Worth the Hype #1

I have just discovered the most amazing cheap thing. (Please don't laugh at me).
Taking a cue from my friend Alexis, I am titling it Worth the Hype.

For just about any cleaning project you can use white vinegar.

For a great multisurface cleaner, (that you don't have to worry about the kids opening and dying of poison) use 1 cup white vinegar and 1 cup water in a squirt bottle.

It's amazing - it cleans everything - dusting, bathrooms, tvs, kitchen counters and sinks.
And it is so cheap. I love it, and it makes me want to do alot more cleaning because it is so easy.
It really works - I gotten things clean today that I've been working on forever, and nothing else seemed to work.

Clare even loves it - squirting our windows or bathtubs with it and wiping them down.

Mass Graces

Today I was up early with Gregory. He gave me one nasty scratch on my cheek to make sure of it.

We decided to try and make it to Mass. (I'm not really good at getting out the door for morning Mass - this is the first time we've made it to 8am daily Mass since moving to Charlottesville)

I got there late and squeezed into a small pew with 3 little old ladies. (Our morning Masses are in this tiny Eucharistic chapel with maybe 10 pews total).

The lady next to us was so sweet. Clare fell on top of her, poked through her things, dropped the kneeler on her foot, and pretty much talked the entire Mass. When the lady closed her eyes at the Eucharistic Prayer everyone knew it - Clare made sure: Mama she's got her eyes closed. At one point the kids were alternately screeching whenever the other took a particular toy from them. (I'm pretty sure the priest was laughing at me when we went up to receive).

As I muttered "I'm so sorry" for at least the 20th time. She looked at me and smiled. And then said - "None of these things bother me, I'm just so glad that you're here." It was so sweet and touching, and exactly what I needed to hear.

Fall Bloggy Give-Away

Over the summer there was one of these huge blog give-aways. I really enjoyed it, and now they are putting on another one. Since I had so much fun, and won something, I wanted to join in the fun and offer a couple of prizes.

I have 2 different drawings for the following items:

Drawing #1 is for this lovely scarf. It's purple, white and pink.

Drawing # 2 are for these durable and washable hand knit potholders in Christmas colors

To enter, just leave me a comment, and please tell me what you think would be the perfect gift for a 1 year old boy for Christmas. I will draw the winners after my kids go to bed on Saturday Nov 3rd.

Make sure you head over to Bloggy Giveaways for the whole list and enter some of these give aways. They are all free, and it's just fun checking out all of the different blogs.

What the Mailman brought

We received a piece of mail today that has turned our condo upside down.

Somehow or other we ended up on a mailing list that brought us the American Girl Doll catalog.

Clare has been drooling over it, and crying over it, and begging for an American girl. She's now begging for one for Christmas - but I don't think she'll be getting one this year. The age range is 8+ so she's just not ready (Praise the Lord, they are expensive).

The funniest part of all of this is that I was just discussing these dolls with another mom this past Tuesday. I told her that Clare wasn't into dolls at all.

The Lord has a real sense of humor.

Pie Post #2

Here is the 3rd Swedish Apple Pie, I've made this week. It's really good, and it's one of the only things John doesn't mind me making for dessert 3 times in one week.

Just a few thoughts on it - It's definitely better with real sugar, but works with spenda baking mix. And put a pan under it unless you want to have a smoking oven after the juices drip.

Everyone loves it except Clare who would rather just have ice cream.

American as...

Last night John held Gregory up in front of the television, so Gregory could see the very first pitch of his first world series.

We also had apple pie which was fitting. Here is all that is left now.

We've made this Swedish Apple Pie twice. It is so easy and tastes so good. It's crustless on the bottom, and you pour on and spread the topping, and it bakes up like a crust. Click on Swedish Apple Pie to see the recipe.

Clare's super power

One thing I absolutely love about having 2 children is how much they love each other, and bring each other joy, and make each other patient.

Today I did some intense cleaning in my bathroom. After Gregory got the lid off of one bottle of body wash, and figured out how to use the pump on another, I decided he needed to be in another room. Since he's mobile I plopped him down in the exersaucer and scurried to get my work done.

What did I hear? Some squawks and then Clare making faces and noises to make Gregory laugh. As long as she stayed within 2 feet of him, Gregory was relatively happy, whenever Clare came to check on me he was quite unhappy and vocal about it.

The same thing happened when he awoke from his nap this afternoon and I was in the middle of making enchiladas. Clare climbed right into his pack n play, and even brought him a sippy cup.

Clare has the power to delight Gregory at just about any time and place. Of course she also has the ability to make him scream. And vice-versa. But it is adorable watching her play with him, and his little face just beaming.

RED classes

I don't have any cute pics of the kids today, or funny stories that I can think of.

So I can enlighten y'all on the second great love of my life: catechetics, that is teaching the Faith

This year I signed up to teach a 4th grade RED (religious education) class at our parish. And it has been such a blessing.

I thought it would be tons of work, but it isn't really since I've taught this book before. And of course I have my little lab rat for trying out attention spans. If Clare pays attention, my 4th graders will.

This past week I told the story of Joseph using minor minor props - think some paper cut-outs, a handful of coins, a toy cup, and a little bag. Stories are awesome, you can totally draw the kids in, and since the story is really about God's plan they don't lose interest. It was such a grace-filled moment.

God's Word has so much power and it is such blessing to help these little souls come to know His love and presence in our Church and their lives.

Sleep Affects

So Web MD just posted this article about how when you don't get enough sleep you tend to over react emotionally to negative situations. It's pretty intense - "The emotional centers of the brain were over 60% more reactive under conditions of sleep deprivation than in subjects who had obtained a normal night of sleep."

I am posting the article as an apology to my husband for how I completely lost it last night when he woke Gregory up as I was trying to go to bed. We (Gregory and I) have had a rough couple of nights.

The only thing that makes me feel better is that this is the normal human reaction and I am not simply an overly-emotional woman who likes to rant at her husband for something so easily resolved.

Greggy Stories

Just a few cute stories about my little boy:

1) Remember I just mentioned that Clare is afraid of the vacuum. Not Gregory - he saw it today, watched it go past him, and when it stopped crawled over and whacked it.

2) Gregory and Clare share the little walker to the right. Clare's only real joy with the walker was tearing the doors off. Today Gregory accidentally broke off the blue door. He sat there for 5 minutes trying to reattach it. I noticed and helped him out. He opened and shut the door once more, smiled and crawled off. He was trying to fix it the whole time, now he was at peace.

3) Every time we get a can of food anywhere near Gregory, it is his goal to dump it on the floor. Don't think of it as a mess but as a survival technique. It's just in case we leave and forget him, he'll be able to hunt for crunchies on the floor.

Apple Picking

This past weekend we all went apple picking at a local orchard. The orchard is on top of a mountain and it was a great view and a great time.

I realized that I didn't get any pictures of the kids picking apples, but I got one of John carrying Clare up to the tippy-top of the mountain to gather apples. It was quite a hike. I still wonder how I ended up infront of the guys when I was pushing the stroller.

What a great view! This is one of the reasons I love Charlottesville.
Clare admidst many pumpkins at the orchard.

Princess and Ballet Pictures

When I went to upload my pictures tonight I realized there were quite a few from various events in the past 5 days. Here are some pictures from Clare's last day of ballet and Princesses on Ice.

Little girls doing ballet are the cutest things.

I'm really not sure what Clare is in this picture. She said something about being a firebird. More like Supergirl, with a flower on her head.

Gregory loves the classes and the scarves they play with.

Here is our little Cinderella all dressed up for the ball, keeping her eye on the clock. She wanted to head out the door long before the show began, and is still asking to go again

Here we are in our seats. You can barely see the ice in the corner of the picture. It was great to be so close. And glow stick necklaces and a spinner from home kept her from wanting to buy expensive things at the show. The show was great and I highly recommend it to anyone with little girls.

Vacuums and Crumbs

I have a rather embarrassing confession to make:

I really don't vacuum all that often, as in sometimes it's several months before the vacuum comes out of the closet.

It's pretty bad. Clare is scared of the vacuum too. I'm not sure if that is why I don't vacuum so much, or a result of it, oh well.

Today I was so proud - I took it out and vacuumed after having pulled it out last Thursday. I think it has something to do with having 2 crumb-factories in the house. I never knew how many crumbs 5 Ritz crackers could make.

In fact, I vacuumed twice today after Clare dumped pretzel crumbs all over the floor the second time. The carpet looked so pretty vacuumed and I wanted John to see it that way (and not just have to trust me that I cleaned it-like so many other things).

A vacuumed carpet is so lovely and for some reason it makes me feel more sane in my cluttered house - this might become an addiction if I'm not careful.

Girls' Night Out

Here's just a little peak at where Clare and I are going for a Mother-Daughter Night. We'll post more pictures later of Clare in her costume.

(Well of course, she's going to wear a costume - she wants to be a princess :))

Sloppy's Saga

I tried to post this yesterday but for some reason the picture wouldn't load.

Clare found a fuzzy brown caterpillar at the farm. She grabbed it and wanted to bring it home with her. (I told the lady at the farm that the caterpillar would probably disappear into the back of the van)

We put "Sloppy" in a cup and I told Clare to keep an eye on him until we got home.

We stopped to drop off library books. Since it was next door we got some goodies at the bakery including a cookie for Clare. Sloppy came with us to all of this so he wouldn't climb out of the cup.

Clare was so intent on eating her cookie that she missed Sloppy crawling out of his cup and disappearing into the back of the van. (Did I call it or what?)

This greatly upset her - here are some of the comments she has made since then.

• Mama, I afraid something (usually an owl) eat Sloppy in van - we must find him
• I keep my eye on next caterpillar Mama, if not busy eating cookie
• God please don't send me caterpillar anymore. I no want to lose any more caterpillars in the van. Caterpillar gone - no more God, please.

Today's Feast

Today is the feast of St. Ignatius of Antioch.

He is such an awesome saint. In college I had to read his works because he was one of the earliest writers in the Church and died in 107 AD when he was thrown to the lions

Here is one of the things he wrote:

I am the wheat of God, and am ground by the teeth of the wild beasts, that I may be found the pure bread of God.... I long after the Lord, the Son of the true God and Father, Jesus Christ. Him I seek, who died for us and rose again.... I am eager to die for the sake of Christ. My love has been crucified, and there is no fire in me that loves anything. But there is living water springing up in me, and it says to me inwardly: Come to the Father.

And

How I look forward to the real lions that have been got ready for me! All I pray is that I may find them swift. I am going to make overtures to them, so that, unlike some other wrethes whom they have been too spiritless to touch, they may devour me with all speed. And if they are sill reluctant, I shall use force to them. This is the first stage of my discipleship; and no power visible or invisible, must grudge me my coming to Jesus Christ. Fire, cross, beast-fighting, hacking and quartering, splintering of bone and mangling of limb, even the pulverizing of my entire body --let every horrid and diabolical torment come upon me, provided only that I can win my way to Jesus Christ.

Intense! He makes me realize how lukewarm I am and how much more I should happily embrace all of the little sufferings I encounter on my way to Christ. Sometimes the lions may even seem more appealing - but that isn't the route that Christ has chosen for me.

Fall Farm Fun

Today was a beautiful day to go to a farm and see the pumpkins, hay, and animals. It still doesn't really feel like Fall - today was in the 80s.
Clare wore her sunglasses and loved the pumpkins and other odd things she found
Gregory simply looked for the biggest pumpkin he could find, and it was bigger than him The animals were cool and loved the kids. We even got a pumpkin to take home with us. Clare wants to face paint it or paint a face on it- if Gregory doesn't eat it first.

Letter F

I promised another post on our little school group and here it is:

The girls and I looked at the letter F.

We had tons of fun and focused on fishing and farms.

Making fishing rods ahead of time with paper fish and octopus made for a great counting game.

We also had a chance today to go see a farm for a fall festival.

What fun! :)

And I discovered that four 3 years and no baby is extremely manageable and enjoyable.

NFP vs Contraceptives

These are skits put together by seminarians to teach folks about the difference between NFP and contraceptives. I thought they were very funny. Enjoy!














It's nice to know that our future priests are working on things like this and evangelizing our culture.

HT: Amy Caroline over at Knit Together in Love

Results

I've been to the doctor (who just had a lovely vacation and got back yesterday), and got my results.

First, I wanted to share the different things I had been getting in Scripture because all week I praying about my tests and results. I kept hoping I would be accepting no matter what the results were.

These were from my Bible Study:

First - Philippians 1:22 - For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain.

I blanched at that one.

Second - Philippians 1:29 - For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him, but also suffer for his sake.

Okay - I thought to myself - embrace suffering...but dear Lord please don't let the suffering be too much.

And lastly the healing of Naaman in Sunday's reading from 2 Kings.

So I was all prepared if nervous - for one of the 2 answers.

And it was...Neither.

I don't have cancer as far as they can tell - but they can't really tell that much. My doctor isn't really worried but isn't completely comforted by my results. The fact that they didn't find cancer is a very good thing - but they didn't find much else to tell them what was going on either (nice and clear isn't it :)).

The good news: She's pretty sure that I have less than a 2% chance of cancer.

What we're going to do about it: Wait and do more tests in 6 months.

It turns out that pregnancy and breastfeeding do a number on your thyroid (one downside to breastfeeding LaLeche doesn't tell you about). When Gregory gets done nursing my thyroid should go back to normal and in six months that bump may not even be there.

I am very happy with this news and wanted to wait the 6 months to see if anything else happens. (If I had been crazy nervous about it the doctor said we could set up surgery and take the nodule out - but who would want to do that unless they knew for sure- especially with the 2 little ones). I feel great and know that if anything changes I can reevaluate.

(I really hope this doesn't sound like I am unhappy - I am very happy with these results and with my doctor)

Easy to Babysit

Today was my second chance to teach our homeschooling group.

This time, one of the moms offered to watched Gregory for me (sacrificing one of her mornings without her kids so I wouldn't have to have Gregory in class with me). I leapt on the offer, it was so sweet.

The girls and I had a blast and did a bunch of things I couldn't have done with my son in my arms. (There will be a post with more details later)

At the end, Gregory was returned to me. He and my friend had spent a lovely morning together. First, they listened to Gaelic music - which he loved and tried to dance to. Second, they napped. Both of them. Now's that my idea of babysitting!

Vanishing Trick

Gregory didn't want me to leave his sight this morning. Needing a shower, I turned the water on, took him in another room, distracted him with a toy, and ran and jumped in the shower.

While showering I hear little unhappy baby squawks coming closer and closer. He knows I went into the bathroom. I peer through the crack at the edge of the shower curtain. He's coming in.

Any minute I expect tiny hands to attack and move the shower curtain. But they don't! And I hear more and more unhappy baby sqawks from outside the curtain.

Peering around the curtain - what do I see?

Gregory is sitting next to my hastily strewn pile of clothes, pawing through them. Then he attacks the bathroom rug, that the clothes are sitting on. He has no clue that I am simply a few feet away, and is sure that I am hiding in my clothes.

Luckily for him, I am finished with the shower, so I turn off the water and open the curtain. The look of astonishment on his face is priceless, and then it is replaced with the joy that only babies can convey when they see their mothers.

Trick or Treat

Trick or Treating has begun in Charlottesville, VA. Clare and Gregory were part of the action today - going to a local shopping center and gathering goodies.

You can tell that Gregory is supposed to be a baseball player.
Clare is a snow fairy. This is a very important distinction - not to be confused with princess, angel, or even Tinkerbell. She was very insistent on this point and very unhappy when someone got it wrong. (This is partially because I told her she couldn't correct adults for guessing the wrong thing). The fact that she got tons of treats made up for some of her sadness - actually all of it in the end.

Later in the day Clare's costume changed with ballet and then changed again. It became the unusual outfit you see to the left. At least it looks comfortable.

Gregory stayed in his costume all day - at some point losing one sock and shoe. His big surprise for everyone --Gregory wants to do ballet. He kept crawling onto the dance floor during Clare's class. When the little girls were dancing with scarves - he pulled one out of the box and was waving it to the music too. Finally he ended up dancing with Clare's instructor.



Perhaps I need to find him a different costume before Halloween.

I really did!

You paid attention during 97% of high school!

85-100% You must be an autodidact, because American high schools don't get scores that high! Good show, old chap!

Do you deserve your high school diploma?
Create a Quiz

After taking this quiz, I feel like I should have done better. Oh well, that's generally how I felt in high school too. Can you tell I was an overachiever? :)

I can't imagine any of my friends scoring below 85% - well maybe there is one who doesn't like to read so much. I won't mention any names.

Achingly Beautiful

A book that John and I seem to return to quite a bit is A Severe Mercy by Sheldon Vanauken. It is a lovely book about marriage and conversion to Christ. One of the things that brought them together was a love of poetry. They both found similar poets and pieces "achingly beautiful".




I don't claim to be a lover of poetry, but I have found a poet who I find achingly beautiful, and I wanted to share.

Christina Rossetti has some beautiful pieces. Everything I've read so far moved me.

And when I've read the poems out loud to Clare, she's asked me to repeat them for her again and again. She loves the description of the fruit in Goblin Market.

I found her while looking through dailylit.com. What a great site for free books online - especially if you're like me and will read just about anything. (Even if she wasn't beautiful, I might finish the book, I just wouldn't tell y'all about it.)

When Gregory met Lucy

Well Lucy and Gregory got to hang out this past weekend. And Gregory learned Lucy's secret: Speak softly and carry a big bat! Lucy is so cute, but she definitely knows how to protect herself.
Gregory found a golf club to protect himself with too.

They ended the date agreeing to be friends and allowing each other to exist in the room without fear of beatings.

Face Paint and Car Washes

This past weekend we drove up to John's parents house for several different events. We had a wonderful time and the kids had a blast.

John's mom is very involved with the Vienna Optimist Club and Growing Hope. Every year they sponsor a walk to support children with cancer. We went and had alot of fun - John was the only one of us that actually walked. Clare's favorite was the face painting, as you can see:



We also sold John's old car and got the car my mom left state-side. Clare loved helping wash the old car and making sure it was rinsed and rinsed and rinsed.

Treasures from my Folks

I've been thinking about my parents - especially since they moved to Belgium. I really miss them, and now Jen over at Et Tu has a creative writing project which I have been thinking about for a while - the title: The Three Things My Parents Did Right



First - my parents have really instilled in both my brother and I a deep love of our Faith, and how important it is to pray everyday. I remember (fondly now) having to pray a rosary with my family every evening. My brother and I used to groan, but now I find a deep comfort in praying my rosary as Clare falls asleep. Also my mom converted to the Catholic Church when I was in 3rd grade, and after that we had to go to Church everyday. It is intense to see their commitment to daily prayer time and Mass. And it still reminds me everyday of how much Our Lord looks forward to that time with us as well.



Secondly - From my Dad: If there is anything adjective that describes my father it is commited. He taught us that once you commit to something you stick with it - whether in little things like showing up on time to meet someone or big things like your marriage. If dad says he will do something, he's going to do it, and do it well. This has always set the bar for me. I want to reach the goal of always being a person of my word, and to follow through even when it is difficult. To be true in mind and word!



Third - From my Mom: My mother taught us the real importance of family. This sounds so silly - but it didn't really connect until I was pregnant with Gregory (long after I had moved out of the house). I ended up staying with my parents for over a month on bedrest and several weeks after the baby was born. It was either that or stay at the hospital - Charlottesville, my house, and my husband were 2 hours away. My mother was taking classes and still managed to take care of me, watch Clare, and succeed in all of her projects. She has always told us the importance of caring for family, and it really hit home.

Before they moved it was routine for Mom to call us, my grandparents (in GA), and other family members almost daily or more often, to check in and make sure we are okay. I truly miss that and so does Clare.

Whether or not I will get to see my parents that often in the next 5 years (how long they will be in Belgium - we think), there will not be a day when I don't think about them, and know that how they have lived their lives has affected my family and my actions.

Pooh and Friends

I just saw this really cute quiz blog-hopping. So up it goes - I'm such a quiz addict. This discription is pretty cute - but I'm not sure about children knowing not to misbehave.



Take the 100 Acre Personality Quiz!

H.T. Matthew S at Water into Wine

Feast of St. Francis

Happy Feast of St. Francis!

Today brings back so many good memories of being at Franciscan University of Steubenville and all of the events of every October 4th.

And so many other memories of Assisi, our family's friendship with the Poor Clare's, and just of Catholic life in general.

What a gift Francis was to the world and the Church. What would it have been like without him?

Mother Teresa Thoughts

At the moment I am reading Come Be My Light by Mother Teresa. I've just gotten through the introduction, and it is so clear from anything that she has written that she is a saint.

Here are some quotes of the week or so:

Why so much about me --when the work is all His. I hold no claim to it. It was given to me.

*************************************************************************************

Everything was His -- I had only to surrender myself to His plan --to His will -- Today His work has grown because it is He not I that do it through me.

I was thinking that these quotes really apply to me as a mother. And my almost constant feeling of "what about me" You know - my husband is getting out - What about me when do I get out? Or Neither kid wants to nap - and I am exhausted - What about me? These made me have to look at how far my self-centeredness goes.

I need to surrender more to God's will. He and I chose this path together. It may not be the path of a missionary nun, or even a working woman, but it where I am called to be. Loving my children, serving other moms or childrens through our various groups, and supporting my husband in the place that God has him too.

Less about me, and more about them.

A Change of Pace

I've been itching for a change with my blog. So I switched formats. Let me know if you like it or not. If enough people say no - I'll switch back.

All too Soon

Today Clare told me she was sad because she wasn't bigger.
This intrigued me and I asked her why

Clare: Because I can't do the dishes by myself
Sometimes I go in time out.
Because I can't buy anything. I don't have any money

I wanted to write these down so I could remind her of her desire to do dishes when she gets older. And I thought - she is such a woman to be - wanting to shop and only lacking the cash to do so.

Bedtime Routines

Here is Gregory's favorite way to fall asleep

He prefers Redskins, but he'll take what he can get. A pair of warm arms and Daddy's broad chest, and football on the TV. I've tried this with some of my shows - like What not to Wear, and he'd rather be in the crib. What a little boy!

Feast of the Guardian Angels

Today is the feast of the Guardian Angels. I've always loved the idea of guardian angels. Even if I didn't believe in them, having children would convince me they are there watching over us.

If you have kids I am sure you know what I mean.

I am amazed my children survive everyday without more cuts, bruises, and more damage in general. They always seem to catch their balance just before they fall, or jump just an inch short of banging their head on something sharp, or I catch Gregory just before he puts the little doll shoe in his mouth when I haven't been really watching him for 10 minutes or so, etc, etc, etc. Or even the number of times I don't get into accidents in the car because at the last minute I glance at something.

I just cannot believe that all of these things come about through luck or chance - if they do we must be very lucky people and beat the odds all of the time. And so must everyone else.

Our guardian angels are such a blessing. Surely all the angels who watch over crawling babies, small children, and teenagers work overtime. I am so glad they do.

Keeping Quiet

We were so excited to get to Mass yesterday for the feast of St. Therese.

Clare slept through Mass, so she was quiet.

John held Gregory and tried to come up with a plan to keep him quiet. Gregory loves the sound of his voice in the Church. He's discovered that Daddy will play a game with him most of the time. Here's how it goes

Gregory makes noise
John puts his hand over Gregory's mouth, and then takes it off.
Gregory smiles and then makes a louder noise

Yesterday Clare brought a stuffed monkey to Church. Gregory played with for a while and then got tired of it. John realized that if he annoyed Gregory with the monkey, Gregory was quiet. Instead of trying to sing or talk, he was trying to beat up the toy. This actually worked for most of the Mass.

But I guessed it failed in the parents paying attention to the Mass area. I spent most of my Mass laughing at Gregory.