Little Boo-isms

There's been too many of these to let them pass by without record.


On the way home from our homeschool co-op yesterday:

What if you stuck a fork in your brain?


In the afternoon as I was making bread:

When can I squish the bread dough?


Singing loudly throughout the house:

"What can we do with a skirty pirate?"


Looking in amazement at her fork after dinner:

My fork is clean!



And finally, The Medley:

WHACK! Hits Little Dear:
Sorry Mama!
Me: Go to the corner, Little Boo.
WHACK! Hits Little Love:
Sorry Mama
Me: I said, "Go to the corner!!"
WHACK! Hits the futon:
Sorry Mama!

See Me breaking Lenten fast with much-deserved glass of Sangria...
After I set the timer for her corner prison time...
















ETA: sorry for all of the "updates." This new blogger drives me crazy with the spacing issues.... anyone else having trouble with it?

Meanwhile...

...as I walk around the house like Frankenstein (lovely after-effects of my soccer game) DH is waxing eloquently on the whole "having babies" issue.

Go have a look and start a fight, if you have a mind to.

;)

Because I can't resist...

And because I am so amazingly sore from my first soccer game (which we won btw)...

I just had to get one of these:

My favorites? Boo boy, holy home, little love, sunshine, super tea time....

:)

ETA: Here's the link to the site... it's free!

It's the "giving up" that counts

Little Boo (realizing what tomorrow is):

Tomorrow is Sunday. And that is the day we give up Lent!

Thank You

To Portia, the bestest godmother around, according to Little Dear...










Doesn't it just warm your heart to see your presents placed in such high honor?

And you'll be pleased to know that only the best cereal box would do for the cardboard background... that would be Quaker Corn Bran.

:)

Do Not Look Gloomy...

..and your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.


Even mother nature adheres to His words of wisom, for Ash Wednesday dawned bright and beautiful. The temperatures have been in the high 70's these past two days and the sunshine has illumined every corner of the house and yard.

It has provided a much-needed lift for my spirits, and inspiration for my cleaning projects. (nothing like sunlight streaming through the windows to see how dirty they really are!)

At first, I was a bit disappointed that the weather didn't cooperate with the season. Shouldn't Ash Wednesday be dark and gloomy?

But, I realized that God was being merciful to me, and I accepted His gift with much joy and gratitude. Ash Wednesday is hard enough for this weak soul, the sunshine made me more content and cheerful.

And now it's on to my other Lenten projects!

Lenten Fellowship

I've noticed around the blog-o-sphere that a lot of folks will be cutting back for Lent. Whether it's no blogging at all, or no commenting, or limited blogging and commenting...


And while I agree that Lent is a time of turning inward, and assessing the use of one's time, I have decided that I am too weak to ignore and be ignored by this wonderful community of friends I have found.

I will (finally) be enlisting the use of Bloglines to alert me when one of my friends has waxed eloquent, instead of surfing through my massive list. (royal waste of time, I know) And I will have set times to check e-mail and blogs. Not too sure about my own writing. I tend to need to write when the thought strikes, or *poof* it's gone...

As far as my other Lenten resolutions, no sharing allowed. These are far more personal than my New Years' resolutions (which were... ???) and require a lot more prayer and concentration. Oh, and discipline.

Yikes.

Mark Shea says it wonderfully for me today at Catholic Exchange:
But the fact is we are called to observe Lent (like all things Christian), not as hermits who are separating themselves from the "impure" but as the Body of Christ growing "to the full maturity of Christ the head, through whom the whole body grows, and with the proper functioning of the members joined firmly together by each supporting ligament, builds itself up in love" (Ephesians 4:15-16)

So, let's stick together, shall we?

Have a Blessed and Holy Ash Wednesday.

Actual Conversation

at dinner, last night:

Little Dear: L-O-V-E... does that spell "love?"

Me: Yes.

Little Boo: L-O-V-E?

Me: Yes. That spells "love."

Little Dear: What if she said L-O-V-E-W?

Little Boo: (bellowing) I did not say that!

Me: I-

Little Dear: (shrieking) I know! I said: What if you did?!?

Me: Hush. It wouldn't be a word.

Little Boo: What wouldn't be a word?

Me: L-O-V-E-W.

Little Love: (waving 3 fingers in my face) "Dis a doubl-you!"



It's no wonder pinot noir is a staple in this house.

L-E-N-T

I have a love/hate relationship with Lent.

I dislike Lent for all of the obvious reasons, the "giving up" things, the voluntary suffering, the extra penances, the extra masses...(which amounts to penance with little kiddos).


But I also love it, really and truly.


You know that feeling you get when you walk through your house and realize that a serious 27 fling boogie is in order...except that your particular "27" needs to be more like "27,000"? Every nook and crannie needs to be scrubbed, and could we please just throw away those awful dish towels and go buy some new ones already?


Yes, that is how my soul feels about this time every year.


Isn't the Church so very wise?


I used to feel a bit guilty about housecleaning during Holy Week. I mean, wouldn't my time be better spent meditating on The Passion and doing extra rosaries with the kids? Is getting my home in order for the upcoming Easter Bash really an appropriate use of my time?


Cleaning is penance for me, I admit. And so, while washing and scrubbing and tossing and organizing, I meditate.


I force myself to be cheerful and upbeat.


I smile.


It's the same with my soul. The penances are hard for me. The extra masses, prayers and visits and did I mention the chosen penances? Very hard for this squishy soul. But my joy abounds during these penances, much the same way I smile while scrubbing the floor.

The result will be pleasing to me.


The result will be pleasing to Him.

Grand Instigator Meme

OK, well, that's not exactly the name of this meme, but my sister Portia has tagged me with it, and she has instigated a mad clean up....

and so, I have named it thus.


In the interest of fairness, I have taken a before "This is what I see when I blog":




















Notice the black string hanging from the top left-hand drawer, and the hard-to-see batman who has recently ascended this rope and is now relaxing in the uppermost inbox. Lots of valentines grace the desk and monitor, along with a few copies of DH's Toastmasters magazine...

And an after:





















Much cleaner, but far from picturesque. My tea mug, always filled with decaf chai and loads of honey. And let us not forget to mention the ultimate form of true love. DH's Father's Day present from a few years back....

A picture of the "Original Six" hockey stadiums.

Hanging prominently in our living room.

Lest we forget our(his) heritage.

:)

Lessee.... I tag Margaret, Michelle, and Suzanne.

And things just get nuttier...

DH has begun a very messy and time-consuming project, which has reduced the number of available commodes in the house to one.

The number of children and adults using this one commode has not decreased in any way, and, in fact, shows signs of increasing as Little Love continues to exhibit signs of "potty readiness."

Yes, we need to hurry, but at least we both know this and are not bound to a contractor's schedule. DH is very brave to do this, armed only with a Home Depot "Do it Yourself" book, and some basic knowledge about tiling a floor.

I am very excited about the master bathroom being re-modeled. There is something soothing about having your own bathroom as a place of loveliness and retreat, instead of wincing every time you enter, noticing the cracked linoleum and rotting baseboards. It is the only room in the house that hasn't been touched since the house was built.

My part in all of this is the after-dinner dishes. What, you say? Yes, DH usually cleans the dishes and the kitchen after every dinner, which is no small task. (I am not the neatest cook) And last night, my duties doubled since it was bath night, and so I was running back and forth from the kitchen to the bathroom, whilst DH drilled the new studs into the shower walls.

And so, I can rightfully claim that we are both working hard on this renovation project.

It is a labor of love.

iPod Meme

I've been tagged by Margaret!

I think she has an ulterior motive to "out" me as the (semi... not hard core) alternative rockin' mom I am... since she alone knows the kind of garbage I like... (having e-mailed me to ask what I run to).

I'll get you for this, my dear!

:)


According to rules of the game, (ht: SFO Mom), “Go to your music player of choice and put it on shuffle. Say the following questions aloud, and press play. Use the song title as the answer to the question. NO CHEATING.”

Okay, here's my disclaimer. We actually do not own an iPod, or Mp3 player.(it's on our list of things to buy, since we both like to run to music) I listen to music after we are done with school, and when I run on the treadmill. The kids have their own favorites, and I have mine. In some instances, they overlap. Yes, my peanuts love BNL.

So, I'll just load up our 6-disc changer with some of my favorites and see what happens...

How does the world see you? "It's All Been Done" (BNL: "Disc One)
I don't doubt it... There are many Catholic moms out there, thank goodness!


Will I have a happy life? "From Where I Am" (Enya: Memory of Trees)
Good lesson here, happiness is always to be found where you are, not somewhere else...


What do my friends really think of me? "Sell, Sell, Sell" (BNL: Maroon)
Well, I don't have a home-based business...


Do people secretly lust after me? "Jane" (BNL: Disc One)
Silly question, and I'm glad it's Jane and not me...


How can I make myself happy? "Upside Down" (BNL: Everything to Everyone Dallas concert...yes, half of the discs are BNL)
HA! that is exactly how some of my days feel...


What should I do with my life? "Hollywood" (Cranberries: To The Dearly Departed)
Errr... no thank you.


Will I ever have children? "Tonight is the Night I fell Asleep at the Wheel" (BNL: Maroon)
The wheel on the car of parenthood??


What is some good advice for me? "Old Apartment" (BNL: Everything to Everyone Dallas concert)
No thanks, I'll stick to our little cottage.


How will I be remembered? "What a Good Boy" (BNL: Disc One)
Maybe we can switch the gender on that one?


What is my signature dancing song? "Beloved Wife" (Natalie Merchant: Tiger Lily)
Now, I cry every time I hear that song, about a man who lost his beloved wife after 50 years of marriage. I still can't listen to it without tearing up.


What do I think is my current theme song? "Forever Yellow Skies" (Cranberries: To The Dearly Departed)
As in, the sun is big and so bright that it takes up most of the sky? Boy, that would be great!

What does everyone think my current theme song is? "Falling for the First Time" (BNL: Disc One)
Now that is hilarious.


What song will play at my funeral? "Off the Hook" (BNL: Maroon)
As long as it's Christ taking me off the hook... Although, I can't imagine that song being played at any funeral...


What type of men / women do you like? "I May Know the Word" (Natalie Merchant: Tiger Lily)
Most of her songs are dark and hopeless, this one included. All I can say is that I did "pray for deliverance from the night (of love) into the day" and God answered me by sending my DH!



What is my day going to be like? "Salvation" (Cranberries: To The Faithful Departed)
(sigh) Yes, that would be every day.


I tag Portia, Matilda, and Mrs. Bear.

Have fun, ladies!

You know it's going to be...

...a lonnnngggg week when you sleepily shut off the alarm in the morning, wondering why you set the alarm, since it is Saturday morning, right?

And then it hits you...

It's only Tuesday.



Kyrie Eleison.


Good news? Margaret has tagged me for a fun meme... can't wait to do it!

Oh... and for Matilda's sake.... here is Little Dear on her 2nd birthday (2002) and Little Love on her 2nd birthday (2004).

TWINS?

Dreaming...

...and reminiscing of our vacation to the Georgia Strait 3 summers ago. This little island is where DH and I had our honeymoon, thanks to some very generous family friends and my brother-in-law who lent us his boat.

We spent an entire week in this paradise setting, and finally were able to bring the kids to spend the day, 7 years later! And we have high hopes that this summer we will be able to return with the kids and make more memories digging clams, fishing, and hauling up the prawn traps...


Just a little bit of sunshine to look forward to here as winter keeps on keeping on and on and on!

The Loveliness of Romance

With all of the sickness going around our house right now, "The Loveliness of Romance” is not really on my mind…

How about “The Loveliness of Zyrtec?”

Or, “The Loveliness of steamed Albuterol in $200 nebulizers?”

Not very romantic, I admit. But certainly what’s on my mind these days.

Come to think of it, though, I guess a certain kind of romance is keeping me here, amidst the coughing and stuffy noses. Yes, of course it’s my love for my kids that restrains me from running off to the Bahamas… But I think the real reason is the commitment I made to my best friend 10 years ago.

To love, honor, and obey him, until death do us part.

Andrew and I met our freshman year in college. I was instantly attracted to his curly long black hair, and his opaque blue eyes. He was tall and handsome, and confident. I was determined to get to know him better. We started dating in October of freshman year, one month after we met. And we dated all four years.

As we grew closer, and our rough edges wore away the other’s, our love became a decision, a constant commitment, and not just a feeling. I couldn’t imagine being without him. And, in one romantic outburst, he told me:

When I’m looking for a wife, I’m not looking for someone I can live with. I’m looking for someone I can’t live without. And I think I found her.


To me, that is exactly what romance is about. The feeling and knowledge that you have found the person you were looking for. And, as you live out your married life together, the absolute assurance that God created the two of you to journey your path to heaven as one. As the years go by, it becomes more and more obvious how perfect God is, how all-knowing and all-wise. Just how did Andrew know I needed those flowers, that hug, or that loving (ahem) challenge?

Romance is comfort, contentment, and quiet peace (even in and around the chaos of sickness) all year long...

A Big Thank You...

... to whomever offered up prayers or a sacrifice for me yesterday.

I was struggling with my vocation of both teacher and mom to:

Hacking Boy: sick enough to be homebound but well enough to tackle moving oblects at will.
Coughing Boy: incessantly bemoaning the lack of cough drops. constant victim of Hacking Boy.
Drama Queen: upon waking yesterday morning to a swollen airway, promptly went into hysterics and has been on the verge ever since. claims this is "the worst thing that has ever happened in her whole life." spent the whole day on the couch like a true queen.
Instigator Girl: living up to her name by sticking legos in the popcorn, poking the cat, asking for popsicles every 2.7 seconds, and hugging me fiercely after each act. spent an unprecedented amount of time in the corner.
Screaming Girl: spent most of the morning in her dungeon crib. constant victim of Instigator Girl.

I was yelling.

I was threatening.

I was grumpy.

The culmination came as I exited the kitchen with the 3 millionth cup of water for Drama Queen and Hacking Boy slammed into me, spilling half the cup of freezing cold water down my front.

I hate freezing cold water down my front.

Even when it is 105 degrees outside.

It is nowhere near 105 degrees, outside or in.

And so, I did the only thing that came to my head. I dumped the rest of the water on his head. And the rest of my day went much more smoothly.

Thank you.

*all joking aside, the fact that I turned it into a funny moment proves that someone was praying or suffering for me and I am truly grateful*

What to do?

On a Friday evening, waiting for Law and Order to start?

Mess around with your blog template, of course.


It will just make your visits that much more exciting... you'll never know what you're gonna get!

:)

The Beauty...

...of magnetic "My Little Ponies"!

















Don't they add just the right touch to my bathroom decor?

It comes in twos and threes...

Sickness, that is.

With the two littlest getting sick (fever/cough/vomiting) on the weekend, and still battling it,(minus vomiting, thanks to our beloved doctor). We wake up this morning to the older three barking like dogs, as the slight coughs they had yesterday turned into the full-blown croup.

Lovely.

Well, if misery loves company, I must be in heaven.

Take a look at this. Specifically, the state of Texas.

We'll be pursuing our vocations as hermits for the next week, and eating lots of chicken soup.

And praying that DH and I don't get it at the same time!!

:)

Books for Boys

If you happen to have a boy (or two) around the ages of 7, 8 or 9...you really do not want to miss out on these gems. Robert Newton Peck, (author of A Day No Pigs Would Die) through the voice and experience of Rob, along with his best friend, Soup, has an amazing ability to capture the wit and wisdom of that uncanny time in a boy's life when adventure is still just around the corner, but their wings are slowly being spread and tried out... much to the chagrin of the adults around them.

Needless to say, there are some truly hilarious moments, and the voice of Norman Dietz is absolutely perfect in conveying the boys' absurd yet innocent pranks. One of my boys' favorite parts is where Soup and Rob are discussing the ranches they will own when they grow up, along with the airplanes that must accompany their new lifestyle.

Rob says:
When I fly over your ranch, Soup, know what I'll do to say "Howdy"?
And Soup answers:
Pee out the window.


And our two boys fall onto the floor, rolling over and over with uncontrollable giggles, (much like the protagonists) and then, gasping for air, rewind the tape again...

...and again,

...and again.

True 7 (& 9) year-old boy humor.

ABC's of Homemaking

I've been tagged by our dear friend Matilda!


Aprons- Y/N?

Nope. I have a few around here, but rarely, if ever, use them.


Baking- Favorite thing to bake?

I love to bake goodies... coffee cake, muffins, desserts!


Clothesline- Y/N?

No. Although when we moved in to this house 6 years ago, there was some sort of contraption outside which eventually became a pulley/tree climbing rope for the boys to use.


Donuts- Ever made them?

Yes! DH has made them a few times, and we dip ours in maple syrup. But we also patronize the local donut shop down the street, where the ladies there know us very well!


Everyday- One homemaking thing you do everyday?

Dishes, of course.


Freezer- Do you have a seperate deep freezer?

Yes. And we certainly use it!


Garbage Disposal- Y/N?

Yes.


Handbook- Y/N?

There is one? Oh, how much angst could have been avoided!


Ironing- Love it or hate it?

Isn't that what the dryer is for? Seriously, we tried to remedy the ironing aversion by purchasing an "over the door" ironing board, neglecting to remember that all of our doors are as tall as the ceilings, and so when I opened the ironing board, it came to my chin.
Very clever, that is what I am.


Junk Drawer- Where is it?

One in the kitchen, and one per kid in their rooms. Most of my kids are pack rats... wonder where they get it from?


Kitchen- Design and decorating?

Galley style, white appliances, white cabinets and saltillo tile floors. There is a bit of a "fruit" theme, and we've tried to pick up on that with the curtains in the eating area, and my dish towels and cutting board.


Love- What is your favorite part of homemaking?

Cooking and baking. I just love working with fresh herbs and veggies, and baking treats that make the whole house smell scrumptious.


Mop- Y/N?

Big downfall of mine. DH gallantly steps in and does it most of the time. I truly dislike doing it, but it needs to be done more often than it usually is.


Nylons- Wash by hand or in the washer?

Oh, the joy of living in Texas! I never wear them.


Oven- Do you use the window or open it to check?

Always open it, lets the yummy smell out!


Pizza- What do you put on yours?

Mine? Well, if I could, everything! But the kiddos like black olive, or ham and pineapple.


Quiet- What do you do during the day when you get a quiet moment?

Blog, or read.


Recipe card box- Y/N?

Yes, but not all of the recipe cards are identically shaped, and many are just ripped out of magazines or scrawled on pieces of paper...


Style of house-

Late 50's with vaulted ceilings and other little touches (like floor-to-ceiling doors...even the closet doors!) I've tried to decorate it in a "french-country style" of tiled floors and lots of greens and homey burgundy's. (my fruit theme...)


Tablecloths and napkins- Y/N?

For guests, but usually not lace.


Under the kitchen sink- Organized or toxic wasteland?

Not toxic, all of our cleaning stuff is above the sink (thank you, DD#2). But not really organized. It's where we keep buckets, sponges, grocery bags (stinky diaper bags), garbage bags, etc....


Vacuum- How many times a week?

1 or 2.


Wash- How many loads do you do a week?

At least 14, usually more. I try to do two loads a day. The real question should be, How often do you get around to folding it and putting it away?


X's- Do you keep a list of things to do and cross them off?

Sometimes, especially if I have a party to prep for, or guests coming over.


Yard- Who does what?

DH does it all. And he helps inside the house too. He is so awesome that way.


ZZZ's- What is your last homemaking task for the day?

Turn on the dishwasher.


I have no idea who has done this, but here goes:

I tag: Portia, 4 and counting, and Michelle H.

Mom to Mom, friends for the journey...

There's a new blog about. And it's a wonderful resource for all young Catholic moms out there who may feel a bit lonely and need some cyber-space friendship. And for all of us old chickens? It's a nice place to pop in and offer some motherly advice and generally make nuisances of ourselves with all of our reminiscing and amazing wisdom gleaned from years of being perfect mothers.

:)

But seriously, this post had me thinking. The first commenter said that whenever she talks about mothering, she feels like she needs to apologize for "only have one child..." as if her experiences as a mom can only be validated by the number of children she has! As if one cannot really be a mother until one has two or more children. And unfortunately, it seems as if this woman has received some "comments" to that effect?

Now. My lovely friends who have more than one child, which one of us would like to go back to those "mother of one" days? Come on, now. Raise those hands high!

Yeah, me neither. Not for a million dollars.

For me, it was a time of extreme self-doubt. My first born was colicky, and I couldn't seem to get the nursing thing down. I suffered (silently) through post-partum depression (although my DH recognized it and helped me tremendously) and all while trying to hold down a full-time teaching job.

Then, finally, after getting through the end of the school year, I found myself stuck in Florida (yes, long story. we lived there while DH trained with then-GTE in Tampa...aka "home of the newly-wed and nearly dead" all of whom were mis-placed NYers...and being a NYer myself, I could appreciate their angst, trust me.) with an 8 month old, being a new "stay-at-home" mom and no friends to speak of. It was really hard. When we moved back to the Lone Star State, I soon became pregnant with DS #2, and all of my new stay-at-home mom friends were busy with their "two or more" children. I remember eagerly looking forward to the birth of #2, if only to ease the monotony of my days...

And now, I am so very busy, but also so much more knowledgeable. Not perfect, mind you, oh-so-very not perfect! But I am competent, and able, and a bit more self-assured in my parenting skills. I am better able to get a handle on the character of this family we have and I know my own mind a bit more when it comes to those important parenting questions of schooling and vaccinating and is it a cold or allergies?

Whenever I meet a "mom of one" I just want to hug her and reassure her that it truly does get better and easier. And when she says she can't imagine having more than one, because one is truly overwhelming, I whole-heartedly agree with her. One certainly is overwhelming. But I point out the perks of having many siblings and helping hands. How wonderful it is to have other playmates for the baby, instead of just me. How fun to see them romping together while I sneak away to make dinner or (*gasp*) go to the bathroom in peace!

And while I miss the peaceful "one-on-one time" with the baby, seeing it through the eyes of her siblings is a joy I wouldn't miss.

Not for a million dollars.

And now it's up to us to encourage and reach out to these "young moms of one" not just to advise, but to befriend.

Super Reminiscing

How many of you all now have miniature Peyton Mannings running all over your house?

How many pieces of furniture have been moved or removed in order to set the stage for the big game?

How many bruises have appeared and touchdown dances performed in your living rooms?

How many, "Hey mom, did you see it when the Colts (blah blah blah)?" questions have you fielded today?

I have lost count, too. And even though DH took the boys to a Super Bowl party with some daddy friends and their sons, and the girls and I had a lovely evening watching Cinderella, having bean dip and chips and sprite, I was still able to catch the last half of the game.

And enjoy the fact that my sons can emulate and admire a team whose coach exhibits so much class and natural virtue.

That's the way it should be.

Menu Reprieve on Super Sunday

It's not often that a Mom gets three nights off in a row.

Three nights off from making dinner, that is.

And I am enjoying it immensely...


Go, Colts!

Whoa.

Forgive me for name dropping, just this once.

But Rachel Coleman of Signing Time fame has commented on my blog!

You all know how much I love the Signing Time dvd's, I've plugged them before, and got a few of you hooked, right?

She is an amazing person, with an amazing story.

Do go read, and support their awesome work.

Oh, tell her I said "hi."

: P

Perfect Ol' Mamas

I found this post of Danielle Bean's to be very intriguing.

For most of my "mommy-hood" I have thought of myself as the newbie. I mean, I am still only 28 years old, right?

;)

And it constantly surprises me when younger moms with only one or two children come up to me and gush about how they "remember" when I had only one or three (since the time between having two and having three was very very short) and how they marveled at my awesomeness... or some such silly thing.

And NOW!

Well, now, apparently, I am one of those old Mamas who knows everything and whose life is officially over.

That's not what they say, of course. But, it's what I used to think of those "moms with 5+ kids".

Those moms were not rattled by anything. They were so laid back, and just smiled gently when they saw their two year old spraying Elmer's glue all over the floor. They all calmly accepted that they would not be able to consume an entire cup of coffee while it's piping hot, and finishing sentences was entirely overrated.

When I encountered these moms, I roundly turned up my nose at their lack-a-daisical parenting style and soundly ignored all of their well-meaning tidbits of advice.

Because I am oh-so-humble that way.

And I found out, among other things, that Someone upstairs has an amazing sense of humor.

I have pretty much swallowed back all of my earlier "perfect parenting" aspirations and become one of those moms. (minus the Elmer's glue reaction) For example, the recent Math fiasco? You betcha, a result of not listening to "one of those moms"...

So, when one of these "newbie moms" comes up to me and starts the gush, I am truly astonished. I try to never offer advice unless asked, and end up being very impressed with this younger set coming through. They are all so joyful, so capable, and yet so humble.

It gives us older Mamas hope.

:)

Day in the Life

Michelle wrote a post a few days ago, outlining her day as a homeschooling mom. I found it interesting to see how her day went, and what challenges she faces, and how she triumphs over them.

So, like it or not, here was my day yesterday.

Since I didn't set the alarm the night before...

8:30 -get out of bed

:)


Take DD#3 out of her crib, get her a bottle, instruct the boys' in their job of getting themselves breakfast while snugging on the couch with DD#3.

9:00 -finish breakfast for everyone, including me, and help the little girls get dressed.

9:30 -start school by turning on the math dvd, get dressed while it's playing.

9:35-10:30 -assist 3 older kids with math, facts, and religion, rotating from one to the other. (in the meantime, field a phone call from a friend and return to find the school table empty and the children running around like banshees...)

10:30-11:00 -break time. check weather, news, blogs. get snacks for little ones.

11:00-12:00 -help 3 older kids with religion, Latin, geography, and spelling (again with the rotating) put on some soup for lunch. (the younger girls, this whole time, are either playing nicely or fighting or begging me to read/play with them... I try to include them in the "work" around the table as much as I can)

12:00-1:30 -make, eat and clean up lunch (and breakfast dishes), unload and load dishwasher, put DD#3 down for a nap, help DD#1 finish her religion. (did you know that angels are magic because they can see in the dark, just like chinchillas? -compliments of DD#2)

1:30-2:30 -put in laundry, supervise clean up, (aka stretch my lung capacity)make banana muffins (and get a huge kick out of DD#3's rendition of the banana knock-knock joke) and get changed into running clothes. pull meat from freezer for dinner.

2:30-3:30 -plug in kids, treadmill and CD player, and run/walk/jog/drag through 2miles. (FYI:The Backyardigan's "Astronauts Never Give Up" song has a perfect beat for stomach crunches)

3:30-4:30 -get DD#3 up from her nap, let her watch Signing Time while I shower. and realizing that meatloaf will not work for tonight, panic.

4:30-5:30 -decide to make leftover ham with a salad, some rolls and rice.

6:15 -dinner is ready, DH is home, and Mama is growling.

7:00 -bath time for girls, I clean the girls while DH cleans the kitchen. (all I can say is that dishes don't scream and cry and yell) boys have dessert.

8:00 -bath time for boys (self-sufficient...praise the Lord!) girls have dessert.

8:30 -put girls to bed: make bottle, fill water bottles, cover DD#3 approximately 322 times.

9:00 -threaten lives if we see faces appear in the livingroom, or hear names called from the bedrooms. cover children again.

9:30 -sipping hot cups of tea, relax on the couch with DH, ignoring huge pile of laundry that needs folding and school work that needs to be prepped for the morning.

11:00 -after watching half of Superman Returns, go to bed.

And then start it all over in the morning! Although this morning, I got up early and feel a bit more prepared for the day...

Here's hoping anyway. (and praying...how could we do this without prayer?? )

Have a Blessed Day All!