7 Quick Takes

[ 1 ]

Upon moving in to our new place, I found a package of dishwashing soap left here that I've never used before.  Rather than a liquid or power soap, there are many soapy packets which one simply plops into the soap tray.  When it was time to wash, and our soap was nowhere to be found, I decided to give it a whirl.  WOAH!  My dishes were the cleanest evah!  No soapy residue and the glasses were as clear as they day I bought them.  Sold!  For those out there, like me, that struggle with automatic dishwasher soap, check out Cascade Complete. 'Nuff said.

[ 2 ]

I just re-subscribed to the Magnificat.  For those that aren't familiar, Magnificat is a monthly subscription that delivers Morning Prayer, Mass Readings and Evening Prayer in a magazine form for each day of the month.  In addition to the prayers, there are homilies with the Mass readings, Saints biographies and a study of a piece of religious art. I am sure I'm forgetting other details, but the magazine that arrives each month brings peace to my soul with each arrival.  Each day I have a companion for prayer and can take it with me wherever I go.

As I was perusing their website I noticed that current subscribers can also read each issue online for free.   AND they offer a web/IPhone package for those that would simply like to use the e-edition.  Wow!  

[ 3 ]

Kolbe's birthday is coming up in a month and his mental wheels are already turning.  He's requested a birthday dinner of pastys (pronounced pass-tees).  Pastys are a tradition in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and a small region surrounding there.  Simply, it's a meat pie with potatoes wrapped up like a calzone.  And, totally scrumptious when drenched in ketchup.  Nate and I grew up eating pastys, so Kolbe's request makes us proud.   

photo credit :: Dobber's Pastys

[ 4 ]

This week, our Netflix delivered The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.  The movie is almost 3 hours long, so it took us two nights to get through.  I have to be honest, I kept watching to wait for the movie to redeem itself. I realize I am not from the generation that this movie was produced, but I really didn't get the point.  Sorry, Mr. Eastwood. 

[ 5 ]

Nate slept through most of the movie, though he was awake for the beginning and the end.  He, too, felt like the movie was pointless.  So, the very next night he sent me to the movie store because he needed to "clear his palate of the ick that was The Good, The Bad and The Ugly."  So, we watched Get Low.  The story, equal "parts fable, folk lore and legend", was well told. I enjoyed it.  Nate slept through most of that one as well.  Hmmm...I'm noticing an trend here.

[ 6 ]

So what is Nate's favorite movie of 2010?  The A-Team.  Completely over-the-top with a ridiculous plot.  Nate says the film has one scene that, for Nate, makes the movie an instant classic--the A-team ends up successfully navigating a tank through the air in order to avoid capture.  C'mon people--a TANK!

[ 7 ] 

We're returning the favor to our friends of watching their crew for them while they're out of town.  They have three children and we'll be hosting two of them for the weekend.  The boys are super-excited to have friends sleeping over.  Mom and Dad are hoping they'll be asleep before midnight.  =]  Have a great weekend!

Photo Update

Our new place.  

It's smaller than the last one, so we are really prioritizing what we need and what to donate...

I feel like I'm walking down a tunnel of snow to get to the door!

When we have more snow here than my folks in Michigan's Upper Peninsula,

it's time for Spring!

A view of the boys at lunch.  The inside of the house is spacious, just smaller.  

(don't mind the mess =)

Jerzy's had his first haircut by a barber today!

He sat really well for them!

And, he had a huge smile on his face when she elevated the chair.

Haircut, then fries.

Jozef working on LEGOS post haircut.

And a shot of Kolbe for good measure.  

I still cut his hair--he's an easy customer. 

And, the belly shot.  I'm already feeling VERY big.  

This is not good because I still have about 4 months to go!

Baby Names

While Nate and I continue to discuss baby names for our little girl due this summer, I came across a name today that we will not be choosing.  From the headlines at Drudge:

'Man names first-born daughter "Facebook"'

That's one name down, 1,000,001 more to go...

Whirlwind

This weekend we moved.  Again.  The last time we moved was 6 months ago.  Sometimes, I really do think we are like vagabonds.

The house we were renting had some persistent issues that we weren't comfortable with, health-wise.  With me being pregnant and our baby to soon occupy the home, we felt it was best to move.

So, for the 8th time in my married life, I am looking at an ocean of boxes before me.  Sometimes, I wonder what God is up to with all of these moves; some big and some small.  I just wonder what the "big plan" is.

There is one thing, however, that I know for sure.  No matter what, our boys are happy to be with their family.  They don't mind the transitions (thus far) or the unpacking or the craziness of their parents when they say, "We're moving tomorrow."  Rather, they are comforted in the fact that their parents are always with them, no matter what house we may currently be occupying.

For now, God's will for me is apparent--unpack the boxes and make this place a home.  Though I will continue to pray that He guide us as to His big plans.

Our Little Princess

The boys have been hoping beyond hope for another brother, come the end of June.  They're worried about the pink-ification of our house, the princess-ification of our movies, and the general girly-ness that may be imposed upon them.

Monday, we found out that we are indeed having a girl!  Nate and I were surprised (all of our prior ultrasounds were "boy") and are excited!  "This will be different," we thought, "but in a good way!"

After receiving the news, I think the boys are still hoping for a little more Princess Leia:

Than Princess Tiara.

Either way, we can't wait to meet her face to face.

Chilly

The temp as we were driving in to gymnastics this morning.  That's negative 24 degrees!

I'm hoping for some construction project in the future in a warmer climate.

7 Quick Takes

[ 1 ]

On our recent trip away, Nate and I learned how much effort it took to stop talking about the children.  On any given day, they are the center of our universe-365 days a year.  Much of our conversation is stories about their antics, worries we have, or things we notice and want to share.  We rarely have a chance to talk about ourselves.  So, after a concerted effort over about four hours, I finally felt like we could have a conversation about our thoughts or dreams rather than simply go on and on about the boys.  Wow!  Who knew switching gears would be so hard?

[ 2 ]

The boys stayed with good friends of ours while we were gone.  In total, it was two and a half days and two nights.  I thought they would be really excited to see us when we arrived to pick them up.  When we walked in the door they said, "Oh. Hi, Mom and Dad," and then, continued playing.  The good news: we didn't scar them for life by leaving (shock!).  The bad news:  they may have scarred me.  One of them even proceeded to cry when it was time to come home.  I think our friends may be more excited than we are!  Oh, well.

[ 3 ]

I just finished reading A Woman's Life, a biography of St. Gianna Beretta Molla.  A quote from the book sums up her life succinctly.  Her husband, Pietro, recalled,  "She seemed to be to be a completely ordinary woman, but as Archbishop Colombo (the one responsible with opening the process of beatification) has said, '...holiness does not consist of extraordinary signs.  Above all, it consists of the daily acceptance of the unfathomable designs of God.'"

[ 4 ]

My new Catholic Daily Planner is amazing!  I am a gal that needs more than a calendar but certainly less than an expensive organization system.  This book is exactly it!  Upon ordering, you can add an area for menu planning and/or homeschool lesson plans.  I usually have menus and schedules and calendars all over the house.  Now, it's all in one place.   

In addition, there are various quotes throughout, the mass readings for each day, Saint's feast days, and reminders for which mystery to say each day.

[ 5 ]

One of the topics that Nate and I discussed on our trip, was the recent article Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior by Amy Chua.  The article appeared in the Wall Street Journal (and online) and sparked a flurry of debate among Mom's online.  I read the article to Nate over dinner (something I never would have been able to do on a normal night at home) and he was surprised by how Chinese vs. the U.S. the article was.  Though, he was sure the author took such a superior tone simply to startle readers a bit.  Did you read the article?  What were your thoughts?

[ 6 ]

One thing that I agree with Chua on is the fact that we often give up easily on our kids.  I do this when homeschooling.  If one of the boys is really struggling through his work and complaining that he can't do it, I will consider whether to push him to finish it or to allow him a break--which usually means we never get back to the work that day.  I have stopped listening to complaining (just pretending not to hear) and have insisted the the work for the day will be done before all else.  The boys have risen to the challenge, stopped complaining and just finish their work.

[ 7 ]

Upon unloading my camera this afternoon, I came upon some candid photos from the past week.

Have a great weekend!  Go Pack Go!