7QTs - Valentines, Laundry, Goggles

Linking up with Kelly and co... 

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Laundry seems to be a bigger chore than it was in the past...

I am still married to my only-do-wash-on-Saturday philosophy and I can usually get it done but it doesn't ever get all the way put away or there are a pile of mismatched socks on the chair or the uniforms are still hanging up in the bathroom and need to be fluffed.

Attack of the laundry MONSTER!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Splash away little girl!

She didn't even try to take them off for a few minutes : ) 

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Speaking of goggles... 

M and R have had some good swim lessons this winter. Last winter I think I only got a few session in 

But this year we've gotten more than a few which is great because R is basically swimming by herself. She is still working out the whole side breathing thing and I still would keep a close eye on her but she's going to be rocking out this summer in the 6 and unders. M is close and she can swim as long as she doesn't have to take a breathe. 

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Valentine's Day... The 2018 Catholic conundrum not to be confused with Pascha/Easter falling on April Fool's Day. So Valentine's Day this year fell on Ash Wednesday but as Eastern Catholic we started Lent on Monday BUT since our kids go to Latin Catholic school they go to Mass for it and with Papa Deacon being attached to a Latin parish sooooo... Ash Wednesday all around except not because Ash Wednesday is a penitential day but there were still parties at school (don't understand it, but not worth the fight) and preschool (not Catholic) so it was a wacky day. 

Which consisted of some prepping of class Valentines (and I already got Valentines for next year at Target for 70% off )

Our family Valentine's celebration was moved to Tuesday donuts, card and flowers all around

A

E

R

M

C

There were entirely too many sweets that crossed the threshold of the house but since it is good 'ole Lent we have select dessert days in addition to our Lent fasting and abstaining and praying and alms giving. 

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E went to summer camp for AHG and received a few badges for her activities

She is super pumped about her badge-filled vest and cannot wait to go back again next year!

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There is something therapeutic about doing a fresh box of Legos. 

R and M and I did a new set of R's Saturday afternoon. They are not too much help but I enjoyed it. The family project remains doing Eclipso's castle from Christmas but that requires E and Papa

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C fell asleep like this at work the other day.

She is fresh off the 8 month mark and still coming to work with me. She is still nursing. She loves her yogurt breakfast and jar food (yes the actual glass jars and not the pouches because hello landfills) with a side of banana for dinner. Still no teeth to speak of but they are all probably going to come in with a vengeance. My favorite time to watch her is in her bouncer/jumper thing and in the morning when I bring her out of her room and all the other kids are at breakfast and tell her good morning or hi-hi. She lights up at them and they light up when they see her. 

I'm not sure why it took him so love to discover the heat wave but it acted so surprised . It was great. 

Someone is Six

Last weekend we celebrated R's 6th birthday!

We did our usual family plus one friend gathering. R requested pizza (and veggies) plus a cake made by Grammy with cherry (????) frosting. 

These two have been friends since they were teeny tiny. And while they don't go to school together anymore they still keep up with each other on the tee ball field - which were are gearing up for another season in a few weeks!

I'm quite sure she had a great time since she received a few Barbies and accessories plus some Lego sets and a few passes to do things with Grammy and Grandpa Joe. Oh and a needle point kit you do NOT want help with. 

I wasn't sure how you were going to take to Kindergarten R, I really didn't. You have to walk behind some really big shoes around school and we try not to put you in the same mold. However, you have done great with reading and spelling and you made it through all your sight words (even though you are a guesser and it drives me and Papa crazy). I love listening to you talk about school because it is nothing like the reports I got from school 2 years ago. You actually tell me about your day and your descriptions of what goes on is awesome. 

You just learned how to swim by yourself so I think with a bit more practice you'll be ready for swim team this summer. We will see what the spring holds for tee ball but no doubt you will have some fun. 

You have taken more of a big sister role since C is here. You have a special eye for your brother and are pretty patient when playing with him because he does like to break things. You will read stories to M and I love listening to you retell stories because sometimes they are spot on and other times you totally just make them up. 

Keep on being the girl I need to have eyes and ears to talk to. We can't wait to see what 6 has in store for you!

Papa Daughter Dance 2018

They are off dancing the night away... 

She meticulously cleaned and filed her nails...

She didn't care I couldn't find the bow that goes with this dress

She was super excited to get to go to the dance this year 

A co-worker saved the day and we didn't spend a small fortune on wristlets. St. Anthony and I didn't get on the same page about R's ribbon for her dress. I couldn't help but think that R is about to turn SIX tomorrow. And in 6 years from now C will be going to this as a Kindergartener and it will be E's last Daddy-Daughter Dance! My mind cannot handle it. Living in the moment and soaking it all in

7QTs - The Flu of 2018

Linking up with Kelly and co... The flu of 2018

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Let's talk about the flu now shall we? 

IT has been forever since I wrote a blog post but it all started with R about 3 years weeks ago. She came home and took a nap after school and it was down hill from there for her. She was out Tuesday-Friday. One day she went up to bed after lunch  and she did not emerge until the next morning. We made multiple trips to A. make sure she was breathing and B. to make her drink some juice. I picked her up early Monday just so she could give her system an extra rest. That day I started feeling bad but brushed it off for a cold because we had beat the flu with only one of seven in the house getting it. Wrong so wrong. 

Tuesday wasn't great but wasn't terrible. Wednesday I barely had the energy to move around but I shlepped the peeps to school and get to work and sit down and within minutes get a call that A has a super high fever. I didn't dress him that morning so I have no idea how he felt that morning. Check him and M out head home and call the dr. This is the gist of the conversation:

Nurse - Has it been exposed to the flu?

Me - Yes his sister had it but it was unconfirmed but she had a fever for a week etc 

Nurse - Sounds like the flu

Me - We think so

Nurse - So you can bring him in and we can test him, that is no problem. If he doesn't have the flu when he comes in, chances are he'll walk out with it because we are diagnosing the flu left and right. 

Me - Perfect 

Plus Tamil is expensive and that office doesn't usually give it to kids unless there is a preexisting condition and you have to catch it early enough in the first place.

So we opt not for the doctor. And A and I hunker down. He is super snuggly and I don't care because I'm sick too and if I had been well I would not have wanted to snuggle up with him like I did. So A and I were roommates for a while. Papa has been on the couch for over a week. 

Anyhow, back to my story. So the night of the day I checked them out from school I get a text saying M had thrown up at Family Reading Night at school. So I text Lee and wait for a call because clearly he's not going to answer...

They get home, M is burning up and gets a check for the flu and away we go.

Me - So you were cleaning up throw up in your cassock?

Lee - Yeah it was a sight to see

Me - I'll bet

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The whole time...

Why are you feeding me and putting me right back down and not loving me up? 

Because I'm trying to not get you sick, kid. 

C was a trooper. I missed kissing her and snuggling her. One day I made her stay up late just so Lee could hold her because she hadn't been held all day - other than me feeding her. 

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A in true fashion fell hard and bounced back quick... 

Which tells me he either had and it had it bad or he didn't have it. Wednesday was the day he came home from school and basically didn't move until the next morning but once he did - he was back to normal. Not the week long deal that R and M had but honestly I cannot imagine A being mopey for a week. The balloon has brought lots of entertainment for him!

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Last week was Catholic Schools Week so the schedule was crazier than normal...

Dress down day. Add color to uniform day. Field trip. Talent show. 

Field trip - Volunteer to take minibus full of kids. Get sick. Pass keys off to husband. Proof that the Holy Spirit is at work in his life. Never would he ever imagined his Kindergarten teacher (from the same Catholic school the girls are at) who is now the principal, riding shotgun in his minibus, chaperoning 2 of his daughters and a small handful of their classmates on a field trip. If  you asked him that 15 years ago, he would have laughed in your face. 

Talent show - sad I missed it but there was good family representation. Over the weekend R got treated to a weekend at Hotel Grammy and Grandpa Joe while E swam. 

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I tried to find ways to interact with C without touching her.

She loved it when I clapped and she bounced. She also discovered the ceiling fan moved when I turned it on - which she loved. 

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We worked on C sitting up... 

Who needs a Bumbo seat when you've got a half full laundry basket. 

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A discovered heat comes out of the vent

I'm not sure why it took him so love to discover the heat wave but it acted so surprised . It was great. 

12 Pics and Some Thoughts on 2017

January

February

March

April

May

June



July




August

September

October

November

December

2017 was quite a year. 

We were blessed to happily introduce sweet little C. 

We tearfully said goodbye to some amazing neighbors. 

We have had more medical expenses this year than I care to talk about. 

We've been to soccer games, swim meets and tee ball games. 

Lee slept on the floor of an aquarium and had a super fun birthday party. 

I went to China and learned how to use a sewing machine. 

We got a Transitasaurs. 

We have made some great memories making snow cream and making s'mores. 

The big girls and I cut off a ton of hair. 

E swam a 500. 

R started Kindergarten. 

M scored a million goals. 

A rolled in the dirt. 

C wasn't delivered by a doctor. 

2017 has been a heck of a ride hopefully 2018 will stand up to the challenge. 

7QTs - Snow, Christmas and Advent

Linking up with Kelly and co... Going from newest to oldest...

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My snowy bear

The snow is gone... We had our fun but it was up to 70 today and is headed back into the 30s tomorrow : ( 

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M reminds me so much of E in so many ways and putting together puzzles is one of them...

50 piece puzzle for the 4 yr old in the books... except E just would have done it and moved on. M wants me to see it and know if she gets extra dessert because she did something good. riiiiiiight!

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C is FINALLY on team bottle... 

Which is insanely helpful because I have a quick work trip that she is not privileged to. More on that later 

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All the Christmas presents have been absorbed for the most part...

I haven't tried out my new goggles yet but I did manage a trip to the elliptical this week which was great

Working on Christmas Thank You notes... I still need to get a few out!

The tree is still up. I think A is really going to miss it. He keeps on saying lite treeeeee. lite treeeeeee. I cannot find his baby ornament which is of some concern so maybe it will turn up in clean up?

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These 2 were ready to go back to school.

They were totally at each other's necks the last week of break and nit picking (now that I know that actually has to do with lice) each other and just generally being really an

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A-isms of recent... 

He will grab the stool from the bathroom and attempt to get involved with whatever is going on

He rarely gets dessert these days because he doesn't eat much dinner unless it is steak or ham but when he does he loves it

He looks really cute in this hat

His hair can get really wild with static

He LOVES going with Papa in the truck. He saw E and Papa go to swim practice and fitfully watched them leave because he didn't get the nod to go too

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Just to round out the Advent season a few weeks late...

We did make it to the graveyards to pray on 12/23... nothing like the late minute

And we continued the neighborhood tradition of passing out Christmas goodies and added a note with a plea for people in our neighborhood to SLOW THE HECK DOWN ... I'll keep you posted on that progress