Remember The Reason for the Holiday

Not that we will be grilling here in Minnesota, it's supposed to rain all day.

I still can't leave comments on several blogs, so if you know I read your blog,

please know I'm still reading and praying for several of you!

2 Movie Reviews

We watched Rabbit Hole a few weeks ago and if you are in the mood for a good cry,

this is the movie for you.

The whole movie is about this couple dealing with the tragic loss of their child.

I really liked the acting and how they showed the many aspects of dealing with a death,

how family is and acts around you and how each parent dealt with it.

 Now, this movie, I Am Number Four, we watched last night, and finally, a good movie!!

It's been a while since we've seen a good one.

I won't give away any details, but it's a kind of new alien super hero movie which is left

wide open for many more to come!

7 Quick Takes Friday (Volume 11)

 Wondering if I need to put the "Volume" #?

Joining in again!

 -1-

We have Pink, White and Purple flowering trees in our yard right now!

When I was younger, I honestly didn't even notice flowering trees.

Now I notice every one.

I love them!

 -2-

Sweetie Pie took her first lawn mower ride with daddy!!

She loved it!

(he puts up the blade and gives rides when he's done)

 -3-

Colette is turning 5 next week.

I can't believe it.

She acts seems like she's only 3!!

She's having a "Bluttafly" birthday.

She now realizes she says it wrong and first says it wrong then corrects herself and says "butterfly"!

We went shopping today for our craft and cake stuff!

-4-

Today was the official last day of school!!!!!!!!!

I'm the happiest of all, I think!

We went to Mass and to McDonalds! 

I never go to McDonalds.

We are Arby's people, much healthier, no fries, just roast beef sandwiches off the dollar menu

(and a turkey sandwich for me)

But

Today I took them to McDonalds and we ate inside!

(we never eat inside)

It was raining and cold so no picnic and no park today,

usually on the last day of school we picnic at a park

Oh, well, there's always next week,

heck,

We have all summer!

-5-

I'm planning on weaning Sweetie Pie from nursing soon.

Very soon.

She's 21 months now.

She's only nursing at bedtime (twice)

This is a major decision because we know she will then need to go to bed

with the other screaming,fighting girls without being nursed to sleep first.

Which means she will cry for the first few night (at least)

-6-

I feel like crap.

There's no better way to put it.

This is good though,

Sick mama means healthy baby, right?

This will be our first Winter baby!

We are all very excited.

We talked today how after the baby is born,

we will have

2 biggies

2 middles

and

2 littles

And then some got technical and said we will have a

"little middle"

and

a

"big middle"

and so on and so on.....

-7-

What's wrong with Google?

I still can't leave a comment on one of my closest friend's blog!!!

Sorry Christine!

Have a great weekend everyone!!!

Good Shepherd's Garden Party--Week Five

 This week I'm not a day late or a dollar short

(well, maybe a dollar short)

We started "The Gardener Plants Paradise"

by painting The Palm Tree --John 12:12-17

 I also made a centerpiece for our counter table top decoration.

 Tree of Life's Leaves--Revelation 22:1-5

I made a salad--but I'm the only one who ate it!

(I used the veggies and meat you will see later)

 

 The Tree of Life's Flowers--Isaiah 55:12-13

Bananas and raspberries

The Owl--Psalm 102:6-12

I bought Oreos for the eyes...but got a dud bag, they would not separate without breaking, I tried freezing them, but that didn't work either. 

I gave up after trying 12 and only getting one to work (one half that is)

So I decided to use large marshmallows cut in half instead. 

The Tree of Life's Fruit--Galatians 5:22-2

I opted for bowl of cherries since they are in season and so delicious!

Roses and Lilies--Songs 2:1-7

Ballerina Rosie painted a rose for our Garden Party and I made Charlotte's Christmas Mints

and put them into these rose molds I've had for like 20 years

My lilies were thin sliced ham wrapped around halved cheese sticks stripped at the top.

(the kiddos didn't think they looked like lilies....but I did!)

We also had Trees of Life--broccoli and cauliflower with dip

(which I added to my salad)



Tree of Life Punch

Diet 7-Up

Apple Juice

I used Jessica's palm tree printables for the straw decorations

The Olive Tree--Genesis 8:6-11

I made my New Year's Cheese Ball recipe and

we had it with Cracked Pepper and Olive Oil Triscuits

(I don't care for the Rosemary ones)

along with some flower cut cheese slices

I might have to change the name of that cheese ball again...Olive Cheese Ball?

The kiddos and I had a great time, even though it was like 3:30 before we were done

(I'm serious)

I should have started way earlier to do this!!

Sweetie Pie cried and cried and kept reaching for something, finally we realized she saw

the Owl cupcakes and would not take "no" for an answer!!

Catholic Cuisine has a ton of other ideas--check it out!

Nuki Nuki (The Nuki Song) Full Version Gummy Bear

Because of the Gummibar's song, we also found this song, Baby Sweetie Pie loves it even more than the Gummibar song. She bounces and dances and gets really excited and says "Cookie, Cookie" She can't say "Nukie" for some reason but can say "cookie"!

The Gummy Bear Song With Lyrics

Thanks to Allison, we listen to this song every day, Baby Sweetie Pie loves this song and starts to dance and laugh, it's the cutest thing ever!

NO Comments!

I can't leave comments anywhere.
I'm sorry.
I haven't dumped you.
This is hard for this "have to say something" mama.

Google won't let me.
I changed my password.
I added Christine as a person I follow (in addition to Google Reader) just to see if that would help.

Nope.
I can't leave comments.

Good Shepherd's Garden Party--Week Four

 

"The Wind and Sea Obey Him"

Again, we were a day late (and a dollar short)!

This whole post is totally out of order, but I'm short on time, so I will go in order of the pictures

(is that OK?  Does that ruin the Garden Party?)

(I'm a flustered mess)

We had our end of the year Mass and picnic today and it's just a crazy week trying to finish up school,

plan an upcoming birthday and VBS preschool planning all in my head!

 We used decorated paper fish plates for our party...

 The kids did such a great job making these!
(Just make sure, if you do this, you use permanant markers, otherwise your markers will run into your food!)

 The Barbecue John 21:9-14

We did smores with fudge striped cookies and chocolate marshmallows,

and for the kiddos who like bananas, we did banana boats,

by slicing a strip down the center of the banana and putting a few chocolate chips and marshmallows

and placing them on the grill! (the heavy duty foil makes a boat for them to sit in)

 The Leviathan

Psalm 104:24-30

We did this to one banana just for decoration!

(it was my banana!)
(I didn't copy Tiffany, because I really planned this last weekend, but she beat me to it!)

 When planning this whole party, I originally drew up this dragon sea monster cake...but

decided to go easier and with veggies instead, but isn't the cake cute?

I actually saw something similar online, when I googled "sea monster cakes".

 This is our sea monster, or Leviathan, a red pepper sitting on spinach sea weed dip.

The Net--Mark 1: 16-20

&

The Fishes--John 21:4-8

 We had lots of fish....regular Goldfish, and these yummy sweet goldfish!

 The Boat--Matthew 8:23-27

The Mast--Ezekiel 27:4-7

The Sail--Acts 27:33-44

Pizza boats with beef stick masts and pepperoni flags

(and lots of toothpicks)

 Our "Sea Water"

 More bubble fun afterward!

 Lunches are already crazy around here, add a few Bible readings...

total craziness!!!

I found this online too, when searching for ideas, isn't this great?

This is just cupcakes that are frosted over!!

(way too many cupcakes though, we'd have to have lots of company to do this one!)

For more Good Shepherd Garden Party ideas go to Catholic Cuisine!

Very Thankful Thursday

 Thankful for sunny days and beautiful sunsets seen in the evenings.

Last Thursday, I had a really, really bad day. 

One where I took out all my frustrations and failings on the kids.

I hold it all in for a really long time

then, I explode.

It happened around lunch time.

I yelled at everyone.

About everything.

I was feeling like a failure as a mother.

My kids are not perfect.

Far from it.

I know none of us are, but this particular day, it was bothering me.

Imperfections.

Especially mine.

I started yelling and told them all what I was feeling and thinking.

The one that is always mean, well, that is my fault and I told her so.

Like this:

"You're mean because I'm a bad mother, and you (another kid) aren't doing your school work

because I'm a bad mother, and you (another kid) don't pick up toys because I'm a bad mother, and it's 2:00 and we are just now eating lunch, again, because I'm a bad mother, and I'm in my workout clothes, waiting to workout, because I'm a bad mother and can't get up early enough to do it, and...." 

Well,

You get the picture, don't you?

Picture me yelling though and the kids staring at me like "what is wrong with mama?"

I fed the kids, and then went upstairs and fell to my knees.

Crying

Praying

Begging for help,

Begging for Mercy.

And you know what?

He gave it to me.

I came downstairs and my beautiful, wonderful, not always perfect kiddos forgave me.

And hugged me.

And told me

"It's OK mom, all moms freak out sometimes."

I suddenly felt so very Thankful.

Thankful for so many things.

(I also felt very hormonal)

Thankful for girls who still give me handpicked flower bouquets.

 Thankful for blooms and buds and growing leaves shining in the sunlight!

 Thankful for sisters loving each other

Thankful for big sisters and little sisters

 Thankful for glitter messes

and

husbands who help vacuum them up!

 Thankful for potted flowers from a good friend, it made my day!

 Thankful for silly boys who will only let me take silly pose pictures

 Thankful for tea parties.

Lots and lots of tea parties.

Like at least 2 every week...

 Thankful for little girls who always pray before they eat, even at a tea party

 Thankful for girls with raised pinkies

 Thankful along with tea parties, come home made cookies and little helpers, who might eat a little more than help....

 and babies, lots of babies and pretty set tables...

 Thankful for this recipe (now don't these look yummy?)

 Thankful for messy baby faces....

 See?  Thankful for lots of tea parties....

 Thankful for babies wearing homemade jammies from Grandma with homemade matching dollies....

 Thankful for boys and Spring band concerts!

 Thankful our homeschool group has a band and a wonderful band instructor who gives so much to the kiddos and Thankful that band instructor also plays the Trumpet, like Jedi.

Thankful

 most of all

 for the most precious gift of all,

A new life inside!!

Feeling very Thankful and humbled, and undeserved and amazed and scared and nervous and anxious and happy and so many feelings all at the very same time!

(probably due January sometime)