Bittersweet Life

Said the Robber to Christ, "Remember me, when You come into Your Kingdom."

"While the sinful woman brought oil myth, the disciple came to an agreement with transgressors.
She rejoiced to pour out what was very precious;
he made haste to sell the One who is above all price.
She acknowledged Christ  as Lord;
he severed himself from the Master.
She was set free;
but Judas became the slave of the enemy.
Grievous was his lack of love!
Great was her repentance!
Grant such repentance also to me, O Savior, who has suffered for our sake, and save us."
(Orthos - Holy Wednesday)

This reminded me to not be proud and humble myself in repentance even for the small transgressions.

Easter Basket

The bittersweet beet relish is made.  The pickled eggs representing new life are made.  

 

 

Ta Da Part II

Lamb of God

Have mercy on us sinners!

Ten wise and holy virgins are awaiting Christ the Bridegroom, number us among them.

"Why are you slothful, O my wretched soul? Why do you waste your days in thinking of unprofitable cares? Why are you busy with the things that pass away? THE LAST HOUR is at hand and we shall soon be parted from all that is here.  While there is still time return to soberness and cry: I have sinned against You, O my Saviour, do not cut me down like the unfruitful fig tree, but O, Christ, in Your compassion, take pity on me as I call on You in fear; May we not be left outside the bridal chamber of Christ!" (Orthos - Holy Tuesday)

My first, hasty attempt at pysanky.  It's a wooden egg I purchased at Michael's

The butter lambs have been molded and await Easter blessing.  I have one more in the freezer. Three Lambs all together.  I explained to Alex this year why we use a lamb at a symbol of Christ.  He was shocked at the history…I love these awe struck moments in educating my children.

I'm Going to Paint You a Rainbow

"Mommy, I want to paint a rainbow. I'm going to paint you a rainbow."  And she did.  She was so proud of it. 

Ta Da

Lucy likes to say, "Ga, ga, ga," a lot.  It is so cute because it's funny that we have a baby that actually says ga, ga,ga.  When our son Alex was a baby and he cried he actually said, "Waaa, wa, wa, wa, wa."  Babies are so cute and funny.

I have noticed that Lucy is able to mimic sounds pretty well.  Tonight after her diaper change I said to her, "Ta daaa!"  She repeated back to me like this, "Da Daaaa!"  She did it with the same inflection and every thing.  I took her to the next room to Daddy and I said, "Watch this. Lucy can say Ta Da. Lucy, Ta Daaa!"  She said, "Daaaa!"  I guess we can tell her someday her first real word was Ta da. 

Lucy's making mischief during home school.  She crawls around the table pulls up on the sides and steals papers, crayons and pencils.  When she's bored with us, she proceeds to cry, nay wail.  When we have had enough with her waling, I put her in her crib with toys.  She cries for another ten minutes then either plays or cat naps.  Usually I go get her after a little while and she is much more willing to be quiet once she knows she could have to sit alone.

My Sweet Pickle

I have been trying to keep food dyes out of my kids' diets.  I didn't think about the markers.  Annie eats the tip of a marker every time we get them out. What is it about them?  Yes, and obviously this was after she painted her own face yellow.  Love this kid.  She keeps us on our toes.  We think she's going to be just fine in life.  She really takes care of herself.  Last night, at 3:00 a.m. I found her in the fridge trying to get herself some milk.  I used to get myself middle of the night snacks when I was her age.  This is payback.

Do You Love Me?

It's funny.  I went to the doctor with my husband today.  He is very sick with tonsillitis.  He needed someone to drive him and remember all the facts of his sickness.  The doctor was surprised my husband had a tube in his ear.  They discussed it and my husband said the date when it was put in.  I interjected that was impossible because I already knew him then and he had it done before then in high school.  He said that it had been replaced that year.  I was shocked.  There was something about my husband I didn't know.  We had been practically attached at the hip from the time we started dating.  How did it get by me that he had his tube replaced?  You would think he would have at least mentioned it when seeing me or talking to me on the phone.  

It just goes to show you learn new things about your spouse every year.  It never gets old, or it at least, it never has to get old.  Your spouse will grow and change over time, so there is always more to know.  Or there are stories from the past you never heard before.  Year after year, we find something new to love about each other.  

Another funny thing, since Andrew has been sick I have been pulling a lot of extra weight around here; and of course my heart is heavy in his suffering; and hoping he will get better.  Last night as his fever climbed he said deleriously, "Well as a Byzantine I guess you never took vows to stay with me in sickness and health.  So I guess you can just walk out now. "  Of course, his comment was in jest.  But, I pointed out in our betrothal it was much greater than mere vows.  It was not some sort of strange modern contract in which if the terms were violated we could walk away.  We were told that we had entered into a bond that could not be undone and in a way that is greater than any vow we could utter to each other.  So, "Do you love me?"  I do not think there is any other choice.  Love is in all that we are and do. ;-)

SPAGHETTI Reel

YES! A baby eating spaghetti is so entertaining!

There wasn't too much damage.  She kept it all in her seat.  She was aiming it all in the direction of her mouth.  Then we just dunked her in the bath afterward.

Nom, nom, fingers are tasty too.

The Money Shot

Oh, you think this is funny? Me too!

Clean me up now.  I'm all done.  And I saved some for the dog under my right thigh.

This, That and Great Lent

1. The Journey - I like to reflect upon how I am living out this penitential season.  But, I am always cautious to do so on the internet, because we are called to do so in privacy.  We are to "wash our face, anoint our heads" and partake of our Fast with joy and love of the Lord.  Lent is a great gift to us.  It is an opportunity to turn ourselves back to the way things ought to be.  It is a time to be less self-absorbed with the physical and balance the physical with the metaphysical.  Ah, Lent! It is a rich season of our faith.  It is the story of the creatures' life with the Creator.  Liturgically we journey from creation, fall, exile and to the Apex of our exile--Christ and our Salvation.  It's an amazing journey.  I have been partaking in Lent since I was a little girl and each year Lent grows into something bigger and more beautiful.  I learn new things about the tradition each year.  I wonder if there will ever be a year where I say, I think I have completed the full journey of Great Lent.  

2. Prayer - I have been reading Alexander Schmemman, Great Lent, again this year.  This is the third year I am reading Great Lent.  Each year I begin it and become overwhelmed by it.  I read a little each night and then half way I usually think it's too much.   This year, I am not reading it slowly.  I hope to finish it up quickly.  I think by doing this I will at least complete it and then perhaps begin again. This year we are gifting ourselves the Triodian (Triodian Info), which was one of the prayer books Fr. Schmemman speaks about in the book.  We'll let you know how it goes for us.  We've been at this Byzantine thing 8 years and we're still learning year after year.

3. Fasting - In addition to the usual Great Fast abstentions I am trying to give up coffee creamer again, but so far I have only started today, Friday.  I know it sounds like a small thing, but I put a fancy creamer in my coffee and a lot of it.  So it's not a small thing.  Some abstentions take longer to build up to.  I mean if it is our appetites we want to quiet, sometimes appetites are addictions.  Addictions/habits take time to change.  Giving up coffee creamer is a big deal for me.  After giving up creamer, I am going to cut my luxury drink (coffee) down to one per day.  I am not writing about this to put my "piety" on display.  I think writing it down helps me to process it and helps me be stronger.  It's a catharsis for me.  The moment I write it down here I can let it go.  I can give up my obsessions and focus on what is important. 

4. Disaster in the Ashes - Even though we are Byzantine and the beginning of Lent is earlier than the Romans, I like to go to Ash Wednesday service.  I told my husband that I really wanted to take the kids this year to help them have a visual for the season of Lent.  However, we went and they still did not get it.  What's worse is that we showed up a little late.  I took the kids to the cry room, because I knew Annie would be crabby and not behave.  Who should be in the cry room, but the strictest mother I have ever met.  She has ten children.  I do not even know what she was doing there.  Her children are always perfectly behaved at church.  She has a new baby and maybe she was concerned he would make noise during church.  But, she told me once that she makes one year olds sit still and quiet for an hour a day, so that they will learn to be quiet and still in other situations she needs them to be quiet in.  I do not know how she does that.  Don't one year olds just scream when you make them sit still?  Anyhow, my kids were off the hook naughty.  No one would sit.  No one would be quiet.  I haven't seen them that naughty in a while.  Annie was particularly grumpy and tired.  She would not stop throwing all the contents of my diaper bag all over the cry room.  I should have left.  But, I held hope things would get better.  Knowing the "Strict Momma" was in the room made me extra anxious and unable to deal with the situation.  Finally, I slapped Annie's hand and told her, "No!" after making a big mess.  I know you must think I am a terrible mother for not controlling the Annie/bag situation, but the child works fast.  She's an intelligent, little con-artist.  She could fool anyone.  She got so mad at me she looked me in the eye, cried out, gritted her fists and peed all over the floor--Pièce de résistance.  It was really embarrassing.  I cut out their afternoon luxuries after that.  They did not get to watch T.V. or play games.  They understood me and still misbehaved.

5. Humility in Home School - We had a rough month in January doing home school.  Alex had a bad attitude toward doing his work.  It was taking all afternoon to complete small tasks.  Finally, I thought for a second, perhaps he was having trouble switching gears from our morning outings to doing school work in the afternoon.  Plus, our neighbor had been sick and she could not watch Annie to prevent Annie distractions.  As much as I lamented it, I knew what had to be done.  We needed to start home school earlier in the day.  This would mean I would not get to go to the gym in the morning.  I have enjoyed the morning crowd socialization.  I wondered how I could have my cake and eat it too.  I thought that maybe we would get up earlier and do school and still be out the door before 9:00 a.m. to go to the gym.  But in the end, I had to give up some morning workouts.  Now I try to do a mix of some afternoon workouts and some later mornings.  So Alex has been working  on school first thing and the neighbor was able to take Annie earlier.  He has been completing all the work and extra work with very little complaint.  So now I have the whole afternoon free to have a little down time and catch up on house work.  It has been hard for ME to make this change.  But, it is obviously working out better.  We are all less stressed.  Today, I am able to sit and blog, because my afternoon is free.  So I am humbled, once again by my children.  

6. Curious Annie - every time I look away she is into something and then when I go to clean up the mess she made, she sneaks away and gets into something else.  At first I thought I was a bad mom, because how could one little kid get into so much if I were watching her.   But then I realized any moment I am not with her preventing her getting into stuff, she is into something.  She gets into stuff right in front of me, but at least I am there to stop it.  It's no better when my husband is around.  It's just two parents chasing after her messes.  I cannot run after her every second.  Why can't she just stay put and play with toys or look at books.  She always has to climb to the top shelf everywhere and unlock locked doors.  That's all she wants to do is get into things that are forbidden.  When she walks into the pantry, she wants to open every package, inspect the contents and then dump it on the floor.  If it's glass she tries to break it by smashing it on the floor.  Yes, we are very cautious.  We have locked cabinets where needed, because she does it over and over.  I think she must be incredibly curious and head strong.  I wonder what Annie will be like as an adult.

7. Alone - My husband was out of town for six days.  I was bummed about being alone.  I tried to not throw myself a pity party and that helped.  But I realized why it was so tough mentally.  Life without Andrew has a little less meaning.  There was no one to share our days with.  The main person I created this life with was absent and it just felt empty.  

Love Ever After

⁴ “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female, ⁵ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’?⁶ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” Matthew 19:4-6

Well, I guess today is the day.  It's the day we celebrate LOVE. It's so important--LOVE is.  I am not so sure all the crazy gift buying and so forth is what is important.  But, love is what is important and we can show it all year, every day and in many ways (that are not cliche).  For instance, I love it when my man shows his love for me by taking out the trash without being asked. ;-)

Kristiana had a little dress with a tulle-like overlay.  The overlay was ripped and I cut it off so the dress could still be worn without it.  The material has been sitting in my closet for 6 months waiting for the day that it would become this:

A veil.  My sweet Kristiana became a bride today.  She was more than happy to play wedding.  I even made her a little silver twist tie ring.  Valentine's Day was a perfect day to play bride.

 

I cannot tell you how many times as a little girl I put my Dad's white undershirt over my head like a veil and looked in the mirror and pretended I was a bride.  It's a sweet thing for a little girl to imagine that day she becomes a man's wife…That's not to say I was "wedding crazy."  It's just something a little girl imagines.

Lucy's Joy Ride

Lucy had a nine month check-up last week.  She is a smallish baby.  She was 10% on the growth chart, which is the same as Kristiana.  Despite eating as much food as a grown adult at meals, she is still not so big.  Where does she put it all?  I would say she burns it all off with her youthful energy.  But, that is not a true statement.  She sleeps like a champion.  She sleeps twelve hours at night and often takes a three hour nap in the afternoon. With all that sleeping, she can't be burning it off.  At the doctor's appointment, the doctor discovered both her ears were on the border of being infected.  This did not surprise me.  Her nose has been running green for a week.  But, the infection was caught in the nick of time, because it was the next morning that she really started fussing and tugging on her ears.  Since she began taking antibiotics her health and disposition have improved quite a bit and her nose stopped running green.  Good for Lucy. 

She has finally taken an interest in crawling more and pulling-up. It's still timid and slow, but she's doing it.  She has been the slowest of our children to meet this developmental mark, but she also had the benefit of siblings catering to her.  She had no need to go explore. 

Bundle of Joy - And now, Lucy is enjoying her one and only Christmas toy.  I called the toy maker and told them how I misassembled it.  They had me send it back, on their dime, and sent us a new one.  Without further adieu --Lucy's innocent joy for your viewing pleasure. 

Heart Art

I am pretty tickled with myself over this Valentine's Day related art.  I had the kids create pictures of animals using only hearts.  We discussed the animals they wanted to draw and brainstormed how to create the animal using hearts.  Then the kids colored in the pictures.

Alex's picture is a lion. I guess he is lion-hearted. Lol.

 

Kristiana's is supposed to be two hippopotamus.  One in the water and one on the shore of a heart shaped pond, but it is hard to tell by how she colored it.  What can I say.  She is a true artist.  She always has to be on the edge of creativity.

I have plans for more art like this, but it involves paint and there has not been a day yet where I have felt we have time and patience to execute.  Perhaps one day this week we will get to it.

Business

I have really wanted to blog lately, but have not found the time and then the blogs escape me.  Here are a few blogs rolled into one.

A couple of weeks ago, we were very excited to welcome our regional Byzantine priest from 110 miles away to come to our neighborhood and celebrate Liturgy with us for the first All Souls Saturday of the season.  We had about 30 souls in attendance.  It was a great triumph for us.  Hopefully there will be many future Liturgies and many more in communion. 

(My picture is blurry, because I did not want to take away from the moment with flash photography.)

Ever they comedian, Kristiana.  What's in those pants?

Here is Kristiana's Micro-mini train yard.  Have I mentioned how much I love four year olds!  They are so creative, yet have some sense of reality.  It's super fun.  Kristiana has taken to telling me an imaginary story off the top of her head each night as we lay in her bed before she goes to sleep.  Sweet and tender merely touch upon the feelings I have for these moments.

Smushy! She'll eat anything!

We went to the store to buy Alex some new undergarments, when I saw some shirts that would be suitable for church.  I asked Alex what he thought.  Then he turned around and saw a shirt and tie set, chuckled and said, "That looks like, Daddy's." [Pause. A moment of inspiration comes across his face.] "Mommy, I want that shirt, because then I would look just like Daddy. "  When we arrived home he changed into his new clothes and wanted to go to work with Daddy.  Alas, he could not, but he wanted to do home school in his "business clothes."  He told me he was, "Business Alex."  Later he said he was, "Business Boy!"  almost as though he were announcing a super-hero.  It was pretty cute.  I wonder how far I could ride this one out and get him dressing a little more civil and a little less like he is always ready to play in the dirt. ;-)

Finally, I went to the post office the other day and an elderly woman stopped me to tell me that she had five children, and so she knew what it was like.  Older people who raised more than a few children, always stop to tell me they had been there and then they pat me on the back and hold the door open for me.  I gripe about people making comments all the time about how my "hands are full."  But, I always forget to tell folks about all the nice people who are kind.  I have had a lot of compliments about me and my kids lately. I digress, after the lady told me about her kids, she opened all the doors for me and then as I was loading the kids in the car she said her mother-in-law told her, "I know it doesn't seem like it now, but this really is the happiest time of your life.  And I didn't believe her then, but I see now it really was."  Which gave me a big grin and I replied, "I try to remember every day how precious this time is."

Healthy Habits #4

Stay healthy during the cold, flu and all the other sicknesses this season!

A lot of people have been sick this winter.  So I thought I would share a few of my best healthy habits for staying well.

1. Hand Washing (Seven Times or More)- It's a big, duh, right? You're saying to yourself, but, "Renee, I learned that one in kindergarten, thanks for nu-thin!" You want to know the rest of it?  A few years back during a winter flu epidemic, I read an article that said folks who wash their hands seven times a day or more are 20% less likely to get sick than the average person.  I thought, that's good enough for me.  I tried it.  I made it my policy to wash my hands every time I passed by a place to wash.  I also started wiping down shopping carts and carrying hand sanitizer.  I never miss an opportunity to wash my hands.  I feel that I, personally, have caught a lot fewer viruses. 

2. Don't Eat Out - After college, grad school and a few years of marriage, my husband and I stopped eating out.  We were poor and exhausted parents.  There was no time or money for eating out.  When we stopped eating out, we stopped getting sick as often.   Food prepared by others in dining facilities, where masses of other people eat, it is no wonder how we were getting sick.  I do not even like to eat out anymore.  I am usually disappointed.  I like fresh tasting food.  There's nothing like a home cooked meal.

3. Zinc - a little boost from a zinc supplement at the first show of symptoms does help reduce the severity of the illness.  That's why there are a plethora of zinc supplement products on the market.

4. Drink Water -  Heat it up.  Make it warm and add honey and lemon.  It will help you body heal and produce more antibodies.  If you have a sore throat, chest congestion or the like, the honey, lemon and warm liquid helps loosen phlegm and soothe a tender throat. 

These tips are so simple, yet work.  Feel better, okay.

When The Babes Are Sick

Extra time to pray less abbreviated prayers this morning.  Let's do it. (Of course, there were at least three interruptions. Oh well, it got done.)

...

"Kristiana, don't eat your boogers.  Boogers are your body's garbage."

"But, they're so green and yummy.  My belly likes boogers."

...

"What are you kids doing in the bathroom with the water running?"

"Bubbles!"

"Oh, e-VER-y-thing is wet and bubbly!  Well, let's clean it up and not do this again, mmm-kay?"

At least they're all squeaky clean now.

...

"Mommy, I made it to the toilet in time!" :-) 

"Oh, good.  Turn on the fan will you?"

...

No, gym time? No problem.  Jillian Michaels' 30-Day Shred--my old friend…Oh wait, now I remember why I wanted a gym membership.  The dog crawled underneath me while I tried to do pushups.   [Pause the video put the dog out. Restart the video.  Cue screaming baby.] "Waaaaaah, pick me up! Pick me up! Pick me up! I'm suddenly very hungry!"  

"Ha, ha, baby.  I am much more immune to baby cries than I was four years ago.  You can wait and watch mommy jump squat."

[Wild toddler screaming from the next room.  Pause video.  Break up the fighting.  Put two year old on the toilet for a potty break.  Change slightly soiled underwear.  Wipe up projectile piddle pool. Restart video.]

Pushup, plank, lunge, jump, sit-up. Done and sweaty.

...

Second coffee, homemade granola bar and blogging? Yes, please.

...

Put on kids' music.  "Ew, the armoire is extremely dusty! Well, I guess I have some extra time today."

...

No home school?  Can't go anywhere.  This mommy is a little bored. 

Healthy Habits Post #2

Over the summer I visited a family with many kids.  One of the mom's budget saving tips was to eliminate fruit juice.  Her kids were only allowed water or milk.  If they wanted fruit, they had to eat whole fruit.  As soon as we returned home we implemented this practice.  We cut out fruit juice and flavoring in the kids milk.  Of course there was some dissension at first, but after the first month they stopped asking and complaining and now they eat whole fruit daily.  They also drink plain milk regularly. 

Fruit juice is full of sugar and sometimes dyes.  It is obviously better to eat whole fruit or home juiced juices.  On a related note, we cut out fruit snack a couple years ago.  They kids started asking for fruit snacks and sugary cereal ALL the time.  That's all they wanted.  I just told them we could not have them anymore.  If we cannot do it reasonably in moderation and it is causing stress, we just will not have it at all.

So, eat fruit.  It's good for you.  Mix it up and try the seasonal fruits.  Puree fruits with vegetables in a food processor.  That's the only way our son will eat vegetables--if he can't see or taste it.  I was letting him eat strawberry applesauce cups from the store for his fruit intake, but I just notice the strawberry applesauce has Red 40 in it.  I also found out that apples, strawberries and grape contribute to bed wetting.  I know, the things you find out about food are crazy, but I try not to let it make me crazy. ;-)

 

 

Home School Journal: Playing Pretend

During Christmas break I tried to research out fun home school ideas on the internet.  I expected to be over-whelmed, which is why I do not do this too often.  I also feel like if I get too caught up in what others are doing, I might become stressed about what we are doing.  I clicked on one page and found a plethora of articles.  That was enough for this semester.  Maybe during the summer I will look for more.  One of the articles I read talked about taking pictures of things each child does each week and then make a yearly photo book.  It will be like a yearbook, or scrapbook.  I am going forward with this idea.  If I want my kids to have fond memories of their education, I am going to have the photos to back it up.  Here are some photos from the first three days of home school this week:

I often plan a week's worth of P.E. sessions.  I let Alex switch it up if he wants.  Today, his choice was to run samurai sword laps.  He ran at top speed for five minutes.  He was quite winded at the end.  It was hilarious.  He just loves to get up and move.  We also practiced dribbling a basketball today.  He's so fun.

 Kristiana has begun a protest on preschool work.  All she wants to do is color.  So I let her color or play.  This day, I asked her to count and add pattern blocks, but she wanted to "cook" and prepare tea instead.  She made quite an elaborate set up and was quite serious about it.  Serious play mean serious learning, right? 

Alex is a class clown.  Class of one. 

Cutie first grader.

Working hard on the meal.

This day we decided not to do P.E. and built a wooden airplane after reading about how planes obtain lift.

After school one day, Alex drew this picture for me.  It's a giant chasing a dragon, who is breathing fire on a knight who is saving a queen.  Just look at the picture, you'll see it.

One of Alex's favorite parts of the day--hugs and kisses.  He's such a loving boy.  

The Smush

Lucy was given a new nickname recently. This one might stick.  We stopped calling her zombie baby because she stopped growling at us.  She babbles at us now.  But, I started calling her "Smushy."  I think it is clear from this picture how she got that name.  Those cheeks are sooooo SMUSHY and kissable.  Smushy sort of has the same ring to it as Lucy.  So she thinks it's a good nickname too.  She answers to it.  All the rest of the family has started calling her Smushy too.  I can see this is going to be embarrassing once she hits her teens.  I am sure it won't last past her toddler years ;-) 

Healthy Habits Post #1

So, I am on a new health kick, I guess.  I think I always am, but for the moment I am a little more serious about it.  I have a specific reason for my seriousness.  Recently, I have notice that our two year old is reactive to food dyes.  Actually all my kids are, but this is the first time that one of them has had directly observable reactions, as in if she gets a food with lots of dye she will have a fit.  But it's more than a fit.  It's an irrational, rage that cannot be control for anything.  My husband did not believe me at first, so he gave her an orange soda.  Sure enough, the outrageous fit started in less than a couple hours.  It's not just normal two year old behavior.  It's more than that.  She has other symptoms of being reactive to food dyes.  She has almost every symptom except eczema.  I looked up information on it and there is a diet program that will help her, but I cannot afford the materials right now.  So for the time being we're going as dye-free, preservative free as possible.  Apparently we are suppose to avoid apples, strawberries and grapes too (temporarily).  Anyhow, going dye-free and preservative free forces us to eat healthier anyway. ;-)

…I love practical, yet uncommon health advice, as opposed to fad diets, or ultra-restrictive diets.  I came upon some interesting health related articles recently and I thought I would share a tip.  Whenever, I come upon good practical tips I will share them, so we can all be healthy.

This week's great health tip is "In Plain Sight."  I read in a magazine article that suggested putting water in a clear glass pitcher.  Put it on the table at dinner.  Store it in the refrigerator so that whenever anyone looks in the fridge they see it.  Apparently, easy access and on the mind will lead to drinking more water.  I decided to try this one.  I have glass pitcher I received as a wedding gift that I rarely use.  I decided to take it out and fill it.  But, seeing as how I have so many gallons of milk in my refrigerator, I just left the pitcher on the counter, in a safe place, with a glass next to it.  Low and behold, the kids and I have been drinking more water.  Amen to that tip.

The article also suggested making water more fun and therefore more appealing.  So put fruit in it, lemon, lime, blueberries, cucumber, cranberry, grapes.  I tried this one too.  Everyone enjoyed the fruity flavor.  After the fruity fun, I put the pitcher in the fridge.  Later, when I poured myself a glass from the fruity pitcher, I discovered that the peel from the lemon and lime slices made the water bitter.  So, FYI you cannot leave citrous fruit in the water and save it for later.

I Thought I was Tired

We were out a little bit late last night and Annie does not nap anymore either, so I am sure she was a tired little lady today.  At church today, she gave us a run for our money.  She was running between our pew and the cry room.  She could not be told, no, or to sit still.  Eventually, my husband ended up taking her to the car simple because she was being too disruptive.  It was one of those days in which we wondered why we bothered to go.  A few years back, we would have been near tears wondering what we had done wrong.  Four kids later, we know that it is a phase and we will eventually be able to teach her to behave.

The rest of the day she has been her normal self.  But, late in the afternoon as she was attempting to climb onto the sofa to cuddle up to me while I nursed Lucy, she paused and fell asleep on the spot.  Her little toe remained perched on the footstool she was using as a help up.  She remained hanging from the sofa for another ten minutes as I gawked, and told my husband to come take a look, and took pictures to show everyone.  I've had kids drop in mid-play, but never mid-air.  Oh, two-year-olds.

A Home School Journal Entry - Weak and Weary Moments

I'll admit it.  I do feel discouraged in this home school thing sometimes.  I know in my heart that this is the right thing to do.  It is the right thing for us when examining the alternatives.  I know it is the right thing, because it is an expression of our love to teach our children ourselves, good and noble things.  But, I sometimes think how peaceful it would be to have the children off at school and preschool.  I would have time to get the chores done.  I would have time to think deep thoughts.  

I think that they would have the opportunity to do so much more in a classroom.  They would also get to be competitive in good ways.  I would not have to put in any of the effort.  I wouldn't have worry about making things fun while still achieving the highest reaches of education.  I wouldn't have to be stressed about discipline.  I would have to be stressed about how I would fit in cleaning before I had to make the next meal.  I wouldn't have to prove to anyone that parents can do a good job educating their own children.

But, then I remember that that's not what it is all about.  It is about faith and family first.  The road is a challenge no matter what path you take.  The kids would come home exhausted with piles of home work.   They would ask for help and they would have no clue how to complete it.  I would wonder what they were learning all day.  They would talk back to me and then tell me awful stories of filthy things other kids said, and bullying.  I am sure they would tell me wonderful things too but, it would be mixed in with the other awful stuff.  At least, this is what my friends with kids in school tell me.

Why would I question our choice to home school? I guess in weak and weary moments it is easy to second guess. 

Four Year Olds Are Fun

I love this kid.  She is so funny. Every day she makes us laugh. I cannot tell you how much fun it is to shop for presents for a four year old.  It was fun when Alex was four and it was fun this year for four year old Kristiana.  We are lucky she did not end up with a truckload full of presents. 

And she seems to have left behind those crazy toddler fits somewhere back in her third year. 

Here she is drinking her milk out of her boot.

New Year's Resolution

So in the past I have made a big to do about how I don't need resolutions just so I can break them, and I am awesome just being me. Blah, blah, blah.  But, since I have had a lot of success with them in the past two years, including remembering to take my reusable grocery sacks to the store, I thought that this is not such a bad thing and why not continue the good streak. So here are my resolutions for 2013:

1. Write one icon per month, and read The Way of The Pilgrim alongside.

2. Lose 15 lbs. and finally achieve my ideal weight for the first time in my life.

3. Get my bad veins treated-Then I can have more babies ;-) Just kidding!  Who knows what the future may hold, but lets have a little less suffering, mmmkay.  But, in all seriousness if I want the veins treated I can't be pregnant or nursing at the time.  

4. Pay off one credit card.  I'm not going to hide this dirty little secret.  We have credit card debt.  It's ugly.  We got there while in grad school and we are still digging ourselves out.  Someday.  We will advise our children better.

5. Pray with the kids in the evening as well as the morning.  I pray with the children in the morning, but for the evening we usually sing "O Holy Spirit" and call that evening prayer.  I think it would be better for all to be reflective upon the day and maybe hit on all types of prayer to fully honor God.

6. Go to confession once a month. 

7.  Stay on top of laundry/make peace with the laundry.  I am doing lots of laundry these days and I need to find a way to fit it into my schedule so that it does not feel like the on going beast.  Eliminate some of our clothing? Yes, I think so.

I couldn't think of a good picture to post with this. So...

Christmas 2012

 Our neighbor made the kids' names in sugar cookies. 

Then the neighbor took pictures for our Christmas card. It's the first year we have sent cards.  Now that we have done it once, hopefully we will continue.

I made cheese bread for friends and neighbors.  I would have made it for more people, but, you know, I have four little kids all up in my business. I made ten loaves all together.  I was supposed to make twelve.  Christmas is not over yet.  Maybe I will still make them.  We just barely pulled off Holy Supper this year.  Someday, the kids will participate in making Holy Supper and then we will enjoy it's meaning more.

Kids enjoying gifts.

Now we have the whole series. It's a family favorite.

Woooohooo! Now she's cruisin'!  Mommy found an outrageously awesome deal on this bike that fit into our minuscule budget.  Kristiana cracks me up with her tutu skirt and new pink boots.  It was freezing outside.

Alex received a "lego" table, which also conveniently fit into our budget. ;-) This where he has been quietly playing for three days.  Oh the things he thinks up.

Christ is born! Glorify Him!