Expectant Moms

I finally updated my sidebar with expectant moms to keep in your prayers. I've been meaning to do that for a while. Is there anyone I'm forgetting?

Summer Reading with Half Price Books

Do you know about the summer reading program at Half Price Books? For every reading log turned it, a child receives a $3 gift certificate with no minimum purchase necessary. Up to one log per week can be turned in. Logs are available at the front counter or at the website (look under Downloads). They ask that the child either read or be read to 15 minutes a day.

We've been enjoying our weekly outings to Half Price Books. Isabelle has even gotten books on her 6th grade reading list like The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, Caddie Woodlawn, and Understood Betsy. Best of all, all those books were less than $3!!!

Its no secret I love books and Half Price books is my favorite hangout. I'm so happy I'm walking out of there without spending a dime.

Okay, maybe a few dimes or so have been spent.

Happy reading!

Andrea Bocelli

If I seem like I'm blogging more its because my sweetheart is gone all week. Next week I doubt I'll blog as much.

Here's an adorable video with my absolutely favorite singer, Andrea Bocelli, singing Elmo to sleep. H/T to Danielle Bean over at Faith and Family Connect. Have you visited this new place? Its like a Catholic version of Facebook and I'm in love with it. Go over and join and make me your friend!




Here's a link to a video of Andrea Bocelli singing this song, Time To Say Goodbye, with Sarah Brightman. This is actually one of the songs I want played at my funeral. TMI?? Craig HATES it when I play this song because of my request. I think its one of the most beautiful songs (and performances) ever. Sends shivers up my spine.

Do you ever talk about things like this with your spouse? Just curious.

Introducing ......

PRINCESS!!

She joined our family back in February. How rude of me not to introduce her sooner. She seems to love us and we certainly love her. She's a well behaved lady who loves to be petted. Her favorite past time is playing with the children and chasing cats. She likes stuffed animals and baby toys. She's learning that they're not meant for her.

I'm not a "dog person" and had a rough start with her. I didn't introduce her sooner because I wasn't sure I wanted to keep her. But with the help of the children's tears and Craig's strong leadership (read: stubbornness), and many episodes of The Dog Whisperer, I can confidently say she's a keeper!

Isn't she beautiful?

For the AFV Team

Just so I can't be accused of discrimination, these pictures are for the AFV Team (Advocates For Veronica) .................

What color are those eyes? I'm holding out for green. Craig says they're brown.

Guess who's standing up and walking along furniture? And climbing stairs? And getting into lots of trouble?

Sleeping .... again? She's developed this habit of only sleeping when being held. Good thing my girls don't mind!

At a swim meet ......

My version of a baby gate .......

Is the AFV Team happy?

Re-evaluating Priorities

I've been doing alot of soul searching these past few months. Actually, Craig and I have been talking ALOT lately about how our family life has changed as the kids have gotten older. So many activities to run to .... swimming, choir, piano, co-op, swim meets, book club, mom's night out, pro-life meetings, etc., etc., etc.

I miss the days of just watching the girls dance to music after dinner. I miss the days of sitting in front of the house while watching the kids roller skate and on their bikes.

I understand that as kids get older, life gets busier. But I think that somehow, Craig and I lost the reins and the activities have become like a run away horse buggy.

And so we've been talking and praying and talking and praying.

The girls and I have been going to daily mass since about February and that has really changed the rhythm of our days. I now get up early. I can't believe it!!! I never thought I would be getting up voluntarily at 6:30am. My goal is to push it back to 6am and eventually 5:30am by September. But, with that early wake up time comes early bed times!!

Some things are a priority like mass, school and piano. I think everything else can pretty much go on the chopping block. And so the chopping has begun. I have been part of a discussion group for over a year now. We meet at Olive Garden to discuss home management(HomeAdvantage) and glean wisdom/tips from each other. While I've learned alot from the other ladies, I've also decided to step back from this group. It can be more social than instructive at times. ;-)

And because I've joined the Gabriel Project at our church, something had to give. .

The next activity on the chopping block is ....... swimming. *wince*

Swimming has been a blessing but has also brought many caveats. Dinner HAS to be ready by 4pm so that my swimmers can digest and be ready to dive into the pool by 5:30pm. Swimming requires a heavy commitment of time (daily). Absences are unforgiving and show up in swim meet times. While Isabelle has LOVED it, she misses being home in the evenings (when Craig isn't working). She's tired in the mornings because bedtime is usually around 9pm (after showering, eating a snack and talking/praying/getting ready for bedtime). She misses hanging out, being read to, and enjoying slow, peaceful dinners. And I miss her.

After all, she's only 11!!!

And so, we're starting to re-evaluate everything we're doing. Because activities can be the same as clutter in a house. If it goes unchecked, too much can come in through the front door and create havoc.

Ironically, because we're so busy swimming, we've lost our time to bike ride, roller skate, visit the YMCA for rock climbing and go on post dinner walks. When we lived in College Station we went on walks DAILY and even visited friends. In "the woods" our neighborhood was so beautiful and we loved walking in the evenings. We have yet to go on a family walk and we've been here over 2 years!!!

The chopping block is out. And we're cutting back.

I'm curious to hear from those of you who swam when you were young. At what age did you start and how often did you swim? I'm thinking maybe we just need a break from year-round swimming until she's a little older. Time to regroup. A year or three to enjoy being young.

I think I'll start re-reading my David Elkind books. ;-)

4th of July 2009

Finally, pictures of our Award Winning Tee's!! A lady at the parade was so impressed and thought I should sell them next year. LOL!!! If only she knew how "easy" painting tee shirts can be with a baby, 3yo, 6yo, 7 yo, 9 yo and a 11 yo? We had friends over to "help." They brought over a baby, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, and two 10 yo's.

I don't think we'll be going into business anytime soon! LOL!!

Marching in our neighborhood parade,

the kids sang "You're a Grand Old Flag," "National Anthem,"

"America the Beautiful," and "Erie Canal."

Guess who won Most Patriotic??

*big wide grin*

The kids were a hit and had an encore at the park. They've also been booked for our neighborhood Winter Wonderland Festival. I guess I'm their agent now?

Painting Patriotic Tees

Big thank you to Charlotte for the timely advance notice. We finally got around to making our own 4th of July tees. Once they're dry I'll have the kids show them off. This has been a tradition I've been after for a while now. More pics to come, including some of our traditional flag cake that we've been doing for years now!!