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

Little Quote

" I want to be a mommy so I can eat chocolate."

-Collette

Little Quote

Grace's synopsis of the bee drama as told to Grandma:

"The first guys came and drilled holes and told us the ants would take care of it. Then the second guys came and sprayed poison and told us the ants would take care of it. Then the third guys came and they took care of it!"

Yup, that pretty much sums it up.  :-)

Little Quote

Grace shared this secret with Daddy at bedtime:

"I love you even more than Mommy.

Actually... I love Mommy more

But you are loveable."

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

7 Quick Takes Friday (vol.6)

The Late Edition

1. We had a wonderful May Crowning at our home with about 30 children. What a joy it was to see everyone running and climbing, collecting frogs and petting chickens, singing and praying. The mothers and children loved an afternoon in the country and we loved having them up! Our statue has never looked so beautiful.

2. Little Quotes:

Dominic this morning trying to pry into my mouth:
"Open ya mouf Mama. Oh, I see big potato.
Open ya mouf Mama!  Oh, a big rock."
And when I had had enough of little fingers in my mouth:
"I wuv you."

And from Collette in the car:
"I see a beautiful baby boy- Xavier!
I see a Godzilla- Dominic!
I see the wisest girl in the room- Olivia!
I see a mother with lots of children- Mommy!
I see a hero with pink slippers with pink pompoms- Quinton! (Yes, that was to irk him)
I see the Queen of Peace- Gracie!"

3. Christmas Eve 2009: I bought all of the children coordinating pj's for Christmas Eve. I had visions of happy children reading Christmas stories, putting up stockings, and laying out cookies for St. Nicholas as I enjoyed their anticipation and took pictures. What happened instead was a wicked night of suffering from the effects of the flu. I still took a picture but it was not what I had envisioned.

So, the other evening, I asked all of the children to wear their Christmas pajamas again so I could take a happy picture. Christmas in June. Ahh, there are my healthy beautiful children. Much better.

4. Happy 82nd Birthday Grandma! Grandma is amazing. She is the most active, engaged, and happy eighty-two year old I know. I beg to blessed with her vitality and joy. Many more, Grandma!

5. So I can remember Xavier:

Two Little Teeth

Worried Eyes

Chubby Hands

6. Fun at lunch with fruit:
My children squealed with laughter as Mr. Lemon kindly spit out lemon juice on our avocado and crackers. It was even better when I accidentally squeezed too hard and he "sneezed" all over me.

7. I have a new appreciation for the men and women who blog. I love to read blogs and I have been richly blessed by those who share. But, goodness, it takes true dedication to post week after week. May they be richly blessed in their efforts.

Hosted by Jen at Conversion Diary

7 Quick Takes Friday (vol. 3)

Our Week in Review

1. We spent a beautiful Tuesday afternoon at the park playing, swinging, climbing, and creating flower sculptures with our favorite family, the Murphys. Xavier did not like the sand. His little toes would curl up and he'd start dancing and squeaking until I picked him up.

2. On Wednesday, Grace and Dominic played joyous music together on our new bell set. I have great plans for these bells. They are perfect for my non-musical family to belt out such classics as Mary had a Little Lamb and Old MacDonald.

3. Thursday had my boys hanging out on Roxaboxen. Quinton was carrying Dominic around after the snake appearance. Not because Dominic was afraid, oh no, because Dominic was going hunting for that snake. He wanted a closer look!

4. Collette is reviewing the concept of odd and even in math. Since I am eclectic in my approach to teaching, I used a little Montessori, a little Miquon, and a little gnome to cement her understanding.

5.  Thursday gifts: hair ribbons for my girls locks.

6. A Little Quote (or two)

Grace on the merits of bathtubs vs showers:
"Well, you know, bathtubs are oval and the drain is way off in the corner. So, the water rises up and stays. But the shower is square and has that drain in the middle, so the water just sprinkles right down. How am I supposed to bath in that?"

Collette on wishes:
"My first wish from the leprechaun would be to pay off the mortgage so Daddy could stay home. Then my second wish would be for landscaping for Mommy. And my third wish would be for Olivia and Quinton to go to school at Hogwarts. That third wish might take up all the leprechauns power, though."

7. Friday's Haircut: Dominic before and after.

Oh my, so much better. This haircut was accomplished with ingenious combination of lollipops, the movie Cars, and a super quick mom. We only repeat this performance once every 4 months or so.

HT: Conversion Diary

Quotes from the Littles

Grace on the origin of ketchup:
"Oh, I know, you have to catch the chups."