7 Quick Takes

Here are my Seven Quick Takes for Friday, (and the week for that matter!)



1. My son turned 5 this week




and we have been properly celebrating with STOMP ROCKETS.





2. This is a BIG one. After being out of work for a year. Twelve months. My husband has received not one, but two job offers this week. Praise GOD. Please keep us in your prayers, for wisdom to discern the right one for our family.

3. I exercised twice this week! I scheduled three times but my daughter had field day at school and really wanted me to show up for some of it.




4. my house is a mess and I'm okay with it~ not really... but i'm ignoring it for now seeing as i only get three maybe four hours of sleep at a time.



5. (I am going back and forth between typing one handed and not...) I am going through my daughters' clothes and storing them or giving them away... this is a long and cumbersome process... thank GOD for hand-me-downs. We just have such little storage that it is difficult to store all.

6. After I pick up my daughter from school, I am going to hang out with some dear friends for our "beer-thirty" play date. They have a great big fenced in back yard, lots of kids and space and some Mommy drinks, too. Bliss. PLUS...tonight, my husband and I get to go on a date while my kiddos go to Parents Night Out

7. Please keep my mother-in-law in your prayers as she is in and out of the hospital these days.

Well, I've got a great Friday still ahead of me!! Okay, I better try and make a dent in all of these girlie clothes while my two year old is sleeping or you can fuhgedaboutit!

Uncle Al

My Uncle Al passed away very suddenly from a massive heart attack over our spring break. So, we left our original destination, San Antonio, and headed to Brady TX.

My family is pretty shocked by the loss of Uncle Al. He was a "gentle giant" and friend to all. Every year for Christmas he played Santa's elf and navigated us through the unopened packages. Having shaken, sniffed, and man-handled the gift as best he could, he would give us some heartfelt advice... "THIS is the ONE!"... you know, the one that everyone is going to want.

His sudden death is a close reminder of my own mortality and each individual that I am close to. Our time here is unknown, so let us make the most of it.

Silver Girl

Sail on silvergirl,
Sail on by.
Your time has come to shine.
All your dreams are on their way.
See how they shine.
If you need a friend
I'm sailing right behind.
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind.
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind.



This is what happens when my 2 yo finds a bottle of glitter while I am nursing in the other room.

What’s for dinner, honey?

Tonight, I am going to try this recipe from Faith and Family for Baked Oatmeal.

My husband is working a Parent’s Night Out co-op, so it’s just me and the kids.

We love oatmeal, and this seems like a good Lenten meal to make, since my health, yucky rainy weather, and, oh yeah, a dead car battery prevent me from going to the store!

Oh well, one more step towards being more frugal with my money by cooking with what I have in the house and not running out to the grocery store as often as I used to!!

Small successes Thursday

I completed a grocery list plus got my coupons together!

I finally got the 6 loads of clean clothes all folded and put away.

My babies stayed fed, clothed, loved and warm.

One of those days where I am feeling a little bit sick and a lotta bit tired. It helps to add up the little things to make me feel like I accomplished something today!!

On This Day

Please say an extra prayer for all of those seeking employment- that the peace of Christ which surpasses all understanding will guard their hearts and the hearts of their families.

The Garden out Front

It rained today, so I didn't have to put on the sprinklers yet! Yay! So, this is the "before" pictue. Hopefully in about 50 days I'll have something more to show than just dirt!


Our sweet Henry frog. When we lost Fefe's twin, we wanted to have little rememberances of him throughout our home that would make us smile and this is one of them.




And this is Lil'Bird. If you ever wanted to hold a little bit of heaven, hold a sleeping baby. (of course, my husband says, that our baby feels like she is holding a bit of heaven when she is sleeping in our arms...)

Gardening in a Recession

Well my front yard garden bed looks absolutely barren. Usually at this time of year I am able to go buy a flat of beautiful begonias or some other brightly colored flower. Instead, this year I bought seeds of Zinnias, Purple Coneflower and Allysum. My 2 year old, Sophia and I planted them yesterday. I prepared the ground, dug holes and she scattered the seeds. Than she proceeded to mix and scatter the dirt. I have no idea if the seeds are still there or if she tossed them away. I guess I'll find out in about a week or two when they begin to emerge!! I will post pictures later!

hello world!

Coming out of hiding to share some pictures and happenings in our family. Lydia Therese was born on November 22, 2008. She is an absolute joy and delight and the whole family is in love with her. We pretty much kiss on her all day long...and when we're not, she's like, "Hello? Look at me! I'm cute and smiley and so you should hold me!"

And so we do...because we can't resist her siren songs... that's our Lydia!

Seattle

We spent Labor Day Week in Seattle with my side of the family to celebrate my little brother, JP's marriage to Meg.



Here are my sisters with their husbands and children, plus my hubbie and kiddos.



Lora and I are expecting November babies. (We both had October 2006 babies)
The three of us were all on the same floor of our hotel room and it was like a pajama party each night, catching up with mi hermanas.



A few more pictures with my sisters, Gina and Lora and all our kiddos around Seattle.

between me and my son...

Son: Why are you making soup, Mom? Is it 'cause I'm sick?
Me: You're not sick.
Son: I AM, Mom! Mocos are zooming out of my nose all the time!

it's July!!

Where is time going? At once I feel as if the summer is whizzing by and trucking sooo slowly when I think of all the activity that I still need to come up with to keep these kiddos out of trouble. How do homeschooling mums do it???
Anyhow, a quick glance at what we've been up to, as well as a new blog I found.

Our Fourth

Yes, so I'm late to post, but still...



We went down to the Fair Park Fourth with my niece and her husband.




The kiddos played with balloons while we picnicked.





These were the best fireworks I had seen in a long time!

while mama sleeps...

kiddo was up late into the night. so this afternoon, while I was grabbing a quick nap, she set herself up on the kitchen floor to write me a note...




spikey found a bin of dried rice that the children love to play in. they haven't gotten into this in months. It is super easy to sweep away and clean, but rice still gets everywhere...




And Fefe read to herself, sang to herself and here, she is dancing to the music only she can hear....

Baby in the Womb

This is the most amazing video of a baby crying in the womb.

two hour dinners

Saturday night my brother-in-law and his wife offered to watch our 3 kiddos. It was very much out of the blue and DH and I jumped on it. So it was arranged, we left their home at 7 o'clock that night feeling light and free.

We went to a Moroccan restaurant in their neighborhood that was very quaint and slow paced and delicious. It was such a treat to have an uninterrupted conversation with each other, and to eat our food at the proper temperatures. They served us Moroccan Mint Tea all night and it was so tasty. The dessert was simple slices of oranges with rose water, cinnamon and poppy seeds with a little whipped cream on the side. So yummy! The tables were all private, with curtains on all corners, so you didn't see any other patrons. We thoroughly enjoyed our four course meal, splitting each course, and feeling perfectly satisfied when we left. A two hour dinner that was filled with conversation and laughter.

Unfortunately, the Tea was black tea and therefore contained caffeine and I was up all night. I watched many reruns of "Mad About You" and caught up on some "MASH". I finally crawled into bed at 5 a.m., ready to sleep. My whole Sunday was zombie like.

Now let me tell you about the two hour dinner that took place tonight. We were gathering at a good Italian restaurant with DH's family to celebrate one of his brothers, who turned 50. There were only about 25 of us and it was a mix of small children and old folks. After an hour, we were served food. Meanwhile, Fefe would not leave my lap and had several near misses of spilling ice cold water all over me. Kiddo and Spikey were poking and punching at each other and repeating each other and really just aiming to drive me insane. Please remember, I've only had about 3 hours of sleep...It was so loud, we were shouting to talk to DH's poor parents who were sitting next to us, down on the end, surrounded by other children. It was nice to see Nick, (the birthday boy) and he was very gracious and thankful for everyone showing up, but at the end of the two hour ordeal, I needed a glass of wine and an aspirin. Too bad I could have neither.

And that is two very different dinners with my DH this weekend.

it is so quiet, I hardly know what to do first...

My husband has taken out three little ones to the Nasher Museum. This weekend is a big City Arts free weekend at the Nasher and the DMA, and so, off they went. Now, ordinarily I love this type of experience, but for now, I am quite content, sitting here at the computer all by my lonesome.

I was going to run to the grocery store...I haven't been in weeks, only getting by with the quick errands that my DH makes for us. Well, quite frankly, it's just not the same. He doesn't buy the same brands I like, and forget about fresh fruit and vegetables! Buying produce is an art to me. I'm an organic princess, as DH would call me, and when I see something in season, I'm inspired to make a certain type of salad or main dish or whatever. I leave room for this in my grocery list making. It is one of the very few things that make grocery shopping enjoyable.

Anyhow, I left my wallet in the mini-van. So... no grocery shopping.

Instead, I'll do a little picking up, maybe sweep and vacuum. It is always a little more productive to do these things sans kids, as they protest when I throw out scrap paper or take down the fort that has been in our living room for the week. FeFe likes to chase the broom, looking for any lost cheerios or goldfish. Grossness, I know, but hey, that is why I am going to do this now.

I actually LOVE the fort in the LR, because it has become Kiddo's and Spikey's little reading cove during our quiet times. The only problem is, they used all our kitchen and dining room chairs. I am on a mission to find boxes. Big, sturdy boxes that they can nestle in and read all they like in a tiny space that is all their own. Never mind their rooms, this is different. It's like being held in a light embrace where no little sibling is going to bother you.

Than, after I do some work, I'll finish this bean soup I started, hey, it's what was in the pantry! Finally, I'll stretch out on the couch and continue reading Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Can you believe I've never read this book?? I took an online quiz recently and Elizabeth Bennet is the heroine I most resembled. That piqued my curiosity. (And what is the difference in spelling between heroin and heroine?~ sheesh!) Does anyone have a favorite version of this movie? There are so many out there, I thought I would get your opinion?

Now, see what happens with all this quiet?? Even YOU can hear me think!! Happy Saturday y'all.

make a wish!

This is our family celebrating my mom's 59th! Isn't she beautiful?

"Next year", she informed me, "your Dad and I are celebrating our 60/40th"

What?

Turning 60 years old, married for 40 years. Praise God. This will be a momentous occasion.

catch up

Let me see if I can catch you up on the rest of our happenings....

Tommy had a birthday. He is now the big 4.



We all went to Padre Island for Memorial Weekend. Sun, sand and boogey boarding made this trip totally memorable.



I try and catch as many quiet times as possible, ignoring the laundry and dishes and toys that seem to grow every day. Oh well... it will keep for tomorrow!

now what?

I cannot believe it has been since APRIL 1 that I last posted!!

Well, if there is anyone still out there checking in on me, I have some fun news just for you!

A new bambino is to be born in late November!! Our family is very excited by this news. The children talk of the new baby as if he/she is physically able to see all that is going on. It is so sweet and affirming to watch their love for this new one grow, even in the womb.

At 17 weeks, I can finally feel at peace that this baby is going to be okay. We had a check up just yesterday and the baby's heart beat was strong and fast. This has been a very different pregnancy from any of the others and especially my most recent. Sophia was a twin and we lost baby Henry between 14-16 weeks. My weight gain with the twins was fast and my pregnancy symptoms were strong. This time around, my gain has been slow (so far...) and the symptoms not to bad other than tiredness. So, naturally, I was nervous.

Peace and excitement are finally settling in to my heart over this new one.
Please keep me in your prayers for a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby.
Thanks!