The Complications of Bunking

A few weeks ago Annie launched a rebellion--the great crib rebellion.  At two years old she does not have the sophistication of vocabulary and the ability to string sentences.  Yet Annie has sophisticated thoughts and desires…I always say that children are a lot like adults only lacking experience and discipline.  My point is that though they do not to seem to be the same as adults, they have thoughts and feelings that they will harbor into adulthood at which point they may or may not bring them to fruition in a mature manner.  There is a complete person within each child deserving the same love and respect as any adult.  I digress…

Each night after story time we would tell the kids it was time to go to bed and Annie started running for Kristiana's bed instead of her crib.  At first I thought Annie wanted bedtime company.  Annie's crib was in a separate room from our two older children.  Annie shared a room with Baby Lucy.  In part, I think Annie was seeking company and to be like the big kids.  For a week, we let the girls go to bed together in the same bed.  They played around for an hour each night until they drove us mad and Annie was totally exhausted.  Then we would put Annie back in her crib and she would fall asleep immediately.  

We moved Kristiana's bed into Annie's room and Lucy's cradle in with Alex.  (Alex goes right to sleep at night, so we knew that neither he nor Lucy would bother each other, which is unlike the two silly girls, Annie and Kristiana.)  The first night Annie and Kristiana were in the same room, Annie ended up sleeping in Kristiana's bed and Kristiana slept in the crib.  And yes, they were still silly for a long time until we were mad. 

I suggested to my husband that perhaps we should bunk the girls so that Annie had her own bed and they would be less silly because they would be on different levels.  It was clear we need to provide Annie a bed.  I went on a mad spree selling things around the house, raising funds for the new sleeping arrangement.  With funds raised, we investigated bunk bed options and finally ordered a bunk.  

It finally arrived and next came the task of putting it together.  Well…It was total madness.  

We put it together at the end of our day, when Andrew came home from work and yet before dinner.  Yes, we were tired and hungry.  So we were a little grumpy.  We opened the boxes and of course the children all piled into the girls tiny room and immediately started tearing up packing materials all over the house, they grabbed pieces of the the bunk and tools and wanted to "help."  Anyone who knows little children knows that they are no help at all, but so sincere about their intentions.  It was so aggravating.  We tried to pacify them with a movie, but it was to no avail.  They were too excited and curious about what was happening.  We tried to patiently include them.  It was a sure test of virtues.  To make matters worse the instructions were the type that are only pictures, and there were many small parts to the beds.  The instructions pretended like all the parts should be labeled with stickers.  Three of the 30 some pieces were labeled.  We were busy flipping parts in all directions trying to figure out in which order and direction they ought to be constructed and all the while saying, "No, no, child don't touch that…Bring that here…Where did you put that…Oh, don't knock that over."   And the room was not big enough to construct the two beds.  Yet we had to construct it in the room, because we would not be able to get it through the door fully constructed.  We had to build the second bunk on top of the bottom, which is not recommended.

We finally had it 90% constructed and realized the holes that were drilled for the ladder were on the other side of the bed.  You would think we should have seen that the holes were not right from the beginning, but it was not obvious until were trying to attach the piece, and again the instructions were only pictures. We questioned, should drill new holes, should we deconstruct the bed and put it together so the holes lined up right?  We stood scratching our heads for a moment, discussing the mistake and chiding the children for climbing on the unfinished bed, when a light bulb illuminated above my husband's head.  We did not need to deconstruct or drill new holes.  We only needed to flip top bunk around 180 degrees and then the holes matched up.  It was a moment of hilarity when the daunting prospect of deconstructing the bed lifted.  

After three hours it was finished!  (Late dinner for mom and dad.)  

Bunking has been the perfect solution to the sleeping situation.  The girls are happy to have their new beds.  Annie sleeps well for her naps and at night time.  This is, of course, the sophisticated desire she was trying to communicate to us for which she had no words.  She wanted her own big girl bed and a big sister to share her room.  

No, I could not get any pictures of the kids behaving, or not being silly on the bed.  Fortunately, this is the only time they have been silly so far, because we have been insistent about not playing on the bed.

I could not get Annie to stop climbing over the edge.  The first night, 15 minutes after bed time she climbed over the side and fell to the floor, knocked the wind out of herself and has not tried it since.

7 Early Mommyhood Mistakes - Wisdom for New Parents

1. Strollers Galore! I had a friend who had me convinced that I needed a different kind of stroller for every occasion.  Yeah, it's nice to have a jogging stroller for running; an umbrella stroller for darting through airports; a stroller that matches the carseat; double stroller for many kids; a sit-n-stand stroller for little kids and bigger kids.  The list goes on and on.  I had one of each and enjoyed their many uses.  But when it came down to it, I could not justify having any of them except the one that opens and close one-handed.  I sold them all except for the first one gifted to me--a Graco that opens and closes one handed.

A mom only needs one good stroller.  A jogging stroller should not be considered an essential even if one is a runner, because one does not get as good a workout while pushing it.  So push the baby around the block with the one good stroller and then go for good workout run sans bebe.

Let's say you have two kids to get around the block.  Put one in ring sling or on you back in a backpack carrier or mai tai.  Women around the world do not own strollers--they wear their children in all sorts of baby wearing devices, but a stroller is unheard of.  Do invest in a good baby wearing device.  They're expensive and not all of them are right for you.  Before you buy one, borrow one from a friend and try it for a week.  Find out what works for you.

2. Travel Light - All hotels have baby beds available upon request.  We took a pack-n-play to New York City once.  We were staying with a friend.  Guess where the baby slept?  In our bed.  We lugged a pack-n-play through subways and buses late at night and it went unused during the visit!  What a disaster.  Since then we have depended on borrowing baby beds from friends or hotels.  We have pack-n-plays stored at each set of grandparents home.  They were purchased for $40 each, but they can be purchased for $20 or less at yard sales.  We have not been sorry about the baby sleeping situation since.

Diapers can be bought when you arrive.  Just take enough diapers to get to where you are going.  But, do take double clothing for children and self.  I traveled with Annie when she was 5 months old and she pooped her way through 3 outfits and two of mom's shirts while we waited to board our plane.  It was a little ridiculous.  But fortunately, I had packed all my clothes and her clothes in my carry-on.    

Don't travel with too many toys and distractions.  Kids are fascinated with traveling itself.  Help them to see the interesting things.  If all else fails, sing.  As parents, we need to brush up on all the old nursery songs.  They really do calm and entertain children.  My dad had a song called, "The Dirty Bird Picnic" (that's what we all called it; it's really the Tennessee Bird Walk), which he sang on every car trip.  We continued to delight in it even in our teens. (See below the song - you just have to imagine and Australian man singing. It was much funnier.)

Kids always get sick and out of sorts while traveling, so why aggravate the travel by loading yourself down with stuff. 

3. In the Care of Others -  My first two kids were in daycare for the first few years of their lives.  I was constantly miserable over this.  I was miserable that I hardly saw my children and was missing them growing from babies into toddlers.  Further, my children did not consistently have the same caretakers.  Let's face it, the caretakers make a low wage for a demanding job.  Of course there is going to be a high turnover.  In turn, this meant that while they sort of cared about my child, they could leave him in an instant and not care in the least about the emotional loss he incurred.  

My kids were also constantly sick and suffered irreparable damage to their health because they were so sick in the first year of life.  I missed a lot of work as well to care for them.  It hardly made sense to have me working except for the fact that I was the main breadwinner.

I was stressed.  The kids were stressed. My husband was stressed, because we were all stressed!  

Be honest.  It's an unnatural situation.  Nature intends for the young to be cared for by their parents.  This gives the offspring the best chance at survival and normalcy.  All sorts of reasons can be made to justify children being in the care of others, but in the end it really would be better to live without fine clothes, the finest food and the newest gadgets in order to have one parent at home.  It really would be best in order that the virtues of the family be preserved.  

It's our society that has normalized this convention of daycare, childcare, preschool.  Throughout history women have always worked, but it used to be that our children were alongside us as we worked.  It was in the industrial revolution that we lost our children.  Take them back.  Bring them home.  Hold them close.  Instill them with good values for the good of all.  Be brave and raise your children yourself.  I do not mean see them for a few waking hours a day and call it parenting.  I mean dare to be with them, teaching them and role modeling for them EVERY WAKING HOUR, in every precious and not so precious moment.  You have only ONE chance to raise your children--do not miss it.  Do not regret not having spent more time with them when they were under your roof. Though we have healed, I still regret the three and half years my children spent in daycare

4. Teaching Too Early - It's never too early to teach really, but subject matter and expectations of the child should be age appropriate.  I was eager to teach my son and he was eager to learn, but either my expectations of him were too much, or his expectations of himself were too high, and he never trusted me until one day he learned something useful.  This all seems crazy now, but we had lots of battles over learning.  He would always come to me wanting me to teach him something and then when I would teach him he would think I was wrong; or he would wander off before he had learned anything; or he would do it wrong and be mad at himself for not being perfect; or he would be mad at me for telling him to be patient and do it right.  I would expect him to attain suitable proficiency in whatever I taught him and he did not always agree.

Further the kids want me to play with them ALL THE TIME.  Playing with them often means coming up with games and crafts, puzzles and so forth.  It's exhausting.  What it comes down to is that they want me to entertain them, which I just see as an opportunity to teach them in fun ways.  But also, they need to learn to be creative on their own and imagine their own fun and games.  This is something I can not teach them.  They must develop the skill of creative play on their own.

In the end, I believe all my battles largely had to do with age and maturity.  So, play games, teach, do preschool workbooks, even do flashcard drills.  But, do not expect too much from yourself or the tot.  Do not turn it into battles, because it will likely all work itself out with maturity.  It also has to do a lot with personality.  So do not be afraid to explore the child's personality as you teach.

Instead of teaching or battles, work on trust and discipline with young'uns.  It pays off later.  I do not mean be a drill sergeant and make your kids walk around the house doing chores and minding you.  But teach routine, hygiene, manners and so forth, and do it like a "broken record."  It does not register with them until the 4,000th time you have told them.  What's that old saying, "Patience is a virtue."  Yeah, that one was invented by parents for parents and then they decided to tell the kids about it too. ;-)

5. Babes in the Bed - I had my babies in my bed from newborn.  It started with our first.  The only way we had peace was having him in our bed.  It was lovely.  Until it wasn't.  It eventually got to a point where no one was comfortable and we were all waking each other up.  We tried the various methods of getting a child to sleep--crying, gnashing of teeth, holding, rocking, nursing.  All of it. We tried everything.  We were to the letter about each method, because we were desperate to make it work.  No one was sleeping through.  Finally with our son, around 18 months old, started sleeping through the night and has been a marvelous sleeper since.  But, that was after a year of staying in his room and holding him down (gently) in bed until he fell asleep.  Then if he woke up, he was back in our bed, because there was nothing in the world, but mom, that would get him back to sleep.  With our other two girls in our bed we had similar problems.  In fact, our four year old daughter has never slept through the night.  She still wakes up nightly and wants in our bed.  Our two year old only suddenly started sleeping through the night in her own bed when the new baby was born. She was 19 months old.  SO WITH THE NEW BABY, we decided that we were going to commit to not having her in our bed, because it was a situation that no longer worked for us.  She was in a bassinet beside our bed for the first three months.  She started spontaneously sleeping through the night at two and a half months and now at five months she sleeps in the kids' room and sleeps through the night.  The lesson we have learned is a well-rested parent can be a better parent, spouse and worker during the waking hours.  So help those babies sleep and do whatever it takes.

6. Not Resting Enough After Birth - I have responsibilities just like anyone.  Not to mention, that I like to be useful.  Sometimes you cannot shirk your duties even when you need to stop and heal.  However, after childbirth it is good to be both useful and know when to rest.  The problem is that the energy and wellness ebb and flow during the first couple months after a child is born.  Some moments you feel you must do and others you need to cocoon and rest.  So, if you find yourself in an ebb after childbirth, ask for, nay, demand help.  I always think/desire to be more capable than I am and suffer in the wake. 

7.  Pray - It's a mistake if you don't.  I have prayed a lot during my motherhood.  I cannot imagine motherhood without a prayer upon my lips every moment of every day.  This job is sooo hard.  It's harder than anything I have ever done.  I could not survive without the daily grace I receive from God.  As I spent endless hours trying to put my over anxious and asthma prone, son to bed, I said the "Hail Mary" over and over.  I said the "Jesus Prayer" over and over through all my pregnancies.   I pray a lot to become a holy mother and that I might influence holiness in my children and that they might choose it for themselves.  Pray for guidance; pray for fortitude.  Pray for it all.  Pray!  Christ is in our midst!

Baby Update

Little Lucy is five months old now.  She is still so smiley and cuddly.  Each morning when I go get her from her bed, she kicks her little legs and giggles at the sight of me.  It's the most adorable thing.  Waking Lucy is the best part of my day.  I pick her up and she hugs my neck and snuggles up to me for a nurse.  She has a long morning nurse since she sleeps so well at night.  In the afternoon, she is extremely fussy and we think it's because she wants another long nurse then as well, but I am usually busy making dinner or doing chores.  I can only nurse her for a short time.  So once again, I am going to have to reorganize myself to accommodate the baby.  I think I will start prepping dinner during home school.

I am trying to cherish each moment with her, because they are only babies for a moment.  I feel like they only have this purity, joy, wonderment for a day and then it is lost forever.  They become just like the rest of us.  The world is not new anymore.  She rolls her tongue around her mouth and chews on it with her naked gums in total awe of her own tongue, enjoying it and exploring it.  It's things like that that only a baby can make special.

"TOES! I have toes! They taste so good! Nom, nom, nom."

"Good morning, MOMMY!!! Did you bring me breakfast!"

She's still so little. I wish she would never grow older.  I think she looks like an Eloise Wilkins baby.

Icon Writing With Kids - Moses and the Ten Commandments

In this week's home school lesson we learned about the Ten Commandments.  Therefore, we wrote the Ten Commandments icon.  What is there to be said about the Ten Commandments?  There is a lot to teach a child about what constitutes a violation of these commandments.  But, I think the most important lesson of this week is "The Lord spoke these words," (Ex 20:1).  It is important for a child to know that not only are these the rules, but that they are given to us from God.   This is the conduct the Lord, God, expects of him.  This is what it takes to obey God.

Kristiana has become my little icon protege.  While Alex participates here and there.  She is eager to study.  She request page after page of coloring, lessons and worksheets.  She is so proud of herself.  I would have had her paint this one, but Annie, our two year old was not napping and I did not want to get out paints while she was around.  Alex was sick with strep throat (ick).

Here are the girls working on this week's icon:

Moses of the Rainbow Robes - Kristiana was pretty proud of the many color robe

Icon Writing with Kids - Adam and Eve

Since I have decided to put together a coloring book for my kids, I am drawing the cartoon of whatever icons go along with our weekly religion lessons.  I then scan it, clean it up a little and print one for each child including the two year old. I truly believe that these holy images are a large part of helping the children to understand our faith.  

I need to perhaps be more patient and spend more time getting it to look more graceful and precise.  I pushed myself to draw two this week amidst my other duties and it would have been better to slow down.  I do not foresee any large icon painting sessions any time soon.  

Here are this week's icon.  I could not convince the kids to color the last two because I did not set aside appropriate time for them to work on it.  But we talked about them.

More Annie With Love and A Song

I don't think I made a video for Annie's year one, but I heard a great song the other day that I thought would be perfect for her video, so I made one. :-) Enjoy.

Annie Turns Two

Not to make this post all about me, but I really should learn from years past.  It happens every year.  I say to myself, "We're just going to celebrate at home with the family."  But when it gets close to the actually day, I throw an impromptu party.  I call people and say "Hey, I know it's short notice, but will you come to my kid's last minute birthday party."  It's all me, I get to feeling like the celebration needs a little oomph by sharing it with friends.  So late last night I decided that Annie should celebrate with her one and only good friend, Simon.  He was born a couple days after her.  I spent the first half of the day preparing while Annie partied hard all day long.  

Funny story about Annie, today.  This morning, as I was going to take off for the gym, grocery shopping and birthday preparations, we heard a cat's meow outside our garage.  Annie came running out of the house to find the cat.  There, meowing loudly, was a stray, light orange, tabby cat.  I think my neighbor had been feeding it and he is out of town now.  Annie began petting it and hugging it.  Then she put the cat in a headlock and started dragging it toward our interior door, which made me nervous that she might get bit or scratched by a stray.  But she succeeded at getting it to our door and then she and Alex coaxed it in.  She began to give the cat a tour of our house and the cat followed her wherever she went.  Then my husband came in from the backyard with our dog.  The dog immediately chased that cat right back out the garage door and that was the end of kitty (good dog). 

I left for the gym and store and Andrew took the bigger kids to the zoo for some hours.  And in the evening we had our impromptu mini-party.  It was the best day of Annie's life.  (See some party pictures below.)  Clearly, Annie received a stuffed kitty because of her love for cats.  It was precious when she opened the kitty and she let out a gleeful, "Kitty!" and jumped up and down on the sofa.

Annie's siblings filled the play bed with balloons and put Annie in it to play.  Funny siblings.

Annie had her favorite foods: mash potatoes and gravy, cherry tomatoes and hotdogs

Annie's buddy, Simon.  She had to sit in his chair with him.

Our neIghbor made spectacular cupcakes for her

Annie's Royal Court

Annie's Loot: Kitty, My First Baby Princess doll, a diaper bag with baby care items, a blanket and pillow, playdoh activity tubs, bracelets and necklaces

Annie went to be with baby and kitty

7 Quick Takes - It's A Workout

1. The following is my weekly workout.  I guess that I am a little overwhelmed right now (that's not unusual for me).  It's not that the work is too much or too hard.  It's not that I do not love the job and the family.  It is that I never get a break away.   I need a kid free couple of hours each week.  The gym does not count, because I take them there with me and have to orchestrate the whole affair.  I must be doing something wrong, because Americans do not work until bedtime.  Or do we?  I have always worked hard since having become an adult.  But it seems like I have had more down time in the past. 

2. Housework - I work hard to keep up our house.  If I let it go for even a couple of hours, nay fifteen minutes, it is a disaster--a disaster that will take days to clean up.   I have a five year old, a three year old, a two year old and a 4 month old, and let's face it, sometimes husbands can behave like children and forget to pick up after themselves.  I am usually working on housework and stuff for the family until 10:00 p.m. at night.  After I tuck the kids in bed and give them a hug I say, "Stay in bed, because Mommy wants to relax…wait, I mean get more chores done. Love you, good night." 

"Mommy, why do you do  chores after we go to bed?"  I have my reasons.  If it could be helped, I would not.

3. Gym - I go to the gym everyday these days.  I love the group fitness classes.  I work hard and love to be motivated.  I am not where I want to be weight wise.  Yeah, I know I likely never will be.  Going to the gym makes me feel strong and happy.  When I do not go, I feel badly.  But after I defeat myself, I build myself back up by saying, "At least I am trying."  Most people in America get very little exercise.

4. Schoolwork - Alex has been doing well on his schoolwork and gives me little hassle, which is a huge triumph for us.  I do not know if it is his newfound maturity or if he is habituated to it, but we are doing well.  I am actually finding that he is ahead in most of the first grade material.  Last weekend, I had myself all bent out of shape trying to tailor the lessons to him so that it was not too boring, while making sure he had covered everything for the school testing.  Especially in phonics, he is way ahead, but is not proficient in everything, so we cannot quite move on to second grade material even though I am sure he could handle.  They say it is better to know something well than to push one ahead and not know the more challenging material.  I keep doubting the curriculum I chose as well purely on the fact that it is not classical.

Today, he requested to stay home and not go to the gym so that he could count all his money as part of his math lesson.  He had $20.90 in change.  It took a couple of hours for him to count and add up.  It was impressive for a first grader. 

Kristiana has been working on a preschool workbook as well.  She has perfect knowledge of colors and shapes, and she can count to ten, but she does not get letters quite yet.  She is still little though.  

5. Making Baby Big - Your eyes do not deceive you that baby is getting big.  She is almost 5 months old. Wow, time flies.  She went through a growth spurt a week ago and she wanted to eat a lot more.  She woke me up quite a bit in the night.  Nursing moms know that when a baby goes through a growth spurt it can be like a full time job.  Early this week, I decided to move her into the room with Annie.  She did not wake us up in the night.  I am sure she woke up in the night, but it did not wake anyone else.  I went at 6:00 a.m. to get her to feed.  She was hungry all right, but she was not fussy.  So there she has stayed each night since.  I guess we have a baby who will sleep on her own.  (During home school one day this week, I put Lucy on my bed with some toys and while she happily played Annie snuck in and made herself comfortable. Adorable.)

6. Consignment sale - I worked hard last weekend and Monday, preparing items for a consignment sale.  This time my husband helped me, which made a big difference in how much effort I had to put in.  For part of the work, we watched the A&E version Pride and Prejudice miniseries.   We love that series.  We watch it once every year.  It never gets old.

7. I don't do anything well.  I do things just well enough to pass for good.  When I die, perhaps God will let me sneak into heaven just barely...Someday, I really do hope to do something truly well and have people say, "Look have well she does that."  All this to say, I am back to it.  I want to put together a coloring book for my kids, which is 365 religious drawings to help them learn and feel the faith.  My first grade teacher, Sister Madonna, had a coloring book for our class of 180 drawings about whatever we were learning in class.  We colored almost everyday and those pictures really meant something to me.  At first, I was oblivious and as the year went on the story came alive.  If you ask me, there is not anything that she taught me that does not impact my life still today.  I remember that as I teach my own children.  I hope I am making Sister Madonna proud. 

Icon Writing With Kids - Exaltation of the Most Holy Cross (2012)

"As You were voluntarily raised upon the cross for our sake,
Grant mercy to those who are called by Your Name, O Christ God;
Make all Orthodox Christians glad by Your power,
Granting them victories over their adversaries,
By bestowing on them the Invincible trophy, Your weapon of Peace."

I have been trying to post our work since Friday afternoon.  We have been very busy.  
I do not understand how other families can do some many activities with the children, allowing each child to have an activity.

I drew the cartoon for this icon last year, took a picture and saved it.  Alex and Kristiana worked on the large version of this icon last year and went a little crazy, mixed all the colors and turned it to mud.  They can be so silly together--giggling and doing silly things.  Anyhow, this year, each person got their own and painted it as they pleased.

Kristiana's attempt - She is very artistic and patient.  But, she got tired here. 

Alex peaked at 4 years old in icon writing.  I think this is part of his perfectionism.  If he cannot do it perfectly, he will smear it all together.  It's going to be a year of this.  I can tell.

"Miracles Are For Unbelievers"

One of our home school lessons today was about Angels.  I was looking for a way to bring a little liveliness to our lesson today.  So I went to You Tube to see if there were any good children's cartoons about Angels.  I found a video that I felt like brought awareness to my son and daughter.  It was engaging.  So I thought I would share it with you.  

After the video was complete I asked the kids to close their eyes and pray to their Guardian Angel and then just be quiet and listen.  I prayed too.  My son plastered himself to my side closed his eyes and trembled.  After a bit of silence, I asked Kristiana if she prayed and I asked her if her Guardian Angel told her his name.  She said, "Yes."  And I told her to use that name whenever she wished to  talk to him.  I asked Alex if he prayed and he said, "No."  I asked him why and he said he was too afraid.  Have you ever notice how in the Bible the Angels tell people to not be afraid?  I assume this is because meeting an Angel is frightening.  Perhaps, Alex has a better awareness of the Angels among us than I thought.  So I told him I would pray for him.  I asked him to close his eyes again and I put my arms around him because he was still afraid.  I prayed aloud and after a few moments of silence, I asked him again if his Angel told him his name.  He said, "Yes." I told him to use that name when he prays. 

Then I said that I had a picture of an Angel.  I showed them the picture below.  

When I was seventeen some friends and I made a pilgrimage from Wyoming to Lubbock, Texas.  We were going to celebrate the feast of the Assumption with a friend at a place where Mary was said to have appeared.  Supposedly there is an Angel seen there frequently.  Many healings and miracles have occurred there at the fountain where Mary appeared.  Each year, people gather there on the feast and pray.  Many priests come to hear confessions and many Masses occur.  We prayed all day on that feast of the Assumption. We also heard people's stories and saw photographs with strange images.  For instance, a woman showed us a polaroid of a statue of the Blessed Mother in the church.  The statue in the church was a typical statue of Mary standing on a serpent and she was looking down toward the earth.  But, in the polaroid her hands were clasped in prayer and she was looking upward.  Her image in the picture had changed from reality.  

We went to confession and then when the day was almost through we were going to go to Mass.  But before we went into the church we had a stranger snap a picture of us in front of the fountain.  The next day my friend had the pictures developed at a one hour photo place.  He saw this picture and wondered if it were an Angel.  None of us professed to know.  My friend had a personal meeting with the lady who first experienced the apparitions, before he could ask her about the photo she said to him, "You want to ask me about a photograph.  Yes, it is an Angel."  It is said that Angels talk to her.  This confirmed our picture for my friend.  He said that it was a miracle.  But, miracles are not for everyone.  Miracles are for unbelievers.  I immediately professed that I had strength of faith and therefore it was not for me.  I did not need such a sign.  As I grow in wisdom, I recognize that it was a sign and a miracle for me as much as it is for anyone who experiences it.

My friends and I decided to guard our little miracle, because we did not wish others to damage it's integrity.  It would be easy to say it was the glare of the sun.  But, you would have to have been there to know it is not the sun.  The rays from the iridescent image fall straight down next to me.  They are at the wrong angle to be from the sun, which was lower on the horizon as it was evening.  Have you ever seen the sun glare like this in a photo before?  I have not doubted it since I saw it.  But if this is not an Angel, it reminds me of an Angel and of a day spent in prayer, and the good faith can do in one's life; that gives me hope and inspiration to carry on. 

Praise Him Ballet

Today Kristiana had her first ballet class.  This has been a long time coming.  It feels like she has been talking about doing a ballet class for years and she will only be four in a couple of months.  

 When I told her she had ballet class today, so was soooo excited.  She talked about it all day.  She did not let me have a moment's peace.  I never heard the end of it.  But I also held it over her head.  Every time she tried to disobey, I reminded her that at ballet she had to follow instructions and I could not take her to ballet if she could not follow instructions at home.

At class, she listened well and had a blast.  And her teacher's name is also Kristiana! I am so thankful she is getting this opportunity.  It is a class held at a local church and it is free except for a small donation.  We definitely would not be able to afford the professional studios. Yay! It's called "Praise Him Ballet."  They use worship music and teach the girls about positive body image.

Fat Happy Baby - Lucy

I just wanted to post an updated photo of Lucy (4 months old). 

She's such gregarious baby.  She smiles and coos whenever people talk to her.

She also likes to play with toys more than the kids other kids ever did.

Icon Writing With (Lots of) Kids - The Nativity of Blessed Theotokos

Today we celebrated the birth of the Mother of God with home school friends.  We painted icons and I shared some of my favorite facts about icons.  Then the kids had cupcakes.  It was a birthday party after all.  

I really need to get back to copying the icons by hand onto large paper for Kristiana's year of icons with mummy.  I am more than pleased to be enjoying a life of overactivity again. Whereas last year we tried to experience a life of over activity, but did not necessarily enjoy it, or achieve it due to the misery of, but blessed, pregnancy. 

Troparian – Your birth, O Virgin Mother of God, heralded joy to the universe; for from you rose the Sun of Justice, Christ our God. He took away the curse, He gave the blessing, and by trampling Death, He gave us everlasting life.

“And it came to pass, as he spoke these things, a certain woman from the crowd, lifting up her voice, said to him: Blessed is the womb that bore thee, and the paps that gave thee suck. But he said: Yea rather, blessed are they who hear the word of God, and keep it. “(Luke 11:27-28)

Tot Talk - "Love is Cute"

Yesterday, Alex was playing on my husband's computer in our office/guest room as he does often after home school and chores.  He sits and plays intensely for a couple of hours, until we pry him away.  He had headphones on because my husband plays online computer games and likes to talk to his competitors on the other end.  Andrew was laying on the guest bed trying to take a nap.  I came in and laid on the bed with Andrew and started to whisper to him.  Anyhow, we thought Alex could not hear us, nor did we think he even acknowledged our presence, because he was too into his game.  But after a few minutes he said, "Aaawwe, you guys are always showing your love in front of me."  He said it in a tone that sounded like, "Ew, gross my parents are kissing."  Then he giggled a little.  A few minutes later he giggled again and said,  "I think your love is cute."  More giggles ensued.  He said this all without pausing or taking his attention away from his game.  Of course I had to respond, because I cannot ever let the children have the last word.

"It's good that you have parents that love each other and show it."

Kids say the cutest things.  As I write this Alex is getting out of bed to come tell me things he wants added to his birthday present list.  I told him he couldn't demand gifts.  Gifts come from the heart.  You cannot ask for them.  But, if someone asks you what you might like to receive as a gift, then you can tell them.  No one is required to give you gifts….He said that he wanted me to remember what he would like and get it for him, and maybe from this point on he can try to forget about it and be surprised.  Oh the ideas they come up with.

We had doughnuts as a part of our Byzantine New Year celebration - Lucky kids
(I actually got a picture of them all smiling and it came out blurry.)

Our First Big Week of Home School - By Catholic Mommy

1. The Mighty Wrench of School - What a crazy week. I have been working really hard this week.  Mainly,  all the hard work has been from adding first grade home school to our regular work load.  Now I know why home schoolers do not get out every day like I am accustomed to.  If you go out too much, it really throws a wrench in getting school done.

2.  My Sanity - That being said I am very selfish about my gym time.  I must go every morning, six days a week to feel sane.  The kids love it too.  When we do not go, they ask me if we can go.  They have a kids play area and they have friends that show up regularly too.  As their friends get older and go off to school, I can imagine that the gym might become less fun for them.  When that time comes, I guess we will have to adjust how mommy gets exercise.  

3. The Clayton Bears and Too Much Play Dates - I scheduled two play dates for the end of the week.  I did not mean to have two.  By Thursday morning, the kids seemed like they needed to see some close friends and have a good play.  So I called one family and they did not answer.  Then I called another and they could meet us that morning.  Later, the other family called back, and I love them too and could not say, "Oh the reason I called, well, never mind we already played."

Thursday I skipped the gym and we finished home school early and went off to play by the late morning.  Then the next morning I went to the gym and then we went to another play date.  We only completed our spelling test in the afternoon (Alex aced it) and then everyone was exhausted and we took naps, which is highly unusual for us.  So long story short, I think we are definitely going to have to limit play dates.

4. What Alex Learned - Alex complained bitterly about his home school lessons every day this week.  But, he seemed to settle into them better by the end of the week.  On Thursday night, Daddy asked Alex about what he was learning, to which he responded, "I am learning that if I don't complain so much about doing my home school, it does not take as long to do it."  

"Say what, Child?! Thank you! Yes!" If that is the only thing he learned all week, I am happy.  It will be a much better year if he learns to just dig in, learn it, like it or not, and get 'er done.

5.  What Mom Learned - I am learning how to tailor this program to my family.  I think the materials are great, but they are a little on the dry side.  So I need to find more ways to be prepared and bring it all to life.  Alex hates handwriting bitterly.  He says it is too much work for his hand.  I believe him, but I also tell him that it will hurt less the more he practices. I try to go easy on him.  But, he really does need the practice.  He's a little ahead in math and he seems to do it with ease.  He's a typical boy in that sense.  We also have lots engineers in the family, so maybe he will take after them.  He is way ahead in reading, so I think I will be upgrading to the second grade curriculum at the semester.  He could probably do it now, but I want him to ease into home schooling.  Say what you will about "Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons."  I think it is great.  My four year old could not sit still and did not know the alphabet well, but by five he had finished the book and could read second grade level books before kindergarten.  I have heard other mothers poo-poo it for various reasons, but I found their reasons superficial.  I just followed along as scripted in the book and it worked.  I highly recommend it.  I will start Kristiana on it in January.

6.  What Annie Learned - Well, she had two poops and two pees on purpose all week and the rest of the week she had lots of accidents, but, little by little.  Maybe she will learn it by the time her second birthday comes.  She is not doing too bad, but she is not doing too well either.  She's going to learn it in spite of me, not because of me.

7. How Tough It Is to be Little - Lucy is becoming a momma's baby.  She does not want to be alone and only wants me to hold her.  I think it probably has a lot to do with the fact that her siblings always bother her and are rough with her when she is put down to play.  She has been crying and screaming a lot lately.  She has not been sleeping through the night as well.  It does not help matters that I have been burning the candle on both ends a lot this week.  I cannot do that anymore.  Despite all her turmoil lately, she is the happiest baby we have ever had.  All we have to do is look at her and she starts smiling and giggling.  

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Happy Byzantine New Year!

"Maker of the Universe, O Lord who alone have power over the seasons and times: bless this year with your bounty, preserve our country in safety, keep your people in peace, through the prayers of the Mother of God, and save us."

Blog Silence = Reality Commotion

It's been a while, but I have been BUSY.  We had to put our lives back together after our summer away.  Then we prepped for beginning our first year enrolled in an official home school program.

I had an early birthday bash with me sister in Wyoming.  My sister treated me to see our favorite band in concert.  

The kids and I met up with some other Catholic home schoolers last week.  

We have visited with a lot of people since we have been home.  I guess distance makes the heart grow fonder.

We finally cancelled the cable.  I have been talking about doing it for years, but it has always been a disagreement.  We still watch our DVDs.  It's been a good thing.  The kids watch a lot less T.V.  But, so far we adults have not watched less.  We have been watching Inspector Lewis in the evenings.

I have begun trying to potty train Annie.  I do not think I am a very good potty teacher.  I get too distracted and forget, or take them at the wrong times.  That being said, Annie has gone #2 on the toilet two consecutive days.  Now if I could only help her have success with a #1.

We began home school on Monday.  I spent three days prepping lessons.  Kristiana is beginning preschool lessons too.  She got very jealous today when I was trying to finish lessons today with Alex.  I try to include her in it, but she did not want to join in for these lessons.  She said she was tired, but would not go rest. Blech--Grumpy tots.

Alex has been giving me hell over doing his lessons the past two days. He will do them to earn time playing computer games and play with his legos, but he will bellyache about it the whole way.  It's not hard work and it is not uninteresting.  He just doesn't want to do anything we tell him to do 

I must find some way to make this fun.  I guess this next weekend as I prep the lessons I am going to find some exciting way to present the material--like with glitter, paint, clay, songs, pizzazz.

Does anyone else have a contradictory home school child? What do you do for them?  I am not giving up on him.  I see that he is bright and capable.  Though he complains all the way through, he does his work and does it well.  Home school is not bliss for us, but I am sure this is all worth it.  

First Day of Home School

New Lego Blocks to Play with after School

Andrew Made us a Chalkboard (Alex's Pop Quiz)

 

 

7 Quick Takes - To Climb Great Heights

1. Lately, and more and more these days, the internet overwhelms me.  There is such a wealth of information.  Not all of it is correct and not all of it is useful to me.  Somehow I must wade through it all.  It makes me want to not participate.  However, if I quit then I will be missing out on what is changing the world about us and I will be left behind.  I do not want to be that granny whose grandkids smile and sigh, "Oh Gran, you're so behind the times.  Why don't you take a class at the community college and get with it."

2. I have been watching the Olympics in a limited capacity and I think to myself, "I will never be the best at anything."  I would love to be the best at something once in my life.  Do you ever feel that way? But, I don't think I have it in me.  I think it is best to live a life of moderation--complacency, if you will.  But I would like it if one day someone looked at my additions to the world and said, "Look at that woman. She has changed the world for the better.  She did what no one else could."  

3.  When I dream the aforementioned it is almost always followed by exasperations, "This is not what makes us holy! Is not holiness (the ultimate good) our goal?"  The Olympians live extreme lives and while this is good for achieving the height of their sport, it is only useful for sport--useful once every 4 years.  Life would be so empty if our sole purpose were to create and achieve such fleeting things.  I am sure this is an overly simple argument.  I know that more can be argued in favor of Olympic sport.

4. Devotion - I am about to begin devoting more time to Icon writing.  I just need to.  I am called to it again and again.  This school year I plan to teach Kristiana icons as I did with Alex (see Alex's icons).  I may even offer a lesson or two to friends' children.  I fear the chaos of teaching many children, but I think it would be good for all.  Do you agree?

5. The Icon below, "Not of Human Hands,"  It is the first icon, image of Christ, made by Christ.  I wrote it as an exercise in icon writing.  I do not have my icon writing tools, but I still long to pray and lose myself in the image of God.  It was freehand with a children's watercolor set and colored pencils on paper.  I sat down to make a thank you notecard for friends and I could not turn my mind away from this image and therefore, God became the thank you.

6. Tranquillity of Spirit - I have been reading a book called, Praying With Icons.  I have been pleasantly surprised by it's accessible depth.  I have read other books on icons before.  Most are heavy on history and some do not explain enough.  Anyhow, this one has already had me feeling deeply for icons and connecting with God twice just from the introduction and first chapter.  It includes Orthodox daily prayers in the appendix.  I pray a version of these prayers daily, but these ones were worded a little differently and got me thinking.  Instead of praying for "peace of soul," it was phrased, "tranquility of spirit." …Tranquility of Spirit?  Yes, this is something I long for throughout my days.  What is it? I think it is when you know God is all about you. It is something we all want--peace. If you do not have this inner peace, you cannot be close to God.  And if you don't have inner peace, it is not because God has not given it to you.  There must be something that hinders it.  Root out what hinders your inner peace.  

7. Leap of Faith - In response to not abiding by the tenants of our faith (not that I am without sin): Faith is always a leap! Faith is a leap into the unknown and one must have faith, that the leap will not result in one's demise, that when we land there will be a savior.  That is God.  Why should it be a leap to God?  Because there is a great deal that is unknown to the limited human mind.  So leap and follow those tenants, even though you think you cannot possibly leap for fear of falling.  If it is God's law, God will catch you.

#TheLadderofDivineAscent

Love Letters

Love Letters to God 

Love Letters to My Spouse

I never knew true friendship until I met him.  It all began when he asked me in an email what were my views on Love.  He said he had recently had a conversation with a friend about it and he wanted to know what I thought.  I returned an essay on the topic.  I recall I wrote something like the agape notion of love even though at the time I am sure I had no understanding of the term.  I would have to find the email again, which I saved of course, to quote it.  But it said something to the effect: to love for the sake of love, in which there is something to love, a good, in everything.  I stated that everything which God has made is meant to be loved. Everything that is created, everyone, is worthy of love, and I loved all things because God created them. Then I concluded by saying that I loved him based on my previous premise.  I hardly knew him when I declared my love for him.  But, the moment I did, we were bound.

 

Love Letters to My Kids

[I made a photo book for Alex after a year of writing icons and at the end of it I wrote this.]

"Dear Alex,

'Permit the children to come to me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands upon them' (Mark 10:14,16). It all began when you asked me to copy an Icon of Christ with all the children. But instead of drawing the children from the icon, I drew you and Kristiana so that you might know that you are children of God, the Son, Christ Jesus. Through this sacred window into Heaven I hoped that you would recognize and feel God's love, and in return, I hoped that you would love God.

Alex, I am so proud of you and this year we have spent writing icons together. We have learned so much about faith. You have helped me to grow closer to God and love Him more by giving me the opportunity to look through these windows into Heaven more often and more seriously. I pray for you constantly that you will grow to be a good and holy man. I pray that you will not turn your back on God. I pray that you will love God all the days of your life and you will know His love as well. Remember that God is "Everywhere present and fills all things." You can take God in with all your senses and with your whole body. You can even see Heaven everyday in ordinary things. You can see God on a painted, wooden plank. You only need to have faith. Thank you for this special time together, Alex. I will cherish it always. Love, Mommy"

 

Love Letters to Friends

To those who have inspired me, loved me, prayed for me. To those who stand by me in the hard times and the good.  Thank you.  May God bless you all the days of your life. (P.S. Don't be sad if you don't see your picture. I just don't have pictures of all the wonderful people I love).