Feast of the Archangels

Today is the Feast of the Archangels! I am *not* one of those homeschooling mothers who always has every feast day perfectly planned out. I am very proud of today for this very reason. I am also in advance proud of Friday for the feast that I do have somewhat planned out.

The plan was to make angel sugar cookies. The only problem with this plan was that our angel cookie cutter is horrible. It doesn't look anything like an angel. I'm not completely convinced that it wasn't supposed to be cupid from a Valentine's cookie cutter collection. Either way, we decided that using hearts and stars would have to do. The hearts are for the great love the Archangels have for God and the stars are for how powerful they are (a stretch I know).

Veronica was very excited that she got to stand up on the stool with Gianna.

Aidan, rolling out some dough and Emma making sure it looks right.

Nica loved playing in the flour.

Unfortunately, the "ugly" angels didn't even make it.

This picture is to prove that I'm not one of those "perfect" homeschool moms.

Aidan's finished product. Note the funny looking "angel" at the top of the plate.

A Beautiful Saturday Daybook

For Today

September 25, 2010 (My much older and wiser sister's birthday!)

Outside my window...The leaves are falling, the sun is shining and there's just enough of a breeze to carry the kids' bubbles across the yard.

I am thinking...About how I spend my time, where I spend my time, and with whom (fancy huh?) I spend my time.

I am thankful for...A healthy pregnancy, a husband who has a job he loves, sweet kids who are each other's best friends.

From the school room...School is in full force. Now that I'm feeling human for most of the day we have been able to really tackle some good schoolwork. The kids have been great about getting their work done. I truly love teaching my children at home, but that's another post entirely.

From the kitchen...The kitchen is a complete disaster with remnants of our big breakfast and the pumpkin muffins that were just made. I don't mind disasters like that. Yum!

I am wearing...A brown maternity shirt with pink and beige designs on it and a maternity skirt that is as comfortable as they come. I'm still not obviously pregnant to the outside world, but definitely more comfortable in maternity clothes.

I am creating...There's not a lot of creating going on around here. I'm growing a baby. Does that count?

I am going...Absolutely nowhere at the moment. This afternoon we may stop by the "Family Weekend" booths on campus and see how the Newman Center booth is doing, maybe confession this afternoon, and Mass. The boys are currently "sighting in" Brett's rifle at the shooting range this morning. Sounds like a man's weekend to me.

I am reading..."The Soul of the Apostolate" (still), and "The New Faithful" by some journalist whose name escapes me. I've never been good with remembering authors' names. Both great reads!

I am hoping...That I continue to feel better, and that I start to feel more normal in the evenings. I'm still rather "green" which makes for some very unproductive evenings.

I am hearing...The three girls playing in the backyard. Last I heard Emma was taking Veronica down the slide. It sounds like that game is over and it also sounds like the littlest one needs to come in and take a nap.

Around the house...The laundry is as caught up as laundry ever is, the kitchen, well, you remember, and the rest of the house could use some tlc. Maybe after our nap...uh, the baby's nap.

To live the liturgy...We've been doing the daily scripture readings every morning and on Thursday started a Novena to St.Therese in honor of her upcoming feast day! I'm trying to incorporate more liturgical activities in our home...after all, the kids can do Math anywhere, but I want our home to be alive with our Faith.

One of my favorite things...When Nica and I wake up in "our" bed and I ask her if she wants to get up she almost always says "no, Mama" and snuggles back in. I'm glad I've taught her well, and I am always up for a few more minutes of snuggling.

A few plans for the rest of the week...It's a pretty busy time of year around here. This weekend we have our family faith formation program at Church, on Monday we have Newman stuff, Tuesday we teach a Baptism class, Thursday we have more Newman stuff, Friday is St.Therese's feast (I think we have some archangels in there to celebrate in the middle of the

week as well), and Saturday we give our NFP talk to the marriage prep group. The kids will have karate next week as well. Whew! I'm tired.

A picture thought...

I do have other children even though this one currently makes more "screen time" than the rest. It's just that she's around me all the time, and well, she's really, really cute!

Sweetness

Is a seven-year old!

Yummy Smell

My house currently has the smell of Chicken and Rice Soup throughout! Yummy! I've been waiting until the weather got a little colder to make my first batch of soup this season, but since 5/6 of us are sporting a fall cold, today seems like a great day!

If You Give a Boy a Tree

You'd better make sure he has a pair of clippers and a hatchet.

Fall Means...

Cute toddlers in blue jeans and jackets!

First Day of September Daybook

For Today
September 1, 2010

Outside my window...there is a crisp breeze. This is a welcome change from the past two days, one of which we escaped to a friend's house who has air conditioning. It was 84 degrees in this house.

I am thinking...about way too much. My brain seems to be on overload as I sort out what is working and what is not with this current school year, as I contemplate the best way to handle my oldest son and his temperament which he inherited from me, as I try not to worry about this pregnancy, and on, and on, and on.

I am thankful for...my husband who, until he had to return to work, was my chef and maid! I've been very sick with this pregnancy and I couldn't have gotten through without him. Well, maybe I could have, but no one else in my family would have eaten.

From the school room...ugh. The school room is ready, we've been "in school" for over a week now, and I'm just not convinced that we're doing what we're supposed to be this year. It all seems so droll. I have my ideals, but I've never seen them modeled in real life for me so I'm afraid I'm a few steps off. The rest of this week may be revamping our current "schedule".

From the kitchen...clean dishes in the dishwasher, dirty dishes on the counter, but relatively clean. Meals for the rest of the day have not even been thought about except for the brief "hmmm...these kids are going to want to eat again at some point today".

I am wearing...some maternity capris, not that I have to yet, but because they are super, duper, comfy, and a top. Hair in ponytail!

I am creating...some lists. I haven't had a good list making session in awhile, and I feel lists coming on.

I am going...to change my melancholy attitude by the end of this post. :-)

I am reading...way too many facebook updates. Really...there's got to be a better balance to all this.

I am hoping and praying...for a dear friend who just celebrated the 1-year anniversary of losing her son to stillbirth, and who will be welcoming her daughter to the world today! This young woman has shown strength and courage beyond words.

I am hearing...the kids playing and a couple of fans blowing. I'm pretty sure they are keeping it down in fear that at any moment I'll announce, "time to get started".

Around the house...about 8 weeks of feeling "blah" has left its mark on the house. I'm chipping away at the house little by little. It will be clean again.

One of my favorite things...Fall! Word on the street is that it's supposed to get cool this weekend and not warm up again until, well, next July. I love everything about fall! The colors, the fresh apples, all of the lovely holYdays, the promise of the first snowfall, everything!!!!

A few plans for the rest of the week...Students come back to the University tomorrow, we have some yard work to do around the house, some housework, and those lovely, lovely lists!!!