfast and saving our Jesse Tree for evening prayer. This way, we're guaranteed to all be together at least twice for prayer.

As I was planning for Advent a few weeks ago, I wanted to come up with a really simple treat to have everyday that the kids would remember made this time even more special.  I decided on hot chocolate...simple, affordable, they LOVE it, and we only make it on occasion.  At first, I thought I'd have it waiting for them each morning at breakfast, but I decided to save it for morning snack.  So, we'll get our basic school work done as well as a few chores, and then around 10:45, we'll have hot chocolate, a snack, and open our picture book of the day.  It works out beautifully to fill little tummies just enough before we head to noon Mass.

Ava opened today's book...

...which was met with squeals of "I LOVE this book!"

Annelise had her first hot chocolate

We played Zingo, Uno, and Banangrams

No rules...just trying to play without meltdowns!

Mary-Grace and I worked on this board.....tears avoided!

It was a super day.  We ended it with karate and gumbo made with leftover Thanksgiving turkey.  I didn't get pictures, but the girls and I picked up and organized their room, redressed and accessorized their American Girl dolls.  Annelise and I played babies.  It was refreshing to just put off so much that needed doing and just be present and play with my kiddos.  Oh, and I folded mountains of laundry and taught Ava to fold socks in the process.  She thinks that's the greatest job ever, and I love having a buddy to fold with.

First Sunday of Advent

 The Waiting Begins...

a new Advent wreath, thrown together at the last minute, and my favorite one yet

our new Cradle to Cross Wreath

a new Jesse Tree devotional and a lovely Norfolk Pine to serve as our tree

a basket of Advent and Christmas books to be opened each day

our tree up but waiting for St. Lucia's Day to turn on lights

stockings hung

Annie opening our first book...

Waiting for Christmas

"Light one candle for HOPE.  One bright candle for HOPE.  He brings HOPE to everyone.  He comes.  He comes."

7 Quick Takes

1~ God is so faithful.  This week has been full of answered prayers, small details that He's seen to, and it does my heart good.

• Jacob LOVES karate.  This place is truly incredible.  In just 2 1/2 weeks, I see a difference in his leadership around the house, the way he prays during family prayer, a decrease in moodiness, and an understanding of the fact that he's much stronger than he thinks.
• Gymastics for Mary-Grace went so well (after tears on the first day!) that Ava has decided to do it also.  This is a multi-faceted answered prayer...Gracie needed an activity that she really loved and at which she could excel...Even after just one class, I can tell that having Ava join her is going to be so good for their relationship...And, this saves me a trip to Carencro every week (about 20-25 minutes away) for the ballet class I was going to put Ava in, and that class was at a weird time of day for us.
• My older two had been BEGGING to play with their Abbeville friends for weeks.  Nothing was working out.  At the spur of the moment, we were able to have them here ALL DAY yesterday.  Their little tanks are full.
• I'm finally getting sleep.  This has been a huge deal the last couple of months, so I'm so very grateful.
• Annelise's speech is growing and improving.  I couldn't really tell if she was delayed (Ava didn't talk a whole lot before age 2), but I'm grateful to see and increase of words and that they are a bit clearer (to us anyway!)

2~  We added this to our home this week:

Annelise says "big side!" over and over as she climbs and slides over and over.  She also loves to perch at the top with her baby doll and sing her "bay-bays" song.  It's quite adorable.  I wanted something on which she could burn some energy while we are doing school and she's stuck inside.

3~  We begin the Alphabet Path on Monday.  I cannot contain my excitement!  I did it with Mary-Grace two years ago, and definitely bit off more than I could chew...I could not limit myself to one or two ideas; I tried to do it all.  By the time I had Annelise (after J week), I was spent.  We made it through N before we petered out.  This time, I have more realistic expectations, and I'm not currently pregnant, so my energy level is not compromised!  The kids have no idea, so it will be a good surprise.  I placed a huge order at Amazon this week for books and kits and loads of fun.  I even found some corresponding activities for Jacob for several of the weeks.  With Gracie being older and Ava at just the perfect almost-5 age, I think it will be a hit all around.

4~ Years ago, when I had only a two-year-old and a four-month-old, I went to a friend's house for a "come and see and ask" about homeschooling gathering.  Many things I heard that day have been gems over the last 4 1/2 years of this journey.  Another one surfaced as I was planning my school day...no breakfast until after morning prayer.  This has revolutionized our start to the day.  My kids have always been early risers, very seldom sleeping past 7am (as I type this at 6am, Annelise sits next to me drinking milk and eating a granola bar while watching Dora).  When we started school, I started having them lay out their outfits the night before.  So, they get up, get dressed and make beds before they leave their rooms.  Then they meet me in the den for morning prayer very eagerly because they are HUN-GRY!  

5~ Speaking of Annelise and Dora, girlfriend is in LOVE.  She asks for "Lo-lo" constantly, she called Boots in the sweetest voice, says "MAN!" for Swiper, and only wants to watch episodes that contain Dora's baby siblings.  She ADORES babies! 

6~ Going back to a four-day school week has been awesome.  It's much more relaxed, and I don't feel like I'm in a pressure cooker about to explode.  All we plan for on Fridays is to call out spelling and wordly wise words.  While we're doing the Alphabet Path, Friday mornings will be for our baking and craft times.

7~  We get to go on a date tonight for the second week in a row (thanks, Mom!).  We had plans to resurrect FND, but in a last minute switch-a-roo, we will (hopefully) surprise a friend for his 50th birthday.  Which all means, date night WITH our totally awesome friends.  Epic win.

Daybook--Nearing the End of Summer

Outside My Window...hot, hot, hot.  Oh, and humid.

I am Listening to...the girls playing with our old Little People garage thing.  You'd swear it was Christmas.  My cousin returned it this afternoon, and even just using old match box cars, they are having a ball.

I am wearing...denim skirt, burgundy shirt, favorite pearls.

I am Thankful For...a sweet note in the mail from a friend.

I am Pondering...the end of summer.  School starting means seasons change, and I have less time to visit with my friends, less time for myself during the day.  It's all good, and it's time, but letting go is a grace.

I am Reading... I just finished A Million Miles in a Thousand Years.  Absolutely fabulous.  I can't wait to reread it.  I'm still reading One Thousand Gifts for our book study.  And today's read was chapter four of Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters.  I'm still working through that list of mine, but I've read others that aren't on it also.

From the Kitchen... chicken, rice, broccoli.  Plus lots of chicken all cooked for the freezer.  Productive day.

I am Thinking...about our school year that will begin on Monday and about the areas of my home I'd like to organize before then.

I am Creating...lessons plans, for three students this year.

On the Learning Front...it all begins again next week.

Towards Rhythm and Beauty...I'm working on a new weekly schedule for school and extra activities we're adding this year.  I'm hoping that after next week I'll have a better idea of what it will all look like.  I'm a bit nervous about jumping in, but I know I'll feel better with just one week under my belt.

Toward Personal Care...um, yeah.  I had three REALLY good days on Weight Watchers last week.  That is all.

I am Hoping and Praying...for our new cousin Hunter to keep healing well so that he can come home; for friends just starting to think about praying about homeschooling; a friend's business; family healing.

Around the House...we implemented new chore charts last week.  So far, so good.  I think they'll end up being a really good thing once we work out the kinks.

On Keeping Home...we thinking of getting an armoire to put the computer in the living area where my desk is.  We're feeling the need to have it in a more public area as our children get older.  I love the idea of hiding all the crud that is always on my desk.

One of My Favorite Things...coffee.  Annelise saying "Ohhhh...."

My Kids This Week...are hopefully enjoying the last week of summer.  Mary-Grace begins gymnastics on Thursday, and Jacob will start karate either tomorrow or next Tuesday.

A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week...the bigs are sleeping at the grandparents on Friday, hopefully the pool a few times if the weather cooperates, a birthday party Friday morning, and book study tomorrow night (YAY!)

A Picture Thought I'm sharing...

One way or another...

We WILL learn to live the eucharisteo....we will receive grace....we will be JOY.

Holy Week Daybook

Outside My Window...  It's GORGEOUS!  Skies are blue, temperatures are crisp.  What a great spring treat  before the heat really kicks into gear.

I am Listening to...a very cranky baby.  The eye teeth are trying to make their appearance, and it's not going well.  On a positive note, I'm listening to Ava talk to herself which is always entertaining.

I am wearing ...  Pajamas...highly considering making a day of this.

I am Thankful For...  a healthy miracle baby, our new godchild, Davis John-Paul.  He is sweet and beautiful and smells of Heaven.

I am Pondering... answered prayers from a lifetime ago and from just days and weeks ago.  

I am Reading... my 2011 list so far:

               1.  Relentless Generational Blessings

                  2.  One Thousand Gifts (just started it again for my first reread)

                  3.  Smart Martha's Catholic Guide for Busy Moms

                  4.  I Believe in Love

                  5.  Discipline That Lasts a Lifetime

                  6.  Organized Simplicity

                  7.  Arms of Love (a reread from a few years ago, but so worth it. I wanted something light)  

                  8.  Dancing with My Father

                  9.  Hints on Child Training

                  10.  Pride and Prejudice (sad to say, I read the Cliffs Notes in high school)
                  11.  Same Kind of Different as Me

                  12.  Mother Angelica:  The Remarkable Story of a Nun, Her Nerve, and a Network of Miracles

                  13.  What Went Wrong with Vatican II?
                

From the Kitchen... blah.  That about sums it up.  I need inspiration or streamlining or something.  I'm thinking of going back to a weekly rotation just to get back in the swing.  I think it'll be easier to add new things after that.

I am Thinking... that it is time to start nailing down some plans for next school year.  Ideas are swirling all around  my head.  I want to be realistic and dream big all at the same time.  It's all about the balance.

I am Creating... a new saint doll, my list of 1000+ gifts, an organized home, plans for finishing up all the little undone things around our home.

On the Learning Front... the end of the school year is wrapping up well, I think.  Core subjects are almost complete.  I'm thinking of continuing science and history through the summer to supplement all the pool time.  We'll see.

Towards Rhythm and Beauty... our routine has been rocked a bit the past few weeks.  I'm ready to get back on track somewhat.  Ava has spring break this week, so it'll be a little difficult to establish order knowing it will change again in a week.  But we'll do our best.

Toward Personal Care... back to Pilates this week and eating well.  I had a couple of great weeks, and then fell off the plan.  

Living the Liturgical Year at Home... Holy Week came so fast this year!  Waiting for our godchild to be born sure helped Lent to fly by quickly.  I haven't planned very well for this week, so I'm hoping the Holy Spirit will inspire the plan for us.  I'm really hoping to get to daily Mass before the Triduum.  We're seriously considering the Vigil if we can find someone to stay with the little girls.  We also need to get to Confession this week.  Our awesome pastor has provided HOURS of Confession times all throughout this week.  What a blessing!

I am Hoping and Praying...for a peaceful adjustment for the Thomas family.

On Keeping Home...gotta find my mojo again.  It upped and left a while back and I can't seem to locate it.   It's also time to get back on track with cleaning out and decluttering closets and such. 

One of My Favorite Things...  the smell of a newborn, the sacredness of moments shared with precious friends after babies are born.

My Kids This Week... They have enjoyed lots of play time.  Phil took the day off on Wednesday so I could be at the hospital, so they had a Daddy play day.  Then the Thomas kids came Friday morning and spent all day and night with us.  They all had a blast...they played hard, ate beignets, and watched Tangled.

A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week...Mass, Confession, Triduum services, Good Friday Living Stations of the Cross and possibly company for dinner afterward, and then EASTER!

A Picture Thought I'm sharing...

I miss blogging...

In bullet form...

• I was reading through some old posts just now.  I miss this forum even though I'm seldom writing.  I enjoy looking back at the snippets of our days here and there.  I LOVE the recaps of FND last year.

• I decided several weeks ago that this would be the year I returned to books with abandon.  I love to read and have not made it a priority at all since I had children.  Basically this means I haven't been reading much in almost nine years!  I read for book study, and an occasional novel here and there.  No more!  So far this year I've read or will read:

                  1.  Relentless Generational Blessings

                  2.  One Thousand Gifts (just started it again for my first reread)

                  3.  Smart Martha

                  4.  I Believe in Love

                  5.  Discipline That Lasts a Lifetime

                  6.  Organized Simplicity

                  7.  Arms of Love (a reread from a few years ago, but so worth it. I wanted something light)  

                  8.  Dancing with My Father

                  9.  Hints on Child Training

                10.  Pride and Prejudice (sad to say, I read the Cliffs Notes in high school)
                11.  Same Kind of Different as Me
                

• My new bags came in today!  Courtney hosted a Thirty One Bags party a few weeks ago, and I've been itching for mine to arrive.  I have a bag fetish.  My grandparents started calling me the "bag lady" when I was about seven years old.

• Mary-Grace turned seven three weeks ago.  She lost her first top tooth two days later.  She looks so much older!  Her face is slimmer (if that was even possible), her speech is different from losing the tooth, and her body just seems more grown up.

• I started my list of 1000 things for which I am grateful.  The hunt for God's love is life-changing.  My awareness is heightened.  "Eucharisteo precedes the miracle" (Ann Voskamp).  That phrase is profoundly molding me.  It has changed what Adoration does to me and for me, and it gives me a crazy longing to sit in His Presence that I didn't have before (at least with such intensity).

• My trip to the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament was magical...literally like walking through the wardrobe to Narnia to a whole other world...so sacred that words do no justice to the miracles that were encountered.

• Lent is off to a good start.  That's all I will say about that for fear of messing it up.

• I'm done with caffeine.  I detoxed a couple of weeks ago...I typically have five ounces of caffeinated coffee a day, no more.  My head hurt intensely for 2 1/2 days.  Totally freaked me out.  And it freaked out my coffee-loving husband enough to kick the habit as well!

• Annelise has been sleeping for slightly longer than two hours.  This is the longest nap she's taken (by about an hour) in over a month.  Thank you, Jesus!

32

God has blessed me so abundantly that it almost leaves me speechless.  I'm packing up to head to Alabama tomorrow with my dearest sisters, but I wanted to post something about my birthday yesterday.  

It left me so full in the best ways....the eyes-about-to-spill-over-with-tears-ways...the God-is-so-very-present-in-this-moment ways...the heart-stretching ways...the Jesus-just-actually-touched-my-heart ways.

Mementos of a lovely day...

Gifts from my husband and babies...

...including a stainless steel cupcake water bottle!  (Maybe I'll drink more water now?)

...and this beautiful book that I have been waiting and waiting for.

...my mama who always finds the most perfect cards that make me tear up...

...a friend who knows me well...

...a big yummy cupcake with only a few candles to blow out...

...and the gift of a new godchild arriving in about nine weeks...