{PHFR}

Thank you for visiting my {PHFR} contribution: Motley Edition

{pretty}

Fall is here! (sort of). September is always a mixed bag temperature wise, but we have had some lovely fall-ish weather and I pulled out my fall wreath. Well, It's really two wreaths I stuck together and added our initial. You know, in case anyone driving by is wondering what our favorite letter is or something.

{happy}

MaryClare in our fabulous cul-de-sac, riding around, and around and around-you get the idea. I am so thankful we have this flat, low-traffic area for our kids to ride and play. It really is awesome. We are outside so much, the cul-de-sac is like an extension of our home.

{funny}

Saw this book at the library earlier this week. Isn't it hilarious? It's actually very well done. It's easy to read as in the regular D and J, but there that element of dark humor. There's some tension, but it's not scary really and it has a happy ending.

{real}

We painted some wooden peg people this week. Sara and MaryClare painted some newspaper too!

I used to do lots of crafts with the kids, but it's been months since we pulled out the the stuff. With the pregnancy and newborn, I'd say it's been at least a year since we did something like this. The kids were thrilled. Even the big boys who in general aren't fans of 'arts and crafts' participated and enjoyed it.

I really, really struggle with perfectionism in arts and crafts and it is always an internal battle I wage to just let them do their thing without stepping in and taking over their projects and trying to perfect them. I did well this week I feel. They love all of the family they created, the more detailed people mingled just fine with the blurry folks. Hmm-maybe there's some deep meaning in that....We ended up with about 15 people and the kids have asked me to pick up some more blanks to add to their collection. We haven't made any of the saint dolls that I have seen about the internet, but maybe we'll work on that one day. For now, they are intent on population a large wooden block city and castle and the dollhouse.

Thanks to the Lawler ladies hosting PHFR!

The Zoo, Thanksgiving and Rockettes

John, Nancy, Margueritte and Baby Lee came to Atlanta for the week. We went to the zoo on Wednesday (the first sunny day). There is a sweet carousel and of course the kids rode it several times.

Baby Lee is about 6 weeks older than Sara. Isn't he so handsome? We got lucky again as the animals were fairly active. They were probably glad to have the sun out too.

The Thanksgving meal was at Jojo and Gampy's after all. She is feeling back to her old self and was thrilled to deck out her table and have her family all around. I supplied the mashed potatoes and she did all the rest, including an amazing oyster stuffing. Sara loved the turkey and stuffing, a special kids version Jojo made, sans oysters.

Post feast, we sat and talked, laughed and...

slept! She fell asleep about 6 and slept through the night!

Yesterday (Saturday), the Girls went to see the Rockettes at the Fabulous Fox.
Me and my 2/3 girls! Then we came home and enjoyed a surprisingly good football game! ;)

'Tis the Season - Already?

*picture from my MIL's (aka The Queen of Christmas Decorating)*

Our parish has an elementary (k-8) school. It is a nice school with small classes and good teachers. Last spring I met a neat woman on the soccer fields whose five kids attend and she is now the Spiritual Life coordinator for this year. A couple of weeks ago she shocked me by calling and asking me to come speak at an event they are having called Preparing Our Hearts and Our Homes for the Holidays. "C?" I said, "Um, you know I homeschool the kids right? Is that ok? I mean I'm not a parent there."

Yes, of course she knew, and she still wanted me. She said the Holy Spirit kept bringing my name to her when she was planning though and she was sure I would have something great to share. Listening to her, I felt a sinking sensation in my stomach. Oh no! I've been praying about this, about how I can serve in my parish. Oh dear, it looks like this is your answer, Lord. Wait, can I change my prayer real quick?

See, I am not a public speaker. I have no problem chatting and talking and often in small groups of friends I later wonder if I've talked too much! But in front of a large group? With a microphone?

Um, no. In fact, I'm getting butterflies just sitting here typing this!

But, I said yes.

Fast forward a few weeks and Boom! The thing is tomorrow night. I have written it all out and I will probably just be standing up there reading. I am going to do this. *sigh* I'm sure it will be fine. I do feel strongly that this is something I am supposed to do and that God will just make it work somehow, but I am still intimidated. I just want it to be over already and not looming in front of me.

So, if you have a moment and can spare me a quick prayer for my nerves I would so appreciate it!

7 Quick Takes

It's my first time joining this enormously popular meme, but I had lots of little things to say so here it goes. Be sure to visit Jen's for more quick takes

1. Kids had an All Saints party today. They were supposed to dress up as saints. Thanks be to God I managed to pull together a few costumes. Laine was Mary, Luke was St. Maximilian Kolbe, Ryan was St. Peregrine and Jake was St. Phillip of Neri. Come to think of it, the last All Saints party we went to they were all the same except for Luke who was St. Michael the Archangel. They ended the day with some games and food and the kids enjoyed it.

I have to admit, I am ambivalent about the kids dressing up for All Saints. Sure, I think it's great to celebrate the saints and all, but I am not thrilled about scrambling for a costume and playing the silly games though like Fishing with St. Peter, where someone behind the cardboard cut-out attaches a treat bag to a fishing pole. I don't know, it all feels kind of forced to me. Maybe I am just being a bah humbug grump though. (I hate kids birthday parties too. shhhhh!) Like I said the kids all had fun and were very enthusiastic.

2. Sara's two upper teeth cut through this week and she's learned the thrill of tapping them and grinding them together. So cute! So cringe inducing! Oh and apparently she's a nature lover too.

(when I was posting this I noticed again how much she looks like Ryan. I mean she has the same ears even! See how that one is a little bendy... just like Ry's!)

3. We made the best three ingredient cookies, maybe the best cookies evah (well except for chocolate chip, cause they will always reign supreme in my book):

Yep, just canned pumpkin, a spice cake mix and a bag of white chocolate chips

4. I bet your house doesn't have one of these:
In case you can't see, here is a closeup of the sign on my hall closet.
Yes folks, we have our very own Transmographier right here in our upstairs hallway closet. Just set the dial to whatever you would like to become, then enter the closet and instantly you will be Transmographied. Luckily the inventors added a Human selection so you can return to your natural form when your Mom calls you for dinner, cause if your mom is like mine, it's humans only at the dinner table. (well, ok, maybe unicorns sometimes, but definitely NO armadillos allowed!)

5. We're loving the new deck! Visit my sister's blog (Young At Art...over there on the sidebar) for the final pictures.

6. Speaking of my lovely sister... Her sister-in-law (whom I am now claiming as mine too) and I held a shower for her and also attended another one recently. Doesn't she look wonderful!
The one I went to on Saturday was so cute! The hostesses outdid themselves with a totally adorable Dr. Seuss theme. One of the girls is an event planner and every detail (I mean every!) was themed.
7. I need to end these 7 quick takes on a serious note. Please keep my wonderful mother-in-law, Jojo, in your prayers. She is in the hospital with severe anemia caused by some unknown internal bleeding. She had a few transfusions today and will be having lots of tests run tomorrow.

Thanks for visiting and reading~!

Do you Boo?

We do!

What the heck is 'Boo-ing?' you may be wondering. Well basically you make a little sack or two of treats and take the treats and a note like this to your neighbors. You place the treats and the note on the front door step then ring the bell or knock loudly then run and hide!

(scary faces)

We've been doing this in our neighborhood for a few years and our kids look forward to it every October. It's fun to walk the streets at night and hide in bushes giggling with your family.

Feast of the Archangels

We celebrated with fish sandwiches (St. Raphael), cheese triangle 'bugles' (St. Gabriel) and devil's food cupcakes with swords (St. Michael)

When preparing I was trying to find these

But apparently they do not sell them at our Publix. The outrage! In a bizarre twist we ended up having refried beans and that led to a discussion about the musical fruit .... um, yes.

Anywho, the cheese triangle trumpets worked just fine for St. Gabriel.

Tonight's menu includes angel hair past with shrimp and angel food cake for dessert.

Also, we're beginning to teach MaryClare the Guardian Angel Prayer so we'll work on that.

Blast!

I have already failed. I set a very high goal for myself back in the summer where I was going to ease back into writing and promised myself I would post at least once a month. I suck.
Goodbye October. Luckily, not too many interesting things happened in October '08 anyway.

In other news.

I spent the early part of this week diligently avoiding all media. I put myself on a media blackout hoping it would keep me from being anxious about the election. It worked a little bit.

I have some sort of cold/flu thing currently. I am also very pregnant (way more than I was back when I was only 3 months pregnant, then just a little pregnant you know) and it is getting hard to properly diagnose myself.

Tired? Yes, since April.
Achy? Why yes, since late September actually.
Irritable? Mind your own damn business.
Heartburn? Every 4 hours or so, my chest feels as if I just had a shot of cheap tequila but sadly I continue to be completely sober.
Stuffy nose? Well, I can now see how people get addicted to Afrin. Not me, of course, but my Mom really is and she says it all began with a bun in the oven AKA Anne, my little sister. At least one nostril has been blocked for over 3 months now and it is not alwys the same one. Tricky.

However, the fever is always a big clue that it is not just the normal pregnant fun I am feeling.

I am hoping recovery is soon, so I can get back to my regularly unscheduled life.

My boys are off camping with other dads and boys. I called Lee to check in and they are having a great time. He said they were having some beer and sangria (??) Not the kids, just the dads. The kids are having jello shooters, of course. I am trying to forget the call completely and not worry about all those poor boys with their dads all crazy with sangria (??) and s'mores. I am sure everything will be fine.

My girls are at my in-laws house being spoiled rotten. Since my MIL had to work, my FIL took the girls to some garage sales this morning. I had no idea he had ever been to a garage sale before. This was a strange revelation. They had McDonalds for lunch and have been watching way to many cartoons I am positive. They probably won't want to come home tomorrow.

I have spent the day on the couch drinking lots of fluids, reading and trying to rest. It has been eerily quiet. I enjoyed the peace and quiet until around 2pm and since then I have been lonely and bored. Trusty old Sparky has kept me company. He is a good companion, even if a little stinky. And of course my sweet Sara. She is always with me. She twists and stretches and hiccups often reminding me I am not really alone.

Trying Not to Waste Time

I was enduring the Wait just fine until the last couple of months. Now it is excruciating. I have to consciously and continuously push thoughts involving anything involving China, adoption, travel, babies, bird flu etc...out of my mind.

It is officially mid-November and Thanksgiving is just around the corner. There is so much to do this time of year and I really really really want to enjoy this season and live in the present. It is important not just for my kids' sake but my own. I cannot just spend this season passing time away until we will get more news on the referral.

We are leaving for the Farm on Monday and will be there for about a week. Lots of folks that we do not see very often will be there. (My MIL have several random relatives and distant relations. I am just a married in folk, but I have always been warmly welcomed) I have been there once before 4 yeras ago. I had just found out I was PG, but we didn't know it was twins yet. I felt pretty crappy and I still enjoyed the trip overall.

This year will surely be even better. The kids are older, I won't be barfing and my SIL Nancy will be there too.

When we get back it will be the beginning of Advent. I am looking into starting a new tradition for our family this year, the Jesse Tree. It is where you set up a tree (real or fake, miniature or big, even a poster) and then add an ornament a night until Christmas. The ornaments all represent a Biblical event or prophecy leading to the birth of Christ.

I also thought it would be nice to give it away after Christmas to another family, passing along the tradition and then each year making another one.