Sunday, April 27, 2014

Answer Me This - Because all 3 girls are resting ; )


1. Do you hate happy clappy church music?

Well no I don't hate it. I can tolerate it much more than my hubby can. Divine Liturgies (should be) are chanted without any other musical instruments so the clappy part of happy-clappy does not lend itself to chanting. 


2. What is your priority: eating or sleeping?

Totally sleep. Some nights I can sleep for 5-6 hours and other nights I can push 8-9 (two night ago... ehem). As of last week I made this profound discovery that I must forego some sleep to be prepared for the day. I know you veteran moms already know this but I HAVE GOT to be up 45 min-1hr before my kids. It totally changes my mood and the morning outlook. 

Just as a side note, my children are:

E - Does not care one way or the other. She picks at her food and I cannot figure out how she maintains any weight. 

R - EAT. Eat oh my goodness. This child used to wake up whine for her cup (until she learned the word) and would shake as she gulped down the first sips. She was a cup-a-holic. I even asked the pediatrician about it (he said not to worry). Oh and R has finally gotten to the point where Papa can eat dinner with her again. Last summer she would scream EAT EAT EAT until she was in the chair and call for food. It was a generally unpleasant experience and we are hoping that M will not follow suit. 



M - Eater. M is not much into naps. Which is of course my fault for not being a bit more militant about it but her demeanor is much more on the calm side even when she is sleepy. 

3. What type of milk do you drink in your house?

I've been meaning to do a post about this. Lee and I did a blind taste test of organic milk versus regular milk and it pretty much did not compare. The non-organic milk had about no flavor compared to the organic. That being said, I will buy the regular milk if it is on sale or there is a coupon for it. The organic milk is much more pricey but we do splurge on it. Also, for Lent Lee drank Almond milk - I liked the idea of it because it has more calcium etc... but the pediatrician said the sugar in it is fructose as opposed to lactose (in cows milk) sooooo he would not 'endorse' it wholeheartedly so cows milk it is. 

4. What is a book that changed your perspective on something?

Well that's an interesting one. I think I'll answer with two because I have not finished either of them (but want to). 

A. Catholic Education Homeward Bound. 

Still not hook-line-and-sinker on this homeschooling bandwagon but this book has changed my perspective on why families are drawn to homeschooling. 

B. The Whole Brain Child

You can read more about the cover 'design' here


This book is great for learning about how to effectively communicate with your kids on a brain-level basis. Upper and lower brain. Right and left. Who knew it is all connected?
5. Who is your favorite saint?

Man this is a tough one. Off hand I would have to say, St. Monica because of her perseverance in prayer to not lose hope in her son (now St. Augustine) and his faith. 

Side note, Papa would like to note his favorite saint as St. Basil the Great. His liturgy is long but a goody and is used throughout the Eastern Catholic and Orthodox worlds to this day.

6. Introvert or extrovert?

Introvert until I know you. Then I don't stop talking : ) I definitely prefer being around other people then being by myself so I guess that qualifies me as an extrovert in that sense


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Friday, April 25, 2014

7 Quick Take… We love Papa

And here we go




--- 1 ---

Second time the upstairs bathroom has been leaking in the past 9-ish months. Thanks a lot well water




Mental note to Papa… Trying to fix the leak on a Sunday when it has been leaking for the past week= bad plan

--- 2 ---
We have been having Easter egg hunts around here like crazy… And of course the eggs are dusty so they should be washed, right?



--- 3 ---

Fatherly wisdom… {not making this up I promise}


Papa - Cinderella's trailer is pretty
E - Mama look at her trailer!!!

A. Since when does Cinderella have a trailer… That would be a CARRIAGE
B. That's Ariel not Cinderella

Come Lee… Step up your princess game PUL-EASE!

--- 4 ---

R has a newfound skill of talking on the phone (and actually talking back)


She looks so grown up to me! 


--- 5 ---
Strangest sleeping position from that girl!




--- 6 ---
Hubby of the year goes to...



Dishwasher unloaded. Cereal bowls out. Snack bowls out. Pulling away from the house before the sun rises. 

--- 7 ---
I have found that I need at least 45 minutes to an hour each morning to get myself ready for the day. So that means getting up at 6 or before. Its a struggle but it is glorious. I need my caffeination to start before little feet are pattering and little people are needing.


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Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Answer Me This… Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen! Edition


1. What did you and your family wear to Mass Divine Liturgy on Easter Sunday?

Evidence of our pre-Liturgy readiness 
Well we survived leaving at 5:45 in the a-m to get to church. The girls did NOT go back to sleep on the hr long car ride (grrrrr). They ate a half a bagel in the hallway and they we raced to get dressed and hair done. 

E did pretty well other than she was mad we were singing "By death He conquered death and to those in the grave He granted life" she prefers saying "and to those in the TOMBS" seriously we had a small meltdown. 

R did her normal self. Took off shoes but for 2.5 hours of church after a super early start I really cannot expect too much more out of a 2 yr old. 

M hung out in the Beco for a good part of Liturgy. 

With flash

Without flash
{On the way home from Grammy's}

E - Papa a tomb is not grave!
P - A tomb and a grave are the same thing
E - No it's not!
P - Yes a tomb and grave are the same
E - Well Jesus was not buried in a grave
P - {pause… okay the 3 yr old has a point} Well it's (the aforementioned song) talking about other people

E - Papa, graves are for cats

{at which point Lee and I were laughing hysterically in the front seat. I don't know if it was the lack of sleep or what but… seriously where does she come up with this stuff!}

E then proceeded to serenade us with a compilation of Matins from earlier in the day and Joy to the World and Away in the Manger. I guess 3 yr olds don't have a firm grasp of liturgical seasons : ) 


2. Easter Bunny: thumbs up or thumbs down?

Errrr… down. We hid Pascha baskets this year but the girls knew I hid them. They had an Easter egg hunt at E's preschool but pretty sure no bunny was talked about. I likened looking for baskets to the myrrh bearing women who went out and searched for the tomb of Jesus for E when she asked. 


3. Do you prefer to celebrate holidays at your own house or at someone else's house?

We always do major holidays Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter away from our house. We live within a reasonable drive to family so I don't mind it. Since we live so close to family we have two Thanksgiving and two Christmas celebrations/dinners (not on the same day). Lee usually does some cooking no matter where we go and then there is no clean up at my house. I will load up the bags any day of the week. Though last fall we hosted an epic pig picking at our house which was super fun. 

4. What is your favorite kind of candy?

Peanut butter M&Ms… So should not have bought those for the Pascha baskets because now I'm eating them! 


5. Do you like video games?

Negativo. Don't understand them and back in the D-A-Y I could never win at them. 


6. Do you speak another language?

Yes… Yes! YES!!! I speak Spanish and hope my kids will be fluent in at least two languages. I have actually dreamed in Spanish… When I was studying K'iche in Guatemala for one of my epic runs to Guate I was taught K'iche in Spanish. So technically I remember a few words in K'iche so count it or not. When I studied it I stood up and gave a 3 minute speech in it without notes : ) 


Evidence of times in Guatemala… 


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Monday, April 21, 2014

And the Baskets were Stuffed on the Table with Care...

As sugarplums… Oh wait… Wrong season.

Okay okay. I know you are DYING for the Pascha post but I have legitimate excuses I PROMISE. Last week was Holy Week plus school was out so I do feel in the least bit of {Catholic : ) }guilt over not posting!

This week, I was going to post a fam-mee pic and link up with Kendra BUT the computer that contains all photos is randomly turning itself off and for some reason does not feel the need to boot up all the way. So y'all are stuck with the Pascha Prep Pics until Papa gets on the ball and digs a few out of the depths of the hard drive.

FDJ (I feel slightly more inclined to call him that when referring to church activities) was at church every waking moment from about Wednesday night until Sunday morning because (he is a rockstar) he was pulling double duty at the Latin parish here in the Mount and our church - as in Saturday 4pm Vesperal Liturgy in Raleigh, 8:30 Easter Vigil in the Mount (roll home around midnight), (leave driveway at 5:45 am) for 7 am Matins + the DL (Divine Liturgy). Okay so not every waking moment but it was ALOT. Which is fine; no whining intended. As he reminded me on Friday after a not-so-holy Vespers of Entombment courtesy of some smaller Kibbe family members - I may have been the one who encouraged him gave him a bit of a holy kick to get buckled down and seriously discern a vocation to the diaconate AND follow through once he began.

Anyhow… are you still reading?

Saturday evening the big girls made cookies with Jibbe but I really did not get any serious packing done until they were in bed - there was bouncing on the beds going on until at least 8:25 {insert annoyed face}. Yep we were only gone for the day but Hurricane Kibbe came through with the normal excessive amount of stuff.

Round One

Slightly OCD? Quite possibly.

Church outfit, bib, sweater, post-church outfit, PJs (extra clothes, diapers already in bag)

Church outfit, two pairs of white shoes, post church outfit,
post church shoes (and you thought I'd forget!), PJs

Church outfit, sandals (yep with tights because it was that cold),
post church outfit PJs (they match R's  to avoid conflict)

Ding… Round 2


Purple is our Easter basket theme… If we EVER have a boy I guess I'll go with blue for his basket: ) 

Puffs because that's what almost 6 month-olds love (or make crazy faces trying to eat)
Everyone else was getting cereal

Fruit Loops
Golden Children's Bible
Sand Pail
Candy

Crunch Berries
Book of Heroes
Sand Pail
Candy

Notes:

1. Cereal?!?!? - So we were overloaded with cereal from Sams - Multigrain Cheerios and Frosted Flaked and Frosted Mini Wheats throughout Lent. I told E who begged for more Crunch Berries maybe she could have some after Lent. For the mere practical purpose of not needing more cereal and finishing the old or for the Lenten 'giving something up' even-though-you're-3… I don't know you decide but she was SUPER excited about the Crunch Berries

2. Books??? My mom always did and still does give us books. I got a good one this year (thanks Grammy) but I've got two other books cued up first but I think I can read that one daily. E's book is probably from one of the What You're Reading Wednesday posts and R's book is from here… Not 100% sold on this whole homeschooling thing and not sure if I ever will, but there are some pretty interesting syllabi with good reading suggestions

3. Pail… I've alway gotten them sand toys for their Pascha baskets.

4. Okay NEVER buying them candy for their baskets again because we just don't need it and between the grandparents and school there is too much and then I just eat it. 

Going to get Ice Cream 20 minutes past bedtime

{alternatively… I may have gotten a bit misty eyed on the soccer field}



Okay so I'm a mama of my word and because of that we had to go take the girls out for ice cream tonight at 7:20 because…. {drumroll please}


E scored (not one but) 2 goals during our soccer game today. And oh my goodness we were so excited for her.

I promise she's scoring and I LOVE the other coaches reaction… Love me some 3 yr old soccer!

Despite the {lack there of… ehem… Papa} photographic evidence E scored a goal and screamed and was jumping up and down and ran over to the sideline and gave Jibbe and Papa a big squeeze. It was the craziest thing because last game she would barely get close to the ball but this week she actually tried kicking the ball away from the other team and was brave enough to take it to the goal… twice. I think we can thank Grammy for the extra practice from this morning.

Seriously the girl was thrilled. Then she had a bit of a collision with another player and was significantly less interested which was a bummer since the Dragonflies were a bit understaffed today. 3 of 5 kiddos (not including R - who wanted to be held while I ran up and down the field but that was just the last 5 minutes she was granted field access).

So I was actually surprised how much better the kids (on both teams) ran around with only three on the field (a total of six). It was probably one of the better 3 yr old games I've coached - since I'm a 3 yr old soccer coaching expert. We still had our issues trying to get the ball in the right goal, trying to stop the other team from scoring, and I was hoping for all 3 players to score and we came super close. 3 yr olds are so fun to watch.

It was off to ice cream to make good on our promise to E. No pics from that because M was hungry and R was flinging ice cream around but we have our colorful plastic (souvenir?) spoons to prove it.



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Monday, April 14, 2014

As We Forgive Those Who Trespass Against Us…

Now try explaining this line to a 3 yr old. Okay. Let me tell you how I had to.



Quick question:

Does "I am sorry" warrant the same response as "I am sorry. Do you forgive me?"

I think no. Definitely not. Here's why:

The response for "I am sorry" is simply and usually "It's okay". Super easy. Very quick. Painless.

The response for "I am sorry. Do you forgive me?" is "I forgive you" the person being wronged needs to forgive otherwise he (or in this case she) becomes the one who is in the wrong.

If you don't agree with me… well comment away.

A bit of a backstory.

Our priest preached on this exact point a long while ago. Basically when you wrong someone don't take the easy road and say I'm sorry without asking for forgiveness. It is also an exercise for the person who was being wronged to honestly forgive the person who wronged them. If you are legitimately upset at someone for what they did/say etc and they ask you for forgiveness  - it is not easy to forgive. But you must forgive. Unconditionally forgive - even if you have not been asked - but especially if you have been asked.

So when E was 2-ish we were on a walk and stopped but the boys (now plus baby sister) house and something happened and the one had to say "I'm sorry. Do you forgive me?" to the other and the other said "Yes I forgive you" and hug. Awesome.

Hurricane Kibbe approved.

Love it.

So it is the standard in our house. Neither E or R is exempt from saying their part when the situation arises. In fact R had has some issues vocalizing the "I'm sorry" part recently but we are working on audible conversations. Oh did I ever mention to you when E was a mere 2 and 2 months the girl sat in timeout at school because she would not say she was sorry… for 45 minutes - at my request. I ended up going over to school (during work) to talk to her. She was having a war of wills with me and the teacher and if I did not think she understood exactly what was going on, then I would not have minded or even battled her over it BUT she knew and she just did not want to say it. Anyways, she eventually told her friend she was sorry. And there is still a lady who comes into the store who gets a kick out of it because she was in the store on the day this all went down and heard the two phone conversations and watched me pack up the 4 month old and trek down to school.

ANY-ways.

Point of the story is "I'm sorry. Do you forgive me?" Is standard lingo en La Casa De Kibbe

Sooooooo….

Today we were on a walk and went to the boys (yep the same ones from above) and some silliness goes down and bam E is faced with the question…. I'm sorry. Do you forgive me?

Total clam.

Would not look at him.

Refused to respond.

Multiple times. Multiple chances.

I did not get upset. Asked her if she wanted to say it. Told her there would be consequences.

Nope.

We take the long tear-filled walk home. {And I was actually hoping to chat it up with another mom for a few minutes}

Same thing happened about six-ish months ago? {see #2} We are no strangers to this. Why E will not tell this boy I forgive you? I have no idea…

Take a timeout

She really does not want to talk about it.

More time in room.

Talk about what we should do next time. Talk about what we need to do this time.




At dinner, we talk about why E is not getting her treat. Because bad decisions have consequences and not forgiving is a bad decision. E is familiar with the Our Father so I tell her "You say 'As we forgive those who trespass against us' when we pray to God and He expects you to keep your word and forgive because He forgives you. If you want Him to forgive you, you need to forgive"

E - Oh I can forgive God.

Me - Umm…. {refocus} God wants you to forgive people if they ask.

E - Okay.


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Sunday, April 13, 2014

Answer Me This - Yep I'm finally posting again!


1. What time do you prefer to go to Mass?

The DL (Divine Liturgy) starts at 8:30. There is only one option. It used to be at 10 but then about 18 months ago it was moved to 8:30 which would generally not seem like an issue worth discussing BUT we live 1 hr away from church PLUS with a Papa deacon who needs to be a church early to set up… well the first few weeks were hairy waking up a 2 yr old and 18 month old at 6 am to eat so we could race out the door at 7. However after a month of not loving life on Sunday mornings, I wised up and now the girls and I eat breakfast in the hall and then get dressed there. So we leave at 6:45, Papa is there with plenty of time, the girls are not rushed, I am not stressed and I LOVE 8:30 DL. It is fantastic. 


Sunday Morning Kitchen Table


2. Would you rather be too hot or too cold?

Hmmm… After the winter that we have had I would say too hot but honestly I think I belong in SoCal because I love 70 degree days with the windows open and a slight breeze. 
3. How many brothers and/or sisters do you have?

One younger brother. Uncle Kev. The girls adore him. I kinda like him too I guess : ) 



4. If you were faced with a boggart, what would it turn into?

The dark. I am so so so afraid of the dark. 
5. Barbie: thumbs up or thumbs down?

Down. I hope to keep Barbies out of this house for as long as humanly possible. Our house is exploding with stuff/toys as it is no need to add to it. 
6. If someone asked you to give them a random piece of advice, what would you say?


Because I did this today:





I figure this would be appropriate… "Don't give up…. Don't ever give up" ~ Coach Jim Valvano

Now 1/2 marathon on Palm Sunday (thank goodness for those Saturday night vigil masses) - never would do it again. I registered for this crazy race back a month or so after I found out I was pregnant with M. Pascha was so INSANELY early last year it did not dawn on me to look at the calendar for the following year to see when Holy Week started. Anyhow… I need a good local-ish .5 marathon to do in the fall. Got any ideas? Pray for those people who died. Seriously puts things in perspective. 


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Tuesday, April 8, 2014

On this week's edition of Lenten antics

Well we trekked out to Presanctified this week. Running out the door in true Kibbe fashion. The girls were crazy in the car and insisted on telling us

E - "Mama we have GOT to get out of this bad traffic"
R - "Bad taff-fic"
E - "This is such bad traffic"

Preach on girls. I don't know how people in big cities deal with all the traffic!

Well the girls must have gotten a lot of their crazies out in the van ride because their behavior at church was angelic compared to last week. Here are the high points

E started off by singing Hark the Herald Angels Sing and Away in the Manger before church started but audible enough so everyone could hear her. She preceded to ask me where the rest of the Christmas carols songs were in the book. I tried to tell her we are in a different liturgical season but I'm not 100% sure she is convinced.

During liturgy Lee walks around the church and incenses the icons along the walls. R jumping in on the crazy action followed him around clapping at the smoke from the censor and then when he finished came up to me and said "I got it Mami".

To cap off the humorous behavior during the Prayer of St. Ephraim (as she is saying it with everyone):

"Lord and Master of my life spare me from the spirit of indifference, despair, lust for power and idle chatter"

E - Mama this is my favorite!

"Instead bestow on me your servant the spirit of integrity, humility, patience and love"

E - Mama this is my favorite prayer

"Yes O Lord and King, let me see my own sins and not judge my brothers and sisters for you are blessed unto ages of ages. Amen"

E - Mama that was my favorite!


Today was probably one of the more humorous Lenten experiences with the girls. Fortunately I think there were maybe 10 people at Church today so we were not too, too much of a distraction by our preschool/toddler activities. I did get a good chuckle a few times.

I love my kids

They may drive me crazy sometimes

But I would not trade them

For anything!


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Monday, April 7, 2014

Just Because

Just because I think these are interesting and I've enjoyed reading everyone else's...

1. Where do you live? And why do you live there?

Smack dab in the middle of I-95. Well not in the median but the most central city along I-95 (I-95 is a mere 1.5 miles from la Casa de Kibbe). I was dragged here kicking and screaming 6 months before we got married (no we did not live together!) and I've lived here ever since. Cannot say it would have been 1st on my list of places to live but The Mount sure beats Raleigh-world in terms of all the traffic and stoplights!
2. What are you currently watching and/or reading?

Currently the only show that Lee and I are watching is 19 Kids and Counting. We will probably watch some of the National Championship game tonight and ever since we ditched the dish we have been missing the Nats baseball network so now we just settle for whatever baseball is on.




Currently reading… I really don't read too much but I have recently purchased Chosen and Cherished and Catholic Education - Homeward Bound. Pretty excited about reading both.

My husband reads an inordinate amount of time/books - it is pretty impressive. 
3. What kind of Catholic are you: cradle, or convert? (Or considering?)

C-R-A-D-L-E… as in the 7:30 am Mass EVERY single Sunday cradle. But now the church we go to does not have the first Liturgy until 8:30 so my kids should thank me for letting them sleep in. 
4. Can you point to one moment or experience that made you a practicing Catholic? (Or want to be?)

Hmmm… no probably not. I suppose some defining moments are:

1. Going to college and the first Sunday thinking 'I wonder what time Mass is' (instead of I wonder if I should go to Mass)
2. Getting 'Crowned with Glory and Honor' at our wedding





3. Hubby getting ordained a deacon (words cannot describe how proud I am of him)



5. How many pairs of shoes do you own?

3 boots, 3 flip flops, 2 running shoes, 7 shoes I would wear to work or church?
6. Are you a good dancer?

No. 

Me and Uncle Kev dancing on previously mentioned wedding day


7. Who usually drives, you or your husband?

Hubs… unless he has driven all day for work and we are making the 1 hr long trek to church during the week. 
8. What's your favorite holiday and how do you celebrate it?

Thanksgiving. Man, Thanksgiving is awesome. The food is always good and there is always plenty of it. My MIL lets us 'do' Thanksgiving on Friday so we are not racing back and forth to meals and stuffing ourselves twice. (I'd fight you for my MIL - she is great!) 

Oh and there are no presents to buy or anything that requires lots of planning ahead - except when you are the class mom in charge of the party.
9. Which is correct? Left or right?



Right but I'm not OCD about it

10. Do you have any scars?

Yes. Shattered knuckle in college = my right thumb knuckle is fat. 



11. What's the most famous thing you've ever done? 

My senior year of college I was named the NC Student Photographer of the Year. (I was a pre-med turned photo-journalism major and I use my Latin American Studies and photo-j double major and chemistry minor - every single day, promise : ) 

Saturday, April 5, 2014

Siete QTs - And the Baby's calling...

Heat's not on. AC's not on. Windows open. Pollen's coming in… but I don't mind




--- 1 ---

R decided that she just has to have a 'sok-er jur-see' too so she's been hitching a ride to practice the past two weeks.


She pretty much wanders around and occasionally kicks the ball in the net and tries to monopolize one of the balls. I had thought I might be able to stick her on the field if we are short a player but this 2 yr old is well… 2.

Rain is in the forecast for our first game but we cannot stop talking about going to get ice cream after E scores a goal and I REALLY hope she can be brave enough to kick the ball away from the other team. 

--- 2 ---
E's 'engineering' - thanks Sesame Street for that word


Princess Duplos are so great to get little minds working to put things together. 

--- 3 ---

Homemade popsicles anyone?


Rest first. Popsicles later.



--- 4 ---

It was above 80 degrees this week and it was glorious!




E has been begging to get in the sprinkler since the day it got too cold to play in them last year. R remains skeptical of E's love for the water sport. 


--- 5 ---
Baby selflies….


Wait for it...


A little longer...


Almost...




--- 6 ---
Please pray for this parish...



The above is what parishioners woke up to this morning. Their church burned to the ground. I have not had the privilege of visiting this parish but everyone says it is absolutely amazing. I cannot imagine what it is like to have a place with so many memories destroyed. 

--- 7 ---
Which segways into another church related take


It was kielbasa making time en La Casa de Kibbe this morning. Papa was cutting pork before 7 am. Several parishioners came to grind, mix, stuff and package 175 lbs of kielbasa for our parish fundraiser. The girls and I retreated to a friends house for a good part of the morning so we stayed away from the stinky mess. 

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