Happy Halloween

Just a quick note here, since I am exhausted from my eleventh-hour sewing fest.

Yes, I sewed the jedi robes.

No. Not today.

I used my friend Lisa's machine a few days ago to stitch 'em up.

All except the hoods, thinking I'd do them by hand, since they needed to be (*gasp*) gathered. And I was afraid of inflicting further strife on her machine. (I'm an impatient, "tear through it" type of seamstress, gritting my teeth and willing the machine to stitch where no stitch should go)

Yes. The hoods.

Finished today at 5pm, whilst DH carved the pumpkin.

Hush. Haven't you read about my weekend?

Then, I had to sew tails onto my sports headbands for the youngest DD's, so they could wear them around their waists. Ah well, I have only one soccer game left. I'll look like Davy Crockett with a tail hanging off the back of my headband. Maybe it'll scare the other team off.

Oh, how I crack me up.

It's late.

Happy Spookin'!

:)

WOW

What a weekend!

It was wonderful, and busy, and lots of fun.

Friday night, amidst the head-splitting shrieks and Chuck E. Cheese dancing, we reunited with good friends and visited with my sister. It was fun to watch the kids have fun, and I was really proud of how well my kids behaved. Usually at these things, the kids "get" things, and then their desire is insatiable, until I am hauling 5 howling kids to the car who didn't get/have/know that "XYZ" was there, so why can't we....?? blah blah blah. But, there was none of that, thank goodness!


Saturday was spent prepping for Sunday brunch and praying over my desserts. No, really, I was worried. Here I was, going to meet a bunch of really nice mommy-bloggers that didn't really know me, and I'm cooking dessert?? How crazy of me. Anyway, it was a truly wonderful evening. Everyone was super nice and fun, and the conversations were just great. And I am really really glad I went and didn't back out at the last minute, just because I was feeling like a chicken. I got to chat with Holy Mama herself! And many other great bloggers. It was fun, and the next time a group of mommy-bloggers (like maybe; Rosetta Stone, Minnesota Mom, Raising Saints, Blessed Among Men, Cozy Tea House, Castle Within...to name a few) want to get together....I'm there!


Sunday was "Fall back!" so I got an extra hour to yell at my kids clean the house for CMW and family's arrival for brunch. And even though my quiche was rubbery, it was a lovely morning. It's always great to hear kids ask when they come back to play.

My sister Sephora ended up staying an extra day (like I knew she would!) and it was great to have some more "down time" visiting with her. (Do you realize how fun it is to type "visiting"? So many "i's" !)

Anyway, I'm pooped.

More "real" bloggin' tomorrow.

:)

Ten Random Facts Meme

Since this blog is all about me, don't you want to know more?

Sure you do.

:)

1. I lived in Canada for a year after graduating from college. This was to get to know my "new home-country" since I'd be marrying my Canadian DH and living there, right? Yup, for three months, then we moved to Texas, of all places!

2. My parents and 5 siblings moved to the Phillippines and lived there for 2 years while I was in college. I went to visit them the summer before my senior year.

3. In High School, I was neither jock, nor nerd, nor popular party-girl. I was friends with all of these types, played sports, and was pretty smart. My "crowd" was a few gal and guy friends, and we were pretty tight. Too bad I have no idea what they're up to now, and vice versa. They really were my sanity in surviving those tumultuous years.

4. 5th grade was my worst year ever. I had a great teacher, but horrible friends. Every day when I got to my classroom, 3 of them would be mad at one person....usually me. I really wanted to be homeschooled that year.

5. I was not allowed to date, wear make-up or jeans during my entire public high school career. I think that was child abuse. (kidding, mom....sort of)

6. I went to a community college my senior year of high school and got really involved in the drama program, and loved it. It really helped to make that year bearable. I felt totally out of place, since I was still technically in high school.

7. While in Canada, I went out on a limb and tried my hand at acting in commercials. I actually did a photo shoot, but that was all. It was fun, and sometimes I wonder if I should try it again, now that I can play a more "mom-ish" role. (although I'll have to update my photo, eh?) lol

8. I went to Medjugorie, Yugoslavia my junior year of high school with my mom.

9. I play the guitar. OK, I used to, and need to re-teach myself!

10. I have a set of Irish twins amongst my children. DS #2 and DD #1 are 11 and 1/2 months apart. After seeing those two pink lines while holding a 3 month old, it took 7 months to scrape my jaw off the floor. Great war story, though!

I tag whomever wants to do this... Michelle? Tim? Sephora? Portia?

Don't ya...

...hate it when:

You run around like a mad woman first thing in the morning, sans coffee, trying to run four different errands, and you end up forgetting not one, but two main ingredients for one of the yumm-i-licoious desserts you need to make today??


...love it when:

You tell your dear friend the extent of your stupidity, and she exclaims, "But I have those ingredients right here at home!"


I know my friendships are worth their weight in gold, but this one takes the cake! (pun intended)

:)

Have you ever...

...had a weekend soooo crazy, that you need to plan your cleaning and shopping out for days before-hand?

I have a lovely lovely weekend planned. Lots and lots of visits, both away from my home and at my home. My sister is coming in to town Friday night, and will be accompanying us to a Chuck E. Cheese birthday party for the daughter in a family we rarely get to see, but really enjoy being with. Our whole fam is going, since they have boys that are my boys' age, and a little girl DD #2's age, as well as DD #1's "bestest friend in the whole world"!

Saturday night, after whipping up one or two yumm-i-licious desserts, I get to go to a dinner party here in town and meet a whole bunch of other super-nice Christian Mommy bloggers. I'm a bit nervous (I'm shy around people I don't know....no, really!) but they all seem so fun and such good women, that I'm excited, too.

Sunday morning, after mass, the esteemed CMW and her lovely family will be joining us for brunch. We are all looking forward to spending some quality relaxed time with them. Sundays are perfect for visiting with other families.

And so, with the shopping trips planned out, the menus in order, and my house cleaned, it all should go without a hitch.

Oh! You mean I have to plan the trips, the menus and do the cleaning?

Darn.

On the other hand, I homeschool, right? Perfect learning opportunities, here. From cleaning to learning how to make fuzzy navels for Mama.

:)

Proof...

that no matter how nicely I make my children dress when we go out as a family, my kids still have a style all their own.

Things...

that make me scowl:

Playing a soccer team comprised of people who are determined to read the fine print of the rule book and throw it in your face every chance they get.

Same team, who ignored our screaming hurt goalie, shot the ball in the goal and proclaimed, "sweet!" for all the world to hear.

Same team, whose coach kept mouthing off to us, our captain, and the ref, even after the game was over.


that make me smile:

The ref calling that goal a "no goal" b/c he had told the other team to "kick the ball out" and thought they were doing so.

Scoring a goal against that nasty team. :)

Having a really fun time playing a sport I really enjoy, and then coming home to my DH cooking steaks, my DD #1 showing off on her "newly de-training wheeled" two wheeler, and DD #3's exclamations of "Mama, home!"



Sweet victory.
:)

When...

Your DH has his own blog, you gotta move fast in order to claim funny images such as this one, for your own blog.

:)

To Life! **Updated**

My dearest friend, who is a Mama to 6, and whose youngest is 7 months old, called me yesterday with some amazing news... She is expecting!

I laughed in wonder.

And congratulated her most heartily.

She and her husband are just thrilled.

And while it was unexpected in some ways, it was entirely expected in others. Lisa and her husband are very generous people. Not just in being open to life, but in all aspects of their family and friendships. I can't count the number of times I have dropped my 5, to be added to her 6, (that's 11 kids under one roof, folks!) while I ran to the doctor's or some other time-consuming errand. She doesn't bat an eye.

Her parents are very active in the pro-life community here, running a crisis pregnancy center and organizing conferences and marches and masses. Wheelchair-bound from a war injury, her dad is always ready to hand out "precious feet" pins and pro-life bracelets and trinkets for the kids whenever he sees them. They are devoted grandparents, just thrilled by the news.

Unfortunately, not all of our aquaintances are as supportive. Isn't that strange? These are pro-life, strong Catholic moms, and the snide remarks are unbelieveable. The general jist is that they are glad it is someone else having the baby and not them.

Why is that?

Has anyone else encountered anything like this?

Any ideas or thoughts as to why people react/feel this way?

**After a lot of thinking yesterday, it suddenly occurred to me that there was a very good reason for this particular attitude, and that I should be praying, not seething! NFP is a very touchy subject to some of my aquaintances, simply because they are at that time of life when all heck breaks loose and nothing is normal any more. As a result, things are difficult with thier husbands, who, while being loving and supportive, are struggling with these changes as well. (I'm being vague on purpose...sorry!) Contraception, believe it or not, is looking mighty attractive to these women right now, given especially the recent scandalous behavior of quite a few priests in the Church! (I'm not saying what I think, but what I understand these people to think)

This is a crisis of faith. And if disobedience to Church teaching is chosen, the entire family will suffer.

Again, these are good, strong Catholic moms. I need to support them in my prayers! **

Pronunciation Prowess

Arduhbeetum

Arbadeetum

Artateebum

Yup. Just DD #2 talking about our trip to the Arboretum.

Three sentences, three different pronunciations.

The funniest part was that not one of her siblings ventured to correct her.

My guess is that they were just as stumped.

:)