The Big Ten

My little boy is growing up very fast. I had to get rid of a ton of his clothes this week because he wasn't just being lazy...he really couldn't find anything to wear. It was all too small! What's the deal with summer making our children grow as quickly as the grass? (Ignore the dates on the pictures, my camera battery keeps falling out and re-setting the date. These pictures were taken on and around August 15 2007)




I didn't mention it at the time because his birthday is the feast of the Assumption but he turned 10. I remember, when I was 6 or so, thinking that I couldn't WAIT to be ten because that meant I was as old as I could ever be (you know, because that's all the fingers you have?)! I always thought that something magical must happen when a person turns ten because it's such a nice, round number and it seems so final (the fingers again). Well, the only magical thing that happened on Matty's birthday was that we made it to Mass on time and that the kids were pretty good in church that night.

We got home and had a little party with the neighbors in the garage. First, we went and bought a movie (Flubber, the kids laughed out loud! We hadn't seen it for a long time and Analise had never seen it so it was a hit!). We bought cake and ice cream and dad lit the candles with style...true, Butchy, garage style...



The kids were rioting like monkeys all around the garage waiting for Matty to blow out the candles (it was about 8 and we had just started a late supper of pizza, they were WAY too wired!).



I think he had a nice birthday. I am very proud of my Matthew. Whenever I ask him to do something, he jumps up and does it without complaining. It's always reported to me that he never forgets to say his before meal prayers and always says, "Thank you!" to his hosts. I'd like to take credit for his politeness, but I'm afraid it's just his nature. Don't get me wrong, he's no perfect angel, but I wouldn't trade him for one in a billion, gazillion years...unless that perfect angel would eat something NORMAL for breakfast (instead of hotdogs, pizza, or any other gross leftovers that would make even a non-preggo person wanna barf in the morning)or if that perfect angel would not be so ornerey because their mom is unwilling to make non-breakfasty things at 8 in the morning...I might consider trading then.

I would have liked to do something else for him but the next many days were really rainy, yucky days. We'll have to do a lot of field trips this fall. I don't talk much about our homeschooling so I think the next post will be all about our plans for the upcoming year. It should be an adventure this year with one on the way and two toddlers in the mix!

I need lots of suggestions on keeping the 1.5 year old and the 3.75 year old busy during study time. Last year we had a lot of frustrated moans and groans from the older ones when Niklaus would act up so loudly.

He hasn't gotten any quieter over the summer.

Here's another, cute, window picture to add to my collection:

Everything I Need

I have everything I need for this new baby. I have clothes, siblings to hold him/her when I need to take a shower, baby toys, bassinet, beds, sitter/walker/occupiers, all the baby accoutrements (except diapers. I hate storing too many of those things and you never know which brand won't make your baby all rashy).

But...

I still have my eye out for the specialties. You know, the cool inventions they've come up with since the last baby? One that I found the other day was this cool thing.

So, if anyone is going to visit me and the new baby...and happens to want to bring a gift along (NOT required!!!!)...hinthinthint.

I'm just saying.

My Temper Thingy

In an effort to improve myself and my bad habits, I took the Temperaments test and now I'm only going to post the "bad" parts (seee how humble I'm becoming?) of being a choleric-sanguine which is what I am, apparently:

Without strong formation and a deep spiritual life, however, your temperament’s weaknesses will be intensified. Without attention to self-formation you may find yourself quickly aroused to anger, yet also unforgiving. You can be impatient with others and overly opinionated. You may speak frankly or impulsively without regard for others’ feelings. You should take care that you become neither a workaholic nor driven by your passions. You may insist on having your own way, and become angered, blame others, or make excuses when corrected. But, once you become aware of the weaknesses of your nature, and make a commitment to self-improvement, you will be able to be equally determined in pursuing self-formation.
Yup, that about covers it! All of the nicey-nice things it said in the preceding paragraphs made my head grow really large and then I read this paragraph and thought, "What? That is TOTALLY NOT...okay, that is totally me. I admit it!" Although, I'm sure not worried (and neither should anyone else be) about ME becoming a workaholic. I am very driven by my passions. Here are some of my latest:

1. Unfair taxation and stupid decisions on the part of city government.
2. Genetic testing samples taken from my babies' feet (during the pku foot prick) in the hospital. They send it to the government and test for genetic anomalies without our knowledge or consent. I just found that one out today on the radio...Big brother, anyone?
3. Broken ovens and no money to buy new ones.
4. Hyper 3 year olds that don't want to listen.
5. Big bellies when one is only 11 weeks pregnant THATS JUST FRICKEN PLAIN NOT FAIR I TELL YOU
6. Kids who get hurt or are hurting and all we can do is pray.

Okay, done griping. I'll go pray now and check out some of the blogs of people way nicer and happier than me right now. Maybe the next post will be something shiney and glowey instead of this junk right here.

One, Good Thing...

about having a broken oven? Having wonderful neighbors who feel sorry for you make you a huge turkey dinner that feeds all seven of you with leftovers to boot!

Does Anybody Work For GE?

'Cause if you do, this post's for YOU. My very pretty, very fancy, stainless steel, digital, electric oven started beeping and flashing "F7" when I came back from the hospital with Mari 1.5 years ago. I tried and tried to figure out what was wrong with the thing and after I spend 75 dollars for the "repair man" to tell me the digital panel needed to be replaced for about 400 dollars I couldn't believe that something less than 4 years old would poop out that fast. When I called GE to complain, they basically accused me of cleaning it wrong and causing the damage. Real helpful. Thanks.

Then...it spontaineously fixed itself! And it worked fine until about 3 weeks ago.

NOW it's telling me "F0" and I keep thinking, "No, FU" and I feel like getting one of those old fashioned, little house on the prairie wood stoves because I KNOW they don't come with stinkin' digital panels that are so sensitive they don't work after 4 years. I can still use the stovetop but I can't bake anything. If it only had dials, I could use it but NOOOOOO, I had to go all fancy and pick the thing with the cute buttons that go "beep".

I keep "Fonzie-ing" it but that isn't working too hot (get it?... I wrote "hot" ha ha I'm so funny :-I). So I just keep praying that it spontaineously fixes itself again because school is starting soon and I've got NO extra moolah to buy a new stove or even fix the old one.

Bocker is about going nuts for the lack of fresh baked cookies. He loves to help me make them.

Does anyone know a really good, microwave cookie recipe?

Ugh.

God's Plans, NOT Laura's

We had it alllll planned out. We were going to go camping up North with our neighbors this weekend. Butch ended up working a really, long, hot day on Friday and didn't get home until late. We decided to see if the weather would hold and go the next morning instead. The storms came and flattened the tent in the front yard that I was airing out for the trip. We decided that we weren't going to chance the storms and cancel but we couldn't get a hold of our friends to ask them how the weather was up there (only about 3 hours away). They called later in the afternoon begging us to come and telling us that the weather was wonderful the whole time. Dangit. I hadn't actually gotten to sleep on Friday night because of the storm being one of the loudest, longest storms in the history of crappy, Minnesota weather. I think I fell asleep at around 4:30 am on Saturday and had to get up early to go get Trina from a sleepover so I was pretty well "done" with that day before it even began, much less to plan, shop, and pack for 7 people to sleep in a tent that night!

Trine (sis) and I joke about how God is really having fun with me lately. It seems (I know I've said this before) that every time I make really great, solid plans...SOMETHING happens to blow it all to heck! Butch even noticed it this time. He says I ought to let the local farmers know of my big plans, that way they can pretty much count on rain whenever they need it...all I'd have to do is plan a really big, outside party without tents and invite tons of people. It would almost be a rain guarantee! I have really made lemonade out of these lemons, though. It really is true that God's plans are SO MUCH BETTER than any dumb thing I could think of.

We ended up going out to Trine's house so Butch could help set up concrete forms for the new steps, patio, and driveway surrounding the new barn. The kids loved being free to roam and play and it was a good thing I was there because Wyatt touched the 4 wheeler (we think) and burned his finger. If I wasn't there, maybe it wouldn't have been treated properly and he would have lost his finger. Okay, that was a slight exaggeration (the dads were there, but they didn't exactly figure out what was wrong with him and sent him into the house to get sympathy from me) but still...We really had a pretty good day and enjoyed each other's company. Trine got to go help at church making pretzels for the upcoming fall festival and we got to spend some time playing with the kids. We haven't done that for the longest time! I played ball with Wyatt and gave Belle a back massage with a rolling ball rattle thingy until she laughed herself silly! It was so nice to just play for a change without worrying about where we have to be, what we have to cook (we ordered pizza and brought some cake for desert), or how much time we have until naptime meltdown (we came AFTER nap but before supper!). Today, we just kind of putzed around and I didn't feel so very great all day, so I was grateful that we didn't have to pack a tent, gather up stuff, haul our butts into the van for a long commute home with all the other Sunday drivers only to get home and undo everything plus give everybody showers and do all kinds of laundry.

God is Good.

We probably would have gotten some great pictures if we went up there in the wilderness but...We probably wouldn't have had time before church (we went to the 6pm Mass this evening) to take shots like these (ummm, did I mention that I had left my camera out in the full force of the storm? It got soaked and I decided that, since it was ruined anyway, I'd try to put it in the dryer after taking out the battery and memory card. I put it into a full, dry load and wrapped it up in some socks so it wouldn't bang around too much. It worked! My camera took the following pics after all that! Cheap, Kodak Easy Share, it's the way to go!):






The girls decided to do some major posing in their funny, opposite outfits that they came up with themselves when Bocker tripped Mari while he was doing a flip. Luckily, big sister Trina came to the rescue:

So, then, because they were all basically clean and ready for church, I decided to get one of those rare, foolish shots all parents try for, but never really achieve. You know, the "all my children in one place" shot? Well, I gave it my very best try and this is what I came up with:





THAT is why I never pay for professional pictures. It would just be a waste of money at this point! I don't think I've been to a studio since Niklaus was a baby and that was just one picture. It wasn't the very best experience and I don't think I'll ever do that again. With all of the fun, candid shots we take and with the advent of digital cameras, I just don't see that it's necessary anymore. Especially when the camera takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin' like mine!

Don't You Just Hate It...

...when you find out that one of the people that you have privately nominated for living sainthood just got diagnosed with cancer? I think I'm going to be sick.

Please pray so hard for a very humble, gracious, and faithful person.

She has six, beautiful sons and a wonderful husband.

Wrapping Up Summer

These two pictures were taken different days from the inside of the house looking out on to the porch through the window (subjects unaware). I love the porch in the summer time. It is a busy place! I gave the free turtle sand box to Trine (cover, good for keeping cats out) and used the old swimming pool instead. It sure keeps the kids busy and the porch messy. The little bistro table that I moved out there is so great for tea parties, or doodling, or playing house, that I will feel bad about moving it back into the house for the winter (it makes a great chess table).


My mom and Trina


Neighbor, Gabby, and Weazy

We borrowed some tape from the neighbors and Weazy and Bocker decided to have some fun with it. Mari felt bad she was being left out so they used regular tape on her and she felt much better. Niklaus isn't suffering from cyanosis or anything, he just really likes blue popsicles.


Does anyone know what these flowers are called? I got them from my mom and they didn't have a tag. They are so pretty and super vine-y. I keep wanting to re-plant them into a bigger planter and maybe try to train them up a trellis, but it's getting too late in the year. I wish I could winter them over somehow. Can it be done?


I just thought this one was so funny (Mari will only eat the marshmallows, of course, notice the spoon content). That morning she decided to put on the infant, winter hat that I had gotten on clearance from work for some baby gift or some baby in the future. She claimed it as her own and insisted on wearing it through breakfast!

God Bless The USA

Trine has some nice pictures of our trip to Washington D.C.. Go check 'em out!

P.S....Side view...NOT my best angle...just throwin' it out there.

Have Mercy

Picture from Ironic Catholic