Burning the Candle at Both Ends

Bedroom Re-build...update

The clock is ticking and our deadline gets nearer.  The weekend was productive, in spite of some commitments that took us out of the house for much of Saturday and some of Sunday.  Some structural work was completed on Saturday.  Also he made a Home Depot trip so Sunday work could begin early without having to run out for materials.  Windows were installed Sunday early in the morning , then we had to go to the ballet recital. But by Sunday night the lighting fixtures were hung, though not yet wired.  Dan has never installed this type of lighting before, so it is a learning experience for him.  Luckily, the instructions are fairly simple (says Dan) so he is not running into any problems so far. Here are some pictures of the progress.

 

  At this very moment he is wiring the lights (and giving lessons to 16yo on how to do this). I think if he gets the lights functioning tonight that will be it for tonight.  If we were twenty years younger and in our first house, he would probably throw up the insulation tonight as well, but we move at a bit of a slower pace these days.  But back in the day... a whole different story!

Keep Holy the Lord's Day

That's what they're doing at Catholic Vote , and I think it's a great idea.

Signing off 'til Monday! 

Be Careful What You wish For...

As mentioned in a previous post , here is the low-down on my birthday gift:

As he does each year, Dan called from work a few days before my birthday to get some ideas for a gift.  I truly could think of nothing.  There didn't seem to be anything I NEEDED at that moment. Lately my mantra before making any purchase is "Do I really NEED this, or do I just WANT it?" I believe this has saved our family quite a bit of money as it forces me to distinguish between needs and wants. We are blessed to have our needs pretty well taken care of, so it is difficult for me to buy something, just because I want it.

After giving Dan no help whatsoever, I realized that with June being chockful of gift-giving days, perhaps we could combine the occasions into one big gift.  Perhaps that big gift could be a low-cost facelift for our bedroom?  Our room had probably not been touched since the early '80's.  The decor consisted of yellowing pink floral wallpaper; a faded, musty, mauve, shag, wall-to-wall carpet; the original windows; large, dark wood-toned furniture,which overpowers the room; and a ceiling which no longer leaks, but shows evidence of every leak and repair for the last twenty years.  Not pretty. Not a room where parents of six, running a busy household could find an oasis in the midst chaos. Surely peeling off the wallpaper, ripping up the carpet and painting would amount to a weekend project.  I could go shopping for paint and new bedding and curtains while Dan and the kids spruced up.  By Sunday night we would be relaxing in our "new' room! It would be great!

Well, many wives already know this, but after 23 years, I am finally getting it. Most husbands could care less about colors, wallpaper, rugs, and bedding.  As much as the decor irritated me, it really didn't bother Dan at all. Many wives I've spoken to say the same about their spouses.

So for Dan to get really involved in the "facelift", this project has to interest him, as a man.  This means, a significant amount of ripping out, knocking down, and of course lots of power tools! So here is the first stage of our anniversary/Father's Day/ Birthday gift:

 

Added bonus: a bit of father-son bonding. You know men don't magically gain the knowledge of how to install light switches, sheetrock walls, and tape and spackle once they become homeowners. Hopefully they have had a Dad who is willing to share his own knowledge!

I am going to try and post some pictures here and there on the progress.  Our formerly flat, boring ceiling will now have a nice slope, making the room feel more spacious; we have replacement windows ready to install; hi-hat lighting; and if Dan has his way (and after all this work I think he deserves to have his way) there will be some kind of projection television which we will be able to see on the wall where the ceiling drops (right where you can see that duct running).  In 23 years we've never had television in the bedroom, so this will be different.

There is only one constraint on this project... family visitng  from out-of-town starting on July 4th!!!! Talk about a deadline!  This is going to be one busy week!

I better get out and choose that paint and new bedding!  Stay tuned!

We've been celebrating again!!!

The month of June is always a busy one around here.  It begins on the sixteenth with my birthday (29 again!) and then  we have Jessie's birthday on the 17th, Father's Day in there somewhere, and on the 21st, our wedding anniversary (23 years ) Of course I know the math doesn't work out there, what with me being 29 and all, but that's my story, and I'm sticking to it!

This weekend we have a few things planned. Continuing work on one of my birthday gifts (details in an upcoming post ).  On Saturday we will be heading down to the beach, to the town where Dan grew up.  His mom, Claire was a Third Order Franciscan, and her community has purchased a statue of St. Francis which they will be dedicating tomorrow afternoon outside the convent of our old parish.  We are planning to attend with all six of our kids; Dan's sister will be there with her two little ones; and my sister will also be there.  A simple ceremony followed by coffee and cake and hopefully sharing some fond memories of a truly wonderful and holy woman whose life was cut short at age 62 by an aneurism. She is greatly missed, but we are honored to be included in this kind gesture by her former community.

Saturday morning Jessie and Hannah are due at the dress rehearsal for their ballet.  Big sister will drive little sister to the statue commemoration afterward and we will all have dinner with my newlywed niece and her husband who live in that neck of the woods.

Sunday will start, of course, with Mass. Then its back to work on that gift! We break at two for the ballet, but I suspect work resumes after the ballet. I am so exicted to see this performance. Jess has been rehearsing like mad. She is either working or rehearsing these days. I can't wait to see the results of all that hard work.  Hannah will be dancing as well. Her group is supposed to  be dolls... cute with pigtails and pinafores.  The director of the ballet school they attend creates an original performance every year... especially geared to the abilities of her students. It is a very special, one-of-kind show. Not so much a "recital" as one continuous production with a loose plot and beautiful classical music throughout. I can't wait!

In addition to the special events of this past month, we've kept up with the usuals... track (Thomas's relay team took a silver and a gold in the regional championship); ballet; homeschool stuff; new job for Ben; summer plans (we are taking a trip this year);  and somehow we need to plan next year's schooling!

Happy 19th to my amazing girl!!

 

And Happy Father's Day/Anniversary to the best Dad/Husband I could have ever hoped for!

 

The things they say...

All parents know that there are so many funny, sweet, and dopey things children say. You just wish you had the sense to write them down at the time.  Years later, I still try to recall who said what at which time that had me in stitiches. Like the time when I was expecting Ben. Katie was four years old. We would tell her from time to time what was developing on the baby inside Mommy.  One day out of the blue she asks "Is the blanket there,yet?"  I guess she was picturing the idyllic hospital scene where the nurse presents Mom with a pink-faced, smiling baby wrapped in a soft blanket. I didn't have the heart to shatter that fantasy by giving her the blood and gore details of the whole experience.  Ah, the innocence of youth!

Here is an exchange I had with Thomas this past week which had me close to tears.  He had lost a game cartridge for his DS.  We had searched high and low for several days. Early  Tuesday morning he comes into the kitchen with the game in hand. "I am so stupid!" he says.

"You are not stupid, Thomas," I replied in the way most mothers would when they here a child belittle themself this way. "Why would you say that?"

"The game was right on Ben's desk. I must have already looked there a hundred times. I can't believe I missed it!"

"Did you ever think that maybe Ben found the game and put it there for you?"

Thomas thinks for a moment and then says  "I think Ben must be the best brother in the world. They don't come any better than Ben!"  After a few more seconds of thinking, he continued. "I doubt Ben would say the same thing about me. I ask too many questions when he is busy."

I get this big lump in my throat.  I know with the  7 1/2 year gap in their ages, that sometimes the big brother/little brother dynamic is intense. At sixteen, Ben is not always the most patient big brother. And at eight, Thomas can be, well, let's just say the proverbial " little brother" and all that implies!

"Don't worry, Thomas," I reassure him. "Someday Ben is going to realize what a great brother he has in you!"

Big hugs for Thomas and he is off to the Battle of the Pokemon!

My prayer today is for all siblings to have a heart of gratitude for each other. Seventeen years ago, we heard Fr. Benedict Groeschel speak at Fordham University and one thing he said has stayed with me since then. "Parents, the greatest gift you can give a child is a sibling. Have children!"

About ten months later, Ben was born. May he come to realize the gift he is to his siblings, and the gifts he has been given in his brother and sisters.

 

Here they are last summer on a guys camping trip.

Overheard at Dinner Tonight

In an attempt to terrorize his little sister at the dinner table tonight, Ben says to Hannah:

Aliens are coming to eat your brains, Hannah.

Without flinching Hannah thinks she has the perfect comeback:

 

Oh yeah?  Well, what if I don't have any brains?

I think she gets her quick wit from her mother!

I doubt Giada eats this herself...

but that didn't stop me from making this recipe from Giada De Laurentis's cookbook Giada's Family Dinners.

( Idon't believe she is actually going to eat that tidbit, do you?) 

 

It was called  "Pizza Rustica".  And it was good. Very good.  Basically, you make a pie crust,  lay it into a springform pan, layer in some spinach; (sauteed in garlic, of course), various Italian meats.. think salami, pepperoni, prosciutto; ricotta cheese; mozzarella cheese; roasted red peppers. Top it with more pie crust, brush with an egg wash and sprinkle with parmesan cheese.  Bake for one hour. Let it cool to room temperature,so the layers hold when sliced.  Yummy.  There is no way Giada eats this and stays so stinkin' skinny! Just look at these pictures!

 

And look at those cheesy layers!

 

The reviews from the family were mixed. Generally, those who tried it liked it.  It is very filling and I think meant to be served as a snack, or a larger  slice with a salad would make a decent meal, if one is particularly hungry! I liked it, but my sometimes lactose intolerant stomach complained a bit. One of my daughters said it was too cheesy and could have used more meat.  I might change one or more of the meats to ground sausage.  Overall, something I might make again to bring to a party. I thought it really looked nice and appetizing.

Up!!!! See it!

I got a wonderful surprise this weekend when I brought Hannah and some of her friends to see the new Pixar movie Up.  I must confess I really didn't have any idea what it was about other than it was a kiddie movie with an old guy floating around with some helium balloons.  What a treat it was for adults as well as children.

I was thinking that many times adults don't feel a kids' movie is "good" unless it entertains them as well. When did we become so selfish that we can't just let the kids enjoy children's entertainment even if it might not be our own first choice?    Usually, when someone says a movie appeals to adults as well as children, that  is code for "there were many double entendres which the children didn't understand, but kept me, the grown-up interested".  Lately, even more blatant adult humor is dressed up in kids' clothes. A classic example of this is the movie, Shrek which is chockful of double entendre and badly veiled adult humor.  But what made Up appeal to me as an adult was completely different. It had to do with the themes of lifelong love; heartbreak; grief; starting over; and healing among many others which were presented in such a simple, poignant way. I found myslef at or near tears more than once.  A man, who feels he never was able to fulfill his wife's dreams finally  heals from his grief when he realizes that it was he, himself who fulfilled her dreams! It was such a beautiful message. At first I thought that some of these ideas would be upsetting to the children, but the simplicity with which they were brought out, with very little dialogue... just watching the story of this couple's life unfold in pictures ... brought it all to a level where the children "got it", but not to the point of getting upset enough to ruin the rest of the movie, which, by the way, was alot of fun, too.

We didn't get to see the 3D version, but I don't think anyone noticed. The graphics were absolutely beautiful anyway. On the way home I asked each child what they thought of the movie and not one of them dwelled on any of  the emotionally upsetting parts, you know ... the parts for the adults. The only sad part they remembered was that the couple couldn't have a baby... which I think is a testament to their own "open-to-life" families! Mostly,  they loved the funny parts, the action , and adventure aspects of the film.   And I did, too.. plus the bonus of some great ideas to ponder and discuss with them afterward! Enjoy the trailer for Up!

A Birthday in the House

I always thought five years old was one of my favorite ages for our kids.  It is time where you really see  grown-up ideas taking shape  by their thought provoking questions. Yet, they are still young enough to be silly and goofy, and giggle under the covers in the morning, and get scared by a bad dream, and need hugs in the middle of the night.

So far, six is alot of fun, too.  I may have to change up my favorite age! (Of course this may also have something to do with having no more fifth brithdays to celebrate here, since Hannah is the youngest and God has yet to bless us with another) So this morning, she makes a grand entrance into the kitchen at 6:30, expecting some kind of fanfare.  Yes, we decorated the kitchen with balloons and streamers late last night, so we delivered there. Then come the questions:

"Does Daddy have to work on my birthday?" (yes)

"Does Becky have school today, on my birthday?" (yes, again)

"What am I having for my birthday breakfast?"  ( ummm, cinnamon toast, again?)

"What about lunch?" ( Mommy can't think that far ahead at 6:30 A.M.!)

"Who is coming over for my birthday?"  (What, a party, too?!! )

It is little harder to deliver on some of these birthday wishes. No, the bank Daddy works at doesn't close for your birthday and schools are open today, too.  I have my work cut out for me for next year: I need to get a banking holiday as well as schools closed. And while I'm at it, I may as well suspend mail delivery next May 29th, too!  If only I could control the weather. You see,  this year it is  pouring rain and I'm quite sure I will be questioned on why it is raining on  this sacred day!

 

People who are shocked at the size of our family obviously don't know Hannah! While our fifth was the icing on the cake, I always say that Hannah is the cherry on top! I couldn't imagine life around here without that smile, could you?

Happy Birthday Sweetie! We Love You!

 

Busy Weekend

We have  had a very busy weekend here, giving new meaning to  the title of this blog! But as the saying goes... it was all good! Very good. 

Friday morning kicked off the weekend on a rather sad note, as I attended the funeral of a dear friend's mother.  It was a truly beautiful Mass and a gathering of faithful friends were in attendance. And although these occasions get more and more difficult as my own losses increase, I left the funeral with a sense of renewal as my mind and heart were again turned toward our true purpose on this Earth: To help each other on our path to Heaven.

We began our weekend with our Friday night family Rosary group.  Each Friday we do a pot luck dinner at the home of one of the families in the group. Since it was Memorial Day weekend, BBQ was the menu.   The hosting family lives in a different parish and  they invited several families they knew of who might be interested in starting up their own local group. What really touched me that night was that many of the new children didn't know how to say a Hail Mary, much less pray a five decade Rosary.  But , they were so eager to participate and learn.  They volunteered to lead prayers and answer questions without fear of forgetting the words or getting something wrong. If only we adults could have this kind of child-like faith  and innocence in our own prayer lives! A truly spirit-filled and beautiful night was had by all.

We left bright and early Saturday morning for the wedding of the oldest daughter of our dear friends, Susan and Paul.  What a beautiful Mass!  It was concelebrated by several priests of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, who also provided some of the music. Bride and groom looked so happy, as you can see from the pictures.  A joyous day with lots of love and time spent with good friends. 

We arrived home mid-afternoon on Sunday after picking up three of the children on the way home who had stayed at my brother's house.  I immediately went into "clean -up -people -are- coming- over " mode to get everything ready for an impromptu barbecue on Monday.  Most of our friends have rather large families, so inviting several families over amounted to sixty-eight people all totalled! Phew! We had a blast... lots of kids, lots of food, lots of good conversation. We ended the night with guitars around the fire as we usually do. Oh, and a spooky story to boot!

So, here are some pictures of the wedding. I am taking notes, as we are now officially less than a year away from our own oldest daughter's big day!

These are for you, Susan! 

Brother and sister of the bride looking handsome and gorgeous!

 

Youngest sister as Flower girl looking like a princess!

 

Paul waking his lovely daughter down the aisle!

 

Getting ready to give away the bride. But not before a few words of wisdom were spoken to the soon -to -be- married couple! I wonder what he said???

 

If you are wearing a grey robe, please come and get in the picture!
 

Dancing with Dad.

 

Dad, what's in the bag?

 

A few tears as Paul produces a glass slipper from the bag!

 

Hugs from his own Cinderella!

 

(And Susan, you did a masterful job dodging the camera! I didn't have any good pictures of you!  Watch out next time, my friend!)