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  • Preparing for Advent

    I had purchased a wreath for Advent.  The plan was to have a simple purple bow for Advent.  After seeing Dawn’s wonderful idea, I knew I had to expand on my simple wreath. 

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    I’m not too happy with the bow, but it’ll do.  I wish I could make those wonderful full bows.  I think I needed to add one more loop on each side to accomplish the look I was going for.  I plan on changing the bow for a blue one on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.  I searched high and low for a rose colored ribbon for Gaudete Sunday, but haven’t located one yet.

    When I was putting the different activities on each notecard, I forgot that Thursday was the Feast of St. Nicholas.  I may change that day’s activities or add to it. 

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    Our activities are simple but I know the children will love them.  Tomorrow our activity is to get the tree.  We go to a wonderful farm where we could cut our own, but those trees are not great.  We will, instead, purchase a Douglas fir.  This particular farm has the best ones I’ve seen here in Texas. 

    I need to get off to bed and do my novena prayers before midnight (Yikes!  Why do I wait until before bedtime before saying these prayers!  Note to self:  Say them in the morning.)

  • Are You Okay?

    I was recounting for Brother’s speech therapist something that happened this weekend that astonished me.  It brought tears to my eyes. 

    Let me start at the beginning.  Whenever I or someone else would fall, Brother would laugh.  He thinks it’s very funny.  It never occurs to him that I could be hurt.  I once took quite a spill on my ceramic tiled kitchen floor.  My hip and leg hurt for days!

    Yesterday, as I was eating lunch, I heard a crash.  I waited to hear crying from whomever was hurt.  Instead, I heard Brother asking, "Honey, are you okay?"

    If you only knew what a milestone this is.  It’s huge.  Even my speech therapist was teary eyed.   

  • Thanksgiving Quiz

    HT:  Dawn and Matilda

    You Are The Stuffing
    You’re complicated and complex, yet all your pieces fit together.
    People miss you if you’re gone – but they’re not sure why.

  • Christmas Photo

    Every year we all dress in coordinating outfits and trek to a photographer for family photos.  The kids looked really cute this year.

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    And, check out that piano!  My parents gave it to us and I finally took care of the details of delivery.  The older two will be starting piano lessons soon.  I can’t wait.  I’ve been lucky to find a teacher who comes to our house for lessons. 

  • Ditch and Stitch

    A friend of mine hosted the first "Ditch and Stitch" at her house last week.  We all had a fabulous time.  I ran out of my red yarn that I was using, but still enjoyed the companionship.  The ditching of our responsibilities for the night really helped to relax all of us.

    Here’s what I’ve been working on.  In looking at the pictures I realize that I’m not knitting very evenly yet.  This first project is one I have completely finished.  I’m making dishcloths as gifts for Christmas.

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    This other project I’ve been working on for a LONG time.  I hope to finish it by Christmas, but don’t know if that’ll happen.  It’s a gift for a friend’s baby.  She’s already been born.  It may end up in her hope chest for her babies. 

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  • Day of Accomplishment

    Today, I set out to accomplish a great deal.  My plans were bigger than I had time for, but I did do a lot of work today.

    • Cleaned the master bedroom and bathroom.  Still need to dust the bedroom.
    • Cooked the pumpkin and pureed it for the pumpkin pie.  This is the first time I’ve ever done this and I can’t wait to make the pie.  I’ve been told it makes a great pie–much better than using the can.  I don’t like pies much but my whole family does.
    • Cooked the sauce for tomorrow’s dinner.  It’s a Little Flowers/Blue Knights day so we’re home a bit late.  That’s one less thing to do tomorrow.
    • Made a baked chicken dinner for tonight’s dinner.
    • Loads of laundry.  Two loads folded so far, one in the dryer, one in the washer and three more on the floor of the utility room.  I will finish by tomorrow (hopefully).  The biggest thing is that I actually put the laundry away–this usually is where I have the most trouble.

    Well, putting it down like that it seems I didn’t really do that much, but I’m exhausted. 

    Here’s what else I need to do:

    • Clean and declutter my office.  This is where I do my school planning and it’s impossible to do it in the state it’s in.
    • Clean and declutter the school room.  Just pushing papers, folders and books aside is not working as well anymore.  I need to get ready for Advent.  I love Advent and how we can put aside a lot (except the 3 Rs) for our unit studies.
    • Clean the other two bathrooms.  Did I really think 3 bathrooms would be good?  I guess I forgot about the cleaning part.  I’d love to have someone come in to just clean the bathrooms.  I’ve already decided that if Ben deploys again, I will.
    • Dust the living room.
    • Put Brother and Sister’s birthday photos into the frames.  Their birthdays were in August and it is November.
    • Finish my Christmas shopping list.  Imperative I finish this by Wednesday.  Sister is dancing in our local performance of the Nutcracker and our weekends are filled with rehearsals and performances so my shopping days are numbered.

    Okay, that’s it for now.  It feels better to have that list written down for now.  There are, of course, many, many more things to do, but this is a good start.

  • Pictures, Pictures and More Pictures

    I’m so late in getting these photos up.  Enjoy!

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  • Loveliness of Handmade Gifts

    The Loveliness of Handmade Gifts is up at Dawn’s blog, By Sun and Candlelight (one of my all time favorite blogs for stealing ideas getting inspiration).  There is a plethora of ideas to peruse.  Enjoy!

  • Uncle Richard

    Please pray for Uncle Richard.  He is Ben’s great uncle and a priest.  A few months ago, he had surgery to amputate his hand because of cancer.  They did not get it all.  It has spread throughout his body and he only has a short time left.  He has moved into hospice care and will stay there until the end.

    Uncle Richard performed our nuptial mass and baptised all the children.  He holds a special place in our hearts.

    Heavenly Father, we pray for Uncle Richard.  He has worked his life in service to You.  Please make his last days comfortable.  In the end I know that Thy will be done.  Amen.

  • Blog Neglect

    Oh, my poor blogs, they are so neglected.  Life keeps intruding and I’ve not been able to get a good groove going with anything.  I’m hoping that the time change coupled with some changes in our evening routine will help. 

    Having said that, I’m going to make a concerted effort to update my sidebars.  That’s on my mile long to-do list.  Stay tuned.