Artist at work

Little Ruby has been our little artist ever since she could hold a crayon.  More hours of her day are spent 

doing art than anything else (okay, sleeping excepted.)  For Christmas, Santa brought her a tub full of art supplies (glitter glue, acrylic paints and a palette, foam stickers, felt sheets, glue, pipe cleaners, feathers, jewels, pom-poms...) and let's just say that present has been thoroughly enjoyed!  For the first couple weeks after Christmas, that was ALL she did!  The last couple of days though, she has reverted back to crayons/markers/colored pencils, and I've LOVED seeing her drawings!  I thought you might like to see them too!

Snowmen with LOTS of buttons

Flowers

A rainbow and "Hello Kitty with pinchers... like a crab..."

A sister with a monkey bars on her shirt, a coconut (the top circle-looking thing), a baby (to the right of the coconut), and Mama Mary (laying down.)  Notice the orange "frame" she colored around it - that's her latest thing - frames

Sunshine.  She drew this about 6 months ago and it's been hanging on my fridge ever since because I love it so much.  It just makes me smile every time I see it!

A girl with a bug on her shirt

We also got a beautiful surprise in the mail today from another artist dear to our hearts, Amber Pitts.  She was here this summer with the Love Good Music tour and painted this beautiful picture, upside down in three minutes during one of Jimmy's songs. It was incredible to behold!

When I got the mail, there was a package of greeting cards from Amber with beautiful watercolor depictions of Pope Francis and Mother Teresa.  I really want to put pictures of them on here, but I really don't want to spoil anything for her either, so unfortunately for now, you'll just have to imagine them.  The painting of Mother Teresa is titled "Peace Begins With a Smile" and Mother Teresa just exudes joy and love.  The painting of Pope Francis perfectly captures his humble, loving spirit.  Oh goodness they're wonderful.  If you're looking for beautiful cards to mail out for any reason, I would highly recommend getting in touch with Amber (comment here and I'll put you in touch with her.)  You would be supporting a beautiful young woman's gift!  We are so blessed to have this beautiful artist as a role-model for our beautiful little artist!

Baptized in Christ

Today we celebrated the Baptism of our nephew and Godson, Hayden!!

Cousins and best friends, Hayden & Ira

Father Andy had all the kids' attention as he explained the significance of water being used for Baptism

Baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit

Anointed with the Oil of Chrism

The AWESOME book we found for him.  I think he likes it!

Hayden, may God bless you and keep you close to His heart today and always!!

 

Tooth Fairy

Soo... I may or may not be a terrible mother who forgot for like a month... or more (I've honestly lost track it's been so long) to "tooth fairy" Ira's last tooth he lost.  He has for several months known that I am the tooth fairy (He even told Andy, "Dad, did you know Mom is the Tooth Fairy?!")  but, just like with Santa Claus (who he bluntly told RUBY was fake this year... thanks a lot...) confuses me with how exactly that works out in his big honkin' brain.  He does this thing where he still acts like he believes.  And he's good at it.  Too good.  So much so that I don't really think he's acting.  Because I'll unapologetically admit the kid can't lie to save his life so I don't think he could  so convincingly pull off "fake believing."  Does that make any sense?   Because it doesn't for me.... I don't know what reality he has created for himself where he knows, in fact, that his parents are aforementioned mythical figures, but then still wholeheartedly lives as though they are real... I don't know... it boggles my mind.

Sooooooo...... anyway... He finally decided last night (after he had to have a tooth pulled at the dentist yesterday) that he was going to write a note to the tooth fairy.

And the tooth fairy, having an affinity for imaginary worlds herself, left him this note back:

He was ecstatic.  And said not one word about it being from me... mind. blown.

Then tonight when he went to bed, he wrote her another note:

Oh... My HEART!!!  What a doll!  I'm rather enjoying this fun little conversation with my sweet son!  

To be continued...

My Girl

We were out of milk this morning (and Ira and Ruby always always have cold cereal/milk for breakfast), so I got up early to make some muffins for the kiddos for breakfast.  I hadn't been up 15 minutes when Ruby came bouncing in all mussy-headed.  She is just about the cutest thing ever when she wakes up.  With a lot of my time being consumed teaching Ira during the day, I kind of cherish the mornings when she wakes up early, even if it does infringe on my "me time."  So she got to help me make muffins!  I used to be really good about letting Ira help me in the kitchen, but with Ruby it seems like I'm always "too busy" or "in a hurry" or "not in the mood to deal with the mess."  I really need to work on that.  She loves to help!

When Ira got up, he wanted nothing to do with my muffins... hmph... and made himself cinnamon toast for breakfast instead... little stinker...

Then today was one of those days where neither of us was really.... hmm... focused?  I guess that would be the word for it?  We just weren't very in sync.  I was tired... He was... unfocused?  Yeah, I think that's probably a good description of the combination.  So it took him forever to do things and it felt even longer to me because I was tired and just wanted him to finish.  We got it done, but it wasn't necessarily pretty. Then we went and threw our route of 800 papers.  It also was not pretty but it got done.  (The combination of heat blowing full blast to keep the car warm and two windows down with 30 degree air blowing in and the stop/go/turn, etc. of throwing papers this time of year makes all 3 of us a little queasy by the time we're finished.)   The house was a wreck when we got home, but a couple focused hours of cleaning up/putting stuff away and it has returned to some semblance of decency.  Pretty much today was just one of those days we pat ourselves on the back for surviving, get to bed as early as we can, and thank God that tomorrow is a fresh, new day!

Back in the Saddle

Well well, first day back to school wasn't too bad at all!  Got a little bit of attitude about writing thank you notes, but once he understood that I wasn't going to back down, he wrote a very nice thank you note (and even seemed to have fun doing it... shhh...)

Otherwise, spent most of the day cleaning out above the desk (which is where papers to be filed go.)  There were TWO YEARS worth of papers to file.  UGH!  Luckily all the utilities have their own folders in the basket and get filed every month.  As do medical expense receipts and Insurance Explanation of Benefits, but still... the stack was mountainous and I'd been avoiding it for far too long... obviously.... 2 years... So the bar was covered in piles of papers and the floor was covered in piles of papers to shred/recycle, and oh MY it gets messy to sort through things!  The storm before the calm for SURE!  In fact, the whole house is rather stormy right now as I go through our possessions one by one, deciding what to keep and what to... do something else with.  I wish it were easier to get rid of stuff.  Like maybe if I had a magic wand and could *poof* it to the homeless shelter and the buy/sell/trade group and the trash and the recycling and Goodwill.  Yes, that would be much simpler than what I've got going on right now.  It will eventually be so much better, but until then... yeesh.  And yet, it reminds me how blessed I am to have so much stuff to deal with in the first place.  We are so spoiled having not only everything we need, but most of the stuff we want too...

Had this yummy Slow Cooker Savory Superfood Soup for dinner tonight.  It was VERY good.  The kids thought it was a little spicy, so next time I'd decrease the crushed red pepper just a touch.  Otherwise, it is good to be getting back to eating well.  My tummy is thanking me.  I just hope I can keep up with the meal planning/grocery shopping.  It's tough juggling all the things that I need to do every day.  Seems like there are always a few balls rolling around on the floor... or collecting dust under the stove... (exercising, laundry, cleaning, meal planning, hobby pursuit, friendships are the ones that seem to fall most often.)

Anyway, not a whole lot else going on.  So I'll leave you with a picture of my now clean/organized desk cabinet.  Be amazed.

12th Day of Christmas!

Okay, so I'm slipping this one in a little past midnight... must be a Sunday night!

I ordered about a bajillion-and-a-half books from Amazon last night with some Christmas money.  I am SO excited to get them and start reading.  Following the lead of some people who inspire me, among other things I purchased "The Great Divorce" by C.S. Lewis, "Anima Christi" by Mother Mary Francis, "The Four Cardinal Virtues" by Joseph Pieper, and "Imitation of Christ" by Thomas a Kempis.  Yeah... I'm going to be a busy girl this year!

After Mass today (where Ira sang loudly in my ear while I was trying to play piano, which is adorable and distracting all at the same time...) we started getting ready for the week by catching up on some laundry (that was still in baskets from when I didn't finish it 10 days ago...)  Then I got it in my head that we needed to go through our closets (I like to declutter at the beginning of the year... last weekend I went through our storage room and got rid of about 8 boxes of stuff.)  So we did that and did the hall closets as well.  3-4 More boxes of stuff!  Now I just need to work my way through the living room and kitchen and we should be good to go!

Tonight was back into the routine of lesson plans!  I am actually VERY excited to get back to school - our curriculum is SO AWESOME!  It is a rather eclectic curriculum of Mater Amabilis with some additions/substitutions (Logic of English, Noeo Science, ALEKS Math, Handwriting Without Tears, I Can Do All Things Art Curriculum and various religion books to supplement for Sacrament Prep.)  I have been thoroughly pleased with the Mater Amabilis book recommendations.  We have found some true gems that I'm sure we never would've come across otherwise.  And Mater Amabilis charges NOTHING for their plans (you have to buy all the books, but still, Michele Quigley has done a TON of work/research/etc. to create this beautiful curriculum and then offer it free of charge!)

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I am astounded at how much we are loving homeschooling.  It has been SUCH a good fit for us!  And I am astounded at the grace God has given me to stick with it and be consistent.  I am usually neither of those things (which was one of the reasons I was worried about me homeschooling anyone... I really stink at perseverance/fortitude and consistency...) alas, His grace ABOUNDS!

Anyway, that was our today... Tomorrow will be here soon, so I better get to bed!  Before I go though, I'll leave you with a couple pictures from dinnertime.  Never a dull moment 'round here, I tell you what!

Look at those GUNS!

And look at that pretty princess in her homemade tiara!

Pajama Day

Well, we kept things pretty doggone relaxed today!  We all four stayed in our jammies all day long!!

And the kids let Andy and I sleep until 10:00 this morning!  Couldn't TELL you the last time we've done that!  As I'd mentioned, they lost their video-watching privileges a few days ago, and I am shocked at how well/nicely they have entertained themselves in the morning before I get up (those two have never heard of sleeping in...)

I spent a decent chunk of (what was left of) the morning/early afternoon paying bills and updating our monthly budget.  You know, God is so cool the way He provides for things when you take a leap of faith in generosity.  It was pretty amazing to see how He took care of our Christmas budget... down to the dollar... I kid you not!

I spent the rest of the afternoon making  brown bag burritos for Andy to take for lunch each day.  I use brown rice and whole wheat tortillas now, and they usually make about 50, not 30 like the link says.  He only takes one a day for lunch (with fruit) so I only have to make these puppies every couple months.  And after eating them for lunch for years, he has yet to tire of them.  They really are very good.

I reserved some of the filling today to use for our dinner.  Our latest favorite dinner is Taco Salad bowls.  Are you aware how stinking SIMPLE it is to make taco salad bowls?!  We just spray our Corelle bowls with olive oil, scrunch a whole wheat burrito shell into them, spray the top of the burrito with olive oil, and bake at 350 for about 10 minutes.  There is seriously no funner (I realize that's not a word... although spell check isn't dinging me for it... hmmm..) way to eat burritos than in as a taco salad. Anyway, we used the brown bag burrito filling for our meat/protein then topped them with all kinds of goodies (lettuce, black beans, olives, tomatoes, onions, cheese, sour cream, guacamole, and this delicious dressing).  It's a super simple meal that comes together rather quickly!

And then we lit our Advent/Christmas candles for nearly the last time during our evening prayer time.  I'm not sure I'm ready for Christmas to be over yet!

After blowing the candles out (which according to Ira took 53 blows), Ruby said,  "I blew them out without dying and getting my hair on fire and getting myself on fire and burning."  Well done, child!