A Simple Twist of Faith

7 Quick Takes Friday Volume 6

 

Quick Takes is hosted by Jen at the Conversion Diary

1. This week has been a better week than last week for me.  I thank God for helping me to see the humor in the world around me.  For example, yesterday... in the morning we went to the aquarium and afterwards to Mc Donald's with my friend and her three children.  This particular Mc Donald's has a large outdoor play set consists of brightly long tubes and boxes for the kids to crawl through and slide down.  Well, don't you know, Bumblebee had a "potty accident" while she was up on the topmost box of the structure.  She was upset with herself and  started crying. She was hysterical and would not come down.  First, I tried to have one of the older children help her down, and then I  tried talking to her down.  After about ten minutes, I crawled  into the jungle gym and carried her down myself.  When we finally came out my friend repressed a laugh and offered to keep Ladybug while I took Bumblebee home.  I owe you again, Kathy! 2. This week in swimming lessons, Ladybug started to actually swim freestyle for about three strokes at a time.  At five years old, she is a petite person at 35 lbs, and she looks so small in the enormous pool at our rec center.  When she reached the edge, she looked up and searched the crowd of Mommies for me.  I waved at her and blew her kisses. She was so proud of herself and I am too. 3. No rain all month, and then last night, rain, flash flooding, tornado warnings, thunder, and over 6,000 lightning strikes.   Crazy weather! 4. I have read several home schooling books this summer, but to be completely honest, many of them seemed too extreme to me.  However, I have really enjoyed a book I ordered second-hand off of Half.com.  The book is entitled  The Well Trained Mind by Susan Wise Bauer & Jessie Wise.  Although we have already started, this fall will be the official start of home schooling for my kindergartener.  Amy over at Missional Mom just wrote a great post about home schooling in which she also referenced this book.  Go check her out, she has a lot of great ideas! 5. This month I have been a slacker in the exercise department, but this week I have managed to exercise every day.  I feel so much better physically, and emotionally when I do exercise, why do I fall off the wagon? 6. Does anyone have a good peach cobbler or crisp recipe?  We are having family over for dinner this weekend, and with peaches in season, I thought that would be a good dessert with vanilla ice cream.  After that, I will definitely have to exercise! 7. Does anyone have insight into completing special project  around the house with kids?  I really would like to sew a roman shade for the girls' room and some new window treatments for our bedroom.  Does anyone have strategies?  Any suggestions would be deeply appreciated.  Thanks!

What are you reading this summer?

Since I started staying home in May, my girls and I have made  a weekly trek to our local public  library,  here's our picks for this week: My girls have been on a Beatrix Potter adventure:

• The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck
• Appley Dapply's Nursery Rhymes
• The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin

Also, here is our weekly selection from the Virginia Readers' Choice for Primary Grades.  As part of her summer home schooling work, my oldest daughter answers questions and draws pictures about these books along with phonics, math, and reading her Bob Books.

• Katie Loves the Kittens by John Himmelman
• Rhyming Dust Bunnies by Jan Thomas
• Dog and Bear by Laura Vaccaro Singer
• Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal & Tom Litchtenheld

As for me, this summer I decided to read the Chronicles of Narnia as an adult:

• The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis
• Roar: A Christian Family Guide  Chronicles of Narnia by Heather & David Kopp

  And something completely different for me:

• The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz

So now it's your turn, what are you reading this week?  this summer?

Moms ’ 30 Minute Blog Challenge

This Tuesday, I decided to take up Jamie at Steady Mom on the 30 minute blog challenge.  Every Tuesday, Jamie writes, edits and publishes her post in 30 minutes and invites other Moms to do the same!  This is a big challenge for me, because I NEVER to anything fast and I am a rookie at this blogging gig!  So here goes nothing... Bumble Bee will be three years old in two weeks time, and she has definite ideas about her birthday.  First, she has requested Princess gummies, and then decided on a "Purple Princess Pizza Party". With the help of her sister, she has chosen an outfit for the event, more on that later. For her cake, she would like chocolate with purple frosting.  How does one make purple frosting?  Yesterday, I sent the evites out. The guest list is just family, but we have a large family, so we are talking  2o people. Does anyone have a good pizza crust recipe?  How about any low-cost party decorations and favors?    I am going to attempt to make a castle cake with lavender frosting to satisfy my purple girl.  This should prove an interesting birthday party, photos to follow. Okay, my 30 minutes are up!  Maybe I will get better at this!

Sunday at the Beach

We live in a seaside community where beaches are plentiful,  however my husband does not like the crowds at the resort area so we usually head down by the bay where the locals go to swim and fish. This summer, the temperatures have been so hot, so early  that the bay has warmed up and is full of jelly fish.     So instead, Sunday morning, my husband and I picked up our girls who were just waking, and still in their jammies, and headed for the beach. No, we are not heathens, we went to the Saturday vigil! We met our good friends early in the morning before the crowds and the heat.  Yesterday, the high for the day was over 100, and that was not counting the humidity.      It was so relaxing watching the children play, joyfully, with no reservations.  There were no arguments, the ocean was big enough for all to share.  I also loved watching my husband play with the children. Now, that I am staying at home, my husband is playing a less dominant role in the girls' lives.  When I worked, we split the parenting duties equally. My job schedule and commune was such that I left our house with my youngest daughter no later than  6:45 in the morning.  Rick had the task of  taking our oldest daughter to pre-kindergarten by 7:30 AM.  As awful as that schedule sounds, this commune was a bonding time for my husband and "Ladybug", they would sing songs, play rhyming games, and generally act silly.  My husband is a funny guy, and "Ladybug" loved that time with Daddy.   Yesterday felt like a vacation day to me.  We started packing up when the beach was getting crowded.  By then, the sand was so hot on our feet, we had to carry the girls to the car.  We arrived home to take baths, watch Little Mermaid, eat leftover pizza and basically lounge around the rest of the day.  Last night, I even got to watch Masterpiece Mystery and Mad Men, my two favorite shows!  Today, I have a backlog of laundry, but it was all well worth it!

7 Quick Takes Friday Volume 5

1. As many of you know, this week marked the  anniversaries of death of my Dad and Mom. Hopefully, this Quick Takes will offer a little comical relief to what has been a rather solemn week. 2. This past Tuesday, I hung the " jewel" around Rick's neck as he was sworn in as Grand Knight for his council at the Knights of Columbus Installation Mass.  The district deputy thanked (or maybe apologized)to the wives in advance for sharing their spouses.  I smiled and secretly thought, "Oh well, more time for me to blog!" 3. Potty training update:  "Bumblebee" was doing great with potty training until I had our dear friends watch the girls so I could go to the Knights of Columbus Officers' Installation Mass.  I thought I packed her "in case" bag, instead I left in on top of our dryer on the way out to my van.  Of course, she had two accidents at our friends' house.  I owe you big time Kathy! 4. Thanks to Carmen and some luck, I won a $50.00 gift card from Tropicana & Blogher.  I am rich, the card is burning a hole in my pocket! So far, I used it to treat the kids to Mc Donalds and buy "Ladybug" her next set of Bob Books!   5. "Bumblebee" and her two-year old friend were innocently playing in the little house Papa gave her, or so I thought.  When I  check on them, this is what I found: 6. While I was bathing the two-year olds, "Lady Bug" age 5 , who was hot, decided to cut her bangs like a boy.  Here are the results of that hair cut: 7. As you can see there is never a dull moment around here!  I thank God for giving me something to laugh about this week. I am looking forward to a quiet weekend, amazingly with NOTHING  planned....yet! This Quick Takes is hosted by Jen at The Conversion Diary.  Please hop on over and check her out!

Benedicamus Domino!

There is an old poem that reads: " Whenever the Catholic sun does shine, There's music, laughter and good red wine.  At least, I've always found it so: Benedicamus Domino!"  The last line is Latin for "Let us bless the Lord!" This poem captures the mood of the annual Italianfest at our parish's school gym.  The evening was a LOT of fun for my family.  The food was absolutely delicious.  The menu included lasagne, pasta al nona, chicken milanese, and sausage and peppers, my husband ate it all and loved it! My favorite station was the large antipasto spread...which included caprese & caesar salad, olives, marinated mozzarella, bruschetta, and pepperoncinis. That's basically all I ate, it was so good. Hats off to the Knights headed by  Chef Vincent La Monte! There was also live music and dancing to add to the festivities. My girls had a blast running around with their little friends, and staying up way past their bedtime.  It reminds me of all the fun church and K of C activities I enjoyed  as a child growing up in my small parish in Central Coast California.  Because we live in such a big metro area, it is nice to have a strong sense of community coupled with our faith.  It is important to celebrate life. Food, drink, and children are the simple  but most basic pleasures that life can give us.  They are, after all, gifts from God.

7 Quick Takes Friday Volume 4

This 7 Quick Takes Friday is hosted by Jen at the Conversion Diary, please hop on over and check her out!

1. Today, I start my three-day weekend with my girls.  This has been a challenging week for me so I am looking forward to sleeping in...well I can dream! We are going to new exhibition of ten storybook playhouses at our local botanical gardens.  After that, we plan cool off at the childrens' garden which has an interactive  water feature.   2. On April 12th, my husband started growing tomatoes from seed in dixie cups. They are now waist-high, and starting to produce fruit.  He is very excited.  He is growing Romas, Super Beefsteak and Better Boys. Any good recipes to share?  I am fond of old fashion burgers on the grill with a big juicy slice of tomato.  Rick's favorite is tomato, lettuce, and mayonnaise sandwiches.  He has been eating them since he was a little boy. 3. The first week of no Pull-ups for my youngest daughter has had mixed results.  Yesterday, she had two accidents in a row at the library, but then did very well the rest of the day.  Is that normal? I ask, frankly, because my oldest daughter was at daycare so much, the staff basically potty trained her.  4. All you who have large families, explain to me how you get four children (ages 2-5) down for a nap at the same time?  I had mastered the art of three, but four alludes me... 5. What is your favorite summer meal?  How about your favorite summer drink? Rick likes fish and chips with beer.  I'm still thinking about that hamburger with a fresh tomato slice...  6. This weekend the Italianfest at our church. It is a big deal, the Knight in charge of the cooking worked with Emeril.  On the menu, antipasto, and several different pasta dishes.  Yum, yum... 7. Due to #4, my goal of a mid-day prayer time has not materialized.  I do have a prayer  I say with the kids everyday: " Lord Jesus, be with me today and help me in all I do, think and say."

Are you ready for a Throw Down?

I must admit I have been feeling a bit overwhelming with all the changes in my life.  I know I have melancholy tendencies, and can be a cup's half empty kind of a gal.  Thank God, I am married to a cup's half full kind of a guy.  God definitely has a plan. I read this article today by Jen, and I said, "Wow, this drama sounds like me.".  Having recently played guest to friends who are inspiring, positive people, it got me thinking how much I have to be grateful for, so I have a challenge for you all.  Please post in the comment section at least ten things or people you are grateful for. As Bobby Flay says, "Are you ready for a throw down?" Here's my list: 1. My relationship with God and Jesus. 2. My wonderful, patient, positive, and drama free knight in shining armor. 3.  My two beautiful and high drama princesses. 4. Good coffee with cream and a conversation with God and Jesus before my girls get up. 5. Naptime. 6. Good beer and conversation with my husband on the patio in the evening. 7. Friends, old and new, one is silver and the othr gold. 8. Good health  9. Air Conditioning. 10.Being a Catholic, did you see # 1 and #6? As Ben Franklin said, "beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy".