Something Shiny NOT on the Tree

Jack popped himself in the cheek with his cabinet door-really, it's a boy thing I guess because I'm not sure how he was fortunate enough to coordinate this. It ended up in quite a bump/black eye though you can't tell from the pictures. Then, on the way into church he crashed & burned going up the steps & scraped his upper lip. It's been a rough weekend for Jack...

Lily has learned to wave bye-bye! Not all the time & it takes her awhile to remember how to coordinate everything, but it's really cute when she does it. This picture is proof that some times she does actually cry, though it's more production than noise...her face can really pucker!!! It's so precious it's hard to not laugh even when she's mad!

All I Want for Christmas

Well, for Lily it isn't her 2 front teeth! Finally, at 8 months, the girl broke through some bottom teeth & she couldn't be happier. Now, they are illusive little buggers so just pretend like you can see them in the cute little picture below!

My Little Hansel & Gretel

I may know why the witch wanted to eat Hansel in the story...if he was in any kind of mood like my dear Jack, it probably sounded like a great idea!! We made a gingerbread house, which was lots of fun & something I've always wanted to do. The only problem...Jack could not accept that the candy went ON the house, not IN his mouth! There were tears involved & finally we compromised with me promising that after Christmas they can eat the nasty stuff, if they can pick it off!

And, I let them eat the cookies that came with it along with the leftover candy.

Finding God in the Everyday

I read this article the other day & it really spoke to me (especially the description of her mornings!) so I thought I would share! It was written by Julianne B. McCullagh, Director of Family Life Ministry at St.Philip the Apostle
Church in Lewisville, Texas. She writes the weekly column The Family Life. You can find the original article at:
http://www.loyolapress.com/assets/fg_comp/pdf_157469.pdf

God’s Invitation in the Everyday


When I was in school, especially high school and college, my focus was on building a career. I envisioned myself dressed for success in a well-cut business suit and smart leather shoes, carrying a briefcase filled with important papers, and presiding over meetings where very important issues were discussed. An alternate vision of the future was that I would become a
modern-day St. Francis, humbly and happily devoting myself to the wretched and neglected of the world while unassumingly working my way to sainthood. I spent little to no time envisioning
rushed mornings in my pajamas, hair wild and unbrushed, pouring cereal into bowls and orange juice into glasses, finding socks and clean shirts, and spreading peanut butter and jelly on
16 slices of bread.


What’s that expression?
We plan and God laughs.


Somehow, in the multiplication of days that turned into a life and a lifestyle, I had to let go of what I thought I wanted out of life and not only accept but rejoice in the life God had given me. Instead of business suits and heels, most of my days are spent in tennis shoes, jeans, and a
sweatshirt. Instead of presiding over meetings attended by others dressed in the professional corporate uniform, I supervise homework, transfer endless piles of laundry from the washer
to the dryer, and make sandwiches. This letting-go of what my plans were, of what I thought of as my mission, was far from easy. I remember reading with some skepticism what St. Therese of Lisieux wrote about holiness being achieved in the little things of life. St. Ignatius of Loyola
wrote often of finding God in everything. Everything? Even peanut butter and jelly sandwiches?
Well, yes. I have discovered over the years that sacramental moments are to be found everywhere. As I spread the peanut butter and jelly over eight sandwiches for my four children, I pray that I am not giving them just something to swallow at lunch during their hectic days at school. I pray that they recognize the love and care that envelops them always, in the ordinary
moments and in the anxious moments. I make sure I am there at the door when they leave for school, to be sent off with a hug and a kiss and a have a good day. It still amazes me that every day they thank me for lunch, even if it is just an ordinary PB & J. It is in these simple but loving
exchanges that we are invited to see the presence of God in our lives. God is everywhere in everything. It is our mission to find him. St. Ignatius of Loyola wrote often of finding God in everything...even making a meal.

Seeing Santa

We took the kids to the open house at the museum to see Santa-it was a lot of fun, but VERY crowded!

Jack told Santa he wanted an airplane for Christmas & then he wouldn't leave Santa. I kept saying "Jack, come on, we have to go, other kids want to see Santa!" Finally, I had to drag him out of there & he starts crying, wanting his airplane! I guess we didn't explain beforehand that he would be asking for his present tonight & maybe getting it later...the boy has ZERO patience, so this is a very hard concept to understand.

Macy told Santa she wanted a real puppy-going right to the source I guess. I think she figures she can "go over our heads" to a higher authority to get the puppy! We tried explaining executive vetoes in this concept...not sure she got it.

Lily's favorite thing to do is play peek-a-boo. She understands hiding behind something & waiting & it's precious. She just thinks it's the funniest thing ever...I have video of it & was going to post it, but I sound like a dork in it, so I nixed that. Just use your imagination!

Toes & Lummy Batter

Why does she only want to suck on her toes when I'm trying to change her diaper? Something about throwing the feet up in her face makes them fascinating (& so hard to change!).

A moment of sweetness from big brother...

MMMmmm...mommy! Tastes LUMMY!!

I love how toddlers do not care what is on their face...it makes it possible to just jump right into a PB & J sandwich, right in the middle where the good stuff is instead of being prim & proper & starting at the corner...it also makes licking beaters so much more fun.

Christmas Program

Last week was the annual school Christmas program...the first graders were part of the choir.

Macy & her teacher

They Should Come With One Of These

I sometimes think that all babies should come equipped with a 6-year-old...they are very handy! Macy is an excellent entertainer, convincing Lily that tummy time isn't really all that bad, she's responsible enough to be left in the same room as baby Lily, & she can even hold Lily for a (short!) period of time if you need to do something like, say, use a public restroom.

On to another picture...I'm surprised I didn't get comments from this picture, although I've decided it went by too fast on the video for anyone to realize (knowing what big OU fans we are!). All I can say is that Godparents can be influential (& OU wasn't playing on this Saturday!! Hehehe!!!)...never fear though, we are still OU fans true & true.

Tag Again!

James from Real Life Rosary Weblog tagged me this week-I like this tag, it's easy & I don't have to think! Thanks James-I really enjoy your blog & your perspective!

The Rules:Pass this on to 5 blogging friends. Open the closest book to you, not your favorite or most intellectual book, but the book closest to you at the moment, to page 56. Write the 5th sentence, as well as two to five sentences following that.

"Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate. (Psalm 127:3-5) We are in a spiritual battle, and our children are our arrows: How many arrows do you want in your quiver when you go into battle? The image of a child as an arrow illustrates the importance of not simply having children but also training them in the faith." From Life-Giving Love by Kimerly Hahn

I'm so glad I sat down & did this-that certain page & paragraph was something I needed to read!

Here's who I'd love to hear from:
Keri
Kassie
Tracy (you can do this one, it's fast! :) )
Tera

And once again I realize that I need to follow more blogs!

Tag?

All-righty girls, Keri and Kassie have tagged me. Keri is one of my very oldest friends-we got to know each other early in college & became even closer when we found out our hubbies liked to spend time together too. We had classes together, did our student teaching together, tend to have our babies together (probably my favorite part!) & have shared our close & extended families with each other through the years. Which is how I know Kassie! Kassie is Keri's sister-in-law & though I don't get to see her much, I have enjoyed getting to know her over the years, keeping up with her through Keri (& her blog!). I admire Kassie because her husband is serving our country & has been to Iraq A LOT. The picture on her blog brings tears to my eyes of her husband seeing their baby in the airport-nothing gets me teary faster than military daddies with their babies...

Here's the rules:
*Link the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog
*Share 7 random/weird facts about yourself
*Tag 7 other people and link to them at the end of your blog
*Let each person know they've been tagged by leaving a comment

1. I hate Mondays-because my family disperses for the week & I love for us to all be home together. I miss Macy when she's at school & I really miss hubby when he's at work. My love language is definitely quality time-I don't care what we're doing, as long as I have someone to do it with, it's all better!

2. My favorite season is Autumn because I really think God shows off for us during this season. How could you ever doubt that there is a marvelous creator that LOVES us dearly when you see the transformation of the trees to such beautiful colors? Or a big, beautiful harvest moon?

3. I still miss my pooch...there's nothing like a dog's unconditional love & even though I have absolutely no idea where he would fit into our lives right now or how I could take care of him, I still miss that smelly old beast!

4. I am afraid of really high heights, snakes, & massive quantities of anything that moves-swarms of birds, bees, ants, fish-even people can freak me out. Not because I'm afraid of what might happen to me, I think it's just the movement of so many things that bothers me...I also have claustrophobia, so maybe that plays into it. We went snorkling in Mexico one time & I was fine to see one fish at a time, but when we swam into a school of fish, I didn't know I could swim so fast!!!! I decided to take my chances with a baracuda than to stay in that mess of fish!

5. My most favorite place to be growing up was with my grandma. She was the funnest grandma you could ever imagine, not because she would bake cookies (although she was a great cook) but because she was constantly doing something fun. She built us a treehouse, let us drive the pick-up, had a stock tank in the driveway to swim in, always had some animal to take care of (I can remember more than once a baby calf living on the back porch in the winter! Can you imagine?). I remember driving the grain truck with her, sometimes riding in the back & eating wheat on the way to the elevator & one night she drug a mattress out in the front yard for us to sleep on to look at the stars. I'm sure our adventures stopped my mom's heart more than once, but as kids, we had fun! This is also a woman whom I've never heard say a bad word about another person, never gossip & always willing to do the dirty work.

6. I want someone to nominate me for What Not to Wear-seriously! Except, they would have to change the name of the show to What Does this Woman Wear? I have no winter wardrobe & no idea of what to buy to fix this problem...I think it would be awesome to go to NYC & spend $5000 with 2 personal shoppers, then have your hair & make-up professional done for you!

7. Someday, I want to spend a month (or longer) in Italy. Sigh...

OK, that was tough! I tag Cara, Tracy, & Tera...I'm breaking the rules by not listing 7, but that's about the only ones I know! Good luck ladies!!

A Video This Time

I haven't made one of these in a long time! I had too many pictures to upload, so I thought this would be easier...

Halloween

We recycled this year for Halloween, even though Jack wanted to be a shark.

Lily was a flower (how appropriate)

I just love this silly little boy!

Nicole & George were stand-in parents for us, we were out of town...the ghost is not their kid, we don't know who he belongs too. Just kidding, it's a decoration.

Now I know!

The other day, Macy came home from school & wanted to play beauty school. Well, her brother wasn't cooperating, so I volunteered to have her style my hair. While she was working on me, she said very excitedly "MOM! I know what God wants me to be! He doesn't want me to be a saint, he wants me to be a beauty shop girl!" After a chuckle, I explained to her that she can be anything she wants to be but that God does want her to strive to be saintly also.

I love that Macy has the opportunity to go to a school where she can talk about God all day long & pray with her teacher & friends & to learn more about her faith. It's times like these, when she brings up something that they've talked about in school, that I'm reminded again of what a blessing her education is!

Family Weekend

All of our family came down for the weekend for our annual family photo shoot. We all had a fun time, especially the kids!! They always have a great time playing. The adults watched some football (our favorite family past time!) & enjoyed spending time together. And, the best part-our photos turned out GREAT!!!

Grandma made a birthday cake for Jack, which he LOVED! Thanks Grandma-it was yummy!

I love that I caught him mid-blow with his cheeks puffed out.

One of his presents was a set of 6 shooters & a holster-every boy needs to be a cowboy!

That evening, the kids put on a performance for the grown-ups & it was quite a show. Everyone had a part & from what I hear (I was out shopping), it had a plot & was hilarious.

Sleepover & a movie to end the night. Jack was NOT big enough for this, despite what I thought, but we adjusted.

Grandpa treated us all to a pancake breakfast that filled our tummies-I was grateful that he offered to cook!

Lily's 1st Haircut

Before Lily was 6 months old, the girl already needed a hair cut! She sat for it without much fuss & looks so much better! Thanks Nana!

Jack's 3rd Birthday

I can't believe my little boy is 3...

We celebrated Jack's 3rd birthday at a restaurant with his friends.

It was a Cars themed birthday...he still loves that movie!