St. Valentine's Day

A first for Little Miss Sunshine. This bib was bought by Aunt Jan when Little Miss Chatterbox was celebrating her first St. Valentine's Day. Glad I've saved it all these years!

We started the day off with Valentine's from Grammy and Grandpa. Thank you, Gram and Grandpa!

The kids were so excited to find McDonald's gift certificates inside! And they got little boxes of SweeTart hearts. These kids sure are loved!

Little Miss Chatterbox read Little Miss Sunshines card to her.

School went on as usual but with yummy treats an pretty pencils with hearts on them.

After school, the kids played outside while I set up the table for our St. Valentine's Day Tea Party. Ever since I had a tea party with my sister on Valentine's Day when I was little, I've always associate tea parties with Valentine's Day. :) It was a big deal because I got to use her tea set and we ate conversation hearts; but mostly because I got to hang out with my big sis. (Love you, Jan!)

My kids were so excited with this. I think it will be a new tradition.

They were so thrilled when they came in and saw everything!

The happy bunch. (I didn't have a vase for the roses so I used a tea pot. And since my kids don't care for tea, we drank soda which is a BIG treat in our house. So that tea pot was really the only "tea" element of this "tea" party. hehe)

Aunt Jan sent goodie bags to all of us! The kids got boxes of chocolate, new socks, and stickers inside the cutest little bags.

Little Miss Chatterbox also got a beautiful pink bow for her hair.


I got a gorgeous rose note card set, foot lotion with socks and flower seed packets! Aunt Jan is the sweetest and most thoughtful sis/aunt there is!!

Cheers!

And Aunt Jan got Sunshine this adorable outfit!

Little Miss Chatterbox didn't want the tea party to end so she continued it in the living room while she used her new stickers to make "sticker scenes" as she calls them. ;)

It was a lovely day!!

That time of year...

We've received a visit from a stomach bug so I won't be able to post our St. Valentine's Day pictures. But I hope you all had a lovely day!!

I'll be back when my duty of cuddling little sick ones is complete. (Started with Sunshine. Now Mr. Tickle.)

Until then, Happy St. Valentine's Day!!

Happy Birthday, Mr. Funny!

My oldest boy turned five yesterday. It was a good day. Simple yet special. And full of love.

We started the day off with a special breakfast. Blue pancakes with whipped cream, sprinkles and a cherry. Then the kids got the day off of school (mainly because Mom needed to finish making the cake) and played all morning.

Uncle Ju was off work this week so he got to spend the day with us!What a special treat!

He and Ang took Mr. Funny to Wal-Mart to pick out a toy for his birthday. But first, Mom took him to McDonald's for lunch to get a happy meal!

After our fun afternoon, we met Dad at Chuck-E-Cheese fordinner. Dad was able to get off from over time to spend the evening with the birthday boy.

The pizza was very yummy!

Since Ang wasn't there to eat our crust (we missed you, Ang!), we gave it to Little Miss Sunshine. She loved it!

They even had a Star Wars game there. Cool!

Mr. Funny was very good at Skee Ball.

He got lots of tickets and even won a toy.

The kids had a great time playing. Even Sunshine joined in the fun!

Then we went home for cake and presents. Funny got a lot of nice things! A St. John Vianney statue from Dad and Mom (patron of parish priests), a handmade tool belt and a toolbox full of tools from Aunt Jan and Uncle Adam, a light saber from Ang (he hasn't put that thing down since. He even slept with it!), hot wheel set and cars from Uncle Ju, a St. Vincent de Paul book from the Osbourns and THREE cards came in the mail, each containing $5 from Grammy & Grandpa, Nana and the Kyles. This boy sure is loved!

The cake was Star Wars, of course. One of my sloppier ones, but that's what you get when you have four kids to take care of. ;) But the good thing is, kids don't notice the mistakes and Funny loved his cake.

And that was the end to our lovely day.

My dear boy,

God gave you a heart full of love. You've been smiling since before you were even born. ( I even have a sonogram pic. to prove it.) You look after all of us, making sure we're happy. And if we're not, you'll make us laugh. You're the first one to offer a helping hand and have been a great role model for your little brother. You put up with a lot from your big sis but you never hold a grudge. And boy does it drive her crazy when she's angry and starts yelling at you and you just smile at her and tell her you love her. :) I can't imagine life without that great big smile. You talk of being a priest some day. I wouldn't be surprised. You have the perfect heart for the job. Thank you for gifting us with your love. You are a blessing. I love you. (oh, and do me a favor. Have mercy on your mother and stop doing dangerous things like flips off of Dad's dresser. I could do without the daily scares.)

Happy birthday to my smart, handsome, athletic, compassionate, tender hearted boy!

Love,

Mom

Squishy Face

Are you ready to see the Squishy Face? It is the funniest, most adorable thing I have ever seen this baby do. Are you ready? Can you handle the cuteness? Okay, then.

This is the Squishy Face:

It is SO funny. She makes this little snorting sound as she does it and it makes me want to just pick her up and kiss those little cheeks over and over again. So I do. It has the same reaction on her siblings. Which is why she does it all the time now. Much to our delight!

She use to do it when she was just a wee little newborn. Do you remember when I told you about it here? (scroll down to pics at the bottom of Labor and Birth story) She hasn't done it since those first few days of life. I was afraid I'd never see the Squishy Face again. But then one day, there it was! Mr. Tickles said, "Look, Mom! (Little Miss Sunshine) is making your face!" Do I make this expression? Hmm... I don't know. But Tickles seems to think so.

Oh, how I love this little girl! She certainly does bring sunshine to us on these long, cold winter days.

Daybook #4

Outside my window... sunny and 50! But I don't think this will last very long.
I am thinking... that if it's not going to snow, I'm ready for spring.

I am thankful for... all the wonderful people in my family

who do so many special things for my children.

From the learning room..

. I LOVE Teaching Textbooks!!

From the kitchen... Mr.Funny wants a Star Wars cake with Luke fighting Darth Vador on the top. I went out to find action figures but couldn't find Luke or Darth Vador. Now I have to make

them out of fondant. Rats.

I am creating...

-thank you cards. I'd really like to mark this off sometime s

oon. I had great plans of making homemade cards with

the kids but that is why they haven't been done yet. I think

I'll just have to write in pre-made cards and mayb

e have the kids draw a picture.

-a Star Wars cake for Mr. Funny.

-birthday plans for Mr. Funny

-plans for a St. Valentine's Day Tea Party with the kids

-Valentines

-First Holy Communion plans

-Lent plans

-Easter plans
I am reading... The Diary of Saint Faustina and The Well-Educated Mind by Susan Wis

e Bauer. (I can never read just

one thing at a time...)

I am hoping... that Little Miss Chatterbox doesn't lose any more teeth for awhile. She's wearing out the Tooth Fairy. ;)

I am praying... for Teresa. And Stephanie, Augusztina and Therese. Three friends, all expecting and all high-risk.

I am hearing... Mr. Funny

sounding out words as he reads a book!! Yes! My boy is reading!

Around the house... way too much STUFF. Got the boys room done. Moving on to the girls room.

One of my favorite things..

. babies.

Living the Liturgical Year...

it is currently Ordinary Time. A little bit of quiet before Lent comes- the hardest but most rewarding

time of the year.

Little Miss Sunshine this week...

has double ear infections. Bu

t that hasn't slowed her down

one little bit! She also makes the cutest, funniest little expression now! Whenever she starts to crawl, she scrunches up her nose. It CRACKS. ME. UP!!! Actually, she does when she's happy too. And when she sees me or one of her siblings. Or when she's eating. Hmm...I think she may

have caught on that she gets a big reaction from it and so she's just doing it all the time!

Netflix Movie Review...

didn't have time for a movie

this week.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...

Small Steps Together: Feb. 2nd

"God hasn't called me to be successful. He's called me to be faithful." - Mother Teresa

In their new book, Small Steps for Catholic Moms: Think. Pray. Act. Every Day., Danielle Bean and Elizabeth Foss advise us to ask Jesus for the reminder that it doesn't matter how many things we cross off our to-do list if we are not kind, charitable and gentle as we do them.

How true this rang in my ears. How many times have I been too busy with my all important "to-do list" (which usually always means my "clean house" list) that I got frustrated with the baby because she won't sleep? Or lost patience with the toddler who interrupts me over and over again asking for help with something? Or refused to help an older child with something because I know they can do it themselves. But perhaps they just wanted some Mom time? How many harsh words have escaped my mouth towards the children who start playing in the newly cleaned room? How many memories have I missed out on because instead of saying yes, I said, "Not right now. I'm too busy." How many times have I broken the heart of those who I love best because I forgot to be kind, charitable and gentle as I go about my "to-do" list?

We just watched a documentary on Mother Teresa. She emphasized how she wanted to be a servant of the poor. Not just to help them but to truly serve them. Her humility is awe-inspiring. It made me want to drive down to D.C. and find a poor person on the street and help them. How quickly I forget that my duty lies within my home. That I have that same opportunity every day with my children. In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, it states that "Parents' respect and affection are expressed by the care and attention they devote to bringing up their young children and providing for their physical and spiritual needs." (2228) As a Catholic mother, I am asked to be a servant to my children. I'm not saying that they are in charge or that I allow them to bark commands at me. But lets look at the definition of servant. A servant is someone who is in the service of another. A mother is definitely in the service of her children. It's a very humbling job, is it not? I may not be able to help the poor off the streets of Calcutta or D.C. But I can help my children when they are in need. As Agnes M. Penny puts it so well in her book, Your Vocation of Love, "In humility, then, we recognize objective truth; we acknowledge our faults, which are so conveniently pointed out to us throughout the day...... we recognize that our authority as mothers involves primarily a duty to serve our children's needs..."

A clean house is nice and yes, necessary. But what is more important? A house that is spotless but full of children who are rude and yell and feel neglected? Or a house that is always a work-in-progress but is full of children who know they are loved and respected and therefore love and respect others? I'll take the latter, thank you very much.

Yes, Jesus. Remind me that it doesn't matter how many things I cross off my to-do list, if I am not kind, charitable and gentle as I go about doing them.

Did you take small steps towards simplicity this week? How has Small Steps blessed, challenged you, or encouraged you on your journey? Share it over at Elizabeths.

Daybook #3

Outside my window... the ground is still covered with snow. looks like we'll be getting freezing rain later this week.
I am thinking... that I do way too much "thinking" and "planning" and not enough"doing". I'll think about something months in advance and still end up doing things at the last minute.

I am thankful for... parents who come to visit us and bring groceries and McDonald's for lunch. Thank you Mom and

Hev!
From the learning room... we'll be trying out the new math program with Chatterbox today.

From the kitchen... lots of cake! Two birthday boys

in the next two weeks. (my godson and Mr. Funny)

I am creating...

-thank you cards. I'd really like to mark this off sometime soon. I had great plans of making homemade cards with the

kids but that is why they haven't been done yet. I think I'll just have to write in pre-made cards and maybe have the kids draw a picture.

-plans for a Sponge Bob cake for godson and a Star Wars cake for Funny.

-birthday plans for Mr. Funny

-plans for a St. Valentine's Day Tea Party with the kids

-Valentines
I am reading... The Diary of Saint Faustina and Rolling Stones

The Beatles 100 Greatest Hits (thanks Mr. Hev!)

I am hoping... that OT will end soon.

I am praying... for Teresa

and for a very close friend who just told me some very big news.

I am hearing... Math-U-See DVD. It's teaching Mr. Funny his math lesson. I l

ove this program. I'm also listening to Chatterbox teaching Tickles his letters. She loves to teach him!

Around the house..

. way too much STUFF. Working on the kids rooms this week.

One of my favorite things... snow days. I wish the forecast of freezing rain would turn into snow instead.

Living the Liturgical Year... Today is St. John Bosco's feast day! He liked to juggle when he was a boy so we will take Waltzing Matilda's idea and

make Bachelor Buttons to represent his juggling balls! Also this week, Candlemas. This will officially close the Christmas season. I'm still trying to gather up some candles to bring to the Mass

to have them blessed.

Little Miss Sunshine this week... she's crawling!! I now have a little shadow. ;) I love

looking down and seeing her smiling face look up at me, just waiting for me to pick her up. And when I do, kicking legs and claps of excitement. How blessed I am to be loved so much.

Netflix Movie Review... We watched The Painted Veil this week. Well, I watched it this week. mike fell asleep. We saw this movie the year it came out

and Mike really liked it. I didn't care for it too much because it involved adultery. But Mike wanted to watch it again so we got it from Netflix. I'm so glad we did because I really enjoyed it this time. I w

as able to look past the adulterous affair, and appreciate the growth and repentance in Naomi Watts'

character.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...