Otters, and water snakes, and bears, OH MY!

For Father's Day, as is the custom, Brett got to choose what he wanted to do all day. The first adventure on his list was canoeing. Canoeing as a family is something that he loves to do, the kids like to do, and I do. I'm not sure when I became so lame, but I'm definitely not the adventurous-type that I used to be. I'm okay with that.

Aidan was in the front (all technical names will be omitted) paddling, and Brett was in the back. I was on the floor as a "duffer" making sure the youngest "duffer" didn't tip the canoe. Emma and Gigi were behind me in the other two "duffer" spots.

All was going smoothly until an angry otter popped his head out of the water. It was great seeing an otter in the wild, but the excitement soon wore off as I realized we were approaching the critter at a much faster rate than I was comfortable with. The bad part about being a "duffer" is that you are at the mercy of the two paddlers, and when one of them wants to get a closer look at the getting-angrier-by-the-moment otter, there is absolutely nothing to be done. I really thought that our new acquaintance was going to jump into the canoe with us, but instead he stood as tall as he could and hissed at us. Apparently that didn't have the effect that he had hoped because he soon ducked back into the water and was not to be seen again. Of course, being the imaginative and somewhat irrational being that I am I just knew that, just like in any movie/book, the otter was planning on resurfacing just below the canoe so he could tip us over and swallow us into the dark depths of the ocean, er..bay. It would have made for an even greater story, but he allowed us to pass unharmed.

The next friend we came across was a little water snake. At this point the front paddler (who was not the one who wanted a closer look at the otter, in case you hadn't figured that out yet) had had enough wildlife viewings for the day. Knowing that we have zero poisonous snakes up here I thoroughly enjoyed watching the little fellow swim in front of the canoe.

Maybe five minutes had passed when I heard one of the duffers (who will remain unnamed to protect her integrity) announce, "Quiet! Stop paddling!!!! What is that sound?????!!!!!!" This may or may not have caused a general sense of panic in the "under 32" category. We did manage to keep the noise level low enough to hear a black bear run off into the woods. Now, it is true that we never actually had a visual confirmation of the man-eating creature, but we are fairly certain that it was indeed a bear. We've discussed other, less-exciting options and so far we can't come up with another animal that could have made such an elephant-like sound as it ran away from the floating, shrieking vessel that was approaching his favorite swimming hole.

The non-shrieking member of the canoe tried to convince us that we could catch a glimpse of the fleeing bear if we continued down-stream a while longer. I was ever-so-grateful that the youngest duffer had decided she was through with canoeing at that point (perhaps somewhat induced by the previous shrieking episode), so I somehow convinced our jungle-guide to turn us back around. I was grateful that I couldn't see behind us as we slowly made our way to safety, uhm, I mean the shore because I just knew I would see the bear watching us, licking his chops, irritated that his hot summer day swim had been interrupted.

Stacking Cups

Sing-along

The kids learned some new songs at Totus Tuus (Totally Yours) this week. Someone else wanted to demonstrate with them.

Broccoli Salad

Here it is. The long-awaited-for recipe for my broccoli salad.


2-3 "crowns" of broccoli, cut up
sunflower seeds
real bacon bits
raisins
(in my original recipe the last three ingredients had amounts, but I'll just add "to taste")

dressing:
1 cup of Mayo (we use light Mayo)
1/2 cup white sugar
1 Tbsp. white vinegar

Combine ingredients, add dressing! Eat up!

This salad has always been a favorite at potlucks, Easters (!!!), and whenever. It's super yummy! Enjoy!

Fruits of our Labor

Dear Young Mother with 15-month old at Mass Today,



I get it. I sooooo get it. You get up, get yourself and the toddler ready, and head to Mass to start your day right. It doesn't take too long with a toddler in tow for there to be some major conflict of interest between the two of you. Phew, made it through the first reading. Maybe this morning will be different. Maybe I'll be able to stay inside the building for all of Mass. As those thoughts enter your mind, the toddler becomes demanding.



I prayed for you today. I prayed that you would stay. When you became a mother your prayer life changed dramatically. Long gone are the endless uninterupted moments of silence with Our Lord. Did you take advantage of them when you had them? I know I didn't realize how special they were until they were gone. We mothers of young children have so much to ask of Him yet it seems that we can't form two complete thoughts in a row without answering three questions, putting on socks, and filling sippy cups.



I could see your demeanor change. I know the defeated feeling. As you picked up your purse, the diaper bag, and your child who wasn't nearly as loud as you thought she was, your face dropped. Another attempt failed. I prayed that you would stay. This life of mothering has challenges during every season. Please don't look around and compare yourself to that other mom in church. The one who appears to be gracefully handling her own toddler and her little toddler antics. It's not an appearance, it is only done with grace. His grace. Is this kid ever going to get it? She will and you will survive it, though it may not seem so now.



That's the last straw. Every one is looking at us. No one can concentrate on the Mass. She's being too distracting. We're out of here. As you walked past me I tried to catch your eye, to give you a smile that I was hoping you would take as it was intended. A smile of encouragement. But you didn't look up so I just prayed that you would stay.



And stay you did. Before I knew it you came back in the doors with a new confidence. You sat down resolved. You would stay. You might not feel like you're getting anything out of Mass, but you are. He is present, you receive graces to get through the rest of the day. This season of mothering is so fleeting. Trust me, I was there. Now I look up at the alter and see my oldest serving and hope that no one else noticed that nose scratch, or the fact that he seems to be looking around and not focussing. Little do they know that he's actually catching the light off his glasses and shining it on whatever he can bring into focus. See, you will always have challenges. You will always be overly sensitive about what you perceive others are thinking about your children and your parenting. You will slowly come to realize that you are doing a great job, your intentions are right, and you know your child more than any one else. You brought yourself and your precious daughter to Mass today to teach her. You taught her consistency, you taught her patience, you taught her how to love, you taught her how to behave, but most importantly when you stayed at Mass today you taught her what the single most important part of this journey is about.

Summertime Daybook

June 1, 2010

Outside my window...The sun, sun, sun (!) is shining, shining, shining. We've had such beautiful weather this spring/summer.

I am thinking...about whether or not we're going to paint the kids' room and the schoolroom before summertime guests arrive. It's hard to commit to a project that would keep us indoors for awhile with this beautiful sun.

I am thankful for...friends who encouraged me to go to the Catholic Homeschool Conference in the cities this weekend. She did a great write up and I listened to one of her talks. Very sweet, very good, very "just what I needed to hear". I was dragging my heels about going. I have a nursing 15-month old, my husband just got back into the country after being gone for nearly 2 weeks, it's an almost 3 hour drive, etc... In the end, even though the priest I really, really, really wanted to meet ended up not being able to make it (and my friend duped me by not telling me he would not be there until she had taken me captive, er...picked me up), I am so very glad I went. Veronica survived being away from me all day. I was very, very, very glad to see her and she sorta noticed that I had made it home.

The schoolroom...is on break! We follow the University's schedule so when Brett is in school we are in school. He is teaching a summer class for the next couple of weeks and the kids have decided that they would like to continue with their history during those weeks. Math will also be on the summer school list.

From the kitchen...I have some iced tea being made for my lawnmowing husband. When we lived in Texas I would make the stuff a couple of times a week. Since moving up here I have a very small "iced-tea-making" window so I can waste no time at all. Truth be told, I can't stand the stuff, but my hardworking hubby loves it.

I am wearing...a pinkish, purplish shirt, brown "springtime" skirt, and a sleeping baby.

I am creating...summer chore charts, a mental list of what is left to be done today, and baskets of clean clothes. Okay, the washing machine is creating those.

I am going...out on a real date with my real hubby for our real 10 year anniversary on Thursday!

I am reading...less facebook, less blogs, and more books.

I am hoping..to connect with a couple of new people this summer and "talk shop" about this whole homeschooling, thing.

I am hearing...the kids thinking they are being quiet, Brett talking to a couple outside but I don't recognize their voices, and birds.

Around the house...My house was spotless, decluttered and in order the whole time Brett was swinging with the monkeys. I kid you not. Upon his arrival home our house has become messy and cluttered. I could blame Brett for this transformation, but for any of you who know him at all know that I could never convince you of his guilt in this matter. Actually, I've noticed that this happens because I want to hang out with him when he's here and that usually means neglecting the work that I would normally do. It's worth it.

One of my favorite things...watching my kids form relationships with their siblings. It might result in a mutiny against me, but at least I'm enjoying the process.

A few plans for the rest of the week...We are finishing up yard work today, we have a libaray visit planned, a little schooling, an anniversary date, a dessert date with a friend, the kids' karate test, our diocesan priestly ordination, and my in-laws arriving at the end of the week. Life as usual.

A picture thought I'm sharing...

Where We've Been

Some of us went South to visit some good friends and my sister.

Some of us went sailing in the ocean.

Some of us were checking our wing span.

And hanging with cousins.

Some were hanging with wild reptiles.

And meeting new people.

Some of us were trying our hand at art.

Others were trying our luck with active volcanoes. (Even though this pic looks "photo shopped", I promise he was there)

Some of us were exploring bees.

Others were exploring granola bars.

In short: Some of went to Iowa, and some (well one) went to Costa Rica!