Simple Woman's Daybook - Feb. 2, 2009

FOR TODAY Monday, February 2, 2009...

Outside my window... Cold, bright sunshine. We put a bag of ice outside the front door to make room in the freezer a few days ago, and it has not melted!

I am thinking... that generosity is truly from God.

I am thankful for... all of our friends who have gone out of their way to make meals and give us gifts for our new little one!

From the learning rooms... medical school 101: how to run a home amidst childbirth, other children with fevers and coughs, and aches and pains.

From the kitchen... Wonderful meals from friends! Baked Potato Soup from Jennifer, Beef Stroganoff from Juli, REAL Black Forest Cake from Susi, Breakfast casserole from Karen,salads, pastas and pot roasts from everyone else, and all kinds of breads and desserts. We are truly blessed!

I am wearing... jeans and a red sweater, my hair pushed back with a head band, white socks and slippers, and my baby boy in a Snugglewrap.

I am creating... Thank you notes for all the great meals and gifts.

I am going... nowhere today - hopefully it won't be too cold to take the baby to church on Sunday.

I am reading... Semi-Homemade Magazine's premier issue. It looks like it will be a fun magazine!

I am hoping... the temps rise a little so we can go out!!

I am hearing... kids playing in the boys' room, the dryer humming.

Around the house... Eldest daughter in bed with a fever, next daughter with a possible ear infection, the rest having fun with Lego and little cars.

One of my favorite things... The feel of soft, newborn baby skin.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Midwife appointment, redo budget AGAIN to accommodate rising gas and electric costs.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...
The kids made paper dolls of themselves and posed them on the couch. This was a day or two before Thomas was born.

Visit the Simple Woman's Daybook blog here to join in the fun: http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Hot Boss Buns (It's NOT What You Think)

This morning my 2-year-old son Peter was walking around the kitchen singing, "Two a tennie, fwee a tennie, hot boss Buns!"

Maybe we WON'T plant trees today...

Yesterday was sunny and about 80 degrees outside. But NOT TODAY!!


So... How about a game of Cooties...bread making...
and hanging shelves?

We might light a fire in the fireplace later. Have a hot cup of tea with fresh-from-the-oven bread... I like snow days.

First Communion Season

Margaret, our beautiful second grader, will be making her First Holy Communion in May! My mother made a First Communion dress for our oldest Lucy last year, and Margaret will be wearing it this time around.



If you have a First Communicant in your life, for First Communion gifts, I recommend Aquinas and More, of course, because they have a good selection and my husband owns it!

Common Cents

Andrew (6), counting the money in his piggy bank: "Mommy, I don't have much cents at all."

He's got Math down pretty well. Next subject: Grammar!

Tiny Dog

Anne (4), singing: There was a fawmer had a dog and Bingo was his name-o. B-I- Inchy - O, B-I-Inchy-O, B-I-Inchy-O, and Bingo was his name-o.

Cinderella IV: Convicted

Overheard as Susan pushed her baby sister's swing:

Susan (singing): Swing, swing, night in jail. Swing, swing, night in jail...

My 8-Year-Old reads EVERYTHING

I don't know for sure, but she may have read Dante's Divine Comedy and shared her knowledge with the other kids.

Overheard as the kids build things with their Lego sets:
Andrew (6): I think we need some more skeletons for hell and purgatory.
Lucy (8): Yes, we can use the black ones for hell.
Andrew: Ok, what about heaven? Can I put some of these guys with the white suits here?

....

Lucy: She has a scared face. She must be in hell because you're not scared in purgatory.

Kitchen helper

Susan said, "Oops, I dwopped in a egg shell. I have to get it out. Never mind, it went away." I guess we'll see who gets a crunchy bite of scrambled eggs this morning.

The Weather Outside is Frightful...

...But in here, it's so delightful!

When the snow blows, the kids decide to carry "Master & Mistress" in a litter through Africa.

Or be servants to the Indian Princess (holding the sticker book modestly to veil her face)...


...while Peter colors his Thanksgiving Turkey...

...and Andrew hides from the snow!

Summer Part III: Mesa Verde

The next day we went to Mesa Verde.

The dancers demonstrated traditional Indian dances.
This man explained some of the dances and traditions of his people, and told funny jokes.

Here are some of the famous ruins of the Mesa Verde area. You could not live in these dwellings if you were claustrophobic.
This photo was taken from the van across a chasm.
Amazing how these ancient people built these dwellings.

Our last night on the road we had an indoor pool at the motel:

Summer: Part II: Aztec

On the road we stopped at a scenic overlook to stretch our legs a bit.

Our next stop was Aztec National Monument.

Our last stop this day was Four Corners. We took the requisite tourist photo:

The Lord's Day

We try to make Sundays special. We go to Mass in the morning and don't do any unnecessary work, and I try to have a special dessert just to celebrate the Lord's Day and the gift of family.

Last Sunday we woke up to blizzard conditions, so we did not go to Mass. Instead, we had our own Liturgy of the Word and Spiritual Communion. Susan even sang the Sanctus for us, so we recorded her:


Later, we made an apple pie!

Here's Susan helping with the flour:



Here's Margaret with the pie filling we made a few weeks ago and had in the freezer:
Here's Ian putting the pie crust in the dish:

YUMMY!!

Birth Announcement!

My newest daughter Maria Isabel was born on Thursday, Sept. 20. She's a real sweetie and we all love her. Praise God she is finally here!

Put On a Happy Face!

We were talking about all of the kids' cousins, whom we will see at Christmas time.

Me: And Uncle Tommy & Aunt Dwija are having a little boy a little before our baby is born, so we'll see him too!

Andrew (5): You mean they already know it's a boy? How?

Me: Yes. Do you remember that thing my midwife put on my tummy and we could see the baby on a little TV? Well, they can sometimes see if the baby is a boy or girl.

Lucy (8): yeah, they look at the...

Me: Wait, let Andrew answer. Andrew, how do you think they can tell if it's a boy or girl?

Andrew: They can tell by the face!

Two-Year-Old Self Awareness

Susan (2): Mommy, I don't have...I don't have...have...have...have... Oh, I don't know what I'm talking about!