Advent Fair/St. Nicholas Party

Our church has a couple of kid-Christmas events that they thankfully place back-to-back. First is the Advent Fair, where they have many activities for young children to prepare their hearts for Advent. Young children do this with crafts and games, of course!

No Matthew did not shrink. He was missing when the picture was taken. The little guy is my friend from Omaha's son. They came to visit us last weekend, which was fun.


The 2nd event was the St. Nicholas Party. Think "Dinner with Santa" and you will have a pretty good idea. More crafts and a kid friendly dinner. My friend and I were spoiled, because after the party we ran to the store while Ken took the kids home and grilled us chicken and steak!

It is SNOW good!

First the good news. I found the missing Christmas presents! I bought several presents online and needed to hide them. I did such a great job, I couldn't find them. I think something similar happened with Carolyn's doll last year. This is the thanks I get for shopping early (and having a poor memory for detail). I cleaned out (well - started to) the storage room and found the doll quilts I am making for the girls. They have been mostly done since this summer, but then went missing this fall. They were found under some other fabric. - Are you really surprised? The box of missing online presents were just on top of the shelving unit in my closet. I just didn't look high enough. I am totally reverent when I say PRAISE GOD. One of the online gifts was bought online because I have never seen it in stores and will be a total hit for Joel on Christmas morning. I was stressed out, because I didn't know what I was going to replace it with and because it was a glaring reminder of my inability to keep my ducks in a row!! I am very pleased that they were found.

Also here are a few "first snow" pictures. Matthew didn't think it was enough snow to leave his project. (He was making a Power Point presentation of his Minute to Win-It experiment. Not to get totally off the subject, but they were learning about statistics etc. and so he had to get 50+ 6th and 7th graders to try to bounce a ball into a cup on their head in less then a minute. Initially the teacher wanted 89 subjects, but I guess he came to his senses. It was a challenge since Matthew doesn't know that many kids. Luckily he was able to get a bunch from church and scouts. I wish I had taken pictures, because it was a fun project. For the record, I did not think that when I thought he had to find 89 subjects.)

Back to the first snow. I still have fond memories of playing in the snow and coming in for hot chocolate. Joel and Carolyn were Anna's heroes, because her boot fell off in the back yard. Carolyn had Joel run to get me, while she kept Anna's foot warm. It was very sweet. Perhaps I am a slacker mom, but I am glad she is big enough to play with them outside while I watch from inside. I did buy snow pants this year, however, and we already have spent bonding time outside together clearing the foot of compacted snow that the plows left at the bottom of our driveway. We have a fire hydrant at the end of our drive, so I really am working hard to not let the snow build up there!

New Advent Tradition

I will admit that I have been an Advent slacker in the past. We have done a bit here and there, but haven't done as much as I would like. Today we invited one of our Faith and Friendship members (who also is our Adult Faith Formation staff member) to share Advent ideas. She did a great job with adult and child ideas.

My family is going to start doing a Jesse Tree this year and we are going to make a paper chain that will be full of our good deeds. We will then decorate our Christmas tree with the chain.

Joel made the first contribution to the chain by writing a letter. I suggested his Grandma who lives in Texas in the winter, since she won't be luck and get to see him at Christmas. Here is what he came up with. (I did suggest the picture of baby Jesus, but he did the rest (I guess I also helped with the spelling of "would"). I especially like that he labeled the people.)


Another thing that brings me Christmas cheer is this video link (click Hallelujah below) that my sister-in-law sent me. It is a Flash Mob where they sang this beautiful song in the middle of a food court. I especially love the chorus of PEACE ON EARTH.
Hallelujah

Let me explain

Before you decide that I am completely photo-obsessed, I need to tell you why I have more professional photos of my children just one month after the last set.

My friend Susan took our pictures last fall and we LOVED them! This year, I asked her about scheduling another photo-shoot, but it looked like we weren't going to work it out due to time-conflicts. Therefore, in October, the kids had a day off of school, so I took them to Target. (Those photos were posted here earlier.)

Well, a week later, my friend Susan asked if I would like to exchange services, she would take photos and I would take her curtain, cut it in two and hem both sides, so she could put it on two sides of a window. Well golly - I would do that for her for free, so of course I took her up on the deal. We did a quick photo-shoot after picking Matthew up from school. Here are a handful of the photos that resulted. By the end, my patience was gone (because outdoor photo-shoots are a challenge), but of course soon, all I will have are happy photos - because my memory is shot ;)

It's about time.

I realized that if I didn't get the kids to pose with their quilts soon, it would have to wait for spring. I finished the quilts a couple days before the new school year started, when Ken's sister (the great quilter) visited. I actually need to sit down with each quilt and make sure all the loose threads are trimmed, but I was pleased to meet my self-imposed deadline. The kids seemed pleased with their new bedding! (sorry the orientation is off, but I don't want to modify and re-upload



I can show you a few more photos of items I made for people. I haven't shipped them yet, but these people don't look at my blog, so I am safe to share!
I made this table runner for my sister's birthday. In fact I need to fix one seam and get it in the mail ASAP!
This quilt will be heading south in a few days to a friend's baby that is scheduled to join this world soon! Lucky baby! Blessings to her family as the wait these final few days and then welcome her!

This little thing started when I flubbed a few squares for the quilt above, but just couldn't throw them away. I had an "aha" moment and made a dolly quilt for the big sister of the baby-to-be mentioned above. I LOVE making quilts this size. Such quick gratification. Hopefully the big sis will love it as much as my girls love their little quilts.

Thanksgiving 2010

My folks came for Thanksgiving and we had a nice quiet celebration. They are easy guests to have and we love their visits.


Ken took off Wednesday, so we were able to get the house (mostly) clean that day and several of the dishes prepared. On Thanksgiving we finished cleaning just in the nick of time. I sent the kids out "go welcome Grandma and Grandpa" as I cleaned the last spot. Our garage is even clean - well not "eat off the floor" clean, but both cars fit in the garage and everything else has been organized to fit better for the winter.

I loved the lack of a schedule for the weekend and the hours that could just be filled with togetherness (of either the playful or cleaning variety :)

The kids (and Ken) did a lot of puzzling this weekend. Originally we brought the Wolf puzzle out because Joel needed an activity, but as soon as we opened the box we realized that it was a bit tough. The other kids and Ken jumped in to help and it was done in less than 24 hours.



I am thankful for:

MY FAMILY - immediate and extended! It was so nice to have so much time together without having to rush here and there this weekend. It was great that my parents could make the drive to share some time with us.

OUR JOBS - I am thankful that Ken and I can both work at jobs we find fulfilling and that pay the bills.

OUR HOME - despite a few warts (windows that will eventually need to be replaced and a few spots of siding in need of repair), we love our home and its location. I especially like that many of its usual "door closed" areas (laundry room and office) are now neat and organized.

OUR FRIENDS - Those far and near add meaning and joy to our lives.

OUR CHURCH - I am glad that we have found such an active and spiritually fulfilling place to belong. Especially one that adds so much to the category just above!

It's the Great Halloween Charlie Brown

We had a wonderful Halloween weekend. Ken's parents came to visit on Saturday, but you will just have to trust me about that because my camera is acting goofy, so when I went back to download more photos it started acting up. After all the Halloween festivities of the weekend, I wasn't wanting to figure it out tonight. It was great to see them and we were very glad that Ken's mom is recovering well from her knee replacement surgery. They will leave Friday for Texas, so we were happy they were able to come to on Saturday.

In our community, Trick or Treat was on Saturday this year. Here are my super heroes.

Although Matthew wasn't dressed as a traditional super hero, his actions were quiet heroic, as he went trick or treating for canned goods with the church Youth Ministry rather than trick or treating for candy. I was able to chaperon this event and it was FANTASTIC. This will be an annual tradition for me, as it was so delightful to witness 6-12 graders giving back to the community and having such a great time doing it and celebrating God. (>1400 items collected!)

Ken took the other kids trick or treating while we left a special "spell" book full of candy for our neighbors on the front porch! On Halloween day we went to my Faith and Friendship group's Halloween party. It was nice to gather with spouses and older children, who are usually at school when we meet.

My super-girl has a new super-skill - solving 24 piece puzzles by herself. I love when the kids hit this milestone. She probably would have done it sooner, but when I am sitting by her she always says, "help me Mama!" Since I was doing other things she did it herself (about 5 times :)

My project!

I am reading a new book. I am not recommending it yet, because I am only on the first chapter. Believe it or not, I read about this book in an old magazine that I inherited from my mother-in-law and kept around for when I need "anna's in the bathtub" reading. Anyway what I have read so far really fits me.

Here is a quick quote:
"It was time to expect more of myself. Yet as I thought about happiness, I kept running up against paradoxes. I wanted to change myself but accept myself.....I wanted to use my time well, but I also wanted to wander, to play and to read at a whim....I wanted to let go of envy and anxiety about the future, yet keep my energy and ambition."

I hope to have a goal each month, like the author discusses, although I haven't decided what goals. The author talks about having a check list for your goals to help keep what you want to accomplish in the front of your mind. I do know that for November, my goal will be to increase organization. (YES - this will make me very happy.) I have bought a planner that should get here today and that will be one way. I also hope to make a list of all the important phone numbers I need to have in one place. I also want have all my usernames and passwords together on a neat and typed paper! Small pleasures.

I started my organizing early, by completely finishing the great summer to winter clothes transition. Additionally, I now have separate boxes for each kid and each season, so the sort will be less hectic next time. FYI, I will not be shopping for clothes for the kids in the next year - yippee! Anna is starting to grow into clothes I saved from Carolyn! I love seeing her in them. Carolyn has some cute clothes from J., Nina's daughter. Joel has Matthew's and his 2nd cousin's hand-me-downs. Matthew even has clothes to grow into, but these were just fantastic bargains.

Another way I am "organizing" is by putting my pictures into their correct albums. It feels great to start to get that area under control. (how is that for taking a fun-hobby and making it an organization accomplishment :)

I also just decided to encourage my kids to have their own happiness goals!

Christ Our Life Catholic Conference

Click on the Link Below to see what was in my own backyard (figuratively speaking).
Christ Our Life Catholic Conference

I spent this Saturday afternoon listening to Matthew Kelly, Renee Bondi, Mario Restrepo and Cardnal Arinze. I would love to have gone the whole weekend, but felt like listening to the speakers I did gave me a wonderful feel for the conference, while allowing me to still work and be with my family this weekend. If this type of conference occurs again, I am getting a group together (and remembering to bring a sweater) and spending the whole weekend! It was fantastic. It was wonderful that my friend gave me a free ticket and then right before the retreat the organizers had met their financial goals and were welcoming people to "fill the well" (Wells Fargo Arena) for free. I felt like that really was in the spirit on God. I don't think that the people who didn't attend knew what they were missing. The arena wasn't full of people, but the presenters really were full of the spirit. If people knew what was going on, there should have been standing room only - it was that good. I was going to recommend this conference to you (if it came to your neighborhood), but I think it was custom built for Des Moines.

Just a little recap:
Mario Restrepo talked about how he fell away from God and the church when he was 14, but at 49, while being held in a cave, kidnapped in Columbia, he had an experience with God. (I think it was like people who have "near death" experiences.) It was sort of a mystical dream, but it was like the rich-man who allowed Lazarus to starve outside his door, and then wanted him to warn his brothers to repent after he was in Hell. EXCEPT Mario got his message on earth and was allowed to change his world and live for God. It was very interesting.

Renee Bondi woke up one evening standing on the end of her bed and dove into the floor (like she was acting out a dream, but was actually moving). She is a quadriplegic, who uses her music ministry to share how God is with her despite the trials she faces. Her voice is FANTASTIC and her story very moving. She is a wonderful motivational speaker.

Cardinal Arinize spoke of the book the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Although his talk wasn't as inspiring as the others (more churchy), I do plan to do more reading of the CCC!

Matthew Kelly. I was introduced to him (ok - not personally, but his works) by Krista who shared his DVDs with me before we moved. After the move, I purchased one of his books. After his talk, I would like to buy more. (of course finishing the first book first) He talked about the 7 pillars of faith and how to live them in our daily life. I can't do it justice, but I think he has a book on this topic exactly! He also was very funny, which I wasn't expecting.

The best thing that he shared was the idea that everyone complains that Mass is boring, when really we need to ask ourselves (and God) what we should be doing to make the Mass more important to us. His very practical idea was to have a Mass journal. At the beginning of Mass, ask God what one thing He wants us to learn from the Mass to make us a better person during the next week. Our family did this the next day and it was WONDERFUL to see the kids come up with ideas about how God spoke to them and how they were going to live better. We are going to do this again next week - I love the idea for myself and my family.

It's great to have friends with computer skills!

My friend SS came to my rescue when I was unable to post my most recent photo-shoot pictures onto my blog. She has a great software program that allowed her to grab these photos off the Target site and send them to me. Even better, I was able to just forward the email she sent to my blog and here they are! Thanks SS! I am so glad to have these here.

The kids!

My cousin asked if my kids always get along as well as these pictures imply! SOMETIMES :)

My tween-ager

Matthew had his twelfth birthday today (October 13). Let me just say - this kid likes birthdays! He celebrates each little pleasure throughout the day - from a special breakfast (oatmeal-buttermilk pancakes - you could be impressed if you didn't know that we had "late start" today and I still ended up running around like crazy before we left for school), bringing treats to his "advisory" (think home-room from the good-old days) and the family-fun birthday party.

This birthday is special because this is the last birthday for a long time without "teen" in the title. Matthew actually received clothes for his birthday for the first time (and was happy about it). When we went shopping shortly after school started we bought him quite a few new things. We hadn't bought much in recent years and the kids dress a bit more casually in middle-school here. (Which means he wants to save his collared shirts for Sunday :) We hit a GREAT sale at the mall and he decided that some of the new clothes could be birthday presents. Luckily, he isn't very picky about clothes, so this is the first time in his life he has ever cared about what he wears and is still pretty laid-back about it.

Matthew's other birthday present combined 2 of his favorite things - Legos and Harry Potter. When he asked for this present, I agreed to it only if these special Legos were put together and then displayed away from the rest of the Legos. (Taken down as needed to play and rebuild.) We have never been a "build the Lego pattern" type of family, but I didn't want to see these Legos get mixed up with all the other Legos we inherited (thanks Brent) or received as gifts. Harry Potter Legos on Ebay are crazy expensive, so luckily the Lego website had this new Quiddich kit for sale at a reasonable price (it was 1/4th the price of a similarly sized Quiddich set that was released previously and for sale on Ebay). (side note: Ebay is an interesting place, because I think it makes some things sell for more than I feel they are worth! The Lego website actually limits how many new sets you can buy - to prevent people from hording, then reselling - eish!)

When I asked Matthew if he wanted a "theme" cake, he said, "no, just a cake is fine". (Believe it or not, sometimes Matthew likes to make things "easy" or cost efficient for me.) Of course, I still like making the cake a little special. Past cakes have included Harry Potter and Legos - no big surprise. We also have had Rescue Heroes (age 5), Pokemon and a soccer ball shaped cake (that was last year). No one will forget the turtle birthday cake, because that was the theme for everyone's 2nd birthday. We also had a butterfly cake one year, back when we raised Monarchs from eggs.

ahhh- you can see why I wasn't quite ready to give it up. Anna and I found little kit of the solar system at the store, so we made that the theme. Matthew loves science, so it was a good fit. Of course, the package indicated that there were 8 planets (well...7 planets and the sun), but by the time the cake was made we had only 6 planets to orbit the sun. I am not sure if one was missing when we bought the package or if perhaps one was misplaced by little fingers (not that I am pointing fingers). I told Matthew to remember that it was just an artist's rendition of the solar system :)

After Matthew's birthday dinner he had Religious Ed. at church. Before we left, however, someone decided to push each and every planet (and the sun) into the cake. We won't tell tales, but the guilty party did say, "I say sorry to Matthew in the car, so now I have cake?" Matthew didn't seem to mind. After we removed all the planets he said, "Actually, it looks a bit like the Milky Way now."

I know Matthew is growing up, as he gave me most of his birthday money to put in his 529 college account. (We match any money the kids put in there, so it is a pretty good deal. Plus he still has a majority of his Christmas money left, if he wants to buy something.) Regardless, I am glad that he sees the benefit of saving at a young age and that the money didn't burn a hole is his pocket as it might of in younger days. I need to make sure his siblings hear about his decision, since they are still in the "burning a hole" stage.

Although Ken was in Atlanta for Matthew's birthday, I know he had a great day. (I think he used those words himself.) Ken told Matthew that he will make him his favorite dinner (currently grilled shrimp) this weekend.

Anna-isms

I thought this outfit on Anna made her look like such a "big" girl. (She is wearing her pre-school t-shirt.)

She has changed so much in the last few months. Here are some things we often hear:

1. "That is perfect for me!"
Whenever she sees a pint-sized item (like a small pear among a bunch of big pears) she often makes this declaration. It has changed a bit in the last few weeks to "that is perfect for us" (meaning Mom and Anna). When the kids are at school she is my shadow.
2. "I go potty, I'll be right back."
She wants to make sure that we know she is leaving and that she doesn't want to miss a thing.
3. "That letter is in my name!" (or Matthew's/Carolyn's/Joel's/mom's)
She is a letter crazed girl and now enjoys writing letters too. It is amazing what a difference a handful of days at pre-school can make!
4. "I love this song, do you love it too?
Anna loves music and knows my favorites.
5. "Can I stir it? I'll get my stool."
This girl loves to cook and wants to help with me make everything. Did I mention that she is my shadow when the big kids are gone to school? She plays better "by herself" when they are home - I know, it's crazy. Perhaps she thinks I am lonely when they are gone.
6. "I love you and sissy too, and Daddy, and Matthew and Joel and Bama and Bampa and the other Bama and the other Bampa."
This often is her response to "I love you." She's got a lot of love.

Fall photos

Ok - this seems a bit of an odd way to show you some photos, but the Target web-site doesn't seem to want to allow downloading anymore. It is strange, because in May, this wasn't a problem. They weren't print quality downloads, but they were cute on the blog. So this is a temporary blog, because the link will expire in 90 days. Luckily, I bought all my favorite poses and will have them back in a few weeks and won't need the link anyway! (so, if you want, go down to the bottom of this post and click on "click here")

I probably think this all the time, but these are some of the best photos I have gotten at a portrait studio like this, especially because we were in and out - including ordering and paying for the photos - in one hour! In May, Anna was very serious about her birthday pictures and looked pleasant, but didn't smile. Today, the photographer had the kids saying funny words and Anna smiled instantly. I was afraid that Joel wasn't using a natural smile, but saying the "magic words"/funny phrases caused him to loosen up each time. I can't wait to get these great photos back. I am so thrilled my friend J. recommended the Target Studio!

I tried to take a few photos after we returned from Target (since they were all "matchy-matchy") and had even greater appreciation for the photographer. Of course, by that time, the kids were "pictured-out" and Anna didn't want to sit still, but I think that studio atmosphere brought out the best in them.

Hello and welcome to Target Portrait Studio. Betsy Mccleary is excited to share these wonderful portrait memories from Target Portrait Studio with you. "I thought you might like to see the photos that I had taken of the kids. love, Betsy" Click here to view these portraits. You can even create an account and add this album, so you can come back to it again later. It's fast, easy and convenient. Once you have picked up the album, you can view the images at your leisure, order portraits for yourself and even create your own portrait gift products with these images.

This email was sent by: Lifetouch Portrait Studios Inc. 11000 Viking Dr., Suite 200 Eden Prairie, MN, 55344, USA

August Virtual Quilting Bee - Part 2

I wanted to share 5 more beautiful blocks from the VQB! I think the last 2 blocks may need to be made by me, since we can't seem to locate one quilter since she moved and the other block is missing in action. I haven't figured out who I am missing, but it doesn't really matter. I will enjoy making a few more blocks. I want to make sure the quilt is "lap-size", so that might require even a few more blocks. I am putting the blocks aside though, at least until 2011, so that I can scrapbook a little - hopefully before Thanksgiving and Christmas. Plus there is a baby quilt I need to bind (and quilt just a touch more :)

Real Joy

This is from the Catholic Exchange email I get. I felt like it was speaking right to me!

Homily of the Day

Let the Lord Show You Where the Real Joy Is!
by Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D.

Gal 1:13-24 / Lk 10:38-42
We are great worriers, every last one of us. In the course of a week, the range and quantity of things that we allow ourselves to worry just a little about, or perhaps a lot, is truly remarkable. Like the obese person who nibbles constantly without realizing it and then is astonished when the day’s nibbling is totaled in pounds and ounces, almost all of us would be astounded if the weight of our worries could be laid before us so graphically.

Worry steals from us the best parts of our lives, but it doesn’t have to. Worry can only get a foothold if we allow it. And that’s why Jesus addressed Martha so firmly in today’s gospel. “Martha,” he said, “you are worried and upset about many things; one thing only is required.”

We have the power to choose what we give our attentions to. The challenge for each of us is to see and then to choose decisively what’s worth giving our time and our hearts to. Don’t fritter your life away with baskets and bales of what in the end amounts to nothing. Let the Lord show you “the one thing only that is required.”

Virtual Quilting Bee (VQB)- August

Part 1-
Despite having posted September's VQB, I neglected August. This is rather funny, because I am Miss August for the VQB, which means I sent out the fabric and received back many blocks. I think I finished my September block before I finished my August block, which may explain my mixed up order. I also was waiting to see if any more blocks trickled it. The pictures don't really do the beautiful blocks justice. I am only posting 5 blocks, despite having photographed 8. Something went wrong during the download of the last 3 and I know I won't post anything tonight if I have to hunt up the camera (Ken had it last) and down-load the photos. Also, I just received another block a couple days ago that hasn't been photographed yet (from SS's sweet niece). Plus I received an email that another block is en route from Oregon! Since there has to be a part 2 (and maybe a part 3 if the final block arrives), I decided to go ahead with this post.

I have really missed blogging, but have been spread a bit thin by fall sports and activities. This will start to settle down in a couple of weeks!!!

(above)SS's fun, brick-inspired block



(above)My block - I have always loved "jeweled square" blocks. In fact, I might make Matthew a very "manly" (doesn't seem like the right word) quilt with similar-style blocks using masculine fabrics. I think it would go together pretty easily and fit a his 'tween (pre-teen/between) room. By the time it is finished he will probably be a teen, since he turns 12 next week and has a double bed (and I haven't actually started making it)!

This of course reminds me that I never photographed Joel or Carolyn's quilts! Perhaps that will be my next post.