Weekly Wrap - #3

 Since there are no more Quick Takes : ( let's go with a Weekly Wrap of all things... 

~ 1 ~

Christmas Programs...

Neither school had in person Christmas programs this year.

So we got all dressed up for Christmas program taping! It was actually waaaaaay easier than getting dressed and racing to the plays at 5:49!

~ 2 ~

The muppet tree!

We got our tree - it is still happily outside. Lee nixed my muppet tree but I loved it. It is was really cute!

~ 3 ~

The windshield...

A windshield ding turned into a full on windshield crack. That was great. I held my breathe EVERY single time I went over railroad tracks or a bump on the highway. I go over more railroad tracks each day than I imagined. 

~ 4 ~

St Lucy's Day rolls.. 

Good things I got friends who actually do liturgical living and want to share!

~ 5 ~

The big kids (not the preschoolers) helped with a Christmas nativity

H started as baby Jesus in the pic only 

R got to be Mary a bunch of times!

A was a shepherd and a wise man and had lots of hot chocolate. 

~ 6 ~

H has been a bed hog so...

she got sent to the crib and has done quite well!

~ 7 ~

The weather has been great. 

There was a soccer game organized and we went to the field for a stroll

Weekly Wrap #2

 Since there are no more Quick Takes : ( let's go with a Weekly Wrap of all things... 

~ 1 ~

Sweet baby J! He loves a fire just as much as his big brother. 

~ 2 ~

We had a swim meet

E and R swam and I didn't catch R in a smiley swim pic but she was she usual smiling self. 

~ 3 ~

We are in the throws of Advent. We are still trying to do our Advent activities. The first week we did the Thanksgiving food collection at school, last week the bigs helped make Thanksgiving dinner for a shelter, and this week is get your stuff ready for St. Nicholas. Next week E has been begging to do secret sibling exchange - we will see about that. 

~ 4 ~

The weather has been amazing... 

I've been able to open the windows several afternoons.  

~ 5 ~

Black shoes!

E and I were on the hunt for black shoes for her choir concert - five stores later and about 13 minutes before dress rehearsal - we found some - not the ones pictured. It was INSANE. 

~ 6 ~

Guess what J found… 

Ashes from the fire from several days before which he proceeded to rake up and get suuuuuper dirty in. E had lots of choir rehearsals this week so that meant the normal schedule was a bit different and more at home in the afternoon time 

~ 7 ~

Lady C decided to skate

The benefits of having big sisters... they get you suited up!

7QTs - Gobble Wobble, Sibs, Strep

Linking up with Kelly ... reversing it from St. Nicholas to Thanksgiving

---1---

Today is St. Nicholas Day.... 

E and I got home late last night (see next) and I nearly forgot about having to set things up for St. Nicholas' visit. The stuff the kids had sorted out for him to take had been in the chapel for at least a week.

He did not disappoint with Christmas outfits, pajamas, sugary cereals, books, ACT and bandaids. A and C played store with the ACT and bandaids before school. I absolutely love that this family tradition and I have to dig through the closet to remember what I've gotten throughout the year. We only give the kids one thing on Christmas so this is very exciting for them. 

---2---

Last night I got to hear E's choir rehearse for their concert tonight... 

I had to stay for the rehearsal because Js 2 month appt turned into a joint appt for M who had 1. the crud, 2. swimmers ear & 3. strep but PRAISE THE LORD not the flu. Huge praise up in here. So I knew it would be risky bringing her to the concert late at night when sick (as planned) even though she wouldn't be contagious. Well as it turns out, A appears to have strep also as of this afternoon late sooooo... here I am typing out my QTs and wishing the concert was live streamed. It was surely going to be amazing. 

I would be a complete liar if I made it sound like I was at all of the 4 hr rehearsal because J and I weren't. I had made dinner plans earlier in the week and I knew if I broke those we would probably not connect again until Easter. Can I tell you how good and refreshing and fun it was just to sit and chat all things, kids, life, school, lice (gasp!), extra curriculars with a few moms I've known since E was in preschool (ancient history, I know). 

SO GOOD. 

SO NEEDED. 

We probably won't do it again because between the three of us there's double digit number of kids BUT... when we do we'll just pick up where we left off.  

---3---

J!!!!!!!!!!

Baby J is 2 months old! He's slept 6+ hours at night which is glorious. He's had his tongue tie lasered which has made all the difference in the world nursing. He loves to talk to me when he gets some one-on-one time. His smells and noises are oh so very boy and sometimes I still can't believe he's here. 

---4---

M doing planks for swim and A supervising

These two people will be tonsil-less three weeks from today. Or at least have significantly smaller ones. I think the end of year and Christmas is forcing me to block out how nervous I am about two kids getting their tonsils out back-to-back but they have each other and it may be a rough few days but I think when they are 18 they'll thank me. 

---5---

The boys - 

A has been desperate to do things with J like play with him and talk with him. It is funny and cute and I can only imagine them in two years raking and mowing and burning leaves which are all things on A's to do list this weekend. 

---6---

The Highway Patrol horses were at preschool one day at pick up: 

 

Unfortunately they were there for an officer's funeral 

A and C could not get enough of them saddling up and finally one of the officers asked if they wanted to get out of our van and get close. C was thrilled until she was right there. 

---7---

Thanksgiving seems like weeks ago even though it wasn't. This past week I kept telling Lee and everyone okay we just need to get to Sunday without an issues. Rehearsals, swim practices, work meetings, birthdays, and the concert were all on the radar. M getting sick put a kink in things but E and R did not succumb to anything yet so that is great. 

I only made turkey cookies for one class this year. Still a Thanksgiving favorite of mine because it is a cute crafty-ish thing I can do well - if I may say so myself. 

J with his pumpkins 

C in her hat from school 

So we may have a new tradition on our hands... I found this 5k in the next town over and Uncle Kev and Nicole and E and R were game. Lee gave his blessing to let me take half of the kids out of the house while he cooked up a storm for the afternoon. 

Nicole and J and I power walked the whole thing and caught up on all things wedding and life. E took off and ran on her own which was fine by me. R left the walking crowd less than half way through and her street sense made me more than a bit nervous but we did find her at the end - and she was fine. Uncle Kev started with the walkers and then did not want to lose to a niece so she caught up with E and R and controversy remains about the finish and involves a turkey blocking his way : ) 

J was happily past from aunts and cousins the Friday after Thanksgiving and we continue to be so grateful that we have 2 days of Thanksgiving and not two meals in 2.5 hours that we have to rush to both sides of the family for. 

7QTs - Christmas-ish Things

Linking up with Kelly ... pre Christmas happenings

---1---

M and A had their preschool Christmas program 2 weeks ago: 

Don't you love a good bowtie? 

A was a touch under the weather but looks a lot worse because he ran and tripped and fell so his forehead was a bit swollen.

My favorite memory of the night was him singing Jingle Bells and jingling the hand bells (that were in his right hand) but jingling both hands (because he is left handed).

---2---

Meet Polly!

We have a friendly opossum that patrons C's scraps in the evening. We have seen her a few nights in a row and read the riot act to the kids about not opening the door for Polly (like they would - because 3 are terrified of all things with fur)

---3---

Target has this really AWESOME snowflake lights... 

Except the team in charge of R&D failed because they do NOT string together like the icicle lights do. You know, you want several snowflakes strands strung together to line the porch.... NOPE. There is only a plug on one side of each strand so basically it is terrible and I was stuck with 100 boxes of snowflakes and I was super annoyed 

Until Lee put up hooks (those 3M things are worth anything) and then got a million extension cords and made my vision come to life. I promise a better picture but please note there are at least 6 extension cords just making my snowflakes light up : )

GO TEAM!

---4---

Little C is a full 18 months

And already for swim team! Gosh I love her!!! Even though she's kind of a mess

---5---

E and R had their Christmas program... 

It was cute. The best part was going to the dress rehearsal and not fighting for a seat and not having to mess with A and C who hung out with me during the evening performances. 

---6---

The kids came together and unwrapped 9 bags of hugs this year

It was a good amount. Not manageable on the oven side but not too bad for them 

I told E I'm putting her in charge of pretzels next year because I never got into a good rhythm of loading hugs while the hugs/pretzels were in the oven

So the whole process took way longer than I would have like BUT... it's all good. 

These are the best fresh out of the oven... my OCD cannot handle my color error

Batch 5 of 6 

My batter taste tester

Ready to pass out the gifts

---7---

Two Sundays before Christmas we went on an exhilarating tree hunt...

There should have been about 15 vendors with trees. 

There were 3.

I'm quite sure there were more people looking for trees than were available trees so there were very few deals to be found which was a bummer. I think we passed through every spot at least 3 times. I called Lee (who wasn't tree shopping with us) and was half convinced we'd end up with an artificial tree. But we didn't and I caved on a long needled tree that looked like one side was hacked up and missing and the other side was immaculate. 

On the Last Day of Advent

Advent has flown by but with as much action-packed 40 days we've had, I have had some moments of reflection in the midst of the crazy...

As I sit in the dark with the light of the freshly lit (but not decorated-yet) tree I want to remember this Advent for a few reasons. We were pretty diligent about our daily Jesse tree readings this year which makes me happy. Our Advent Activities of service and sacrifice were completed - but not nearly as spaced out or emphasized as I would have liked; maybe that's just because they are now knitted into the normal of our Advent that I don't need to make a big deal about them. We did just barely squeeze our praying at the graveyards yesterday but we did it. Thank goodness God loves those just the same who come at the 1st hour and the 11th : ) 

As for me, this Advent I really have been drawn to 2 things. 

The first is that God is showing me that I am a hypocrite. I tell my kids to tie their shoes and won't let them leave the house until they are tied and then I turn around and wear my shoes untied ALL DAY LONG. Now when I look down at my shoes I have a much different perspective - am I modeling the words that are coming out of my mouth for my kids, or am I saying 'do as I say, not as I do'. Same thing with yelling and correcting the kids. I can sit here and raise my voice and use harsh words but when they turn around and do the same, I get upset. Oh the hypocrisy of it all. I have to believe God is showing me this to change my heart so I can change my ways so to be a better mama to all these kids He has given us. I'm working on it. 

The second thing that has really struck me this Advent came twice in the form of songs the kids were singing at their programs. In one "He is the Christ, God's baby boy, let the people rejoice and sing for joy." In M's program "Moo moo says the cow, bah bah says the sheep, how in the world did God's baby sleep?" Having a baby at Christmas time really hits home and I've sat with C thinking about Mary looking down at Jesus and thinking, God's baby boy. The liturgical years flies through Jesus' childhood because not much is known about it. But when you take the time to sit down and think about God's baby boy and how awesome that is, it is pretty incredible. 

7 Quick Takes - Snow, Swim, School

Linking up with Kelly and co... Going from newest to oldest because I could probably do 4 posts just to catch up

---1---

We survived the end of year / Christmas programs and party rush. 

E and R had their program but I went to the dress rehearsal (because I got 2nd row seats and didn't have to wait in the cold for 30 minutes) but also because A would not have survived the program at 7:30. So everyone enjoyed it. E was an angel and R was a sheep - along with just about everyone in the school. I heard for DAYS... I just don't wanna be a sheep - in the saddest voice ever. Anyhow she powered though and was an excellent sheep - my rendition of one of the song Shaggy, Smelly Kids had the girls giggling. M's program was great and we could hear her sing and say her Bible verse. 

E and R had parties that I didn't go to but all the remnants came home in their book bags and I am blown away by all the STUFF that R came home with. I (and she) totally appreciate the thought but I did not and cannot send in goodies for everyone in her class because then I'd have to do it times 4 kids and that would be 60 goodies. Even A came home with a pudding cup with reindeer antlers and a eyes and a nose (very cute I must say) but honestly I can BARELY get the teacher gifts out the door. I cannot fathom doing classmate gifts too. 

M wanted me to come to her party which entailed watching her eat : ) and stories, songs and Bible verses. It was cute and enjoyable but then she came home telling everyone there was no food at her party - which I promptly reminded her that was a lie and then we went over the consequences for lying... apple cider vinegar. 

---2---

This past week we were in town for church. Papa was on deacon duty here in the Mount and so I figured if I can handle 5 kids at Mass sola - I can handle 5 kids at Dunkin after mass sola... 

They did do quite well in church so they earned it. A made it in church up until he wanted to help the ushers take the gifts up and got called back - then he LOST it. He got it together and then was in and out for the rest of Mass - which isn't too bad for him. 

Donuts were enjoyed by all and C slept through the sugar rush : ) 

---3---

On Saturday I got down to baking because teacher/neighbor/friend/people who deserve pound cake gifts were in order. I made 6 batches in total - 3 Saturday and 3 Tuesday and I'm pretty sure I could use another batch or two

We have lots of people who help make our world go around so that means lots of pound cake

Then the kids unwrapped 8 bags of hugs for our sweet and salty M&M bites. I was impressed A helped and didn't even try and sneak one. Next year I need to use parchment paper with these and I could probably use another 2-3 bags of hugs!

Hopefully next year E can do the bulk of the M&M pressing and hug loading. 

---4---

R lost her first tooth!

It had been loose for a while and finally one day after school I wouldn't let her got play until it was out because I was convinced she was going to lose it or swallow it while she was playing. She nervously grabbed a Kleenx and popped it out herself. 

She was super proud of herself and E got put it her place because E was a nervous wreck everytime she loses a tooth. E noted that R didn't even cry. It was awesome. 

The tooth fairy remembered to come so all is well. 

---5---

We have had some swimming to report... 

I finally got R and M in for lessons and then I didn't think they'd happen before Christmas but fortunately they found someone to do them. The girls are having a blast and beg to go to lessons so I hope they can be free swimmers before the end of winter - it might be a stretch though

E had a swim meet a few weekends ago. She did a 50 and 100 of LEGAL breaststroke - which is awesome considering a few months ago it was still very much not legal. She almost got a time in 200 IM but those last few strokes of fly DQed her or rather she got herself DQed : ( 

---6---

The weekend of E's swim meet there was a touch of winter weather... 

So after surviving returning to Target because we were double charged for a birthday gift

And surviving the party with 4 kids - Y pool party complete with me in a bathing suit and showering kids in Y locker room because that's way easier than at home

Everyone got a small taste of snow

And then we went to a Christmas party - see the snow?

---7---

PSA...

These magic clear markers from Crayola are amazing especially for A. Last minute gift ideas for the 2-4 crowd. 

have you finished shopping? I think we are done.