2 Movies!

My husband and I watched this one last night and thought it was pretty good. There was a time when Robert De Niro's character swears a lot and uses the Lord's name badly (I always repeat in my head "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus" when I hear that) while playing with his teen grandson of all things, but other than that, (and that was the only time) it really was a good movie.

This picture is interesting, because, during the movie, he is always taking pictures with his "film" camera (35mm) but they are showing a digital one?!

Can anyone guess who that guy is on the left, or I should say, what he's been in? I figured it out half way through the movie....I'll tell you in the comments box!

Everything is Illuminated. Excellent movie. A couple off comments but really a good movie, both funny and interesting. I love movies about the Holocaust. I only cried at the end.

Suzie told me about it, said we'd like it, and she was right!

The Big Event!

Everyone gathered around for the big event, they've been waiting for months!

(Sweetie Pie does not like the high chair, had to prop her up with a bunch of diapers)
Baby food!!!!
Who knew this white stuff was so exciting?

She gobbled it up, she couldn't get enough, she loved it!

(Maybe I should have done it earlier than 6 months?)

They all had the chance to feed her and it all went well, except that one time when Babycakes put the spoon too far in her mouth and it gagged her....

The gang is asking constantly "when are you going to feed her again?"

It's so nice to have such wonderful helpers and so very cute!

Lent Link Up

Lacy, at Catholic Icing set up this "Lent Link Up" and I couldn't resist adding my 2 cents worth!

We always use a "sacrifice and good deed" jar in which we put in beans every time we do something extra nice, or helpful, or sacrifice something. Some things are worth many beans, like today, the 2 oldest kids got up and started their school right away and were almost done by the time I got dressed and ready for the day! 10 beans for that one! I am not stingy with the beans, as it does take quite a few beans to fill the jar and makes everyone positive and happy. It's amazing what the kiddos will do for a bean. Of course it is explained that it's not just for the bean, but for Jesus!

Then on Easter Sunday, the dry beans turn into bright colored jelly beans!

We do the Holy Heroes Lenten Adventure 3 times/week. This is a free service that is emailed to you. The kiddos watch a short video and we print out coloring sheets and puzzles and pray a daily decade with the other kiddos as well as the Angelus.

Lacy at Catholic Icing also had these wonderful sheets, where the kiddos color a square each day on the Lenten path to Easter. We put a purple (the color of penance, Lent and kings) cross on the door and each child put their sacrifices and what they'd like to do extra during Lent

We plan to do a washing of feet on Holy Thursday, stressing what Jesus did on that night, reading from the bible and the meaning of washing others' feet, service and sacrifice. Putting others needs first.

The kids always love doing this!

We pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet more often and start the novena on Good Friday.

Stations of the Cross are prayed along with this CD and we follow them up the stairs. It's a fun way for the littles to sit and watch along the way.

These beautiful images were ordered through CHC.

CRAFTS next!

These beautiful stand up crosses are made with cardstock paper (I used folders)

Cut half way up where the crayons are showing! Then slide into each slit.

Sticks tied together to make crosses, put into dirt (desert) and put into a purple can or jar, draped with a purple ribbon. Later, on Easter replaced with a white ribbon!

Marble Painting! "By his stripes we were healed" Isaiah 53:5

Red paint is very visual! Crosses and necklace crosses!

Dip marbles in paint, put paper on bottom of a box, put marbles in and roll around!

The purple crosses and shamrocks are marble painted.

Onto snacks! The kiddos love to make these pretzels, symbolizing crossed arm praying. (the old way people used to pray)

My recipe can be found here

Pretzel crosses. Big rods, or little sticks can be made into cross snacks, by adding peanut butter or cream cheese.

Resurrection Rolls

Crescent rolls

Cinnamon and sugar

Melted butter

Large marshmallows

Dip marshmallows into melted butter and then sugar mix and put inside triangle rolls, wrap them up and sprinkle with sugar mix on top.

Bake 9-11 minutes

Empty tombs when they are finished!

We have these on Easter morning!

I hope this post has given you some ideas for your Lent!

Something we always like to do is a mini retreat at home, using some of these ideas packed into Holy week.

Blessings on your path to Easter!

Recycled Boxes!

(Hey! I said I was not "reading" blogs, I can still post....)

Take a box of any kind, cereal, noodles, crackers, etc....
Cut into post card sizes

Send to friends! Ballerina Rosie is sending all of them to a friend, one each day, so her friend can put the puzzle together as she gets each post card.

A Few Things on My Mind

Sweetie Pie will be 6 months on Wednesday!

I can't believe how fast this time has gone.

What a blessing for us she's been!

I think since she's been born, the most overwhelming thing for me has been laundry.

Not that she makes that much extra laundry (only one extra load) but it's the time to do the laundry for 7 people. It's hard to just keep up.

Sweet baby Ava. We got to see her this past Tuesday and she's beautiful...

as is her mama!



More things on my mind:

Mardi Gras? We never celebrated it as a kid, I just don't celebrate it I guess. I think I really don't get it. SO no Mardi Gras celebration pictures here to show.

I am amazed at other women's Daybook postings. They amaze me. Especially the dinner plans. Your meals all sound so wonderful. Not like our simple ones:
Stir Fry
Tacos
Pancakes
Chicken, baked potatoes
Pretty boring, huh? That's why I don't do that Daybook thing....
I think of a bunch of sides and decide that day on those. Maybe I should work on making my meals a little more special?
I miss reading my daily reads (blogs) it's made me realize how blessed we are to live in a time where us stay at home moms can really connect with other moms and not feel so lonely. It's been kind of lonely this past week. It's been really lonely this past week, even though we've done things and kept busy. I am so very thankful for this network of wonderful women to keep in touch with every day!
I'm off for another week, see you next Sunday!
Have a blessed week!

Lent

I always look so forward to Lent each year. Although it is a time of sacrifice, I yearn for it. I think my soul yearns for it. I imagine it is kind of like the Holy Souls yearning for Heaven.

(kind of) Yearning for holiness.

I will start my Lent out by watching The Passion of the Christ. Truly every time I watch it, I get something new. It puts me right into that mode of why we sacrifice. For Him who makes all things new.

I yearn for the cleansing. The quiet in my soul. Here is our sacrifice jar. (this is last years picture) we will fill it up and I'm not stingy, if they say it's a sacrifice or if they do something extra nice, they get to put a bean in. If it's a big thing, they get to put more beans in. Then on Easter Sunday it will be filled with bright jelly beans!

Every year I want to give up everything. Diet Coke, TV, computer time, and I want to do everything. Read the bible more, exercise every day, get up early and go to bed early, pray the rosary every day, no matter what. Pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy every day, go to Adoration more, go to daily Mass more, go to the Stations of the Cross.
I want to be perfect.
Realistically, though, I am not perfect. I cannot do it all.
I've decided to give up blog reading. It is the reading of blogs that takes time. Leaving comments almost everywhere I go. I have this thing with Google Reader, where every time I check, I can't stand leaving any "unread". Well...it takes time to read.
It's that time I want. I want it to pray more. I want that time to be more present to my children and to my duties in my vocation as a wife and mother.
I will still post once in a while, like craft ideas...I can't keep those to myself and need to share!
I will not be reading though and I will not be commenting.
I will be checking in on Sundays, as we do the Sunday thing where you can have what you give up, but it will be short and quick.
Have a blessed Lent everyone!
Remember to wash those feet with your children on Holy Thursday!
(this is last year's picture)

I am in no way saying other people should give up reading blogs....this is something I feel called to do at this time. I just wanted to let people know so you don't worry....I'm not breaking my leg again this year!!! (I hope)

Bumbo.....Dummmmbo!

I bought one of these Bumbo seats for Sweetie Pie on Friday and returned it on Saturday!

She kept trying to chew on the front part and it just seemed...well....dumb. Call me old fashioned, but I'll stick to a walker seat play thingy instead! She could kind of turn herself in it and I was just afraid she'd fall onto the floor. (I only had her on the counter for the picture)

Look at her last little bit of curl and hair on her head!

Valentine Party!

Valentine cookie pizzas.....
times four!

Toys galore!

Fun all around....and lots of red and pink!

There are 3 boys jumping and laying down behind the couch and a little wanderer who didn't make it in the picture...but it was a fun time and this is one exhausted mama!

I'm such a Martha and didn't get any more pictures than this....I should have gotten pictures of the crafted bags and all the bags lined up on the table to be filled with Valentines.

Christine and Baby!

Christine had a healthy baby girl Monday around noon.

Both are doing great and we can't wait to see them!

She wants to give all the info, so, you will have to wait til she gets home for the details!

Christine is very thankful for your prayers!

My 2 Year Blogiversary!

Wow, this time has gone by so fast and I cannot imagine my life without all the wonderful people I've met through this blog.


I'd never planned on starting a blog, it just happened, while trying to help Christine with something on her newly started blog. All of a sudden, I had a blog and within a couple days, I had people stopping to say "Hi"! That's the hook right there, that connection with other like-minded women.


I am honored to be a part of this world we call "Blog-world"
Blessings to you all, thank you for reading and praying along!


Speaking of Christine, please pray for her, as she will be having her sweet baby today!!! I will let you know when I know!

Can't Come up With a Title....

Grandma stopped by with these cute Valentine tees for Sweetie Pie! I especially love the pink one!
I'm going to be busy getting ready for our 27 kiddo Valentine party Monday.

Like counting all these M&M's in this bottle so someone can win it as a prize!

First Time Away From Home Food

Christine mentioned a while back that when she first lived away from home, she would save her milk from her cereal in the morning and put it back in the jug because she couldn't afford to keep buying milk...and then her husband to be wanted some milk, can't remember if he actually drank out of the jug or not, but that story just totally grosses me out!!! It's pretty funny though! It makes me think of what I ate when I first moved away from home.



I was working 3 jobs at the time and one of them was Subway. Since each shift would allow me a "free sandwich" it was perfect for the starving new "on her own" girl. SO, every night that I worked Subway, I'd eat Subway for supper.

The following summer, I lived in a family's basement, I had a bedroom, bathroom and a unfinished "living room" with a tiny couch, a TV and a refrigerator. (all theirs, even the bed was theirs) I didn't want to impose on the other family or take away their privacy, so even though they wanted me to use their kitchen and be upstairs with them, I never did go upstairs....it just felt weird. Looking back, I sure wish I had done so. I was working long hours and just bought the necessities, which were Buddig meats (yuck, is it really meat?) which sell for like 50 cents, a loaf of bread, milk and Cheerios. That is what I lived off of that summer. (I did have a boyfriend though and he took me out on weekends or we ate at his house) I would grab a Buddig meat and 2 slices of bread and off I'd go, no mayo, no fruit, nothing else! Back then I loved Diet Mountain Dew, with a straw. SO, priorities, I did have my Diet Dew.

In the months before the Buddig summer, I lived off of air popped popcorn, Mozzarella cheese and chocolate Slim Fast with ice and a banana in the blender. That was it. Same boyfriend took me out on weekends, so this really was only during the week. I was already thin, I only ate the Slim Fast because I thought it was a healthy way to get a "meal". Gosh, was I stupid.

What about you? Do you have any first time away from home stories about what you ate and how you lived? What will our kids do? I do hope they come home to eat!