Monday, December 16, 2013

An Advent Daybook

Right now, I'm hiding in the family room, listening to Elmo in the other room. We've decided to stock on dvds as we are still not subscribing to any cable or movie channels. Going well, Big kids upstairs, just bickering, wheewww. Well, we are in our last week of school before Christmas break so that is good.

Outside, there is snow, snow, snow. We've been going sledding in the afternoon at Ft. Ben to burn off some energy. We usually have the whole hill to ourselves and Josie, Thomas and Lucy tromp up and down for at least a half hour while Sam and I stay in the warm van eating pretzels with Gracie. I want to get a thermos so we can have hot chocolate when they are finished.

This past weekend, was really nice. On Friday, I got a lot of Christmas shopping done at Kohls with my 30 percent off coupon, lots for girls, clothes, and then Saturday, we swapped kids with good friends and I was able to do some more shopping at Meijer. Yea, I m glad to have a little done. On Sat. night, our good friends came over for impromptu party while S had friends over and A went to a party in Irvington.

In school room, wrapping up year 2 Bible History, holding at Lincoln and start of the Civil War, midway thru Latina 1, restarting Shakespeare passages, yeaa.

Reading, nothing great right now. Am doing pretty well with read alouds to the kids. We're doing The Reluctant Dragon. In pile Raggedy Ann, another pooh book, Pinnochio, The Family Under the Bridge.

Around the house, Advent, Advent, did well with feast day, St. nick, had great bfast with nanny and Pappaw at church, made great candy cane coffee cake, Immaculate Comception, white cupcake, Our Lady of Guadelupe, tacos, Mexican wedding cookies, Mexican hot chocolate, then St. Lucy Day, with St. Lucy bread, Loving our artificial tree from Mammaw, still struggling with family room color, I think now we're back to soft golden color. But at least the stone walls are done.

In the kitchen, new candy cane coffeecake, lotsa hot chocolate, cinnamon rolls, chili, new pizza joint down the street, choc pudding,

On the needles, more mitts for girls, have to finish Lucy Christmas sweater.

Having fun on Amazon making gift lists of things I cannot buy :-)

Hub and kids, Scott had bad merca infection, but we caught in time, now he's trying to finish the family room, busy at school.
A 16 good, new boyfriend, good friends, looking forward to dc trip.
S 13 loves his friends too and gaming
J 12 a bit teenagery but still very loveable, hums and sings all time like a jazz singer
T 10, active, active, good boy
boys wrestling
L sweet, sweet
Gracie, come on in, elmo, barney


that's all, this week the o antiphones, love the Latin Mass, maybe be back on the other side of De. 25

Monday, November 18, 2013

Acorn wars, serving and a late Midwestern storm








Right now, it's 8:20 a.m. Monday morning, and I'm wanting to get some writing in before waking up the kids for a new school week. We've had a pretty eventful last couple weeks, so here we go....

Last week, showed Two Hotel Rwanda, so good, on my short lists of movies to own, want to the Dean to watch for sure.

This past weekend, on Friday, took One and Two to the high school football game. It was semi state. Our schoollost, sad because we lost, happy to save some money from possible state game :-) both kids pretty good, One dating a new boy, a freshman, we're wanting to know if he is Catholic and what parish he is from, she seems happy and I know she has good head on her shoulders. Two also good that night, we took his friend from nearby, I ended up back in van reading The Mayflower :-) good book and I think fitting considering upcoming holiday.

Saturday, I headed to booksale early got lots of good books. Four's friend came over spent day and night. One and Two out with parents to see movie and eat. The others played in our woods for four hours, the dean and I took naps :-) and then worked in yard, the dean's truck causing him headaches, door won't shut :-/

Sat. night more just hanging out, then Sunday, Two served Latin Mass for first time, he did very well, and I was very proud, big thunderstorms rolled in later in the afternoon. We battened down the hatches:-)

Last, last week also have spent most days going to Southeastway Park, take kids on walk through the woods then they play acorn wars on playground, Five doing very good as Sam's assistant, Six cracking everybody up with her "Hi Ray :-)))" Dr. visit went well, he wants us to get test ...

This week, more school before Thanksgiving, move water system, keep working in yard, get waiver in, start wrestling open mats, maybe visit Pappaw, he's not feeling well, and has gone to hospice.

Looking very forward to Advent

Monday, November 4, 2013









Right now, it's 7 am. Monday and all are still asleep. We've had quite a busy past week and weekend. On Monday was One's bday, (I may have already blogged about it,) but she got a new book and an Itunes card. Grandparents also came and brought her some fun wall hangings for her room. The week was good. On Thursday, it rained so trick or treat was postponed until Friday.  But we did get to go to a fun Halloween party with some homeschool friends. We took a guess the saint jars , St. Patrick, St. Kateri, St. Francis, St. Peter, and Mary. Friday we all went to All Saints Day Mass  and then I took kids trick or treating in grandparent's old neighborhood. One was a dalmatian, Two a duck, Three a mime, Four, a pirate and Five a rabbit. The dean kept Six and then met us to pick up Five, before I took all to a football game. Too cold, so we went and got movies. Saturday, me up early for half off at Good will and to shop for One's party. Then we prepped for party. Party fun for all. We watched Hoosiers on Saturday night. Also fun. On Sunday, I took kids to park with our dog, beautiful day, then we did yard work for the rest until 6 p.m. Mass, very nice day.

On needles, still working on Five's Christmas sweater. I've had to start over numerous times, frustrating, but I'm learning only to do two rows at a time so I don't mess up. I really want to finish.

In school, have Two signed up for placement test, might start doubling up his math. having trouble with Latin video. Starting new history unit. establishing the government and westward expansion.

In kitchen, not much new, got a lot of new dishes at Good will. also found a food processor, yeaaa.

Reading, still reading the Mayflower (for Thanksgiving) and working on finishing House at Pooh Corner with Five. I made a stack of books in my room that I 'd like to get through with the littles and for myself.

Need to, get my hair recut, uuugggh, also pay more bills, bday cards,

Bye for now.....

Monday, October 28, 2013

Monday musings

Right now, it's 7 a.m. and the dean and One just left for work school. Very special day, One's 16th birthday. Today we will bake a chocolate cake with choc icing and get her presents ready (this year a new book she's been wanting and an itunes card) Next weekend she hopes to have some friends over for a bonfire and smores if the weather permits :-)

This past weekend was very nice,  But first I'd like to start with the start of last week. Last Tuesday, I took the boys to Mass. Then realizing they needed a few dress up items each decided to take them to get new clothes yea. But oh we realized we were hungry on way so on a splurge I decided to use a gift card on them, a dinner out with mom :-) as an added bonus, we realized since it was Tuesday, Four ate free. The boys both got chicken strips and I got chicken and noodles, very yummy, unexpected and fun:-)

The past week was spent going through clothes to make sure everybody has good decent Mass clothes. And checking everybody for warm clothes and shoes. We started a new routine which is working very well, of getting everybody up at 8:15 a.m. to go outside and do some chores (walk dog on back line and other outside work) (the kids love it ~ not) until about 10 which gives me time to get some inside work done including make breakfast. It's been great because it gets them all some fresh air and ready for school work. Like I said, they love it.

Back to this weekend, very  nice. On Friday, I took Four in for serving practice, but it was stressful for him because he doesn't know anybody. I love our parish for the liturgy but it can be difficult for my very active kids to get to know people, they do that on the sports field for sure. So we "spied" on the serving session and then came home, grabbing a treat on the way. On Saturday, the dean worked a.m.  and then grandparents came in for an overnight visit. It was very nice. They took kids to movie while Two went to football party. In afternoon, I hit store again to round out winter Mass clothes shopping. I really did well with Three this time. She is between kids and juniors but I was able to find her a good dress.On Sat. night we watched World Series, Boston versus Philly with a great fire. and then on Sunday, cinnamon rolls and walk out to woods with grandparents. Then Latin Mass with five big kids for their first day of religious ed classes. Five is excited about "saint school.."

Oh yeah and more wood gifted to us, we hope to chop our own wood soon would like to lay a pad in corner for processing it.

This week, One's bday tonight, Halloween on Thursday and All Saints and All Souls day on First Friday and Saturday, another busy week :-), more Christmas planning, get my coupon box up and running again for the drugstore deals

In kitchen, pumpkin bread and more zucchini bread and always cinnamon rolls

On needles, Five's Christmas sweater, another shale scarf

Hope to exercise more. Also need to sign up for Medicaid waiver.

In school starting new history section, starting of our government, westward expansion, should be fun.

Bye for now. Five up :-)))

Saturday, October 12, 2013

Now we are six













Hello Five,

Well, we just celebrated your sixth birthday and by all accounts, it was a roaring success. It is a Saturday, a beautiful Saturday in October. The dean woke early to get doughnuts and take Two to football practice. Then later in the afternoon, family came over to celebrate. got nine balloons total and we had pizza and cake. Your presents were castle people and furniture and a new jogging suit, princesses, and a puzzle. It was a very good birthday.:-) We love you.

Monday, September 16, 2013

Monday musings

Right now, it's 1:55 p.m. and all kids done with school except Sam who is finishing up his math. We also still have to do our Shakespeare. I really like this new book we are using. It's called How to Teach your children Shakespeare. Really user friendly and written in small enough pieces that it's very manageable. I look forward to this subject every day with the kids.

This past weekend, was very nice. On Friday, we were able to make it to Latin Mass (which we are trying to do more at least on Fridays) and then Scott took Josie and Thomas to play at Tech. I took Sam with me grocery shopping while Abbey babysat the two little girls. Also on Friday am. I took A and G to specialist dr. G. diagnosed with Schinzel Gidean syndrome. So now she has dual diagnosis of Schinzel Gidean syndrom and cerebral palsey. G. keeping attention said to be a challenge for us. He asked us to let him know when if we felt we needed his help as far as intervening maybe with meds. We are definitely  not at that point. She is very manageabe right now. and for the most part very amiable. We will see what develops. Now and always she is our beautiful number six :-) Also good Friday, we met my mom for big pizza lunch and then saw her place, took beautiful walk around her neighborhood, good afternoon.

On Saturday, a friend called early. Her kids came over and we went house decor shopping, something I never do. but seeing as how we have purchased these couches and they 're on their way, I am very motivated to the room painted and "decorated" or at least pulled together. So we hit at least four stores, Burlington, Garden Ridge, Hobby Lobby and Michaels before finally hitting a Goodwill at the end. I think we're going with a old Europe, travel, theme, still need to settle on a fireplace color and keep looking for a central mantle piece. By the way, found a really good site to help with decorating. It's called Houzz and is my new favorite playaround site.

Also on Sat. night, Scott and I were able to go out for a while. Went to Chiles for dinner, yum and then browsed at Barnes and Noble, I had fun showing him the tv series selection. We're such 80s kids and right now our family (not having cable) is in a real I Love Lucy kick. She is really hilarious, We then drove the back street way. Lotsa cornfields, starry skies, I love it.

On Sunday, busy day, Scott and Sam went to mass early at Little Flower and then headed to Bloomington for game, Sam go in trouble for defending a fellow player, tough call, but we've had good talk with him and I think he' slearned many lessons. Then I took the rest to Latin and then got pop for youth group meeting kick off. Then dropped Thomas for his game. Scott returned and covered that game. Later I took A and her friend to youth group kickoff. So happy she has this opportunity and we love our RE coordinator.

This week, kickball game tonight and then more fb practice (Thomas has hurt arm right now) and we are determined to tackle the family room painting job. Also need to go up to our bank and pay the mortgage. Great news, last week I was able to plant the blueberry bushes (next spring, our focus will be the chickens, strawberries and getting an apple tree or two in the ground:) Oh yeah and more school :-)

Speaking of school, right now in:
History, studying Bacon's Rebellion and founding of Pittsburgh and Georgia, more European colonization and fighting, French Indiana War
Latin, more review,
Spelling, just restarted
Science, plants, and seeds
Bible, book of Ruth
Shakespeare, memorizing from Midsummer
Geo, reviewing North Africa

On my needles, still the old shale scarf:-)
In the kitchen, chili, sour cream pancakes,
On the bookshelf, Rise to Rebellion, maybe Chesterton, maybe Austen, just ordered lotsa treehouse and fall camping and ghost story books from library
Also planning for bdays, mine, Lucy and Abbey :-)

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Our Labor Day


..... was very nice, the girls went with grandparents down to the lake and so we were down to four. The dean took kids to football game on Friday, while Six and I went to Lowes and bought discounted blueberry bushes. I still need to get them in, but I'm really hoping we get some good blueberries off them. On Saturday, we started our big no carb diet. The dean is a former wrestler so he's used to doing this but I've never done this before so we'll see. I hope it helps us both feel better and have more energy. Saturday night more relaxing and then Sunday we went to Mass. I kept Six in back and let the dean and the boys and Five have to some peace in the pew :-) Sunday afternoon I took Two to Half Price books for a little browsing. Monday, Two went to movies with friends and the dean and I rearranged family room for winter. I like our layout, we get to  enjoy the fireplace and every seat has a nice "vista" so to speak as we have really nice surround windows in our family room. Then Monday afternoon I went Labor Day furniture shopping. We ordered a living room set. which we really needed. Girls home and the dean went to sign for it.

This week, in the schoolroom, chugging through math, history, biology, hope to start Latin next week.

on the field, lotsa kickball and football.

In the kitchen , our new diet food, spinach salad, kebabs, almonds, fruit, lotsa hard boiled eggs and water .... this is hard :0( I love my carbs)

Around the house, I'm still organizing, organizing, organizing. I m always so inspired when I read other people's blogs to see they are always organizing too. It really can be a never ending process with the family growing and changing but I have to remember to stop and have fun too :-)

That's about it for now ....

Friday, August 16, 2013

Well, I'm having trouble finding my word processing so I'm going to enter a post to recap what's been going on lately.

Right now, it's 7 a.m. Friday  and all are still asleep. Scott and Abbey left early this a.m. for work and school. It's such a blessing that he can drive her in for us. I made her some quick mac and cheese for lunch. I think she was happy about that.

Today, need to get my water. We're on well water out here so frequently we have to restock. It's okay though it gives us a destination in middle of day.

In school room, working on getting kids remediated in math. Sam and Josie are doing Saxon 87 and then I will move them into prealgebra after Labor Day. Sam disappointed he won't be going in algebra but maybe we can adjust as we get started. Thomas doing 65. Lucy got her kindergarten math book yesterday.

I'm looking forward to getting our school books. I placed a big order with Memoria Press early this week. Among titles, are ones for US history and Introduction to Classical Education. I'm excited.

This past week, was very nice. I can't remember much of it :-) but I do remember taking big kids to Latin Mass and then spending afternoon watching littles in our pool :-) very nice. Thomas spent night at friends and Abbey went to party Sat. night. Mom and Dad and Grambie came over for visit Sunday night and we played happy family. Also first time making chili in a while Sat. a.m I shopped alone at Sam's Club. We are closer to shopping here than at old house.

In meantime, Abbey started school this past Monday and we have been busy getting boys geared up for football. Sam on cadet and Thomas on 56 Josie is playing cadet kickball. Yesterday we celebrated the Feast of the Assumption with noon mass and blueberry donuts :-)

Around house, we need to vines off trees and finish mowing. I am thinking about a plan for little girls bed and getting little toys in toy room. We did big room switcheroo a couple weeks ago. It's going well. I'm also still organizing for home schooling.

Gracie doing well, I found a potty for her yesterday and we are going to start working on potty training pretty intensely. We are also working on expanding her diet from crackers and getting her to stay at table better.

bye for now

Friday, March 22, 2013

So it's 9:25 a.m., not much going on right now. All the kids are still asleep and we're on our last weekday of spring break. It's been a good spring break so far. Cold but that's okay. On Monday, Mom took four girls to the Children's Museum, very nice. Then on Tuesday, we went out to visit our friends who live on a farm about 40 miles away. Wed. we took a drive to the park, but too cold to get out for any length of time. On Thursday some other friends came over for a visit and we drove them by the new house. Today, well I don't know just yet. Probably should get off the computer and get it started.

Monday, January 14, 2013

A third birthday

Right now, it's 8 16 a.m. Monday and the kids are still asleep. I 'm just excited that I can get this blog to work. It's really more of a test as I havent been able to figure it out for over a year.

Last week very busy, we had our last week of therapy. I gave miss Laura, Miss Jen and Miss Carla little presents of jam and an ornament and a card with Gracie's picture. We will miss them.

Over the weekend, Friday, was nice, Sam got to go to a friends house to spend the night. Sat. we celebrated Gracies third bday at noon with a Blues Clues cake. Mom and Dad came over. Her presents, a poncho an dpants, a dvd and some diapers, and mom grab bag, etch a sketch, stroller, dolly, books and more diapers. my first sweater knit. She is doing good.

Sat. afternoon, took Abbey to confimration and then picked up Urasky kids for a sleepover. Sam went to junior high dance.

Sunday went to St. Bernadette. Then worked on knitting all day. Learned how to knit in the round. Also I like English method better than Continental. Dad made new recipe chicken sweet and sour.
Mom took kids to Shakespeare show.












some pics of bday