The Weekend Continues!

I love, love, love three day weekends!  It is the best feeling to be winding up Sunday and know that you get to do it all over again the next day.

Our weekend has been filled with lots of family time.  In our usual fashion, we have had a few moments that wouldn't be a part of any Norman Rockwell painting!

How many times throughout our 20 years of parenting have our grandiose plans ended in a tantrum and a puddle of tears?

Many...and it wasn't always the kids!

Take yesterday, for instance.

We usually go apple picking at the end of September, but, because Mike likes to go and he has been away at school, we waited until this weekend.  I like to go in the late morning before it gets really busy.

But....since Jay had to sell tickets after the Masses for next week's youth group fundraiser, we weren't able to leave until 12.  I gave the kids a light lunch, but Kate was looking ready for a nap.  Not the best time to bring her out for unfamiliar activities....but sometimes we have to wing it!

When we got to the orchard it was super busy.  I was fighting back feelings of frustration that we couldn't do the outing the "best" way.  (Meaning the way I wanted to do it with a non-tired baby and a not so busy orchard!)  ....but sometimes we have to wing it!

Right before you go into the orchard there is a picture spot.  We always get a pic of the kids.  Because Kate was getting tired and cranky, she did not want to sit on the hay with her siblings.  Fine, I improvised and held her.  She was still squirmy and whiny.  Then, we tried to get everyone to at least look at the camera with their eyes open at the same time.  Then, Peter was trying to take off his sweatshirt saying, "I'm hot", although it definitely needed to stay on.  Oh, joy!

eyes mostly closed

eyes mostly opened; screaming baby

eyes mostly closed

eyes closed; baby screaming; Peter undressing...time to give up!

 I do have some really cute pics from the apple picking portion of our adventure.  That part went really well.  I will share those later in the week.

The orchard we went to also has a hayride that brings you to a pumpkin patch where you can choose a pumpkin.  A few of the kids really wanted to do it.  The line was really long.(sigh....if we could have only gotten there late morning!)  While we waited, Kate continued to get grouchy but was distracted by sitting on a photo op tractor. 

Thankfully, it didn't take too long for our turn on the hayride.  Everyone was smiling at first.  Then it started to move, and Kate was not happy.  She did not like the bumpy ride at.all!  And she let everyone know about it!  So, for the longest.5 minutes.ever, she was miserable.  When we got off in the pumpkin patch, she was all set!  Kate did not want to walk around and look at pumpkins.  She was just desperate for a nap.  So, I held her and we followed Luke and Sarah around.  Ellie, Jon, and Luke picked out pumpkins and then we waited to get on the next hayride back to the main building.(which I was dreading!)

Just as it was pulling up, Ellie dropped her very large pumpkin and it split in half!  Ugh!  (poor Ellie was so embarrassed!)  She and Jon raced around for a 1.2 minutes to grab another one and jump on the hayride before it filled up and we had to wait for the next one!

As soon as we got back on the hayride, Kate starting yelling, "Like it, NO!", over and over again!  Which, in Kate speak, is, "I don't like this!  I want off!")  Thankfully, it's a very short and less bumpy ride back!  And, she wasn't the only unhappy toddler, so at least we weren't alone!

Once we got back to the van, Kate was fast asleep by the time we made the 7 minute drive home! 

Even though the outing had it's "moments", it still had some good memories!  It also yielded some tasty treats a few hours later!  I will share those pics soon, too!:)

I read an article by Kate Wicker in Catholic Digest this morning.  One of the things she talked about was how, when she is feeling burned out, she takes a break from reading all the 'supermom blogs' of women who craft, cook, and maintain immaculate homes 24/7!  

I certainly wouldn't want anyone to feel that way about me! (add maniacal laughter here!)  

Parenting is a crazy ride!  My own parenting adventure often feels like I'm being dragged around by a large, hyper dog on a leash! (I'm not comparing my kids to dogs!)

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Our apple/pumpkin picking adventure wasn't perfect, but even the bumpy parts are memories!  I'm sure 30 years from now when, God-willing, Jay and I are going apple picking with some of our kids and grandchildren, we can share the story of how Auntie Kate screamed on the tractor ride and yelled' "like it, no!" over and over, and everyone will laugh!

I will also be sure to insist we go in the late morning...or after nap time!:)

Woo Hoo, It's Friday!

T.G.I.F.!!!  I am sooooo looking forward to this long weekend!  Here's a wrap up from the week...and it's got to be a quick one because I have sooooo much to do today! So gettin' right to it....

#1:  Last of the Strawberries

Jon and the girls had planted strawberry plants for me for Mother's Day.  For the first year, we got quite a bit of fruit out of the plants.  With the weather turning crisp and cool, the plants are pretty much done.  Kate got the last of the big ones earlier in the week.  (p.s. I love this outfit!)

#2:  College Visits

A big part of my Saturday was spent at colleges..touring WPI for Jon and visiting Mike at Assumption.  It was a full, and productive day!

I look like such a shrimp next to these giants!

#3:  Homebound

Speaking of Mike....he is coming home for the long weekend!  The kids are excited to see him and it will be nice to have everyone under the same roof for a change!  Oh, wait, actually, no.  Andrew is leaving today to spend the weekend hiking with Courtney's family!  He will have a ton of fun!

Sigh....busy, busy, busy!

#4:  Apple Picking

We are FINALLY going to go apple picking this weekend!  We have been waiting for Mike to come home because he really enjoys going.  (Andrew, not so much...so he isn't disappointed that he is missing it!)  It's a fun time but goes by fast with so many hands picking apples!  We will take a hayride to the pumpkin patch to search out a couple of big pumpkins, too!  Then, we come home and peel a ton of apples and make pies and crisps!  Yum:)  Here are a few pics from last year.  Look how little Kate is!

# 5:  Birthday

Tonight we are having Jay's family over to see Mike and celebrate my sister-in-law, Julie's, birthday.  Peter is excited to have Grandma's cake and Julie asked me to make a cheesecake.  I tried a new recipe....Pina Colada Cheesecake from Taste of Home's recipe.  It looks good....hopefully it tastes good!  I will let you know;)

#6:  Football!

Since Mike is home this week, he has some specific requests for food.  Chicken pot pie, chili and apple crisp topped his list.  I'm also trying a new 'taco pocket' recipe you make with Grand's biscuits.  Mike is the biggest sports fanatic of all my kids, so it will be fun to have him here for game day:)

#7:  Superman

I am blessed to have an incredible husband!  Even though he is quick to bring up all the areas he feels that he falls short in, I am continually amazed at how hard he works and how much he tries to meet all of our emotional needs.

This week in particular, he has truly gone above and beyond!  We had the opportunity to help a mom in need of some help.  We have had two little guests in our home all week and, thanks to my wonderful husband, everything has gone smoothly!  

Jay would help with dishes after dinner and then wake up early and make sure the kitchen was neat to start the day once breakfast was over.  He helped with neatening the house to keep our house from feeling overwhelming.  He helped with making sure all of our kids were ready in the morning and made his own lunch so I could organize our kids plus our 2 new friends.

In a word...he was Superman!  Thank-you, honey, for helping to make this week such a positive experience!  You are the best!  And, even though I've said it before, you are truly my Better Half!

I hope you all have a great long weekend!

A Unique Opportunity!

Somehow through the blogging world loop, I was part of a mass email asking for a review of a new book, The Mother of All Meltdowns.  I like to read.....and reading stories of other moms' "hiccups" in the parenting world always makes me feel better!  I certainly have my own less-than-stellar mommy moments that could fit into the theme really, really well!  So, I jumped at the chance to do something different and exciting...and it was really enjoyable, too!

The Mother of All Meltdowns is a collection of lots of mamas' messiest moments....and they share them in print!  It's like sitting in a big, brand new "Mommy and Me" group sharing war stories!  You will sometimes find yourself nodding to these women sharing their stories with a quiet 'Mhm', sometimes sighing that deep, mommy-tired sigh of understanding when these mamas share their difficult mommy moments, laughing out loud at the way these mamas' have dealt with their child's embarrassing moments or difficult behaviors, and wanting to jump in and share your own most embarrassing experience!  It certainly makes me feel better about  my own parenting bumbles!

(Because you know every mom has a great poop story!  I personally have several!)

If you are looking for a mostly light, though sometimes messy(!), entertaining read....this is a great choice! 

My favorite story was by Tamara Bowman(pg. 87), who wrote about letting her daughter play with her one-of-a-kind, personally designed wedding ring while potty training, losing the ring(convinced her daughter flushed it down the toilet), hiding her hand from her husband for two days so he didn't realize she lost it(!), contacting the jeweler who made it and almost put herself into debt to replace it when her husband asked what was wrong.  I'm not telling you what happened next....you have to read the book!  

But.....

I frequently stress about situations that become bigger and bigger in my mind, then emotionally 'pop' all over Jay, and he, in his rational 'man ways' comes up with a completely logical, unmessy solution!  All that worrying for naught...but I still keep doing it!

If you're a mom who has experienced a meltdown or 2(or 10..or 100), you might want to check out.....

(I think I'm supposed to add some kind of disclaimer here...but this is all new to me!  The opinions and text in this post are all mine!)

He Said/She Said!

The other day, it was raining and Luke started opening the sliders trying to head outside...
Me:  "Luke, it's raining.  You can't go outside right now.
Luke:  "I'm going to try and blow the clouds away....
(In case you're curious....it didn't work:)

Jon and Jay were being goofy when we visited Mike last weekend at Assumption.  At one point, we were in the bookstore and there was music playing.  Jon and Jay broke into spontaneous dancing that included both of them Bernieing.
Mike turned to me and said,  "I don't know why we bring them out in public!?!"
Me:  "Me neither!"

Sarah made cookies in the late afternoon on Friday so that we could bring some to Mike on Saturday.  Luke came in the kitchen as the first batch came out of the oven.
Luke:  "Mom, can I have dessert before dinner?"

Last week, Sarah was stressed out one night over the amount of homework she had.  Sarah is a perfectionist and has very high expectations for herself...sometimes a little too high!  Jon was home and witnessed her stress levels....
Jon:  "I think that I'm the best mix between Andrew and Sarah.  Andrew doesn't care at all about school and Sarah cares way too much!(slight pause....)  I'm the perfect child!"
Sarah:(laughing):  "And so humble, too!"

When we visited the Roger William's Zoo 2 weeks ago, Luke and Jon had a cute exchange.
Jon:  "Luke, look at the elephants!"
Luke:  "Yeah....but where's the poop?"
(He is such a boy!)

Jon has been the main helper for Jay with our big, and seemingly never ending, house painting job!

Jon:  "Dad, I don't know what was cool in the 80's, but manual labor is not "in" now!

And...in honor of Wednesday(even though I mentioned this in a previous post)....
At the Roger Williams Zoo there was a lot of excitement as we approached the camel exhibit because of the older boys' obsession with the Geico 'humpday' commercial!  As we walked up to the camels, Peter surprised us all!
Peter:  "Hey, camel...Guess what day it is?!?"
The rest of us:  "Hahahahahaha!"

Happy Humpday!

And the Days Just Keep Rolling On By!

And the days just keep rushing by!

Here we are at Monday again!  Not quite sure how it happened, but here it is anyway!  Sometimes I wish I could just stop the world until I can catch up!

A quick overview of our weekend...

Saturday was crazy!  Jay, Jon and I were out of the house shortly after 8am for the hour and a half ride to visit WPI.  Jon is interested in engineering(he inherited his grandfather's math genes!).  We listened to an hour presentation and then went on a guided tour of the college.  Jon really liked it and it looks like a great program.  The catch is the cost.  He will have to get a really great package to go there...but it doesn't hurt to apply.  You never know...

We left WPI at 12:30 and drove a mile up the street to Assumption to visit Mike.  It was family weekend at Assumption.  We got to experience cafeteria style food....play some games together....get a tour from Mike...see his room(which he and his roommate cleaned thoroughly before we came!)...and meet some of his friends.  He is really happy there.

Jon being goofy!

Mike's face says it all...."Seriously, mom!  Pictures!  You are so embarrassing!"

Then he just accepted that's the way it was going to be!

Mike and his "friend", Sarah.  Yes, she is just a "friend"...I asked him lots of times;)

Games!

Jay and Jon being goofy on the track!  (they get their goofiness from their father...this is the proof!)

....and the goofiness continues!

more games!  Mike won most of them!

Love this tree!

We left at 3:30 because Jon and Sarah had a homecoming dance at their high school that night.  We got home just in time to cook burgers, iron a shirt, help Sarah with her hair, and take a few pictures before we were off again to drop them off so I could get a picture of Jon and his date.(Who is an identical twin!  He was afraid of asking the wrong one so he memorized what color back pack she had...lol:)

Sarah:)  She went with a group of friends...as if her brothers(or daddy) would let it be any other way;)

aww:)

His date was running late, so by the time I got the quick picture and we swung by the grocery store for a few things, it was after 8 when we pulled in the driveway.  A quick bath for the kids, and we half watched, half dozed through the Notre Dame game until the kids got home.

It was quite the eventful day!

Thankfully, Sunday was not quite so crazy!  It started off a little bumpy with Kate and Peter being awful at Mass, but the afternoon was better.  Friends of ours came over and we shared the football "fun" meal of piggies in a blanket, coconut chicken bites, buffalo wings from 99, as well as their contribution of loaded homemade potato skins, an apple pie, and an apple crumble.  Yum:)

The day ended with dance practice for the act I'm in for our parish's variety show next month!  At least I got to do some exercising after eating all afternoon!

Hopefully this week goes by quickly!  I'm looking forward to the long weekend!

An Interesting Week!

Linking up with Jen for 7 Quick Takes Friday!  Another week flies on by...and we jump into......

#1: October!

I wrote on Tuesday about my love of this wonderful month!  Although, the weather here has been more like August with highs near 80 degrees all week!  I'm looking forward to losing ten to fifteen degrees soon!  I'm just glad I didn't pack away all of the kids' shorts!

#2:  Furry Friends

Jay found a woolly bear caterpillar this weekend and Luke was enthralled!

This was Luke trying to convince me to let him take his new "friend" inside the house!
 "Don't worry, Mommy!  He's nice!  He won't hurt you!"

#3:  Still Painting!

Jay was on call this weekend but thankfully only had to work on Saturday morning.  Andrew and Jon painted in the morning and then Jay and Jon painted for most of the afternoon.  I think we still have at least 2 or 3 more painting days left...sigh!  I'm anxious to start the fall indoor projects!  

#4:  Cuteness

Back in the beginning of the week when the weather was still nice and "fall-like", I was inspired to take some pics of Kate in her cute new outfit..courtesy of Grandma and Pa.  (and Luke's pretty cute, too:)

Love this pic!  

And it's a good thing I took those pics to remind me of how cute they are because we have had....

#5: Three Nights From H.E. Double Hockey Stick!

I have no idea what the heck is going on at night!  Tuesday night was the worst.  Kate woke up at 12:30am and wanted nothing to do with staying in bed.  She wanted to watch "Umi"..which is Kate speak for Team Umizoomi....but that certainly wasn't happening!  I brought her in the living room to try and keep her from waking Luke.  She tolerated snuggling on the couch together but didn't get back to sleep until after 2!:(  

Wednesday afternoon she was so overtired that she took a half hour restless nap then screamed for half and hour inconsolably!(That was loads of fun:/)

Wednesday night, she crashed at 7:45 and then woke up again(!) at 12:15.  This time she woke Luke up so both of them followed me out to the couch.  Luke fell right back to sleep but Kate was up for about an hour.

:(  

Thursday night we made it all the way to 1:30.(sleeping in!)  Luke was restless because he has a cold, so Kate woke him up, too.  It took Kate only 20 minutes to fall back to sleep, but Luke was awake until after 2:30.

Sigh!  Tonight we are trying a little Benedryl for Luke's croupy cough.  Hopefully, I figure out what's going on with Kate or she just gets over this stage soon!   It's all about....

#6:  Perspective

It's all just one of the joys of parenthood!  Honestly, other than an overwhelming moment last night, I've been getting a lot of grace to be patient.   I know that this is just a speed bump!  

Right now, we have several people in our lives that are struggling with mountains!  We have friends dealing with unemployment, friends facing the fear of foreclosure, a friend hospitalized most of this week with cellulitis, and another facing a double mastectomy on Monday, not yet knowing the severity of the cancer she was diagnosed with 2 weeks ago. 

So, while three tough nights stink, I will gladly carry this small cross!

If you have a minute, please pray for my friends facing such big hurdles!  Pray in a special way for Jeannette, who has 2 young children and only her mom for family support as she faces a difficult surgery and an uncertain future.  I know that God is bigger than this difficult situation, and it is amazing to see so many people coming forward offering hope and help to this family.  You can just feel God working!  

And speaking of God.....

#7:  Great Quotes

I mentioned on Tuesday how many powerhouse feast days there are in the church this month!  St. Therese started off the month on the 1st and there was a really great quote from Catholic Digest from her yesterday:

Thursday, October 3

If I did not simply live from one moment to another, it would be impossible for me to be patient, but I only look at the present, I forget the past, and I take good care not to forestall the future.

St.Thérèse of Lisieux

Doctor of the Church

This quote definitely spoke to me this week!  Here's hoping that all of your weekend moments are filled with family and fun!

October, How I Love Thee!

October 1st.....
How can this be?  I can't believe how fast September went by!

October is my favorite month of the year!  (Followed closely by December because I love all things Christmas! :)

I love October for so many reasons!
~It's beautiful Fall weather!  Today is the perfect example...it's a gorgeous New England fall day!  Love, love, love it!
~Wearing Fall clothes that I haven't paid attention to for months is like getting a whole new wardrobe...for FREE!
~Wearing a sweatshirt and feeling comfy, warm is the best.feeling.ever!
~October is my anniversary month!(21 years on the 24th!)
~I love the fall recipes and the smell of soups, stews, and pies wafting from the kitchen.  (waft is such a funny sounding word, don'tcha think?:)
~There are a ton of awesome saint days this month!  Some of my favorites are St. Therese of Lisieux(today), Guardian Angels(tomorrow), St Francis of Assisi(4th), St. Faustina(5th), and St. Teresa of Avilla(15th).
~All the beautiful fall colors....both the decorations we use inside with pumpkins and scarecrows, and the beautiful 'decorations' that God gives us with the changing leaves!(My favorite leaves are the orange ones!)

~I love apple picking and hay rides and pumpkin patches!  I can't wait to go to our local orchard over Columbus Day weekend when Mike is home!  (and I can't wait to come home and bake pies and crisps:)

~and, of course, there are football Sundays with fun food and family time!:)

So many reasons to love Fall!  

What's your favorite thing about Fall?  Happy October!:)