This week

Although life has been all over the place lately, I knew I wanted to get in another blog post before the end of the month! November has come and almost gone and I am in disbelief.

Even though it doesn't really feel like it; today is Friday! So I thought I'd just write up a summary of the week. It would be easier than going through the whole month. It's a start. And hopefully, December will be a better blogging month for me. I still really love this space and have no plans of abandoning it at this point!

So here goes. It could be a wordy post. I didn't take many photos this week.

-1-

Let's start with the downer stuff and maybe go up from there. First: why does life seem to converge on you all at once? They say bad luck/bad news comes in 3s? Ha! That's funny. More like 33s. But it's all how you respond to it, right? 

We've been struggling with quite a few crosses right now in my family, but many of them I have to keep quiet. These are not things I share on facebook or on my blog. I'm trying ever so hard to act normal while going through some hard, crappy stuff.

And yet, I know, everyone is. Everyone is dealing with their crosses at any given time. I am no different. Right now I'm trying to focus on making the relationships that matter right in my life. And while in the past I always felt I could manage my most dear relationships well, lately I've been faltering. Quite a lot actually. It just seems like even the people closest to me are struggling with my actions and my behavior towards them and that is hard. 

This week, a couple of the most important relationships in my life have been challenged by my emotions and actions. Even on Thanksgiving, a day dedicated to gratitude, was somewhat mired by my ingratitude. 

It is my most ardent hope that I can do the work necessary to repair some of those relationships in the next couple of months. I'm not sure, in a few cases, of where to start. But at least the desire is there, so I'm sure some good will come of it. At least, I hope so.

-2-

In a happier vein, we took a week off school this week and it made for lots of time to do other things like make some yummy breakfasts.

I've yet to get into a great morning routine that includes very fancy breakfasts. I know some of my friends are truly rock stars and get something more than oatmeal or cold cereal into their childrens' tummies regularly, but I am not there yet. We do have "French toast Friday" which has been a good tradition, but other than that we have probably the most boring breakfast meals around. I know it would help so much if I could get up and showered before the kids every morning, but that habit is so hard to get back into! I used to be a big morning person before I became a mother - I long for those days sometimes.

Right now though, with Emmett still coming into our bed at some point every night (and often another kid or two), and with Mike and I wanting alone time after the kids go to bed, a 7am start for me is hard to keep up. Usually I just wake up at 7:30 with the rest of the children, but then the morning routine gets pretty hectic right away. I *like* to start our school stuff at about 10 am, the time when I also try to get Emmett down for his morning nap. But that time from 7:30 - 10:00 seems to get away from me. I really enjoy having a clean kitchen and everyone dressed by the time we start school and that is harder than it sounds!

So, I'm working on it. I'd like to get into a good habit of getting up a little bit earlier, and working in some prayer time/reading time along side being up to prepare for the day. The dark, chilly mornings present an additional challenge but that's okay. Anything worth doing is not going to be easy, right?

-3-

I had to take a break from the news this week in a very intentional way. I do this periodically. With all the international news added to the political campaign news, it just became too much. I know a lot of folks can relate. It's not just a matter of "shutting out" the bad news of the world. It's more a matter of turning inward to focus on the difference I can actually make. I do believe it is right to mourn the evil in the world, and even to get caught up in that sadness from time to time.

It says in the Beatitudes that those who mourn shall be comforted. I don't know why but I always apply this to those of us who mourn all the injustice in the world. Because, this world will pass away! We are hurting right now because the world is a mess. We are divided. We are full of anger. We all think we know what would be the best thing to solve this problem or that problem - but we don't really envision things getting better any time soon. Or at least, I don't. It seems we will be going through a very dark time in history first, before anything turns around. In the meantime, I made a conscience effort this week to set much of that aside. 

The issues and problems within the walls of my own home need my attention. The small people in my care need my affection and protection. This is what I can focus on right now. 

I know some people have said that prayers for Paris and prayers for people across the globe are not really wanted. People have said the last thing we need is more religion. And yet, I disagree. So the prayers will continue to flow from my soul. It's the one outward gesture I can make right now, and so it will continue as long as the world needs healing and as long as breath continues to come from my lips.

-4-

Josie is almost 5!

This beautiful, wonderful girl of ours is going to be 5 in just two weeks. I cannot believe it. Our second born daughter brings so much to our family. It boggles my mind to think it was almost five whole years ago that I first held her in my arms as a tiny baby. That day is in my mind as fresh as any day I'd wish to relive. Oh I just love her so much! I can't wait to celebrate her birthday with her. She holds such a big part of my heart. 

-5-

(I know her bangs look so long but we are trying to grow them out!)

From last week but the kids and I got to go to the Children's Museum with friends. It was so nice to get out and about. We haven't been doing as many as these types of outings lately. Partially due to focusing on everyday school work, and partially due to wanting to save money, but the kids were definitely itching for something like this!

They had a blast with their friends, and I'm so grateful we were invited! It was a perfect time all around.

 

-6-

I also got to see another one of my friends this week for a very special visit. I got to finally meet her firstborn son! There are quite a few of our friends who are now having their first baby together and I cannot tell you how much that warms my heart. To see our friends become parents - there is just nothing like it. I am honored to be able to offer a few words of advice here and there, or even just a little encouragement, because I know how harrowing those first few months are as a brand new parent. 

To see my friend - who was my sponsor when I became Catholic, and in who's weddings we were both apart of - as a mother for the first time was truly wonderful! Her baby is adorable and I look forward to watching him grow up. He is a lucky boy.

Sweet Liam who fell asleep on me. I almost melted into a puddle!

Yes, this gave me major baby fever (which I had already been experiencing but this took it to another level!)

-7-

Finally, yet another one of my friends has started a little Etsy shop and is selling some very cute saint medal bows and headbands. She sent a few to our girls and they are lovely!
 

Let me know if you want more information and I can get you in contact with her. I know she would appreciate your taking a look.

***

Well, that about wraps it up for now. It took me quite a while to write this but I feel so much better now that I have.

I hope everyone reading this has a blessed weekend. Praise the Lord for His Goodness.

Mountain park in November

 Uhhh, mom. A little help over here? Could you stop taking pictures now and give us a push?


Well, the day was a beautiful crisp November day for the park, but actually did not end well. Emmett, shortly after this, stepped in dog crap (SERIOUSLY people?? Letting your dog poop in a playground and not cleaning it up?? You're making dog owners look bad) and Josie had a major meltdown. Louisa actually was also feeling quite grumpy and spent the whole time in the van! The fresh air was great for me, but I was fighting off a migraine.

Still, I'm choosing to remember this day as a beautiful, fun day with my kids. :) Sometimes, that's just what you have to do.

Halloween '15

Louisa found this dress at the kid's consignment store way back at the beginning of October and loooooved it. She wanted to be some sort of forest queen. So I had the idea to get some of that garland from the craft store and make her a little crown. I think she turned out so lovely! She applied the glitter herself and it was so cute; she said to me, "mom, this is the first time you're letting me wear makeup!" -haha; kind of my dear. Kind of. 

Josie was Merida from the movie Brave, because we found the dress at the same time. I was kind of surprised she stuck with it all the way until Halloween, because Josie is at a very undecisive age right now. I swear this girl changes her outfit 14 times each day. It's starting to really drive me crazy honestly! Also its hard because half the time she wants to wear her sister's clothes. I'm not sure whether I should forbid it or ask Louisa if she can just share her clothes sometimes because Josie wants to be just like her! It's a battle right now. I believe Josie wore Louisa's shirt today at some point and Lou tolerated it...but anyway. A post for another day perhaps.

 On Halloween during the day we got to celebrate my cousin's little boy Jeremiah's first birthday! He is such a cute little guy, and definitely appreciated his chocolate birthday cake :)

yuuummmmm. Happy Birthday Jeremiah! 

and here I am with my other cousin's baby, Trayce. Isn't he also adorable? I can't believe he is six months old already!

This photo is actually from another Halloween party we attended. Emmett was a cute little pirate. Unfortunately, our dryer is actually broken - so due to his shirt getting all dirty and lost in the piles of laundry, he was just a little tigger later on. But still, super cute no matter what, right?

Just including this pic because...I love this man! The father of my children and the love of my life. I'm proud to stand by him in good times and bad. 

 ...and always willing to make sacrifices for us and for the kids! Halloween night, as you can kind of see, was CRAZY wet. We actually all went out at about 7pm. Our neighborhood is a great little loop, only about a quarter mile long, so it's perfect for Trick-or-Treating. But a few houses in it started dumping buckets on us. It was also windy and cold! The kids were troopers (anything for candy, right?) but we did eventually have to call it quits and head home. They didn't really care. Already, what - four days after Halloween? They've already stopped asking or caring about their candy so it's all good.

Oh, and Michael was a ninja. But it took so much effort to even get him to wear anything. He kept insisting that he was "Just Michael!" 

Josie you are such a goofball!

Anyway, Halloween is over and done with and now it's really time to think about the holidays! Yay!