A New Springtime

Keeping My Head Above Water

Managing the family in January can always be a bit of a challenge. After the holidays re-organizing and restructuring the household is called for. It can get hectic with everything going on: homeschooling, basketball games, winter storms, and just plain old every day living. I have carved out a corner of the dining room for myself where I can do my home management from.

DH hung up my burlap bulletin board (GW $3) a few weeks ago and even though it's not that sightly it definitely helps me to keep things in front of my eyes and in my head. 

 School is back in full swing now and our 18 year old is returning to college tomorrow. The two youngest have been playing together and showin' each other that sibling love!

 These are the precious moments for me. That unscheduled time when things unfold naturally without any expectations.

 Malcolm is nine months now and is doing quite well. He is teething and taking some steps in his walker. No crawling yet but he can roll like there's no tomorrow.

He is also enjoying his new high chair and is eating lots of baby fruits and veggies!

Between school, doctor's appointments, basketball practices, kids and cleaning there is the kitchen re-painting project. I do a little bit here and there as I can, slowly but surely it will get done.

I am fully immersed in family life and have kids at just about all stages:

Mr. 23 year old has been in need of my help.

Mr. 18 yr. old is busy with his girl friend and job.

Mr. 13 & Miss 10 yr old are like a cat and dog.

Mr. 11 yr. old still aims to please, except in the tideness dept.

Miss 8 yr. old always has a story to tell during the most inconvenient times.

Miss 3yr. old wants to know why (?)

Mr. 9 months is satisfied with frequent nursing

and DH wants supper and to know why I can't get to the games on time.
 

I  am all to crabby, I mean happy, to obligue. I know I am not the best or sweetest wife or mother but I try and I do love them all dearly. At times I may feel like I am sinking or just trying to keep my head above water but then God pulls me out and I catch my breath and begin again.

 

Glorious Christmas

Even though I had some help this advent, I am glad Christmas has finally arrived.

This lil'guy is trying to get in on all of the action, he doesn't want to be left out of anything.

These two are quite the tag team these days. Eliana can't get enough of her Malcolm. I am always giggling at their daily antics.

This past month I have been extemely exhausting. I think it is mostly due to my somewhat broken sleep. Baby Malcolm is  working so hard on teething and he likes to nurse alot at night to soothe himself. So, between that and shopping  my fuel has been running low.

  I wouldn't change a thing though, I have experienced an overwhelming sense of love from God through my children so I know it is all worth it!

We attended the four o'clock vigil Mass, I just love the beauty of the church all adorned with evergreen trees, white lights and the bright red pointsettas.

I felt so joyful and blessed for the family  I am a part of. God has been so good to us and I am so glad to be able to honor Him at this special time of year.

The manger was another awesome sight and the children couldn't help but to be drawn into the mystery of it all.

After church we went out to dinner and when we got home the kids watched a movie and off to bed they went. I stayed up enjoying the quiet and finishing up some last minute cooking preparations.

The tree looked so luminous and there was that special warmth in the air that ole' tananbaum gives to the home on Christmas Eve.

This cute lil' vintage ornaments was a GW find, it is a set of eight mini bells all different Christmas characters. They are so cute I am going to have a hard time putting them away. I am glad to have 12 days to enjoy them and all of the other decorations and festivities.

All of the stockings got filled and I headed up to bed with a feeling of relief and contentment knowing that the family was about to share another glorious Christmas day together.

MERRY CHRISTMAS to all and I hope you get to slow down these next twelve days and  savor the season and soak in all of your blessings from above! May Jesus be in your heart and His peace shine through you!

Rustic Christmas Decor

 The past couple of years I really hadn't decorated like I used to for Christmas, as a matter of fact, I actually got rid of a lot of my decorations. I think it was due to the lack of energy during my past pregnancies.

 This year, I put a bit more effort into it. Each week of advent, two so far, I have put up a few festive things. I am not really into glitz and sparkle, the rustic look is more my style.

                                         

DH actually got this last year, I was so surprised when he brought it home. It touches my heart when he does thoughtful lil' things like this. They usually end up being my favorite sentiments.

Our handmade manger that the kiddos made a couple of years ago always gives me so much joy. I love that they can play with it and think of the meaning of the birth of Jesus. The wood is so soft and chunky, the perfect toy for lil' hands!

A rustic grapevine wreath and an old tin star got a bit of a makeover with this snowflake ribbon and matching ornament in  that I glued in the middle. Nothing fancy but it works.

This is a GW find, can't pass up an already made arrangement for $2.99, mama didn't raise no fool. The candles on sale cost more than the flowers but for a total a of about $7, me likey!

Eventually, the pegs on this shelf will hold our stockings but for now I went kinda snowflake crazy. I think it's a bit too much but I wasn't freaking out over it and that actually made me feel good. The importance and emphasis wasn't on perfection but my mind was focusing on puttin' up something fun!

A basket full of our Christmas story books sits on the floor in the living room. This basket was $5 at GW, it got dressed up with a $1 scarf from GW and some more of that pretty red ribbon, a roll for $2.50 can go a long way. For a finishing touch I added asmall amount ofsparkle with these pinecone stickers. They are so wintery and give it that perfect seasonal touch.

Dh put up these snow flake lights on the inside of the dining room and living room windows. They give such a warm glow to the house and make me want to snuggle up with...

you know who! I hope you are coming along in all your Christmas preparations both in the physical and spiritual and enjoying the season of Advent!

PREPARE, Advent 2011

There is a spiritual battle going on and its time to PREPARE! Once again we are called to remain awake and alert, to be ready for the coming of the Lord! ADVENT, a coming, what a powerful thought that should always be at the forefront of our minds.

As we prepare, we wait... we usually plant an amaryllis this time of year.

The bulb will grow taller and taller each day as we nuture it by watering and turning it towards the sun. It will finally open around Christmas blooming into a beautiful flower, trumpet- shaped, announcing the arrival of Jesus!

During the four weeks of Advent our wreath help tio remind us of the time we have, four weeks,to be concentrating and readying ourselves for charity and love to take over our hearts.

There are so many evil things to protect ourselves and our loved ones from these days especially when the bad things are now presented as good, and good is considered bad. PREPARE,PREPARE, make ready a people well disposed for the coming of the Lord, Jesus Christ!

Pretzels Making

A couple of months ago while at the mall we couldn't resist delicious smell of the pretzels that were baking.This is something we don't usually indulge in but they sure were scrumpscious!  When I saw a pretzel making kit(Aunt Anne's) at A.C. Moore I couldn't resist getting it and gaving it a try.

All of the kids wanted to get in on it and so we began our baking extraviganza.

The dough was very elastic and sort of difficult to work with, the same kind that is used for making pizza, i think. The kids did quite well at rolling, twisting, and pinching their pretzels inot shape.

Here is our lil'girl rolling hers. She is so pleased with her efforts!

 

Each one came out unique.

The pretzels had to be dipped into a water and baking soda mixture, after that we salted them. Warning! If anyone makes these go extemely light on the salt, it is very strong.

The final product turned out nice looking and tasty, none of us could finish a whole one due to the amount of salt we put on. It was a fun and memorable experience but I think we will leave the pretzel making to the professionals at the mall.

 

Getting Things in Order

I just love the things we learn by doing everyday ordinary work. All of us have been working hard to get our yard back into shape after the past snow storm. Since there were still leaves on the trees, the snow that fell upon them became too heavy for the branches. Many limbs broke off and even whole trees toppled over.

This unfortunate event has turned into a wonderful opportunity for some good healthy yard work and some new things to learn about. We are thinking of getting a wood stove eventually so we are getting a head start on a wood pile. Max was having a great time trying his hand at the axe. Both he and my older son, who is thirteen, were really giving it their all.

We started to put the wood in piles according to its purpose in getting a fire started, this was an good way for the kids to learn about kindle, tinder and fuel wood. I truly enjoy the smell of the wood being cut, it is such a refreshing and relaxing scent. I think I could saw all day. I used our bow saw, it is small enough for me to handle but can cut through small to quite large pieces of wood.

Even the littlest members of the family can get in on the action.

 
There's nothing like an honest day's work.

Be Blest, Copywork

 
 I haven't done many posts on home schooling lately so I'll sneek one in now. Since soccer has ended  I will be able to slow down just a bit. The kids are playing basketball but since DH coaches he takes the kids to practices in the evening. I opt to stay home with darling toddler and baby and this usually gives me a break and chance for revival.
 We have been using the book, "Be Blest"  , by Mary Beth Owens. I first saw this book @         "By Sun and Candlelight" which has been such an inspiration to me for many years now. This is a beautiful book based on the "Canticle of Brother Sun" by St Francis of Assisi.

drawn by Abbey,8

 We are using this for: copywork which is great for learning spelling, punctuation, handwriting practice,drawing etc.

drawn by Raphael, age 13

Each month there is a new prayer of thanksgiving for God's creation. We all look forward to see how the illustrator depicts and captures the granduer of the upcoming months.

drawn by Hannah, age 10

 I have been so impressed at the effort and enthusiasm the kids have shown while working on their papers. At the end year, I will have the each of the kids make these into a keepsake book of their own.

 

 

 

Oct. 2011 Snow Storm

This is the maple tree our backyard Sunday morning after the storm.

 

Our neighbors across the street had a tree in their front yard that was leaning on the wires.

Our power went out Saturday night and we just got it back today,Thursday, at around 4:00p. m. We were still able to cook due to our gas stove and our hot water is also heated by propane. The first couple of days weren't so bad,  Here is my babe all bundled up.

The kiddos kept busy playin' some games!

We  had a no power Halloween party in our karosene lit living room, we played our own version of  trick or treat trivia pursuit. DH even got in on the action got himself some candy!

The girls kept warm in their costumes. They were Sacajawea, Amelia Erhart,and  Strawberry Shortcake.

The "boyz" came down dressed like this,  they had me laughin' acting like gangstas!

We had some fun but as one day tuned into two and two turned into three and three turned into four we began to pray for electricity and heat to warm our lil' feet.  It  was starting to get a bit frustrating. This morning we got into the car p.j. 's and all and headed over to grammy's. Later around 4 p.m. DH called me and told me the power had come back on, thank you Jesus!

 

Down Syndrome = Flexiblity

Besides being so loving and cute, Malcolm has other gifts and talents, he is extremely flexible! Children with Down Syndrome usually are quite limber due to hypotonia.

I can't get enough of him grabbing his feet and pulling them all the way up to his shoulders. These are the things that make our family laugh and smile throughout the day!

If I could do this  maybe my mouth might not get me into so much trouble (lol).

Sister is trying to learn his techniques...

but decides she would rather do her own thing!

Malcolm Boy, Malcolm Boy What Do You Hear?

Last week Malcolm had his first appointment for a  more in depth hearing test. At six months kids with Down Syndrome get this done because they can be more susceptible to hearing loss due to upper respiratory infections and ear infections. Malcolm has been " congested" since birth, he always sounds like he has a lot of mucus. The suction bulb is in constant use.

                                      
Children with DS tend to have smaller ears and ear canals. Aren't his cute? Malcolm responds well to our voices and he loves to engage in conversations with us. He is very vocal. He mummbles,coos and babbles just like any other six month old.

Our appointment was at the Clark School for Hearing and Speech and I was impressed with the professionalism and care they showed to Malcolm.

The grounds were beautiful and we are so blessed to have these facilities not far from home. My older son who is 11 went with us and got to sit with the audiologist as she performed some tests. He was also a big help to me and made a wonderful impression with his charitable behavior.

                                                                                                                                          

When we returned home the kids and I discussed what took place at the appointment. We talked about the parts of the ear, vibrations and sound waves.
 
Having a child  with DS is such an opportunity  for all of us to learn something new each day.  It is a great experience and helps me to practice my Catholic faith by  trying to serve Malcolm and my family better.