My Bad Habit

I tend to procrastinate. Try as I might to get things done ahead of time, something always gets left until the last moment. All to often, too many somethings.

It was because of this mighty character flaw that I spent Monday night (missing Heroes!) going to a total of 6 stores in an attempt to piece together three last minute costumes. It was this flaw, coupled with my inability to pay $20-$30 for a silly costume, that I was up until 1 AM last night making Captain America's helmet "just so".

But we are now ready for tonight - yes, we do trick or treat around our cul-de-sac. The boys have great fun with the neighbors kids, and it is like one big happy family! And then tomorrow is the pinnacle, All Saints Day. A great day where my husband takes off of work, and the boys and I skip our sports practices. We go to Mass, and then spend the day together (usually outside!). Our parish also has a Saints Superheroes Party tomorrow night.

I love holidays! It is just the prep work that gets me! But now it is over - let the fun begin!

Trials and Tribulations

Oh yes, it is potty training time once again here in our humble abode. Philip is officially training as of last week, and I have to say that so far he has been the easiest of all of my boys. For starters, he willing comes to the bathroom when I remind him to go, and he will even go all on his own initiative. That is impressive compared to my first two.

But like his brothers, he has underwear issues. Namely, he insists that the ultra cool design be IN FRONT (where he can see it) instead of in the back which is where it is supposed to be. And a fight will ensue if I dare suggest that the underwear should be returned to their proper (aka more comfortable) position.

We have been here before. He will eventually figure out that while it is cool to have the design in plain eyesight, it is not worth the wedgie that inevitably occurs when underwear is facing the wrong direction.

Live and learn, dear Philip!

Book Review: Left to Tell

What an incredibly moving book! I was slightly familiar with the Rwandan genocide, but what a moving account to read the details of a survivor. Not only was this an enlightening read in and of itself, but also the story of faith and even more fascinating, a huge lesson in how to forgive, were just astounding. I am unsure of where to begin, but I will attempt this as best as I can.

The story drew me in immediately. I was at first struck by the politics of it all. I can so relate with school as being my own first experience with racial issues. As she talked of a lack of awareness of racial differences, I nodded in agreement. I did not ever hear the terms "black, white, hispanic" in my home, or notice that anyone was anything other than a person until I was in school. It was a huge shock, very unsettling. As I read of her experiences with this (of course to a much larger degree than I ever experienced), I could not help but notice the irony of it all: The former minority punishing the new minority in retaliation for past injustices. I could go on about the politics of Rwandan history and some parallels to our own society, but that is not the shining gem in this story.

Next, I noticed her blossoming faith as events began to unfold. Her very real, haunting accounts of Satan's temptations hit me deeply. It is amazing how she was able, in such dire circumstances, to keep at bay these very real and overwhelming whispers at a time when her faith was most vulnerable. The author also underlines the importance of those "rote prayers". Especially in the darkest times, her faith clung to those prayers and pulled her through all of the muck around her. This struck me so because it was a reminder that even when we feel totally in a free fall with wolves nipping at our feet, God can always pull us through if we only hold on with our faith. Faith is such a vital component to our lives, one that we cannot ever afford to let go of.

But most of all, the story of forgiveness got me. At the end of Chapter 11, as she likened the killers to "children who do not realize what they do", I was dumbfounded. As she wrote about "how they did not understand that they were hurting their brothers and sisters", even through these atrocities that they committed were to her own loved ones, I was in tears. Here was a woman acting out, in the worst of situations, the very same forgiveness that Christ showed us. This woman was modeling Christ's perfect love. Here she was doing the impossible - forgiving without judging the others at all! Forgiving without any remaining ill will or thought of revenge. How incredible! She could truly love those who hated her.

This forgiveness is the pinnacle of her tale. To me, it was the climax of the story. From there on out, she faced mortal danger many times, as well as many more attempts on her faith, but now her faith was bolstered by peace with God. And that peace was only possible with true forgiveness. Could I forgive like that? While I certainly hope I could, I just don't know.

So for me, that is the lasting value in this book - a reminder that we must always forgive, WITHOUT JUDGING. I hope that I will forever hold this lesson in my heart, and act it out in my own life. Thank you for such an inspiring read, Nutmeg!

Fall At Last!

There is so much that I love about fall. I love the changing trees (although this is not as prevalent down south as it is up northeast). I love the crisp coolness in the air after the hot summer days. I love hot chocolate, and campfires, and hay rides. But my most favorite thing about fall is this:




Little boys in long pajamas. It's hard to get much cuter than that!

What is "In" with the Boys This Season

What we are finding totally cool this morning.

HT: Mark Shea

Dancing Close to the Edge

We have not moved jobs since being married over 9 years ago. And so this wonderful house which we purchased eight years ago is still ours. I love our house, and it has really taken this long to get things just so.

But I am starting to feel a bit cramped. My "toss it out" binges have been occurring more frequently, and yet we still feel like we are on top of each other. It has admittedly gotten better now that the rain has slowed, and the heat/humidity have abated somewhat. Yet I still feel the closeness. Which is good. And yet it can at times be not so good.

So we browsed around at houses. We even found a really nice one this weekend. And over the next few days, for the first time in eight years, we really considered a move. The extra space was inviting. More kitchen counter tops, bigger bedrooms for the boys, and an indoor sun room where they could run on those miserable Houston days.

But then again we have issues with change. The thought at leaving not just this house, but OUR HOME, saddened me. The idea of keeping a clean house for showing to potential sellers, all while homeschooling four boys (as well as hiding the cat) terrified me. The unknown - new neighbors, new surge zones, new commutes left us so uncertain.

And so for now we will stay put. I am sure we will feel another need to move again in the future, and maybe we will be more ready next time. But for now, there really is no place like home.

Living on Planet Boy

Now I am not admitting this of course, but I may or may not have been playing with a big rubber dinosaur today. I may or may not have portrayed this particular creature eating various other toys from around the room, rubber fish, Little People cow, an astronaut, Larryboy... This dinosaur did, of course, occasionally break out into bouts of dancing to the Jimmy Buffet CD we were listening to.

(Yes, the kids do listen to "grown up" music. We just "edit" out the songs that are inappropriate with a handy remote control. It does require me to stay in the room, but gives me a break from kids' music. There's only so much "Barney music" that I can handle in a day!)

I really do enjoy my kids. Best of all, I enjoy getting moments to be a kid myself again. Nothing like getting a little silly with the boys to pull me out of stress or even a bad mood. Because just like Jimmy sang "If we weren't crazy, we'd all go insane!"..

My Birthday Boy

Philip Benjamin is 3 today, my special "Columbus Day" guy!


Philip had a wonderful Spiderman birthday party over the weekend. At age 3, the party is all about the cake, and Philip didn't let anybody forget it!


Philip is such a loveable sweetheart! How could you not love his big bear hugs each morning, followed by "Mom, did you have a good nap?". He is always so thoughtful! He serves others so well for his age. If you need the silverware put away, he's your man! Can I even brag that he puts the forks, spoons, and knives all in their correct slots? He is always eager to share what he has with his brothers. Philip adores his brothers. He absolutely cannot wait to join them on the sports field.

And now my little guy is three. He is no longer a toddler. He is all boy. And we wouldn't have it any other way! We love you Phil! Happy Birthday, honey!

Lucky Us!

Have you ever found yourself thinking "I really wish we lived closer together to all of these wonderful people we meet through the blogosphere.". Pictures of idyllic coffee (or tea if you prefer) and mom chat, all while kiddos run through the house, dance through my head. I find myself wishing for the days when everyone lived near family, near friends with like values instead of being separated by miles and miles (or even busy schedules).

As I sit in my self-induced pity party, I then recall the early pioneers. The ones who left their family, their homes to travel out into strange new lands, with nary a soul to keep them company. These travelers might never see their families again, due to the mere distance and rough paths (and here I complain about only getting to see our family a couple of times a year). They might never grow up near cousins. Mail might take weeks to reach destinations, and they certainly didn't have the phone or even internet to keep in touch and form pen pal relationships. How isolating!

It is with those thoughts that I can be thankful for today. Surely I need to be better at setting time aside for the people I do have in close proximity (and I, in particular, am very thankful for several of those dear friends!). But today I am also thankful for the phone calls that I can make to my mom on a regular basis. And everyone I have "met" through the blogoshpere! Thank you to you all! I know for me, it makes our stay at home lifestyle just a little less lonely.

Lost Opportunity

I just missed out on what would have been a most precious, surely a must blog picture. And now the moment is gone.

I heard an ominous clanking noise in the family room where I thought the boys were playing and listening to music. What I found was Philip and Jonathan, my dear 2 and 1 year olds having a tea party. The fireplace had a lovely play tablecloth spread out with cups, saucers, and plates ready to go. It was so cute.

Why did I not get the picture you might ask? Because they happened to be using my good china! I so panicked that I immediately moved the cups, plates, and saucers out of reach before that veteran mom inside me said "Take a picture!". That's what I get for being so concerned with the things!

I would say maybe next time, but I really don't know if I want to risk the china for a picture. At least not until they are older, and then what are the chances of that happening?

I know, I know. I really messed up, huh!

The best thing about a little rain is...

...that they bring out some little friends to observe.

Here he is up close!


When Brennan was about 14 months old, he stuffed his finger into the shell of one of these little creatures. It was quite an interesting substance to clean off of his hands! The fascination started early!

Missing: One Cup of Coffee

See that cheery snowman mug? That is just the latest site for my misplaced cup of coffee. I am notorious for absentmindedly placing things that are in my hands in some obscure place. Keys. Wallet. And my coffee mug. Every single morning.

You would think that I would learn. Or at least place it on the same bookshelf or table. But no, no, I am pretty thick headed. And so this morning I repeated the same old song and dance - Pour coffee. Set it down. Forget where I set it down. Look for it like a crazy person all over. Finally give up and sit down on the floor. I look up - and aha! On top of the TV.

But of course!

Frustration

Poor Jonathan. His life is full of so many frustrations lately. Like not being able to be on top of the big 5 ft slide. (the toddler one just doesn't seem to cut it). And not being allowed to eat the cat food (because, we obviously don't feed him enough). And especially not being allowed on the football/soccer field with the older boys (now we have two of them to convince to stay on the sidelines).

It must really be hard being the younger brother to a bunch of boys. I was an oldest - I wouldn't know.

So sorry honey!

Now you know that I am crazy...

...but I love this!

It is a trolley bell from San Francisco. My Dad went to high school there, and until recently, both my aunts on that side lived in the area. One of my aunts has this exact same bell, She hangs it in her kitchen, and likes to use it as a dinner bell. Now it goes without saying that all of the little boys found this great fun, but the insane part is that I did as well! I mentioned that I would love to have one in my home (Yes, even with four boys!).

And so my parents brought me one on their last trip down. How cool is that! And the boys are also very pleased with the gift. Now, I know some of you are thinking "A clanging bell? Accessible? In a house full of boys?"

Yes. Yes. And yes! How awesome is that!

I am not sure if we are by definition crazy...But we are definitely just a little bit off of what might be called normal...