Lots to Read

Muddy Mama tagged me for this meme. I'm a voracious reader, so this meme excites me, even though it's been hard thinking of all of the answers.

1. One book that changed your life:
The Baby Book by Dr. Sears shaped the way I've decided to parent my children and it's ramifications affect us every day. I still seem to pull it out every month or so.

Spiritually, Happy are You Poor by Father Dubay. This is intense and has made me rethink quite a few things.

2. One book that you've read more than once:
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. I can't think of the number of times I've read them. But I usually tend to read books several times if I enjoy them.

3. One book you'd want on a desert island:
The Norton Anthology of Western Literature. If I've got lots of time, I might as well be brushing up on the classics and this is long enough to last a while 2,700 pages. If not this then the Anthologies of American or English Literature.

4. One book that made you laugh:
Fatherhood by Bill Cosby

5. One book that made you cry:
The real question is what book doesn't make me cry. If there's anything dramatic at all, I tend to cry. Most recently - East of Eden by John Steinbeck

6. One book you wish had been written:
How to get all of your housework done, while blogging and without effort!

7. One book you wish had never been written:
Disney Princess: Happily Ever After Stories.
There is nothing redeeming in this book at all, the stories are all drivel, and the morals are really twisted - nothing that I want to see my daughter cultivate. Every time I try to get rid of it though Clare notices.

8. One book you are currently reading:
The Savage Detectives by Roberto Bolano for my book club. It's interesting, but not worth reading - and a complete moral depravity. But once I start reading a book I feel obliged to finish.

9. One book you've been meaning to read:
The Christian State of Life by Hans Ur von Balthasar. I started reading this so many times since I left college, and never get to far. Time to try again I guess.
The full list here could take many pages, I always have atleast 10 books I mean to read at any given point.

Now it's my turn to tag. I can't wait to see what these folks would have to say, if they are interested and have the time to do it:

Stephanie at Watcher of the Morn
Abigail at Abigail's Alcove
Kate at La Vita Bella
Jen at This Family of Ours
Joshie at The Ordinary Characters

Elfs

I saw this on another blog, and tried it out and it's so cute.

See my kids and parents dancing as elfs. You can even scrooge yourself on the same website.

Some Christmas Photos

I've put up the pictures (seriously almost all of them) I took this Christmas - none actually on any day near Christmas day itself. And somehow I completely missed pictures with John's folks - I'm going to work harder on that in the future. These are random pictures. Enjoy
Here are my dad and Gregory looking at Gregory's favorite present. A slow-cooker cook book I received. Seriously, he spent an hour or more in Poppop's lap flipping the pages.

Here's my mom with Clare and my brother's bird. Clare was a little uncertain, but very gentle. The bird doesn't like me at all.
Here's Gregory after his first iced Christmas cookie. He found it at our Christmas party. I think it was originally Clare's but I am not sure. He loved it, and made a huge mess.
Grandma and Clare in the mess of her room after all the presents were unwrapped and played with.
Here is a picture of me, after a short winter's nap, when the children decided to come and make sure I wasn't going to sleep any more. They were sweet, snuggly, and awake.

Hopefully, I'll do better with pictures from our next holiday.

Holy Family, Pray For Us

Happy Feast of the Holy Family!
It's so nice to know that God decided to be born into a family to come into the world to save us. To be a little child, to grow up with a mother and father. To know that he loved his parents and they loved him. To know that Mary and Joseph lived like every other family - loving their child, having sleepless nights, stress, worries, and joy that exceeds all of the negatives.

7 years ago, invoking their intercession, my sweet husband asked me to marry him. And I'm still so glad that they are watching over us and aiding us in our daily efforts to love each other, our children and grow in holiness.

Here we are within a month of the engagement. I assure you we were not in grade school even if we look that young.

Christmas Happenings

Our Christmas was wonderful - here's a quick (hopefully) summary of what all we did:

• We stayed with John's folks in Northern Virginia and had one of the most peaceful, pleasant Christmas days I can ever remember. Clare and Gregory loved it.
• Gregory learned to climb and descend steps all in one visit over the span of 4 days. He's a crazy boy
• We visited John's old boss in the hospital and took him dinner from Morton's. FYI, if you do take out from Morton's, they include real silverware (even steak knives) with your dinner. I never imagined such a nice meal in a hospital room.
• Put out cookies for Santa, who left Clare a nice note and a cookie with a big bite taken out of it. She was so excited about it - I love seeing her wide eyed wonder at such things.
• Went in to DC to see the national Christmas tree (this was my first time), and showed Clare the Texas tree (getting her ready for this summer).
• Had a wonderful time visiting and being visited by all of the people we love most.
• John's been watching lots of football games and got a special present - the Redskins are in the playoffs - they actually beat the Cowboys - Yea!

It's been a wonderful busy couple of weeks. God has been giving us so much peace and family time. Hopefully we can store it all up in our hearts for another busy semester to come.

What Clare got for Christmas

Paul gave Clare a ring for Christmas. Maria says it was Paul's idea. Very cute and very sweet.

Clare is convinced that Paul is going to marry her. What Paul doesn't know is that Clare has decided that she wants 12 daughters and 2 sons.

If you look closely at the picture you can see Bella from La Vita Bella in the background too.

It was great visiting our friends this Christmas, watching the kids play (they're all getting so big), and chatting about everything (especially presidential politics). Maybe one day we'll be doing the same thing at their weddings.

Best Intentions

So we've been home for 4 or 5 days, and I haven't blogged about Christmas yet. I've meant to blog, but we've been having the nicest little vacation - what with John home, visiting his folks, and my parents coming to visit us.

I'm finding that I blog more when I don't have guests, adult conversation with John, and when we're aren't getting a new season on DVD to watch from blockbuster online. We've been watching a season of The Wire on DVD when the kids are asleep, and I can't really blog and watch it at the same time. (It's a great series, but quite rough, we definitely can't watch it with the children).

I promise to put up some posts about our Christmas - but I can't promise very many pictures. I always have the best intentions with my camera and I get a couple of pictures, and then I start enjoying myself and just being with everyone so much that I forget to pull out the camera.

Hope you all have been having wonderful Christmases wherever you have gone or whoever you have seen. God is so good to us all.

Be Back Soon

We're at Grandma and Grandpa's house. We've been visiting and having a blast.

I will be virtually computer-less unless I sneak away from everything and everyone and post - and I'm having too much fun to sit at the computer for long.

Have a Merry Christmas, and we'll see you with pictures next week.

And a Partridge in a Pear Tree

Whew it's been a busy day!

I've been baking and mixing and washing and soon to be packing. I can't believe how much I can get done in a day with my beautiful children.

Clare was such a help today - she unwrapped an entire bag of Hershey's hugs without eating one. She also unwrapped 32 white chocolate baking squares without a single lick. She's mixed things, and kept away from the oven. She's sampled items for me and rated them, and has been such a darling.

Tomorrow, she will help me pack tins, pick out wardrobes, make ornaments, load a van, and play with Gregory. What a big girl.

Gregory has been very patient with a busy mom today. He's had lots of smiles and love to give. And he's wanted to eat everything I'm making. Tomorrow he will probably repeat today.

Top it all off with a trip on the Charlottesville Holly Trolley to see Christmas lights and both children were tuckered out and are now sleeping soundly.

Less than 20 hours until we're visiting folks and family! Yikes! What else do I have to do tonight?

Christ the Child

Some of my friends and I are reading Fulton Sheen's reflections on Advent. I wanted to share part of today's and reflect here.

No person can love anything unless he can get his arms around it....But once God became a babe and was wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger, men could say "This is Emmanuel, this is God with us." - Fulton Sheen

and the prayer for this quote

Lord God, Heavenly Father, Almighty Creator of the universe, we thank you for sending us the gift of your dearly beloved Son in the form of a new-born Babe--a human yet divine being. Allow us the further gift of knowing and loving you, of getting our arms locked securely around the God-With-Us. May this embrace be our safety net in our struggle for eternal life.

My first thought reading this was that one of my favorite things is holding Gregory when he is all snugly and sleepy and has his head down.

Yes, Jesus that would be nice to hold you in my arms like that, to love you the way I love him and Clare when they are so sweet and warm and lovable.

My next thought was that those precious moments are quite few. Usually I am holding Gregory while I get my chores done, and want to put him down, but I can't. Or he doesn't want me to hold him somewhere, and I can't put him down so he's fighting me, twisting and squirming to get away. Or just the constant holding of a child when one is out and about, when I'm not really paying attention, he is just there.

Lord, the analogy just doesn't work for most of my life.....

And then as I let the images sink in with God's grace and prompting, I realized that the analogy still fits.

Lots of time during the day I just want to get everything done, I don't always want to bring my mind back to God, but I should. I want to just get through the day without prayer because I'm tired or busy, but the image of holding the Christ Child reminds me to turn back to Him, and keep Him that close to my heart.

Usually when Gregory is fighting me, he wants something. Here I am the mother and I know that he really doesn't need to eat the garbage he has just gotten into, or crawl on the filthy floor of a public restroom. But there are times when I don't want to do what the Christ Child is prompting me to do, so the struggle fits too. Except in that case, I am the one who needs to be refocused.

And as for that just holding the baby all day long. May I do that with the Christ Child, just having him there all the time, in all that I do and say with whomever I meet.

What a good image for me to reflect on and remember, the rest of this Advent with our busy-ness, and for Christmas and on.

Beds, Wants, and Beyond

I put Gregory down on Clare's bed last night, and the 2 of them had a ball before bed time.

Clare then told me that she wants a bigger bed so Gregory can have hers. She's a big girl now sleeping in a baby bed.

She even offered to let him sleep with her so he could get used to her bed. I mentioned that Gregory still wakes up during the night.

Clare responded that that was alright with her. If Gregory woke up she would take care of him. She would rub his back and bring him a cup of water, and he would be okay with her.

Gregory really likes the bed that will become his crib at some point. You could tell he thinks it's cooler than the packnplay. He explored the bars and the curved rails, the blankets, and any little hole he could get his fingers in.

The one thing I don't think he realized is that when he moves in, there is another wall of bars that will be between him and the room.

They both want the next big thing - the one up from what they've got. Of course, I can't pretend to be any better, I want that too, because it means we will be in a bigger place with room for that.

Breakfast with Santa

The Knights of Columbus put on a wonderful pancake breakfast at our parish today. Clare was so excited to see some of her friends at Mass and then at the breakfast. Usually we all go to different Masses, but who could pass up an opportunity to get breakfast and see Santa at the same time.

My little ones enjoyed seeing Santa, but Clare was definitely more excited. I think she ended up in his lap 3 times just to make sure he knew what she wants for Christmas - A Belle costume. Gregory was just as happy eating pancakes in Daddy's lap.

Games to Play

In the midst of everything to be done and exams to be studied for...we've been playing a game online.

If you click on the image of the free rice - it takes you to a vocabulary game, and for each word you get correct you donate 20 grains of rice through the UN to hungry people.

It's addictive. I've discovered that there are 50 levels but people don't normally get past level 48. John and I are trying to see who can get the farthest and if either of us can crack the level 48 boundary (I've reached level 45 - yea!). And its for a good cause too, so we don't feel too guilty wasting time expanding our vocabularies.

I was wondering if this would be a good vocab game for children since the game adjusts to your level, or for getting ready for the SAT.

Let me know if you check it out and what you think of it.

Hanging in Here

Only 5 days until exams are over and 10 days until Christmas!

And this Advent has been rushing past.

Our condo is a wreck, Christmas gifts have yet to be bought and we leave Thursday to go see our families. That's also the day that John finishes exams and I will have a husband again. But there will be no relief until then.

I'm a bit stressed, a bit tried, and a bit stretched thin.

If I have time I'll hopefully post how everything is coming, but it might be light blogging ahead.

Mystical Rose

"Hear and let it penetrate your heart my dear little one: let nothing discourage you, let nothing alter your heart or countenance. Also do not fear any illness or trouble, anxiety or pain. Am I not here who am your mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Am I not your fountain of life? Are you not in the folds of my mantle? In the crossing of my arms? Is there anything else you need?" Our Lady of Guadalupe to St. Juan Diego

(and indirectly to all of us).

Happy Feast Day!

What? Where?

Clare: Mama, can I marry Gregory?

Mama: No Clare, he's your brother.

Clare: I can marry him when we get to Texas then!

Mama: What?

Clare: They marry their brothers in Texas.
(seriously, I don't know where she gets this stuff. I can't think of anyone who would ever say anything close to this about Texas)

Mama: Umm, no Clare. They don't marry their brothers in Texas, or anywhere else for that matter.

Clare: Okay, (pause) maybe I'll marry Paul.

Mama: Okay, that sounds better.

Firsts

Gregory did a couple of new things today:

He actually took 2 steps by himself. He was so proud of himself - Clare and I were laughing, cheering and encouraging, and he decided that walking wasn't as important as laughing with us. So we all collapsed into a laughing heap (until someone pulled some one else's hair, and Mama had to separate the children).

Gregory bit me so hard that he broke my skin through the shirt and sweater I am wearing. He's never done that before - thank goodness, and hopefully won't do it again.

And he waved to Clare and I while playing. He was pushing his walker around the condo and before he moved out of sight, he turned around and waved to us.

He's getting so big!

Quest for a holy grail

Or at least for a special cup -

I am in search of a perfect sippy cup or bottle that I can get Gregory to drink from. These are some of the candidates in my house-there are even more in the cupboard, and I fear I may have to buy something else too.

They boy really enjoys nursing, but now that he's 1, I would like him to drink something else once in a while.

He loves sippy cups too, just not drinking from them. He throws them, bites them, rolls them, and if they have have a nice soft top - makes a huge mess.

The doctor recommended a bottle and he received his first bottle today - just like his little friend Bella - except he's twice her age. (If you're curious - the bottle is the first one in the picture on the left) I think he liked it. When I glanced at it, the volume had gone down about 1 ounce, but he also had a large wet spot on his clothes (and not from a diaper malfunction either).

I'm open to suggestions or tips on this transition, please.

Adventures with Vegetables

At Gregory's last check up, I learned that he is supposed to be eating 3-5 servings a day of vegetables, and should be eating some food that contains iron as well.

My first thought was does Gregory eat 3-5 servings of anything?
He eats well, but what is he eating?
Do the servings count since he's still nursing?
Do I eat 3-5 servings of vegetables a day?

My pondering led me on a veggie/healthy food shopping spree and my adventures started.

Adventure 1: Cooking dried red kidney beans.
This adventure was going pretty smoothly until I discovered that if you don't cook red kidney beans well enough you can get very very sick. Did you know that red kidney beans have a very strong toxin in them? - check it out here

Did this stop Gregory and I from eating them - no, but I was watching the clock closely afterwards to see if either of us developed severe nausea within 1-3 hours after dinner. (Clare wouldn't eat them - and since I wasn't sure if we would get sick I didn't push it)


Adventure 2: Spaghetti Squash
This is a super healthy and super yummy veggie - I'm so glad I cooked it.

My mom used to make this while I

was pregnant with Gregory. I thought to myself babies eat squash baby food, and I like this squash, so even if no one else eats it, I won't have to throw it away.

Well neither child would eat it plain. But I fooled Gregory and got another vegetable in. Mix spaghetti squash with tomato sauce, a little butter and Parmesan cheese, and it tastes just like pasta - but it's much healthier. He loved it. Tomorrow, I will try the same thing with Clare and see if she'll go for it.

Adventure 3: Sweet Potato Fries - This is on my agenda, but I haven't tried it yet - those results will be posted soon. Stay tuned as I explore more vegetables and sneak them into my family's dinners.

Sugar Cookies

I simply love sugar cookies. They are my favorite, and I don't need anything on them - no sugar, frosting or anything. It's a good thing that they are slightly more work to make, or I would truly be a much larger woman.

This is the best sugar cookie recipe - the cookies turn out perfectly every time - without crumbling and are nice and solid for decorating. It comes from John's grandmother and is a family tradition.

This recipe will make approximately 50 or so regular size cookies.

1 cup butter (softened helps)
1 cup sugar
2 eggs

Beat until well mixed in large bowl. Add

2 tsp. vanilla (or almond extract, or lemon extract, depending on what flavor you want)
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

and then
3 - 3 1/2 cups flour (I haven't really noticed a difference with either amount - once the dough feels like the right consistency to you it's fine)Add flour 1 cup at a time and mix until well mixed. Towards the end - the dough will be hard to work with - very thick.

Move dough from bowl onto a large sheet of wax paper. Make into a large ball or simply fold wax paper around dough to cover.
Put in fridge 4 hours or overnight.

The easiest way to roll it out is on wax paper - use plenty of flour on the wax paper, and on top of the dough, and rub flour onto the rolling pin. A little extra flour won't hurt the cookies at all. Roll to about 1/4 inch thick, or thicker if you like.

Bake @ 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes - If they're a little over cooked they just get crispy

You can use anything to decorate them - frosting, glazes etc. The easiest topping I've found is BEFORE you bake them - use a pastry brush to brush the cookies with heavy whipping cream or egg white, and then sprinkle with colored sugar. As you can see here, I've added purple sugar for my Religious Education kids, to remind them of Advent.

December 8th

December 8th is such a great day - you have the feast of the Immaculate Conception, and it's also my Great-Grandmother's Birthday. She turned 97 today. We also ended Gregory's birthday week. (I feel like that his birthday has kind of spun out of control - but he'll only turn 1 once.)

My brother and sister-in-law came and visited. It was such a delightful visit. We had a blue cake for Gregory and Our Lady. And everyone had fun. Clare adores Jennea, they had tea and played dress up, and watched Snow White.

Gregory had fun too. He absolutely loved his birthday gifts - especially the sweater his uncle and aunt brought him (even if it was a little too big)

Staying at _____'s House

We're so excited. My parents are coming back to the States for Christmas!!

Since their old house is empty and still on the market they will be traveling around. They'll stay with my brother for a while and then they are coming down to stay in Charlottesville for a short time.

Some of our friends are going away for Christmas and have very generously offered their house as a place my folks could use for several days. Their daughter is Clare's best friend.

I announced this wonderful news to Clare and she promptly burst into tears.

Mystified I did a little probing and this was the response.

"Poppop (her other grandpa) told me that Grandma was coming to see me for Christmas! Now, Grandma is going to see ____________ and not me!"

Needless to say she quickly settled down when she realized the truth of the matter, it was just so cute and genuine to think that her Grandma would want to spend time with her best friend.

Running a bit behind

We finally got our Advent wreath made and on our table. We didn't really have room for a real one, so Clare and I made a handprint wreath with no burn candles.

Don't look closely - I couldn't get the candles to stand up straight.

Now I just need to make time to really talk to Clare about Advent, I'm not sure she really understands, and I know part of that is that we just keep running around.

At least she understands that Christ is our light - therefore we light candles around Christmas, and that Christ is the best present God could give us, and that's why we give presents at Christmas.

Like Stubborn Goats

Clare and Gregory are beginning to butt heads literally and figuratively. As we were reading bedtime stories they (who knows why) both leaned over my lap and started butting heads. This happened 3 or 4 times and they both laughed about it too.

I shot this picture after bathtime when they were sweetly fighting over whether or not this door should be open. Gregory was pushing with all of his might to close it and Clare is stronger, but not as consistent in trying to keep it open. The door moved back and forth and neither accomplished their goal. Neither got upset, but neither was willing to give in. - The bout ended when Gregory saw the camera and decided it was an easier conquest.

Generally they don't get upset with each other - which makes me very happy. But they are both as stubborn as mules when it comes to what they want. Sooner or later one of them gets distracted and the other one wins by default.

Advent Penance Service

"Where sin has divided and scattered,

may your love make one again;

where sin has brought weakness,

may your power heal and strengthen;

when sin has brought death,

may your Spirit raise to new life.

Give us a new heart to love you,

so that our lives may reflect the image of your Son."

- From the Rite of Penance for Reconciliation of Several Penitents

Confession is so freeing. I am so grateful to our parish for having a big service and bringing in Dominicans from the House of Studies in D.C. to hear confessions. They always give the best counsel and take time with each penitent. It was such a blessing to go.

Cupcake Fest

Here are the mandatory first birthday cake pictures. He's no longer a baby and he loves cupcakes The first bite
This is good!
Let me put some icing in my hair to save for later!
Why can't we have these everyday! They're great!

Oh well, the fun had to end some time. Thanks for washing me off Dad.

Birthday Boy

Gregory's 1st Birthday Meme

1. What's your favorite toy?
Any ball I can get my hands on - if its squishy, got spikes, or is a football, that's a bonus.
If no balls are available Mama's cell phone or laptop is my next choice. Hey, a young man has to keep his connections with the ladies up

2. What's your favorite color?
It's a tie - navy blue and orange - Go UVA!

3. What's your favorite word?
Dada and then Mama and then Clara. I know who the important people are.

4. What's your favorite food?
Bananas! But I've just discovered chocolate and cupcakes so my opinion may be changing. As long as the food has a good taste I'm in, nothing bland for me.

5. Who's your BFF?
Clare of course - who else would it be? She's got the greatest toys and plays with me all the time. Some folks might say Mama, but she's not my best friend - she's my goddess-I worship her.

6. Do you kiss on the first date?
No, but I might bite, so watch out!

7. What's your favorite pastime?
During the week: Crawling around the condo, playing with my toys, and pulling Clare's hair
On weekends: Watching football with Daddy

8. What's your biggest fear in life?
Running out of food! I have serious concerns about the food supply and eat as much as I can every meal.

9. What's your greatest life accomplishment?
Being born full-term - that is staying inside Mama until I was 37 weeks old exactly.

10. Who's your hero?
Anyone who throws me in the air and catches me - I love it! And probably Daddy who comes and gets me every morning when I'm bored on the bed.

Happy Birthday Little Guy!
Hat Tip: Maria

All that Boy

Are you enjoying Gregory week? I've neglected posting about him for a little while and with his birthday this week he seems to be stepping up to be blogged about.

On the eve of his first birthday Gregory has begun to show me what toddler hood with a boy will be like. Today he has:

• Tried to choke himself on a giant piece of apple
• Grabbed a beautiful glass ornament - chomped into it and stood in amazement as it shattered and mom freaked out. (He didn't get hurt other than a few little nicks around his mouth.)
• Attacked Clare's night light with a vengeance - probably to try and eat it as well.

I'm discovering that boys have to be physically stopped from doing something. Not in the sense that you stop them by saying no don't touch it and distracting them - but that whatever they want must not in any way, shape, or form, be accessible to them or they will just keep trying to get it.

This same facet makes Gregory tons of fun to play with - he's serious about his games - getting the ball, or finding mom. I'm excited about this new dimension to explore with my son and the challenges it will present as he gets bigger and more mobile.

Chompers

Gregory had a few rough nights a little while back and now I know why.

He now has 5 teeth on top - the 4 in front and 1 molar is already in. On the bottom he still has only 2 teeth - I wonder when the new ones down there will come in and how many sleepless nights we will have. :)

Impressing the Ladies

It's almost my first birthday and I've decided to go for a new look-

Fleece-footed pajamas and spikey hair - watch out ladies here I come.

Cookie Day

Our good friend Stephanie and her parents hosted a wonderful Christmas cookie day on Saturday.

Stephanie and her mom did some of their Christmas baking (not all - they bake and bake, it's wonderful), and invited all the kids to decorate Christmas cookies.

Clare loved seeing all of the Christmas decorations, reading tons of books, including their copy of Little Mermaid, and of course eating cookies.

Gregory really enjoyed eating cookies, and impressed everyone by eating a whole banana and then some more when offered.

Clare and Gregory had a great time, and I loved visiting with my friends.










This cookie is supposed to be Ariel - the little mermaid. She even has pink barrettes - Clare's request.

How he loves me...

John and I were talking about the 5 love languages yesterday. It's very interesting because we are very different.

I feel loved and give love through Acts of Service and Gifts.

John feels loved and gives love through Words of Affirmation and Physical Affection.

This morning John made me feel like the most loved person in the world - he gave me the gift of more sleep - 40 minutes more sleep - when he took Gregory and let me stay in bed.

This little act of love is repeated frequently - I really enjoy sleeping - and he often lets me sleep in.

What a wonderful husband I have to show me love this way!

Exam Hours

Did everyone's college experience include exam hours?

At Franciscan exam hours were pretty intense - you weren't even allowed to talk in the dorm hall ways in case you disturb someone studying for exams. They dimmed the lights, and it was pretty restrictive.

Well we are in the throes of "exam hours" here in Charlottesville. Of course no one is going to "write me up" for talking out loud, but with John studying so much, there is no one to chat with. Our lights are on, but the children are asleep. There will be stress and probably more clutter until December 20th when exams end, and I get my husband back for nights and weekends.

John is working so hard to do a good job, and I completely support him. I like the fact that he is working hard, it makes me happy. I don't even mind being here by myself, but it would be nice to have another adult to talk to after the kids go to bed.

Anyone out there feel like chatting over a virtual cup of coffee some night?

Angel of God Prayer

Clare's been learning the Angel of God prayer while going to bed at night. This morning she burst out with it and was so excited that we had to share.

To Dust we shall Return

John's favorite Redskins' player, Sean Taylor, died early this morning.

It was so random and unexpected. He was only 24, shot in the leg by someone breaking into his house. The shooter hit an artery and they just couldn't keep him from dieing.

On the field Taylor usually looked like he was unstoppable. His opponents were afraid of him - you could tell by the way they played around him.

It seems crazy that he could die so quickly. It amazes me how strong and fragile human life can be at the same time. And reminds me that we know neither the day nor the hour at which we will be called home.

I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made Psalm 139:14

What we're watching...

John's watching this in person, and because the baby cried so much to go - Gregory and I are watching it at home (it's just too cold for Gregory).

I never thought I would be watching a football game by myself.

A day late

Thanksgiving...is a private feast: a quiet meal of turkey and cranberry sauce, and many other good things, including pumpkin pie, taken in the intimacy of a family home. It is a festival that comes even closer than the Fourth of July to the deepest of all American national feelings: gratitude for God's special providence for the United States as a nation of immigrants who have lived for the most part in peace and plenty under the rule of law as established with the consent of the governed (A Great and Godly Adventure, Godfrey Hodgson)

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. One thing I am always so thankful for (and maybe this comes from growing up in the military) is our country and all of the people who have fought for our freedom.

It seemed very fitting to me to post this picture by Thomas Nast which I found over at this amazing Civil War site, and they so graciously allowed me to put it on my blog.

In the middle Lady Liberty is praying for peace for her country and thanking God for the good things she has been given. In one of the upper frames you have President Lincoln praying for peace as well.

Thanksgiving - East of Eden

For once my book club has chosen a worthwhile book - Out of Eden by John Steinbeck. (If you haven't read it, this is definitely one of the books you want to read before you die.)

It's over 600 pages and a page turner - what a great book about sin, family love, the story of Cain and Abel, free will, fallen human nature and our ability to rise above it.

I picked it up early this week and and finished it. Part of the book (pretty close to the climax) takes place on a Thanksgiving an so I thought it appropriate to post this quote from the work:

It seems to me that if you or I must choose between two courses of thought or action, we should remember our dying and try so to live that our death brings no pleasure to the world. We have only one story. All novels, all poetry, are built on the neverending contest in ourselves of good and evil. And it occurs to me that evil must constantly respawn, while good, while virtue, is immortal. Vice has always a new fresh young face, while virtue is venerable as nothing else in the world is.

We can all choose to do good and struggle against our fallen human nature, or we can just go with the evil impulses.

The book shows me again what a wonderful Lord we have - that we may choose (with grace of course) to overcome sin. We are not bound to it, but then we are not bound to sin either.

I am so thankful for this freedom today.

Friendly Neighborhood Store

Before Charlottesville, I have never consistently shopped at any one grocery store. Here because of location and price we end up at the same Food Lion every week.

We fondly think of this Food Lion as "ghetto food lion". Not because of the store but because of the patrons and what they shop for. I've discovered that the store simply cannot sell high quality cuts of meat - the folks in the neighborhood aren't willing to put out lots of money for good meat. (This usually means that the meat gets really marked down and is a great deal for us) And the worst day of the month to go is the 1st of the month - when everyone receives their food stamps and welfare.

In spite of this I love this store. The people who work there are the sweetest folks. They now recognize the kids and I by sight. The bakery ladies know Clare's favorite kind of cookies and/or doughnuts, and the cashiers always ask about the kids if they aren't with me.

The service is amazing, and the prices are very cheap. This is the closest I ever come to getting to know the people in a store, and I love it. I love chatting with the folks there, and recognizing everyone around the shop. If I were ever be asked if I was store loyal I think I would have to begin to say yes - not so much because I adore Food Lion, but because of the people who work there.

It is amazing the effect one nice cashier/bakery lady can have on one. And when it is everyone in the store - one is sure to head back.

No Cavities

The little ones had a dentist appointment today, and I am so happy to report there are no cavities in those little mouths.

This may not seem like such a big deal - but when Clare was 2 she had 7 fillings and a crown put in her teeth. I freak out every year as the dentist appointments loom near - I begin seeing things in her mouth that aren't there. And we've cut our juice intake and sticky snack intake to almost nonexistant.

Clare does not like the dentist, and it is an sign of how much she loves me to sit in my lap and let the doctor work in her mouth. I am so proud that we have made it another 6 months without any cavities.

At Thanksgiving Dinner

I love these kind of quizes, and I hoped I'd be mashed potatoes, they're my favorite

You Are Mashed Potatoes

Oridnary, comforting, and more than a little predictable You're the glue that holds everyone together.

What Part of Thanksgiving Are You?

What's your favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner?

HT: Margaret at Minnesota Mom

A Family In Need

I ran across this story on Danielle Beane's site. It's the story of Courtney Lenaburg. The poor child has seizures and the family is in dire straits financially.

The thing that surprised me was that I recognized the name. Courtney's mom volunteered and her brother used to go the youth group that John and I started before Clare was born.

They are really sweet people and this is such a sad story. If you can help please do, if nothing else please pray for them and for Courtney.

28 years!

Happy birthday to my wonderful spouse! John turned 28 today.

28 years ago today John was born during or after the Redskins/Cowboys game. Even then he was trying to get out to watch the game.

Happily on the day he was born the Redskins won. Sadly, today they didn't, they couldn't even reach his age - they scored 23. Poor John - the Cowboys scored exactly 28 points.

Following Clare's desire to theme every single birthday we had a cake with burgundy and gold (red and yellow icing), burgundy and gold flowers, and even burgundy and gold salmon - that is salmon with red and yellow bell peppers.

Do the Redskins deserve such loving? I'm not so sure - but John certainly does.

To Boldly Go

Gregory cracks me up. He has so many cute little quirks.

Yesterday Clare went out onto our little patio. Gregory noted the opened door and crawled over to it. He put his hands on the edge of the patio and sat there for over 10 minutes. He fingered the mat, and watched Clare, but he was not bold enough to crawl out on the patio.

This is a very cautious boy. He will not crawl in strange or unfamiliar places. I guess our patio counts as one.

She wants how many babies?

While we were babysitting today:

Me:Do you want to have babies when you get older Clare?
Clare: Yes, lots of babies
Me: How many Clare?
Clare: 5
Me: At one time?
Clare: Yes...I mean No - only 4 babies at one time
Me: And would you nurse them?
Clare: Yes, with my stomach
Me: With your stomach? All at the same time?
Clare: Yes...(thinking)...No with bottles all at the same time.

***I just realized looking over my blog that the title of this may imply that I think having 5 or even 4 babies is crazy. I don't at all. I just thought it was funny that Clare already wants that many, and all at the same time.

To the far corners

I've been building block towers with Gregory - just like every mom does with every single child. And like most children Gregory enjoys knocking them down.

He also enjoys trying to take one single block off the top of the tower and not knock the rest down. I think most kids even do this

But his favorite thing I haven't seen before (maybe you veteran moms can tell me stories about blocks).

After he knocks the tower down, Gregory viciously attacks and scatters all of the blocks to the far corners of the room - or at least 3 feet in every direction - and some unlucky block to one far corner.

What can I say the wrath of Gregory is swift and mighty! :)

Row, Row, Row Your Boat

Question - What's wrong with this picture?
If you guessed that my children are in the laundry basket, and the clothes are everywhere else- you are correct.
Clare and Gregory took a trip down the mighty Amazon in their little green boat. They had straws for oars, and a baby in the diaper wipe box (I think Clare has seen Prince of Egypt one too many times). Trust me, Mama had a lot more fun being an alligator trying to eat them, than folding laundry.

Long Morning

How you know it is going to be a long school group:

1) You have a Gregory strapped to your back - He really likes the backpack carrier, so he was pretty happy, just heavy.

2) You tell the 4 girls you're starting and across the board - they say they don't want to. And continue to say they don't want to do any activity you come up with

3) The girls get into fights over who is sitting next to who in the first 5 minutes.

4)You discover that 3 years old is NOT too young to be a "mean girl" and refuse to play with someone because she is not your best friend. (I'm still wondering if I would have reacted differently if it was Clare who was the "mean girl" - but she wasn't)

We all survived.

It is actually good for me to have mornings like this - it reminds me that all of my planning is good, but that I need God and grace to get through everything. I can't just place all of my trust in myself and my overplanning abilities. And it reminds me that a off/flat school group won't scar the girls for life either.

How I'm Voting

So I've decided to go with an alternative candidate, he's a little young - but he's honest, and decidedly pro-life with recent experience in the field. He holds all of the values I desire in a candidate.

For a running mate - he has chosen a woman who can please the pro-life voters too. She's determined - and can dodge questions with the best of them.

I think many of the issues that concern them would appeal to both parties - education ranks near the top of their list They also have a real concern with the welfare system, and how healthy the children of our country are. They tend to be a little hawkish - but that basically stems from the fact that each of them still has issues sharing.

Watch out primaries - here come Gregory and Clare, and they mean business. Milk, Ice Cream, and Princesses on Ice for everyone!

Sounds silly? Look at our other options.

Good Stuff

One of my best friends Stephanie just started a blog. It's really great and she has so many good things to share.

She's also a journalist so she's got a great writing style.

Go say hi if you get a chance and welcome her to blogdom. - She's over at Watcher of the Morn'.

Christmas Photos

Remember when I entered all those blog contests? One of the coolest things I won was a set of Christmas cards, over at Fruition Designs.


Of course this meant I had to have a cute picture to put on the cards. It's amazing how photogenic my kids can be when they aren't trying or alone. Together it is next to impossible to get them both to look good.


I took over 130 pictures in my attempt to get the perfect one. Here for your viewing pleasure are some of the rejects.

I have a much greater appreciation for professional photographers now.