Important Discovery

Apparently, when Little Dude was processed through the parts department, specifically the ear wing, the angel on duty was sleeping on the job. 

His two little ears are totally different.
 
The left one sticks out hopelessly, while the right one is completely normal.
It's truly the cutest thing ever.

And yes, we are a little bit ashamed that it took us 3 months to notice. 

But, only a little.  Our excuse is valid.  We were totally enamored with his gargantuan blue eyes.
:)

Humor Me...

.. and tell me I'm not as irrational as I think.
(didja catch that oxymoron?  IR-rational as I THINK?  heh heh I kill me)


Last night, Lil Sis and I went out to dinner to have our annual* sissy date. And we had a great time, of course.


Right before we left, the manager-lady came over and asked if everything was satisfactory.  Fair enough, right?

THEN!  She goes in for the "Belly touch"!!!

"OOOH!" she coos.... "HOW'S THE BABY?!?"  as she REACHES OVER TO PAT MY STOMACH!!!!

But then she stops.

Lil Sis swears I was not giving her the look of death.  I cannot confirm that, since I was not looking in a mirror, but rather in horror at her approaching hand.

"Oh... Oh.  Are you the kind that thinks it's weird to have strangers touching your belly?"

Um, Why yes, ma'am.  And you are not?  May I touch your belly?

"Well... I just wanted to touch the baby..." and she wanders away.


Hmmmm.
In order for her to touch the baby that is STILL IN MY WOMB she'd have to do some pretty amazing things.  Don't-ya think?

(sigh) 

Maybe I am irrational.  Am I the only person who feels violated when strangers want to touch your pregnant belly??

Oooookay.

Back to my regularly scheduled hormonal breakdowns.  Stay tuned.  It's going to be a wild ride.

We've got three more weeks of this to go.


:P


*yes, ANUUAL. :( Not often enough, and about to get rarer...

Sunshine and Allergies Daybook

Warm weather has returned to the Nut House. Highs in the low 70's this week! But with it comes much pollen. DH is especially having a hard go of it these days.


Outside my window....

Abundant sunshine. I'm looking forward to my afternoon break outside in my patio chair with a good book.


I am listening to...

Little Love and Little Boo playing. No school today, so they are taking advantage of the quiet downstairs to spin their tales with Polly Pockets tucked into decorative shelving set up as exquisite homes.


I am wearing...

Pink and lime flannel plaid pj bottoms, lime green sweatshirt and crocs. Don't ask about the hair. :P


I am thankful for...

The return of the warmer weather. I don't feel so restricted and hunkered down anymore.


I am reading...

Edge of Sadness for bookclub, and In Conversation with God for me. For those of you who have read In Conversation... is it just me, or does it miraculously apply to just about every day of your life? The meditations are unbelievably timely and applicable. Gives me the goosebumps.


From the kitchen...

Two very ripe bananas. Guess I'll be making muffins today. Everything is stocked for the week, I just need to spin my magic and think up some delectable meals... that include lots of salad.


I am thinking...

That I do my best thinking in the shower at night. And I need to post then, not in the morning. Which means my time with DH will be limited. Not. Good. Hmmm. Need to think more about that.


On my iPod...

I hardly listen anymore. Does the soundtrack to Cars count? lol The kids insisted that DH put it on, and now that's their clean up music. A tad bit loud sometimes.


Towards a real education...

Catechism co-op today! We love that the kids get weekly time with their best friends. Delving into the faith with them and their awesome teachers is something I would never replace. It's amazing for them.


Towards rhythm and beauty...

Hosting 75 people here on Saturday night convinced me that our house is way more versatile than I thought. It was lovely. I'm excited to plan for other events in the future... and declutter everything we "packed away" from tiny fingers...


To live the Liturgy...

Love my spiritual reading. I can't say enough about it. Keeping those meditations in mind throughout the day has made me look at everything I do in a new light. Sanctifying our work as moms is a real thing. It raises our work to the supernatural. But it's not us. We need to beg God for His grace. Humbling, and yet awesome.


I am hoping and praying...
For so many situations.


In the garden...
The pansies are still alive, looking a bit wilted. Guess I need to water them! :)


Around the house...

Laundry. And lots of it.


On keeping home...
Still no chore schedule. What is it going to take for us(me) to get my act together? Any tips?


One of my favorite things...

Sunshine and a good book.


A few plans for the rest of the week...

Bunco Friday night. Playdates for the kids, and a meal for a friend with a new little blessing!


A picture thought I am sharing...
















This is how Little Boo plays hockey with Papa.

:P

Frivolity

So.... we've been invited to a Gaudete Sunday Celebration by a wonderful couple who moved to the area a few years ago. Even though we have a Nativity Play that day, in which a bunch of families get together, watch the kids stumble through a beautiful rendition of the Christmas Story (and turn it into a comedy in the process...) and then have a pot luck dinner together....
~ whew~
We are bound and determined to branch out, meet new folks, enkindle new acquaintances, and go to this Gaudete Sunday shin dig afterwards.

Here's the kicker, though. The dress is swank casual. Sounds uber-awesome, huh?

I just have no clue what that means.

The hosts were kind enough to reveal that the male counterpart would be sporting a smoking jacket, and that the other men invited were encouraged to bring along cigars and pipes and such. DH threatened opined that he may just go to the thrift store and see if he could rustle up a white suit.

Personally? I think he needs to be kept very busy for the next few weeks, and thus very. FAR. AWAY. from any thrift stores. A-hem.

Now.. as for the women in the group? And their swank attire? Um... yeah. Hmmm.

I was thinking along these lines...(not being the holiday dress kind of gal) and maybe pairing it with a print scarf or top or funky vest.

Or maybe this?

But certainly not this. (a little much for my crowd... and my mama-shaped body)

Come on fashion gurus... help me out.

:P

Musical Mindset

When scrolling through my last two posts, you can see how I ended one with a BNL song and started the next with another one. Long time readers will not be surprised in the least by this. They will remember the days when I had a song widget on my sidebar, filled to the max with all things BNL so that, upon opening my blog, you were greeted with some amazing tunes.

Well, that was my attitude about it, anway.
:P

Somewhere along the way, the widget malfunctioned, and I never found a replacement. Also, I started to write serious*. uber-Catholic*. mommy bloggy. stuff* on other sites, and felt weird about people clicking over to my blog and being greeted by not-so-very-religious music blasting their ears off. (*totally being tongue-in-cheek here) Sadly, I abandoned my overt love of all things BNL and continued writing.

But the truth is? I am still head-over-heels for all types of music. In fact, it shapes my mood and my life like nothing else. (except for my Faith, which should-I hope!- be obvious) Whenever I feel down, or unmotivated, or overwhelmed... I say a few prayers and then pop in some upbeat music. Soon, I am be-bopping around like nobody's business, and things are getting accomplished.

Superficial? Probably. But it works for me. I can identify with music, in fact, it's part of my "personality info" badge on the sidebar there. I was surprised to see "musical" as #1 on the "multiple intelligences" part. I have never considered myself to be an exceptionally musical person. But music affects me. Usually, pretty profoundly. I find meanings and nuances that might normally be overlooked. Sometimes, it's the best way I have of decribing something... feelings or emotions. I send sound bites to friends, and they respond politely. :) They are so tolerant.

Not surprisingly, my kids love music. Sports Fan picks out tunes on the piano. So does Little Dear and Little Love. The Star Wars theme, certain BNL songs, something Dad was playing earlier... they all work hard to imitate by ear. It's pretty amazing.

Action Man especially is showing the most signs of having a special affinity for music. These days he is filling his newly-purchased mp3 player with the super cool music from his Mom and Dad's Simon and Garfunkel collection... along with BNL, of course. But all along, he has listened to music with a discerning ear. Not the "classical music only" type of discerning ear, but one that listens to comprehend. The lyrics, the beat, the different instruments... he tries to pick them apart and understand how the sounds meld. He enjoys Classical music, too, don't get me wrong. He will sit enraptured during his online music program, letting the sounds wash over him. And then he'll play it again. And again. And again. Until I am literally biting my tongue off and his siblings are about to stage a mutiny.
:)

I find that when our house is on it's edge and tempers are short, it's because music has been lacking. Once we plug in the iPOD or put some cd's on, the rough edges are smoothed over. The soundtrack of our lives has become unified, and we can once again be-bop along the same track.

:)

Daybook: The "Surely It's Going to SNOW?" Edition

:)

Outside my window...

Cold, sunny, and insanely windy. A cold front blew in last night and has decided to keep on blowing. My kids are certain it will snow and are demanding hot cocoa and winter hats.


I am thinking....

Actually, I am shell-shocked. My parents come in one. week. One! Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Seriously? I think I lost a week.


I am thankful for...

People I can bounce things off of, who reaffirm that I am not losing my mind. Not yet, anyway.
What a relief. :)


From the Learning Rooms...

No Study Halls or quizzes. Yay. I woke up this morning in dread of the juggling I do every week. My kmail (means of communicating with our "teachers") this morning was a welcomed sight. I felt a weight lift. Now I can breathe.



From the Kitchen....

Beef stew and homemade bread. Hot chocolate when the kids are home from co-op. Maybe we can take a break this afternoon and do some read alouds.



I am Wearing...

Jeans, Mary Jane Crocs, Cream button-down sweater. I'm about to head out into the frigid day to drop the kids off at their religion class.



I am Reading....

Sexual Authenticity by Melinda Selmys. It's for my book club. I chuckle as I wonder what y'all must think of my book club. We read some interesting stuff.
:)



I am Hoping...

I can get all my chores done. DH was away last weekend as well as the weekend before... and doesn't our house show it. I need to get motivated.



I am Listening to...

Little Dear's Latin lesson. It's an awesome online program, lots of fun games and vocab. She and Sports Fan love it.


Around the House...

Cleaning. De-cluttering. Madness. What else is new... we homeschool. :P


One of my Favorite Things...

Get-togethers with friends. My calendar is filling up. All fun evenings with people we thoroughly enjoy. I love the holiday season.




A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week...

Bookclub, Bunco, an evening out with DH.





Here is a Picture Thought I am Sharing...
















The Ninjas are deadly and silent
They're also unspeakably violent
They speak Japanese
They do whatever they please
And if you tear off their masks they'll be smilin'

~BNL

:P

Heads are Spinning

Well, at least mine feels like it.

1. This past weekend was a doozy, with soccer games and an end-of-season party and our annual neighborhood bash, there were many festivities to attend and much sugar was consumed by my peanuts. I think they are still spiraling down from the sugar high.

2. Life is getting complicated. There. That's an enigmatic statement if I ever saw one. With the dynamic of our family changing, and the lack of newborns in our near future, I feel the pull more and more towards service. DH has noted my tendency to over-commit to things, and is warning me not to put the needs of others above our family. There are truly so many needs out there, and so many causes to support... it's going to take some prayer and discernment to figure out the charism of our little family.

3. Along the same lines of a complicated life, I am also aspiring to.... (surprise!) generate some income from my scribblings. I have two small gigs going, but neither are paying ones (though for one of them I get to keep the products I review!), and I already feel the pressure of performance, and am not sure that this is what I want. The decision remains as to whether I should try to find a paying gig, or just float these things for awhile and get some good experience. So, yeah. Hmmmm.

4. This is sinus season. We have gone through two prescription nasal sprays in the past two weeks. I am hopped up on Benadryl and Mucinex, with a little Flonase and Advil thrown in. I am tons of fun today.

5. And last, but certainly not least.. (*wink wink*) got my hair low-lighted last week. So, while my head may be spinning, at least it's looking good.

:P

Remember....

this?

Where we'd all look around our houses and see who could come up with the wildest misplaced item?

Well... let's play, shall we?

1. The computer desk is ripe with bizarre items: a glitter-decorated lemonade mix can, an empty stationery holder, and a circuit box.

2. A container of wood glue is precariously perched on top of our dsl modem, holding it in place on the top shelf of our built-in book shelves in the study. (isn't that what wood glue bottles are for?)

3. A pair of six-shooter cap guns have been banished to the top of the fridge, probably due to some infraction that occurred weeks ago. Wonder what that was about?

4. I have to come back to the study again, it's an extreme work-in-progress. We've got everything in here... my sewing machine, (can you believe it? me neither) a hockey goalie helmet, our rooftop carrier, a poker set, DH's beer making paraphernalia, a tennis racket, photo albums, weights, and empty boxes. Thank goodness for all of these built-ins, eh?
(ok, sorry, DH, not so funny.... this is supposed to be his space, after all...)


So, what do you guys have?

:)

My Heart Skipped a Beat

Your 80s Hunk Is

Kirk Cameron

Who's Your 80s Hunk?

Because, of course, I was madly in love with Kirk Cameron way back when...

:)

h/t Elaine

Crack Open the Bubbly!

Your Slogan Should Be

Nutmeg. Champagne for the Brain.

The Slogan Generator

Because I'm always game for a cold one....

:)

h/t Carmen

You Are a Semi-Colon

You are elegant, understated, and subtle in your communication. You're very smart (and you know it), but you don't often showcase your brilliance. Instead, you carefully construct your arguments, ideas, and theories until they are bulletproof. You see your words as an expression of yourself, and you are careful not to waste them. You friends see you as enlightened, logical, and shrewd. (But what you're saying often goes right over their heads.) You excel in: The Arts You get along best with: The Colon

What Punctuation Mark Are You?

h/t: my bosom buddy Elaine

:)

But of course....

You Are New York

Cosmopolitan and sophisticated, you enjoy the newest in food, art, and culture. You also appreciate a good amount of grit - and very little shocks you. You're competitive, driven, and very likely to succeed. Famous people from New York: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Tupac Shakur, Woody Allen

What American City Are You?

I was born ON Long Island where all of my relatives still reside. Family reunions are akin to scenes from The Godfather, minus the violence. We moved when I was 7, and I lived out the rest of my childhood "upstate" in the boonies.

But I can still pull out that wicked accent when I want to.

:)

h/t Elaine

Nutmeg, Unplugged

And becoming unwound, it seems.

Another unscheduled break from blogging and all things virtual has taught me a few things:


1. Life goes on. Real and virtual. I was pleasantly surprised.

:)

2. Without distractions, it is possible for an entire house to be unpacked in two weeks.

3. It is also possible for 5 children to hop from stomach flu symptoms to head colds, pretty much instantaneously, as you cross over the Texas border.

4. By the way, this rocks this any day.... just trust me on this, and don't ask me to explain....

5. I am officially not addicted to anything bloggy, including our book club, apparently. Sorry for bowing out on you, Emily! Hope everyone else enjoyed it and participated.

6. Too much time on my hands translated into me re-vamping our home school approach, again; re-decorating the entire house (in my head only... waiting for the financing) and painting the formal living room; along with finding many projects for DH.

7. DH got the internet connected ASAP. Wonder why?

:)

8. Oh, and most importantly, I missed y'all!

Because my brain feels like mush...

... I feel the need for a little bit of affirmation.

Get a Cash Advance

:)

And Now, From Left Field...

Why on earth does the Horror Movie Association keep e-mailing me, convinced that I am qualified as a critic?

Something to ponder...

Is Anybody Really Surprised?

You Belong in Summer

Energetic, creative, and very curious about the world... You're not going to let anything hold you back, especially a cold day. Whether you're chilling out at the beach or partying all night, you live for the warm weather.

What Season Are You?

h/t Karen

My Name....

What Nutmeg Means

N is for Nutty U is for Upbeat T is for Tasty M is for Mysterious E is for Exquisite G is for Grungy

What Does Your Name Mean?

Very Bizarre... How about you?

:)

h/t Matilda

Memed again...

...this time by Mrs. Bear.

A Picture of Now, Between Past and Future.

1.a. Describe your outfit.

White sweatpant/capris, dark olive tank top, brown Old Navy flip flops.

b. What associations does the main color invoke?

I guess the main color would be the dark olive. I have always loved this color. It matches my eyes almost perfectly. And while not all shades of green work for me, this is one shade that does.

c. Is there a memory associated with this outfit (or part of it)?

Not really. All the pieces are new to me this summer...

2.a. Are you listening to music?

Um. Yes. The Backyardigans is on Noggin, and 3 of my kids are watching it. They are currently singing "A Message" done to the tune of Ella Fitzgerald's "A Tisket A Tasket"...

b. Was this intentional?

The show, yes. Not the song. Truth be told, I can only take Backyardigans in small doses.

c. What does the music make you remember?

It reminds me of Ella's voice and jazz in general, which I happen to really enjoy. Maybe I need to break out some of those CD's.

3.a. Describe the objects within arms' reach.

Oh boy, this should be interesting. Computer paraphernalia, the May issue of Magnificat, a Spiderman action figure, a baggie of screws, a Handel CD, our phone, a pocket knife, bug spray....

b. Choose one object and tell where you acquired it.

The Spiderman action figure was bought for Sports Fan using his gift card. I was convinced he would end up suffering from buyer's regret, since he had originally wanted to purchase a pirate sword. He spent the whole day telling me how happy he was with his choice.

c. On the whole, are the objects new (memory blanks) or old (memory filled)?

I'd say new. Since most of the computer stuff is new as well...

4.a. What room are you in?

What we call "The Front Room" or our second living room.

b. To what extent is it yours?

Well, we're 6 years in on our 30 year mortgage... :)

c. What kind of memories will you have in the future of this room?

Since we hope to sell in the next year (need! more! space!) hopefully the future will be elsewhere. The memories I hold now are of much playing, rough housing, tent-making, and "walking" newborns 'til the wee hours....

5. What were you doing before starting this post, and what would you like to do next?

I had started dinner and was waiting for the chicken to brown. Since then, we've had dinner and dessert and cleaned up from both. Next, I'd like the nanny to put the kids to bed (HA) and DH and I to have an early evening cocktail and chat.


OK, I'll tag Matilda, Karen, Elizabeth, and Margaret.

Have Fun!

:)

Receipt Meme

Margaret dared anyone to join her in this most expose' of memes....

Admit to where I shop and how much I spend?!?

Hell, why not.

Besides, each trip has a store-y. (ha ha...I kill me)
















The first thing I did Saturday when I had some down time was take 4 of the kids to Toys R Us.

What, don't you do that for rest and relaxation?

:)

Truth is, this was an easy trip due to the generosity of one of my NY aunts who bestowed on each child an oh-so-very-cool $25 gift card. We had been saving them for a rainy day (like the past 30?) and so thought we should cash 'em in and reap the benefits.

(I also reaped the benefits of finding an uber cool godson toy on sale.... saving it for Christmas)*



Next stop, after putting batteries into approximately 321 toys, and leaving the happy cherubs with Papa.... was Sam's.

This is a twice a month (paycheck induced) trip. We stock up on pampers (now used for nighttime only!) pasta, lemonade mix, frozen waffles, cheese, meat, and wine. This trip also saw me buying plastic cups and paper plates, extra goodies like chips and guacamole, and strawberries. We are having company for dinner tomorrow after all.


After dinner, while the kids were enjoying Peter Pan, I snuck out to Madness R Us once again to take care of buyers regret (compliments of Little Dear) bought her many princessy things, and then prepared for my voyage to Carnival.



Carnival is anything but, let me tell you. Unless it's the kind of carnival where there are a gazillion people and babies screaming and fatty food everywhere. Yes, then, that would be my experience at Carnival.

I'm a proud person.

And to admit that I have to shop at Carnival?

Ouch.

But, I do. We have 5 children and DH provides wonderfully, but I need to shop there to make my dollar stretch that much farther.

And while I don't have the most pleasant shopping experience this side of Paradise, I make do. I pop in my earphones to my mp3 player, turn up BNL, and zoom around as fast as possible. And even though the selection of produce isn't packaged in the most appealing manner, I find that short of the farmers' market in downtown Dallas, this store has the juiciest peaches and watermelons. Strange, huh?

Speaking of, this trip was particularly strange, because I felt like a fish out of water. Normally I don't, I mean, I know that store like the back of my hand. But this time, I kept getting looks from people... as if I don't realize that I'm the only caucasion in the store. Do I need a special pass? How about a sign on my back stating that I have 5 children and only one household income?

Sheesh.

Luckily, the checkout lady was very friendly, as was the bagger. And we had a lovely chat, and I didn't feel quite so out of place. Why is that important to me? Maybe it's the karma of the place or something...


My grand total for Saturday was somewhere around $450. BUT! $125 of that was taken care of by gift cards...



*I never ever buy this early for Christmas. Never*

My Favorite Color

What Your Favorite Color Green Says About You:

Balanced --- Relaxed --- Flexible Compassionate --- Philosophical --- Humble Loyal --- Inventive --- Unique

What Does Your Favorite Color Say About You?

h/t: Catholic Harvest