Our Mouse

Marcel (a.k.a. Mouse) has had the frustrating habit of sucking on anything that is made of paper or cardboard.  He'll put an entire paper towel in his mouth and just chew and suck on it(!).

I feel that this reflects poorly on me, his harried mother.  "Am I such a bad mother that my 2-year-old can be chewing on various large pieces of paper and not notice that he's doing it?"

In an effort to stem this habit, I purchased him some gum.  He's truly enjoying his gum chewing.  However, from time to time,  he looks to revert back to his paper/cardboard fetish.

Today, I was sort of sorry to discover what he'd been chewing on:

Mom:  Marcel?  What is in your mouth?

Marcel:  This!  [[ he hands me a waded up green ball ]]

As I unrolled it, I saw a familiar face.

That was a mouth-full!

Which One Of These Things...

Doesn't Belong?

An Honest Mistake

To the member of the M&Ms/Mars research team that suggested "Dark Chocolate M&Ms were a good idea":    You.  Were.  Wrong.  Mixing that delectable  candy coating with chocolate that tastes like it has too much cocoa powder is just not decent.

And that's just the beginning.  In addition, your company has decided to market said product in a deceptive packaging that looks like the regular, delicious, mouth-watering Milk Chocolate M&Ms.  Let's take a hypothetical situation and dissect it, shall we?

An innocent shopper is browsing the isles (with, let's say, 4 children clamoring from in, on and outside of the shopping cart) and catches a glimpse of the flashy holiday packaging with the cute M&M guy on the cover.  In such a frenzy fast-pace shopping environment with young children, a Mother may not look closely to inspect the packaging.  What's a girl to do?  Read the fine print that states "Dark Chocolate"?  The Mother may mistakingly grab your "Dark Chocolate M&Ms" only to get home and pop a few in her mouth...only to discover she's been cheated; wronged.

What's my solution now that the cat's out of the bag so to speak?  Well, M&Ms should simply make a slight modification to their packaging that would alert would-be shoppers that the bag contains said "Dark Chocolate".  Then, no Mother would mis-purchase these again.  Evah.

Note to the M&Ms research team:  Bitter is not a flavor many seek to obtain.

Reading Wrap-up

This week, at Holy Spirit Homeschool, we've been focused like a laser on reading.  One great reason for that is we've purchased a new reading book and the boys are rather excited about using it.  Here are some highlights from the week:

When Kolbe triumphantly finishes a sentence (and displays his inner-Yooper):

That's some good reading, eh, Mom?

Tonight, during prayer:

Mom:  Lord,  thank you for helping the boys as they begin to read!

Marcel:  Mom, I can't READ!

Mom:  I know Marcel, but soon you will.

Marcel:  Yeah.  When I'm a Daddy, I'll read.

Jozef, after being in bed about half-an-hour:

Mom,  I'm not ready for bed, I want to learn more!

Kolbe, after putting in a big day of reading practice:

Mom, soon, I'm gonna read as fast as you.  Probably by tomorrow! 

7 Quick Takes

-- 1 --

Kolbe is using workbooks for school this year.  That may sound like a casual, mundane statement, but, to me, it's more than that.  You see, I've really been trying use only Montessori activities for him.  After much research, I really came to believe that it was the best way to learn.  In addition, Maria Montessori created her method as something that was best for children rather than as a course of study that yielded a "proper" outcome.

What does all of this mean?  I guess Kolbe hasn't read the research.  And this Mom had to catch up with her 6 year-old.  My new motto:  Do what works, and what he enjoys.  How's he doing?  He's currently flying though the books I've given him.  He'll probably be on 2nd grade material by early Spring.  I'm learning to evolve as his needs do.

-- 2 --

Halloween was a bit of a personal tragedy for me.  Okay, tragedy is too strong of a word.  I planned to make two costumes this year.  However, life got in the way.  For a week and a half, I was sick followed by a few sick little guys.  Then, Nate was super-busy at work,  so at night, I had to take over more of his duties around the house.  Long story short, I only completed one costume.  I was so upset (and am embarrassed to admit it).  Sometimes it's difficult for me to admit that life here is crazy.  And my best laid plans sometimes (a lot of times) fail.  I needed to let go.  And move on.  Besides, I have all the materials for a great costume next year.

-- 3 --

I'm beginning my Christmas lists for the boys.  Buying toys is so hard at this stage.  There are toys they want and toys they might actually play with.  And, I need to always remember the "Marcel factor".  It goes something like this, "Mother, I realize these great toys have many pieces and parts that are meant to be kept together, however I believe in sharing what I have with the masses.  Therefore, I will spread a number of pieces though-out the house, chew on, or otherwise mutilate the rest.  And, remember, I love you."  With that in mind, Legos, K'nex and remote control anythings are "out".  Sorry boys.

-- 4 --

We had our family picture taken yesterday.  I was so glad that we had one that turned out great!  I'll post it here soon to share (as soon as I get to my scanner).

-- 5 --

We raked our back yard this past Tuesday.  It's Friday and we need to rake it again.  Yard work is something I don't enjoy anymore.  Not because I dislike it, but because it takes 4x as long to do with 4 boys. Between requests for bikes and yard toys, to bathroom breaks and nap times, the time needed to complete any task in the yard is greatly increased.  My poor neighbors.  Our yard looks a bit...unkept.  But then again, that aptly describes our lives right now.

-- 6 --

We've still been enjoyed a movie here and there via Netflix.  Nate caved to the marketing hype and rented Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen.  My recommendation:  Just don't.  Too much skin, too little story, too little true courage, too much inane dialogue, too much adult language for a movie marketed to kids.  I wouldn't allow my 13-year old to watch this PG-13 movie.  Skip this one.  Better yet, maybe rent the old cartoons.

Sunshine Cleaning was another renter.  I have to admit that I fell in love with Amy Adams after Enchanted.  She is quite talented--her facial expressions in that movie alone are amazing not to mention her voice (even though her really-toothy smile is kind of too much...but I digress).  Then, I researched her a bit to see what other roles she's played.  Most of the movies were borderline offensive so I'd have to be careful about the other Adams movies I'd rent.  However, Sunshine Cleaning was one that I thought would be okay.  The idea behind Sunshine Cleaning is good, the writing is about par.  She lives a "normal" life and hits some really hard times.  But her odd family (Dad and sister) work to help her though.  Bottom line--if you like Juno, you'd like Sunshine Cleaning.  **There was one scene that we simply skipped due to the graphic nature.  Just FYI.

-- 7 --

I am looking forward to the weekend!  It's supposed to be 60 degrees both days!  How often does that happen in November?

Peace be with you!

An Inconvenient Analogy

In an article at Catholic New York Online, Archbishop Timothy Dolan compares the atrocity of abortion to slavery.  It is a comparison that few want to be made (due to the obvious retrospective reprehensibility of slavery). However, the analogy is more than just that.  The two are identical in quite a few ways:


-each had the support of the Supreme Court


-each had the country split 50/50 regarding whether it was morally acceptable


-each had Catholics on either side of the issue (those that were/are for slavery/abortion were, of course, personally opposed, but didn't feel they could impose their morality on others)


-each allowed one person to control the fate of another


Some day, I pray, we'll look back on abortion with sadness and joy.  Sadness that it went on for so long, and joy that it is no longer supported or legal.


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For more information regarding the Catholic perspective on the health care debate, visit the USCCB's website.  Please be sure to email your representatives, as well.   It just takes a minute.
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h/t MommyLife

Scout's Honor

When talking about his brother's behavior yesterday:

Kolbe:  That's not very cub scout-y!

That's one well-versed scout we have.

He Thinks He Can

As I watch him pick himself up, for the 100th time, and see perseverance in action, I marvel. Jerzy is walking. And it's taken him only 3-4 weeks to master it. He takes a step, wobbles, falls. Then, he tries for two steps. Soon, he's walking across the room independently. He wavers and sometimes falls, but he always gets up; moves forward.

When I get defeated, I stay down. I certainly don't pick myself up and move on. I wallow. I complain. I ask God, "Why?" I want to lay in bed all day (not that I have a chance to around here, however).

No wonder Jesus said we are to become like little children. We all struggle, falter and fall--in relationships, in projects, at work and home. Like children, we need only pick ourselves up and try again. God is right here with us, like I'm here with my little guy--watching and cheering him on, not causing his falls.

The key is to become like little children, and try again. However, I am quite confident that we can skip the drooling part.

A Halloween...In A Galaxy Far, Far Away

Marcel :: Yoda

Jozef :: Clone

Kolbe :: Luke Skywalker (Episode VI)

We came, we froze, we "treated", we whined, we conquered.

Mission :: Accomplished!