7 Quick Takes Friday Volume 16

1. So much for small successes. Wednesday, I made breakfast, got two children off to school, picked up an order from a friend, returned 27 e-mails and four phone calls, scheduled a family dinner with a favorite priest, scheduled a guy to come winterize our (leaking) hot tub, made lunch, planned a craft for 15 first graders, ran to Target with the boys, took Noah and a friend to Pre-K, picked up the kids from school, did homework with two little girls, made supper, picked up materials for the craft and first grade party, washed five loads of laundry and folded NINE loads of laundry, all while making a new human being ... no hands.

To other moms: no worries. I have to brag about this day because I do not normally get this much stuff done in one 18 hour period of time.

2. After we hit a deer in June of 2008, the FM radio stopped working in my mini-van. There's no CD player; the van is 15 years old. So for the last 16 months, I've had only AM radio while driving. Any of you who know me well know that I depend on music to keep me sane, so this was a huge problem for me. A couple of weeks ago, I told my younger brother, the newly minted mechanic, that I would make food for him (he chose a lasagna) if he fixed my stereo. He located a used model for $25, came over, and installed it in 20 minutes flat. Wahoo!! I now have music in the van again!! And Catholic radio, of course.

3. My sewing machine has been sitting idle these last 7 years. My first excuse was that it wasn't tuned up (it's a 1970s model). We tuned it up a year ago. My next excuse was that I hadn't sewed for nearly 15 years. So my mother re-taught me while she was staying with us this summer. It came back to me quickly. So, with a couple of small bumps in the road, I have made several small repairs in pieces of clothing and have successfully sewed a dozen cloth napkins and three Halloween costumes. This is fun! No more excuses!

4. Jeremy and I are hosting a house concert on November 19th. You should come. E-mail me for details.

5. My baby is over a pound and about 12 inches long! Go, baby! It's like having a fish in my belly that really wants to get out. Jeremy put his hand on my tummy one night when she was exercising and asked incredulously, "How do you sleep?"

6. I've heard and read mixed reviews about Where the Wild Things Are. Apparently it's not for small children. WHAT!? That's the whole point!

7. This is the easiest Cod Liver Oil I've ever swallowed. The aftertaste is no more than that of a fish stick. I'd strongly recommend it if you're interested in Cod Liver Oil. Why do I? I'd much rather obtain my vitamins from natural food sources rather than get the synthetic versions in a pill says the diet soda drinker. So I'm taking Cod Liver Oil each morning, drinking lots of milk and other dairy products, eggs, fruits , and veggies.

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Visit Jennifer for her Quick Takes and those of other bloggers!

Wordless Wednesday

Lucky 13

Thirteen years ago, Jeremy and I stepped out onto the dance floor at a country western bar. We waltzed to Strawberry Wine and didn't leave the dance floor until the band stopped playing at midnight. What a night! This was our first date.

What a wonderful thirteen years it has been!You can barely see his cap, but this is the day that Jeremy graduated from college 10 years ago.

The Simple Woman's daybook Volume 28

FOR TODAY...October 26th, 2009

Outside my window... it's bright and sunny, 50 degrees, and it seems to be raining yellow, orange, and brown leaves! What a pretty autumn day!

I am thinking... about a nap but I'll be baking instead.

I am thankful for... everything with which God has blessed us--a home to live in, food to eat, clothes to wear, and family.

I am wearing... maternity jeans, a pink T-shirt, socks and shoes, and a baby around my waist.

I am trying to figure out... why my sewing machine's stitches are not catching on the bottom of the seam. This began to happen gradually last night as I was finishing a project. The bobbin case appears to be free of debris and it hasn't been used very often since it was tuned up except for this weekend. Any ideas?

I am going... to finish Madeleine's Carmelite habit costume if it's the last thing I do.

I am reading... the Acts of the Apostles

I am hoping... to see many of my girlfriends tonight at my house for bible study.

On my mind... The fragility of life. Many friends have miscarried babies since I became pregnant. The sadness of miscarriage hits home a little more when I'm carrying a little one. Recently, a close family member was found to have a pulmonary embolism. She's okay, but that was a close call--too close! Life is short!

Noticing that... this baby inside of me is busy!

Pondering these words... "To maintain a joyful family requires much from both the parents and the children. Each member of the family has to become, in a special way, the servant of the others." --Pope John Paul II (Emphasis is mine)

From the kitchen... Cinnamon rolls and leftover chili in the form of chili dogs tonight for supper. I think I'll do French Dip sandwiches again this week. They are so yummy and so quick.

Around the house... Jeremy tidied up for me last night as I was sewing. He was watching football after the kids went to bed but he folded towels for me while he watched and picked up and even vacuumed during commercials. I'm grateful. I took the boys on errands this morning, so the house is still neat. I'll have to remember that little trick!

One of my favorite things... sunny days

From my picture journal... My mother made new skirts for the girls and brought them over on Thursday when she visited. Here they are modeling them for a picture to send to Nana.Be sure to visit Peggy, our gracious host, to read her Daybook and those of other Simple Women.

Maddie's New Look

We picked up Madeleine's glasses today: a little correction to help a far-sighted girl see a little better.

Pregnancy and Dignity ... or the Lack Thereof

Until recently, I'd forgotten just how much dignity a pregnant woman must surrender.

Mood swings suck the pride right out of a girl. She's grumpy and can't explain why. Suddenly, the noise of her husband munching Doritos just might make her jump out of her skin and said husband is left wondering about the woman he married. One minute she's overjoyed about the outfit she just purchased for the baby and the next moment she wants to strangle the person next to her, whomever that may be. Why does this happen?

Toward the end of pregnancy (or earlier for the unlucky ones), the pressure of one little baby combined with a sneeze, a cough, or a sudden hard laugh will cause a mother to wet her pants. This has got to be a joke--nature rewards our hard work with a toddler's accident. How is this fair?

Many women suffer the crucible of morning sickness. Some suffer only the discomfort of nausea while others can't keep their breakfast down, much less any other meal. I've been lucky to escape this trial but I think often of the mother who enters a public place always aware of where the nearest restroom is and praying that she can keep down the meal she's about to (try to) enjoy on a date night with her husband. Mothers need extra nourishment during pregnancy. Isn't this counter productive on behalf of nature?

But then the cravings set in! Oh, for the love of food! There is nothing that screams PREGNANCY more than a mother sitting in her kitchen crying because there's no apple cider left in the fridge. There's nothing that screams GESTATING more than a mother who wants fish sticks and milk so bad that her hands are shaking. Our husbands fearlessly put on their shoes at midnight to run and fetch some onion rings and Coke from Burger King. That's normal ... right?

Oh, the weight gain. This is the epitome of necessary evil. Boy, it's fun to gain weight but boy is it awful to gain weight. Every pregnant woman knows that a good mother must gain weight. This is a good time to throw out the scale and give the evil eye to anyone who makes a comment on the size of a mother's stomach or anything else near her body. This is not a good time for a husband someone else to lament their own weight gain nor comment on the size of their waist. Why can't baby weight slide right off afterward and take an extra 10 pounds with it?

Then there's the mush-for-brains syndrome. A mother gets in her car and can't remember why she's there. She knows she has to count the other kids to make sure she's got all of them and is grateful that the smallest one is attached to her on the inside--she can't forget him! She can't string words into a sentence and can't recall which sandwich her husband asked for five minutes earlier before she left for Subway. She can't find her keys and can't remember what it was that she just forgot. After all, all brain cells are currently busy making a new human being. Does she get to have them back afterward?

Last but certainly not least among blows to maternal dignity involves the delivery of the child. Enough said.

So we are clumsy in our new bodies. We can't tie our own shoes nor shave our legs. We drop things constantly. We're riding a hormonal roller coaster and we forgot to buckle in. Our brains turn to mush and we can't remember why we climbed the stairs--what did we come up here for? We feel like an overinflated balloon most of the time and are too tired to puncture ourselves. Fancy words like edema and hypertension and cantankerous are used to describe us or our bodies. 9 months after we board the roller coaster of pregnancy, out comes a wailing little person! Now I'm sitting here laughing because that sounds like a bad line out of a sci-fi movie.

What are your humorous pregnancy complaints?

The Simple Woman's Daybook Volume 27

FOR TODAY...October 20th, 2009

Outside my window... it's dark now and is quiet outside my windows.

I am thinking... about the name we've chosen for this baby and am praying that it is the one that God wishes for her to have.

I am thankful for... my husband and children and our health.

I am wearing... gray maternity slacks, a brown Dave Matthews Band T-shirt, and socks

I am remembering... what warm weather feels like. It's a luxury to have the windows open and to play outside without jackets. It's been around 70 degrees the last couple of days.

I am going... to get that stupid sewing machine to cooperate.

I am reading... the Acts of the Apostles

I am hoping... to become a better mother and wife every day.

On my mind... the cost of diapers

Learning at school and at home... Morgan's mastering the art of addition with regrouping. Madeleine is struggling with subtraction and now can't wrap her poor brain around adding back to check her answers. She just needs a little more time and a little more practice. Her reading has improved quite a bit over the last month and her memory seems to be improving. Noah is beginning to demonstrate interest in the spelling of words and we are going with it. Isaiah just loves to dig in the dirt of my recently emptied flower bed.

Noticing that... this baby is becoming stronger and stronger each day. Her kicks actually startle me now, sometimes!

Pondering these words... "If today you live like no one else, then later you can live like no one else." Dave Ramsey sells common sense, people! I love it!

From the kitchen... French Dip sandwiches yesterday, chili later in the week when the weather cools off again. We made kolaches on Saturday afternoon.

Around the house... Morgan tidied up the front room and it is nice to walk into it and see everything in order! I have not yet met a neater seven year old. She loves to clean.

One of my favorite things... kisses from my 2 year old ... at least when his mouth is clean!

From my picture journal... My boys helped me press the kolache dough. I found out that two-year-old hands work well for the indent. He made all of the indents and then I rounded them out a little with my thumbs. The shape came out the best that I've seen yet! Be sure to visit Peggy, our gracious host, to read her Daybook and those of other Simple Women.

8 Question Meme

I saw this over at Aussie Coffeeshop and Are We There Yet. Thought it would be fun to fill it in.

Six names you go by:
1. Aubrey
2. Mom
3. Bre
4. Aubs
5. Mommy
6. Mrs. -----r

Three things you are wearing right now:
1. Dave Matthews Band T-shirt
2. Socks
3. Grey maternity slacks

Three things you want very badly at the moment:
1. A maid
2. A cook
3. More sleep

Three things you did last night/yesterday
1. Laundry
2. Played outside--it was over 70 degrees here!
3. Went to bible study at Jillian's house ... thanks, Jillian!

Three things you ate today
1. French dip sandwich
2. Homemade Egg McMuffin, no cheese
3. Bagel with cream cheese

Three people you last talked to on the phone:
1. My mother-in-law
2. The school secretary
3. Only 2 phone calls today!

Three things you are going to do tomorrow:
1. Laundry
2. Play with my boys, homework with the girls
3. Take a nap

Your three favorite beverages:
1. Diet Mountain Dew
2. Starbucks' Vanilla Bean Frappuccino
3. Grape Gatorade

I won't tag anyone but you may pick it up if you wish!

The Sweet Incentive of Cash

We've started using a new technique to instill discipline in our children. Remember: I define discipline as self control and comportment, not punishment. When reading the Duggars' book, I found that they reward their children with a penny for replying, "Yes, Mom, I'd be happy to." We started there.

Each child has a jar with his name on it. All money goes into the jar, it's like a bank account here in our family room. There is a larger jar with about $30 in change which belongs to Jeremy and me.

If we ask a child to do something and he responds, "Yes, Mom, I'd be happy to," then he receives a penny. If we give the child information and he responds, "Yes, Mom, I understand," then he receives a penny. Those are the two set-in-stone rules. If a child pleases us for any reason, we will tell them what the monetary reward is and put it in their jar. For example, if everyone was well behaved at the store, then I might add a nickel or I might add a quarter. If someone was charitable, good to a brother or sister, or did something kind without being asked, I reward them. If I ask a child to do a chore that is out of the ordinary, I reward them.

We take money away to discourage bad behavior. If I have to ask a child for something a second time, I'll add, "if I ask again, you'll lose five pennies." If Noah throws a temper tantrum, he gets a warning and the gentle count to five to calm himself down. If he can't manage it, he'll lose five pennies. It works well. If the children are being rambunctious in the store, I'll pull them aside and warn them that they're about to lose money. The money taken away goes to my jar.

I found out that the children respond to losing money to a sibling. That is, if Morgan locks Madeleine out of their room intentionally, I will take money from Morgan's jar and put it into Madeleine's jar. If sibling A antagonizes sibling B, I'll put money from A's jar into B's jar. I started doing this only recently but it seems to be working well to help them understand that it's important to treat siblings with respect as well. There are no warnings for mistreatment of a sibling (or of a parent).

We haven't left behind our old methods of punishment: time-outs and loss of privileges, but this addition seems to really register with them. No pun intended. We've also kept other methods of reward: computer time, a video, and tangible rewards such as a piece of candy or a small trinket.

A child may spend his money as long as he leaves $1 in the jar. We exercise control over how they spend--no impulse buying, no candy--but not too much. We do emphasize saving and they don't ask to spend very often.

So far, so good.

Maddie's Spelling Sentences

Maddie's spelling words for last week were ship, fast, go, stop, ride, map, thank, and serve. She came up with the sentences herself although I did help her spell the bigger words.

Seth, most of the reason for posting these is so that you can see #3! Anytime someone says SHIP near my kids, their thoughts go straight to their uncle! You should be proud--Go Navy!

Father-Daughter Fun!

Jeremy took Morgan to a father - daughter day long retreat on Saturday. The Marian Sisters of our diocese hosted it. There were activities like capture the flag, speakers for the dads while the sisters spent time with the girls, Mass, and graham-cracker house decorating! It was for girls ages 7-11. Next year Madeleine will be old enough to go along!

Let It Snow!

We awoke to find about an inch (maybe two?) of snow on the ground Saturday morning. Sidewalks and streets were clear; the snow only stuck to grass. What a pretty sight!

House Concert

Jeremy and I are hosting a house concert on Thursday November 19th at 7:30 p.m. for a folk artist. Please leave a comment or e-mail me for details.

Quick Takes Friday Volume 15

---1---
Oh, boy! Where the Wild Things Are has been made into a movie! We have this book in our house in three languages: Czech, French, and English, and I just found a Spanish version that I'll buy soon. Go HERE to see the preview.

---2---
Just in case you actually think that my house stays clean all of the time, here's what happens when I let the boys do their thing while helping Madeleine with her homework. Note the assortment of railroad tracks, barn animals, cars, blankets, cords, Bendaroos, paper, crayons, and other odds and ends. Apparently we do have tornadoes in Nebraska in October. You should have seen what happened with oatmeal when I took a shower this morning.

---3---
I found this tag hanging on my Pella brand door behind the Pella brand screen door between two Pella windows. Are you sure we should replace our five year old Pella windows with new Pella windows? Really? Were you paying attention when you hung that tag?

---4---
LG fixed and returned our DVD recorder-player. It's official: you can buy LG products again. Be aware that it cost us $69 to repair a $250 machine that broke after one year of use through no fault of our own. LG phones, however, are amazing. One survived both the Permanent Press (washing machine) AND a dunk in the toilet.

---5---
Gabriel, Noah, and Clare (Noah and two of his cousins) dressed up as the Holy Family for our Church Picnic: Joseph, Jesus, and Mary.
---6---
When in Des Moines, Jeremy and I visited an art gallery/store called Sticks. I'm not crazy about art. I appreciate it but I don't enjoy it. This was different! The objects in the store are functional--mostly furniture--and beautiful. They are hand carved, hand painted, amazing heirloom quality pieces. They are also very expensive. Use THIS LINK to browse their website. Take a peek at their products; the home page doesn't do it justice. If I won the lottery, I'd bring a U-Haul to Des Moines to shop! It was a pleasure just to be in the store. I was able to use the picture of this table but there are things available which are just as amazing if not more so.

---7---
Our children's museum has this pin screen. It is so awesome! Noah made his head imprint over and over on the center panel, Isaiah made his on the right side. I like to pretend that there are no germs on the pin screen when my kids do this.

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Visit Jen over at Conversion Diary if you like. She will not be hosting Quick Takes this week.

Wordless Wednesday

Overheard (Gross Warning)

"Mom, now the boogers that come up in my throat when I cough, they taste like balloons."

--Noah

I warned you.

The Simple Woman's Daybook Volume 26

FOR TODAY...October 5, 2009

Outside my window...it is still a little dark because it appears to be cloudy. It's nearly 50 degrees, so warmer than it has been the last several days. The grass is still a rich green and the trees are yellow, orange, red, and green. What beauty!

I am thinking...about something that our Bishop wrote in his most recent article in our Diocesan Newspaper. He compared Lazarus to our poorer brother nations and America to the rich man who ate well at his table. It made my spine tingle. Lazarus looked down on the rich man from Heaven but the rich man was not with him nor could Lazarus help him nor warn the rich man's friend of the dangers of Hell.

I am thankful for...everything that we have been given: a home to live in, food to eat, transportation, clothes to wear, and health. Also, I'm grateful for our parish family. We had a covered dish picnic last night to celebrate the feast day of our patron saint. Our pastor, Monsignor, played his guitar along with other musicians from our parish. I didn't even know that a couple of them played instruments. What a treat! I have so many friends in our parish and there are so many families, so many children.

I am wearing...maternity pants, a pink T-shirt, socks, and Mocs

I am remembering...the little bitty bows that our hospital's nursery puts on the foreheads of little girls after they are born. Jeremy would walk our baby girls back to the nursery just to ask for one of those bows each morning. It's been a long time since we had a baby girl to cuddle!

I am going...to be careful with my body these next 20 weeks!

I am reading...Acts of the Apostles and Surprised by Truth

I am hoping...that my brother Leighton really did bring home a T-shirt from Seattle for me. It wouldn't be a Seattle T-shirt, but one from the Navy or from the USS Abraham Lincoln, on which our brother Seth serves. The T-shirts I do have from my day on the aircraft carrier with him are now too small because of the baby I carry around my waist! ;)

On my mind...a name for our little girl. Jeremy and I differ very much in our taste in names. It's a bit of a challenge for us!

Learning at school and at home...I set up a table and chairs in the empty back bedroom. We now have a learning room, which for us is more of a homework room. It's quiet back there!

Noticing that...this baby moves around quite a bit now! Jeremy was able to feel her move for the first time this morning!

Pondering these words..."I am a very little soul who can offer only very little things to the Lord." St. Therese of the Child Jesus, the Little Flower

From the kitchen...Chicken fajitas on Monday and chili later in the week. I love soup season!

Around the house...Jeremy picked up quite a bit this weekend but there are things scattered here and there ... a sewing project, toys, shoes, and coats!

One of my favorite things...BABIES

A few plans for the week: Mass of Initiation on Monday evening for Morgan, who will be receiving her First Holy Communion this spring, My 19/20 week OB appointment on Tuesday morning, then birthday wishes for a little five year old boy, Thursday morning play date.

From my picture journal...Since I mentioned my brother's aircraft carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln, earlier in the post, I thought I'd post a picture of her. I took this from Alki beach in Seattle, on the east shore of Puget Sound, as she came down through it the day after the Family Cruise. What a sight! Visit Peggy to read her Daybook and those of other Simple Women!

Dying Wish

If you had a dying wish, a visit by any celebrity, who would it be?
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I've toyed with several ideas. I've thought about asking James Earl Jones to come and read a very long book to me. It could be a deep, inspirational book or he could pick up the phone book and read. I would just sit with my eyes closed and listen.
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I've thought about asking Anthony Hopkins to come and have tea. Would we have anything interesting to discuss? He became American recently. Maybe it's not so much the discussion as it is being in the room with someone who seems like such a gentleman. He could read to me as well; I could listen to him speak for hours.
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But what I'd really like is for Dave Matthews to bring his guitar and sit and play for me for awhile. I'd like to hear all of the soothing stuff: Butterfly, Crash, Sister, Stay or Leave, Oh, The Christmas Song, So Da*mn Lucky, Crush, The Dreaming Tree, Pig, Spoon, Baby Blue, You and Me, Grace is Gone, Bartender, JTR, Let You Down, Cry Freedom, The Idea of You, Loving Wings, Seek Up, Steady As We Go, The Best of What's Around, Satellite, Lover Lay Down, and #34. That should keep him busy for a couple of hours while I relax and listen. He doesn't even have to sing if he's too tired. If he just plays and hums along, I'd be happy. But as I finish typing this, the end track for Spoon comes on, "Come in from the cold for awhile. Everything will be alright. Come in from the noise for a time. Everything will be alright. Everything will be alright. For now, good-bye. Friend, good-bye." Forget it. I guess I do want the lyrics sung.
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There's my deep thought for the day. Who would you choose for your celebrity visitor, someone who is alive?

Overheard

Scene: During the ultrasound, the tech checked baby numerous times because she had her legs crossed with her feet covering her revealing parts. She talked us through it, saying, "well, I don't see any little boy parts." Finally, she got a good look toward the end when Baby moved around and said that she was pretty sure that we have a little girl. Noah said, "How do you know? Did you look at her hair?"

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At supper yesterday, Isaiah said to me, "Good boy, Mommy!"