One Week and Counting...

Well, one week and that's it! Our dream of building our own house will become a reality! We go to settlement next Thursday. The house is sooo beautiful. I am truly grateful for the wonderful blessing it is. I know our family will know many a wonderful memory there. My mother in law will also be moving into her "inlaw" suite. It is a lovely space with a kitchenette, living area, Master Bed room, walk-in closet, full bath, and laundry. I hope she will be very happy there. I know my children have been waiting very excitedly for her to move in! It will be fun to own our own home once again. Although our foray into rentals has been a mere 5.5 months, it definitely feels like it is time to have our own place again. 

My sister in law and her family moved into a house touching our "new" backyard just about 2 weeks ago. So, we are looking forward to having WONDERFUL neighbors. My niece actually gave my daughter a walkie-talkie so they could talk from their rooms. Cute stuff. Anyway, here is a shot of my future kitchen! Obviously the place where I will spend most of my time!!

and Here is one of the front of the house.(you cant see the inlaw suite which comes off the other side)

Check out how BLUE the sky is! I am coming to realize, there is nothing like an October sky!

Today, we decided to spend our school day outdoors. We still did the reading, phonics, math, etc. But we did it at a cute park. There were BEAUTIFUL walking trails, where we gathered many fallen leaves. We did a few leaf rubbings right then and there, but brought most of them home-pressed in my dear daughter's math book--so we could make a pretty Leaf Banner and look them up online to identify them. Homeschooling is such a nice flexible way of life. I really do love it. (Of course, there are those days where I feel the "burn" but for the most part, I love it). All I need to do now is find a lovely apple orchard, go apple picking, and make tons of apple treats. (Anyone have a great recipe for an apple cake--Jewish Apple cake, or any kind??) If someone gives me one, and I make it, i will post pics, okay?? :o)

Okay, hope everyone has a great day!

My Daybook

For Today...

September 28, 2009

Outside my window...

A beautiful, sunny, Fall day.

I am thinking...

Of the fact that I would like to rid my life of the "extra" stuff. How does a sentimental fool go about it?

I am thankful for...

a mirale--my friend's  husband was able to move his left arm after his 3 strokes, something he was completely unable to do.

From the learning rooms...

We learned about St. Zita today, and I would like to carry our fall theme into the kitchen...

From the kitchen...

I would love to make a yummy apple crisp tonight...To eat right after our pulled pork from the crockpot.

I am wearing...

Jeans and a FUS T-shirt and bare feet

I am creating...

TUTUS!! I am up to my ears in tulle. I made my first no-sew tutu last night. I am SOO anxious to give it to my little wild child, that I don't know if I will be able to wait until Christmas!

I am going...

To KY at the end of the week to meet my newest nephew, Bryson!

I am reading...

Milly, Molly, Mandy Stories to the kids. (And trying to find "How to Make an Apple Pie and see the World")

I am hoping...

a GOOD night's sleep tonight. Although, sleepless nights, remind me that my children are here with me and give me opportunities to grow in virtue and holiness.

I am hearing...

The sump-pump in action, and blocks falling on the floor as my children attempt to tidy.

Around the house...

Cluttered counters need to be decluttered, and clothes need to be put away.

One of my favorite things...

Dark chocolate...oh how I have missed you.

A few plans for the rest of the week:

Making a few more tutus, doubling up on the homeschooling(so we don't miss out because I am leaving), visiting the new house, cleaning out and switching clothes that don't fit or are out of season.

Here is picture I am sharing...

on the move during diaper change.

My first Daybook...

I have admired many a simple woman blogger who posts these beautiful peeks into their lives...here is mine.

The idea comes from The Simple Woman's Daybook.

FOR TODAY

September 22, 2009

Outside my window...

The dark of night. While driving today, I happily, yet surprisingly, noticed the first of the trees showing its golden and orange hues. I love Fall.

I am thinking...

Of a dear friend whose husband is on the road to recovery from 3 strokes

I am thankful for...

the sweet hugs of my 10 month old

From the learning rooms...

Planning an autumn paint time for tomorrow. Making Fall trees with tempera paint and tissue paper

From the kitchen...

Another night of leftovers. Day 2 of 3 of no cooking/traveling husband.

I am wearing...

Pale green pajamas

I am creating...

a schedule that will make our daily life run more smoothly

I am going...

TO SEE U2 Tommorow

I am reading...

Anna Karinina

I am hoping...

for a full recovery for my friend

I am hearing...

Dancing with the Stars on the TV

Around the house...

Doing Laundry, unpacking from vacation

One of my favorite things...

Coffee...glad tomorrow will bring a fresh cup

A few plans for the rest of the week:

U2, Homeschooling, Seeing my kitchen be installed in the new house, helping with my niece and nephews as my SIL and BIL move into their new house, One more night of Hubby traveling.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

My Beautiful Daughter celebrating her 7th Birthday at her surprise Tea party.

A Gift..

So, my 10.5 month old started hugging today. I mean, she really lays her precious sweet head on my chest or neck and just hugs. It is such a treasured moment. She proceeded later, to give big brother a looong huggie right before bed. They have such a sweet relationship. It makes a momma's heart happy. I love that little one. I am blessed by four wonderful gifts. How can people look at my joy and say with disgust that "you have your hands full?" Now, I understand, that some people say such things for lack of other things to say, very benignly. But, most, yes most, say it with a haughty "I know better than you attitude." Well, they have missed out. Their children have missed out. I am sad for them. Yes, my days don't always go down smoothly, they are not "scream free" (working on that), I lose my patience, and NEED to get out of the house sometimes. But, really, who doesnt? One child, no child, 10 children. It doesn't matter, everyone needs space sometimes. But I would NEVER EVER EVER have it any other way. I love my life. I love my children! I love my husband! Oky Doky.

Now, since I came into the post wanting to share my little lovie's hugs, not what just came out, I will move on :o). What can I say, sometimes a girl just needs to let it out. 

On to more stories about baby girl...She is talking. Yes that seems unrealistic, but I assure you, I am not one of those moms who swears their child is the next Mozart. I think I am pretty realistic. I don't usually say they do things before they do. But she is definitely talking...well...communicating. She says Mum(for more) she says Hi Anna(fairly clearly too), she says muma(Momma), she says dad, and she raises her arms for up. I am a proud momma. I am sorry, especially if whoever is reading this could care less. But I care, and so I write. 

PLEASE JOIN ME IN PRAYER!

A close friend of ours, my husband actually grew up with him, is in desperate need of prayer right now. Bob, only 31, and the husband to Kate, and father of 5, with the youngest being 3 months old, suffered two strokes on Sept 16. He suffered a third either Friday or Saturday Morning. The doctors still do not know what is causing the strokes. You can visit www.prayfortheb.com to learn more, and visit www.righteousb.com and dirtyvagabond.blogspot.com and also here to see what kind of man Bob is and the beautiful ministry he has with Inner city kids. Please pray!

Lost post: Posted

Warning: Some of this post was written a month ago. So, I came back and saw I never posted it. oh, also, it is unfinished...but I figured my dear readers want to know what is happening NOW, not then, so there. See below for the newest news.





Well, Yesterday I celebrated my 8 year wedding Anniversary. And I say I, because my poor husband was out of town, working hard to provide for our little family. And poor me, I was oh-so-lonesome on my anniversary. (not to mention him, I am sure it was no picnic for him either). Well at least I had a DELICIOUS meal, that is if you consider and egg and cheese sandwich delicious. LOL. Not really complaining, as there is a smile on my face. And I am truly blessed in my life to have my needs and wants provided for. My husband is a wonderful man, loving husband, and great daddy. I am so so so so blessed that the Lord gave him to me. 

We actually were never planning on doing anything to big for our Anniversary because we planned our party to fall right near it. (It so happens, that it falls right between our Birthdays). 

I am sure EVERYONE is waiting for pictures, so let me treat you to some right now. 

OKAY---HERE IS THE NEW PART.

I am sitting on a couch in Ocean City NJ for a late summer vacation. We are praying for some warm sunny weather so we can play on the beach. It started out with a gloomy rainy day yesterday, so we'll see. I have to hand it to families who live in small/tight quarters. I am thinking of one of my best friend's from college, specifically, but it is

 TOUGH! One night and I am ready to throw in the towel! Yikes. We are in a cute 2 bedroom beach condo. It is nice, just small for our 6 bodies. And, why I forgot, I don't know, but we didnt bring any toys. Who has 4 kids and doesn't bring anything for us to do if we are stuck inside? Well, me apparantly. Sleep alluded me MOST definitely last night too. Not for lack of comfort because we are in a lovely King sized bed, hmmm, maybe I will upgrade after the move(news coming on that). Anyway, it was just the baby kept waking, Wild Child Maddie, kept waking, and I just tossed and turned. 

So, pour out the grace today Lord! I need it! It certainly doesnt help ANYBODY that my monthly visitor should be coming soon-feeling sorry for the hubs. 

Well, onto news about our house. Last I left it, our builder was out of business, right? Well, they "restructured" and the banks decided they were going to kick off everything with our home...yippee. It ends up, that we are in a somewhat protected situation. Better off than many of our soon to be neighbors actually. So we are feeling very blessed. It has been great seeing the house go up from the ground up. I mean, really surreal. The drywall went in last week, and it was so wierd. So house-y. I have this feeling like, we are moving to the next stage, or era with the house. I keep thinking that, God-willing, this will be our home till I die, or at least for a long time, and we saw it be built. I am not doing my feeling justice with these words. It is just a funny sense of sentimentalism, and a "sadness" almost that this dream that I had, is almost done being realized. It is strange. I am so grateful though. It is 

awesome. Here are a few pics: 

Note: Pay no attention to the fact that me and my husband appear to be "matchy matchy." Purely a coincidence I assure you. ;o)

In my offspring news: My little 10 month old is crawling! It may not seem like a big feat to those parents who have 5 month olds who walk, but to me, this is HUGE. She started crawling at about 9.5 months. I mean real forward crawling. on all fours. My kids usually take FOREVER to  move, but not her. Here is a picture of my little lovie...

So I keep having this recurring dream, well, for those of you who knew me when I was a student, it is really quite a nightmare. But anyway, what happens is this...

I am in school, sometimes, it is high school, sometimes College, or a "dream-like" combination of the two. I am frantically going about my schedule, and school like business, but I have this overwhelming feeling that I am missing a class somewhere. I either can't find the room it is offered in, or I just can't seem to

 remember it, and I have no way to get a class schedule. Last night, the missed class was art. It goes on a whole semester, and I just KNOW that my grade is a big fat F. I cant even get in touch with the teacher to explain. I can't seem to find the office to "drop" the missed class. It all seems so stupid, but I feel so burdened and oppressed in my dream about it. For some reason it feels like my life is falling apart in the dream. I was so sure it was real last night. I was so relieved to wake up. 

What does all this mean? I don't know, probably some leftover obsession from trying to get perfect grades in school, but more than that, I think it speaks to my somewhat subconscious insecurities on not having it all together.

I desperately cling to routine in my home, and when it is out of whack, ahem....SUMMER...I feel all discombobulated. I need to start with a fresh slate and get my family on a good schedule, especially as the "start" of our homeschooling year looms ever clos

er. I know we have an impending move coming, sometime early to mid-fall. So, I really need the routine to be our saving grace.  I NEED this routine, which not only includes the day to day, but MENU PLANNING!! I have gotten a good menu plan this week, which doesn't just include random meals, it involved some good planning, with quick, different and yummy meals. It has made me happy.

On to other things...

I have been a laundry machine for a week straight! We had a lice scare. Yes, I said it, LICE!!!! If that is not a 4 letter word to moms, I don't know what is! We had a little birthday party for my little 3 y.o. princess

, and a mom called the next day to let me know that they were infested. AHHHHHH. Boy, oh, boy!! You did  NOT want to see the freak out session that ensued after that. I know it is not her fault, and really I didn't blame her, but seriously??? AHHHHHHHHHH. Every thing that could go into the washer, did. Every kid has had their hair checked like 3000 times. My husband is SOOO sick of me asking him to check me. I admit, it is totally gross and humbling to ask, but to my relief he never found any. I used homeopathic stuff on my daughters head, who to my utter HORROR, told me that little friend had done her hair with her "infested" hair things!! OH GROSS. Anyway, she was all shower capped and being "treated" before we went to bed that night-for 4 hours. "just in case" you know? Then she had to be meticulously combed for another hour. She has rather thick and long hair. For good measure, I doused my head with Olive Oil, a very messy process, I assure you. I didn't want chemicals on me do to breastfeeding the babe. I was also shower capped for about 3 hours. Well, I felt better after that, but every once in a while I get obsessed again. 

Okay, now that I have shared that with the world....

So, we are having a big 30th Birthday Bash this weekend. My Hubs and I are both turning 30 this year(i really don't need to re-hash the fact that I already turned 30 do I?), and instead of having 2 different parties, we decided on a funky 70's style (our decade of birth of course) Party. We, or shall I say, I, have been obsessed with planning. Hmmmm...there seems to be a theme of obsession today. I will have to ignore that, no need to go poking around in my psyche.

 Anyhoo...everyone is dressing up in 70s clothes. It will be funny to see what everyone comes in. We are having prizes for best costume, and Brian and I have some fun ones picked out...actually, they are vintage, both of them. I think it will be fun. I got goody bags of 70s candy, so I hope that goes over well, and I am making good ole fashioned "mix cds". That is right. Mix cds. So, more on this later.