Busy B's...

~on Bricks, Baseball, Baby showers, and Beating the heat...

Just breathing (and putting my feet up this evening) after another incredibly busy weekend.

I've been continuing to clean and declutter my way through the house, one closet...one corner...one room at a time. Friday and Saturday, the kids helped me in the basement. It's been the kids' "haven" since we moved in here, which works perfectly well for us. But with the intention of selling the house soon, it seemed necessary to "take back" some of the space, and show off it's full potential. There's a brick fireplace down there (which we've never used, and in fact has remained hidden behind a large storage chest) that someone would love, I think. Friday evening, we took down posters and kids' artwork, scrubbed walls (ahhh...to be rid of the crayon markings), and took apart the large wall of desks the older kids have been enjoying for some time now as their "big kid space." We moved and rearranged the cozy couch and loveseat around the fireplace to make a nice seating/tv area. On Saturday we sorted and reorganized all the toys to a smaller designated area of the basement. Between the two areas is a table and chairs for games/coloring/etc. It all flows so much nicer now, and looks clean and tidy. I love it. Alice and Emma helped me with a really cool white-washing paint technique on the very dark, dated brickwork around the fireplace. It turned out gorgeous and I could kick myself for not doing if 5 years ago. The basement just seems generally brighter and more family-friendly, rather than just a giant rompous room. So glad to have that job under my belt...now we just have to work to keep it tidy. (no easy task.)

Sam had a baseball tournament all day on Saturday in nearby Versailles. With games at 11a, 2:30, and 5:30p and temperatures in the 90's...it was sure to be a HOT one. John spent the day there with him, while the other kids and I stayed home getting jobs done in the basement. We met them for the 5:30 game, but with delays in the schedule it didn't get started till closer to 7. Wow. I was hot and tired just sitting around waiting...I can't imagine how tuckered those boys felt (and parents who were out there all day with them!) It was 9 till we were home and ordered some pizza. We met up with other families to end the day with some cold drinks and fireworks at one of the teammates home. They didn't fare well in the tourney, but it was a good learning experience. This is Sam's first year on the traveling team, and he seems to be enjoying it, and learning...it's all good. As for me, I'm learning too. Expect delays, pack more cold water, and lawn chairs beat bleachers anyday. Pack them!
On Sunday the girls and I attended a baby shower for our niece. There was another young first-time mom there, who would probably be horrified to know I'm including her on the blog here. But I must admit, I left feeling so grateful to know that my kids are not the only one in the world who managed to spit up all over their aunties, or to poop all over someone else's carpet. Poor little mama. She handled it all in great stride...quite gracefully I thought. I remember feeling so horrified everytime we went to a party and one of my babies would most certainly, spit up an entire feeding all over the most well dressed auntie in the place. Or leak a poopy diaper all over someone's lap. Without fail. And it was only my kids that did this, I was certain. Oh, it was nice to be on the observing end for once, and not have to feel apologetic and guilt-ridden for the messes my kids left behind. I left with a feeling of understanding...been there, done that, bought the t-shirt. Grateful to know we mom's are not alone in our personal miseries of doo-doo, spit-up mishaps that our kids leave behind to keep us humble.

As for beating the heat....well, just grinning and bearing it. Sounds like we'll be getting a reprieve here the next couple days. Praise the Lord! Can't wait to open the windows and get fresh air circulating through the house again. I've got some more touch-up painting to do this week. The fresh air will be nice.

Have a blessed week everyone!

Bartering Band-its.

Are your kids into these?

Silly bands, Crazy bands, whatever you call them...I wish I'd thunk them up! Simple, colorful rubberbands that take the shape of all sorts of things from sports themes, treats, animals, you name it. When you take them off, they return to their cool shape. My kids are NUTS about them.

I bought a couple packs for vacation as something small that the kids could trade in the van. My sisters-in-law did the same, and as our kids swapped vans for the long haul to NY, they also spent hours (and I do mean HOURS) swapping bracelets as well. Boys and girls alike, all ages, it was a crazy phenomenon happening. Just when you thought all was settled a tiny voice 4 benches behind me would hollar out, "Does someone want to trade an ice cream cone for a hockey stick?" And the bartering would begin again.

Oh, I'm sure it will be short-lived like every little fad, and I am tired of finding them all over the house, but what great travel entertainment it provided. I even caught the kids trading with newfound friends while at the Falls. Very cool indeed...like the jelly bracelets of the 80's with a cool twist.

Niagara Falls: A travel log

First in a series of posts about our recent travels to New York

Setting the scene:

Our plans were to meet at Grandpa's house early Friday morning, to meet and caravan to New York...leaving by 9am. We would be celebrating Fathers Day at Niagara Falls with John's dad, and 7 other of John's siblings...some bringing kids, some not. Some families had extended travel plans before or after, but there would end up being 6 vehicles traveling together on Friday during some part of the trip, and 39 of us enjoying the weekend together.

Back track 24 hours...

~Laundry is in full swing, and it doesn't matter how full I stuff my washer, kids still seem to be dirtying clothes faster than I can get them clean. I may just have to stuff the kids (in dirty clothes) into the suitcases.

~Groceries (car snacks, breakfast foods to eat in our hotel room, picnic lunch for the drive, and other trip essentials like non-ginormous-size shampoo/conditioner bottles) have been purchased and hidden in the basement so that they might actually still be here when it's time to pack.

~Suitcases have been brought down from the storage closet and aired out (dusted) to get ready for packing (if I can get ahead on laundry.)

My plan is to pack for the twelve of us for a 3 day trip (leaving Fri, returning either Sun or Mon.)

That means 3 sets of clothing each(4 for the younger more accident prone), pajamas, swimsuits, jackets, shoes, and of course food. I usually try to pack games and small toys, but space in the van is at a premium...so we'd have to choose only necessities.

~By 11pm, I had the bags packed. We managed to fit all our things into 1 luggage set...the kids clothes in the largest case, John and I had our clothes in the smaller suitcase, jackets in a small duffle, all swimgear in a backpack, and a final bag for bathroom essentials, diapers, and pj's. And good news...it all fit in the 10 inch space in the back of our 15 passenger van. (these vans were definitely designed to haul people...not stuff.) A large cooler fit between the front seats (which meant I would be unable to climb to the back without gymnastics involved.) and a few small bags of snack/groceries fit under the front bench seat. The kids were allowed to pack games or books...only what they could fit into a small tote that remained in their seat. It would be tight.

I had everything packed into the van with the exception of the cooler by 1am. Kids clothes were laid out for morning, coffee pot set-up...planning to eat, load the cooler and head out. We'll see what Friday morning brings...

...more to come in another post.

so, that's where that got to!

I cleaned out the linen closet last evening.


Pause for a moment while I go look again.... yep, she's a thing of beauty.


When I open the door, I hear sweet music, and a choir with lights shining down...it's heavenly.
All items neatly folded, each shelf organized by bed-size...full size, twin size, queen size, toddler bed sheets...lovely. There are even labels on the shelves indicating what belongs where. I placed the labels there years ago, but they've not been seen in many moons. Somehow, 10 year olds helping with laundry, and middle of the night linen emergencies wreak havoc on a linen closet. But things are sorted once more, and all is right with the world again. Oh so nice. Martha Stewart would be pleased. It's a good thing, indeed.
Even more magical are the treasures I found on the floor...items that rolled in under the door from the hardwood hallway that lies beyond. It was like opening a time capsule. There was John's matchbox little red van (a mini version of what his dad drives) that he got for pooping on the potty for the first time (3+ years ago.) Emma had drumsticks once...then things got quiet...now we know why. They rolled into the silence of the linen closet. Polly Pocket had stored an entire wardrobe in one corner. Oh, and there were bouncy balls. But shhhhh. What the kids don't know, won't hurt them right? I know NOTHING of any bouncy balls...nope nothing. All gone. Bye bye bouncies...forever....to a place much more permanent than the confines of my sheets and blankies.

Yes...my sheets and blankies. Let me go peak again.

Just lovely. I love organization. It's a good thing.

half-baked

It's been over a week ago now since I had my routine ultrasound to check on little baby to be. I'd wanted to scan a picture to share, but seeing as I'm not getting it done, I thought I'd better update without it. We're past the half-way mark now, and little baby is developing beautifully. I never cease to be amazed at the miracle of life as witnessed on an ultrasound monitor...all that movement, and activity and growth going on inside the womb. And all the time I'm almost completely unaware, except for the occasional flutters and kicks. Amazing. I saw the baby gripping it's ear with tiny little fingers, kicking it's legs and flailing little arms. Just awesome! I've managed to cry through every ultrasound...it just doesn't get old. A perfect miracle called life.
The technician at the hospital was very thorough in all aspects of measurement...leg length, head and abdomen circumfrence, even looking at little kidneys, checking the developing spine, listening to and counting the heartbeat (150 beautiful beats per minute), and checking for sufficient amniotic fluid for the little bean to continue to thrive in. Thorough that is, until it came to checking for "private parts," which I asked her for now to keep private. No peeks down there until baby arrives in late October/early November.
So the naming game continues, brothers and sisters keep guessing, and I'm so incredibly excited to meet the little him or her, face-to-face for the first time.
God is good. Thanks for continued prayers.

...oh, and any name suggestions?

Spring Cleaning

~better late than never.

Blogger is offering new designs, so I've decided to spruce up around here and redecorate a bit. It goes right along with what we've been up to here on the homefront too. Aside from just returning from a weekender in Niagara Falls. (That packing, planning, vacation adventure will have to wait for another post.)
The bigger news is that we're looking to put our house on the market, so we've been busy sprucing up, cleaning out, tossing, sorting, scrubbing crayon-marked walls, and all sorts of little tidy-up jobs that will hopefully help make for a smooth (i.e. "quick") sale. We've been looking at another home...our "forever" home, if you will. No details to spill about that just yet though, until things are more final on that front.
John and I knew when we moved in here that it would likely only be for a few years. We were expecting our 7th child then, and figured 5-10 years here would be our max. The location has been ideal for us though...so close to school, pool, parks, everything in walking/biking distance for the kids. But we've outgrown it several times over, and with baby #11 coming, God seemed to place this next (and final) home right there within our reach. It's so perfect for our big family...can't wait to finalize a contract so I can spill more about that.
For now...keep us in your prayers, that if it's meant to be, it will. So many things happened so perfectly up until this point, I can't help but think it's His hand making it happen. And if it's not, well...He's certainly given me hope that the right place is out there for us...and for that I'm grateful too. Good night, and God bless.

(oh, and if you know someone who's looking to move to this area...)

Let me take you down...

...cause I'm going to, strawberry fields. ~the Beatles.

(okay, so I'm too young to know what that song is really about...but that was our adventure for the week. Strawberry pickin'!!)

It's funny, I haven't picked strawberries at a fruit farm since I was a wee little kid. My older neighbor lady asked mom if she could borrow us kids for the day to help her pick berries. (Yes...free, slave labor.) And my memories of that day are not kind. It seems to me we picked berries in the sweltering sun and heat ALL DAY LONG, and ended with nothing to show for it. Uggh. Bet she made some nice pies though. (curses.)

So, I got to thinking. Why should I have all the fond memories. Our kids are old enough to enjoy a day in the fields, picking, and swiping a few fresh berries along the way. They'll LOVE it. Right??

Actually. They did. It was a cooler morning on Tuesday, and we spent only an hour bent over gathering the sweetest, ripest berries we could muster. It was easy work...apparently a bumper-crop year for strawberries here. And the kids didn't complain at all. Huh. How 'bout that! All the kids (minus Alice and Emma who were at camp this week) went with us, and picked till their ice cream bucket's were full. Oh, except Lucy too. She spent the hour traipsing aimlessly between the rows, giggling with delight as the sweet berry juice covered her face and dripped down her elbows. She was tickled pink. Literally. Turns out they all want to do it again next year. As for me...well, my knees and thighs are feeling the pain from all that scrunching. And my fingers seem permanently stained red from all the strawberries I've been putting up this week...several pies, lots of frozen berries, and 24 pints of jam later...I think it will take me the whole year to muster up the energy to go back again.

We picked 8 buckets of the juicy red berries. Delicious!!

Enough to keep Lucy smiling and sweet as ever. (Note the pink drips going down the front of her shirt. I didn't think to bring the camera along...the pink seed-smeared face, hands, elbows, and knees was priceless!)
Ahhh...and the rewards of our labors...fresh strawberry pie (and jam, and sauce, and plain berries. Yumm!)

Abram would be so disappointed...

I found it funny, ironic, silly, a little God-smiling moment that this Sunday's first reading was of Abram giving one tenth of all that he had to God. These words came on the heels of a conversation I had earlier this week with the kids about saving money. (They are going to eat their way through their savings on ice cream from the local Tasty Treat by mid-July if they don't buckle down a bit.) I reminded them that they have to consider "wants" vs. "needs" and the importance of good spending/saving habits...the usual mom-spiel that typically falls on deaf ears. Five-year-old John was certain he understood when he smacked down his fist on the table, and announced "That's it! No more money in my church envelope! It's wasting!"

Ummm.

That's not what I meant. So how do I explain my way out of this one. Sure enough, as the kids picked through their change jars for their Sunday offering envelope, he minimized for sure. He's serious about his cutting back.

The little miser.

the Litany of my little Saints

"How do you keep them all straight?"

I'm asked the question so often, I don't think much of it anymore. And in fact, even parents (and grandparents) of just a couple seem to have the same trouble. You surely know how it goes...looking directly into the eyes of one of your little saints, you scramble through the entire list of names before you get to the right one, often settling on a "oh, you know who you are!" type finish before the verbal reprimand ensues. (It is usually when one of the saints is in trouble, that we typically fluster through the names, right?)

Anyhow, a dear friend and I were talking at the pool last night about this same subject, and she jokingly called this name-fumbling her "Litany" of her little Saints. She suggested that if she considers each misnomer an offering of prayer for the names mentioned, then by the time she gets to the right name, she'll have prayed for her kiddos, as well as hopefully gained a little more patience for the "saint" she's intending to deal with at that time.

LOVE that idea!!! Thanks April. You've changed the way I feel about calling the wrong names...now it's a good thing, and will hopefully put my heart in the right place by the time I get to name #10.

The weather started out a little iffy yesterday, cloudy & overcast, even rain showers in the afternoon. By evening though, it couldn't have been more beautiful. The sun brought with it temperatures into the 80's. There was no breeze...the perfect night for a backyard campfire. And 'smores of course! ...our first of the summer.

...and mmmmmm were they delicious! The kids had friends over to play a little backyard football. A perfect night for that too.
Mary and John stopped to pose for a moment. (the recent grads) Say cheese!

Today's weather is even more beautiful...hot and sunny in the 80's. Oh welcome back summer weather! We've missed you.

Sweet siblings

~photos from the weekend.

Sisters are blossoms in the garden of life. ~Author Unknown

"hip-waders" ~Silly girls splashing in a rain puddle

~the four youngest hamming it up before graduation ceremony on Friday.

Con GRAD ulations Mary and John!!

These two, my second set of twins, have graduated beyond the walls of half-day kindergarden to full-time first graders. Oh my! Could someone please hit "pause" or at least "slow motion" for just a little while. Wasn't it just yesterday we blinked and they were heading out the door for their first day of kindergarden?!

This can only mean one thing...Charlie's next. Not kindergarden just yet...he'll need a year with Jackie first. (a local preschool teaching "legend" of sorts.) He'll need that. I'll have to adjust.

..excuse me while I go wipe away the tears...(of bittersweet sadness/joy/jubilation, you decide.)

baby steps

I remember my first car phone. It was a hand-me-down from my dad for all the driving I did while living at home and attending nursing school. He always worried that I might have trouble along the road and preferred I keep it with me.

My kids would laugh out loud if they could see it now. It was about the size of a toaster, built into a vinyl/velcro case, and could only be used when plugged into your car cigarette lighter. But it was mobile, and it was the BOMB!

After college, I paid for my first cellular phone plan with a smaller more compact phone...one that could actually be used without a car or lighter. I was 2o. (Alice and Emma...are you reading this? 20, and I paid the bill with my own paycheck.) Texting was not an option then.
I've upgraded maybe 3 times in those 17 years since. Even went several of those years without one. (Gasp!) And even though we currently have a cell phone (just one) it spends 90% of it's days "charging" on the kitchen counter. I rarely remember to carry it, and when we do take a trip and think it wise to bring it along...the battery's dead, so it's turned off and charging in the car while we drive. I think you see the pattern here. (If you're trying to reach us, your best bet would be call home and leave a message...we eventually come home to eat, and see the light flashing on the machine.)
Anyhow, our most recent cell phone was nearing the end, refusing to hold a charge anymore and just generally a pain, so I upgraded. Turns out our plan was so old, we had a lot of upgrading to do...but that's another scam of a story altogether. I ended up with a beauty of little gizmo...in red (my favorite color). It takes pictures, has a full keyboard for texting, has a calculator and tip figure-outer, alarm clocks and calendars. And get this, you can even make phone calls! My 10 year olds think it's pretty hip too. I'm slowly entering the world of text-messaging now, thanks to a teenage neice and her family who ONLY reply to texts. Seems they have no use for e-mail, or telephones, or even the flashing lights on the machine. Anyhow. I'm having fun with the whole texting thing...and sending out and recieving one liners for the silliest of reasons. I texted mom to tell her we saw a hummingbird on our feeder. (Then I called her about it, and told her again later that day at the ballgame.) So, it's not really a necessity by any means. It's fun, and completely inefficient for my intents and purposes. But, I'm slowly dipping my feet into the techno pond, and who knows, maybe someday (when it's free, or being given out in bubble gum machines) we'll even try our hand at web-browsing or twittering or whatever people do with phone/texter/calculator/tip-figure-outer/camera/web-surfing thing-a-ma-bobs. Baby steps Jamie...baby steps.

My first phone wouldn't fit in my glove compartment. This one gets lost in my pocket. I think I'd like lipstick to match. How cute?!

cartoon confusion

Little Rose seems to have gotten her cartoon "buzz" words a little mixed up. As she charged around the corner of the house and down the driveway for more sidewalk chalk, she hollared out "To in-Phineus and beyond!" ...just cute as a bug's ear!

(for you non-Disney cable cartoon watchers...Phineus and Ferb is a fun little cartoon the kids love, and Buzz Lightyear of the movie Toy Story made famous the line "To infinity and beyond.")

juggling baseballs

Whew.

We made it through what is scheduled to be our toughest game-night of the season. A 2 hour choir party overlapping 4 kids playing 3 games in 2 different towns all scheduled for the same time. Typically the kids ride their bikes to games, but with the threat of storms, and the overlapping schedule tonight, it meant the Big Red Bus was going to be taxi-ing a bit more than ususal. And everyone tells me it's just going to get worse as they get older. Yikes. Just one day, one moment at a time...

3:15 kids arrive home from school, and raid the snack cupboard. I had splurged today and made apple crisp...so we had that with a dallop of vanilla ice cream.
(a quick homework check...reading, and writing, and spelling lists.)
3:50 Load all passengers into the van for transport...Alice and Sam have their "end of the year" Choir Party at the bowling alley. Supposed to last till 6, but I've given them strict instructions to meet me at the door at 5:20...and on to games.
4:30 supper, potty breaks & diaper change, and scurrying to find shoes and socks for all the kids at home (too tough to keep gravel out of the flip-flops and sandals at the baseball park), as we prepare to pick up Alice and Sam, and move into baseball/softball mode.
Grace and Emma are getting dressed for their games, and still trying to help me with readying the little ones as I finish cleaning up from supper. It was hotdogs, chips, pudding, strawberries, and milk tonight...simple (though not-so-healthy) crowd pleaser.
5:20 We're just getting out the door, and I'm sure Alice and Sam are waiting for me.
5:30 pick up Alice and Sam...
drop Sam off at home to get dressed for his game. Alice is changing shoes in the van.
5:40 dropping Alice and Emma off at the ball park to catch their caravan...away game in New Bremen tonight.
5:45 back at home...picking up Sam, making sure he and Grace have waterbottles, and mitts, and cleats double-knotted...and we're back in the van dropping them off for warm-ups prior to their 6:30 games. Thank goodness their playing on back-to-back diamonds.
6:00 while we're out and about, we stop by grandma and grandpas to return a dish, and visit a bit before we have to be back at the park for gametime.
6:30 game time...constant head-count as the 6 youngest spend most of their time playing in the gravel with a half a dozen other kids who remembered to bring trucks and sand toys for entertainment. A constant walk-about between Sam and Grace's games to try to catch them at-bat, or even in the dugout for a quick thumbs-up. I saw very little of either game...but it seems important to at least make the effort.
8:15 back at home to breathe and begin baths. 10 kids playing in gravel and dirt. No one could skip tonight.
9:15 the last of them are in bed...and I'm feeling like I might not be too far behind. Just a few loose ends to tie up in the kitchen...thank goodness I managed to get laundry folded this afternoon. Well...except for all these baseball uniforms...more games on Saturday. Better go toss a load into the washer while I'm thinking of it.

In all the chaos, a simple moment shared...like when Lucy chimes along with our "Angel of God" prayer as we walk up the stairs to bed...and she giggles when we pray for the "baby in mom's belly." (Maybe she's laughing that I'd want to add to the craziness...or maybe she just likes the notion of another little baby in the house...I think it's the latter.)

Yep. Life is good. God is good. We are blessed.
G'night all.

Pretty as a Rose (and a Lucy)

The littlest girls in this house seem to love touring the yard with me to check for signs of new blooms. This week we had several new arrivals including Peonies (our first year for them...and so exciting to watch the ants scurry about!), Clematis (perfectly timed to surround our statue of the Blessed Mother during her month of May), Irises, Coral Bells (welcome humming birds!), and some lingering Lilacs(my personal favorite smell of spring). Lucy still holds on to my pinky finger as she leans forward and beckons me to "c'mere mom." She can't get to the pretties quick enough. Today I let them each pick a few blooms to play with, and eventually place in water on the windowsill.

They seemed to have trouble deciding when I asked them which was the prettiest...

Lucy thinks that none are as "pretty as a Rose!" Thank you Lord for these sweet, sweet girls (and the "pretties" you provide for us to enjoy.)

Recipe Box~ must try this bread!

~No Knead to Tell Anyone How SIMPLE This Is!!!

Don't get me wrong, I love to knead a good dough once in awhile, but occasionally life gets in the way. Time is of the essence. Need a good scrumptious, homemade bread yesterday...not 6 hours from now.
I'm making a lunch for someone in our parish tomorrow who is recovering from surgery, and thought veggie soup and homemade bread would hit the spot. Unfortunately, I thought of it at 9:30 tonight, and really didn't want to spend ALL NIGHT working the dough, and waiting, and working...you get the picture. Then I remembered reading about this bread that Danielle (yes we're on a first name basis, remember?) suggested on Faith and Family Live, a yeast bread that requires no kneeding!! So I thought...let's get 'er done! I just pulled the loaves out of the oven about 1/2 hour ago (yes, I doubled the recipe) and nibbled the crust off one end (with a dallop of butter of course) and oooh...crisp crust, tender light middle...ahhh. Delicous!

Here's the recipe. Go ahead. Try it tonight, or maybe tomorrow...it's supposed to be cooler for the weekend, right?! As if that really matters....go ahead. YUMMM!

Easy Batter Bread

1 package dry yeast
1 1/2 cups milk, warmed
3 tablespoons butter, softened
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon sugar
3 cups all purpose flour

Sprinkle the yeast over the warm milk and butter in a large mixing bowl, stir, and let stand to dissolve for a minute or so. Add the salt, sugar, and 2 cups of the flour. With a wooden spoon, beat vigorously for 2 minutes, or with an electric mixer for about 1 minute. Add the remaining flour and beat well. Pour batter into a greased 8 1/2” x 4 1/2” x 2 1/2” loaf pan and smooth top with wet fingertips. Cover lightly and let rise to top of the pan, about 30-45 minutes. Bake in a preheated 375 degree F. oven for 45 minutes. Turn loaf out of pan and onto wire rack to cool.

(I do have to note here, that in no way could my batter be "poured" into the pans. It was thick and very sticky...but spooned in just fine, and turned out remarkable.)

Mothers Day Memories

~not sure it gets any better than this...

My window sill is lined with styrofoam cups full of all sorts of mystery flowers...lots of green with few actual blooms. A stack of homemade cards covers the desk in the kitchen...complete with promises to take out the trash, empty the dishwasher and the like. I scored a whole treasure trove of homemade trinkets like pipe cleaner bracelets, heart shaped bead crafts, and more. It can only mean one thing...I had a simply divine Mothers Day! Of course I wore the bracelets to mass on Sunday...the girls worked so hard on them. I couldn't have been more humbled as I stood with other moms to recieve a blessing. And yet I was painfully aware of other women, who like myself some years ago, are longing to be the ones standing. I pray for them, that God may find it in his plans to answer their prayers.

I'd be remiss to ignore the best part of my day though...my first waking moments of shear joy...Breakfast in bed! Yes. You read it right. The 6 girls teamed together Sunday morning to deliver a delicious, (well-rounded, even) breakfast of hot oatmeal (with a hint of brown sugar--just the way I love it), warm buttery toast, yogurt, and milk complete with 2 mini donuts. (They were glad to help me eat what I couldn't....like the donuts...and the yogurt...and oh yeah...milk, blech!) Tears spill out again just typing about the thoughtfulness that went in to those few moments. Each of them worked together...little Lucy played her part well. She was sent in to snuggle between mom and dad to keep us in bed just a little longer. Meanwhile the 5 older girls shared the kitchen work, and yes, even cleaned up when they were done! (gasp!) They delivered it on a lovely little wicker tray they had to dig for out of storage in the basement, and just beamed as I oohed and ahhhed over each and every bite.

I can't begin to explain how my heart welled up in those moments with the girls. (John had slipped into the kitchen to make coffee, God love him!) This simple act of kindness, a pouring out of love...it was everything I could have ever prayed for, and yet never even knew was possible before becoming a mom. Truly I am blessed. God is present in these moments, waiting to be found, an expression of LOVE, His love. I am so grateful for this Sunday morning God-moment, long before we were ever present with Him at mass. I praise Him too, for the lives He has entrusted us with, and am reminded especially at Mothers Day of a time not so long ago, when it seemed we would never have a family of our own. God is good!

Of course the boys rolled out of bed and into our moment just as I finished, and wondered what all the hoopla was about. Typical boys...oblivious, and yet quick to throw in a warm "Happy Mother's Day mom!" as if they were part of the whole breakfast plan. cute.
My 6 bed-headed beauties delivering a tray full of love this Mother's Day. (if you listen closely, you can hear their 4 brothers still snoring just down the hall)

"It's not having what you want
It's wanting what you've got" ~Cherly Crow, Soak up the Sun lyrics


May we enter each day with a greatful heart. Thank you Lord for gentle reminders of your goodness in all things. (and thanks for that little dance Lucy and I shared today after breakfast...kick, kick, kick...spin, spin...and freestyle!)

My own kleenex commercial

okay, I'm pregnant. So it's no surprise that tears well up at the drop of a hat, as my hormones wreak havoc with my emotions, not to mention my complection.
That being said, surely you'll understand how a simple question posed by a 3 year old boy, and his Dad's loving "yes" got me all choked up today.

Frank: Dad, will play ball with me?
Dad: Yes! Let's go.

(mom's in tears, and fighting back sobs.) Tissues anyone?