10 Ways for Families to Enjoy Little League

Old School Charlie

Just yesterday I received a Little League notice in my inbox.  Registration is happening now, opening day has been scheduled, and I’ve already calendared our mandatory “field clean up day.”  Mr. Red is all signed up to coach our oldest son, and my body feels warmer just thinking about baseball. Every year since my childhood, the beginning of baseball season was such a hopeful time.  The world was coming out of its dark slumber.  Birds were in the air, tulips were blooming, and … [Read more...]

A New Way to Shop for Baby?

My little June baby does not fit many of our hand-me-downs, so I am getting to buy some baby boy clothes for the first time in about 10 years!  I love Carters for cotton basics that wash and wear well, and I love that you can often buy them on sale and gain coupons for the next purchase, I think they are doubled on Tuesdays, but I am going to check before I purchase. Anyway, I just got an email that baby things are 50% off there, and then I clicked through and saw this bundle.  I can't copy … [Read more...]

Thoughts on Thursday

I am not following the format, but here are a few things rattling around in my head: 1.  I have loved reading to my kids over the past six weeks or so.  We have read Heidi and The Little Princess, and now we are starting Tom Sawyer.  With the latter two, I was moved to tears at some times by the beautiful messages of books which were favorites from my childhood.  I was even reading from my own copies -- thanks mom and dad for saving them! -- and I know that I took things away from the … [Read more...]

The Words We Speak

I have posted this Lenten hymn here before as it is one of my favorites for Lent. I especially like the third stanza: More sparing therefore let us make The words we speak, the food we take, Our sleep and mirth,--and closer barred Be ev'ry sense in closer guard. My diet is already so limited by my baby's needs that I can't really spare any additional calories by foregoing food this Lent. However, the same cannot be said for the words that leave my mouth. A few weeks ago I read a quotation … [Read more...]

Big Family Disney Adventures

Men at work.  Look at Mr. B-Mama keepin it classy.

We are back!  We arrived home last night after a straight 15.5 hour drive and all I could think was -- that went great!!!  Of course there were a few hiccups, but what a wonderful time of family memories and warmth. The good -- The price!  We saved money by driving, and staying off Disney property.  The trip was literally 1/3 to 1/2 of the price because of these two choices.  Just to give you an idea, you can rent a full house 20 minutes away from Disney, for a full week for … [Read more...]

Old-Fashioned Romance Revolution

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Today on Public Discourse, in her piece "Our National Sex Day", Caitlin Seery aptly describes how our national day set aside for thoughtful romance has been degraded:  Valentine's Day is here again, as stores have been telling us for the past month, with piles of red-cellophane-wrapped chocolate and heart-shaped doilies in every window. This holiday--once an opportunity for husbands and wives to show their love and affection for each other, to bring back some of the romance that so easily … [Read more...]

Contemplating how to make the most of Lent?

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Here is a post full of "101 Practical Fasting Ideas For Lent" at One Catholic Life. But please read the disclaimer at the top and prayerfully consider what your soul needs to grow this Lent! H/T: Renee … [Read more...]

5 Intentional Home Projects for Lent

If you know me, you know that I love a good excuse to declutter.  I have been thinking over the past few days about whether I would gear up for the now-traditional 40 bags in 40 days, a major Lenten decluttering project.  As I looked around my closet this morning, I realized that I need to take this in a slightly different direction.  After 4 years of valiant decluttering (and a fun basement flood to help us along), I think that we have moved past the point of needing to pitch the things that … [Read more...]

What Do You Read During Lent?

Good morning, friends! As Ash Wednesday approaches, I'm thinking about what I will use for spiritual reading during Lent. Every year I have done something a little bit different, but my format is almost always the same: I try to read for about 15 minutes, then prayerfully reflect for a period of time, and then write in a journal. Some years I have focused on reading through a particular part of the Bible, reading a few chapters a day and using those as my spiritual reading. Another year I read … [Read more...]

Thoughts for Thursday – Mountain Edition

What am I cooking? Cheeseburgers are on the menu for Thursday.  I let the children make the menu plan, so it is not our healthiest week, but they are all thrilled to be indulged, and I was sort of out of ideas. What are my weekend plans? I am working this weekend.  On Saturday mornings I usually teach an 11 year old boy who is on the autism spectrum, but I haven't seen him in a few weeks, so I am excited to find out how he is progressing. On Saturday night we are having dinner with … [Read more...]