Answer Me This: Last of the Summer Fun

So, I came to the game late, and am so disappointed that this is the last "Answer Me This" of summer.  I think we can forgive our sweet Kendra at Catholic All Year. She just had her baby: number 8!  And it is a beautiful girl!

In this edition, we will learn how little I listen to the radio, and how often I get to the store.  (HA!)

1. What's your favorite grocery store splurge?

Oh, the grocery store.  I still have young children, so the grocery store is a tough trip.  Very often, it's a quick trip for all the things Tommy doesn't buy at Costco.  The ULTIMATE store for him.  He loves that place, and though I know it can be dangerous (ask me about the time his brother went to BJ's and came home with a rented UHaul for all his purchases! it runs in the family), our family needs those bulk items, and I have come to depend on that stash of cereal, paper towels, and TP always in the garage. 

My husband loves to explore new stores, try new things.  Me?  I like familiarity.  We have so.many.grocery stores near us.  But, if I am not sure where things are, or if I will be able to find what I am looking for, it get a little anxious, and if I have kids with me (like, always) it makes it even harder for me.  I have yet to master the Peapod delivery, or the drive through pickup after ordering online.  Someday.  Maybe that's why I enjoyed the Blue Apron deliveries. 

But, I am distracted.  Splurge?  There's never one thing that I splurge on.  It usually is something that I see at the time (almost always involving chocolate).  Maybe cottonelle wipes?  I'm not sure what my splurges would be. Now, if you said Target, which I don't consider a grocery store, that would be a longer list.

 2. How's your penmanship?

I will never be hired to write anything.  I needs help.

 3. Do you have a "Summer Bucket List?"

Keep the kids alive.
Try to maintain peace in the home.
Stay safe.
Try not to stress about school.
Have the kids do their summer school work.

So, yes, if you look at that, it's a bucket list.  Important things to do during the summer.  Super exciting, huh?

 4. What's the best thing on the radio right now?

We try to listen to books in the car (we are working through the Narnia books, again) so we don't usually have the radio on.  I don't often put on music, and when I do it's at home with the CD's or Pandora.  If you call that the radio, the best ones are the stand-up comics like Jerry Seinfeld who make my kids laugh.  (It's Bill Cosby mostly, but Patrick gets the giggles at Seinfeld and his Olympic skit, or the one about Fat Albert's car engine.)

 5. Ice cream or frozen yogurt?

Yes, please. 

 

 

Hooray! Answer me this: Superhero Edition

 

It's BA-aaack!!  I love these!  Dear readers, bear with me.  I am so excited to have some other person help me with a topic and encourage me to blog more!

1. What's currently on your To Do list?

This question, as my first, makes me laugh.  A lot.  I very often have a list to do, but, I don't often write it down.  I have a long list of things I should be doing, and that I want to do.  I will just pick a couple to tell you.

I want to hang pictures, artwork, sconces......I want to make my walls seem like we live here.  I first of all want to put more of the kids on the walls, which means I need to pick pictures, and get frames, and then decide which wall to do.  I hung some family pictures, and the input from my sisters-in-law is to put the collage of the kids on that wall.  I have a neat saying that I want to put up as well, but wonder if it will make it up. 

Other to dos: new uniforms for Patrick's new school (!!).  Any extra ties that you would like to share with my boy, anyone?  He has this tie in his head with Yoda on it, that says, "Judge me by my tie, do you?" But I have yet to see it somewhere.

Master bed and bathroom could be painted.  There's always a list.

 2. Better type of superhero: magic/radioactive powers? Or trauma/gadgets/hard work?

I'm not sure I exactly understand this question, but I always think Elastigirl still has the coolest super powers.  As a mom, I am always forgetting something, and to be able to use my arms to get it, and not have to go up and down or even get out of bed, so cool.  I want to be able to stretch "without injuring yourself, Dah-ling" to make life of a mom easier.

I have a feeling I don't get this question really, but that's my input.


 3. Finding out if baby is a boy or a girl before birth: Good idea? Bad idea?

I am DREADFUL with decisions.  Names, especially.  And, I'm not always the best when it comes to surprises.  I don't hide my disappointment well either, so I am not sure how I would react in the delivery room if I didn't know. 

And, I like to be prepared.  I may not always prepare the best, but I do like to be prepared.

4. Have you ever appeared on a stadium jumbotron?

Nope.  If I did, I would turn beet red. 

 5. Are you more book smart or more street smart?

See, now, I don't think of myself as "smart" but when I asked my husband, he says  I am more book smart.  I think I can call myself street smart in that I know what street I live on. 

Now, when I think of my mom and my sisters, I know they are book smart.  They have the titles that go along with all my definitions: college, writing gigs, helping people like Scott Hahn write books...yeah, I don't think of myself like that.  But, I do know I can make myself smarter by more reading and learning.  Someday.

Answer Me This: Baked Chicken, and Don't Be Offended if I Don't Hug You, Please.

Joining Kendra for the virtual cocktail party, since that is the only kind I can attend without feeling like everyone will judge me for even sipping a cocktail.

1. What’s your favorite thing on YouTube?

YouTube can be fun, addicting, and downright frustrating.  I only feel that I can put YouTube on my computer or cell phone things that my kids can watch.  Now, I don't put those people that play video games and take a video of themselves, which my kids could watch all day, but I do enjoy the Bored Shorts TV.  The kid history was the first one I was introduced to and the kids giggled the whole time.

2. Who taught you to drive?

There are 7 children in my family.  I am number 6.  By the time it was my turn to learn, my mom (a very nervous Nellie) washed her hands of that position and did not try to help me.  To be honest, I don't remember EVER driving with my mom or dad in the car while I was learning.  I drove with the driving instructor just a few times, and was so nervous.  I was the only one at home and I needed to be able to get around so it was kind of a necessity.  My sister took me out a few times, if I recall correctly. 

So, now that I think about it, did anyone really teach me to drive??  Maybe my husband's been right all these years.  Huh.

3. What’s your favorite thing to cook?

This is hard for me to answer.  I am happy to cook, but what I enjoy eating and what I like to cook are a little different.  I think I get more satisfaction when I cook dinner.  Appetizers are a little more frustrating because it seems like lots more cutting and preparation.

The easiest meal of all is one that brings me back to childhood days when my mom would cook is a chicken meal.  Whole chicken.  The chicken gets a super generous sprinkling of Lawry's seasoned salt and wrapped in aluminum foil.  Put it the oven for about 1 1/2-2 hours and it comes out moist and yummy, with lots of gravy (or au jus, I think they call it).  Serve with some rice and it's so yummy. 

 

4. Are you a hugger or a non-hugger? Why?

I dreaded this question most of all.  I am not exactly sure when I stopped being a hugger, but perhaps it had to do with all the strangers and people who are not family wanting to hug, and the face that I get very self-conscious and nervous when it's time to hug.  All events seem to have hugs involved, and I start to get nervous when it's time to leave.  I am a bit embarrassed to admit this, but some days I find myself creeping away so I don't have even think about the possibility of the hugs. 

As a mom of young kids, I feel like this is the most awful thing I can admit.  I like to think that it's different with my kids, but maybe you should be a fly on the wall to help me decide.

5. Where do you pray best?

In the chapel, without my kids.  In moments of gratitude, as I am moving and doing.  I am not sure where it is I pray best, as I don't think I do it very well at all.

6. When is the last time you saw/spoke to your grandparents?

All of my grandparents are deceased, and some of them I never knew at all.  I am not a good one with dates, though I can place their deaths with some events in my life, so I am not sure of the last time I was able to be with them.

My Mom's mom was married 3 times.  I never met the first 2, and was present for the 3rd wedding.  She was a Louisiana lady and kept her little accents in certain words that she said. She was local for most of my life, and in my homeschool days we would visit her almost every day - meet at daily Mass, go to breakfast or just visit at her home.  She met my 2 oldest children and one of my favorite memories was to bring them to see her.  I have been missing her lately, so this question comes at a poignant time.

My Dad's parents lived in Texas, and, like my other grandma, I didn't really know my Grandfather.  They were both New Yorkers (I think) in their growing up, so the things I remember about them were the loud voices.  She called my Dad "Bobby" with a big New York accent, which was so cute to me.  I was a newlywed when she died and remember going to the funeral with Tommy.


*Sorry, dear patient readers.  I had no idea that this week was going to get so serious.  On a much lighter note, Tommy and Patrick made it back from camping all in one piece, and no crazy things happened at home!  James has been attached to Tommy at every  opportunity.  He cannot get enough hugs, snuggles or rides with Daddy in his car to fill him up.  It is absolutely adorable.  I don't know what he will do when he realizes that Tommy has to go to work in the morning!*

Answer Me This: Don't look at my hair now, singing, and my favorite cup.

It's Sunday!!!  Time for some random questions to get to know me (oh yes, of course you want to know all this about ME!).  

 1. How did you get your name?

I am so glad this question is up first!  This is the MOST asked question about me.  Everywhere.

My name is Frances, named after Saint Francis for my sweet mother who is a 3rd Order Franciscan.
 
That is the easy story.

The longer story comes with my nickname, Fuzzy.  When I was a baby, I had fuzzy hair (short answer).  Being #6 of 7 kids, my older siblings called me "Fuzzy" and it kind of stuck.  I would hear the song "Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear, Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair...."  As I got older and went into school, some of my teachers wouldn't use the nickname so I thought maybe it would go away after a while.  Then I got to middle school and high school (Seton School, where my siblings went and my Mom was the choir director) and the teachers knew me by Fuzzy already.  So it continued.  I used to debate (read: panic!) how to introduce myself when I would meet new people, and now it just comes naturally.  LOL  I have an odd voice, am short and somehow I think the name works.  (I tried to find a photo of the infamous hair, but I can't seem to right now.  I will keep looking.)

The funny thing about this?  NONE of my kids have nicknames.  My husband has a whole family with them, and I have a very unique one, and yet not one of my kids get their names shortened or any kind of nicknames.

2. Do you have a set time for prayer in your day?

 

To be very truthful, I do not.  I try to do it, and many times it comes to me as I am in the shower.  As a mom, I need to set the example and I need to do it.  It's just one more thing that I feel that I fail.  We do try to pray the rosary as a family as often as we can!  We know the power of prayer, especially when Our Lady is involved!  (Beautiful Rosary image from my friend Ruth's Loreto Rosary Shop.)

 

3. Did your mom work or stay home (or both)?

 

My mother was a stay-at-home mom for the majority of my life.  As I mentioned before, she was a choir director at the school where we all went to help with tuition, so she worked but not for money to bring home.  My mother has a beautiful voice and has always given her gift back to God by singing at Mass.

By studying the Church documents and Sacred Music as well as the Liturgy, my mother was very qualified to lead the choir and teach us in Sacred Music in our home as well as school.  Latin (at least 2 years) was required for school so we often sang hymns in Latin (I think I could sing most of them for you still!  I can't tell you what Ave Verum Corpus does to me during Lent.  Chills, I tell you.) and parts of the Mass.

4. Do you vote?

 

YES!  Though, when I was in school and found out that my vote "doesn't really count" it annoyed me.  I always take my kids with me when I vote and we have a little lesson on the candidates since they read all the names. (um, in the car to and from voting is my hope, but we have had some very loud "We AREN'T voting for OBAMA!" and the like at voting places.  Ah, the joys of motherhood.)

 

5. What's your favorite drink?

 

Hands down, an iced Coke in a plastic cup.  I love these cups I found at TJMaxx!  It has an old-fashioned feel to it, and the fleur de lis just makes it perfect.  And, I love that it is plastic! I do realize that this has water in it, but pregnant momma has to keep it real.

 

6. How are your photography skills?

I like to think that my skills are okay.  I enjoy taking photos, and I have an awesome DSLR camera, but I am not well-versed in it yet.  I am still learning.  I have a pretty good eye for pictures, I think, and unfortunately, am very critical.  Especially when I am in the pictures!  I have to say that I am happiest when my kids are smiling and they are looking at the camera, but I am getting better at the life photos, you know, with people moving.  I have a much faster shutter speed on my new camera so I am happier to take "action" shots!

See?  This just makes me happy!  

Answer Me This: Swimwear that I don't wear, and lots of plates, y'all

Happy Sunday!  Summer vacation has started here, and we are gearing up for a week of Vacation Bible School again.  My kids have been locked out of the house one time already for "getting too hot" or any number of other reasons to try to come back into the house.  But, on the plus side, my Emma has almost done her whole math packet for school!  LOL  It hasn't been hard to get them to do some summer work.  Ask me about this in about 6 weeks, then we will see. 

 

Joining Kendra at Catholic All Year for her Answer Me This!


1. When's the last time you got a new bathing suit?

 

Oh, bathing suits.  Ugh.  I am not a good swimmer, nor do I enjoy the water, but I have 4 kids, and am pregnant over the summer, so I have to have a suit.  I bought a really cute one from Lands End during their 50% off sale, and was so excited to use it this summer.  It was adorable: pink and navy paisley, and I had a cute skirt to go with it.  I hope I am able to fit into it next summer......

 

I always have fun looking, and this is pretty much the look I like to go for when it comes to suits.

 

 

 

I have a plain, black suit that I wear over my belly.  Very slimming, but very boring.  With a skirt.  I am not sure I am up for opening the can of worms in talking about bikinis, but the only time I have worn a bikini was my honeymoon.  I don't think that is something you will catch me in since 1) I am a mom and I have kids that look to me for modesty guidelines, 2) I have carried all 4 (5) kids that are all very large, and my belly is not something I feel that I need to show everyone, and 3) I don't think I need to be worried about things coming off me while I am at the pool or in the water thankyouverymuch.

2. Who made the last incoming call on your phone?

 

Probably my husband.  I am more of a texter than a caller.  Has to do with some of my anxiety and self-consciousness.

3. If you receive communion, do you receive it in the hands or on the tongue?

 

On the tongue.  It's the way I was taught, and the way I taught my kids.  There is no guarantees  that my kids' hands are clean enough, or that I don't have a child or child's hand to hold.  Too distracting.

4. Do you have a tattoo?

 

No. 

5. How many dinner plates are in your house?

 

I think we have about 12 everyday plates, and 9 china plates.  For our wedding, we picked something really simple for our everyday, that would match the flatware we had.  We VERY quickly broke the majority of those (big and small plates) and my sweet husband let us choose another setting which we found at Target.  I know. we are not daring enough to do colors, but it's so permanent. 

 This is our china pattern.

(Apparently I am not good at taking pictures of plates!  LOL)

6. Do you have an accent?

 

Not to my knowledge.  But, I have a musical ear, and LOVE listening to accents.  Sometimes I catch myself imitating someone who has one.  I don't do it very often with my trainer from Argentina, but southern (my roots come from Louisiana!) will always get me and I can slip into that easily.  I drop plenty of y'alls in my talking.  Does that count?  

 

There are some accents that are like fingernails on a chalkboard, and I can never understand how those get started. 

Answer Me This: Maybe I do, and I didn't.

Joining up at Catholic All Year

1. What’s something you intended to do today, but didn't?

Do I only get to choose one thing?  Every.single.day I don't do everything that I mean to do.  To just pick one......now that would be difficult.  I needed to shop for end of the year gifts for the class I am room liaison.  Figuring out how to divide and spend the money among the kids....oh man.  Overwhelming.

Laundry, clean, dishes, and make my husband happy by joining him in some scouting events to name a few others.  I can't stay on this question too long or I may get depressed.  Move along, nothing to see here....

 2. What's your favorite grilling recipe?

Um, the ones my husband makes?  LOL  I don't grill, EVER, on the outside grill.  Inside, yes.  I have a grill pan that is great when you have a small fire or something in the grill outside and you have to finish the meal inside.  My favorite recipe for Tommy that I "grill" for him is Blackened Fish Tacos.  Delicious.

 3. What movie did you see most recently?

Emma and I watched a Hitchcock's Rebecca together.  I loved that book, and anything Hitchcock is so worth watching.  Even though it is in *gasp* black and white, my Emma sat through the whole thing.

4. Would you say your tendency is to over or under react to medical situations?

My initial thought when I read this question was "oh yes, I TOTALLY overreact to medical situations.  I overreact to EVERYTHING!"  And then, I did some more thinking.  I sometimes prefer NOT to know all the details.  LOL  Well, as with most things, I am a bit indecisive.  I think I sometimes do better NOT knowing all the details, because then I freak out, but it is important to have all the details so I can know how to treat the problem and make it better. 

5. Do you squeeze the toothpaste tube or roll it?

Squeeze.  Rolling is just weird.


6. What are you doing for Father's Day?

Not too much.  We will be celebrating a little with my Dad, and hopefully relaxing a bit with my Tommy.  He is the most amazing Daddy and husband.  He works so hard for all of us, and keeps me sane and feeling loved.  He is always so happy and ready with a joke to lighten the mood, or to make things better.  We love you, Daddy, and are so grateful to have you! 

Answer Me This: I will!

I am trying something new this weekend!  I loved this idea of someone else giving me a topic (or two) to write about.  Nothing earth-shattering, but fun!

 

1. Do you have a land line?

Though I have an IPhone, almost every other person I know has a cell phone, and most of the time those people call my cell phone, I still prefer the land line.  It comes with our Verizon "triple play" and would cost us more money to NOT have it, but I am always grateful when we do.  I prefer the doctor's offices (and yes, there are many.  Not nearly as many as last pregnancy, but with pediatricians, endocrinologist, ob/gyn, family physician, dentist, orthodontist.....) to call the house and leave a message on our answering machine.  The kids are constantly recording a new greeting, and since I have a high voice (I can imitate Snow White quite easily) and would rather NOT hear myself, it's not so bad.  And to be truthful, I am happier to talk on the phone that way.  Maybe it's the shape, the sounds...maybe it's comforting.  I don't know.  I am not sure how long we will have it, but I do prefer it.

So, yes.  We do.

2. What is your least favorite food?

 

Oh, food.  My nemesis right now.  I wish I could say, as a pregnant lady that I am able to enjoy lots of different foods, but with gestational diabetes, my cravings are real, but not always satisfied in the way I would like.  In the least favorite food category, it is a very tough choice.  The first thing that comes to mind is brussel sprouts, but I can only say that I have had them once.  LOL  The foods I hate right now are the ones which send my sugar numbers sky high.  But, unfortunately, those are the ones I crave the most.  

 

But, now that I think about it, I can pintpoint some food that I am adverse to: Indian, curry, sage (YECH!), peaches, key lime, and any fruit-y dessert that doesn't include chocolate.  (That last one especially applies to my husband, who thinks a key lime pie is enough to have when it comes to dessert.  Um, what?  No chocolate?!?)

3. What's on your summer reading list?

 

Probably something involving babies.  (ya think?)  I recently LOVED Jen's "Something Other Than God" - I bawled, laughed, and just plain couldn't put it down.  It was amazing, and I already have at least 3 people in mind that would really enjoy it. 

 

I have to admit that I am not the best about spiritual reading, and many times I go toward the books that are easy read (um, Twilight, Hunger Games, Narnia, or any of the books I have already read).  I would love some more like Scott Hahn's "Rome Sweet Home," or something not as intimidating as Pope Benedict's writings. 

4. Is there something that people consistently ask for your advice on? What is it?

Well, this one was a hard one.  As the #6 child of a family, I wasn't often asked advice.  I don't get "asked" advice, per se, but I do give advice.  (insert blushed face here)  It may not be solicited, but, I'm sure I share advice on a daily basis.  It's usually accompanied by a disclaimer that I am not an expert.  LOL  I was an orthodontic assistant for so many years and I do often get questions about that, and I am happy to use my knowledge, since I am not working right now. 

To be honest, I like the questions about my faith more than anything.  I am NOT a debate-r, but I love when I get questions about my faith.  It gets me excited, and helps me to learn more about my faith and how much I LOVE being Catholic!  It all makes so much sense and God is just so good!

5. What's the most physically demanding thing you've ever done?

When I think of physically demanding, the first thing that comes to mind is hiking which makes me just cringe.  I have never been the physical kind of gal.  I am the first one to say "no thank you!" to a walk, or a hike or  anything too physical.  Wasn't much for exercising, and never thought I would be.  I have not backpacked across the European countryside, or stayed in hostels or even gone across the United States.  My dear husband knew when he dated me that I was in indoor kind of girl.

Until last year.  To make a commitment to exercise twice a week, using muscles I have never used before.  Some days, it took a lot of energy to even get out the door but I had a workout buddy that kept me going.  To continue that while pregnant has been a real challenge, mentally and physically.  When we went to Disneyworld last year, I was excited that did not get tired as quickly as I used to. 

This sounds really lame.  I wish I had some fancy answer, but nope.  I am not daring enough.   

6. How do you feel about massages?

Like a boneless chicken.  Oh my, they are lovely.  I haven't had one in years, but I usually enjoy them.  Once I get over the fact that someone else has their hands on me it's usually not bad.  I was told during my last pregnancy that a certain kind of massage is good for reducing the swelling, but I never got around to it.  I usually chicken out when it comes to spending money on things like that.  I do have some gift cards for a massage, and I should use them soon!

Visit Catholic All Year for more "Answer Me This."