Sun-daybook

Outside my window- The clouds have come back, which means, we can go outside again.  We've had a handful of sub-zero (literally) temperatures.  The kids will be sad to take the cats back outside, but I'll be happy that I can send kids out with them.

In the kitchen- There is a large pot of beef/venison (from last year, boo) soup boiling.  We are having friends over tonight to sled and eat.  I love that my husband cooks when we have company.  I do the day-to-day stuff, but he's great at the "company food".  In fact, he rocks.

I'm hearing- The clock my parents gave us for Christmas sing half-past one.  The two oldest girls sing to the cats in the 3-season room.  The pot of soup humming while it boils.  Alright, that was taking an artistic liberty...it's not humming. 

I'm grateful for- My husband who came home early from a conference because of the threat of bad weather.  Grateful the bad weather didn't happen and I get an extra day with my whole family before the week starts.  Grateful my baby is pulling up and pushing her little walker around.  I hope you all don't get sick of hearing about her, because my heart is bursting full of love for our sweet one who we almost lost.  Wow!  I can't even describe how I'm feeling as her first birthday approaches.

I'm hopeful- There is a good chance that some very dear friends will be coming to see us soon.  The house is abuzz with excitement as my older two start to plan some activities and everyone is just plain excited.

Praying for- March for Life, my dad, Auggie, Archbishop Chaput, our seminarians, the big election coming up.  Will you pray too?

Our homeschool- We're are *this close* to moving into our school room.  I might even have *gasp* mason jars in the windowsills.  Okay, maybe not, but if I did what beautiful pictures they would make.

I'm creating- Some regular schedules, some organization, some better habbits, some happier kids,a real life letter to a friend.

This week- A doctor's appointment for Felicity (please pray we can figure something to help her with her reflux), a lot of karate to make up for when everyone was sick, a regular school/work schedule, hopefully some snow.

Seeing the fruits- The kids had a sleepover in the family room the night Brett was away and it was Aidan's turn to pick the movie.  He picked the movie he knew Gianna was absolutely dying to watch.  Those two in particular do not get along the greatest (that may be an understatement) so this was so nice to see. 

No picture this time, but I guarantee some good ones coming up soon. 

The Medicine that...

Veronica has been on an antibiotic for an ear infection.  She takes her medicine without complaint and quickly slurps it down.

I was measuring out a dose for her and she came up behind me and said, "Is this the medicine that sucks?"

Cue my jaw dropping to the floor.  "What was that Nica?"

"I said, is this the medicine that sucks?"

I didn't want to overreact and I couldn't fathom how Veronica would a) know the "s" word or b) use the "s" word in the right context so I just sort of ignored it.

I handed her the cup of pink medicine.

"Yep, that's the sucking kind" (as in, the kind you suck)

Smarter

Are all oldest children smarter than their parents?  I'm just wondering because mine certainly is. 

My days are full of comments like, "I know", "I'm going to", "I have to do this first", "I'm not doing it that way".  Oh my!  If I didn't love this kid like crazy I would, I would, I would...I would really, really not like him. 

Life's Tough

It's hard work being a baby.

We've had a couple of tough days.  Days that have been filled with unexpected surprises.  Not the regular day to day surprises like, "Mom, the mean cat treed our cats again" or "Is water supposed to be coming out of that" or "The baby stinks, I think she needs to be changed".  Okay, that last one isn't exactly unexpected and usually it's not too surprising.

No, the surprises we have had are almost entirely financially and automobile related.  Actually, really just "auto" because the "mobile" part is no longer true for a couple of autos.  Our truck is dead, dead, dead.  It's been at the shop for weeks and after a lot of money and a lot of time, it's dead.  We had just made the decision to say goodbye to the black rustmobile when Brett called. 

I was actually on the phone with a dear friend.  We were talking each other "down" from some stressful times. 

"Uh, Meghan", I hear at the other end of the phone.  "I went to start the car to come home and it won't start."

"That's really funny, Brett!  Good joke, you got me."

"I'm not kidding."

It turns out it was just a battery, but it was almost enough to send me over the edge.  That was almost me in the picture above, although I wouldn't have been in a one-piece fleece outfit. 

I will admit to sulking a little bit, and grumbling a little bit, and complaining a little bit.  But, only a little bit.  My kids are by my side almost constantly.  They are watching how Brett and I react to bad news like, "You just spend $1500 on a truck that will never run again and isn't worth more than $2000 to begin with".  So, I've picked myself off the floor and have chosen to take this in stride.  I'll let you know how that goes. 

When Mama's Sick

I've promised my husband, my children, and myself that I would go to sleep as soon as the baby did tonight.  I'm not quite there.  I was in a "bloggy" mood.  That sounds like a fun mood to be in.  "How are you?" "Oh, bloggy, just bloggy!". 

We returned home from our "that-was-so-great-seeing-every-one-I'm-so-happy-we're-not-making-that-drive-for-another-6-months" vacation with a couple of sickies.  The two youngest and myself had/have colds.  Like the mother on Pride and Prejudice said (Colin Firth version because in my opinion there is no other one), "No one dies from a trifle cold!"  Perhaps not, but we've been pretty miserable.

I wanted to be the mom that smiled and met everyone's needs with joy and patience and understanding.  Instead, I've been the mom who makes the 10-year-old make meals and clean up after them.  I've been trying to catch a nap whenever I can get it, even if it means my children have had way too much "screen time".  I wish I felt worse for being crabby, and irritable, and a bear.  They don't mind, I postponed the beginning of our semester until next Tuesday.  Gianna may have shed a single solitary tear because she was looking forward to doing Math, but I think I've been forgiven for my less-than-wonderful mood. 

And on that note, eventually I won't be able to "buy" my children and husband's forgiveness (I will run out of leverage at some point) so I should sleep because my bed-buddy is sound asleep and not sniffling, coughing, or wheezing.  I am going to curl up with her, listen to the sound of the humidifier for another night and say some prayers for lots of people who have much more serious issues than a few people with some colds. 

Dear Gianna

I had no intention on leaving Gigi completely out of that last post.  I blame it on the fact that she is now the middle child (which is why we should not have an odd number of children...mind you, I didn't say a number of odd children). 

Here's our Gianna.  Sweet as can be.  A little challenging because she's 5 going on 6 and I've never had a non-challenging almost 6-year-old.  What a gal.

Playing Checkers with cousin Braden

In new blanket.

Sweet Gigi.

With Godmother Katrina.

First post of 2012

I really hadn't intended on such a long break between posts to this space.  Tonight is the lucky "posting night" because I'm sick and in bed early, but can't fall asleep due to constant coughing spells that wake up the sweet and cold-ridden baby who is laying next to me.  This could be a long night, but enough whining.

We have recently returned from SD where we spent about 9 days visiting our families and friends.  My parents moved into a new home and it is lovely.  It was a little strange not going "home", but I handled it better than I thought I would.

Brett is working on our basement "remodel" which has taken much, much longer than we had thought and cost much, much more than we expected.  The end is in sight and hopefully in a couple of weeks we will be moving in (our schoolroom!).  I am loving our new house more and more.  We have much more space and waking up in the woods...well, you just can't beat that.  The only problem is that I never want to leave.  This once very social individual has turned into quite a recluse I'm afraid.

On another note.  I watched the first episode of "The Gist" on CatholicTV this afternoon, and although I really, really wanted to like it...I just didn't.  Any of my Catholic mommy friends out there see it?  What did you think?

So there you have it.  A very random first post of 2012.  I'll end with a Nica funny:

Nica-  Mommy, guess what pet I want to have.

Me- Okay, hampster (no), mouse (no), dog (no), fly (giggle, no)......I don't know, tell me.


Nica- I don't know!  (Giggle, giggle, giggle) 


Ah, two and a half year olds. 

Here's the man.  I could do without the facial hair, but I'll take what I can get.

Emma was slightly excited about getting a Kindle for Christmas.

Cuteness.

Ever see a man play a nose flute?  Now you have.

The animal lover loved my parents' dog Nicki.

Two sweet gals. (In case you're wondering, the blonde, curly-haired lady is my sister).

Sadie knew whose chair to lay next to.

Lots of reading happened this vacation.

Two redheads.