Seven Quick Takes: Random Bits

1. Pinning It Down

 For weeks I have been wanting to participate in Sarah and Pam's link up, but I am slow-really slow. Thus I have Valentine's Day art to share weeks after the holiday on Friday instead of Tuesday. Plus, there has been legal hoopla uproar associated improper pinning at Pinterest, so I am scared to link back to my sources because, well, I didn't pin right.

After all that, I'm just going to say, "Ta-da! Look we actually did something that I had pinned. Hurray!" The cards were inspired by a young etsy artist that I unfortunately can't link to.

I'll do better next time, I promise. 

2. Snow Again

The snow fairy visited again. However, there was a distinct lack of enthusiasm. It was as if snow had suddenly become so ordinary, so common that it hardly merited a look outside the window. We are blessed with snow once a year, if we're lucky, but apparently it is, "Just not as exciting the second time, mom." This according to wise nine year-old, Collette.

3. The Potty Saga Continues

Well, it did not go well. That is a complete understatement but I'll just leave it at that. I made the executive decision to place little Xavier back in diapers. He didn't really care, so the next little success came as a complete surprise:

Stephen has been on an exhaustive hunt for a camping trailer for our family. We have very specific requirements that makes this quite the challenge. This past week he found one with potential at a local dealer. I loaded everyone up, met him at lunch time, and we bounced on beds, prodded into cubbies, slammed cupboards, and generally tested the salesman's patience with the children's enthusiasm. As we rounded everyone up to leave, Xavier was found to be without pants. Did he have an accident? Oh no, he successfully used the potty in the new trailer! Thankfully, the salesman had a sense of humor. Aye, what a time to show me how big he could be.

4. A Little Quote

Dominic after a croupy night:

"Daddy, I'm feeling a little creepy this morning. I think I'm too creepy to play with Taylee."

5. Drama

The children blessed us with an extensive reenactment of the classic fairy tale, Cinderella. This was complete with special effects, costume changes, dancing, and alternating backdrops. Fridays we are supposed to study Shakespeare but I think this was a fine substitute!

6. Lent

I love Lent but I am having trouble with my resolution to get up early in the morning. I keep thinking of this quote:

The heroic minute. It is the time fixed for getting up. Without hesitation: a supernatural reflection and... up! The heroic minute: here you have a mortification that strengthens your will and does no harm to your body. 

The Way #206 by St. Josemaria Escriva

7. Bedtime and Books

Seven Quick Takes: Bits of Life

Here are little random bits of home life from the past few months, little nuggets of golden memories, fleeting treasures that my fatigued mommy brain will surely forget if I fail to record them.

1. Blaise- I am not sure what to do with this behemoth. He nips at my hands, eats butter by the pound, leaves trails of muddy paw prints, and vomits unceremoniously on my office rug while I'm sitting there.  Does he not understand that this is not considered polite? To make up for this loutish behavior, he really doesn't do much except bark at everybody and sleep belly up. And for this, he makes me smile.

2. Gracie has had this cut since before Christmas but the before and after pictures are so crazy and endearing that I just had to post them. My Goosey Girl asked for a bob and I obliged my whacking off 5 inches of straggly, chlorine-damaged hair. I have never had a lesson in hair cutting but I am fearless since my motto is, "Don't worry, it'll grow back." Instills confidence, doesn't it?

3. Quinton and Stephen braved their first backpack camp out with the Boy Scouts this past Fall. Cold wet weather plagued the entire trip.

The Boy's Perspective: 'That was the best ever! When can we go again?"

The Father's View: 'I am never camping in the (bleep bleep) rain again!'

4. The chickens are free at last!

Our neighbor shot the bobcat that kept snacking on our birds so the girls have been freed from the compound to scratch and peck to their hearts' content. I love having them about again, but I now remember how much I hate chicken poop.

5. Just babies playing on the floor lookin' cute.

6. St. Nick stuffed hats into everyone's stockings for Christmas. Nothing elicits a smile from Mama quicker on a chilly January day than pom-poms and animal faces perched atop little heads. As for the photo of the boys below, that's their idea of posing for a picture!

7. The crack shot neighbors mentioned above invited us down to Doheny Beach for a winter bonfire. The littles loved the opportunity to dig and romp around the campgrounds.  I, after having been regaled with stories of kidnappings, fretfully watched their play while continuously counting seven precious heads. Everyone had a grand time, really, but I was happy when each sandy-haired love lay sleeping peacefully in their bed. 

Hosted by Jen @Conversion Diary

7 Quick Takes Friday (vol.12)

1. In order to be timely this week, maybe even *gasp* on time, I am actually starting this post on Wednesday. That is truly worthy of note in the procrastinating world in which I like to live.

2. I spy with my little eye something wriggling through the dusty dirt. Give up? It's a snake! Oh, I know that was tough to guess.

3. Dominic, my little Turbo, loves to look at books. I never would have guessed that books would enchant him the way they do. Of course, this does mean that he can dismantle the entire library in one twenty minute session. I shall not complain (too much.)

4. Our first rainy day brought out the scarves, mittens, gloves, jackets, hats, and umbrellas. Truly, the children were dressed as if a blizzard had just shut down the ranch. I think we are all ready for Autumn and beautiful cool weather.

5. This is the latest version of "keep the toddler busy." I showed Dominic how to sort the objects into the muffin tin. When I went off to help others he continued to work diligently but not as I had expected. Of course not, this is Dominic we are talking about after all. Instead, he sorted by color and object. Well, I guess that's pretty good for a two year old.

6. Xavier walks! But I don't have a picture. It is really cute as he is all waving orangutan arms.

7. The children have chosen to be super heroes this year. I wonder if they can live up to the cuteness factor of heroes of the past?

HT: Jen @ Conversion Diary

Not Quite Seven Quick Takes

1. Dominic managed to slap himself in the face with a yellow jacket. The yellow jacket felt that this was very unfriendly and thus retaliated. Dominic lost the battle.

2. Little Quote

Me, last Thursday: "Dominic, do you have to go potty?"

Dominic, while dancing around: "No, I just went on Tuesday!!"

3. Blaise is tall and skinny. Hmm, he must be a Dubay!

4. Xavier is threatening to walk. I just wish he would threaten us with sleeping though the night. Yawn.

5. Thus, the not quite Seven Quick Takes.

Hosted by Jen @ Conversion Diary

7 Quick Takes Friday (vol.11)

1. My sister gave us a few straw hats when she was here visiting from Hawaii. Thank you Lisa! I love little girls in straw hats!

Although, Olivia is not so little anymore is she?

2. We went bowling with the Murphys. What fun on a hot summer day! I think this past time fits in very well with our new country hick image.

The big kids were quite competitive. 

Gracie was happy when the ball made it all the way down the lane without stopping.

And Dominic cheered at the fall of every pin.

Collette had pretty good form.

Shoes- you knew it was coming didn't you Claire? :-)

3. Grace is starting kindergarten this year. Where, oh where, did the time go? Just yesterday we were looking to build a house when this little pumpkin arrived:

And now the little boy is nearing the end of elementary school and the baby is beginning.  September, it takes my breath away every time.

4. Another first for my family- Stephen slaughtered one of our roosters for dinner. He was quite tasty. The chicken, of course. The little ones and I did not watch. Oh no. I'm okay with the whole chicken thing so long as it looks like a chicken ready for the pot. However, the blood and feathers are left up to the man of the house.

For posterity.

5. A prayer to start the day:

What is your will for me, O God?

I await your plan.

I want to live only for you

and be guided by you always.

Grant that your holy will be done in me.

~St. Jane de Chantal

If only this prayer could be answered with a quick and concrete checklist.

6. Grace

7. I'm off to plan and plan and plan for the new school year. We will be traveling through the Eastern Hemisphere with books and food and art. Collette will prepare for her First Holy Communion and Dominic will take his place as a preschooler-in-training.

Host by Jen @ Conversion Diary

7 Quick Takes Friday (vol.10)

1. First off,

Hi Shalla!!!

2. Play dough

My little ones love play dough but they are always leaving it uncovered which results in hard chunky dough. This is not so much fun. 

Much to my children's delight, I suggested that we cook up some new play dough. They were thrilled. When I suggested that we make two batches, they thought I had lost my mommy mind. I think I should surprise them with unexpected generosity more often. 

3. Little Quotes

Quinton on why living in the middle of a mountain range is better than town:

"Because you have more room to be."

4. Storm

We had a summertime storm complete with lightning, thunder, and rain!

(For those of you who live in places with real weather, please just skip this.)

My children were terrified of the thunder and lightning. That may have had something to do with the fact that I told them we would die in the swimming pool if it were struck by lightning. Note to self: Don't say that again while in the pool with small ones. 

I did make them come and watch the rain on the back porch. 

Can you tell that Gracie thought this was a little dangerous and inappropriate?

This is after the storm. So beautiful! 

I wish we had regular summer thunder storms but I suppose that would increase the bug population and I am adamantly opposed to that!

5. Musings

Olivia and Quinton are both off to camp this week. I miss them intensely!

 But I did have a revelation:

4 under 7 is more difficult than 6 under 11

Then, today, my mom picked up the two girls for a sleep over. 

New revelation:

2 under 2 is more difficult than 4 under 7

6. Smoothies

We started making smoothies a regular part of our days after a particularly nasty flu season last winter. (Remember the Christmas photo?) 

It is amazing how many fruits and vegetables I can cram into a cold blended drink.

Xavier loves to drink his smoothies.

To mix it up a little, I poured the smoothie mix into Popsicle forms and froze. Smoothie pops! Perfect for hot summer days and cranky children who have decided to boycott all blended drinks.

7. Summer Fun

While I was making the bed this morning, these crazy monkeys were running and launching themselves onto my freshly smoothed sheets.

 Are you wondering about the blue dot on the wall? That is where the beekeepers drilled. 

Oh, you were wondering about the bassinet in the bathroom. What, don't you have sleeping arrangements for babies permanently set up in your master bath?

Hosted by Jen @ Conversion Diary