MIA

Why I've been MIA...

A very busy week, which included a computer keyboard ruined by a water spill for a few days, followed by a non-functioning mouse the next day. Blogging doesn't work very well on the iPhone and I can't figure out how to upload blog photos there :-(

Thursday was a field trip across town to the city ballet academy. It was a great performance, even though I missed the first portion when SJ wouldn't stay outside with a little friend and his dad. They did excerpts from The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and a Texas-themed ballet!


Several days were spent mostly in bed, exhausted. My belly is feeling big and my body is feeling tired. I'm eating like a horse (a junk-food loving horse) and can't ever seem to get enough sleep. My neck is sore...Whine, whine. But this little life is worth it!

We've been enjoying some gorgeous weather and have taken several park outings, including one today with Steven and Mary Clare, where we spent a few hours pulling weeds in exchange for free tickets to Disneyland! Google "Give a day, get a day at Disney" for more info on that.



Taking care of the garden is hard work! We've got lots of sprouting vegetables!


Today we had an Easter egg hunt dress rehearsal and lunch at Aunt Jill's.


I've been doing lots of prep work for that ballet field trip and the upcoming Rodeo one this week. Should be another busy week! I'm trying to take it easy, and you'd think that Spring Break would be a "break", but I'm not so sure the break part is going to happen.

But the best progress and reason I've been MIA from the blog and computer...I've been going to bed early! I'll usually play around on the iPhone and maybe watch a little show, falling asleep around 9 or 9:30...huge progress for this night owl who has had a hard time getting to sleep by midnight in the past! Right now (Sunday night) it's nearly 10:30pm (new time) and I am about to crash. Only I've got a 4 year-old who is wide awake after taking a 3-hr nap this afternoon.

Have a super Spring Break, friends and family!

2nd portrait

A perfect find!

The past few weeks I've been brainstorming about ideas for better organization in our homeschool room. A week or two ago, the girls and I cleaned up the schoolroom, moved the tables back to a corner, and organized the cubbies so each child would have a spot for the most important workbooks and texts that they use each week.



But I was still at a loss for where to put my teacher books and manuals. I was trying to formulate a plan to have Steven install adjustable shelves (like hers) up high on the walls. I currently have a lot of my books stored in the pantry. Over the past week, we've received a few dozen books for next year's curriculum. And they've been taking over the house!

Yesterday morning we took a walk around the neighborhood. Many families were having garage sales. But we didn't find much that we were interested in, save a 10 cent novel for Steven! Later that day I did jump out of the car to check out a sale several streets away. They had two big bookshelves; the kind you might see magazines sitting on in a bookstore. One was white and stole my heart! Only $10! But hubby insisted it was too big and so I moved on to our next activity without much thought.

Today I happened to drive by that house again and saw that the bookshelf was out BY THE TRASH! For free? He had to say yes! I will admit I've been quite a hormonal mess today, with a painful neckache and overwhelming feeling about the state of our house and my inability to stay on top of any of the housework. So I think that might have played into his agreement to try to get the shelf, as he whisked two of the kids with him to the grocery store (he's a superdad, isn't he?).



It wasn't until we had the shelf cleaned up and added some books that we both felt it was really going to work. What a perfect find! I've got all my manuals, next year's books, and stuff for special subjects at the top, and our Alphabet Path books (Letter Ss for this week!) on the bottom. I hope this serves us well; the kids are enjoying it already!

A Delightful Day

Thank you so much for your prayers! My precious boy is doing well. He's had a few fits of wanting "nee" but overall has done really well, especially at night. Steven has been a great help with this.

We have had such a beautiful week. The weather has been sunny and breezy. We've kept the back door open most of the day and the children are romping from indoors to outdoors, digging and playing, practicing on the new piano. Our moods have truly lightened!

Yesterday we hosted this little birthday party for Mary Clare's American Girl Doll, Emily. She'd had the idea for several months and finally was coercive enough to get her mommy to email the mothers of all her little friends for a little dolly playdate!

I wasn't sure what to expect. Many times our large parties or activities are such fun, but leave me exhausted and my house in utter disarray and I sometimes wonder if it was really worth it. Especially in my fragile physical and emotional state right now, I was really doubting this decision. My husband too, who dislikes large festivities, was quite disappointed to find that I'd invited such a slew of friends over for a playdate.

But I was pleasantly surprised to have a lovely, carefree afternoon. The girls set up a table for the dolls and made a paper mache piñata filled with scrounged goodies. I just let them all play in the backyard, while the moms visited in the living room. I think there were only 2 or 3 tears (from the little sisters) over the course of the 3 hours our friends were here. What fun!

Here are some shots:

One of the big sisters brought all her AG doll hair supplies
and did the hair of the dolls and some of the girls.
Thanks so much, M, for coming to help!


The little sisters had fun together too.
I know Ellie enjoyed having some girls her age around.


The dolls sitting out and ready for the tea party!


Putting out the tea set for the dolls


Enjoying the piñata


Cupcakes and snacks

A fun time was had by dolls and girls alike!

Today was First Friday and with my slightly fussy and attached toddler, I ended up spending most of the time in the nursery with him. It was actually a nice break for me to get to sit and visit with the other moms and get off my feet for a bit.

We spent a few hours at the park, and then came home to another afternoon of playing outside. I read almost half of my new book (which I'll write a review about soon, love it!), and relaxed on the couch. Steven Joseph found a pail and shovel, and threw a fit insisting he wanted to go to the beach. So the girls created a "beach" with dirt and water on the patio. So sweet!

We had a nice Lenten mac n cheese supper and everyone is settling down for a quiet evening and a nice weekend. Next week, we'll be starting Ss week; I'll try to get our Rr week post up soon. We're thrilled to have received many wonderful new homeschooling books and can't wait to dig in! I have high hopes for a spectacular springtime :-)

a little prayer request

My sweet Stevens...aren't they cute! SJ is in his "wunning shirt" which he wants to wear all the time. He's also obsessed with "paderman" (Spiderman) and continually asks for things like a Spiderman piano or Spiderman umbrella.


My sweet little toddler...oh I just eat him up! And it's been so hard to wean this guy. I just can't say no to his sweet requests, even though sometimes he says, "Mommy, me no more 'ne'. Me big boy. Wight, Mommy?"

But I think it's now time. With my miscarriage history the OB has been recommending it from the beginning. In our family it works best to wean cold-turkey because the kids tend to nurse so much at nighttime. He made it through the night with the help of Daddy last night, but I'm asking for prayers that the rest of the transition will go smoothly.

I'm feeling pretty exhausted right now at almost 8 weeks along. I think it's a combination of the pregnancy, the progesterone supplementation which I need to start taking at night instead of in the morning, trying to nourish 3 humans, and several big events that have me stressed out. I've had a headache since yesterday afternoon, feel overly anxious and emotional and just not quite like myself this week.

MC is having some 1st grade girls over for a playdate today to celebrate her doll's birthday. And I'm coordinating 2 big field trips in the next couple weeks which have details that are a bit of a pain to figure out (childcare, limited chaperone numbers, 80 tickets to get to students for the Rodeo).

So I would love some prayers, friends. Things usually tend to go better than I expect, I admit I'm sometimes a bit of a pessimist. I'm looking forward to another weekend with Daddy, who hasn't had to work Saturdays for a few weeks now! We have some sprouts in the garden and are receiving shipments of our new school books every day. We're enjoying the piano and the iPhone and have so much to be thankful for! Just need a few prayers for me and my big baby and little baby during this special, but difficult, time. Thanks!

Last Week

a few photos to remember our events of last week...

Museum of Fine Arts


Outside in the sculpture garden


Some of the friends who joined in the storytime field trip


Later that day...SNOW!


Mud castle building


Ellie ate some lettuce! This is my girl who eats nothing green. She was so proud :-)


A bunny brunch tea party, to celebrate learning about Peter Rabbit (for R week) and Beatrix Potter


SJ enjoyed the tea party too!


And a quick little wooden ornament I made for a baptism we attended on Saturday.

Weekend highlights

A Saturday afternoon bike ride

Birdwatching-robins and flying turkeys
(I think that's what he called them?)

Edited: It was apparently not a robin and they are called "water turkeys"...you can tell I'm not the one with an Animal Science Degree!

We realized that the Saturday vigil mass was starting at the parish near the bike trail, so the dirty bike riders hid out in the cry room for a nice noisy mass.

Afterwards, I finally got my birthday present! And another present for the family was purchased today, an amazing Craigslist find!



















What's a pregnant mama to do? The Girl Scout cookies were ordered before Lent, but unfortunately will not be waiting until after Lent to be consumed!

Internet is acting spotty so last week's photos will have to wait. Getting ready for a new week and new month! I'm hoping my new iPhone alarms will keep me going this week, and my iBreviary prayers will keep me focused. I'll keep you posted! Have a magnificent March!

Here Comes the Sun!

I’ve heard many people say that February is a gloomy time for many moms. In my case, I started the “January Jitters” before this “February Funk” but am still longing to get out of these winter blues.

For some of us, we’re exhausted from homeschooling, for others the new year’s work load may be dragging us down, while other moms are drearily trudging through the daily carpool activities.

One thing for sure, spring is right around the corner! (read more of my newest Faith & Family article here)

Garden 2010

Steven got 2 crates from work and found one near a dumpster in College Station.
We spent a few afternoons painting them white.

We found some nice spots for them on our back porch


and added the dirt.


Later we added some colorful artwork too!


Steven has also planted 2 tomato plants upside down in plastic buckets.
We'll see how those work out!


Finally, late Sunday night they planted the vegetable seeds.


Hopefully we'll see some sprouts soon!

Introducing...

our newest family member! Baby is the little "dot" to the right of the circle (yolk sac), who had a strong beating heart and looks to be growing well at about 6 weeks along. I'll have ultrasounds again at 8 weeks and 12 weeks to try to determine a very accurate due date since the c-section will probably be 2-3 weeks early. Thanks for all your prayers! One little hurdle down...only about 7.5 months to go!