Jenn came over today to help with the ornaments, and now they are done!

Some are better than others.  I have to mail all of the ornaments, and then the organizer sends the entire collection back to me.  I hope I don’t get a crappy one back.

I have a massive burn on my hand from the glue gun.  Massive.  Stuff is oozing from my hand.  I have no band-aids here.

But they are done.

Thank God.

And they look pretty decent, right?  You can tell this is a ram.  Tell me you can tell it’s a ram.

Here’s the thing, I don’t want mine to be the worst, and I’m fairly confident it’s not.  I am thinking middle of the road considering my symbol.  Anyway, I am hoping the rest are really good.  I would hate to get a box of ornaments I don’t like.

Because let’s be clear.  If there is one thing Simplicity Parenting has taught me is to get rid of stuff I won’t use.  And if I don’t like what I get, I know myself well enough to know that I won’t use it.

For Today…September 27, 2011

Outside my window…it’s dark.  It’s late.  When I wake up dead tired every day, I wonder why I can’t go to sleep by 9 like my other friends.  9?!  I can’t even imagine going to bed that early.

I am wearing…my pj’s.

I’m grateful for…my kids, homeschooling my little boys, friends, Specs and the thought of a weekend trip.

I am praying for…a friend who just had a baby, a friend that wants another baby, patience to keep things positive around my house and me.

I am pondering…the fact that God trusted me with all these children.  There is a saying that God doesn’t make mistakes.  I can’t really argue with that so I guess I need to live up to the task at hand.  This week, I feel like I was meant to mother these children even when I’ve been frustrated.

Around the house…I’m staring at my dog.  To be honest, I didn’t really miss her while she was gone.  But my boys have all been so damn sweet.  Even the one that is cold as ice was excited to see her.  This also means, I’m closer to a finished garage and that crazy neighbor yelling at my dog and kids again.

From the learning rooms…who knew birds could be so awesome?  Not me.  And the best part is that we’ll continue with birds when we get to eggs and nests and Owls.  The boys are such good students for me.  I have to plug Handwriting Without Tears.  I can say that it works.  BH’s handwriting is so improved.  I finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.

From the kitchen…going down the alphabet with the boys is going to kill me.  We are making some sort of snack to go with our weekly theme.  I had planned on the kids trying a new vegetable for each letter of the alphabet.  They have tried nothing new.  Nothing.

To be fit and happy…I love working out.  I really do, but it’s hard to school BH and workout.  I’ve had to change my goals, and I’m actually okay with it.  Yay for me.  Even though he’s only preschool, he is more advanced at home than he would be at a regular preschool.  And while we certainly don’t work all day long, more like 1.5 hours, kids are at their best early in the morning before they are tired.  So for now I change.  If I start gaining weight, I change again.

I am reading…I finally finished One Day.  So good.  I am so happy I was never inspired to see the movie that recently came out.  And despite promising Chelsea I woudln’t read the ending, I caved and read it.  Chelsea warned me that the ending wouldn’t make sense.  She was right, so I went back several chapters to find out what actually happened in the book.  So good.  Now I have time to read my parenting books, assuming they can hold my attention.

I am creating…tomorrow is the day.  Ornaments will be done.  Jenn is coming over, and we are making 24 Ram ornaments.  I was trying to get a head start tonight and the paint didn’t show up.  So I guess this means a quick stop at Michael’s tomorrow morning.

One of my favorite things…boys who love to read.  After many frustrating attempts, Goose seems to be back in the groove of reading.  He read Call of the Wild and was able to tell me the details.  I love when that happens.

A few plans for the week…I had lunch with a dear friend today, have plans tomorrow, no school on Thursday, Millers Outdoor Theatre, watching the game with family on Saturday.  Not a bad week.

Picture thoughts…

Today at mass, right after Holy Communion we were kneeling and praying.  Goose was next to me and said he had one wish.  He wanted to meet…

For a brief second, I allowed myself to get so excited.  Here was my son, and he was about to tell me how he wanted to see Jesus in person.  The possibilities for discussion were endless: most obvious, the True Presence.

He finished his sentence by saying: Santa Claus.

Sure, I was slightly disappointed, okay really disappointed.  But tonight, he brought out his Rosary and told me he wanted to pray.  To Jesus and Mary.

He is definitely seven.  I’m glad.

Fall starts today.  Yes!  Now for nicer weather.  Sure, we had a week of decent weather, but this week has been hot again.  I’m ready for jeans, pumpkin bread, different food, and no more upper 90 degree days.  The boys are cutting out leaves and decorating to celebrate the change in season.

We went to lunch with my dad and brother today.  All was fine until my dad started taking fries from the Baby Hulk’s plate.  Without asking first.  Baby Hulk came over to whisper in my ear about the problem.  I told my dad to stop in Spanish.  My Spanish isn’t too good because my dad continued.  Finally, I gave my dad some of my fries explaining in English for him to stop taking BH’s fries.  No problem, my dad just started using BH’s ketchup.

I thought BH was going to lose it.  His meal was practically ruined, and he barely managed to tell my dad goodbye.

This week has been so much better than last week.  Thank God for new beginnings or something cheesy like that.  BH has been amazing in his work and has kept his freak outs to a minimum.  No David has improved as well and the others that were in trouble at school managed to keep their crap together this week.  And birds haven’t been that boring to me either.

Last night I caught Squirt studying for a retake on a vocabulary quiz.  Lance and I have a requirement about making below a 90 on spelling and vocabulary quizzes.  There is just no reason not to make a 100, but you better at least make a 90.  Turns out he didn’t make a 90 or above so he asked for a retake.  (At least he asked for another chance!)  That said, he was studying with music in the background, not softly, loudly.  When I asked him about it, he claimed it helped him concentrate better.  When I said his grades didn’t reflect that, his response was that he hadn’t been doing it for long.

Squirt is generally not a smart ass or openly disrespectful to us.  So I have to appreciate his quickness last night.  And while Squirt is not a  ‘yell at his parents kind of kid’, I have no doubt he cusses me out behind the bedroom door.  No doubt at all.

Tonight Squirt has a play he has to attend at school.  Lance was going to go with him, but Squirt requested my presence instead so I could meet a girl in the play.  Which means we have to stay until after this girl changes and gets presentable to meet a parent.  Except she’s not his girlfriend, just some girl he is friends with.  But they are going to the movies next week.  I’ve warned him about falling for his friends, it never works out in high school, but somehow I just don’t think he listened to me.

For Today…September 18, 2011

Outside my window…it rained today.  And yesterday.  Glorious rain.  Even the kids were excited about it.

I am wearing…Snoopy boxers and a grey t-shirt with slippers.  Ready for bed.

I am listening to…All My Children.  They are showing old episodes tonight.  Right now, I’m being treated to Leo and Greenlee’s wedding.  The show ends on Friday.  Funny thing, I never watched this show until I graduated from law school.  I think I started watching to avoid studying for the bar.  I passed, so don’t get mad that I wasn’t studying parents.  I finally stopped watching this show a few years ago, but have been watching lately to see how it ends.  I still forward through a lot of stuff, but I have to say I kind of like soaps.  It’s lame, but I like them.  Or did, I guess there aren’t really many soaps around anymore.

I am grateful…for date nights, a Mimi that babysits, my church, desserts, a husband that does the grocery shopping, books, Jessica reading to the boys and playing Texasopoly with Goose, parents that let my oldest spend the night even though we barely return the favor and kids who behave in mass.

I am praying for…me.  Does that make me sound selfish?  I am feeling better after last week, but you never know.  This is a busy time in our household and even though the Baby Hulk is only doing preschool work, I want to finish our plans.  And I don’t want my kids to cry over banana pieces and shoe laces and so on…But like I said, I am having a good night so hopefully, this week will stay positive!

I am reading…the same books as last week.  My reality is that I don’t have a lot of time to read, or maybe when I do , I just want to chill and read blogs.  That said, I am loving my easy read: One Day! Thank you, Chelsea!   I also like Simplicity Parenting quite a bit too.  I was telling someone the other day that while I want a game room, I don’t want what it implies: room for more crap.

Around the house…where to start.  For weeks, I’ve been nagging about how our hall shower hardware is broken which prevents me from taking a bath.  The hardware was super old and looked it, so I figured we would fix two problems at the same time.  There was also a hole in the wall from where the towel rack had broken off.  Two months ago.  I ended up with a handyman in my house for two days straight that grunted and groaned and talked nonstop.  Lance spent two days driving back and forth to Home Depot.  In the end, I got hardware from the 70’s instead of the 60’s.  Did you know that they still make faux crystal shower hardware?  And my wall?  Well, he fixed it and even found my blue paint.  The blue paint that goes in No David’s room, NOT the bathroom.  The cost of all this? A little over $500.  Maybe next time, I won’t nag so much.

On a menu…last week worked out perfectly.  Not to brag, but every meal rocked.  I have three days planned for this week.  Need to work on the rest of the menu now that Lance is home.

From the learning rooms…we’re onto B week.  B is for Birds and blueberry scones.  I am trying to incorporate handwork, cooking, music and art into each week.  The cooking part isn’t too difficult although I don’t want to bake every single week.  Well, I do, but I can’t afford to.  I don’t really like birds, but it’s only one week.  We’ll visit the bird sanctuary, talk about different birds, take some nature walks and read a bunch of bird books, I have three new Brian Wildsmith books I am dying to share with the boys.

I am creating…I have less than two weeks to make a lot of ornaments.  Um, Jenn???  This week???

One of my favorite things…Football.  I love football.  Specifically college football.  I love watching my boys watch football.  And play football.

A few plans for the week…bird sanctuary, playscape, lunch with a dear friend, and relax.

A picture thought I am sharing…

He goes from playing football to dressing his animals. I have to admit I love that he still acts like a little boy.

“I’m going to open a restaurant and I’m going to have:

• pizza
• burgers
• meat
• chicken
• spaghetti because I like spaghetti
• salad
• lollipops
• cake, chocolate, banana and strawberry
• cold water
• hot water
• lemonade
• and juice
• and gatorade
• milk that means leche
• and PIES

My restaurant is going to be called Snax.”

Well said, little one.  Some days you are too cute.

I took this picture of you last night so I could have one lasting memory of you at four.  I can’t look at this picture without wanting to hug you forever.  It truly catches who you are.  A boy who is so sweet and caring.  A boy who just wants the love and approval of those around him.

Today was your day, my sweet boy.  And you knew it.  You did everything you wanted from breakfast until bedtime.  You celebrated life as only a five year old can.  With true passion.

This has been a big year for you.  You’ve grown so much since last September.  You’re bigger, you read, you have your own interests, and most important, you got a baby sister.  I’d have to say this was the highlight of your year.  The picture of you holding her for the first time makes my heart melt.

It’s hard being in the middle.  You have two brothers on each side of you that know how to push your buttons.  I’ll never forgot the day this past summer where you cried and cried because No David said I was “his mother”.  You took it to mean that I wasn’t your mom and you were just so defeated.  You sat in my arms for twenty minutes having the cry of your life.

Baby Hulk, you will always be my little boy.  The one I held all day long when you were in NICU.  I knew looking down at you what a special little boy you were.  You never have to worry about my love for you.  It’s always there.  Always.

Thinking of you on your birthday fills me with joy.  You wanted Double Daves for lunch, no school, no veggies, no mass, tortellini, chocolate cake and a bike party with your best buddy.  The look on your face as you opened your presents, as you blew out your candles and as we prayed for you was so special.  My favorite part?  How you looked at me after you opened each gift.  You were seeking some sort of approval.  Don’t ever worry.  You’ve got it.

I have to remember how much that approval means to you.  How you crave that extra attention that others in this house might not care about.  You feel.  Truly feel.  And you love.  You are generous.  You are thoughtful.

I wouldn’t be a good Catholic mom if I didn’t note this story from the past year: one day you looked at me and got so sad.  When I asked what was wrong, you were worried that you wouldn’t be able to perform the miracle at mass.  My heart almost stopped.  That you even thought about being a priest makes me so proud.

Baby Hulk, it’s hard being you sometimes.  You truly get so frustrated over the smallest things.  If there was anything I’d wish to change it would be that you learn to handle some of your emotions.  I hate to see you get so upset over shoes or a brother.

I am so excited for school this year.  We’re off to a great start.  You make both of us look really good when it comes to learning.  Your reading is outstanding and you are quick to learn new things.  I am working really hard on making this year fun for you.  To create a true love of learning.  I don’t want to push you.  I want to follow your lead.

While I cherish the four year old that you were and will always smile when I see your four year old face from above, I am anxious for the memories we will make at five.

I love you my sweetest little boy.  You were the answer to many fervent prayers.  You had three in heaven praying just for you and one important saint, your namesake.  Always remember them.  Saint Gerard, pray for my son today and always.

May God bless you always.  Mom

I’m in a bad mood.  The Baby Hulk turned 5, and I’ve written two lines for his birthday post.

Two lines.

I literally can’t move beyond those two lines.  I don’t want to fake it so my poor little boy has no post.  Not that it matters to him at this point, but the lack of post makes me feel like a crappy mom.

I realize the lack of birthday post does not make one a bad mom.  It’s the rest.

The lack of patience.

The lack of desire to spend time with them.

I feel slightly justified, my kids’ behavior isn’t really stellar right now.  The Baby Hulk cries or whine every. single. day. over shoes.  Today, he cried because he saw two pairs of socks and couldn’t decide which pair to put on.  Instead of asking, he freaked out.  No David cries if you put his milk in the wrong cup or don’t give him enough banana.  There are only so many times you can deal with this behavior before you lose your sanity.

I am seriously wondering if my kids have one of the many conditions out there or if they are just really, really bratty.

I spend all my time with the kids.  All. My. Time.  Generally, I love this, but September has been difficult.  Really difficult.

I tried to read something to bring about a shift in thinking.  The reflection for today was to Embrace your suffering, kiss your cross.  To see the small sacrifices as a gift from God.

I’m not there today.  I don’t see the constant whining and screaming as gifts.  I’m burnt out right now.

Plus, I’m getting an ingrown toenail.  How can anyone be in a good mood with that?

For Today…September 11, 2011

Outside my window…it’s dark.  And quiet.

I am listening…to One Life to Live.  Yes, I admit it.  To be really honest, I used to have a subscription to Soap Opera Digest.  And due to some weird form of OCD, I used to read the magazine cover to cover so I knew the storylines of every single soap on television.  I stopped watching daytime soaps a few years ago, but now that they are being killed off one by one, I have to watch the endings.  I thought OLTL was ending in two weeks, turns out it isn’t ending until January.  But I’m already sucked into some of the stories.  Thank God for Tivo.

I am wearing…boxers and a t-shirt.

I am praying for…me.  I love my kids.  They are awesome, but one is super whiny and two may drive me insane.  I guess I should be thankful the other two are fine right now.

I am grateful…for true heroes.  One day I hope to teach my children about them.

I am reading…I have a huge stack on my night stand.  So much for not reading parenting books…The 10 Habits of Happy Mothers, Simplicity Parenting, The Blessings of a B Minus…Let’s see if I finish any of these books.  I have heard rave reviews of these books from a trusted online source.  We’ll see, I tend to get bored with stuff like this, but it can’t hurt.  I have skimmed through Simplicity Parenting enough to know that we’ll be having another haul of toys leaving this house.  Soon.  And that Christmas will not be a repeat of last year.  I also have Montessori in the Home, education for the little ones.  And One Day, entertainment for me.

Around the house…the countdown is on.  Our garage is almost done.  THANK GOD.  I think part of my problem right now is not having a backyard for the kids.  They need a backyard to play in every day.  Hopefully within a couple of weeks, we’ll have our dog home and a yard to run around.

On the menu…the entire week is planned.  I am really excited about what we’re eating this week.

I am creating…I still haven’t worked on my ornament.  Not good.

From the learning rooms…our homeschool is going really well right now.  We’re going through the alphabet again for our science themes and the boys are loving this.

To live the liturgy…Wednesday is the Exaltation of the Cross.  It’s also the BH’s birthday.  We’ll celebrate both.

One of my favorite things…football and Goose’s love of it.  He was so funny today talking to the television.  I am so glad he loves football.

A few plans for the week…celebrate BH’s birthday, the Children’s Museum, and live.

A picture thought I’m sharing…