Ordinary Time

Expansive Generosity or Extreme Naivety?

2011-09-21T20:19:00.002-04:00

On the way on from Paul's first football practice, Lucy pipes up from the back of the van, "Paul, you are very bestest football player I have every seen in my whooooole life. You are awesome!"

Seven Quick Takes: Signs of Spring

2011-03-24T20:03:00.003-04:00

Even if the daffodils were not bravely opening up to fickle March breezes, I would know spring has arrived by these seven signs of spring all mothers come to recognize.

1. All of my children are on antibiotics. Each year I seem to enter a state of selective amnesia and believe that the cold and flu season ends in February. Not so, not so.

2. Every single pair of my six-year old boy's jeans have holes in the knees. Not to mention that folks are likely to shout out, "Where's the flood?" when they see him coming.

3. The salt/slush/dirt crust on the mini-van has pretty much obscured its actual paint color.

4. An epic battle over the need to wear jackets ensues every time we step out the door. Even when you can still see your breath. How the children choose the calendar over the temperature in this issue when they don't even know the months of the year yet is beyond me.

5. Increased chattiness after the lights go out at bedtime. Dam* you, Daylight Savings Time.

6. Requests to go to the pool begin. First weekly, eventually daily. Even when you can still see your breath. Dam* you, Target Swimwear Displays.

7. Your floor needs mopped at least twice a day so you give up mopping altogether.

Impatient?

2011-03-15T21:05:00.001-04:00

Maybe eating ice cream will encourage summer to come a little quicker?

Seven Quick Takes: Catholic Edition

2011-03-10T22:06:00.000-05:00

***** One *****

This year I had planned a plethora of educational activities for President's Day since Paul is fascinated by our early presidents (so many Virginians!). Sadly but not surprisingly, I completely forgot about the holiday when it arrived. As I was putting the kids to bed that evening, I threw out a desperate, "Today was President's Day, guys!" Immediately, Paul lights up and shouts out, "Happy Feast Day to the Presidents!"

***** Two *****

Paul has two statutes of St. Paul on his dresser. (Yes, we are entering uber-Catholic land.) They look nothing alike. I explain away the difference to the kids by referring to the brown-haired one as "Young Saul" and the white-haired one as "Old Paul." Sadly, "Young Saul" was involved in an accident and lost a hand. I overheard Lucy pointing out the injury out to Jane the other day with great excitement, "St. Paul is just like Luke Skywalker! His hand got cut off." I guess the beheading wasn't enough. Paul obviously needed to lose a hand to achieve real stature in my kids eyes.

***** Three *****

My son Paul, like his father before him, loves peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I mean, loves them. He would eat one for every single meal of every single day.

This past weekend we were discussing what sacrifices we would make for Lent. I had already decided that we were going to be giving up sweets as a family, but was hoping to help the children in offering the proposal themselves. So I cheerfully announced to the kids, "Daddy and I are giving up sweets for Lent. What do you think about that? What would you like to give up?"

Lucy and Jane simply look a bit stunned. Paul thinks about it for a few minutes and then says, "That's good, but I think I am going to give up peanut butter and jelly sandwiches."

Bless his little heart.

***** Four *****

Lucy, on the other hand, has taken a different tack on Lenten disciplines. After a very difficult Ash Wednesday Mass, she pipes up in the van on the way home, "Let's give up going to church for Lent."

***** Five *****

We're getting all crafty around here these days. We actually made a salt-dough crown with toothpicks as thorns in it for a Lenten tool for the kids. Every time the kids do a kind deed or make a small sacrifice, they get to remove a thorn from the crown. Paul has taken the project to heart and has been on the hunt for thorn-removing-worthy acts of charity. Seeing his sister Jane struggle with her overstuffed backpack, he offers to carry it downstairs for her.

As he puts it down on the playroom floor, he sighs deeply. "That is definitely worth a thorn. That backpack is soooo heavy. It's like, uh, as heavy as Jesus' Cross, Mom."

***** Six *****

Yesterday at the library, my girls were talking with another little girl about dressing up for St. Patrick's Day. "I'm dressing up as a witch," the one little girl says loudly.

"Well, I'm dressing up as a princess," says my anything-but-plain Jane.

"Well, I'm dressing up as a nun," says Lucy. "Nuns look sorta like Mary."

A little Feast Day confusion seems to be reigning these days. Who is catechizing these children?

***** Seven *****

Have a great Lent and - oops - excuse me while I go stop my children from poking each other's eyes out with their "thorns."

Storytime

2011-02-24T13:38:00.002-05:00

A fellow loyal library patron just sent me this picture of the kids and me at our local library storytime with the best-librarian-in-the-world, Ms. Liza. Storytime has been one of the constants in our daily life. I started taking Paul when he was just 12 months old and we've never looked back. I hope my kids build a nice, solid store of wonderful library memories so they learn to love the library as much as I do.

On a side note, when I first looked at this picture, my immediate reaction was "Whoa! That's A LOT of kids!" I'm still not used to seeing myself as a mom of four!

Look-a-Likes

2011-02-09T09:06:00.004-05:00

I feel ya.

2011-02-08T11:46:00.004-05:00

My newest goddaughter, Mary, is channeling my feelings toward February. When will it end? Over the last few years, it seems every winter seems to get a little longer. So many noses to wipe, so many coats to zip, so many boots to track mud and snow everywhere! Enough already! We are ready for spring.

Getting the Hang of Mothering

2011-02-07T12:32:00.003-05:00

Huge success here at the Bremberg house! Jane potty trained in about three days. We had two small accidents the first day, one accident the second, and pretty much clear sailing from then on. Ah, sweet success.

Of course, the mother should get all the credit in these cases. If the opposite occurs - weeks of accidents with no hope in sight - it is definitely the child's problem, though.

My newest little Godchild

2011-02-01T00:21:00.003-05:00

I'm so honored to be the Godmother to the newest little blessing in our clan, my sister Catie's little Mary Lucia. She arrived yesterday at 3:09 p.m., weighing in at 6 lb. 9 oz. We are so excited for another little girl to join the group of cousins!

At least he's honest.

2011-01-31T20:21:00.003-05:00

We've been using the side door of our house throughout the last week as the main exit/entrance instead of our front door due to the large mounds of snow still heaped in front of the house. One would think that at least some of the children would have caught on to the idea by now, but that person would be sadly mistaken. Finally, as we left the house for the third time today, I foolishly threw out a rhetorical question at my beloved six-year old.

"Paul," I demanded in total exasperation, "how many times today have I told you to go to the other door?"

"Oh, five....or six," he replied nonchalantly. "Well, actually seven."

7 Quick Takes Friday

2011-01-28T00:01:00.000-05:00

*****One*****

One of my New Year's resolutions (and by resolutions, I mean vague ideas rumbling around my mind around the beginning of January) was to begin blogging in earnest again. This is why I don't make actual resolutions. There is no need to set myself up for failure.

*****Two*****

I actually do want to blog more regularly. I'm a bit torn about what to blog about, though. I'm kinda over the "mommy blogging" in which I take my normal life and find deeper spiritual and emotional insights into the mundane, poopy things that happen in the day of a mother. Not that this isn't a very meaningful line to take while blogging. I'm just not having many insights anymore.

Currently, I just keep up with the big days in the kids life - birthdays, schooling, vacations - and use the blog as a virtual scrapbook. Which is very good. But not a very exciting blog to write, especially since a higher percentage of the average post is made up of photographs instead of text.

I've toyed with the idea of doing more political blogging since that is my other area of interest outside my family and God. Does the world really need another political blogger, though? Hmmmm.

*****Three*****

Down to real business - Jane is THREE!!! I feel like she has been three for almost a year. In my mind she went from one to three when she actually turned two. I think this age confusion occurred because she walked so early, and Lucy, who is just 16 months older, walked so late. There was only a few months between both of their first steps. So I just pushed Jane along into the older crowd. But hey, being three is supposed to be so much better than being two so overall I think Jane is winning with another year of being three.

*****Four*****

Paul just won his first athletic award. In his last wrestling tournament, he received a third place ribbon for his weight class. He is beyond proud. His father and I have failed to mention that there were only four boys in his weight class.

I'm feeling conflicted about the ribbon. I've always been a strong supporter of the "if everybody is a winner, nobody is" school of thought, but..... Paul is so proud and happy with his little ribbon. Is is really such a bad thing?

*****Five*****

I've discovered my son considers himself a Southerner. We are studying the Civil War in history, and Paul soon realized that Virginia was part of the South. Ergo, he is one of the "grey uniforms." I find it very disconcerting to see him identify with the South. I'm a Northerner, my husband is a Northerner, and we live in Northern Virginia. Yet Paul has claimed his Southern heritage.

*****Six*****

It has been over a year since our family has either 1)moved houses, 2)switched jobs, or 3)added a new baby. It is starting to feel very quiet around here. I think I'm enjoying it.

*****Seven*****

Whew. This blogging stuff is hard work. No wonder I never post.

(Actually, I realise why I never post as I tried to post this. Blogger drives me crazy. It simply refuses to format correctly. I spend 10 minutes writing and 20 minutes trying to get it to format/space correctly before I give up and just post it looking like it was written by a 7th grader.)

Storming Heaven

2011-01-14T13:03:00.002-05:00

This week I just found out that a life-long friend - seriously there are pictures of us and all our sisters in diapers and little flower undies together - is going through any mother's nightmare: the prospect of losing a child. The adoption of their one-year old son, whom they brought into their homes at 11 days of age, is currently being contested in court. I ask you to please lift up their family in prayer during what looks to be a very long, very difficult, very expensive battle for their son. Let's storm Heaven together for this wonderful family!

You can read her story, leave a message of support and prayer, and donate to help cover ever-increasing legal fees at her blog. Thank you.

Driving in the fast lane.

2010-12-18T21:10:00.005-05:00

Anne is now one.

And already she wants to the keys to the car.

Seriously. This little lady does not just want to join the fray, she wants to be in the middle of it. She is a runner, not just a walker, mind you. She can say "Momma" and "Dada" and the all-important "Up!" She has been seen to take down siblings twice her size in pursuit of a blinking, light-up bouncy ball. She knows how to scream on purpose and to frightening effect. She has four teeth - but thankful seems unaware of it.

Yet she is still my baby. She is still cuddly and sweet in the morning. She still likes to nurse - several times a night unfortunately. She thinks peek-a-boo is world-class entertainment. She still needs her momma every second of every minute of every hour of every day.

I wouldn't want it any other way.

Most of of the time.

On The Record

2010-11-17T21:05:00.001-05:00

For some rather unknown reason, Jane pipes up a lunch today, "I hate boys. Except Daddy." Lucy adds, "I hate boys, too. Except Paul, of course."

I have them on record and you are all witnesses. File away for teenage years.

Scaling the Wall

2010-11-03T08:37:00.002-04:00

Last weekend the kids went rock climbing at Aunt Maggie's gym. Big excitement!

Paul did well, but didn't quite make it to the top.

Lucy got about this far, though she bravely worked without a harness. As she told me at home when she returned, "I made it to the tippy, tippy bottom, Mom!"

Not surprisingly, Jane turned out to have climbing skillz. She actually made it to the tippy, tippy top!

7 Quick Takes: Election Edition

2010-11-01T09:45:00.003-04:00

I meant to post this last Friday in an attempt to renew my participation in Conversion Diary's 7 Quick Take Fridays, but life, as it likes to do, got in the way. Still, better late than never, right?

Here are my seven races/trends to watch for tomorrow night as election results come in. Lest you think all I do is watch cable news and read political blogs, my loving husband did offer some suggestions to the list. Here we go:

1. Indiana Districts 8 and 9: Indiana's polls close an hour earlier so some of their districts could be a great bellwether for the way the rest of the night will go. In IN-8 and IN-9, Republicans should win. A margin of 7 or more points indicates Republicans are likely to win the 55+ seats in the House many are now predicting, less than 7 points may mean the Republicans don't break the 50 seat mark.

2. PA-4, 7, 11, and 12: These should be close, but Republicans could definitely pull them all out. If Republicans win PA-4 and PA-11, then good-bye Democrats.

3. OH-6 and 18: Republicans should win OH-18, but if they win in the 6th, it'll be a bloodbath for Democrats.

4. Florida Governorship race: This race is still really close and should be fun to watch.

5. VA-5, 11, and 8: VA-8, our home district here in Alexandria, VA, would be a HUGE upset if Col. Patrick Murray beat long-time incumbent Jim Moran. It's unlikely, but dreams do come true. A win in the 8th would mean it is the Democrats' Armageddon.

6. Colorado Governorship race: Watch for a possible upset by Constitutional Party candidate, Tom Tancredo. This would be the story of the night.

7. The final tally: Republicans pick up 55-60 seats in the House, 8 seats in the Senate, and 8 governorships.

Life is Messy. Have Fun.

2010-10-23T07:01:00.000-04:00

Joey is Home!

2010-10-23T06:54:00.001-04:00

Thank you to all who prayed for Baby Joey. His surgery went very, very well and a week later he is at home with his family, where he belongs. Praise the Lord!

Prayers for Joey

2010-10-13T21:13:00.003-04:00

I'm asking for prayers our godson, Baby Joey. He was born with several heart defects and has already undergone several surgeries in his few short months of life. Tomorrow he goes in for a MAJOR open heart surgery at 9:30 am to repair the last of his three defects, a whole in his heart. Joey has already scared his poor parents enough for one lifetime, so please pray for a successful, uneventful surgery and recovery!

St. Joseph, pray for us!

Why I Never Post

2010-10-03T19:54:00.003-04:00

It's posts like this from Simcha Fisher that make me feel like everything about my life and vocation and motherhood has already been written better than I ever will so why bother to wasting my last remaining bits of precious brain power on writing.

A New Era Begins

2010-09-14T19:41:00.003-04:00

Paul officially started Kindergarten last week. I even sent in a letter to the Superintendent of Schools with our notice of intent to provide home education, even though we really could have stayed off the grid for another year. However, I was ready to make school a reality in my own mind so I decided it was time to bring up the issue to someone outside the house, even if it is just an education bureaucrat.

While our first week began with a colossal failure on my part, namely, I forgot to take pictures of Paul's first day of his first year of school, we made up for it by ending the week on a high note: Paul is reading! A week of Hooked on Phonics and the boy is on his way into the wonderful world of the written word.

This week we've been spending time working on a unit study in anatomy. I found this great book at the library, The Way We Work by David Macaulay, which has fascinating illustrations that explain the workings of the human body in a fresh, unique way. While it is way - and I mean WAY - above the kids' heads, I just explain the illustrations at their level and let the pictures do the rest of the teaching. Today we used some basic human body sticker kits from the Oriental Trading Company (they really have everything) to create our own illustrations of the body's major systems. Paul was so proud - and upset I wouldn't let him do every system in the book. But I really wasn't sure exactly what all made up the endocrine system myself and I put my foot down on studying the reproductive system in kindergarten.

Presenting "The Human Body" by Paul:

Presenting "Something Close to the Human Body" by Lucy and Jane:

Paul is so proud of himself. I am so happy (and relieved) he is enjoying his school time this year.

The reason I've been gone for so long...

2010-09-12T10:03:00.005-04:00

some serious home renovation. Our kitchen and dining room went from two rooms to one lovely, functional, huge kitchen that I love almost as much as my husband and children.

Before... After...

The peninsula with the sink was where the wall formerly separated the dining room and kitchen. I can now wash my breakfast dishes while I watch my kids start their schoolwork at the table and look out the window to see neighbors walking their kids to school. It rocks.

This area is still in progress. I have more of the blue chairs, which come from my grandmother's summer kitchen, to replace the white chairs. And my $50 church pew is still sporting its original color, a daring neon yellow, from the salvage yard. I'm still debating what to color to paint it. After a summer of decision making on cabinets, flooring, and finishes, I have run out of brain power to make anymore decisions for the present.

This table, a hand-me-down from Andrew's family, actually stretches out to reach from one wall to the other. Just right for holidays...or really just about everyday around here.

I love the map I put up here. We do our schoolwork at the table (I promise to post about our first year of homeschooling soon) so I really wanted to have a map handy. Now while I love its functionality, I think I enjoy the eclectic vibe it brings to the space even more. This is really why I love the new kitchen: it is soooo functional, but it's also beautiful. Form meets function very well in this room - at least for me. I feel like I'm on vacation in my own home. You can't beat that.

Now that our crazy summer is over, home construction completed for awhile, school has started, and I have a new computer, I'm hoping to use my blog a little more. I really couldn't use it any less.

Second Time Around

2010-06-23T07:57:00.002-04:00

Jane's first sentence has quickly become legendary in the Bremberg chronicles. Her first evasive "Paul did it!" was a red flag to parents and siblings alike. This week she brought her deception skills to the next level.

My youngest sister, Maggie, moved in this past weekend, taking the room of beloved "Aunt Roo" who had gotten herself married and whose husband for some unfathomable reason didn't want to continue to live in our basement. We all welcomed Aunt Maggie with great excitement, due not only to her delightful personality but also to her companion, Maximus. Maximus (or Max) is a Black Lab/German Shepherd mix and one of the nicest, most polite dogs I've ever met. The kids loved him on sight.

Their love, however, does not prevent at least one of them from using poor Max to her advantage. Just hours after Max's arrival, Lucy walked into Aunt Maggie's room where I was helping her unpack and announced, "Max pooped!" Max was in the playroom with the kids and, sure enough, there was obvious poop on the floor. Aunt Maggie was shocked; Max had never had an accident indoors. Jane backed up Lucy's claim, loudly announcing and pointing, "Max pooped!"

I suddenly looked more closely at Jane. While her shirt was still on, her short and diaper had been removed. I looked a little closer. Max was not the poopy culprit.

Blaming a poor animal who cannot defend himself and then sending your virtuous older sister in to begin the deception are the work of a mastermind. Thank the Lord she can't put her diaper back on.

Yet.

A fairly good indicator your child is homeschooled...

2010-06-02T09:45:00.001-04:00

"Mom, can we pretend to be a family of Minotaurs?"

"There was a Little Girl"

2010-06-01T09:35:00.002-04:00

There was a little girl

by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

There was a little girl,
Who had a little curl,
Right in the middle of her forehead.
When she was good,
She was very good indeed,
But when she was bad she was horrid.

Before and After

2010-05-28T20:45:00.003-04:00

We went on our annual strawberry picking trip this morning with Uncle Luke. I think the poor farmer lost money on us, considering the amount of strawberries eaten by the kids. They should really weigh the kids on entering and exit the farm if they want paid for all the produce picked!

Photo Roundup

2010-05-27T21:42:00.002-04:00

I finally dusted off the camera to share a few pictures to compliment the recent catch-up post.

Lucy introduces us to her friends, "Jack" and "Jude."

Paul shows off the new glasses.

Annie doing her job... being cute.

And here's an bonus photo of the CUTEST BABY IN THE WORLD!

Let's catch up.

2010-05-24T20:21:00.002-04:00

So my blog has gotten the worst of life with four kids. Total abandonment. Poor thing.

Since this is my only attempt at recording my children's younger years, replacing any scrapbooking or even photo albums, I'm hoping to revive my blogging again. I won't have little Annie complaining that Paul had hundreds of posts about him while she barely gets a birth announcement.

Speaking of Annie, she's a little tank. The cutest little tank you ever saw, but a tank nonetheless. Very dense, with fat rolls that have never seen the light of day. She's beginning to roll around a bit and spends most of her time drooling and trying to stuff her toes in her mouth.

Jane continues to be Jane, "when she's good, she's very, very good, and when she's bad, she's horrid."

Lucy has two new best friends...in her thumbs. Her left thumb is "Jack," and her right is "Jude." Jack is tall, with her thumb upright, while Jude is short, with her thumb bent. She asks to bring them everywhere. I continue to point out to her that since they are attached to her hands, they have to come with her, but that doesn't stop her from asking if Jack and Jude can come with us every time we step out the door. I really love when Jack and Jude give her a hug. She tells me that she is hugging them, too.

Paul has glasses. I'll post pictures as soon as I get my camera recharged (my camera is another neglected victim of life with four). He is also obsessed with reptiles, specifically Komodo dragons. Sadly, his father encourages him in his hopes for a reptilian pet. Momma says, in your dreams, boys.

Now it's time for Momma to go to bed. Hope to chat again soon.

Christ has Risen! Alleluia! Alleluia!

2010-04-04T15:34:00.004-04:00

It looks like Elvis has risen as well.

Jane is looking extra clean... due to her three showers before 9:00 a.m. due to several vomitting and pooping incidents throughout the night.

The line-up shot.

Upon hearing the news that Cousin Jack would be joining the family today!!

An actual family shot with fairly normal smiles by all.

Happy Easter!

Calamity Jane

2010-03-17T19:38:00.002-04:00

Yesterday was quite a milestone for little Jane, just turned two years old. She began talking a few months ago, but has pretty much limited herself to one word utterances. However, Jane has finally delivered her first unprompted first sentence.

I came upon Jane in the living room with Annie's pacifier in her mouth, my cell phone in her right hand, and a battery from the remote control in her left. "Jane! No!" I exclaimed. Jane did not hesitate. Out came her first sentence, loud and clear:

"Paul did it!"

Big Families, Big Benefits

2010-02-25T09:14:00.002-05:00

I had to share this hilarious, oh so true article from Matthew Archbold at the National Catholic Register site, "Why Big Families Might Be Easier." It's worth your time!

On the Cutting Edge of Chic

2010-02-21T19:32:00.003-05:00

Decorating with dinosaurs. Soon to grace the pages of Elle Decor soon I'm sure.

Better than Late Night

2010-02-18T14:52:00.000-05:00

Lucy is lying on her back doing leg lifts, her version of pilates. When asked what she was doing, Lucy matter-of-factly replies, "I'm exercising. It's what adults do."

**********

I recently started reading The Magic Treehouse series to the kids. In the books, two children enter a magic treehouse and can go anywhere in time or history that they want. I asked the kids where they would go if they could choose.

Mom: "Where would you go, Lucy?"

Lucy: "To lunch."

Mom: "Where would you go, Paul?"

Paul: "Where would you go, Mama? Because that's where I would go."

Mom: "Where would you go, Jane?"

Jane: "Lap."

**********

The kids watched a new-to-them movie at Grandma and Grandpa's during our recent visit: The Rescuers Down Under, a classic Disney movie in which two mice help save a young boy kidnapped by an evil poacher in his pursuit of a rare golden eagle. While the film clearly has a message about protecting endangered species, what do I find my kids doing later that day?

Using plastic spatulas to pretend to skin a stuffed lion and gorilla.

Birthday Catch-up

2010-02-18T14:33:00.001-05:00

I've been a little deliquent in my blogging lately due to lots of snow, little sleep, and some extensive traveling to the Internet Dead Zone, also known as Grandpa and Grandma's house. Here's some better-late-than-never birthday pictures:

Jane's "Blue's Clues" cake for her 2nd birthday.

Jane is going for the 1980's rocker look with her hair these days.

Paul requested a volcano/dinosaur cake for his 5th birthday. He carefully placed the dinosaurs himself.

The happy birthday boy.

Chia Obama, Vol. I

2010-01-29T08:14:00.004-05:00

This Christmas, Andrew received one of the best Christmas gift ever: a Chia Obama, or Chia 'Bama as we say around our house. There are, in fact, two version of the Chia 'Bama, the Determined Obama or the Happy Obama. Guess which one we have?

We've "implanted" the Chia 'Bama and are awaiting "hair" growth, though I think it currently looks more like our president with the little black seeds than it will with a green afro. Still, I'm eagerly awaiting the new hairdo and thought I would share our progress with my readers. I'm a little concerned with our ability to actually grow anything, but as my very wise husband said to me this morning, "Either we get an afro laden Chia 'Bama or a dead Chia 'Bama. Either way, I win."

Deep Undercover

2010-01-28T14:28:00.001-05:00

Paul: "Lucy, let's pretend to be a family of bears."

Lucy: "No, let's be a family of bees."

Paul, diplomatically: "Let's pretend to be a family of bears pretending to be a family of bees."

Standing for Life

2010-01-25T08:18:00.002-05:00

This past Friday was the annual March for Life. While we weren't able to attend this year as we usually do, I was able to enjoy this great video clip from my old boss, Congressman Jim Jordan (R-OH) explaining the importance of the March.

(HT: Faith and Family Live)

Twilight Zone

2010-01-19T08:25:00.002-05:00

I feel like I'm leaving in an alternate universe. Today it actually looks like a Republican could win Ted Kennedy's Senate seat, oops, I mean the "people's seat." It's not over until the voting, but hope springs anew.

Signs of Life

2010-01-12T08:59:00.002-05:00

Since I found out I was pregnant again last spring, I feel like my brain has been slowly closing down. My readers have probably noticed the very sketchy blogging the last, oh, nine months or so that is a direct result of my languishing gray matter. Sadly, having the baby initially has just seemed to make it worse. Today I feel a small seed of hope, though.

I actually had my own original, creative thought. A frivousl thought, but a thought nonetheless.

It was only an idea for a fabulous Saturday Night Live skit in which Barack Obama would call into the Suze Orman show for her "Can I Afford it?" segment, a time in the show in which callers ask Suze if they can afford some product or vacation or whatever their heart desires. Suze grills them on their debt, assets, and income and then delivers her verdict. Can't you just picture it?

Obama: "Suze, I really, really want to buy a national healthcare system. It's so shiny and inspiring and legacy-building. What do you think?"

Suze: "Well, what is in your bank account? How much debt do you currently have?

Obama: "Well.... I just have a small debt of about, oh, 12.4 trillion. But the Chinese are really patient people. I don't think it's a problem. Plus, I was planning to just get the money for my little plan by taking a little more money from other people, you know, taxpayers."

Suze: "An alternate revenue stream- great. Well, what are the prospect that the taxpayers will be able to provide a stable, adequate revenue source for this plan?

Obama: "Well... unemployment is a smidge high, but don't worry my administration is going to "pivot" to talk about jobs as soon as I get to buy my healthcare plan. I'm sure that will clear up the problem."

Suze: "Look, Mr. President, you may be young, you may be fabulous, but you are broke. Your request is DENIED."

Achieving Success

2010-01-11T07:42:00.002-05:00

In the middle of this last pregnancy, I shared my secret to dealing with the building panic of caring for four kids aged four and under - redefining success. My bottom line: If only two people are crying at a time, I am successfully parenting. And bonus points if I am not one of the two crying individuals.

As I enter my second week on my own with all four, we've been pretty successful. My crying ratio has not been exceeded, expect on a very few extraordinary occasions, and I'm racking up the bonus points. My realistic expectations have lowered my stress level, in turn lowering the kids' stress levels, leading to less crying by all.

Lower my expectations in the parenting area has led me to adopt this attitude to my wider role as mother and homemaker. For the first few weeks, probably even months, I have decided to make my idea of a successful day consist of: 1) serving three meals, 2) dressing everyone, 3)doing one load of laundry, and 4) limiting t.v. watching to half of our waking hours. Anything else that gets done is just gravy.

Putting this philosophy of minimalism into practice has resulted in a more peaceful and more productive first week on my own with the kids than I would have imagined possible. I tend to be a perfectionist with a to-do list a mile long. I don't "relax" well and generally have ridiculous expectations of what I can get done in a day. This mix usually results in a feeling of failure on even my best days. I knew that with raging postpartum hormones, a nursing newborn, and three other young children that I was bound for emotional disaster if I didn't get myself into a new mental space.

So I did.

And it worked.

Praise the Lord!

I will actually write a post again someday...

2010-01-06T21:45:00.002-05:00

but until then, here is another picture post.

Look what Santa left in Mommy's stocking. Someone must have been a good girl this year!

The Christmas Picture of Fake Smiles

Partied out... again.

Lucy, working her magic.

Our Jesse Trees!

Stats and Pics

2009-12-22T13:48:00.001-05:00

Thanks to my loyal readers, I was reminded that I inadvertently left Annie's birth statistics off her original welcome post. Annie weighed in at a healthy, but not too big, 8 pounds, 2 ounces. Supposedly, she was 20 inches long at birth, but she only measured 19 inches at her first check-up yesterday. Hmmmm....

Now on to the secondary excitement in the house - the Almost-Blizzard of 2009! We received a solid foot or more of snow just following Annie's arrival. In fact, Annie and I left the hospital a day early to get home before the snow hit. Here in northern Virginia, we don't see this kind of snow often so it generates quite a bit of excitement. Here are some picture of the kids enjoying (or not) the snow...

Jane seemed confused by the whole thing.

Lucy, Daddy, and Paul all looking at the camera together - almost as miraculous as the snow!

Paul, looking for his next target.

I think it's time for hot cocoa.

Paul, Frosty, and Lucy enjoying the sunshine the day after the storm.

Welcome Anne Rebecca Bremberg!

2009-12-17T23:01:00.002-05:00

3, 2, 1....

2009-12-12T17:02:00.002-05:00

BABY! Only three days left until Bremberg Baby #4 makes an arrival! My doctor just set an induction for the morning of December 15th. Feel free to make a final guess as to if we'll be welcoming a boy or girl!

Let it snow!

2009-12-06T13:45:00.002-05:00

We just had our first snow of the season! Since we are officially in "The South" the excitement level is very high with every snow. My kids were all in snow boots at 6:30 am the day before the snow was forecast.

Lucy models her new snow boots - and glasses. Very chic and very sweet.

Later in the day, Jane gives us another look...

Another "You know you have a lot of kids" Moment

2009-12-03T22:39:00.003-05:00

It's been a few months since I had a "You know you have a lot of kids" moment, the last being the incident in which a pregnant neighbor seriously thought I was running a home daycare center. Yesterday I had two very nice young men in dark suits knock at my door. As the kids flocked to the excitement, the one young man asked, with no a small amount of suprise in his voice, "Are they all yours?"

You know you have a lot of kids when you are shocking Mormons.

The Future is Now

2009-11-18T08:38:00.004-05:00

Lately, it seems that the closer we come to the birth of the new baby, the quicker the kids think they need to grow up. Instead of 13 Going on 30, I'm watching 3 Going on 13!

Case in point. Yesterday, a friend of mine shared with me that when Paul overheard her saying, "Oh, shoot!" after spilling something, he calmly corrected her, "Actually, it's sh*t. But that is not a good word to say." Apparently, my four year-old is an expert on crude language.

Then this morning Jane and Lucy (ages 1 and 3) had a knockdown, drag-out brawl over clothes! Both of them wanted to wear the same shirt with their dresses and neither was going to let the other have the fashion advantage today. With all the high-pitched screaming, crying, and clawing, you would have thought it was junior high girls - expect that they were fighting over a polka-dot turtleneck. I hope my girls are a little more fashion forward than that by junior high.

And just wait until I post a picture of Lucy in her new glasses (technical difficulties are preventing me from posting one today). She looks so sophisticated it's breaking my heart.

To heap insult upon injury, the children decide to suddenly act like teens just as I'm turning 30. Up to this point, turning 30 hasn't been a big deal to me. No one with as much gray hair as I have and who is pregnant with their 4th child and who has been driving a minivan for a couple of years and who has a big ol' mortgage really feels like they are in their twenties. But the kids are certainly doing their best to make the years feel like they are flying by!

Actually, it is a bit of a relief to be turning 30. Throughout my life, many of my friends have been older than me and it's no different now. Turning 30 makes me feel like I'm finally catching up. It'll be nice to finally not feel like the new kid on the block all the time. And around the D.C. metro area, having four kids is unthinkable, but having four kids in your twenties is just plain crazy. I'm actually embarrassed sometimes to give my age because it's so young! So I'm content with saying farewell to my twenties and embracing my thirties...

except when it comes to the DMV. My driver's license expires today, and I desperately hope I don't have to "renew" the picture, too. Going to the DMV alone with three kids and then getting your driver's license photo taken 9 months pregnant on your 30th birthday is just asking a little too much.

A Few Quick Takes

2009-10-23T13:16:00.004-04:00

If you're wondering how I'm doing these days, I can only say...

1 week until home ownership.
3 1/2 weeks until I leave my 20s behind.
8 weeks until baby's due date.
9 weeks until Christmas.

Need I say more?

**********

Yesterday Lucy graciously began sharing her fruit snacks with Paul after he had wolfed his down in 2.3 seconds. "Sharing makes mommy so happy," I told her. "It makes Jesus happy, too."

"Oh, I know, " Lucy said so sweetly. "Jesus is my favorite friend."

It's times like this that you feel like you're doing something right.

***********

Last weekend I experienced a true blessing thanks to my loving husband and the very sweet, generous Sisters of the Visitation at Monte Maria monastery. I actually went on retreat - completely alone - for 48 hours. It was the first time I was away from both husband and children since I was married. I felt it was time.

Blessed silence. Such peace and order. True rest and refreshment. Truly, the Lord provides.

**********

I haven't been in a Visitation monastery for several years. The last time I visited the Visitation, I was much younger, single, and discerning a vocation to the order. It was quite a different experience coming as a married, pregnant woman with a houseful of kids back at home. One difference I noticed really made me laugh: I eat amazingly fast now.

Seriously, I can't imagine what the sisters thought. I mean, I finished my meal before most of the sisters had finished buttering their rolls. Now I've never been a slow eater. You don't come from a large family of big talkers without learning to eat fast so you can jump into the conversation whenever there is an opening. However, the addition of several small children has clearly taken me to a whole new level of speed eating. I'm often so busy serving food, cutting up bites, pouring drinks, cleaning up messes, and making food helicopters that I simply inhale my food in the few seconds I have to spare in between requests. I never really noticed how bad it had become until my retreat, though. I guess I should work on slowing down during meals. Or start a second career winning those speeding eating contests.

**********

I have to get back to packing. I'll probably not be posting until after the move, but I promise to have pics of the kids in their Halloween outfits!

A Trip Down Memory Lane

2009-10-15T22:06:00.002-04:00

We had to take an alternative route home from soccer practice today thanks to a train that parked itself in our normal path for an seemingly indeterminate period of time. As I was navigating the turns back to the main road, Paul suddenly spoke up from the backseat, "Hey, I know this way!"

"Really, hon?" I said rather absentmindedly.

"Yes. A long time ago when I was a little boy, remember when Grandma took me to soccer. Grandma took this road. She kept running around and around and around. Silly Grandma!" Paul gleefully related.

Then I remembered that a year ago my mom took the kids to soccer for me during one of her visit. And that her GPS malfunctioned on their way to soccer practice. I think that pretty much explains Paul's little trip down memory lane.

A Family of "P-E-O-P-L-E"

2009-10-06T20:01:00.003-04:00

During a recent car ride, Lucy and Paul became embroiled in a heated, ontological debate. Lately, the kids are constantly asking me if we can "be a family of (insert animal of choice here)" and this particular morning as we drove to Home Depot, Lucy and Paul were arguing whether we were going to be a family of meerkats or a family of tuna. In an attempt to squash the growing meerkat vs. tuna fight, I declared that we were simply going to be a family of human beings.

After extensive explanations about human beings is another word for people and how one human being is a person and lots of human beings are people, etc., etc., the kids were adequately diverted from wanting to be meerkats or tuna. However, the fight had just begun.

Lucy: "I am people."

Paul: "No, you are a person."

Lucy: "No, I am Lucy. And Lucy is people."

Paul, a little louder: "NO! You are a person. One person, not people."

Lucy, getting a little red and much louder: "NO!! I am people!"

Paul: "Person!"

Lucy: "People!"

Repeat several times, each child becoming louder and more emphatic each time. Finally, Lucy decides she needs to spell it out for Paul, using the one word she can spell that to a recent introduction to Toy Story.

"People! T-O-Y! People!"

Paul begins giggling, I'm laughing hysterically, and Lucy believes she should be asked to join the local college debate team.

In Which Lucy Turns Three

2009-09-28T12:27:00.004-04:00

The scene...

The cake...

The singing...

The showing off...
Despite a pretty bad cold and ear infection that led us to cancel her more elaborate party plans, Lucy still seemed to thoroughly enjoy her little family celebration. There were lots and lots of pink balloons, pink flowers, and party hats - as requested. There was a kitty-cat cake in white - as requested. And plenty of presents- as requested - including several new dress-up outfits from Grandma. While Lucy seems to like a billowing, green number that reminds me of Scarlett O'Hara's green velvet dress from Gone with the Wind, Paul uses his power of persuasion to push for the Indian princess outfit whenever possible. Obviously, it's more fun to play Indian games with a squaw around.

For My Texas Readers

2009-09-22T21:11:00.002-04:00

This week's chapter in Paul's religion course is entitled, "Heaven is Our Home." As I was reading to Paul about how Heaven is the most wonderful place you can imagine, he immediately questions the truth of the text.

"Huh, I thought that was Texas."

After putting Paul's theology to rights by explaining to him that Texas is not Heaven, we continued with the lesson. After each lesson I have Paul do a brief narration and tell me as much as he can remember from the reading. I was prompting with some beginning questions and asked him the name of the most wonderful place ever.

My good little student responded correctly, "Heaven." After a pause, he added, "I really thought it was Texas."

45 Days Until...

2009-09-16T22:58:00.006-04:00

this little beauty becomes Home Sweet Home for our family! We just went under contract this afternoon and are feeling excited and nervous and crazy all at the same time! The dream of owning a single family home is becoming a reality. Of course, it's not a "perfect" house - as the bathroom with the pink tub, blue toilet, and faux marble vanity clearly illustrates - but God willing, it'll be ours! Well, really it'll be the bank's for 30 more years, but heck, close enough. Click here for a few more pics of the soon-to-be Bremberg residence.

The Reason Behind Skyrocketing Healthcare Costs

2009-09-13T15:54:00.004-04:00

Paul received his first bee sting during our recent trip home to visit my family in Ohio. While playing at the park, he was stung right behind the knee, definitely a poor spot. Given his dramatic nature, I initially felt Paul handled it with uncharacteristic calm.

Fast forward to an hour well past the bee sting. Paul approaches me, a wet cloth still tied around his knee, saying, "Mom, I think I need a wheelchair."

Maybe we could use a little healthcare rationing in our household.

My Personal Farmers' Market

2009-09-03T13:11:00.006-04:00

The best thing about our new rental is the backyard. The owners were serious gardners who clearly liked having fresh produce on hand. Without any work on our part, the backyard provides us with asparagus, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, cherries, figs, concord grapes, apples, and enough mint to have mojitos and mint juleps daily - if I weren't pregnant. Add on the tomatoes, green beans, and peas I planted this summer, and we've enjoyed quite a backyard harvest. Here's a few pictures of our current produce thanks to Aunt Liza...

Concord Grapes: One whole side of the yard is lined by a fence smothered in grape vines. It's been a little tricky to figure out how to best use the grapes since the kids aren't very good at spitting out seeds. I did make a rather complicated, but surprisingly good grape pie.

Figs: Who would have guessed that the kids would like figs? Not me. Well, Paul and Jane do. Jane eats anything picked in the backyard, and we convinced Paul that the figs were full of "candy." Lucy still won't try one, even though her loving brother Paul begged her to just try "the candy" on numerous occasions. "Just a little lick, Lucy," he implores while holding out a half-eaten fig.

Tomatoes: I have roma, grape, and just ol' plain tomatoes. The grapes tomatoes are pure bliss. The harvest has been just right - not too much, not too little.

Redefining Success

2009-09-02T07:49:00.003-04:00

As the reality of adding fourth child to the family mix has begun to hit me, I have started to experience the normal pre-baby panic. How am I going to juggle all these children and all of their needs all at the same time? As I was talking through my worry with my wonderful husband last night - he patiently endures this conversation on weekly basis for at least three months before the birth of each child - I reminded myself of the definition of success I set for myself after Jane was born: "It is a success if only one person is crying at any point during the day."

I pondered this standard and told my husband I thought I might need to raise the number to two once the new baby arrived.

He added, "Bonus points if you aren't one of those crying."

Clearly, the sky's the limit around here.

Swimming Au Naturale...Almost

2009-08-12T08:39:00.002-04:00

Paul is usually very into "gear." Throughout the summer, getting him ready for the pool was a multi-step process involving life vests, swimmies for his arms, a multitude of different goggles, and often a boogie board or noodle. The question of the summer for Paul seemed to be, "How much swimming gear can I use at once?" The answer: "A lot."

So it has been an earthshaking turnaround the past few days when Paul has decided to forgo the equipment and learn to swim, in his words, "with nothing." He is doing very well and can now swim for a few feet. Actually, it is more like "not drowning" than swimming, but still a big step forward in weaning him from his dependence on pool gear.

Yesterday at the pool, I was congratulating him on swimming so well without anything on. Very pleased with himself, Paul responded, "I'm swimming with nothing on. Nothing." He paused, then added, "Except my trunks."

Good call, Paul. We all need a little pool gear.

Jane's Feast Day

2009-08-11T20:23:00.009-04:00

Today is the feast day of St. Jane Frances de Chantal, the patron saint of our little Jane Frances. For many years of my life, I was hoping and planning to join the Order of the Visitation, a beautiful order of nuns founded by St. Jane de Chantal and St. Francis de Sales. Though the Lord had other plans for me, the Visitation and its foundress have a special place in my heart. So when our third little baby was born on St. Jane's birthday, though the name wasn't on the original short list, we joyfully named our little girl Jane Frances in honor of this wonderful saint.

St. Jane Frances de Chantal, help our little Jane to follow your path of humilty, gentleness, and total abandonment to God. Live Jesus!

News I Can Use

2009-08-07T08:02:00.004-04:00

I was pretty excited yesterday morning when I watched this segment on Morning Joe. As a serious exercise-phobic, it was welcome news to hear that the latest studies show no serious correlation between exercise and weight-loss. Of course, there are still several important reasons to exercise - darn it! - but if you want to lose weight, exercise isn't an integral part of the plan. As Joe Scarborough put it, "If you want to lose weight, stop eating." I'd pick that any day over sweating the calories off.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Beach Bums

2009-08-03T07:59:00.003-04:00

I wanted to share some of my favorite pictures from family vacation, courtesy of Aunt Maggie. I, of course, didn't manage to get the camera out all week. Some mother I am.

Jane was fearless at the beach. She loved every minute of it.

Lucy doesn't share her younger sister's love of the beach. Lucy refused to go down to the ocean at all. "It's too big. I'm scared," Lucy would whimper. "I need to get away!" Thankfully, she loved the inflatable baby pool I brought for the deck. Lucy's a pool bunny, not a beach bum.

Paul was the best boogie boarder of the week, bar none. He was constantly riding the waves!

And when Paul wasn't out a catching a wave, he was working on his chess game.

A silly pic of me and my siblings... but check out Uncle Luke's pose. Too much!

Five Years Already

2009-07-31T10:14:00.003-04:00

I love you, honey.

UPDATED: "Guns, God, Guts, and American Trucks!"

2009-07-17T08:17:00.003-04:00

Andrew and I enjoyed a good laugh together as we watched the morning news this morning. A CNN anchor was interviewing Mark Muller, president of Max Motors in Butler, Missouri. Max Motors in currently running an exciting sales promotion which is getting national attention - a free AK-47 with the purchase of any truck! A few high moments from the interview:

Anchor: "Why this promotion?"

Mr. Muller: "Folks at the right to defend themselves and their property. We have great law enforcement folks out here, but it takes at least 15 minutes for any law enforcement to reach you. The only 911 call I'm going to need is the sound of another round."

********

Anchor: "Your slogan is "Guns, God, Guts, and American Trucks. Why?"

Mr. Muller: "We're trying to sell cars."

********

Anchor: "I mean, don't you think some folks could find this slogan an little...hmmm...inappropriate?"

Mr. Muller: "Do you have a problem with God? You know, this is a Christian nation."

********

Anchor: "Some people just might find it insane that God is put in the same slogan as guns."

Mr. Muller: "So you think God doesn't want us to defend ourselves?"

(Disclaimer: Quotes are based on my pregnant memory, but you'll get the gist of it. I'll post the interview if it ever makes it up on the CNN website.)

****** UPDATED *****

Here's the actual interview from CNN. It gets better as it goes on so watch it all!

You know you have a lot of kids when...

2009-07-09T22:04:00.002-04:00

a new neighbor comes over to introduce herself and inquires if you are running a home daycare.

Yes, my eight-month pregnant neighbor thought I was running a daycare - "there are just so many kids in and out all day" - and was hoping to possibly use my services!!

Sisters rock.

2009-07-08T16:34:00.000-04:00

Why I Love America...

2009-07-05T22:27:00.002-04:00

Only our great country could have produced the minds that created The Muppets. Happy Independence Day!

(And yes, I know the level of posting on this blog has now hit a new low. However, I feel the end of the "sick" stage of this pregnancy is nearing so hopefully you'll be spared future Muppet videos.)

(HT on video: Cake Wrecks)

How can I get in on this?

2009-06-19T07:51:00.002-04:00

In an article from the Los Angeles Times discussing L.A. county officials looking for "novel" ways to cut costs in light of California's budget crisis: "Supervisors suggest putting unemployed parents to work caring for their own children as part of proposed changes to CalWorks and other state government aid programs."

Sometimes an African Prince really does send you money

2009-06-11T07:34:00.003-04:00

In hopes of reviving my blog, my loving husband is contributing a guest blog post regarding a rather interesting experience he had yesterday.

So I got an email at work today saying that I had not cashed a $500 check, and that if I didn't have it, I should fill out the form and request a new one. Naturally it gave no indication of what the $500 check was supposedly for. Of course the form asked for my address, phone number and last 4 digits of my SSN, and said if I didn't respond by June 22, the State would get the money. So I "knew" that this was a scam.

Just for fun I checked out the organization they were claiming to be; they appeared legit. But then I thought maybe this didn't really come from them, but someone pretending to be them - the email address matched the website, and the mailing address was the same. I checked snopes.com and found nothing. So then I found their main corporate number and called the directory (not the phone number in the email I got) and asked for the individual who sent me the email, knowing they would say "I'm sorry I don't have anyone by that name." Instead I got "I will connect you to her, please hold."

I spoke with this lady, still suspicious that this could be the most elaborate scam ever, but at the same time hopefully that I could be getting $500. I asked "So, why do you owe me $500?"

She replied "I'm not sure, let me check. Normally we don't have much information about these old payments." My heart sank... this is a scam...

She said "All I have is a note saying 'N' 'Y' BAR, does that make sense to you?" My spirits lifted, could this be?

I said "Yes, does your company own BAR/BRI?"

"Yes, we own West, Westlaw and BAR/BRI."

My spirits soaring (checking their website to confirm that they did), I responded, "Oh, this must be my refund check I never got from my BAR/BRI course" (rechecking the date on the invoice "9/11/06" right after I had taken my Bar exam). I said "Oh, wow, I thought this was some sort of scam."

"No, sir, we are just trying to make sure you got your money and keep our books in order. Sometimes you law students turned lawyers are sure tough to find."

I said "Thank you so much for you help, I will fax you the form today."

Lesson: Sometimes an African prince really does want to send you money, just make sure you do as much research finding out who they are, as they did finding out who you are.

Bingo!

2009-06-11T07:31:00.002-04:00

A much-appreciated reader comments on my blogging absence: "I get worried when Maria isn't blogging. I'm afraid it means she is vomiting."

7 Quick Takes Friday

2009-05-08T08:49:00.005-04:00

********** 1 **********

At fifteen months of age Jane finally has spoken her first word: "duck." There's gratitude for you.

********** 2 **********

Paul's current favorite Davy Crockett-inspired game: "Indian priest." He strips down to his underwear, puts on a faux fur loin cloth, adds the green stole from his Mass kit, and finishes off his ensemble with his play hammer, i.e. tomahawk, and a plastic spatula, i.e., knife. It's quite a look.

********** 3 **********

I'd like to thank Vice President Joe Biden for his off-the-cuff remarks regarding the swine flu. After telling the nation that he was advising his family not to fly on commercial flights, tickets prices dropped. I was able to snap up some great fares so the kids and I could fly home to visit my family this month. At least one American is glad our V.P. suffers from foot-in-mouth disease!

********** 4 **********

Last week I mentioned some great mommy calling cards I recently got, but I couldn't get the link to work. Guess I'll have to show you the old-fashioned way with a download picture:

(Foiled again. After the astute comments of my readers, I took down the picture of the card since it had my contact info on it.)

*********** 5 **********

Any weird or wild morning sickness remedies out there? I tried all the regular ones with the first three - to no avail. I'm definitely open to suggestions, though!

********** 6 **********

Okay, that's all I have in me today. Have a great weekend!

The Value of a Housewife

2009-05-07T13:47:00.003-04:00

Rod Dreher at Crunchy Con wrote a great post today about his wife, Julie, and the important work she does as a housewife. I find it sad that there is a need for columns like this, but unfortunately our culture often devalues the role of the housewife.

Thankfully, I was brought up by a father who understood the tremendous value of my mother's role as a wife, mother, and homemaker and a mother who provided the best example possible of what it truly means to be a housewife. Then I was blessed with a husband - thanks to the wonderful formation of his mother - who genuinely appreciates and supports my role as a full-time mother and housewife. This Mother's Day I will be thanking God that I am surrounded by those who understand the real meaning and worth of simply being a mom.

Swine flu? I wish.

2009-05-04T09:22:00.002-04:00

I'm feeling extremely nauseous, totally exhausted, and have the world's biggest headache. Swine flu, you ask? Nope, just Baby Bremberg #4 on the way.

Lest my post title mislead, we are so excited about the latest addition to our rapidly growing clan. That said, I'm not so excited about the never-ending, all day morning sickness that insists on accompanying the good news. At least they can give you something for swine flu. Still, I suppose it's a small price to pay for the little cutie that's coming!

And I wonder why I suffer from mommy guilt?

2009-04-29T17:25:00.004-04:00

As Paul was released from his time out today, still quite upset about the situation, he sobs out, "You are disappointing me, Mommy."

Disclaimer: His father is a lawyer.

7 Quick Takes Friday

2009-04-24T15:12:00.003-04:00

********** 1 **********

I just mopped my kitchen floor with baby wipes. My German grandmother is turning over in her grave. Jane got into the wipe box, taking several generous handfuls of wipes and spreading them around the none-too-clean living room carpet. Instead of just throwing them out, I figured I might as well clean up my kitchen floor, which I mopped yesterday but was already disgusting. Who puts white tile in the kitchen? The floor looked great, but I've discovered that baby wipes used liberally on white tile leave a slight sticky residue. This is a hint I bet you'd never learn from Heloise.

********** 2 ************

Lucy's favorite new saying: "Where's my boy Paul?" She sounds like she's in a rap video. I don't know where she picks up this kind of stuff, but I mainly blame Aunt Ruth.

********** 3 ***********

The new yard has an established asparagus patch in it. It's producing an enormous amount of asparagus. There are two varieties: green and purple. The purple is outstanding, very tender. There is one particular giant stalk that I've just let grow to see how big it would get. It is now as tall as Paul. It's a little scary.

********** 4 **********

One of my closest friends just started a blog on her homeschooling experiences at The Chickadee Nest. She links to lots of great, free homeschooling resources. And of course, there are lots of pictures of her super-cute kiddos!

********** 5 **********

Last week I got these fabulous mommy calling cards. I love the idea of having a "mom" business card. Plus I find it useful for my volunteer and political activities to have my contact information ready to hand out. And these particular cards were just perfect. I found the graphic on a note card by the designer and asked her to put it on a card. It perfectly captures my kids!

********** 6 *********

I broke down and bought Davy Crockett off amazon.com yesterday. After having it checked out from the local library almost continuously for the past two months, I felt it was time.

Paul spends most of his time these days running around wearing only underwear and a loin cloth using a toy hammer as a tomahawk and trying to whistle like a thrush, "a Tennessee thrush."

********** 7 **********

My self-imposed ban on cable news has continued pretty successfully since the results of the November elections. I feel my blogging is much less interesting, but so is my general emotional state. Given the temperament of the women in my family, I think this is a good thing.

"This is wonderful!"

2009-04-23T08:52:00.003-04:00

Driving in the car this week...

Four year old Paul: "Why is spring called Easter?"

Momma: "Easter happens in the spring, but they aren't the same thing. Spring is the season when the weather gets warmer. Easter happens in the spring, but Easter is the time when we remember and celebrate Jesus rising from the dead."

Paul: "Oh."

Two year old Lucy chimes in: "Jesus rises from the dead?"

Momma: "Yes, Jesus rose from the dead."

Lucy: "Jesus rose from the dead?"

Momma: "Yes."

Lucy: "Jesus rose from the dead?"

Momma: "Yes."

Lucy excitedly: "This...this is wonderful!"

The glory and joy of Easter only hits her a week late.

We're Partied Out AGAIN!

2009-04-21T15:42:00.006-04:00

Some favorite pictures from my brother Josh's wedding...

Drinking and dancing? No problem for Jane.

Paul goes for the older women.

Lucy has her dancing shoes on...well, her mommy's dancing shoes to tell the truth.

G-L-A-M-O-R-O-U-S!

Easter Picture Parade

2009-04-12T21:44:00.006-04:00

He is Risen! Alleluia!

Jane gets Easter Sunday of to the right start with her morning "tea bottle."

Then we hit the Easter baskets...

Time to get ready for Mass. Of course, Lucy makes time for a little target practice.

Naturally, everyone was in the mood for pictures. (Mommy's allowed her little jokes.)

Here's the least offensive of the family pictures.

Then it's inside for Easter brunch, featuring the world's best ham thanks to this recipe from my friend Alton Brown.

Finally, time to hunt eggs...

Paul's not just hunting eggs, he is tracking - Davy Crockett style.

Alleluia!!

7 Quick Takes Friday

2009-04-09T22:00:00.002-04:00

********** 1 **********

I know it has been bad around here. I can barely remember the last time I posted. And I can't really blame my MIA blogging status on unpacking because that has been pretty much done. I've just had nothing interesting to say lately. Really. I feel like my remaining brain cells are slipping away. No one would believe I was smart in college. I blame text messaging. I read an article today that said regular text messaging and cell phone use can cause your IQ to lower faster than smoking marijuana.

********** 2 **********

I do have one excuse for the light blogging. My husband just returned from a five day business trip. I know for many of you this is nothing, but my husband only traveled twice for work in the last eight years and both of those times were only two day trips. So this was BIG for me.

********* 3 **********

The kids and I got our time only together off to a spectacular start. We went to IKEA on Monday morning. It's a kids' favorite superstore. The trip was fun for all....until it was time to go. After I had buckled everyone up in the car, handed out snacks and drinks, and put on a DVD, a nice lady walking by pointed out to me that one of my back tires was flat. Sigh.

Two hours later, roadside assistance shows up. As the gentleman finishes the job, I open the van door to let him put the flat tire inside. Jane promptly falls out of the van head first. Sigh.

Praise the Lord, Jane suffered nothing worse than a nice, juicy strawberry on her forehead just in time for Easter pictures.

********** 4 **********

Once in a great while, the truth finally comes out. We had one great example of it this past week when one of Oprah's pet doctors, Dr. Oz, told Michael J. Fox on The Oprah Show that the "stem cell debate is over" and that it is adult stem cells, not embryonic stem cells, that provide our best chance at finding a cure for Parkinson's Disease. Better late than never, I guess.

********** 5 **********

Talking about truth and lies, this week we in Virginia saw a disgusting spectacle of dishonest vilification of our GOP State Party Chairman, Jeff Frederick, by a handful of elite party insiders. It ended with the Republican State Central Committee removing Frederick as Chairman, overturning the will of its rank-and-file members who voted overwhelmingly for Jeff to become Chairman last year.

Despite the trumped up charges members of the central committee paraded out, it was all too clear to all of us why Jeff was ousted. He is a committed conservative who actually cares about promoting Republican principles. He doesn't sell out when the going gets tough. It's disheartening to see the party insiders work so hard to destroy the very type of person who makes up their base of support - a pro-life, pro-second amendment, limited government Reagan conservative.

If they don't watch, they are going to start losing us.

********** 6 **********

After the heartbreak of Virginia politics this week, I was very heartened to hear that the Vatican is taking a tough stance with the Obama administration over its abortion policy. The administration has floated three different names for the new ambassador to the Holy See. Each of the names has been quietly rejected because of the individual's pro-abortion stance.

********** 7 **********

I can't believe I got out six semi-coherent thoughts. Hopefully, my brain cells will start plumping up again and blogging will resume at a normal rate.

Avoiding the Near Occasion of Sin

2009-04-01T07:58:00.004-04:00

Momma: "We can never hit our sisters. No matter what."

Paul: "What about sisters hitting brothers?"

Momma: "Sister can't hit brothers; brothers can't hit sisters. No hitting ever. We need to change. We need to act more kindly and gently."

Paul: "And watch where we are going."

Easy to Please

2009-03-31T14:21:00.002-04:00

Yesterday we rented Davy Crockett from the library. This morning Paul's favorite Spiderman underwear were clean. As he was getting dressed for the day, Paul could barely contain his delight. "Spiderman underwear and Davy Crockett!" Paul gasped out between giggles of delight. "This is the best day ever!"

Mission Accomplished

2009-03-30T09:22:00.005-04:00

The new house has been emptied of all boxes this weekend as planned!! And I cleared out the patch on mint in the backyard and planted the early vegtables in my new kitchen garden. Here's some pictures of our new home.

7 Quick Takes Friday

2009-03-26T22:14:00.003-04:00

********** 1 **********

The move is sloooooowly coming to an end. Why is it that the last six boxes take longer to put away than the preceding sixty? I refuse to let any boxes survive this weekend. Everything will have a home by Sunday, even if it is a temporary one.

********** 2 **********

I can't believe how much I love being three blocks from the best park in the world. Kids melting down? Let's go to the park. Mommy melting down? Let's go to the park. All perishable items in the house melting down because the refrigerator is broken? Let's go to the park.

********** 3 **********

Our frequent trips to the park and its fabulous playground equipment has produced some amazing results for Lucy. Despite her continuing physical therapy, she is still a little behind in her gross motor skills. Her major problem area the last few months has been going up and down stairs. She will sometimes walk upstairs slowly while holding on to someone's hand or a railing, but usually she still prefers crawling up. She will hardly ever walk down stairs. Things are changing, though.

Today I was at Home Depot by myself with the three kids. (It is Lent, you know.) I was looking at some door latches to keep Jane from falling out of the front screen door. After about a minute, I turn around and see Lucy, the girl with the well-known aversion to stairs, standing atop one of the huge rolling ladders they use to stock the very top shelves. While that particular moment was dominated more by fear than pride as I scaled the ladder - with Jane on my back - to somehow carry down Lucy without killing us all, I can now say it was truly a proud moment. Go, Lucy, go! Just save it for when your mom is actually watching.

********** 4 **********

Paul's Davy Crockett obsession continues, being further abetted by the loan of Uncle Josh's old coonskin cap and frontier man outfit from his childhood. The fact that almost no other children his age have ever heard of Davy Crockett does not deter Paul. While he runs around with the other small boys at the park, they may be playing Star Wars and making light saber sounds while Paul is singing the Davy Crockett song and fighting Indians. Really, it's all the same. Lots of wrestling, running, yelling, and taking down the bad guy.

********** 5 **********

The household continues to do well on Weight Watchers. My husband has lost 20 pounds since we started in mid-January, and I am back into my college jeans. Now if I can just start doing some pilates...

********** 6 **********

I am ready for spring. We had a week of 70 degree weather a few weeks back and it spoiled me. And with the new yard, we finally have room to plant a small kitchen garden. I don't know who is more excited - me or the kids. We bought seeds and some garden tools today. It felt strange to realize at the store that I did not own a hoe. After so many years of being a "human tiller," as my dad would refer to us kids working for hours in our huge family garden, it was a little surreal to be so excited about buying a hoe.

********** 7 **********

My Lent has not gone exactly how I planned, but has still been fruitful. I'm learning to simply to bear the crosses God gives me instead of clinging to the ones I chose. How's your Lent been?

I think I can, I think I can...

2009-03-23T22:08:00.002-04:00

I think I can finish this move.

While my readers may not appreciate the sparse posting lately, I am actually extremely proud of myself. Not posting means I have NOT been procrastinating at all the cleaning and unpacking and organizing and more cleaning I have to do. However, I promise some pictures of the new digs soon!

Feeling like Monk

2009-03-14T16:30:00.002-04:00

In the midst of utter chaos in the home, all I can do right now is be annoyed that on some of the bright red duct tape I used to mark all the boxes I wrote in all capitals while on others I wrote in lowercase. I actually spent five minutes debating whether to re-label everything in the same font. For those of you ready to drive me to the psych ward, I decided against it.

Quick Takes Friday

2009-03-13T09:07:00.004-04:00

********** 1 **********

You may have noticed the lack of a number on my quick takes today. I am a busy woman today and cannot promise a full seven takes. You'll have to take what you can get today.

********** 2 **********

We get the keys to the new house tonight at 5:30! I am READY to get this move moving. The last two days I have hit the wall. It is time to go.

********* 3 **********

I had to go shopping for a cocktail dress by myself earlier this week. As a rule, I like shopping by myself. I am a pretty focused shopper and like to whip in and out of stores, which doesn't make for a great shopping companion. But when shopping for a special occasion dress, it is nice for a second opinion. On this excursion, I discovered a great way to get that second opinion on your own. I simply took a picture of myself with my cell phone in each dress. As I scrolled through the pictures, it was easy to see which dresses were flattering and which ones needed to go back on the rack.

********** 4 **********

Paul has a new love - Davy Crockett. We picked up a movie at our weekly library trip this week to help provide entertainment for the masses as I packed. I hit the jackpot with Davy. Of course, it wasn't much of a gamble. What young boy doesn't immediately love Davy Crockett?

This new love is sprouting some possible trouble spots, though. This morning, Paul told me he was a "white man." Then he corrected himself, "A good white man." Dear me. Race and American history talks at age four.

********** 5 **********

While Paul's love of Crockett is not a shock, Lucy's immediate love of the movie is a little more surprising. However, Lucy has developed a real love of the Mississippi River. So Davy Crockett and the Riverboat Pirates, located on the good ol' Mississippi, was a natural fit for Lucy.

How does a two-year old become obsessed with the Mississippi River? At Christmas the kids received a Veggie Tales dvd, Huckleberry Larry, which uses Mark Twain's story to teach about sins of omission. I'm not sure how much theology the kids have learned through this particular episode, but it definitely has created a deep love of the Mississippi in both of them. Every time we see a map the first question I get from Paul and Lucy: "Where's the Mississippi River?"

********** 6 **********

Okay, back to packing I must go. Next time I post it'll be from the new house! Let's hope my cable internet connection there is better than here.

The View From My Front Door

2009-03-11T09:01:00.002-04:00

Rain, Rain Go Away

2009-03-11T08:08:00.001-04:00

The weatherman is now calling for rain the day of the move. And the following four days. I hate the weatherman.

All Things NFP

2009-03-11T07:58:00.003-04:00

Two interesting NFP-related posts I wanted to share.

1. Over at Justinespired, Justine shares about her brave friend, Kelly, who called El Rushbo, aka Rush Limbaugh, out on his praise of the Pill. She also shared about her experiences with NFP. Speaking truth to power! Read about it here.

2. At Faith and Family Live, Danielle Bean is hosting an open thread on NFP for women to share joys, struggles, questions, and resources.

Find Your Style

2009-03-09T22:04:00.002-04:00

As I'm sorting through all the "stuff" in life and planning what we'll need and what we'll want in the new house, I couldn't resist this little picture quiz to determine your decorating style. Here's mine:

CLASSIC COUNTRY
You take the inspiration for your home from the surrounding countryside. And why not? The country cottage look has been, and continues to be, the epitome of what a family 'home' should stand for: warm, welcoming, cosy and comfortable. There's nothing at all pretentious about this style, just a love of the good, simple pleasures in life.

What's your style?

7 Quick Takes Friday

2009-03-06T09:55:00.001-05:00

********** 1 **********

Congratulations to Jen at Conversion Diary, the host of 7 Quick Takes Friday, on her beautiful new baby girl! I'm so happy both mom and baby are doing well. A great picture of the gorgeous little "Joy" is here.

********** 2 **********

My twice-yearly headache arrives this weekend - Daylight Savings Time. What used to be a very minor inconvenience in which the only real concern was arriving too late or too early for Mass the next morning has turned into a full-fledged nightmare with the advent of parenthood. I am a serious sleep scheduler. So the prospect of moving all the children's nap and bedtime schedules by a whole hour just makes me want to break out in cold sweats. The kids don't seem to enjoy it either.

Just to give a quick example of the real magnitude of the problem, two years ago the fall time change resulted in a CT scan for my daughter, Lucy. In the few weeks following the time change we had one very, very sleepy little girl. For the first week I chalked it up to the sleep changes, but when she continued to nap anywhere and everywhere for the next few weeks, I got worried. Lucy has hydrocephalus with a special shunt in her brain to drain the excess spinal fluid. One of the main symptoms if her shunt would malfunction is excessive sleepiness. So off to the neurosurgeon for a visit and a CT scan. The shunt was fine. Thank you, Daylight Savings Time.

********** 3 **********

One week until the move. I am so ready. Packing is actually going fairly well, and overall I am maintaining a fairly decent level of emotional stability. The house is getting pretty gross, though. Why is it that once you know you're going to be leaving a house you suddenly think bathrooms are going to clean themselves and the floors with no longer need to be mopped.

********** 4 **********

How is your Lent going? So far my favorite Lenten practice this year is the Children's Stations of the Cross that the moms' group at my parish is doing. Most of our children are all very young, the 2-6 range, so taking them to the regular Stations just seems like a bad idea. Still, we wanted to start introducing this powerful prayer to our kids. So last year we informally started getting together every Friday to say them together.

This year we're a little more organized. I found some wonderful little children's Way of the Cross books on sale so each child can follow along in their own booklet. One of our great parish priest comes over afterwards and talks to the children a few moments about a Lenten topic. Also, one of the mom's organized a little craft project to do afterwards. I love being able to go to some kind of Lenten service at the church with the kids and this fits the bill perfectly.

********** 5 **********

I was a bit shocked this week to Senator Brownback putting his support behind Governor Kathleen Sebelius's nomination for Secretary of Health and Human Services. While the governor is a fellow Kansan to Senator Brownback, she is also a radical pro-choice Catholic - so radical that her bishop has asked her to refrain from receiving communion. I am truly disappointed. I've been doing mental gymnastics trying to figure out a possible acceptable explanation for this pro-life Catholic putting his support behind this woman for a position that is extremely influential in life issues, but so far I haven't found a satisfactory answer. Hoping to bring home more bacon for your home state (where you are going to be running for governor next year) by voting for a fellow Kansan just isn't a good enough excuse for supporting this anti-life nominee.

********** 6 **********

For more on Governor Sebelius' truly heinous record on abortion and her "relationship" with the Catholic Church, I enjoyed this interview with her bishop, Archbishop Naumann. I especially like the Archbishop's line about the "safe, legal, and rare" abortion lingo : "It's never safe for the baby." We need more leaders like him in the Church.

(HT: And Sometimes Tea)

********** 7 **********

I must be off. It's time for our homeschooling preschool co-op. A couple of friends with preschools meet at my house every Friday morning. We have show-n-tell, science experiments, art projects, and snacks. I highly recommend something like this for moms getting dipping their toes into homeschooling. The fellowship and support is great for both kids and moms!

A Warning

2009-03-04T09:21:00.002-05:00

Young men who cannot cook eggs without setting off the smoke alarm should not cook eggs at 4 a.m. Especially when there are young children sleeping in the house. Especially when one of those young children is not yet sleeping through the night.

Uncle Luke is a lucky, lucky man. None of the children were awakened by the alarm - which went off twice. And luckily I took two Tylenol P.M. last night so was unable to do anything beyond making my husband get up. Yes, Uncle Luke is lucky to be alive today.

At least someone is excited about packing...

2009-03-04T08:13:00.002-05:00

Our move is now only 11 days away. I've finally decided I can no longer ignore this fact, and packing has commenced. Either the blog will suffer greatly from neglect because I am responsibly and calmly working through the packing with patience and perseverance... or I'll be blogging continually in a last ditch effort to escape the reality that I have a week and a half to pack the house, a husband who is going away on a Guy's Weekend in a few days, and instead of a moving company for help, I have three excited little kiddos just dying to "help." Oi!

On How A Mother Uses Her Liberal Arts Education

2009-03-01T22:14:00.004-05:00

Questions issuing from the backseat from my four-year old during during a car ride:

Do worms eat insects?
Is the Mississippi River bigger than God?
Why do we all sin?
Are insects a worm's favorite food?
Is Jesus in my heart or in Heaven?
Why does the Mississippi River end at New Orleans?
Is the Hulk big and mighty?
Is God big and mighty?
Do worms have teeth?
Is the Hulk the same as God?
Why don't we ever get flat tires?
What's the simple machine you use to fix tires?
What's exactly is a pulley?
Does my heart beat really fast?

Theology, philosophy, physics, geography, life science, biology... I use it all every day.

A four-year liberal arts degree: $80,000
Years spent paying off college loans: A few.
Answering all your four-year old's question: Impossible...oh, I meant priceless!

7 Quick Takes Friday:

2009-02-27T22:20:00.007-05:00

********* 1 *********

The week flew by so fast I pretty much forgot it was Friday until about mid-day. Then I realized I hadn't posted my Quick Takes. Since this is one of the few consistent areas of my life, I feel like I MUST write something, but don't have much material on hand. I thought maybe I would post seven questions - or as many as I can think of - and have my readers provide the interesting reading in the comments.

********** 2 **********

Should I dye my hair?

The facts of the case: I am fairly gray. I have dyed it a few times over the past year, but am a failure at keeping up with it. Plus I hate the expense, but refuse to do it at home since I have witnessed too many disasters. However, I am only 29 and have the hair of at least a 40 year old.

********** 3 **********

What should I grow in my small backyard garden?

I don't have a large plot, but definitely space for a few vegtables in our new backyard. It already has an asparagus patch, fig trees, blackberry bushes, and a small cherry tree. I'm thinking of just adding some tomatoes and green beans since I can train both of those plants up a trellis, taking up less space. Any other suggestions?

********** 4 **********

What do you do with a large crop of figs?

********** 5 **********

What is your favorite spiritual book? I'm looking for some extra spiritual reading this Lent. Currently, I'm planning to re-read Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales, which is hard to beat, but open to something new.

********** 6 **********

Is this or is this not the cutest girl in the world?

For several weeks, even months, after Christmas, Lucy continued to send everyone off in the morning with a cheery "Merry Christmas!" She's finally moved on. Lucy to Aunt Ruth as she leaves for work: "I'll see you at the party!"

********* 7 **********

Which superhero is superior: Batman or Spiderman?

Want to start your Lent off with a bang?

2009-02-25T15:23:00.002-05:00

Simply stuff your children with King's Cake for Mardi Gras, keep them up two and half hours past their bedtime, and then wake them early the next morning to force them into their Sunday clothes and hustle them off to church for Ash Wednesday mass.

Oh, and make sure your husband can't go with you so you have three children ages four and under by yourself. In the front pew.

And to ensure the most mortification possible, when they ask for the customary donut after Mass, tell them there are no donuts and reveal to them that there will be no desserts for the next six weeks.

Now realize that you can't drive off the late afternoon drag with Diet Dr. Pepper. Lent has definitely arrived.

National Housing Crisis?

2009-02-23T09:06:00.004-05:00

I haven't done a political post in quite awhile, so I thought I had better share this fascinating article in today's New York Post by Alan Reynolds of the Cato Institute on the housing crisis and foreclosure rates. The crux of his argument is that we actually don't have a significant national foreclosure-driven housing crisis, one of the main arguments behind the recent stimulus package. In reality the crisis is concentrated in five states: California, Nevada, Arizona, Florida, and Michigan.

The national foreclosure rate in January was 1 in every 466 homes. However, that is the mean average. The actual median state (the 25th state in foreclosures) had a rate of 1 in ever 949 homes. The astronomical rates in California, Nevada, and the other "Foreclosure Five" has skewed the national foreclosure rates, making some localized housing crisises look like a more widespread problem than it is.

This is also true of housing prices. In the third quarter of 2008, in 18 states home prices were still higher than a year before and down less than 2% in a dozen others. Double-digit declines in home prices were to four members of the Foreclosure Five. While housing prices have stalled around the country in general, the free fall in prices described so often in the media is actual limited to a handful of housing markets.

To better understand why these five states are in the crisis they are, read the whole article. Besides Michigan, which is just economically depressed, the other four states have very similar causes behind their housing declines. Thanks to the new "Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan," taxpayers in the rest of the states are going to be paying for these mistakes.

7 Quick Takes Friday

2009-02-20T07:22:00.000-05:00

********** 1 **********

It seems like Friday comes around more quickly since I've started participating in Jen's 7 Quick Takes Friday. I can't believe I have to come up with another set of seven intelligent or interesting or at least semi-funny things already! Still, anything that makes Friday come faster is welcome here. Thanks, Jen!

********** 2 **********

I think Paul's 4th birthday is proving to be more emotional for me than my 30th will be later this year. While the date may say I'm still in my twenties, my gray hair, messy mini-van, and unruly bunch of kiddos says otherwise. I have made peace with and, in fact, rejoice in the fact that my life is that of a mom in her thirties; my birthday later this year will just cement this reality.

Having my eldest turn four is a whole different story. Paul has left babyhood and toddlerdom behind. He is a boy, though thankfully still a little one. But a boy nonetheless. I am suddenly realizing that I will someday be the mother of grown children, not just babies and toddlers. And that makes me feel far older than any number could.

********** 3 ***********

Choplamb is in the house! And who is Choplamb, you ask? Well, according to Lucy, this is.

********** 4 **********

The adults of the household have been on Weight Watchers for a month now. Besides the great results in weight loss department, there have been some other interesting developments. 1) In a way, we are actually eating better - I mean taste-wise. I have to make almost everything from scratch, and we all know homemade always tastes better, well, most of the time. Also, I've started using better, fresher ingredients to help boost flavor. While I miss my Big Macs and brownies, our daily meals are fresher and often tastier. 2) My love for cooking is getting a great outlet. I like trying new recipes, but didn't often do so in the past. Now I have to try new foods and remake old favorites. I'm loving the challenge. 3) My four-year old asks how many points everything is before he eats anything. He doesn't understand the point system, but knows it is important!

********** 5 **********

I love flashcards. The kids have flashcards for everything: letters, numbers, opposites, sea animals, land animals, animals of North America. Plus we have about twenty sets of "Matching" cards. And some "Go Fish" sets. And a few more "Old Maid" sets. I mainly blame the Target dollar bin for the card glut. It's hard to turn down 36 Full-color Photo Flash Cards from the BBC Planet Earth documentary for $1. Of course, they were so nice I had to buy two.

********** 6 **********

Last night I actually felt physically ill about the recent stimulus package. Not the political side of the equation, though that turns my stomach, too, but the sheer size of the money government spends these days. My husband was sharing George Will's column, Drowning by a Firehose, with me, and one little snippet jumped out: "Talk about trillions of dollars has become so commonplace that billions seem minuscule -- even though a billion minutes ago Plutarch (46-120 A.D.) was alive -- and it is hardly worth mentioning mere millions." We used to think millions of dollars was a lot of money, now we throw around billions with nary a thought. But a billion minutes ago St. Paul was alive. For some reason that makes the number, one billion, seem so big to me. The thought that we just spent $800+ billion at the drop of a hat makes me a little weak in the knees.

********** 7 **********

My favorite t.v. show, Top Chef, is airing its season finale next week. Any other avid watchers out there? Who do you think is going to win the title of Top Chef: Carla, Hosea, or Stefan? My guess...Carla. She's hit her stride at last and is at home in New Orleans. I really, really do not want Hosea to win. Cheaters should never prosper.

A Good Start

2009-02-18T15:16:00.002-05:00

As anticipated, today at noon Pope Benedict had a private audience with Speaker Pelosi, a pro-abortion, Catholic. While Pope Benedict stopped short of the public excommunication I would have liked to see, I was pleased with early news reports of the meeting. From the Holy See's press office:

"His Holiness took the opportunity to speak of the requirements of the natural moral law and the Church's consistent teaching on the dignity of human life from conception to natural death which enjoin all Catholics, and especially legislators, jurists and those responsible for the common good of society, to work in co-operation with all men and women of good will in creating a just system of laws capable of protecting human life at all stages of its development." (Emphasis mine.)

It seems the pope used almost the entirety of the 15 minute private meeting to remind Speaker Pelosi of the true teaching of the Church on life issues and that they do indeed apply to her, too. Also, no photos will be forthcoming, helping prevent the Speaker from using this meeting as a political tool to showcase her "Catholicism." While I still wish the Church would act more strongly in condemning the pro-abortion stance of Catholic politicians, I am thankful that this visit is an obvious moment of correction and will be difficult for even Pelosi to spin to support her odious position on abortion. It's a start.

Preparing for Lent: Meatless Recipe

2009-02-18T15:00:00.002-05:00

I cannot believe we just have a week until Lent. Yikes! It always seems to sneak up on me. I barely have the Christmas decorations put away, for heavens sake. Nevertheless, here we are.

Over at Faith & Family Live, Danielle Bean is helping us get into the Lenten mindset by sharing meatless recipes. Here's my contribution: a yummy, healthy black bean soup from Cooking Light magazine. I recently started making it when our household went on Weight Watchers; it is only 1 WW point for a whole cup! Enjoy.

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients
1/4 cup chopped red onion
1/4 cup water
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
1 (14-ounce) can fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
2 (15-ounce) cans black beans, rinsed, drained, and divided
2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
Cooking spray
1/4 cup (2 ounces) finely chopped reduced-fat ham (such as Hormel)

Preparation
1. Combine first 5 ingredients in a large saucepan. Add 1 1/2 cans beans; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes. Place bean mixture in a blender. Remove center piece of blender lid (to allow steam to escape); secure lid on blender. Place a clean towel over opening in lid (to avoid splatters). Blend until smooth. Return soup to pan. Add remaining 1/2 can of beans to pan; cook 2 minutes. Stir in juice; set aside.
2. Heat a small nonstick skillet over medium heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add ham to pan; cook 2 minutes or until lightly browned. Ladle 1 cup soup into each of 4 bowls; top each serving with 1 tablespoon ham.

**Obviously, skip the ham topping for Lent!

Just substitute "Jane Frances" for "Mary Jane" and you just about have it.

2009-02-17T16:11:00.006-05:00

"Rice Pudding"

What is the matter with Mary Jane?
She's crying with all her might and main,
And she won't eat her dinner - rice pudding again-
What is the matter with Mary Jane?

What is the matter with Mary Jane?
I've promised her dolls and a daisy chain,
And a book about animals - all in vain-
What is the matter with Mary Jane?

What is the matter with Mary Jane?
She's perfectly well, and she hasn't a pain;
But, look at her, now she's beginning again!-
What is the matter with Mary Jane?

What is the matter with Mary Jane?
I've promised her sweets and a ride in the train,
And I've begged her to stop for a bit and explain-
What is the matter with Mary Jane?

What is the matter with Mary Jane?
She's perfectly well and she hasn't a pain,
And it's a lovely rice pudding for dinner again!-
What is the matter with Mary Jane?

-- From "While We Were Very Young" by A. A. Milne

I just wish I could find the E. H. Shepard's illustration of Mary Jane to share with you... a very upset little lady throwing a very thorough temper tantrum in her highchair. So apt. Of course, Jane Frances doesn't get served rice pudding everday, but I can see that she is tiring of green beans. However, unlike most analysis of the poem which concludes Mary Jane is upset because she is getting served rice pudding yet again, I believe it is the existence of a high chair that is at the bottom of this whole mess, not the food. Jane Frances certainly thinks so.

Pelosi and the Pope

2009-02-17T09:03:00.002-05:00

Current House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a self-proclaimed "ardent Catholic" ... excuse me while I stop laughing... okay, I'm back... will be meeting with Pope Benedict XVI tomorrow at noon as part of her Italian escapade. Let's pray that this is a moment of deep conversion for Speaker Pelosi and that she comes to truly understand and accept the truth of the Church's teaching on abortion and contraception.

If she continues to refuse to accept the truth, I hope the Pope will take this opportunity to personally excommunicate her until she is able to do so. After Pelosi's repeated attempts to speak for the Church on these issues, it is time that the Church acts strongly to prevent the scandal she is creating from growing. If her own bishop refuses to reign in her public defiance of clear Church teaching - and just basic human decency - I sincerely hope our Holy Father does so.