7 Quick Takes!

 I'm trying Jen's Quick takes again this week
(hope she doesn't mind it's actually Saturday, my days are goofed up this week)

1.

We have a new pope!  Pope Francis!

I do not know much about him, hoping he's conservative,

loving his humbleness, praying for him.

Not  understanding how some non Catholic friends who have lots of Catholic friends

can post negative things about Catholics getting a new Pope on Facebook.

Things like, "No matter who's pope, Jesus is still King" 

Yep He is.

But

 it does matter who is pope

The Catholic religion is the only religion that has remained 

100 % pro-life in every way

We have not backed down on abortion, contraceptives, euthanasia.

(and many other moral teachings)

Because we have a physical leader here to make sure, 

who has the Holy Spirit guiding him all the way.

This new pope comes in a long line of popes

click HERE

or HERE

To see how they all go back to Jesus, Who IS King, and Who 

made Peter the very first Pope.

I would be happy for you if you got a something new at your church.  

Why does it seem to upset you when we do?

We all have the same goal

HEAVEN!

2.

Here's Simeon on day one

about 5:30 am

He was happy and dancing and talking away, entertaining all the nurses!

 Here he is about 2 pm

It's hard to look at your baby like this and say how things are really going.

Because when you look at your baby like this, things are not going good.

Maybe the surgery has been successful,

 but you still will be up all night and day with a 

hurting, fussy, scared little baby, who you can do nothing for

except pray and be there for him.

(I won't show the close up of his face only, it's too sad to look at)

 3.

Day 2 (Wednesday) morning

his face is swollen but there is a slight smile here,

he's playing dice...we play a lot of Farkle and he loves to shake the dice.

This only lasted this one morning, then, 

all toys were thrown out of the crib

every time we tried to give him any

 So by that afternoon, we desperately needed to get out!

 Which was easier with helpers!

 4.

Day 3 no I.V.!!

(but it's still attached to his foot)

Here, he's holding the milk cup, but won't take a drink,

I caught him twice starting to take a drink,

 and once it got to his lips

he'd put it down.  Poor baby.

He loved the wagon rides!

(can't wait til summer)

 5.

Day 4 (Friday)

 We would walk to the end of the long hallway

to this family type room, I'd close the door, and let him play all around!

The hospital was full of very sick kids,

 so we didn't get to play in the playroom much

(and when we did, I forgot my camera!)

 6. HOME!!!

This is today!

Looking much better, his lip is still swollen a little.

I cringe every time I think of how they must have
 held his top lip up and open for the 

5 1/2 hour surgery.
(He has sores on the corners of his mouth from this)

And I think about how much we complain when we have a little canker sore in our mouths
He's happy when he has Motrin. 

7

Christine

has a new blog name and lots and lots of new posts up!

Yay Christine!

Thank you again for all the prayers!  

God bless you all! 
PS, had to laugh, I only said I needed a nap and a shower,
not that I'd get them!
(I did shower, though)    

7 Quick Takes Friday (OK Not So Quick)

 Joining Jen on my not so  7 Quick Takes!

-1-

Minnesota State Shutdown

I haven't heard any MN bloggers talking about this.

It's a big deal.

It effects a lot of people.

23,000 newly unemployed people, as of Friday, July 1.

Thanks to our Governor.

I prayed for him yesterday in my rosary, and I have to admit, I had a hard time

feeling love towards him.  But, I did it anyway.

He closed down all money making things, like our State Parks and our Lottery. 

These are things that bring lots, like millions of dollars to our state.

He also closed down many things that will really hurt people.

My husband runs a Halfway House for men in recovery.  It's a 90 program to get these guys (who have already gone through treatment) jobs and a plan to live in recovery.

They are all there on state contracts.

So

My husband is working for free now.

He took out a loan from his father for this next pay period, 

and they got a loan for the next 2 

Which gives them about 5 weeks

Then, I don't know what.

I'm asking for prayers.

My husband is really good about this whole thing

(besides being pretty mad at our Governor)

He knows God will take care of us no matter what.

I know that too, I just worry a little more.

Like, will we be living in the halfway house next month?

Personally, I think this Governor of ours wants to be known for shutting down the state.

His career is already shot from this happening, why would he try to compromise?

Yes, we live in a very liberal state.

We had an ex wrestler as a governor.

We now have as our State Senator, a man who wrote a book called 

Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot

Bill O'Reilly has stated he now has no reason to ever come to Minnesota.

This state shutdown effects us.

It effects 23,000 newly unemployed

It effects all the businesses that will not get any business because of road construction left uncompleted.

It effects all our State parks and people who vacation there, not to mention the vandalism that has already happened since last Friday.

It effects all the people who need services who will no longer get them

No more licenses.

I'm sure it effects many more.

Please pray with me for a end to this craziness.

-2-

(finally, huh?)

We made a great father's day tee for daddy!!!
(pictured above)

The kiddos thought up the quote by Darth Vader.

 It was not an easy job to do, but it sure was fun!

Daddy left for fishing in Canada with his dad for almost a week.

(it felt like a month)

 Boy did we miss daddy!!  

I think I missed him the most, but it was pretty close.

He is the patriarch of our family, the head of our family.

I just love and need this man so much.

 When he came home, we celebrated the day by going to the park and just enjoying him home

 He brought me a French Diete Coke

 There's nothing better than fresh Walleye!!!!  MMMMMMmmmmmmmm......with 7 people now, 

His allowed catch to bring home was not enough and we had to go buy fresh Cod....which was also very very good, we might have to splurge sometimes and get some of that.

The Walleye though, divine.  It was sooooooo gooood.

 -3-

Butterfly painting 

I can't give credit to the right craft blog as I lost the paper I'd saved for a month....

darn it.
I found it!!
HERE!

Anyway, you paint Artist canvas like this....

 then water paint paper to punch out butterflies...

 and then stick them on with sticky thingy's

Didn't they turn out beautiful?

 -4-

This is me with one of my many coconut oil treatments for lice.

This is how bad it smells.

At least for this pregnant mama.

We think the lice is gone....but keep doing the treatments every weekend, 

just in case.

We are pretty sure we got it from baseball.

We now have our own baseball helmet.

I am still dealing with lots of nausea

And I have no energy.

I'm hoping to start feeling better in about 6 weeks.

 -5-

Lite strawberry drinks!

(I've made these since I was about 18 --it's a Jamie original recipe)

Frozen Strawberries

Diet 7-up

mix in the blender

(may want to add a sweetener or two)

 -6-

Our mailbox

I love mailboxes.....but you know that don't you?

-7-

I'm done....

We're off to swim and enjoy this beautiful, warm, sunny day!!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!!

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!!!

7 Quick Takes Friday (Volume 10)

Joining in ever so late

-1-

Sunday is Divine Mercy Sunday!!

My favorite day of the year!!!
Oh, the graces are flowing.

Oh, Blood and water which gushed forth from the heart of Jesus,

like a fount of Mercy for us,

I trust in Thee.

Jesus, I trust in Thee.

-2-

Pope John Paul II will be beatified on Sunday, Divine Mercy Sunday!

One of my favorites.

I do keep getting emails from my SSPX dad and I guess they are not fans of this

holy man. I pray for them. It makes the day happy and sad for me.

Sad that my family can't take part in the joy of this blessed event.

-3-

Sunday is also our Catholic homeschool group's Easter party.

We filled, ummm, let me see, anyone want to take any guesses?

Maybe I'll have to think of something to give away....

This laundry basket ended up being filled to the top!

-4-
The Royal Wedding.
I did not get up early, or even watch it on TV for that matter.
I did look up what the dress looked like on
People.com

I also enjoyed looking at the funny (ridiculous) hats!
Kate's dress was beautiful.





-5-

Good old PAAS egg dyes.

This is taken out of my "Little White Book" Six minute reflections:



In 1880, a pharmacist named William Townley from Newark, NJ, introduced packets of egg dye which he sold for five cents. Townley's Easter Egg Dye initially offered dye tablets for five colors.

Acknowledging the roots of his German customers (whose ancestors had introduced the old-world custom of dyeing eggs to the United States), Townley later changed the company name to PAAS Dye Company.

PAAS is a derivative of the Pennsylvanian Dutch word which means EASTER!



-6-

Also taken from my Little White Book:



Friar Cappuccino

On April 27, 2003, Pope John Paul II beatified a 17th century friar, who is called the inspiration behind cappuccino coffee.

Born in 1631 in Italy, Marco d' Aviano was a Capuchin friar, well known for his preaching.

On the eve of the Battle of Vienna in 1683, the pope asked him to rally Catholics and Protestants together to hold back the advance of Turkish soldiers into Europe.

Legend says that upon their victory, the Christians found sacks of coffee left behind by the Ottoman military. They decided to taste it, but found it too strong.

They ended up adding cream and honey, which turned the drink a brown color similar to the brown habit worn by Marco d' Aviano.

It was the Viennese themselves who began to refer to the coffee drink as "Cappuccino".

Fr. d'Aviano had nothing to do with creating the drink.



-7-

We are almost done with school!!!

We have our last swimming lessons tomorrow!
May means Spring in Minnesota, Yahoo!!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone, filled with God's Graces and Mercy!

7 Quick Takes Friday (Volume 8)

Joining Jen again on this Friday with 7 not so quick things:
-1-
Mardi Gras.
I don't get it.
I don't get how or why Catholics celebrate it.
I am a black and white person.
No gray here.
(although, I like gray t-shirts)
I don't like the "party til the end" attitude thing.
When my dad first started fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays,
he would feast the night before up til midnight
then, on fasting days,
he'd eat a whole loaf of bread,
because he fasted on bread and water.
He does it differently now.
No gray
Take me as I am
I just don't get Mardi Gras.
The actual Mardi Gras is an event full of sinful activities.
So,
we don't celebrate it.
I just can't get into it.
I want to always be ready

-2-
Fish on Friday during Lent
(taken from my "The Little Black Book" daily 6 minute reflections for Lent)
it was 1962, Lou Groen owned a McDonald's in predominantly Catholic Montfort Heights, near Cincinnati, Ohio. During Lent, Catholics didn't eat meat on Friday, and Groen watched his customers flock to a nearby restaurant for their fish sandwich. So Groen (himself a Catholic) decided to create his own fish sandwich. He cut up halibut, dipped the pieces in batter and fried them. Groen was so happy with his sandwich that he travelled to Chicago and suggested that Ray Kroc, the founder of McDonald's, add it to the menu.
Kroc was not impressed.
But Groen didn't give up. Finally Kroc made him a wager. McDonald's would try out Groen's fish sandwich on the menu for Good Friday, as well as a hula burger Kroc was developing. They would see which sandwich had the higher sales, and that sandwich would be added to the menu.
On Good Friday, Groen sold 350 of his fish sandwiches. Kroc never said how many hula burgers he sold (one source said he sold only six), and the fillet-of-fish became part of the McDonald's menu in 1965.
Today, customers eat more than 300 million of McDonald's fillet-of-fish sandwiches each year, and it is considered the world's best-selling fish sandwich.


Just fyi, I found this very interesting!


-3-
Parks and Recreation
We've been watching this via Netflix.
We love it
Dare I say even more than The Office?
It's hilarious.
We're on the 2nd season right now.

-4-
I am reading this novel right now.
I don't usually read fiction
but I am enjoying it and it's a hard one to put down.
I give it a thumbs up!!

-5-
Carrot tops!
We are growing a carrot top!
Ballerina Rosie had this as one of her Science experiments.
I have to say, usually our home experiments don't work out that well.
But
This one, worked!
Wouldn't it be neat, if we could re-grow carrots as we ate them?
Too bad only the top grows again.


-6-
This is what our floor looks like after play dough play.

-7-

Jedi's Birthday

We celebrated by going to some snow mountains

at an abandoned Wal-mart parking lot.

I think they dumped snow from all over town there.

Mountains everywhere!

We came back to our house for ice cream dessert cake (his pick)

I think you can click on the pictures for a better view....
It was a balmy 33 degrees and sunny!

He and his buddy! (soaking wet from snowball fighting)

The snow is slooooooooooooly melting away......

Look at these littles!!

Aren't they just adorable?

Look at these biggies...uh, I mean,

I am woman!! Hear me roar!!!!

Susie's van's battery went out

but

I saved the day!

One of the few things I know about cars

is how to charge a battery!

(although, shh!! We did have to call my husband to see which to put on first, positive or negative and a couple other questions about that--but Shh!! We still did it!)
So, the previous post is for us women,

who Roar!
Youtube wouldn't let me edit it to put it in this post...
Have a great weekend everyone!!