Apr. 30, 2008 - Robin's Nest

Here's science right outside our window. We found these three robin's eggs in a nest right in a bush in our backyard. As you can see the birds' made use of our Easter basket grass that must have gotten outside somehow.

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Apr. 28, 2008 - Good Morning!

Good morning, friends! It's Monday morning...the beginning of another week. This week is an especially exciting week for Ariella. She is receiving her First Holy Communion on Saturday. Another milestone proving to me that I'm doing something right. I am just so proud of her as she undergoes this next Sacrament in her life. She has a retreat this afternoon and then two more days of practice. She's nervous but very much excited. Plus, Uncle Jim (my brother, who is almost in his last year of the Seminary studying to be a priest and also Ariella's Godfather) has a special surprise for her. I only know part of the surprise and I can't say too much just in case Ariella decides to read my blog this week! But it's very cool! It's sure to make an extra special day even more so.

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Apr. 24, 2008 - Sound of Music

So the other day I was browsing the sale books in our library's lobby when I came across The Sound of Music. I purchased it a nd brought it home to play for the girls, who enjoyed it more than I thought they would. Maybe it was because they have been without television for the [past month, but they sat and watched it and asked questions. We got to talking about Hitler and the Nazi's and why the Von Trapp family had to leave and all that. I thought it would be a little over their heads and it was but it opened up a good discussion on racism and government.

On a side note, the most difficult part about watching the movies was holding back when the music came on. I forgot how catchy that soundtrack was. A few days after watching it, I even caught Kaylah humming "how do you solve a problem like Maria."

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Apr. 24, 2008 - Missed our last day of co-op

Ariella's pretty upset that we slept late and missed our last day of co-op. I just couldn't pull it together. We were all up at 4 am and made it out to breakfast. In fact, the kids rode their bikes and I pushed the stroller to a nearby restaurant at 6:30 this morning. We were home and playing baseball in the yard by 7:30. At 9, we all had it and headed in for a nap. We all slept (except Milana, who we had to wake) until 1:30. We did manage to do some math and a lot of reading today. Because it has been such beautiful weather lately, we've been making great use of the blanket in the yard. It's been serving us well for picnics and read-alouds.

I think next week we're having a field day or picnic with co-op and then the week after we're heading on a field trip with everyone. So, it won't be the last time that we see everyone. Ariella is going to a friend's sleepover party tomorrow night, so I'll find out the scoop from her mom who is also in our co-op about what we missed. Ariella was just disappointed that she wasn't there for the fiesta on the last day of her Spanish class.

We did make it to pajama storytime tonight. Did I ever say how much I love our library?! I am so glad that I found this smaller local library. I get all my inter-library books shipped there. We know all the librarians...who by the way are so incredibly sweet and very helpful. Just going there gives me a warm fuzzy feeling and my kids absoilutely love going there because they feel the same way. We just feel so welcomed and it's totally different from the large library in our township.

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Apr. 24, 2008 - Happy Birthday, Jason!

Jason turned 31. It's that time of year again whereas for 4 months I won't be robbing the cradle (we're the same age until August!) We had a little party for him the night of his birhthday. Ariella and Kaylah made the cake entirely by themselves and it turned out very yummy. Happy Birthday, babe.

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Apr. 22, 2008 - In Light of Mother's Day

This is for the mothers who have sat up all night with sick toddlers in their arms, wiping up barf laced with Oscar Mayer wieners and cherry Kool-Aid saying, "It's okay honey, Mommy's here."

Who have sat in rocking chairs for hours on end soothing crying babies who can't be comforted.
This is for all the mothers who show up at work with spit-up in their hair and milk stains on their blouses and diapers in their purse.

For all the mothers who run carpools and make cookies and sew Halloween costumes. And all the mothers who DON'T.

This is for the mothers who gave birth to babies they'll never see. And the mothers who took those babies and gave them homes.

This is for the mothers whose priceless art collections are hanging on their refrigerator doors.

And for all the mothers who froze their buns on metal bleachers at football or soccer games instead of watching from the warmth of their cars. And that when their kids asked, "Did you see me, Mom?" they could say, "Of course, I wouldn't have missed it for the world," and mean it.

This is for all the mothers who yell at their kids in the grocery store and swat them in despair when they stomp their feet and scream for ice cream before dinner. And for all the mothers who count to ten instead, but realize how child abuse happens.

This is for all the mothers who sat down with their children and explained all about making babies. And for all the (grand)mothers who wanted to, but just couldn't find the words.

This is for all the mothers who go hungry, so their children can eat. For all the mothers who read "Goodnight, Moon" twice a night for a year. And then read it again, "Just one more time."

This is for all the mothers who taught their children to tie their shoelaces before they started school. And for all the mothers who opted for Velcro instead.

This is for all the mothers who teach their sons to cook and their daughters to sink a jump shot.

This is for every mother whose head turns automatically when a little voice calls "Mom?" in a crowd, even though they know their own offspring are at home -- or even away at college -- or have their own families.

This is for all the mothers who sent their kids to school with stomach aches, assuring them they'd be just FINE once they got there, only to get calls from the school nurse an hour later asking them to please pick them up. Right away.

This is for mothers whose children have gone astray, who can't find the words to reach them. For all the mothers who bite their lips until they bleed when their 14 year olds dye their hair green.

For all the mothers of the victims of recent school shootings, and the mothers of those who did the shooting. For the mothers of the survivors, and the mothers who sat in front of their TVs in horror, hugging their child who just came home from school, safely.

This is for all the mothers who taught their children to be peaceful, and now pray they come home safely from a war.

What makes a good mother anyway? Is it patience? Compassion? Broad hips? The ability to nurse a baby, cook dinner, and sew a button on a shirt, all at the same time?

Or is it in her heart? Is it the ache she feels when she watches her son or daughter disappear down the street, walking to school alone for the very first time?

The jolt that takes her from sleep to dread, from bed to crib at 2 A.M. to put her hand on the back of a sleeping baby?
The panic, years later, that comes again at 2 A.M. when she just wants to hear their key in the door and know they are safe again in her home? Or the need to flee from wherever she is and hug her child when she hears news of a fire, a car accident, a child dying?

The emotions of motherhood are universal and so our thoughts are for young mothers stumbling through diaper changes and sleep deprivation... And for mature mothers learning to let go.

For working mothers and stay-at-home mothers.

Single mothers and married mothers.

Mothers with money, mothers without.

This is for you all. For all of us...

Hang in there. In the end we can only do the best we can. Tell them every day that we love them. And pray and never stop being a mother...

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Apr. 20, 2008 - Valley Forge

Ariella and Kaylah in front of a log cabin used by soldiers at Valley Forge during the winter of 1776-1777

 

The kids in front of General Washington's headquarters

Ariella and Kaylah on the cannons that overlooked Valley Forge National Park

 We had such a great time exploring VF National Park. We spent all day there and still didn't make it to all the exhibits or sites in the park. Next time I'm hoping to make it to the History of Scouting Museum and the Cathedral that is at the end of the VF Encampment tour. Can't do it all, I suppose. We did learn a lot about the winter spent at VF and about that part of the Revolutionary War.

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Apr. 16, 2008 - School today

Milana and I spent some time this morning playing outside. She was the only one up so we got dressed and headed outside. I'm trying to rip up the sod where our garden is going to be, so I worked on that a litle bit then I sat and drank some coffee while I watched her play. Then I woirked a little longer until my mom showed up for a pre-work visit! The rest of the kids woke up...they must have heard Grandmom's voice!

After Grandmom left, Ariella and Kaylah got to work on their Valley Forge scrapbooks. They started the books yesterday during our trip, but last night I printed out our pictures from the day and they were anxious to get them into their books. I also helped them cut out pictures from the brochures we picked up there. They worked on their books for quite some time. I think Ariella spent more than an hour coloring, writing, and gluing. Kaylah spent maybe a half hour on hers until she decided playing with the babies was more enjoyable for her. The books ended up looking great. You can definitely tell they spenttheiur time on them and that they had a fun time at Valley Forge.

We spent the rest of the afternoon outside up until we had to leave for the circus. We had lunch outside and I started to read the girls Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan and actually ended up finishing it (it's a chapter book--pretty good read actually). We took breaks to play on the swing set, to plant our seeds in egg cartons, and to play a game of catch, but we kept going back to the blanket to read the book. Kaylah sat for a while but would wander away for a while then retuurn to listen more. Ariella kept wanting me to read on and laid beside me on the blanket as I did.  

For our baseball game, I added a little math to the game by making Ariella answer math facts before I would pitch her the ball. She still adds by counting in her head. She loves math and I was going to continue with the multiplication tables but I know she needs more practice with addition and subtraction. I want her to be able to know her facts not figure them out in her head each time. We definitely need to practice more with it. I suppose I will give her addition drill on our car rides.

The circus was fun. My parents watched J and we took only Milana...for no other reason but that we only had 6 tickets and my sister wanted to go. It was Milana's first time and she was mesmorized. I don't think she blinked once during the show. Jason would have enjoyed the show too, especially the animals. We really missed not having him with us. But the rest of the kids had a fantastic time and all had their most favorite parts. Thanks, mom!

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