March Mumblings

March has turned into one of those months that fly by.  I thought February was short, but I seem to have missed March.  So, here are some happenings in this month!

 

My Patrick is taking Latin I this year.  He had a certamen (quiz) game at the school at the beginning of the month.  The kids had to get a team together, give them a Latin name (it means something on fire?  I am a little rusty on my definitions), and compete.  I decided to come along and watch and I was so happy I did!  These 3 boys did amazing.  They came in 2nd place overall in the competition.  The boys were polite, worked well as a team, and just made my heart swell with pride.  It was a joy to watch them play, and I know they were disappointed to lose to a team they had beat earlier, but it was a joy to watch.

 

We also got some new goodies in my kitchen!  My ovens were not working, and I was just pushing through and learning to deal with the things that gave it character.  (though the double oven is not in this photo, I couldn't resist how stinkin cute Lucy is) Tommy and his brother, the electrician, squeezed a new double oven into the wall.  I say squeezed, because the space was designed for an oven 3" smaller than what we bought.  They had to cut walls, cabinets, and work it in to the space.  But, oh, it's WONDERFUL!  27" is REALLY small, even times 2 ovens, so it's a joy to know that I can fit LARGE pans, 2 side by side.  Oh, and the fact that it works?  No hot spots, no more 3 hours to cook a whole chicken?  Bliss, I tell you.

 

We also got a new dishwasher.  It's quieter and has way more space!  I feel so spoiled!!!  And, our appliances match!

 

 

We finally got a snowstorm!  I was prepared for this one: boots AND snowpants!  Usually I have to give mine to Emma, so we made sure we both had our own.  So I actually went outside!  Lucy and I had some fun sledding, though she was not a fan of the snow to walk in, so I happily pulled her along behind me.  We used to have a great sledding hill until our neighbors behind us put in a fence to keep their kids and dog in the yard.  So it's a little harder to enjoy, but we managed to have fun.  William even made a snowman, though I think it reminds me of a duck.

 

James got to spend the weekend with the class pet, Biscuit, and gets to be "Top Dog" this week.  He is just a bit excited. :)

Part of the weekend included a 5K at the school called Running with the Saints.  He had the best seat in the house, and loved his ride.  Lucy kept telling Tommy that everyone was faster than they were. 

 

Patrick was on a Confirmation retreat so he wasn't there, but these stinkers got to run!

 

And, I did not run either, as I was away.  AWAY!  My sisters and I (4 of the 5) got to go away for a weekend together.  We have never done this, and I have never left the 5 children.  It was a wonderful time, and all made possible by a sweet and generous friend who offered us a cabin to stay in.  My sister also turned 50 so we used that as our excuse.  We stayed up late talking into the nights, and just enjoyed the company and lack of interruptions.  We have 16 kids among us, so it was a big deal.

 

 

My sisters made the weekend so special, and walking down the memory lane.  Though some memories were new to me, as the youngest girl. 

 

 

Lent and it's sputtering start in our home

 Lent started the week after we had a week off of school and sputtered through the following week.  It was a tough start, as it always is, here, but it began perfectly for my William.  He made his first Confession on Tuesday, February 9.  So excited for May and his First Communion!

 Ash Wednesday was the next day, and James very grudgingly got ashes placed on his head, and Lucy was just totally unsure about the whole thing.  (Yes, I am one of the distracted mommies in church who takes a selfie in Mass).  I found that my ashes stayed quite long this year, just like my mom's used to do.  I never understood how she did that.  I still don't know the secret. 

We have been doing stations of the Cross at home, and we have been trying to get the kids more focused on them.  I have wanted to make the little votive candle holders with the stations on them, but I haven't been able to get my act together enough to prepare for that.  So I tried to just put out some little candles, just to see how the kids would do with the candles.  (It's hard to tell, but there are 14 candles)  I really wanted the mood of the candles, but the kids needed to read the station book, so we didn't manage it as much as I'd like.  But the snuffing and the flip chart are a great tool to get them involved.  We used the stations booklet from my sister Jenn's blog.  I need to make a better copy so we all can have one, and William had a box with props for each station.  All in all, except for the occasional fights over who's turn it was to snuff, and how hard it is to share the books, I think it went okay.

 Our favorite Father Juan had a holy hour for children (I called it for kids, and Patrick was indignant. "I'm not a kid" so I clarified.  "Kids and pre-teens.") and I just love the joy and love of Jesus that he reflects in all that he does, and the sweetness of the time with Jesus.  My favorite was the 3x we days, "Jesus, I want to be a saint." 

I have not put out the beans, as I forgot, but there are still 4 (!!) more weeks of Lent left.  Our newest priest, Father Noah, came to our home the weekend before Lent.  I hope he had a nice time, and I think James hugged him a total of 10 times while he was here.  Father was an eagle scout and we hope he will keep up in spending time with our scouts.  We played a version of Clue, and I don't think the noise of our family of 5 kids was too much, as he is coming from a family of 8 kids!

 

7 Quick Takes: January, February and March

Well hell-O, dear blog readers!  My dear, sweet readers that will be patient with me.  I am so excited to put my fingers to the keyboard tonight and give you a snippet of the happenings here in my world.

1. I'm sure you are all checking in to see the latest Lucy sweetness, and I won't disappoint.  Lucy is still smiling and loving to each person she meets, and has not decided to roll over yet.  She will, however, do crunches. Long, long crunches.  She will lie on the floor while I am exercising and do this.  Almost the whole time.  This is a moment in time, but it is not untrue!

 Five months have flown by, and she is the first baby that is actually in clothes that are near her size.  Little dainty flower we have. 

2. Scouts!  William just received his Tiger badge (one thing I figured out, the boys get the badge after the year is over.  Go figure.  They gotta earn it first).

We also had the Blue and Gold Banquet and I tried my hand at some creative cake decorating.  It was Space themed, and I attempted the moon.  I am not trying to start a business anytime soon. 



 

3. Sensory bins.  I have always wanted to have something like this for the kids to play with, and I threw some things in a bin, and apparently it seems that all the kids enjoy it.  ALL  On the deck, in the house, I love it.  It keeps them so occupied, and the sound of the scooping and digging is so fun.

 

4. Bubble machine.  Best $8 ever spent.  I love bubbles, but I can't ever blow enough to make it fun.  We have been taking care of Tommy's nephew about 2 days a week.  He is about a year and a half, and the cutest little stinker.  James loves having him here and it's so special to get to have this time.

 

5.  Baby's first Ash Wednesday!  Lent has come, and gone, since I am tardy to the party, but we had our Lucy's first ashes, and our first protest of the ashes from James.  I was NOT prepared for the screaming at Mass that we have had with James.  I am grateful that my arms are strong enough to carry the both of them in those moments.





6.

 

I love firsts!  This boy pulled out his own tooth in the morning, as you can see he is all packed and ready to go to school.  He pulled it out all on his own.  The earliest teether in the house, so he is the youngest to start losing his teeth.  Very exciting!  Now, if only the tooth fairy can get on her game to be sure he doesn't lose the tooth fairy excitement.  They were just learning about the tooth fairy at school too.  According to William, she leaves a toy (!!) in place of the tooth.  Nope, sorry.  This fairy doesn't take the teeth and leaves a dollar. These kids are rich, in my opinion. 

 

7.  Snow! Our January, February, AND some of March has had snow.  We had about 13 snow (some not so snowy) days, and thankfully don't need to make up any days for the year. 

 There was one really big snowfall which gave us a 4 day weekend with Daddy, and was so needed!  Sledding, movies, and family time are always nice to have.  The kids all enjoyed hot chocolate after the sledding and shoveling, and I was happy to oblige.  Too cold for Lucy (and me!  Emma wears my boots, and I don't have any pants to go out in either.  Pretty soon she will be taking my coats and gloves.)

Our Start To Holy Week

 When your Saturday starts with a breakfast with the Easter Bunny and a freezing egg hunt (like 25 degrees with wind chill freezing), you are never sure what the Lord has in store.

Tommy decided we should all join him to go back to his office in the City, since he forgot his wallet.  Kind of an important thing, so we all went.  The groanings, moanings, and grumblings from the back seat were just so frustrating.  I was feeling overwhelmed, thinking we had failed in our Lent.  It just wasn't feeling very "lent-ish."  Pizza picnic in a deserted office on a weekend, in DC, and Tommy says we should make some kind of pilgrimage.  You know, to help us in our journey to Easter.  I have to admit that I was not too keen.  He mentioned 2 options, and I was trying really hard to stay quiet and not complain about the one he chose.

We arrived at the John Paul II Institute, and Tommy asks the receptionist if there is a museum, etc.  I overhear her (as I am across the room, ready for flight since I am not sure this is the place to be with 5 kids) say that yes, there is, but you should go upstairs to see the Relics first. 

Um, what?

We get upstairs, and are late, sitting in the back of a long room, and they are in the middle of a meditation.  I look at the booklet and see that there are 8 relics - mostly FIRST class - all from the Passion of Jesus.  I start to melt, and just can't believe how the Lord has drawn us here.  I am thanking Tommy's angel who helped get us here, and my angel who nudged me not to fight.  It was unbelievable.  There aren't that many people, but we are able to sit in the back, I get my heavy zoom on the camera, and tell Tommy to help us out.

This lady has a stack of Holy Cards, and has given some to Patrick and told him (gave him a mission, more like) that if he touches the cards to the relics, his card would become a 3rd class relic.  He is ready and more focused on that than anything else, but I am so pleased that the kids are behaving.

 

The 8 relics were:

A piece of the table from the Last Supper

A piece from the pillar where He was scourged

A piece of the thorns from the crown of thorns

A piece of the True Cross

A bone of Saint Longinus

A piece of a cloth that touched the Shroud/burial cloth

A Picture that was touched to the St. Veronica Veil

A piece of one of the nails

 

Unbelievable.  They tell us it's time to venerate the relics, and I see a lady come all the way to the back, look at Tommy, and say, "Would you like to hold a relic?"  Just like Simon, pulled from the crowd to help.  He got to hold the thorn relic while everyone was venerating it, as well as the picture.  I was thrilled for him, but nervous how I would manage all the kids and the lines, but I look up and Patrick and WIlliam are on their mission with the holy cards, and I have the stroller and Lucy.  I start to worry a bit while I look for a way to get around the columns and chairs, and I pick a spot that I can do, and it turns out to be perfect. I get Emma and James in the line with me, and we are able to venerate the first 7, and go around to the True Cross in the middle.

I am a blubbering mess by this time, and James keep asking me why I am crying.  I am so overwhelmed with joy and gratefulness, and I just can't believe we are here.  God is so good!

 

We get to the middle, and James decides he wants to do what the big kids are doing, and put his holy card on the relic.  I just caught that moment, and then I told him to give Jesus a kiss.  He reached up and kissed it no hesitation.  I'm not sure any of my other kids kissed or touched the relics, but they had their mission with the holy cards. 

 

I still can't believe we were able to start our week on such a beautiful note.  Not only that, but we got to do a little exploring in the museum, which will need a trip back, definitely. 

 

And, the way home?  Questions about the Shroud of Turin, saints, miracles, and my heart just expanded so much the more.



Murphy's Law Strikes Again

I'm sure I have mentioned this before, but Murphy's Law and I seem to be quite close.  And, as per usual, this law seems to strike when my dear husband is.not.home. 

A weekend without my oldest boys (Tommy and Patrick) in the house usually isn't a big deal, as camping trip usually start Friday night and end Sunday morning.  Unless there is water dripping into your kitchen from a mysterious upstairs location, and it's a Saturday when most plumbers will charge extra.  But, I have amazing brothers-in-law and one came over and helped me find another leak, in my pantry.  It was quite wet in there, and I knew that whoever was going to do work in there, would need to have it cleaned out.  So, while I woke that morning with a little more energy and hopefulness to get some housework done (oh, you should see my house!  No, actually, you shouldn't.  It's dreadful.), my energy was spent cleaning out my pantry.  My wonderfully large, corner pantry for my gourmet kitchen.  Sigh.

I did not find a plumber, but a sweet friend of mine called in a friend, and he came (from Uraguay, who called me "Foossy") and we found the leak.  3 holes in the drywall later.  Upstairs, behind the shower in our room.  Hooray for an easy fix, and no holes in my kitchen, though some drywall will need to be fixed, and my Saturday was done.  The positive side is that I found some expired food, and I will have some more room in my pantry when it's time to put everything away.  Right now, it smells like wet drywall, and I need to put some more bleach.  Yech.

So, technically, all should be well by Sunday because Daddy will be home.  Not so lucky.  He had to go to Mass at 5:30.  At 6:25 I hear a thud, cries, and some terrific screams of "MOMMY!"  I knew, by Emma's screeches that it involved blood.  Yep, William slipped and hit the hardwood stairs with his lip.  I knew as soon as I saw it that he would need stitches.  I wasn't near my cell, so I tried to call Tommy from the house phone.  Called and called and called.  No answer.  Finally, after calming William down, and grateful that he told me to "Call 911, that will help!" I got him to hold some ice on it and text Tommy.  THEN he called me, and said that apparently our kids know his number too well and call just like I did.  (That involved a little lecture with SOME of our children)  And, since I didn't have a car or dinner, we all drove and dropped them off.  Poor William had 2 stitches in his lip, but was super brave.

 

So, while I wait to see if I am going to get a new shower and perhaps a light in my pantry, I am being a good nurse and trying to keep everything all together.  (and failing.  William has already taken out a stitch.  Sigh)

Where did February go?

Goodness.  It's already March, we are talking about "spring forward" this weekend, and I feel like I just missed everything.  It was a very busy month, and it was highlighted by birthdays and family time, as well as some AWESOME report cards for my kids.  Patrick (who is working on his first year with number grades) received FIRST honors: ALL A's!!  This mommy is so proud!  My Emma brought a perfect report card too, along with an Effort award.  I know they have been working really hard. 

My brother from Vermont came into town and we had 6 of all 7 kids together at my house.  I loved being able to host, and spend time with my family.  I am in the middle of the 2 boys in my family, and I love that I have a big brother.  He and his family of 4 girls (with one more on the way!) just moved across country from California to get to his new job as a dentist in Vermont.  We are THRILLED that he is closer to us, and was able to come and visit.  The real purpose of his trip was to spend some time with my Dad, who's health hasn't been 100%, and I know that I would find it hard to be far away while my parents were sick. 

 

Our next visitors of the mont were family from the Reynolds side from North Carolina, to come up and be with my Mother-in-law, who just found out she is going to have to have heart surgery to replace a valve.  It's been a very emotional time, and we are all feeling the need to be close to our parents.  We gathered together at our house, and celebrated 3 birthdays, including mine.

We also had the start of Lent and we keep trying to motivate the kids and keep them focused on the penitential season. (Mommy needs motivation too.) We are trying the beans in the jar for sacrifices and extra services.

I also got to spend some time at the doctor's office this month, due to some kidney stones.  It was not a fun time, and we are still waiting on them.  I had a moment of joy when I handed my license to the hospital staff, and I couldn't stop smiling when they asked me if that was my current address.  It still makes me smile to know that we have been so blessed with a wonderful home and are so happy here!  I know I need to put photos up, but it's never all clean at the same time.  :)

 

My Emma made her first Confession last month as well!  We are so proud of her new clean soul!

 

I realize that this month brought a lot of things that needed prayers, and it has been sobering to think about my parents and in-laws and their health.  We have lots to be praying for, and need to be with the Lord during this time. 



We adore you, oh Christ, and we praise you.

Because by Your holy cross You have redeemed the world.