For today:: October 17, 2013

Outside my window:: it’s dark.  It’s quiet.  It’s cool outside.  I kind of wish I was outside drinking wine on my patio.  Except I still don’t have patio furniture.  Or any wine at home.

I am listening to:: a couple of boys giggle.  We’ve had some rough brother moments lately, so these giggles bring a smile to my face.  And that lasted all of three minutes before one hit the other.  Sigh.

I am wearing:: boxers and a t-shirt.

I am grateful for:: our priest.  We had the chance to really talk the other day, and it just made me grateful for him.

I am praying for:: my great aunt, a cure for Duchenne MD and patience.

Teaching lessons in:: compassion and what it means to pray for others and to care for them.  Some of my kids are really smart.

Super excited:: we are going to Kansas City for a game.  Snax’s Godfather is head of player personnel there and has been inviting us to visit.  What better game than the Chiefs against Denver.  Early Christmas for me and LZ.

Loving:: that my son still talks about becoming a priest.  To his classmates!!  And not at a parochial school.  He seems so sure of it, and even says he probably won’t date because priests don’t get married.  Sure, he’s young and only God knows if he really has a vocation, but he’s open and that is amazing.

Literally not enough time:: Have I mentioned how much I hate school?  Besides the fact that I don’t get any time with my kids anymore, the thing that we like to do the most, read together, gets pushed to the side.  Every evening it’s a struggle to get 30 minutes of read aloud time.  For a family that is used to at least an hour plus solo reading and reading to mom, 30 minutes just doesn’t cut it.  I don’t understand how we are expected to be at school until 3:15, come home or immediately go to an after school activity, have a snack, do homework, make dinner, check homework, take showers, eat and then read.  Also, each child is expected to read every evening, and Snax is actually supposed to keep a reading journal.  Also, when are my kids supposed to unwind from the day?

On the menu:: it was meatloaf, mashed sweet potatoes and asparagus on Monday.  One child refused to try the meatloaf, super effing annoying.  Not sure what I’m supposed to do about that.  Tuesday it was mahi mahi with cauliflower and green beans, then chicken parmesan for Baby Hulk on Wednesday, grilled chicken tomorrow and burgers on Saturday.  Not too bad of a plan.

Around the house:: with only one child at home during the day, I feel like I should be getting more done.  I am going to make a list and just force myself to do something daily.  This week it’s finishing my monthly plans with books lists and art ideas.  It’s a pretty big project, so that’s it for this week, maybe next.  Well that and the normal upkeep of the house.

Cultivating rhythm:: I think we’re almost there.  Slowly but surely, Sunshine and I are finding a natural rhythm to follow each day.  And it helps.  Now if I can use that rhythm to get some things accomplished around the house.

Living the liturgy:: the past couple of weeks have been amazing.  This week we continue with two special Feasts, St. Terese of Avila, one of my favorite saints, and St. Gerard on Wednesday.  We celebrate a nameday and the special boy has requested parmesan chicken with pumpkin bread.

One of my favorite things:: reading to my kids.  At least, I have Sunshine at home with me.  She loves books as much as the boys.  And she sits for fairly lengthy books.  Her current favorite is Angel in the Waters.  I love board books and will be sad when I have to pack those completely away, but I am so happy that she can sit for 30 minutes while I read to her.

A few plans for the week:: lunch with the boys, storytime at church, reconciliation prep, lunch dates.  Pumpkin decorating with Goose’s class.  And my book study.  I haven’t read, I have no interest in going either.  And I’m so tired, I just want to sleep.