Recital

Today was Gummi Bear's second piano recital of her "career."  She played Taco Fiesta.  I have to admit that I was a bit concerned the last few days, as her heart didn't really seem into playing this piece.  However, she proved me wrong with a job well done.  I found it quite endearing that she tilted her head as she played.  When she was finished, she flashed a humble, yet very sweet smile to the audience.  I choked back tears as I watched her.  (Have you figured out that I am a crier?  It takes very little to open the flood gates!)

Afterwards we wanted to celebrate.  We headed over to a local restaurant for dessert.

Gummi with a Turtle Sundae

Sweet Potato with Chocolate Lava Cake

Honey Bunches inspecting his Chocolate Sundae

Cucumber wasting no time in enjoying her Sundae

This evening we also began a Novena to St. Joseph.  Once again, here, inspired us with a downloadable pattern for this project.  A Novena traces its origins to when Jesus ascended into Heaven.  The apostles gathered in prayer for nine days.  Then, what we call Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended upon them.  So a Novena marks nine days of prayer.  We began the novena today so that its last day falls on the Feast of St. Joseph.

Gummi and I made the paper lilies.  Each evening as we gather for prayer, we remove one lily from the vase and lay it at the foot of St. Joseph.

In other news, Gummi has a very loose tooth.  I encouraged her to pull it out before bed, as I am fearful that she may wind up swallowing it.  Monkey Toes is certain that will not happen.  It is one of her front teeth that will be coming out.  I love a toothless grin on a child!  In all the excitement of loosing a tooth, Sweet Pea and Cucumber wanted in on the action.  They both declared tonight that they have "loosted tooths,"  and then proceeded to open their mouths as wide as they can.  It satisfied them when I looked and nodded and said, "wow, that is truly a loosted tooth!" 

Bottled-Up Days

I've commented before about days I wish I could bottle up and place on my shelf.  Today was exactly that sort of day.  Our weekend Mass schedule has changed, which has prompted us to also change our Sunday routine.  Our parish can only offer one Sunday Mass at this time and it happens to be at 8:00 AM.  We decided to test the waters this morning.  Not only were the kids all ready on time (bathed, dressed, breakfast), but they were exceptionally good during Mass.  (In the last few weeks, a couple of different people have commented on my children's behavior during Mass.  I shared these comments with my kids, reinforcing that people notice them - whether good or bad, so they should always try to be their best).  After Mass, our KCs hosted a pancake breakfast.  Lucky me - a meal out with no cooking.  Yippee!!  (Our KCs wear red polo shirts when they're sponsoring an event and all during Mass whenever Cucumber saw one of the red shirts she would whisper, "There's one of the pancake guys!")  After breakfast, Monkey took the 3 oldest to get haircuts, while the 3 little ones and I came home to play games.  We played The Lady Bug Game, Candy Land, Go Fish, and UNO.  Once we were all back home together, all the kids laid out their sleeping bags in the living room and we watched Mulan and Up, while eating an enormous batch of popcorn. Naps were not enforced, but Pumpkin walked out of the room during Up.  We later found her asleep in Cucumber's bed.  After the movies, a heated game of Monopoly was played between me, Sweet Pototo and Grandma.  Grandma showed no mercy as she was victorious in bankrupting both of us.  For supper, we took out all of the leftovers from the week and the kids devoured them.  After a rambunctious game of Monkey in the Middle, we said our prayers and the kids headed off to bed. 

Today was basically a day of fun and relaxation.  It was family centered.  It was stress-free.  It was a great day that has me wanting many more just like this one.  What inspired me today was the realization that this is what my kids desire - mine and Monkey's time and attention.  We didn't have to spend any money or make any grandiose plans.  We simply spent our day with them, enjoying each other.  Yep - I want to bottle this day up, if for no other reason than to remind me of the preciousness of time; especially time spent with family.  

Clear As A Bell

No mother of the year here today.  My kids began spring break and I had no idea that they even had a spring break this year.  They have 5 days off for Easter, so I must have reconciled somewhere in my brain that they wouldn't have any time off until then.  Luckily, this realization was made last night, so no wasted trip was made all the way to school this morning.  The little Love Bugs have today and Monday at home.  I wish I had something really fun planned for all of us.  I guess we'll just fly by the seat of our pants.

I told the kids they could watch a little T.V. this morning while I cooked them breakfast.  As the theme song from The Fresh Beat Band played, Sweet Pea sang along.  Pumpkin was very irritated by this and kept shouting at her to "STOP!"  The girl who couldn't enunciate the difference between steak and stink very clearly told her sister, "Stop annoying me!"  Looks like spring break is off to a promising start!

Snow Day

Today was the first snow-day of the season.  It's hard to believe as this is the last day of February.  I really haven't missed snow this year, or so I thought.  But as we awaited the storm, I discovered that I had great anticipation.  It was fun waking up this morning to our own winter wonderland.  School was closed and we "hunkered down", as my mom says.  

The kids kept themselves busy all day.  They crafted paper airplanes.

They played Just Dance 3.

 

 We baked cookies.

We cleaned.

 We baked bread.

We played Monopoly.

We played on the computer.

We made spicy sausage and lentil soup.

AND. . .

We played in the snow.

These Forty Days

This past Wednesday marked the beginning of Lent.  We have done a few activities to help us prepare for this season.  We changed our table centerpiece just a bit.  We added the color purple and a Catholic Relief Service Rice Bowl, along with 2 small wooden crosses that were handed out at Mass on Ash Wednesday.  We decided what each of us would be doing to ready our hearts in preparation for Easter.  Monkey Toes is giving up caffeine.  I am fasting at least one day a week.  The kids have chosen to give up something different each week of Lent.  Currently, they are "fasting" from Power Rangers.  Trust me when I tell you that it is truly a sacrifice for them!  We will also look for ways to spend more time in prayer (i.e. Stations of the Cross, praying the Rosary more frequently, etc).  I love this opportunity for our family to spiritually journey together towards the Paschal Mystery. 

Wednesday evening each of the kids crafted their own Crown of Thorns.  The ideas came from www.catholicicing.com.  Just a side note - I love this website.  "Lacy"  is extremely creative and I love how each craft is purposeful.  It is worth checking out.  Each of the kids rolled two ropes of craft dough and then twisted them together.

I then gave each of them 40 "thorns" to place in their crowns.

They look great!

Every night during our family prayer, each child has the opportunity to share a good or kind deed they accomplished that day, or a sacrifice they may have made.  They then get to remove one thorn.  The goal is to have all the thorns removed by Easter.  I would like to surprise them with something on Easter morning, symbolically tied to this activity.  I'll have to give it some more thought.

The following was attached to our church bulletin this past week.  It is a good reminder of why we do what we do during Lent.

Lent is a season of soul-searching and repentance.  It is a season for reflection and taking stock.  Lent originated in the very earliest days of the Church as a preparatory time for Easter, when the faithful rededicated themselves and when converts were instructed in the faith and prepared for baptism.  By observing the forty days of Lent, the individual Christian imitates Jesus' withdrawal into the wilderness for forty days. 

Presidents and Snowman

The kids had Monday off of school due to President's Day.  Since my boys enjoy Presidential facts and trivia, I decided to plan a few activities around the holiday.

First off, we crafted George Washington.

Our final products.  I thought they were quite impressive!

There are only 5, as Sweet Potato was invited to a Birthday party for the afternoon.

We also made Red, White & Blue cupcakes.  They were Cherry Chip - with a dash of red food coloring, Cool Whip and blue sprinkles.  Honey Bunches suggested we sing a patriotic song before eating them.  America the Beautiful was the song of choice. 

Yesterday, we woke up to snow.  The first thing Sweet Pea asked when she looked out the window was, "Can we go outside and play?"  So we bundled up to frolic in the new fallen snow.  The girls wanted to build a snowman.  The consistency of the snow seemed right, but each time we tried to roll a ball, it fell apart.  So we decided to just mound up some snow and try to shape it.  As we were working on this, I made the comment, "who knew snow could be too sticky for a snowman?"  Cucumber replied, "Jesus knows."  Yeah, I guess He would know that.

Here is our little friend.

I thought it was really sweet as we were beginning to go back inside, Pumpkin ran back to the snowman and gave him a hug and said, "Goodbye snowman.  I love you!"  Honest emotions and simple joy.  Perfection.

Dude-mania

The use of the term "Dude" has been introduced into our home.  I'm not sure who is responsible for this induction,  but its usage tends to get a bit out of control.  Honey Bunches is the biggest culprit.  He uses this term to express excitement and frustration.

A few nights ago, the kids were helping me clean up after supper.  The next set of instructions were to get their pajamas on and get ready for bed.  Honey Bunches was dragging his feet.  By the third time I had to ask him to get moving, my patience was running thin and my voice was beginning to raise.

Me:  Honey, I am not asking you again.  GET READY FOR BED!
Honey:  Dude!  O.K.!
Me:  Ahem (with raised eyebrows)
Honey:  Sorry Mom.  I'll go now.

The following morning, I had to go to the post office.  I happened to be by myself.  As I was sitting in my van, I noticed the same car drive by 3 times.  I heard myself say, "Dude.  What is up with that?"
Certainly not one of my finest moments.