12/52

Joining Barbara in commemorating the year in once a week posts … just whatever is going on in your life: the mundane, the crazy, the normal, the everyday.

 

Last weekend, hubby and all the kids cleared the remainder of ‘stuff’ from our house garage and moved it all into the detached garage.  My brother, Pat, is coming this weekend to install shelving in our house garage.  He and a friend started a company that sells a soon-to-be patented shelving product that is rated for high load-bearing items.  Check it out … the company is called North Metro Garages, LLC. 

It was a cool day, but not cold enough for Zeke to zip his coat and wear a hat.  All 8yo boys are HOT.

Louis was thrilled to tool around his the riding toys for over and hour.  I cannot wait to do this more often.  He slept well at nap-time.

Graham helped as much as he could.  He’s a good sorter – sorting wood and recycling.

Angelina carried garbage out and salvageable goods to the detached garage.  Isn’t it amazing how messy seemingly ‘neat’ piles can become?  Look at all the dirt and yuck that was behind the area where we piled wood leftovers from the build.

Dash scooped mud out of the garage.  Spring is the season, especially in northern climes, where you are dealing with both mud and snow.  My hubby’s pickup brought in about an inch on mud.

Hard-working hubby … did all this cleaning with a monster headache.  He rarely takes OC meds; Saturday he took a large dose.

Here’s Louis all decked out in sparring gear.  Finally had to hid the gear because Zeke and Graham kept trying to spar each other without supervision.  There’s no denying that this little guy is cute, though.  I think that helmet may be handy for keeping him ‘bump free’ for the rest of his toddler-hood.

My very own …

Un ‘to-do’ List.  Josette talked about this idea on her blog today.  We all want to accomplish so much in our days.  I tend to over-estimate the amount that can get done in a day and usually a week.  I suppose I think about what could get done if I were left to my own devices without interruptions.  You see, the desire is for a spic ‘n span clean house because if it’s clean, it’s peaceful and calm.  Well, that’s my delusion.  Of course, the theory hasn’t been tested because we moved in before the house was completed (ie. it was a dusty mess with a few projects left) and then proceeded to add another family member and we built in the middle of a DIRT field.  The cleaning never ends!

Anyway, I need this reminder badly … like hit me over the head and let me know there are accomplishments during the day even if NOTHING was crossed off my real To-Do List.

So, a few to add to my Un ‘to-do’ List:

1. Raisin Scones – tried a new recipe.

2. Graham is working on a Lapbook project – our first ever – he and I are both having fun.

3. The kids all like Tae Kwon Do and they arrived on time at each lesson.  Last minute addition to our week, but looks like a winner!

4. Chicken salad on croissants on Thursday night (yes, the two chickens were roasted that day and made into chicken salad – it wasn’t on my to-do list).

5. Picked up groceries on Thursday night.

6. Ordered size 6 diapers for night-time.  Just a little tired of night-time leaks and my baby is no longer a baby!

7. Washed the king size bed clothes TWICE this week.

8. A free history Lapbook project for Angelina arrived.  So in the process of getting supplies ready for the project, the ‘paper’ shelf was organized.

9. The toy/room guest room was cleared of toys in preparation for Grandma Golden Acres’ arrival.

10. Organized the pantry.

I guess it’s been a good week.  Happy to end on the Feast of The Annunciation of the Lord! 

The Annunciation

by Fra Filippo Lippi, c. 1450

DayLook: Monday, March 21, 2011

Looking out from my back porch... it’s  cloudy, windy, and dirty-looking.  I’m glad the snow is melting, but that layer of dirt between snowstorms is currently exposed. 

I am thankful for... peaceful music, quiet moments, a cup of tea, fresh eggs, grinning toddlers, helpful kid cleaners … and that the end of the school year is in sight. 

I am reading… a Christian novel, ‘Render Unto Caesar’ (Archbishop Chaput), Cooking Light magazine and a few other magazines on my stack.

I am hearing... ‘The Hours’ performed by students at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary.

I am wearing… navy t-shirt, jeans, tennies

From the sewing/craft room (aka. laundry room!)… Zeke made a rocket out of marshmallow, jelly beans, a chocolate kiss and toothpicks (part of his Aerospace study for 4-H).

From the school room... as I said, the end is in sight.  We’ve doubled up the days on some subjects so they’ll finish before Easter.  Then, we’ll be able to concentrate more on 4-H projects and animals.  We are discerning whether to add Tae Kwon Do for all the kids (except Louis, and the instructor said he’d like to meet Graham before giving the go-ahead).  Dash already has his black belt, so we are familiar with the routine.  There aren’t many activities that encompass all one’s children within the space of a couple hours.  This appeals to me.

From the kitchen... made a huge batch of Knuefla soup this morning. 

A successful moment… Eric and the kids made great progress on moving the ‘stuff’ from our house garage to our detached garage in preparation for my brother to install shelving in a couple weeks. 

A few plans for the rest of the week…
Monday: First trial day of Tae Kwon Do lessons for kids, library visit in Valley City

Tuesday: Continue cleaning out the garage

Wednesday: Ortho appt. for Dash

Thursday:   Second trial day of Tae Kwon Do lessons for kids

Friday/Saturday/Sunday:   My mom and my sister’s son (1 1/2 yo) will arrive to visit for a couple days, 4-H meeting and tour of the local greenhouse.

A picture memory... the boys showing off their marshmallow rockets.

11/52

Joining Barbara in commemorating the year in once a week posts … just whatever is going on in your life: the mundane, the crazy, the normal, the everyday.

This was a new soup recipe.  It sure looks good, but none of us was exactly thrilled with the taste/flavor.  I learned to prepare beans from their dried state, though.  So, the effort was not in vain.

Hubby gave up coffee for Lent and I’m cutting back on certain other beverages … so this nice selection of teas is sitting on my counter.

Our stations of the cross … finally hung them last week and have been able to pray the stations together.  Love the Stabat Mater!

A new cookbook for non-meat meals.  Quite a few good ideas; haven’t tried any yet.

At the 4-H Activity Day, Angelina tried her hand at cake decorating.  She had a blast.  The cake went into the freezer … we’ll try it on an upcoming Sunday.

 

 

Monday DayLook: March 14, 2011

Looking out from my back porch... the day started out very foggy.  It hasn’t lifted, yet. 

I am thankful for... the sunshine, when it pokes through.  At this time of year, if the sun it out, the snow is melting … albeit very slowly at this point.

I am reading… I am reading a fluff novel, but also have a pile of other books that I’ve mentioned throughout the past months.  My goal is to finish up a number of those books and thus shorten that pile during Lent when we don’t watch TV.

I am hearing... footsteps on the stairs as Graham goes up to get a snack during his morning break and pencil to paper as Dash proofs a report.

I am wearing… jeans and a long-sleeved t-shirt.  My miraculous medal is once again on a chain around my neck … hopefully this chain is more sturdy than the last couple.

From the sewing/craft room (aka. laundry room!)… laundry is in the process of being washed.  I have a small pile of mending that beckons …

From the school room... the end is in sight on a couple subjects.  I asked the kids if they wanted to push a little harder in at least two subjects to finish up before Holy Week, and they agreed to the extra work.  We are all hungry for Spring.

From the kitchen... I cooked pinto beans for the first time (from scratch) this weekend.  Interesting process.  I plan to make a Lenten Soup from ‘A Continual Feast’ cookbook.

A successful moment (well, it’s actually a summary!)… this weekend was absolutely crazy.  Eric’s flight on Friday was cancelled due to the storm.  He made it to Fargo, but his vehicle was in Jamestown!  Saturday morning started out by running Dash to the church hall for Enchilada assembly (Youth Group Fundraiser), then back home to take the two littlest boys to Grandpa & Grandma’s.  Zeke and Angelina needed to be in Lisbon for the 4-H Activity Day at 10:30am.  Once they were situated and left under the care of an adult, I drove to Fargo to pick up Eric.  We headed back to Lisbon to pick up the kids; drove to LaMoure to pick up Dash; headed home so Dash & Eric could shower and change clothes.  While they showered, I filled the vehicle with gas and picked up the little boys.  Angelina did chores.  We had a half hour at home before we needed to leave for the 4-H Family Fun Night in Kulm.  It was a fun, but exhausting day.  It didn’t help to hear Eric say, “And it’s daylight savings tomorrow” on our way back to Lisbon!  Needless to say, it felt successful when I was in bed on Saturday night. 

Also, Angelina reports that the Hen Savers are helping.  The three birds are starting to regrow their feathers!  I plan to check the success before making/purchasing more ‘savers’.

A few plans for the rest of the week…
Monday-Thursday: the kids and I are at home!  Eric has meetings in Fargo.  We will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on Thursday.  I’m not sure how, but we will celebrate!

Friday/Saturday/Sunday:    We plan to clean out the house garage in preparation for having shelving installed.  Rabbit and chicken pens need cleaning.  Eric and I will teach the 2nd class in our NFP series.

A picture memory...

This picture of Zeke from March 2008 never fails to crack me up!  Mulit-purpose swim goggles.  Guess we must have had snow at this point in 2008, too.  I wonder if we were all as stir-crazy?

10/52

Joining Barbara in commemorating the year in once a week posts … just whatever is going on in your life: the mundane, the crazy, the normal, the everyday.

You asked for pictures! 

I ordered three to try them out.  Will the Hen Savers work for my silly flock??  Each of the Wyandotte’s is barebacked like the hen below.  some have even fewer tail feathers!  And, I’ve tried other remedies … from supplementing with more protein, to cutting out all extra’s because that would cut down on the proportion of nutrients absorbed from their layer ration, to providing scratch for entertainment, to spraying them all with a natural anti-pick spray (it contained pepper and other ingredients chickens supposedly do not like to taste). 

The other remedy I will be trying is to add diatomaceous dust/earth treatment to their dust bath area.  This will combat pests and lice, if that is the problem.  I don’t think that’s the root cause, but chickens are susceptible and it’s a good practice to ‘dust’ them at least once each year.

The top chicken has the camo Hen Saver and the lower chicken is sporting the black Hen Saver.  The hen with the black Hen Saver liked hers better.  The two chicken with the camo Savers acted like Ostriches!  They wobbled around and backed up trying to get ‘it’ off.  They were quite funny!  However, Angelina says they have now adjusted and she’s seen one of them in the nest box, so they aren’t too affected to give up their routine.

Now, to see if the feathers grow back!  I am hopeful…

 

The kitchen window and what’s outside the kitchen window are a source on entertainment for Louis.  Eric took the older boys out for a snowmobile ride this past Sunday.  Fresh snow meant Zeke wanted to wear goggles to sled!

Beautiful sunset as the snowmobilers go for a ride on Sunday evening.

Ash Wednesday

 

 

I look forward to the ‘pruning’ we do during Lent.  Working on improving ourselves by focusing on Christ and cutting out those materialistic things or practices to which we are attached. 

A friend asked me (yesterday on facebook) to consider whether I was a GUS or a TOM.  Needed to look in her comments to figure out what that meant!  It means Give Up Something or Take On More.  There’s a little of both in my, and my family’s, Lenten practice. 

However, this is one of those years in which I’ve had a hard time deciding what to do during Lent.  Oh, it’s not that I don’t have anything to offer.  The problem is that the things I generally give up really aren’t that much of a sacrifice … imho.  For me, it’s easier to find something more meaningful in the Take On More category.  And, it’s not that there aren’t meaningful things I could give up, I just don’t find giving up ‘things’ to be that hard. 

Now, if we talk actions … that’s a different story.  Can I easily give up over-reacting to wrongs, yelling when I’m more than angry, and covering my ears when the volume in my house exceeds what can be handled??  Not quite so easy, which makes me reluctant to try.  I do try, though, to do better every day.  That’s part of my morning offering – each day.  Offering any of these up during Lent would make me work harder though, I think.  But, I feel in my heart that I’d be less successful. 

Does that make the more challenging offering or sacrifice more of a gift than something I can do more easily??  The answer might seem easy, but it’s not.

…walking the Lenten path in prayer, fasting & almsgiving.

Dance Recital

 

Angelina’s Spring Dance Recital

Broadway and Beyond

March 6, 2011

 

Eric, Angelina, Suzie

Capriccio Espagnol (Rimsky-Korsakov) – Quick and dramatic Spanish Dancers

Space Jam (Quad City DJ’s) – Michael Jordan meets Looney Tunes.  Dance moves that are out of this world. 

Angelina had such a fun time in this jazz dance.  She has such an easy time with the moves …

We’re in the Money (Harry Warren/Al Dubin) – From the Musical Movie 42nd Street which premiered in 1933 and saw a Broadway run opening in 1980.  This was a tap, but the dancers were also on stage during the opening (thus the ballets!).  Also a fun energetic dance.

9/52

Joining Barbara in commemorating the year in once a week posts … just whatever is going on in your life: the mundane, the crazy, the normal, the everyday.

My nephew, Mr. W., and Louis … sitting on the stairs.  Mr. W was born in May of 2009 and Louis in November of the same year.  They get along well!

No, he’s not actually ‘doing’ anything!  Sure looks like it though…  Louis can crawl up on the chair all by himself, open the laptop and put on the headphones. 

Do they EVER learn by example.