Here's little Elanor on her first playdate at our house! Her Mama was thrilled to be here and Elanor seemed to enjoy herself. It's the start of a great friendship....
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
New Friend!
Here's little Elanor on her first playdate at our house! Her Mama was thrilled to be here and Elanor seemed to enjoy herself. It's the start of a great friendship....
Mama's night out
Life in a Nutshell
Tonight I will meet a group of my friends at the local Jonny Carrinos' for a bite to eat and a few drinks. They are all Mamas, ranging from one child to expecting #six. A couple of the moms are suffering from post-partum (mildly, I expect) while the rest of us just need some decompressing time, and some adult conversation.
We find comraderie in these outings, sharing our joys and sorrows, our frusterations and accomplishments. We are a unique group. The oldest among us is no more than 36, and while that may seem young, the persepective of this group is that of a bunch of Italian grannies, since we have wisdom beyond our years brought on by the raising and caring of many little ones. As a result, we have much time to ponder the broader problems in society today. We are well-read, and well-educated. Yet our laughter and loves stem from the mundane and the daily. We know what is important, and we have dedicated ourselves to it. We know we may look ridiculous in the eyes of the world. Sometimes I catch myself doing just that, and I shudder at what that 20-something executive blonde-haired-suit-wearing chic must think at my jeans, sandals, crazy hair and tanned, wrinkled cheeks.
And then I come home to my own beautiful girls and their sparkling eyes, and the boys and their tales of conquest. And I am more sure than ever of what I am doing and why.
It sure helps to have many friends who are sure too.
Tonight I will meet a group of my friends at the local Jonny Carrinos' for a bite to eat and a few drinks. They are all Mamas, ranging from one child to expecting #six. A couple of the moms are suffering from post-partum (mildly, I expect) while the rest of us just need some decompressing time, and some adult conversation.
We find comraderie in these outings, sharing our joys and sorrows, our frusterations and accomplishments. We are a unique group. The oldest among us is no more than 36, and while that may seem young, the persepective of this group is that of a bunch of Italian grannies, since we have wisdom beyond our years brought on by the raising and caring of many little ones. As a result, we have much time to ponder the broader problems in society today. We are well-read, and well-educated. Yet our laughter and loves stem from the mundane and the daily. We know what is important, and we have dedicated ourselves to it. We know we may look ridiculous in the eyes of the world. Sometimes I catch myself doing just that, and I shudder at what that 20-something executive blonde-haired-suit-wearing chic must think at my jeans, sandals, crazy hair and tanned, wrinkled cheeks.
And then I come home to my own beautiful girls and their sparkling eyes, and the boys and their tales of conquest. And I am more sure than ever of what I am doing and why.
It sure helps to have many friends who are sure too.
Monday, January 30, 2006
Anything else?
Life in a Nutshell
Poor DS#1. The past two weeks he has been fighting a sinus infection. I finally took him to his allergist (after getting the silent treatment from our GP) and he was diagnosed with a sinus infection (no surprise to me) and put on anti-biotics. The cough had a hard time letting go of its victim, though, and as a result of long nights spent hacking away and falling asleep in the wee hours of the morn, DS had a lot of vacation time from school. (Along with a lot of make-up work)
We had a glorious weekend. Lots of much needed rain on Saturday, (along with some much-needed cleaning in the house!) and a very warm and sunny Sunday. DS spent the time playing, resting, reading, and then got to help DH work on the tree fort yesterday.
And then, last night.
DH and I had rented Cinderella Man, and gotten about halfway through when DS#1 comes out with a stomach ache. I told him to use the facilities :) and then I hopped in the shower.
DH comes racing in to inform me that DS's dinner was now on the bathroom floor.
Lovely.
DS#1 is home today, again.
With a (blank)load of schoolwork to do, again.
Yelling at me from the back bedroom for various things, again.
Fighting with his sisters, again.
And not acting sick in the least, again.
sigh
I'm keeping my fingers crossed for tomorrow!
And also praying that no-one else gets it....
:)
Poor DS#1. The past two weeks he has been fighting a sinus infection. I finally took him to his allergist (after getting the silent treatment from our GP) and he was diagnosed with a sinus infection (no surprise to me) and put on anti-biotics. The cough had a hard time letting go of its victim, though, and as a result of long nights spent hacking away and falling asleep in the wee hours of the morn, DS had a lot of vacation time from school. (Along with a lot of make-up work)
We had a glorious weekend. Lots of much needed rain on Saturday, (along with some much-needed cleaning in the house!) and a very warm and sunny Sunday. DS spent the time playing, resting, reading, and then got to help DH work on the tree fort yesterday.
And then, last night.
DH and I had rented Cinderella Man, and gotten about halfway through when DS#1 comes out with a stomach ache. I told him to use the facilities :) and then I hopped in the shower.
DH comes racing in to inform me that DS's dinner was now on the bathroom floor.
Lovely.
DS#1 is home today, again.
With a (blank)load of schoolwork to do, again.
Yelling at me from the back bedroom for various things, again.
Fighting with his sisters, again.
And not acting sick in the least, again.
sigh
I'm keeping my fingers crossed for tomorrow!
And also praying that no-one else gets it....
:)
Friday, January 27, 2006
Return from China
Life in a Nutshell
I had the honor of picking up my friends...now proud parents and their little one....from the airport yesterday evening. Little Elanor surveyed me with serious dark brown eyes, her thick black hair wisping over her forehead. She was snuggled in her stroller, looking like a seasoned traveller. What an ordeal this little one and her new parents have gone through these past two weeks!
And from the sounds of it, they needed all the prayers we offered up....the trip was no picnic. The new Mama got sick, and then the Papa. Little Elanor wouldn't sleep more than three hours at a time...and she is already a year old! Which means that she is walking (something they weren't expecting)....yet another challenge on a 12 hour plane ride.
And so I ushered them home, it seemed like a new home to everyone. Their cat meowed innocently at the window when we arrived....not knowing the utter shock that awaits him! Elanor toddled around after her Papa, loudly protesting when he went outside to get the luggage....she is already a Papa's girl. And Patrick is completely taken. After warming up dinner for them, as Petra stashed all the breakables (again, they weren't expecting her to be so mobile!), I saw Patrick leading Elanor around her new house, showing her all the rooms. I caught her eye as she was rounding the corner into the kitchen. She flashed me a big smile.
And so a new chapter begins.
I had the honor of picking up my friends...now proud parents and their little one....from the airport yesterday evening. Little Elanor surveyed me with serious dark brown eyes, her thick black hair wisping over her forehead. She was snuggled in her stroller, looking like a seasoned traveller. What an ordeal this little one and her new parents have gone through these past two weeks!
And from the sounds of it, they needed all the prayers we offered up....the trip was no picnic. The new Mama got sick, and then the Papa. Little Elanor wouldn't sleep more than three hours at a time...and she is already a year old! Which means that she is walking (something they weren't expecting)....yet another challenge on a 12 hour plane ride.
And so I ushered them home, it seemed like a new home to everyone. Their cat meowed innocently at the window when we arrived....not knowing the utter shock that awaits him! Elanor toddled around after her Papa, loudly protesting when he went outside to get the luggage....she is already a Papa's girl. And Patrick is completely taken. After warming up dinner for them, as Petra stashed all the breakables (again, they weren't expecting her to be so mobile!), I saw Patrick leading Elanor around her new house, showing her all the rooms. I caught her eye as she was rounding the corner into the kitchen. She flashed me a big smile.
And so a new chapter begins.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
YAY! New camera!
DD#3 reveling in her disruption of schooling this morning by plopping herself down right in the middle of our homeschool table...
Friday, January 20, 2006
Manly men...a visit from the farm
Life in a Nutshell
We had the honor of hosting one of the Johnson gang on his way to the west coast yesterday....our friend Canisius. He is a carpenter, and works alongside his Dad on the family farm up in Wisconsin. He and two of his sisters manage three houses, a barn and various farm animals and vegetable gardens. We went to visit them this summer and had a blast.
On this most recent visit, he heralded my boys with tales of deer hunting (using bows)imitated the sounds he makes to atttract the deer, and various other stories of hosting 'city-boys' on their first hunt. He relayed the butchering of the six deer they got, plus two of their cows and their two pigs. He told us of their plans to acquire a work horse, and what exactly they plan to do with all of the milk they'll be getting from one of their cows come spring.....
My boys sat there in awe.
You see, boys are meant to be awed by these adventures. It's in their very nature. I know DH would like nothing better than to dress in camouflage, cover himself with deer urine (EWWW) and go out into the woods slinging his bow behind his back...bringing home the kill for the women-folk.
And my boys! Well, this is their idea of heaven!
Society today wants boys to act like girls. I recently overheard a mother explaining the reason as to why she doesn't allow her son to play with guns;
"We don't believe in violence, you know..."
I wanted to say, "What....you don't believe it exists?"
Now, I know what she meant. She didn't want her sweet little boy pretending to shoot other people, blowing them to bits... What she didn't realize is that she is denying him a part of his very nature. Little boys are meant to go and conquer. Obviously, there are limits...no shooting your sisters (unless they want you to!-yes, we have a little Wonder Woman in our family, who will gladly play superheroes with her brothers!) And teaching about gun safety is essential...especially if you own guns (which we don't, but still...)
But for boys to run in the wild! And to show them the way to be men...that is the mission of Dads (and even Moms!) today.
Even though we don't live on a farm or on acres and acres of land, DH does a great job by wrestling with the boys, making sure there are planty of superheroes around the house, helping them build bows and arrows, and allowing them to "work" with his tools. Canisius brought some scrap wood and helped the boys draw up plans for a tree house.
I think DH has some plans of his own.....
to go to Home Depot today.
:)
We had the honor of hosting one of the Johnson gang on his way to the west coast yesterday....our friend Canisius. He is a carpenter, and works alongside his Dad on the family farm up in Wisconsin. He and two of his sisters manage three houses, a barn and various farm animals and vegetable gardens. We went to visit them this summer and had a blast.
On this most recent visit, he heralded my boys with tales of deer hunting (using bows)imitated the sounds he makes to atttract the deer, and various other stories of hosting 'city-boys' on their first hunt. He relayed the butchering of the six deer they got, plus two of their cows and their two pigs. He told us of their plans to acquire a work horse, and what exactly they plan to do with all of the milk they'll be getting from one of their cows come spring.....
My boys sat there in awe.
You see, boys are meant to be awed by these adventures. It's in their very nature. I know DH would like nothing better than to dress in camouflage, cover himself with deer urine (EWWW) and go out into the woods slinging his bow behind his back...bringing home the kill for the women-folk.
And my boys! Well, this is their idea of heaven!
Society today wants boys to act like girls. I recently overheard a mother explaining the reason as to why she doesn't allow her son to play with guns;
"We don't believe in violence, you know..."
I wanted to say, "What....you don't believe it exists?"
Now, I know what she meant. She didn't want her sweet little boy pretending to shoot other people, blowing them to bits... What she didn't realize is that she is denying him a part of his very nature. Little boys are meant to go and conquer. Obviously, there are limits...no shooting your sisters (unless they want you to!-yes, we have a little Wonder Woman in our family, who will gladly play superheroes with her brothers!) And teaching about gun safety is essential...especially if you own guns (which we don't, but still...)
But for boys to run in the wild! And to show them the way to be men...that is the mission of Dads (and even Moms!) today.
Even though we don't live on a farm or on acres and acres of land, DH does a great job by wrestling with the boys, making sure there are planty of superheroes around the house, helping them build bows and arrows, and allowing them to "work" with his tools. Canisius brought some scrap wood and helped the boys draw up plans for a tree house.
I think DH has some plans of his own.....
to go to Home Depot today.
:)
Thursday, January 19, 2006
God's Will in all we do....
Life in a Nutshell
I was just reading this great post about this very topic.
I think one of the hardest parts about being a Mama of 5, is to remember that God's will for me is not just to be married and have children...the end, amen, I'm done.
Now the hard part comes.
I have a responsibility, a duty, to be sure that I follow through on my vocation to the minutest detail...yes, even sorting all the socks! (see the post I linked to)
It's a struggle, and it's daily and sometimes even annoying.....
the demands
the shrieks
the dishes
the laundry
and I just want to have ME time!
But, I know deep down that the most important is my vocation, and in that, my sanctifcation.
And, the most compelling reason of all.....
my children.
How can I not dress them in clean clothes, so that they may play on a clean floor in a clean house?
How can I not cook them healthy meals, and give them yummy treats?
Unfortunately, there are some who can. I have an aquaintance who has a hard time accomplishing these simple tasks. As a result, her home life is chaos. I wish I could fix it for her, but I can't. She has been to doctors thinking she may be depressed or have a thyroid problem, but no. Many times people have come to their rescue and fixed up their house and bought things to help organize....but it falls into disrepair all too soon. I feel for her, and for her 5 kids. I know how tough it can be. And I know it doesn't have to be this tough.
We all have things to work on. Lord knows, I do! It's just hard when you see it, and don't have an easy fix.
:(
I was just reading this great post about this very topic.
I think one of the hardest parts about being a Mama of 5, is to remember that God's will for me is not just to be married and have children...the end, amen, I'm done.
Now the hard part comes.
I have a responsibility, a duty, to be sure that I follow through on my vocation to the minutest detail...yes, even sorting all the socks! (see the post I linked to)
It's a struggle, and it's daily and sometimes even annoying.....
the demands
the shrieks
the dishes
the laundry
and I just want to have ME time!
But, I know deep down that the most important is my vocation, and in that, my sanctifcation.
And, the most compelling reason of all.....
my children.
How can I not dress them in clean clothes, so that they may play on a clean floor in a clean house?
How can I not cook them healthy meals, and give them yummy treats?
Unfortunately, there are some who can. I have an aquaintance who has a hard time accomplishing these simple tasks. As a result, her home life is chaos. I wish I could fix it for her, but I can't. She has been to doctors thinking she may be depressed or have a thyroid problem, but no. Many times people have come to their rescue and fixed up their house and bought things to help organize....but it falls into disrepair all too soon. I feel for her, and for her 5 kids. I know how tough it can be. And I know it doesn't have to be this tough.
We all have things to work on. Lord knows, I do! It's just hard when you see it, and don't have an easy fix.
:(
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Pregnancy "cuteness"...
Life in a Nutshell
Quite a few people I know are pregnant right now....in the "glow of mama-hood", so to speak. And they look fantastic! In fact, even Hollywood celebs are sporting "le tummy", and looking fabulous. I guess pregnancy is "in"....
And from a purely selfish standpoint (meaning, of course, the fashion aspect), it's tempting..... all those chic maternity outfits, not to mention the adorable newborn layettes....
sigh
Another sign that for me, 5 ain't enough, even if #6 isn't quite on the horizon yet....
:)
**in other news, DH programmed "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" as the ring on our home phone....
makes me smile every time....
Quite a few people I know are pregnant right now....in the "glow of mama-hood", so to speak. And they look fantastic! In fact, even Hollywood celebs are sporting "le tummy", and looking fabulous. I guess pregnancy is "in"....
And from a purely selfish standpoint (meaning, of course, the fashion aspect), it's tempting..... all those chic maternity outfits, not to mention the adorable newborn layettes....
sigh
Another sign that for me, 5 ain't enough, even if #6 isn't quite on the horizon yet....
:)
**in other news, DH programmed "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" as the ring on our home phone....
makes me smile every time....
Monday, January 16, 2006
Because it is sooo true these days...
The sweatshirt I bought (on sale) for DD#2.....
*the bottom star on the pocket says, "Get over it"*
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