Autumn

Autumn is hands-down my favorite season.  We are enjoying it to it's fullest - though I have to say it's sort of strange here where instead of a Autumn-Summer collision, there is a Autumn-Winter collision!  Yesterday and the day before we experienced a huge snowfall, in fact, we had about a foot and a half in the back yard!  How's snow sledding for a Fall activity?!  Well, we were doing it!

I was obviously unprepared though, we couldn't find our sleds and Felicity doesn't have snow boots yet!  Thankfully, I had just purchased thermals for all the girls on sale the previous week!

You would never have known that only a few days before, it was in the high 60's and beautiful out!  We went to the pumpkin patch and apparently had perfect timing!  It was a gorgeous day and we had so much fun picking out pumpkins, carving the big one, and eating pumpkin seeds.

 

Now we're getting ready for Halloween tomorrow, which is very exciting for the girls.  Halloween is one of those holidays where we try to carefully balance the appropriate secular traditions with the Christian ones, seeing as that the following day is All Saint's Day!
We steer clear of anything scary or sketchy and are just taking the girls to "Boo at the Zoo" to trick-or-treat.  They are dressing up as Saints, because in the evening we'll go to an All Saint's Party.  I feel like that is a good compromise on the fun of dressing up and getting candy and avoiding what can certainly be quite a diabolical "holiday."  All Saints/All Souls are actually two of my favorite days on the liturgical calendar.  They are so profound and bring to light our mortality and need for Christ, just in time for Advent and Christmas!

This evening we got our traditional "jack-o-lantern" pizza from Papa Murphy's.  We get these every year and the girls think they are such fun!

I've been making Saint costumes too, and am finally (at the last moment!) finished with them all, have them set out with all their accessories, thermals, shoes and socks, and trick-or-treat buckets for the morning when we leave for the zoo.

I can't wait to post pictures of St. Gianna, Blessed Kateri, and St. Elizabeth of Hungary!

Tonight I was planning on making "soul cakes."  They looked easy enough, but of course I ran out of time.  Here it is midnight, I just got the baby to lay down without me holding her, and Charlie's still at work.  It just didn't happen, so thank goodness I have apple pumpkin muffins stashed away in my freezer from the apple crop.  I just got those out and they'll be perfectly thawed and ready to go by morning for a quick breakfast!

Aren't the glitter pumpkins lovely!?  The girls and I enjoy watching Martha Stewart "On Demand" and saw the glitter pumpkin idea.  They got so excited about it that I decided that we had better try it out!  It was messy, and I had to order the glitter quite a while ago (I got mine on ebay for about 1/4 the price of the company Martha suggests), and of course the glitter is everywhere.  But, we had such a fun time and I think they turned out beautifully!  Hopefully the'll last through Thanksgiving!
 

Tomorrow should be a fun day, and we are looking forward to celebrating Serafina's baptism on All Saint's Day, followed by a visit to the cemetery and a Eucharistic Procession on All Soul's Day!  I hope everyone enjoys their day tomorrow as well!

I've lost my mind.

I am your all time NON-athlete.  I'm not competitive - at all (that might be my bit of phlegmatic coming out!).  When I played middle school volleyball on the "B Team," they called me "Andrea the Terrible."  Supposedly that was to inspire me to be more competitive, but I think they were really making fun of me.  I got the bulk of my PE credits in high school via distance learning programs so I could take 2 class periods of choir every day.  I'm known for being slightly clumsy.

Needless to say, after having 4 children, working out is certainly on my radar screen.  However, I tend to resist it because, frankly, I don't have a lot of time.  I'm also clumsy and unathletic.  And I have an admitted issue with going to great distances not to embarrass myself (I need to work on humility).

Well, Charlie and I decided it would be nice to spend Thanksgiving in Texas with my family.  I texted my mom to ask her what they are doing for Thanksgiving and if we could come.  Well, yes, we could come, and they (my mom, dad, and brother) were planning on running a 5K that morning.  ::sigh::  I mustered up all the strength I had and said, hey Charlie and I can do that!

Uh oh.

I just committed to a 5K.  There's 5 of us going, so we're a team! And mom has a jogging stroller, I can take Serafina!  She also already has a babysitter lined up, who can totally handle my other 3 on top of my 4 little sisters. 

Nothing is worth doing that's not worth doing well, right?  So I made the ultimate stupid decision that I would just work on running and my goal would be to just run the whole thing.  I'm not going to worry about time or anything like that, just run the whole thing.

The last time I ran any distance above 5 feet to rescue a small child was half my life ago.  13 years.  I hadn't run even a MILE in 13 years!

So, Charlie, my ever encouraging, wonderful husband did his thing and traded a laptop that we got for free and didn't need on Craig's List for a *sweet* treadmill.  I've been plugging away and I can't believe that I am actually, maybe, capable of doing this.  I know it's no big deal to other people -but seriously.  Non-athlete.  13 years.  Eep.

Interestingly, I am really encouraged and strengthened by my last delivery with Serafina.  Something about that drug-free natural birth was very empowering and the coping tricks that I used to get through my labor really work in running also.

I think today I kind of overdid it though.  Not only did I have my run, but Charlie also talked me into doing an hour and fifteen minutes of extreme P90X yoga with him. 

I'm exhausted, but happy.  I just hope I can do it.  I think I can.

PS - I would really love some song suggestions for my running play list.  I only have an hours worth of music on my playlist, and my work out is just about an hour.  I need more variety!

Welcome to Our School Room

Today I posted a picture of the girls during school time on Facebook via my iphone.  I got several comments about our classroom, so I thought I'd post pictures on here!  I haven't done it  yet, mostly because I have been waiting until I'm "done," but that could be a while so here it is as of today!

When you first walk in, you see the art easel and a wall full of (mostly Gab's) artwork.  Art is something we're going to add into the mix next semester, so more will be done here in the future.  I'm open to hearing suggestions on how to teach "art" to kindergartners and pre-schoolers, including books and other such things. 
Next to that, we have our nature center.  This is also unfinished! haha  Thankfully, when we rented this house, there were 2 bookshelves already in this room and this is one of them.  I have our nature journals, Your Big Backyard magazines, flower press, and nature books on the shelf.  On the top I keep the girls treasures that they find outside.  I'd love to get some of those seasonal fairies from Magic Cabin for this, but they are so expensive!  In the window sill are books on our nature topic of the month.  This month is pumpkins.  Eventually, we'll store nature backpacks here with magnifying glasses, binoculars, note pads, cameras (you can get digital cameras SO cheap on Craig's List!), and collection containers.
Obviously, you can see the table.  It was a steal on Craig's List.  I was going to buy a kid size table, but I decided on a full size table.

I wish I had taken this picture in the daylight, because this window is one of my favorite parts of the room.  It is garden level (so even with the grass) and is literally on the other side of the garden (should be fun in the spring!).  We can watch Bree's antics while we're schooling, and sometimes he makes us laugh by putting his paws up on the window!
As you can see, I have a calendar section going on.  We discuss what month and day of the week it is every day.  I have a CD of songs about such things that has been helpful.  In the future, I'd also like to add weather and time over here.
Notice the baskets?  I've never been a basket person, but how could I pass them up at $1 a piece on Craig's List?  They are very helpful! 
In the window sill there are canning jars with our markers, colored pencils, crayons, writing pencils, glue & scissors.  There are also some math toys for Gab and Colette.

My desk was also already in the house, what a blessing!  I do all my planning here, and as you can see I have acquired a nice collection of homeschooling books thanks to the thrift store, a generous FOCUS donor, and some purchases on Amazon.  I also keep ALL paint and the Base 10 blocks on my desk for safe keeping.
Our maps were free on Craig's List, and at first I didn't think we needed them.  They have proved very useful though!  We know people from all over America (and the world really) and the girls can see where these places are.  Also, it comes in handy if geography comes up in any of our books.
My swiffer sweeper there by the trash can comes in handy if we need any comedic relief.  All I have to do is let Bree in and start sweeping.  There's all sorts of barking and jumping around - not just by the dog!
Up above are Felicity's alphabet cards.  These are great fun and it's always fun to add more to our wall!

If you turn once more to the left, you find rocking chairs for reading, life size prints of the girls (we were learning about being made in the image of God a couple weeks ago), and a bulletin board for our religious studies.  This is obviously unfinished.  Right now I have a Rosary and holy cards of Our Lady of the Rosary, since it's October, and laminated pictures of our Archbishop, Aux. Bishop, and Parish Priest as a reminder of the Year of the Priest.  We are praying for them!  Above the girls I'd love to put either Stations of the Cross or the Mysteries of the Rosary.

SO, that's our school room!  It will change with the seasons, and of course as we go along in the year.  Thanks for stopping by!

Gift Giving Rant

Well...Gabrielle's birthday is coming up and I'm having a very difficult time thinking of what we should get her!  She'll be 4 this year, and it seems like a 4 year old, easy to please girl would be super easy to buy a gift for. 
My problem is myself!  I'm very particular.  I don't want to waste money on junk toys, I try my very hardest to buy the highest quality toys for the best deal possible.  I don't want to buy her clothes or other things she "needs."  Children are only little for so long, and toys are what they want (birthdays and Christmas are the only time they get new toys)!  I don't like noisy toys.  I like toys that encourage imagination.  I like to be thoughtful in my gift giving.
She doesn't know what she wants.  I ask her and she looks around and whatever she sees, she want's a pretend version.  A pretend fan.  A pretend hose that sprays real water.  A pretend computer.  A pretend couch.  Not helpful!

I did find one thing that I thought she would really enjoy, and that I would like for her to have.  But, of course it's about $40 MORE than I want to spend!  So, I must keep looking. 

Gift giving is one of my favorite activities!  It's also my #2 "love language."  I try really hard when it comes to gifts, I spend a lot of time thinking about them and deciding on them and wrapping them.  In fact, I start Christmas shopping in August/September not only because it spreads out the cost, but also because I get so excited about picking them out!  (I'm already 1/3 of the way done shopping - for now!  In about an hour, I'll be over half way done!)

I find it so stressful when I can't think of something that someone would like!  I'm particularly struggling with Gabrielle's birthday and my 9 year old sister for Christmas.  And Charlie, of course.  He's SO hard to shop for!

That's the end of my rant.  It's not eloquently written or insightful or anything, but I do feel better after just writing it!  And I am certainly hoping for some suggestions...;-)

2 Months

My little lady is 2 months old today!

My name is Andrea and I am an Introvert.

This article popped up in my Google Reader today and I just laughed and laughed!  I'd like to share it here.

Caring for Your Introvert by Jonathan Rauch

I love love love extroverts (I'm married to my favorite one!), but I'm afraid they misunderstand us and this is a funny explaination that everyone should read!

Fall Recipe Fun!

Over at Faith & Family Live! there is an opportunity to share Fall recipes for a prize.  What inspired me to participate more than the prize is my absolute L-O-V-E for Fall/Winter recipes!  I feel like I'm floundering all Summer long and once the cool weather hits, I can let go a sigh of relief and start cooking!

I was in a bit of denial about Summer being over, but before I knew it, we got our first snow!  In fact, today is a cold, snowy day; a day perfect for blogging, drinking hot coffee, reading, and watching movies.  That's the plan!

My little ones as the first flakes of the season fell.

Hot chocolate after playing out in the cold!

On to the recipes!  First, I'm going to share my personal, most favorite recipe in the world.  This is my mom's lasagna.  Not only do I think it's delicious, but it also brings back such happy memories of my childhood and is a true comfort food! (I doubled the recipe when I made it yesterday - one for a baby shower we went to and another to freeze.)

Amma's Lasagna

1/2 lb. italian sausage
1/2 lb. ground beef
1 small onion, diced
1 28 oz. can diced tomatoes
1 12 oz. can diced tomatoes
1 12 oz. can tomato paste
1 t. sugar
1/2 t. oregano
1/2 t. thyme
1/2 t. crushed red pepper
3/4 t. garlic salt
1 bay leaf
2/3 16 oz. package lasagna noodles (about 14 noodles)
2 eggs
1 15 oz. container ricotta cheese
1 16 oz. package of mozzarella cheese diced, or buy shredded

1. In a 5 Qt dutch oven over high heat, cook ground beef, sausage, and onion until pan juices evaporate and meat is browned.  Add tomatoes, their liquid, and next 8 ingredients.

2. Heat mixture until boiling, stirring to break up tomatoes.  Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

3. Discard bay leaf.  Tilt pan and spoon off any fat which accumulates on top of sauce.  Cook lasagna noodles as label directs; drain well in colander.

4. In 9x13 baking dish, arrange half of drained lasagna noodles, overlapping to fit.  Preheat oven to 375*F.

5. In small bowl combine eggs and ricotta cheese and spoon one half of this mixture over lasagna noodles in baking dish.

6. Sprinkle with one half mozzarella; top with one half sauce. Repeat layers.  Bake in oven for 45 minutes.  Remove from oven and let stand 10 minutes before serving.

***As a side note, I want to add that I include WAY more oregano and thyme than the recipe calls for.  Usually 1 to 1 1/2 t. thyme and up to 3-4 t. oregano (I just really like oregano!).  Also, I've made this recipe with ground turkey and turkey sausage with success, as well as with whole wheat lasagna noodles.  It's pretty flexible.

Last night, we followed up with a delicious apple pie, from this year's abundant apple harvest.

For good measure, I'm going to add one more recipe!  This is one of my very favorite crock pot recipes and I just made it the other night with a couple of nice loaves of homemade Amish bread and an apple crisp.  It was wonderful! (Love the picture from '06! I posted this recipe on my old blog a couple of years ago, which is where I got my picture! ha ha!)

Crock Pot Chicken Noodle Soup

8 Cups water
4 medium carrots, cut to 1/4 inch slices
1 medium stalk celery, cut to 1/4 inch slices
1 small onion, chopped
2 bay leaves
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
salt and pepper
1 whole chicken (about 3 1/2 lbs.)
3 cups egg noodles, uncooked

1.
In slow cooker bowl, combine carrots, celery, onion bay leaves, thyme,
4 t. salt, 1/2 t. pepper.  Place whole chicken on top.  Cover and cook
low 8-10 hours or high 4-5 hours.
2. Transfer chicken to cutting board.  Discard bay leaves.  Start noodles to boil on the stove.
3. While noodles cook, remove and discard skin, fat, and bones from chicken, shred meat.
4. Skim fat from soup and discard.  Return chicken to soup, add noodles, and serve.
Serves 6. (From October 2006 Good Housekeeping magazine)

We are loving the cold weather food around here, and I'm looking forward to trying some new recipes that the other ladies post!

Who Lives Here

Teddy bear.
Tea cup.
Kitty Cat.
Purses.
Flashy sunglasses.
Ballet flats.
Blankie.
Play silks.
Tulle.
Glittery things.
Princess costumes.

Girls live here. 

+St. Therese, Pray for us!+

I had a picture very similar to the one above of St. Therese in my room growing up.  My Dad took me to the Catholic bookstore one day when I was in junior high and I picked it out, just thinking that she was so beautiful.  At the time, I didn't know who she was, didn't know her name, didn't know the profound effect she would have on my life.

A few years later, during the summer of 1997 the Lord captured my heart on a week long retreat put on by NET called D-Week.  The retreat was for me that profound moment when a child of God finally realizes that they are such and embraces it.  Obviously, at the tender age of 14 I had much more spiritual growth in front of me (as I still do!), but it was a starting point and I praise God that it happened at such a vulnerable time of my life.  I am convinced that that retreat and my experience of God's love there is what preserved me from all the temptations and evils that can be found in high school.
The interesting thing that I realized years later was that when I returned home from my retreat, my Dad commented to me that while I was gone my bedroom smelled like roses.

"I will spend my heaven doing good on earth. I will let fall a shower of roses."

Can Saints choose us?  I wonder if she chose to pray for me despite my unawareness of her.

Several years later, after getting married and having a few children, I encountered a friend who had a great devotion to St. Therese.  Interestingly, I resisted finding out more about her because I thought that *everyone* had a devotion to St. Therese and surely she had no time to pray for me! 
The one thing I may have been right about was that many people of my generation have a great devotion to her!  This morning when I got up, half of the Facebook statuses from my friends had to do with her, their love for her, their gratefulness for her prayers and for leading them closer to the Lord.

There is one ONLY THING to do here below: to love Jesus, to win souls
for Him so that He may be loved. Let us seize with jealous care every
least opportunity of self sacrifice. Let us refuse Him nothing - He
does so want our love!

It wasn't until two years ago at this time that my love and devotion grew for St. Therese.  We had just moved to Colorado and I had just had Colette.  I was simultaneously reading Story of a Soul (finally!) and praying a Novena to St. Therese for an intention for a health issue I was having.  The day I started the Novena, I was outside of our church after Mass talking to others when a huge gust of wind blew up and this strew of flowers blew around my feet.  (There are many flowers on the property of our church, they're so beautiful!)  I also just happened to notice her stained glass window at the front of our church that day! 
Anyway, reading Story of a Soul was a life changing event for me.  There are only a few books like this (another one for me is The Way by St. Josemaria Escriva) and it was like walking with a Saintly friend who knew my heart, knew what I needed to do to grow in love for Christ, and what I needed to do to be a better Christian, wife & mother, and daughter of God.  Her simplicity was inspiring, her love for others was ground-breaking, and her love for the Lord was overwhelming.
Concerning the intention of my novena, my prayers were answered but not in a way that I expected.  The suffering didn't just go away, but my dear Saintly friend encouraged me to embrace it, to unite it with the suffering of Christ on the Cross, and to offer prayers for the conversion of hearts.  Months later it went away.

To offer oneself as a victim to Divine Love is not to offer oneself to
sweetness - to consolation; but to every anguish, every bitterness, for
Love lives only by sacrifice; and the more a soul wills to be
surrendered to Love, the more must she be surrendered to suffering.

St. Therese has made herself present in my life during other times, particularly during a time of sadness about a year ago.  I don't really want to share that story, but I do want to acknowledge her continuing presence in my life and that of my family.  Charlie has grown to love her as well and has a particular devotion to her father, Blessed Louis Martin (a father of 5 girls I might add).  Currently, my one consistent prayer that I ask her to intercede on is for the maintenance of my little daughters' innocence.  I hope they grow up to be as innocent and faithful as St. Therese!

O my God, Thou knowest I have never desired but to love Thee alone. I
seek no other glory. Thy Love has gone before me from my childhood, it
has grown with my growth, and now it is an abyss the depths of which I
cannot fathom.

There are so many more little connections (such as the fact that she is the patroness of our missionary organization!) and experiences with St. Therese.  I hope that someday I will meet her in Heaven, due in part to her prayers for me and the inspiration she has given me to love Jesus more and more during my life on earth.

I desire no sensible consolation in loving; provided Jesus feel my love
that is enough for me. Oh! to love Him and to make Him loved...how
sweet it is...

St. Therese, pray for us!