7 Quick Takes - Food, Holding Hands, Orange

Linking up with Kelly ... surviving of school 

---1---

We are definitely in between season and our laundry proves it

`

School uniforms and bathing suits. After this weekend a lot of the bathing suits will be packed away until next year. E will still be swimming in the fall and winter and R will likely start in the winter. M is in that strange stage of being capable of swimming by herself but getting vertical to take a breathe so she'll likely get more swim lessons with A once soccer is over.

---2---

I love these moment.... 

Walking over to the park during E's swim practice, they were just chatting it up. I think M really misses R during the day now that school is back in session

He may get on her nerves like crazy but she's a great big sis. 

---3---

Friday night Lee took me out to dinner for my birthday. It was really nice. We went to a local brewery before and played corn hole - which we never do. Then we went to a restaurant we hadn't been to in well over a year (because the service wasn't great). I'm glad we went back. 

Saturday evening we went to liturgy- we've been trying to get on a good church routine but it hasn't happened. Here are our options

Ukrainian liturgy - Saturday nights

Ruthenian liturgy - Sunday mornings

Roman/Latin rite Mass - block off the whole weekend because Lee serves at all the masses (and he's going to fuss at me about my rite notation but whatever : ) 

Anyways we were planning on making it a 3 week cycle at the beginning of the summer but that hasn't happened. It was time to hit the Saturday night DL. After church we went to Jason's Deli for dinner. If you have never been, it is great. Great salad bar and the best part... free soft serve ice cream. When we rolled in, it was a bit busier than usual so I wheeled A and C in their highchairs to the back room area where there was another family or two. I hit the salad bar and when I came back this mom was distributing napkins and packs of graham crackers (those are free too) around our table. I thanked her and looked over my shoulder and lo and behold another mom of five - hers were a bit older than ours. As they were leaving she said "You are doing a great job" to which I replied, "Thanks so are you!". Then she said, "Moms of five unite". Funny things happen when we go out to eat. 

So this meant that Sunday morning we were home - which was strange, but nice, but strange. I went on a run while Lee cooked. Cooking is definitely his love language - or at least one of them. 

He asked me what I wanted him to cook for my (family) birthday dinner and I was on the fence. When I finally made up my mind and knew we'd be home for breakfast Sunday I raised the bar even higher by asking for my FAVORITE egg bake. 

PEOPLE

It is amazing and it is paleo - not like I care - but its got a ton of veggies in it and zero cheese. So after my run, we had a peaceful kid free breakfast because they turn their noses up at it which works out really well for moi. 

And if that wasn't enough he moved onto making homemade lasagna with two sauces and homemade noodles. 

IT 

WAS 

INSANE

Then we had carrot cake a la Grammy for dessert - which was AMAZING. 

Basically I gained a million pounds over my birthday weekend but it was worth it. 

---4---

C rested while we ate breakfast because she is a wreck sometimes which meant that she was up while A was resting...

Except A's door does not close all the way so we had to block the hallway off so C wouldn't interrupt. She crawled up on the blockers like a champ but was so frustrated she could not get down!

---5---

This should be R's last year of tee ball... 

Her coach (who is a good friend) wants the team to embrace orange. So instead of fighting it any longer, I decided to roll with it and got R some orange socks and she wanted to wear an orange hair tie. We are all waiting with baited breathe to see what color scheme we've got going on for this season (R's wearing last year's jersey to practice)

In other R news, she got her first blooming flower at school. Which is funny because the night before she specifically said - NO ONE IS EVER GOING TO GET A FLOWER - she was in a bit of a tired after school funk. Her teacher awards blooming flowers to the kids if they learn something new or do something great. 

---6---

Our schedule on Tuesdays is interesting and was supposed to work really well. 

E and R have AHG and E goes to swim practice so R and I got some time together and some time to read and stuff

Then after swim practice we eat dinner together and work on homework before AHG. It is perfect. Lee or I stays home with the others and all is well.

And that was the plan until this week...

Crazy tee ball games are going to be on Tuesdays - and they were supposed to be on Tuesday or Thursdays - so I knew there would be SOME AHG overlap but I didn't think it would be EVERY WEEK. So now I need to rework my game plan and pray for rainy Tuesdays

---7---

With bigger-ish kids in the house it is easy to forget what littler kids should be/ like to do.

Like take baths and sit and read bedtime stories for ever and ever. Sometimes I catch myself thinking would would NEVER have given E or R a shower or we would have read them ten stories and not just one or two. It take a bit of extra work letting the littles be little but when we can, it is definitely worth it. 

7QTs - Green, Traps, & Irish Food

Linking up with Kelly and adding the necessary amount of green..

---1---

Hopefully you celebrated yesterday with lots of green!

I cannot believe it - a decent 4-kid-pic!

The girls weren't thrilled about their green milk at breakfast or the green mac and cheese at lunch BUT its St. Patricks Day and I always add a bit of green to food as a reminder. So they will just have to get over it : ) 

---2---

The week started off with a bang and A throwing up (we think it was too much milk at once and not a continuation of the funk he had in the wee hours of Saturday morning - while Papa was in OH on this pierogi mission)

Because after a morning power nap he was pretty much fine the rest of the day.

But that wasn't the only illness of the week, I took E to the dr on Thursday because she had been nonacid off complaining of her ear hurting and school called and said she had a fever so off to the doctor to put this to bed. After one inflamed ear canal (close to the start of swimmer's ear) later and a small bottle of $$ eye drops - she's fine. 

---3---

This post is going to sound like an ode to E but it's been a pretty slow week... Any ways, E's been working on a leprechaun trap for a few weeks. 

We craft in stages... 

She first started off with attracting the leprechauns with candy but after reading a Magic Tree House fact checker about Irish folklore we learned that leprechauns are after gold coins - not candy. We talked about her design plans and how the leprechauns might see the coins in the shoebox and etc etc... enter the trap door and the windows. I really wanted to see how/where she'd run with it so I had her draw the cut outs because I'm still not good with handing over a pair of boxcutters to a 6 yr old - though she did make the windows bigger - which she thought was excellent. 

Deep in golden ladder making

While she did that, I tested my Saran wrap and glue gun theory - which is totally doable. I wouldn't recommend trying to do it in tight shoebox corners but it worked. E trimmed the excess wrap and I was pretty sure she was going to punch a hole in the Saran before she turned it in 

A sign and a gold path were the finishing touches 

The finished product. Unfortunately, none of the traps caught any leprechauns yesterday at school. The leprechauns ate the chocolate coins E had in her trap and busted out one of the windows.... 

---4---

E hit a big milestone in AR points and I told her she could either go out for ice cream or order a new set of fairy books... I thought she was going to be sold on the ice cream and we all lost out when she chose the fairy books.

She's downed these 7 books in less than 2 days!

---5---

Lee's been cooking like crazy for a big school fundraiser... 

Veggie lasagne, Guinness beef stew, Shepherd's pie, corned beef and cabbage, and roasted potatoes. The kitchen has been overflowing with food and great smells. Next weekend it's sausage making weekend for our parish fundraiser which is icky and gross to me so the kids and I will have to evacuate because I can't stand it. 

---6---

Wednesday we survived our first pre sanctified Liturgy of Lent (I know scandalous given this was the 3rd week)... with China the first week and Lee giving a Lenten retreat at the parish here the second week - it just wasn't in the cards. 

The kids - even A - did mostly well. E was in a micro-managing mood so I got reports on who was doing what. 

We also hit the Fish Fry and Stations of the Cross here last night (for the first time). E sat in her own pew in the front - and always does a million times better when she's by herself and not distracted. R did awesome too - which I've kind of been waiting for to step up her behavior game. Still wouldn't trust to make through all of Mass but with the standing and kneeling and moving for Stations I think it makes it easier. M and A weren't terrible so props to them. A destroyed a Stations booklet so we have that to tape up and use next week. He found the Holy Water so between that and the prayer cards that he went up and down the pews taking out of the holders, he was actually pretty quiet. Thank goodness we didn't have to go outside because it was FREEZING.

I'm learning that parenting is so much about patience and I am trying to embrace the need to be more patient but it is hard. Maybe adding another baby will slow things down some and cause me to stretch and add a little more. patience

---7---

But until then... We will par the course and carry on with the crazy like always

Spring sports is starting up - there's only a few weeks over lap with the end of swim season. Thank goodness the practices are 5 minutes away because everyone is on a different schedule. I'm not coaching E's team this year which is new but good. I think its good for her to learn from someone else plus I couldn't do a good job if I wanted to given the fact I might have some or all kids in tow because spring pool season is upon us and St. Joseph seems to be taking care of Lee in the lots of work department. R's doing tee ball again but the wacky cold and rainy weather has canceled the first week of practice. M starts her soccer next week. She's decided to be the purple Ducks. I'm coaching her little team because I enjoy it and I feel pretty good about Lee being there most days and E and R are pretty self-contained and A cannot wander too far because he is super into every single ball there is in sight so he'll probably stick right with me. 

I'm actually kind of excited about the spring season of activities because they really force me (and Lee) to stay on dinner schedule and have a plan and stick to it. Yes, there are some late showers and meltdowns but everyone learns a little bit of sacrifice for another person. 

Valentines Day 2017

I try and do a little something for Valentines Day and here is how it worked out:

Last minute run to get cards and flowers for the girls the morning of ended in a stop for - of course - heart shaped donuts. We've done heart shaped muffins and toast and maybe next year I'll remember the EXCESSIVE amount of sugar in take for the day and nix the donuts but they were fun anyway

M took the raspberry and chocolate one much to E and R's disappointment because then they weren't all matching 

I gave the girls each a cup with a flower in it because who doesn't like getting flowers (and a week later they are still going strong) plus everyone got a card with a DD and CFA invite with either me or Papa. They have to redeem them though - I don't think many were redeemed last year so maybe we can do a little better reminding them ; ) 

I had to stuff donut in A's mouth because he didn't know what he was missing out on

R wanted me to come to her party at school so I did... then I went over to M's which was much more just 2 and 3 yr olds eating than a party they understood

M come home with a good stash of stuff from her party which she organized and put in her cup

Your brain on sugar overload!

I kind of expected the amount of stuff R brought home to be less than M - but that was not the case. She sorted through her envelope and organized everything for dessert purposes.

I assumed E would have the least amount of stuff coming home because there was no formal party - that I knew of - though they did have a secret Valentine they had to write a note for and pick up a few things they liked. Well I was wrong. This girl came home with the MOST stuff!

E had AHG later that night so Papa was on double duty for cooking over the weekend - which I didn't get any pictures of - which is kind of a scandal. He cooked me (and the girls) my all time favorite thing he makes - veal scallopini - it's the second time he's made it ever. It sure beats paying $65 a plate at a restaurant when your husband can make it at home PLUS PLUS PLUS you get seconds! Then Sunday night (which was also MeatFare - aka Papa's not cooking any more meat until Pascha/Easter) he cooked the world famous Pine Nut Chicken - crowd PLEASER. Again no pics but we definitely ended Valentine's Day week on a high note with that food!

7QTs - Hair Ties, Goggles, CSW

Linking up with Kelly and the usuals...

---1---

Sometimes I have little reminders of my kids...

I am a mom to several girls with long hair and finding hair ties is either really easy or super difficult. On this day it was easy. There are already murmurs of cutting our hair. I am still advocating for a pre-school hair cut like we did 2 years ago and I'm not quite sure if M will be able to get in on the action! 8 inches is a tall order for a 3 yr old who has never had her hair cut and whose hair doesn't seem to grow quickly at all but she is the one who is pushing the hair cut the most!

---2---

The swimmer does homework:

E had to get a new pair of goggles because the band on one of her pairs (she has to have 2) broke on both sides in less than 24 hours? Kind of weird because I thought the one side breaking was just a fluke. Anyhow, she wanted yellow and the brand she had before didn't have only yellow so we branched out to these and she HAD to try them out immediately. 

---3---

R and M are taking swim lessons during E's swim practice #winning

It is super convenient and A stays home with Papa - love you A - so I get a break. 

I love that R gets to be the big sister and be 'more advanced' if you will. She LIVES in E's shadow so much it's good for her to be the biggest. These girls are both hoping to swim 6 and under this summer. M doesn't really realize what that entails I am quite sure. R can do it if she wants to and she's eyeing a new bathing suit. Standing offer is if you swim 6 and under you get to pick out a (blue) racing bathing suit and I told E she could get one to match (because she kind of needs one) but also she will help cheer R on to 6 and under glory : ) 

---4---

The quilt!

So it is not backed or quilted in this pic - nor did I do any of the sewing to speak of - okay maybe a square or two. A HUGE gracias to the lady who has less time than I who got this done in no time. The quilt is en-route to my case and I cannot wait to see it. Hoping this will be a big bidding auction item in a month!

---5---

E was working on her World Heritage badge for AHG

She picked Japan, Israel and Kenya to learn about. Part of the badge is cooking food from those countries. Papa of course stepped up to the plate and made the cooking side of the badge happen #teamwork

We had beef stir fry from Japan, beans, corn and potatoes from Kenya and Jewish bread. I think my favorite was the Kenyan recipes and that will be added to the roles of Lenten recipes!

---6---

Catholic schools week was ages ago but here's to it anyway...

Crazy hair day!

There was one boy who painted his hair blue and put fish in it - I thought that was the most creative

Career day dentist!

In Spanish the week before they drew and wrote what that wanted to be but I didn't get a clue in time so Amazon Prime to the rescue for the scrubs and white coat. By the end of the day E said she wanted to be a hygienist except she kept on saying - high-GENE-est and I was DYING. 

---7---

Also, the book fair was during Catholic School Week... 

E had a more than great report card so she had some funds to burn. Of course she picked a needle arts book. Let it be known I am not crafty and I really don't have a lot of patience for crafts especially new ones that don't go according to plan. E and I sat in bed for FOREVER trying to get this bracelet started. It really doesn't help our joint cause that she's let handed and I am not. So we are doing things backwards from each other. E isn't the most patient person either (ehem... where did that come from). Anyway, she left more than disappointed. She has still emerged for the heights of the upstairs with her bracelet she is working on. Sometimes you just have to figure it out on your own. 

Thanksgiving 2016

Squeaking one last November post in about Thanksgiving because I've seen a million Christmas posts already (and its not even December!)

It wouldn't be Thanksgiving without Turkey cookies :  )

These were the only take and bake cookies that were nut free. I'd probably get them again because they were really tasty (but way $$$). Moms of nut-allergy kids... I have no idea how you do it

Roundest take and bake cookies... Just don't overbake. My theory, better to underbake by a little then have a crunchy sugar cookie

I was going to decorate them at school so I wouldn't have to worry about transporting two trays in the van with nominal amounts of flat open space - so glad I did it at home!

Yay Turkeys! E and M took one in their snacks because I made them for R's class party

Unsure of the party

Now she's happy! There was lots of great food but the kids love the cheese the most... I had a tough time selling the turkey sandwiches to half the class

Then everyone shared their turkey project

R did a great job and somehow her turkey was named Banana? Also, with 10 boys in the class - I've never seen more superhero turkeys in one room - Batman, Spiderman (x2), Superman and Captain America and there was also a policeman too!

And then the littles were gathered and we shot over to E's school for E's class party. Lee cooked some of the turkey and I seriously worried him to death the night before over if we had enough turkey and because we have such an awesome class of parents... I consulted and stopped bugging him (and we had enough turkey to go around : ) 

The class had a cute performance with a few songs before we ate

It was great seeing all the parents and catching up for a few minutes... Did I mention I LOVE E's class? 

A took the Mayflower off course several times! What about M's party? Well, she skipped hers and didn't know it because I'm a protester of the action type but with E's party and the fact she's 3 - I'm pretty sure she didn't even know about it

Thursday we had Thanksgiving at our house. It was new. It was nice. But I'm a sucker for keeping traditions going, so it was different. Lee cooked a bunch but wasn't overwhelmed. My family came up mid day with more food and good weather. We had a good meal and were so full from dinner we passed on dessert for a few hours. We have a better idea about the timeline for eating for next year. Also, keeping this turkey for future Thanksgiving center pieces :  )

Can we say doomed for a Christmas card pic? Yes, I think so!Friday we loaded up and headed across town to Lee's family's Thanksgiving. That was great because some of their cousins were there and we really missed the ones who weren't. Weather was A+ for getting outside

This is M's 'chicken' 

Love preschool crafts!

R's placemat 

E's turkey she made on Thanksgiving that happens to look more spider-like that turkey-like

We are officially done with our turkey leftovers as of last night but there were several quarts of turkey soup (Lee made on Saturday) that are frozen for later... Last night I told M we were having turkey again for dinner and she said... "No more turkey please" and proceed to have a tearful meltdown. Shrimp scampi is on the menu for tonight!