“Education is not filling a bucket,

but lighting a fire.” ~ Yeats

Our buckets are being tested this week.  Standardized tests which means they are doing nothing else this week and have done nothing for the past few weeks.  What about yours?

I received a package and note from a friend I’ve known for years.  It was a total surprise and really nice after driving home most of Saturday.

The last line of her note stated: I hope you always have reasons to be happy.

It was a random comment, but one that made me stop and think about all the reasons I have to smile and be happy.  So for today, here they are:

• A package containing a Terra Cotta warrior, probably my favorite exhibit I’ve ever seen
• a note that was beyond sweet
• lessons at the bird sanctuary, so sad that summer camps have to interrupt them
• a three year old who wants to start keeping his own nature journal
• Baskin Robbins Pralines and Cream
• the poetry of Douglass Florian, this month Handsprings
• thinking about the amazing moon on Saturday evening about an hour into Texas, I didn’t even realize it was a big deal until the next day
• a boy who is loyal to his team, he may be a front runner when it comes to games he doesn’t care about, but he is loyal to one team always
• friends I’ve met online
• text messages that make me laugh
• a friend I’ve grown to really enjoy even though we only hung out because our boys were friends
• the thought that swim lessons for Goose are ending this month, after five years
• Baby Hulk reading a Magic Tree House book to himself
• No David babbling nonstop to himself, you never really know what it’s about, but it’s always loud and cute
• Baby Z biting her father on the neck and screaming each time he spoke to her in the car on the ride home from Alabama, (he was not happy nor did he smile)
• family walks
• five days where I haven’t yelled at anyone, everybody is happy about this one
• my statues of Mary, now if I could find one for my kitchen window

Two of my favorite pictures from this weekend.  The best family photo we’ve had in years!  Look at Baby Z smiling!

And check out Goose and Baby Hulk in the second picture.  Goose had no problem wearing his Longhorn gear on the Alabama campus.  He also decided that Baby Z is crying because she hated the campus.  Smart boy, that one.

On the way to Tuscaloosa we stopped at Vicksburg to tour the National Military Park.  We got to town too late to do anything but check into the nastiest hotel I have ever stayed in my entire life.  Hair in the tub, used soap, mold, holes in the wall…it wasn’t something I could laugh about until Vicksburg was in the rear view mirror.  I didn’t even sit on the toilet, I wore my shoes the entire time, I wouldn’t get under the covers (not that that made a difference I am sure those things had never been washed) and I definitely didn’t get in the shower.  The breakfast consisted of sticky buns, you know the kind you find at a gas station.  We left the hotel by 7:30 am, for once I was thankful the boys woke me up early.

The park was utterly breathtaking.  It was hard reading about all the lives lost during the Civil War and to explain it to the kids.  Goose knows very little about the Civil War, and the Baby Hulk knew nothing.  We decided to complete a packet so we could earn a junior ranger badge.  It made the trip more interesting for everyone, even No David got involved trying to find certain monuments.

USS CAIRO

So Many Unidentified Graves

The Texas Monument

Junior Rangers

This weekend we ran over to Tuscaloosa, Alabama to celebrate a graduation.  Chelsea graduated Friday evening with a Degree in Journalism.

The five year degree started while I was at UT.  (Not me, I did it in three years.)  I didn’t expect Chelsea to graduate for another year.

While I still can’t explain exactly why Chelsea went to Alabama, I am super proud of her accomplishments.  Not only did she graduate in four years, she has great experience in her field as well.  The doors are wide open for you, sweet girl, and I can’t wait to see what else you will accomplish.

Our family was really proud to watch Chelsea cross that stage and accept her diploma.  I am sure Lance, Drake and I, as well as the little boys, all had different thoughts in our minds when it happened, but I know that we were all so very happy for you.

Congratulations graduate!  

We were thrilled to be a part of your special day!

And please explain how I don’t have a picture of you alone????

I am fairly decent about teaching my children about Catholicism and God.  And Jesus and Mary and the Saints.  We pray together, read the Bible, follow the liturgical calendar and discuss seasons and saints.

They are anxious to learn.  And they make me want to know more about the faith I was raised in.  They expect me to know answers to all their questions.

One of the most common questions is “how do I know what God is telling me?”  I’m not a fan of this one.   My answer never seems to satisfy them.

I can’t wait until they ask why God “lets bad things happen.”

Today Baby Hulk couldn’t understand why God created other planets when there aren’t people on those planets.

And Goose?  He wants to know “what if what we believe is wrong.”  Already?  He is already asking that?!

They are still relatively young.  I can’t wait until they are teens and questioning their faith.  God help me.

For Today…April 29, 2012

Outside my window…it’s dark and quiet.  It’s late.  I wish it was early rather than late at night.

I am wearing…Snoopy pants and a black t-shirt.

I am praying for…some special intentions, a safe trip, all the kids graduating this Spring, a very specific graduate this week, a granny on the verge of going to heaven and her family, patience and peace.

Moments of grace…reading with the kids, an anniversary trip in the works, last week’s field trip with my kids, the ability to say I’m sorry, time spent with my parents today.

I am listening to…Bob Mould.  Lots of memories.  Lots.

From the kitchen…the Key West diet starts this week.  Why did I agree to go somewhere that I’m required to spend most of the time in a bathing suit?  I guess this means no more sweets.

Around the house…one pallet of grass in my backyard.  Soon, the slide will be moved back to where it belongs.  So happy about this.

Learning all the time…we are so ready for school to end.  It’s so much better learning at home.  So much better.

Making plans…for the summer.  I’m hoping we can squeeze in a trip to the Marriott resort in San Antonio, we’ll see Lance’s family in June, celebrate our anniversary in Key West and then I’m hoping I can find something fun for the kids.

Pondering…how fast time passes.  Chelsea graduates this week.  Jessica graduates in May.  Squirt will be a Senior in August…How did this happen?  How???

One of my favorite things…Girls.  And Veep.  Two hysterical shows.  Very different, but I love them both.

A few plans for the week…Miller’s Outdoor Theatre, Audubon Sanctuary, pack, a look around Vicksburg, a graduation, and a tour of the University of Alabama.  5 kids on a car trip.  Prayers please.

A picture to share…

Could this kid be any cuter?

So…your card is late.  In making sure that Goose made a card for you, I kind of didn’t get one for myself.  At this rate, can I just bring it to you?!

Happy Birthday, sweet girl!

I am so proud of all you’ve accomplished.  You have truly become an amazing woman.

I was thinking about the obvious: your graduation and the flash of you when I first met you came to mind.  I remember you staying at my apartment and talking with me, kind of like we do now.  It made me smile.

I am sending birthday blessings your way.  I hope your day is as amazing as your Friday night was!

We are all excited to see you Friday and take our tour of campus.  (Did I really just type that?)

I know this year has great things in store for you.  Your desire to get experience astounds me, and I know your drive will take you far.  I know I don’t have to remind you, but just in case, enjoy this time.  Don’t be in a rush for anything.  Settle for nothing less than what you deserve.  As someone who didn’t find her prince for what seems like forever, it is so worth the wait.  While time has passed so quickly, and I generally hate that, I think you need to just hurry up and move back home!

Love you, sweetie!  Happy, Happy Birthday!

St. Catherine of Siena, pray for Chelsea today and always!

I have five kids.  And only one of them isn’t a picky eater.

It’s Squirt.  He didn’t grow into it, he has just never been picky.  I’m so used to him eating whatever I put in front of him, I have to remind myself it’s okay when he doesn’t like something.

Everyone thinks Snax eats.  He does eat, a lot.  He goes to bed talking about what he wants for breakfast, and as soon as he’s done eating one meal, he tells me he is hungry.  He’s kind of obsessed with food.  If you don’t answer “what’s for dinner”, he starts freaking out.

And if you happen to answer “chicken”, then he really gets mad.  And starts crying.

My kids aren’t the worst eaters.  Not by a long shot, but I would like them to eat more vegetables.  So far they eat: raw carrots, fresh green beans, both cooked and uncooked, all but Goose eat salad, and they all like broccoli.

I told Lance earlier this year that I was going to add two new vegetables to the mix this year.

Goose literally puked the Brussels sprouts we put on his plate.  They balk at corn and potatoes.  Who doesn’t eat corn or potatoes?  They aren’t even real vegetables to me.

Last night we put corn and asparagus on their plates.  And chicken.

And each boy ate their vegetables and chicken.  Of course, Squirt ate everything and then a salad.  And more chicken.  And a banana.  And a peanut butter scoop.

Both Baby Hulk and No David ate their asparagus first, then their corn.  NOT ONE NEGATIVE WORD.  Not one.

Goose ate his chicken then stared at his asparagus.  He had the crying look set, but I forced myself to keep quiet and look away.  And he did it.  He even said asparagus was a keeper, but that corn needed to stay off the menu.

And then No David ate his chicken.  LIKE A BOSS.

I took the boys strawberry picking today.  In Alvin.  I didn’t realize where Alvin was.  I’ve been blueberry picking and peach picking with my kids.  And while Porter isn’t a scenic town, it is close to Kingwood so I can justify a trip there to pick blueberries.  We picked peaches off of 290 close to Chappell Hill.  Easy to drive that area.

I had no idea just how far I’d be driving today.  And that there was nothing else there.  I’m posting tons of pictures to justify the fact that I wasted a ton of gas and spent $25 on strawberries.  I am wondering if the kids would have enjoyed a trip to Costco just as much.