The Very Lonely Catholic School Mama

I wrote this post a few months ago but never really had the nerve to post it. Now that school is literally a month away I suppose it might be time to share my thoughts. 

Have you noticed that it seems that there are TONS of Catholic mom bloggers who homeschool? I'm not up on every single Catholic mom blog out there but let me tell you - it sure seems like it. It is not a bad thing - I'm just making an observation. 

We are trying to sort have sorted out school for E next year and honestly I wish she could stay in pre-K forever because this decision is hard. It is so hard because we don't want to make the 'wrong' decision because she and all our other kids deserve the 'right' decision or rather the 'best' decision. 

We took E down to tour the Catholic school earlier this week a few months ago. She got to see the kindergarten class as well as what she is missing out on this year in the pre-K class - GeoBoards? She's totally sold on finishing out the year there - which is not going to happen : ) 

I am totally sold on sending her there next year? No. I am remotely at peace with homeschooling her next year? NO. Am I more at peace with sending her to Catholic school than I was a month ago? Yes. 

So for the second year in a row I'll be completing the application for enrollment at this school and turning it in with my registration fee.

Maybe I've said it before but just to put this into perspective - we don't go to the church that this school is attached to. I think this has something to do with it because I don't know any of the parents who will have kids in Kindergarten next year so it's not like I've had a conversation with another mom along the lines of - I'm going through the exact same thing as you and yes it is tough decision but we will get through it. We have visited the school several times, met with the principal, teachers and pastor - even other parents who I've briefly talked to in passing after Mass (when we do go which is maybe once every few months) - everyone has said, you will love this school. Parents are super devoted to it. There is a tight-knit group of kids because it is smaller. And to tell you the truth - I want to love it too. I really do. I think I'd feel better about sending E if I loved the school. But I cannot love something that I have not experienced. I suppose there is always the side of - what if I don't love it. What if Common Core and other stuff cloud the good that is going on in the school? I'll cross that bridge once my opinion is formed I suppose but for now I am being as optimistic about the school situation as possible.

This year I am feeling a little less alone in the Catholic school option though because I've emailed and 'talked to' (via blog commenting) to Kathryn, Colleen and Bonnie about their experiences with Catholic school. From what I can gather - at least in the Catholic blogosphere - there are only a handful of families that send their kids to Catholic school. So many 'good'/orthodox/conservative families homeschool their kids for a variety of reasons - and that's okay because that's what's best for those families. Is homeschooling good for our family? At this point in time I would say probably not. Will it remain an option if it is what our kids need? Yes. 

For now, I'm just glad I was able and am able to have conversations with other moms who have chosen not to homeschool - even if I had to find them like the Lonely Firefly found other fireflies. 

Fantastic Questions on this Pregnancy

Reflections on being pregnant at a male-dominated industry business meeting. I was there 2 years ago when I was pregnant with M and while I missed out on a super awkward situation this time - there was one that still makes me laugh... 

I'll note the person other than me as RG (Random Guy) just to keep things easy to follow : )

General surprise on my shoe selection:

Just because I'm pregnant doesn't mean I can't rock some great wedges. Really I'm less inclined to wear these around the kids because I would be tripping over them. 

RG - You have how many kids?

Me - Three and this one is number four.

You may pick your jaw up off the floor now... I'll wait

RG - Wow, You've got your hands full?
Me - Yes I do

Well yes I do, I certainly do. But let's remember my husband's got his hands full just as much as I do (maybe in different ways but just as equally responsible for the kids) and honestly we wouldn't have it any other way.

RG - So what's this one?

Me - We don't know. We've got 3 girls so I think only a boy would surprise us.

RG - Three girls????

Me - Yes three girls.

I had nearly this exact conversation with two different people. Are three girls really that unbelievable?

RG #1 - Winston Churchill said four kids is the best number.

Me - Why's that?

RG #1 - One to replace you, one to replace your spouse, one to grow the population and one just in case.

Me - Hahaha... okay.

RG #2 - Well who's to say she's done after four?

RG #1 - Your done after this one, right?

Me - We are Catholic

RG #1 - Well what does that mean?

Me - I'm just going to leave it at that

RG #2- It means their leaving it up to God

(Raised brow)

Preach on RG #2 who happens to be a preacher. Thanks for diffusing that one so I didn't : ) I have no idea if the first statement is actually true. Also, it is worth noting that it was said there were 2 men at that meeting who had 10 kids each. I'll bet there is not nearly as much discussion surrounding the number of kids each of them has BUT I'm in it to win it - so just keep the conversations coming : ) 

{upon realizing why I asked to not have my wine glass filled}

Waiter - I'm sorry I didn't realize you are conceiving
Me - (Nod and look away and bit my tongue)

Yeah, neither did I. In fact I think the conceiving happened a few months back. Gestating - yes. Conceiving - been there and done that. Let's stick to - I didn't realize you are pregnant - if you must verbally express your surprise. 

RG - So this is your first, second, third,

Me - Fourth.

RG - Fourth? God love ya

Indeed

RG - So is this your first?

Me - No the fourth.

RG - Fourth? After we had our second that was it. How old is your oldest?

Me - Five.

RG - Five?

Me - Yes five

RG - Well God bless you 

Yes we are so very blessed and we hope God will continue to pour out His blessings on us in whatever form that may be. 

As for now, I feel blessed to be back home safe and sound. 

Answer Me This - Major To Do List, Chocolate Bars, Gender Reveals?

Here we go... 

1. What's currently on your To Do list?

Gracious do I ever and maybe if I enumerate it publicly I'll be able to hold myself to it:

1. Survive this work trip

2. Make E a chore chart before school starts

3. Sign E up for Lego camp

4. Sign E and R up for fall soccer

5. Find someone I can coach R's team with; got E covered last week

6. Get girls hair cuts and mine too 

7. Get new school shoes - it is the one thing that I officially don't mind buying new because the shoes are being passed from sister to sister and R's new favorite shoes (even though they are a mess) are E's shoes from 3 yr old class. 

8. Order E some bee socks - I need the socks to get handed down and these are great socks from a good company and I think they'll hold up so we'll give them a whirl this year

9. Do multiple dry runs to school to see just how crazy our mornings are going to be

10. Make a list of things we need to do at night and in the mornings before school- make lunch and snack; brush hair - yes brush hair must be accounted for because now I'll do it in the parking lot which cannot be an option in the fall

11. Get on the ball with window replacement and laundry room cubby/locker situation

I'm dreaming I know

12. Move M into big girls room

13. Configure seating in van for 4 car seats

14. Find E a ride home in the afternoons - I cannot bear the thought of loading up the van for a second time and during rest to pick her up from school!

15. Go on work trip/ baby moon - mostly work though but with hubby and sans kids

16. Get van inspected

17. Try not to be annoyed I'm going to ANOTHER wine tasting when pregnant 

18. Celebrate Papa's birthday

2. Better type of superhero: magic/radioactive powers? Or trauma/gadgets/hard work?

Gadgets - if gadgets included extra apentages and bilocation abilities then I'm game. Though I'm not into anything really super hero-y with 3 girls so ask about best princess qualities next week and we will talk : )

3. Finding out if baby is a boy or a girl before birth: Good idea? Bad idea?

Neither good nor bad I think. We just don't. As a planner I can totally see finding out. But as one who loves to not be surprised but presents or anything like that, this is a great surprise. Though I think only a boy would surprise me now... Is that bad?

4. Have you ever appeared on a stadium jumbotron?

No thank goodness because I'm way to shy for that!

5. Are you more book smart or more street smart?

Mostly book smart. If street smart includes anything about pop culture I'm doomed. It pains Lee and others when they mention a name of someone I seemingly should know and I just stare blankly back and say I have NO idea who they are talking about.

6. Have you had that baby yet? (Feel free to skip this one if it's not applicable to you.)

Goodness no and baby had best stay put until I get home from this business trip because Mama and Papa would have some words with bebe if early entrance was in the cards.

Plus my OB thinks I'm crazy and he would probably kill me if the bebe came early. I told him I couldn't come back in 2 weeks because of this trip and I got and eyeroll and an empty threat of a house arrest bracelet : ) 

So what do you think he'll say when I ask him to go to Parma, OH for a friends ordaination a week before my due date or one of our best friends weddings in South Bend 2 weeks after my due date? Legit thoughts? I'm thinking heck to no just for my mental well being but seriously this due date is crimping my social calendar!

I mean I have 12 weeks left and was induced???? with número 3 so hopefully bebe will cook a few month longer plus for real I'm not ready. I mean are you ever really ready for a newborn? No. At least in my books but I got a few more tricks up my sleeve that need to happen including get through taking E to kindergarten and I'm sure to be a wreck so feel free to send me large bags of chocolate or huge candy bars in advance.

That crazy day in the crazy week we tried on uniforms!

I am so so so doomed to be a wreck!

7QTs - Peaches, Last Swim Meet, Shoe Shopping

Alive and well... 

--- 1 ---

The blog is due for a beach trip recap but for now... 

I washed a ton of sandy clothes/bathing suits on Saturday because I am 100% against doing laundry at the beach. 

--- 2 ---

After church on Sunday we patronized the Farmers Market which was a zoo at 10:30 in the morning. E and R got some cookies which I didn't even see because I crashed into bed as soon as we walked in the door (I think the beach trip caught up to me) and M made out with 2 free flowers from one of the ladies selling flowers because she was insanely cute sniffing them. 

#flowerchild

--- 3 ---

The girls are very inquisitive about how the new baby is and when she (because boys are too rough) is coming out and where will she (yeah their sold on a girl) and 'what if we had 4 boys and 4 girls and how would we fit into the van' (that would be a please ask papa that question) etc etc... 

They were trying out 5 'kids' in bed before rest one afternoon 

It was actually much calmer than I expected with 3 (actual) kids in bed. They were so stinking cute. 

--- 4 ---

I'm going on a work trip (insert sarcastic eyeroll from my dr) and I needed some dressy sandals for the meeting so I think these are the winners... 

However, Aldo does not sell 10.5 size shoes and the 10 boots did NOT fit in the winter so I just had to size up all the way. I got 5 pairs of shoes and they were all a bit looser than I'd like but beggars with big feet cannot be choosers and they were on super sale so I settled. 

Papa doesn't understand the way I show shop. He asked, "Why don't you go to a shoe store?" I tried explaining that I had and I don't like it (aside from the fact I get my big size shoes ON SALE on-line so.... on line and return to store it is) 

--- 5 ---

This is what we got at the Farmers Market. 

Many peaches so I could process and freeze them...

For those smoothies that I am planning on impressing upon my peeps come school mornings. The peaches were super tasty so I am hoping that they'll be tastier (and cheaper) than the store bought frozen peaches.

--- 6 ---

And the summer weeks would be incomplete without a swim meet... (the last one as I cannot justify driving 45 minutes to next week's away meet so the girls can swim for 30 seconds and then driving 45 minutes home - maybe next year)

The cheering skeptics... 

Ready...

Set...

I got a wave : ) She won't do that forever so I was super happy

M's first (and last) swim meet experience

She was a trooper but she wasn't terribly happy about being there either

Just wait until next year when I bring my real camera... 

I still cannot figure out how much she can swim by herself

R could not be coaxed to jump off the blocks

She thinks she's big stuff but not pictured is her getting carried (literally) the last 5 yards because she was D.O.N.E - but don't worry she still chose a blue ribbon!

--- 7 ---

Then E and R raced off with Papa to the last day of VBS and M and I were left to our own devices. So I let her in the big bathtub by herself. And then I went back to the kitchen and turned around and BAM M was there... (not the first time one of our kids has gotten out of the bathtub by themselves)

Evidence of bathtub escapee. I think she was bored and didn't know what to do in the tub without some siblings to entertain her!

Then I put her in bed and I took a gloriously quiet, uninterrupted, leisurely shower. 

Also, in other weekly self-revelation news:

A. SO grateful for the sacrament of Confession and while I kinda dread the thought of going, I always feel so refreshed afterwards.

B. Pregnant + Hot + Hungry = Me in a state of being that is not at all nice/normal/healthy - upon remedying the latter two states of being with a good blast of AC and a huge grilled ham and cheese sandwich, protein bar, peach and grape CapriSun (yup stolen from the girls stash - don't judge : ) I was back to my normal reasonable self. It was such an out of body experience so lesson learned... Snack often and maternity jeans are for the birds but I can't/don't want to wear shorts to work so I'll roast for a few months more! And it will all be worth it come October

Answer Me This - Lost in DC and Thermostat Debates

Here we go... 

1. At what temperature do you keep the thermostat set? Summer, winter, day, night?

Oh this is such a point of debate between Lee and I - not as bad as the Paper Towel vs Dishrag debate which is probably worthy of its own post but... Back to the temps...

Summer: It is usually muggy with a side of hot and really hot

Daytime - 77
Nighttime - 73

Notes: Lee says he works so that he can keep the AC on and at whatever temp he wants plus when you work 50-65 hours a week in the dead of the summer heat I can side with lowing the temp. The reality is that I have told the girls Papa is trying to 'freeze us out' at night - and at least E has caught onto to my teasing : )

Winter: Not terribly cold - usually. We have a fireplace that we ***might*** be getting gas logs for this year but the wood logs are super messy

Daytime - 67; 68 if I'm lucky
Nighttime - 63-65 - depending on what everyone is wearing for pajamas

Notes: Lee's motto is you can always put more clothes on. But the thing is I don't care for long sleeves but I definitely wear them. Also, R is a sweat-er. She sweats a TON in her sleep even in the winter. Finally, bebe and I have a space heater in the room that we sleep in (we don't sleep in the master and if you want to know the ins and outs of that than that'll have to be a question next week     : ) .

2. What is your favorite frozen beverage?

Mint Oreo milkshake from Cook-Out. Hands down. Nothing to argue. If you don't believe me ask Lee whose job is, about 60-90 minutes after I have a baby, to go get a Mint Oreo milkshake from Cook-Out and a chicken sandwich with Chik-Fil-A sauce (on the side) from CFA. #nevergettinginducedonaSundayagain . That was terrible planning on my part and had I thought CFA was going to be closed I likely would have thought about getting induced with M on Saturday to avoid the issue - but who thinks you have to get induced with your third bebe in the first place?!?!? 

3. Where do you keep your keys?

Here. Here. Here. Super useful because I notoriously cannot find my keys when I'm not at home.

4. Have you ever really been lost?

Good gracious YES. Just one time that I can remember it being really annoying and halfway scary. 

So my junior year of college I went to DC for Veterans Day to work on a Veterans Day photojournalism assignment. I had a great friend from college who I stayed with and Lee and our really great friend Mark drove me up to DC - because back then Lee and I had JUST started dating and what better way to spend a long weekend but in DC. 

Lee and Mark were going to vespers at this church they'd been to a bunch of times. I vaguely knew where it was and I was supposed to meet them there once I got done photographing. Lee was driving and I was on the Metro. I vaguely knew where I should be getting off but it was only a few blocks from the church so I wasn't overly concerned as I have a pretty good sense of direction. 

I get done and get on the Metro and take the Red Line like I'm supposed to and I get off at the wrong stop. It is getting darker and things aren't looking right so I just start walking only to realize I don't have my phone! Also, I don't have any money or credit cards with me. Just me and my insanely heavy book bag filled with camera stuff. I walk by a hospital and I stop someone and try and call my phone in the hopes Lee will hear it so we can reconnect but no luck because they are in church. 

Finally I get going in the right direction and things start to look right and I'm getting worried that it is too late for vespers and Mark and Lee are going to be leaving/wondering where in the heck I am. So here I am jogging through Adams Morgan past dusk with my camera equipment praying they have not left. 

I FINALLY get to the church and semi-want to cry because they're not there. 

But then they pull back around and I (rightfully) get read the riot act for not having my phone and not having a map. 

This was also the trip that Lee disposed of my pasta salad from the Wawa before I was able to eat it - but again another story, another time. 

5. What is the last movie you saw in the theaters?

Honestly I'm not sure. It was probably at least 5 years ago (before E was born). I don't like going to movies in the theater because they are so flippin' expensive plus I usually have to go to the bathroom at least once if not twice and movie theater bathrooms stink and are usually super gross. 

Answer Me This - Fireworks, Pregnancy Insomnia and Hot Dogs

Live from Sunset Beach... 

1. How did you celebrate the 4th of July? (Or, for you international types . . . Do anything fun this weekend?)

This is how our 4th of July shook out this year...

Papa made breakfast and it was awesome. Then there was a small emergency(s) at work that took 45 minutes to take care of.

I threw the big girls outside in the back. M was way mad.

He got home. I got caught up on all ironing. He made bread for church.

The girls found a MASSIVE yellow jackets nest under their playset so they transferred to the front yard and played in the sprinkler amongst other things.

Papa grilled cheeseburgers - and they were awesome.

Everyone was showered and put to rest.

I packed and did laundry. And made these:

Easiest 4th of July dessert EVER

Because we were going here:

Homemaking tor-til-las

To eat:

Mexican-American goodness courtesy of Nani - oh and NEVER EVER stir the rice and you must scoop from the side lest you get your wrist smacked with a hot spatula (j/k about the spatula part)

No complaints from the peanut gallery 

Fresh homemade tortillas #forthewin

Then we rushed out the door and encountered this on the way:

Rain + 4th of July = no bueno

It cleared up and I couldn't help but think of Noah and the covenant 

To a 4th of July celebration at the girls preschool which rivals that of the City's - or so I'm told.

Obligatory family pic

The girls played in a bouncy house and somehow they didn't even ask for ice cream or Sno-Balls as we made our way back to our spot:

#lovethem

To wait:

It really did seem like forever

For these:

M's reaction was a definite no-to-the-thanks but she was fine:

R freaked out several times but at the end declared she liked the fireworks:

E was VERY interested:

New baby was like.. what is going on out there:

My thought was ain't no way you could pay me to be one of the guys lighting those things:

See the flames down there???

Lee proclaimed it a success and the finale was really great.

Tradition for next year? Quite possibly. But somehow we need to incorporate that AMAZING 4th of July cake Grammy made last year!

2. Do you sunburn easily?

I don't burn too badly. Last week I went out to the pool without sunscreen - on purpose - to get a little base burn for our few days at the beach this week and I think it worked. M's a burner though for sure!

3. Hot dogs. Yay or nay?

Yes. Especially with Bunker Hill chili - no beans - gotta be no beans - plus some ketchup, mustard and onions. So good.

You should have seen the cheeseburger I had the other day - guacamole + burger = awesome

4. Have you ever personally set off fireworks?

No and after seeing those guys light the fireworks last night I cannot say I want to. The girls and I will stick to our sparklers every so often and that's enough of a pyrotechnic adrenaline rush I need. 

5. Have you ever jumped off the high dive?

Yes. The pool where the county summer swim meet was held had one of the super tall boards. I cannot say it have any other memories about it though. 

6.  Do you do anything weird in your sleep?

Well I have a case of nasty pregnant insomnia which will cause me to be up for 2-3 hours at the time during the middle of the night and usually I'm too frustrated and annoyed to actually accomplish anything