WOW it has been a while!

So I can't believe I'm so far behind on this. Beth has even commented, "I think there's something wrong with your blog." "oh really?" "Yes, there's nothing there." Aha, the hint of updates needed. I have several drafts, actually, just so I didn't forget about them, but just haven't had the free time! I guess after my last post we had First Communion with lots of company, Mother's Day (also my birthday), then the end of school, baseball practices and games, signing up for summer stuff, my work schedule change, thirty hours of continuing education to wrap up (done as of yesterday by the way), Patrick working a ton, a few family gatherings, weekly meetings at church, and well, what do you know, it is now mid-June! Life is good though...oh yeah, and Catherine is six months old already! I need to post pictures from many things, too. It seems we are always juggling deadlines. Anyway, I need to get to sleep, but am hopeful I'll get some updates done this week. Although they may look older than this...I may try to put them as posted at the correct time. We shall see. For now, good night!!

Quote of the Day

I was in the kitchen washing dishes at the sink and was looking outside and saw the kids all playing together (except Catherine - she's napping).  It made me smile seeing them having fun together coming up with what to play next and getting along great.  Nathaniel came inside and I told him how I enjoyed seeing them having fun.  His reply, "Yeah, life would be boring without brothers and sisters."  For our family, I agree.

Catherine

Well, I've not posted a picture of Catherine in a while. Not because I haven't taken them and not because I don't think I should post them, but just haven't had the real opportunity. This one is just a quick one from the phone from yesterday...nice and easy to post quickly. She is just growing and changing...sure wish she'd slow down! She is such a sweet baby. Hard to believe in a week or so she'll be 5 months! I'm expecting a first tooth any day with the way she's gumming everything - especially fingers & the pacifier. The pacifier is about to be gone because of that...she just doesn't suck on it anyway. I better go...she's calling me...

Ballerina

We received a bag of clothes from a friend today and it had plenty of little girl items. Anne found this and needed to spend the rest of the day as our little ballerina.

"Pop, Pop...

...dinosaur, Pop pop bear, pop pop grass," sings Anne as she holds her little BOP BOP Dinosaur. Oh the oldie, "Bop Bop Dinosaur" by Jim Cosgrove resurfaced this week when Anne found our little stuffed Bop Bop. Her version of the song was quite cute, though. When she misplaced the critter in the night, she came to us, "I can't find my pop pop." I should let Jim hear about that. He is on a new path, though. He started a regular full-time job at Hallmark this week. I'm sure it's quite a change of pace for him! Sure is fun hearing her sing it.

Baking Soda anyone?

So on Tuesday of this week, I was feeling like I really just had a lot going on. It was really a matter of having more people home than I planned...Jacob was off school for kindergarten round up, but then Nathaniel was home with a headache. My day's plan included Mass, then a few errands, taking the kids to the park for a bit with friends, and cleaning up the house. However, we just really couldn't get that all going. One of my errands was getting pictures picked up at Costco after school for Leyton's school poster. I was also really needing some baking soda. Well, in the midst of my, "Don't add anything else to my day" thoughts, I realized, well Costco has baking soda. And yes, well, typically I buy a 16 oz box at the store, but I just wasn't going to be at any other store. So, there I was, staring at the 13.5 POUND box of baking soda at Costco and figured, well I'll be set for a long time! I really found this somewhat comical. I'm glad it doesn't expire until well into 2015. It really was only $6.49. I'm sure it's a better deal than however many boxes that would be. Ha. This morning I found myself staring at that bag (which hasn't been opened yet - you know even when you're "pretty much out" of baking soda, you can be surprised how many more teaspoons are in there). I was looking at the bag and wondering what other uses I could find for it...laundry, other cleaning, etc. Maybe it will be one of those things I'll be so glad I bought? Ha; well actually I'm fine with it as it solved my issue of needing to go to one more store! SO, if you are needing any baking soda, you know where to find it!

Do you know what today is?

Well, if you don't, I'll fill you in. Had you spent the day at my house, you would know for sure. It is Leah's 1/2 birthday of course! She's officially 4 1/2 and she couldn't be happier. To clarify, we haven't typically celebrated half-birthdays, but they do at school - primarily for the summer birthday children. In any event, Leah's birthday, being October 11, leads to today's half birthday celebration. She was so excited and has been looking forward to the day for some time now. She'd ask me, "Mom, when is my half birthday?" So this morning, I told her the news and she was pretty much glowing all day. She had told Grandma Sally about it coming up, and Grandma Sally sure pulled through - she called Leah & left a message singing "Happy half birthday to you..." Leah just glowed. It was as if it was her actual birthday. She asked about going to the store to buy something, but when I told her it wasn't really a present receiving kind of day, she was just fine with that and kept on smiling. She wanted to pick dinner for today, and surprisingly, she didn't pick chili, but she did choose breakfast (a definite popular birthday choice at our house). She told everyone she saw today about it and I just had to enjoy the pure joy she found in this celebration of her. Tonight, Patrick actually met up with us at baseball practice and got off work "early" around 7:30pm. He surprised her with some jelly beans. And there she went again, with the biggest smile about her special day.

You know, maybe she actually has all this figured out - to always find a reason to celebrate. I'm so appreciative of each gift of life in our family and so it did give me a chance to enjoy the spirit of my 4 AND 1/2 year old and all she brings to our lives. And, she really does seem to be growing and changing a lot...she's grown taller and some days, I have a hard time thinking that she's only in 3 year old preschool! Sure love her!