Mary Alice has written the following post - enjoy! My first four children were born in three years, so while some families change and develop gradually, milestones seem to hit us more like a tidal wave. There was the intense, exhausting and sometimes very lonely time of 4 children in diapers who made lots of little messes and needed vigilant care. I was up many times during the night. There was another period, when the tone of life changed, of early elementary homeschooling, a blessed … [Read more...]
The Early Bird Catches the Worm!
April 30, 2013 By
One of the benefits of having a clan of early risers is that we can squeeze in a whole birthday celebration - celebratory breakfast, opening cards and presents, and even trying out one of the new gifts - before having to head off to school at 8 a.m.! Our oldest turned 9 years old yesterday! Since he had to go to school during the day and play in a baseball game in the evening, we did some of our celebrating over the weekend. We started on Sunday afternoon by taking the whole family on an ice … [Read more...]
Lead Us Not into Temptation
April 29, 2013 By
When I was a popular 13-year-old eighth grader at a privileged public middle school in glamtastic Southern California I shocked my parents silly. I requested to be driven across the bridge to take the placement exams for an all-girls-Catholic, uniform-wearing high school in the larger San Diego area. They complied with my request and I actually ended up attending that Catholic school as a freshman. What I did not tell my parents was that this school switch was an attempt to escape the … [Read more...]
Picture Me Imperfectly
April 25, 2013 By
So, a good friend of some of the builders blogs over at Capturing Motherhood. She hosts a Picture Me Imperfectly meme, where she writes about and takes photos of the many things in her life that are imperfect. I am joining her here ~ Claire is 3.5 and loves to get herself dressed. I allow her to leave the house in these clothes because ~ (1) I am busy and (2) it makes me laugh. She loves to be barefoot and even showed up to a baseball game the other day without shoes. My … [Read more...]
When Siblings Become Friends
April 23, 2013 By
A couple of nights ago, Christopher pulled out Maria's first tooth. It has been wiggly for several weeks now, and when she came out of her room after bedtime complaining that her tooth hurt, Christopher said matter-of-factly, "I'll pull it out for you, Maria, but I'm not going to stop until it's out. Even if it hurts a little bit, I'm going to get it out for you, okay?" And then he did what my husband and I have been trying to do for over a week: he got a paper towel and pulled out her first … [Read more...]
Mom Reality
April 18, 2013 By
I'm dreaming of this... While actually doing a lot of this... Vacations and fun blogger trips have come to an end and the result? I've been muddling all week in home life, trying to get it all together and feel like my ducks are somewhat orderly and our family is up and functioning well. The reality of life post-travel is always a bit mind-numbing; for me, my true nemesis has been the negative voice in my head saying that perfection is possible, but I'll never get there. What does it … [Read more...]
The Top Ten Reasons To Hang On Through the Toddler Years
April 10, 2013 By
A recent trip with our family of seven caused me to sit back and reflect how much joy my older kids are bringing me these days. I had to stop and share some hope with all the fledgling parents out there... Here are the top ten reasons to hang on through the toddler years: 10. Someday your children might learn to drink out of a cup. And might just manage to hold the cup still and not knock it over(!!!!) Bye bye sippy cups! No more senseless minutes wasted matching cups and spouts and … [Read more...]
April Activities for Catholic Families
April 9, 2013 By
I appreciated a handout that I received entitles "Nine April Activities for Catholic Families," from this website. Here are the ideas: 1) Plan a trip to a farm: In the Spring, new life abounds on the farm. Arrange a trip to see some baby animals and talk about new life. *I know that where I live, it's starting to become strawberry-picking season. We have never done this before, but I would love to take the kids! 2) St. George and the Dragon: Read this book (by Margaret Hodges) on April … [Read more...]
Life with a 3 year-old
April 2, 2013 By
Life with a 3 year-old is unpredictable. They are sunshine and giggles one minute and storm clouds and tantrums the next. They play happily with their siblings for a few minutes, but as soon as something doesn't go their way they melt into a puddle of despair. When you're out in public, they may happily hold your hand or you might end up dragging them when they protest, "I walk by my own self!" If you don't have any older children, you may wonder if you are doing something terribly wrong as a … [Read more...]
Tonsillectomy Diaries
March 28, 2013 By
There are many important issues going on in our country right now, issues that I am thinking and praying about and that I would love to blog about, but for now I am going to have to write about what is front of me right here in my own home. Our 5 year-old had her tonsils and adenoids removed on Tuesday, and tubes put in her ears for the first time, so dealing with her recovery has been all-consuming! Below are some of my thoughts, in no particular order, in the hopes that some of you might find … [Read more...]
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