Seven Quick Takes Friday (25)

Thanks to Jen for hosting over at conversiondiary.com.  Today, December 30, 2011, being the occasion of my 6th wedding anniversary, this is going to be a 7 things I love about my husband.  There are so many more things that aren't even listed here.  What can I say, except he's the best.

-1-

His sense of humor:  There is nothing like having someone by your side who can make you laugh, not only at yourself, but at the world around you.  He has a wonderful silly side and loves to poke fun.  He makes me smile and laugh every day. 

-2-

His sensitive and vulnerable side:  He can get emotional during those tear jerking parts of movies or TV shows and isn't afraid to show it.  When he is having a hard time, to the point of tears, he lets me see that too.  I think it is so important to let your loved ones know how you are feeling and he isn't afraid to let me see the bad alongside with the good.  He has helped me to be more in touch with that side since before getting married I was hardly ever as emotional as I am these days.

And he definitely has a knack for being sensitive to my concerns.  I still recount to almost anyone who will listen, how when we were first dating and I told him something that could potentially be a deal breaker on a long car drive at the START of the date. He just squeezed my hand and listened.  The next day he brought me flowers and a beautiful hand written sentiment in a card.  I knew that he was someone who I could entrust my heart to.

-3-
His ability to consider my point of view:  For anyone who knows us, you know we hardly ever fight.  This isn't because we never disagree.  Rather, this is because both of us try to put ourselves in the other person's shoes.  We may not like what they are thinking, or what they have to say, but both of us can always understand where it is coming from.  Again, we don't always agree, but we are understanding of why the other feels the way they do.  Huge with me, since I am definitely not someone who likes confrontation.

-4-
His willingness to sacrifice:  My hubby doesn't like his job and hasn't since almost day one.  However, he realizes that he is providing for us as a family through his work, so he goes to work despite being unhappy.  In a world of, "If something doesn't feel good, don't do it," or "I have to do what's best for ME" he is sticking it out.  Doing a good job too I might add, getting a bonus all quarters since he started except one.  He may complain about it a fair amount, and joke and talk about how much he doesn't like it, but he goes and he works.  In my book, that is what shows me he loves me.

-5-
His strong commitment to the Catholic faith: Since returning to the church with me in the spring of 2005, he has continued to grow and learn about the Catholic faith.  Together we have made big changes in our lives to align ourselves with our Catholic faith.  We even teach the Catholic teaching on sexuality to teens.  Quite a turn around for both of us.

 -6-

His willingness to change:  This one sort of stems from QT#5.  Read the following:  hubby's blog post on porn.  But this isn't the only change he's made.  He is continuously trying to become the best version of himself he can be.  He's trying to change and working on the things in his life that need a redirection.  I applaud him for being willing to take a look at himself and see where he can make some changes for the better.  I am definitely one blessed woman.

-7-

Watching him play with our daughters:  I cannot say how often I watch him play with our girls and I am just amazed.  I really enjoy watching them together, the girls climbing all over him, playing with their toy dinosaurs or playing board games.  It doesn't matter what they are doing, I almost always can learn something from him: how to be more silly, how to be sure to incorporate praise where it's due, how to be excited about something that really doesn't seem all that important.  He is an amazing father and you can tell with the way our girls are so excited to see him walk in the door around supper time.  He is helping me to be a better mom and I am thankful for that every day.

Seven Quick Takes Friday (24)

Thanks to Jen for hosting over at conversiondiary.com.  Christmas traditions edition.

-1-

So I have to confess that I have been listening to Christmas music since before Thanksgiving.  Alicia has a cute little kids Christmas CD that has her name in it, telling her about the real meaning of Christmas.  Of course, it started making some odd noises, so I ripped it and then burned it, now the songs are all out of order.  May have to re-recreate the CD for her.  Can I also just say that I watched the CMA Country Special on Thursday night and I love that the musicians will actually wear crosses (some of the ladies might do better to dress a little more modestly) and sign REAL Christmas songs.  You know, ones that aren't afraid to mention Jesus...  Rudolph and Frosty are ok, but traditional carols are the ones that mean the most.  When listening to my daughter's CD this year it took me by surprise that I was finally struck by the line, "Long lay the world, in sin and error pining, til he appeared and the soul felt it's worth."  HOW BEAUTIFUL!!!  And how true!

-2-

We went to the Christmas parade in Derry the Saturday after Thanksgiving.  Had a great time with the girls, hubby and my mother in law.  We also met up with hubby's niece and her daughter and nephew and his son.  His nephew's daughter was in the parade for her school's band.  Beautiful weather - I wore short sleeves...  Glad that the people marching in the parade were not afraid to actually say "Merry Christmas!"  That's the spirit!

-3-
This year our traditional day after Thanksgiving putting up the Christmas tree was delayed to the Sunday after Thanksgiving.  Our "fake" tree is one that we won from our church back when we first moved into our home back in 2006.  We have put up our family tree in my parents' house this year and it takes up a good amount of room.  Alicia helped to assemble the tree and helped put on a few ornaments while Hannah took a nap.  Hannah has enjoyed looking at the tree though.  She now looks out the window and says tree so I think she's confused by the tree being inside.  I do love sitting by the tree at night with the lights off for a few silent moments with a glass of egg nog.

-4-
We have an Advent wreath that I have never been very good about using, but this year it is out on my parent's dining room table and I read from a book every night at the dinner table.  I am pretty sure Alicia doesn't get it, since it's advanced, but maybe next Advent I will find a more kid friendly daily advent book.  I've really enjoyed doing this as a family.  I think it helps that hubby is finally on a day shift, so the tradition is a new one that I am pretty happy about.

 

-5-

We have a Little People Nativity that we got for Alicia for her second Christmas.  She and Hannah are having fun playing with the animals and the other figures too.  Still mostly into the animals though, but I like having religious toys that they can play with.  Little ones mostly understand the toys and presents, so it's difficult to find things to fit in that make it more about the true meaning of the season for them.  Maybe someday they will play more with Mary, Joseph and Jesus.  But we have books that we read about Christmas.  Maybe we will try to get to the live nativity.  I have to take the time to figure out where and when it is around here.  I think they do it in Windham.

 -6-

Driving around to look at Christmas lights is another holiday favorite.  There are a few houses that have a TON of lights around here.  Alicia was cute about it last year and this year with her talking so much, it should be really cute to see what she says.  We may take a trip to the Enchanted Christmas Village sometime during the week if we get the chance.  Not sure about timing of it all, but I would like to bring the girls this year.  Lots of lights in there that we could walk around to see.  We went a few years ago, before we had Hannah, and enjoyed it but the lines were long.  Hannah is a bit more active than Alicia, so I think she'd have a hard time waiting in the lines.

-7-

The Christmas season should truly be marked by the beauty of God sending his Son to us in such simplicity.  Jesus came into this world as a helpless newborn, totally dependent on Mary and Joseph.  Jesus was born into a humble family, in a stable, placed in a manger.  He wasn't born in a palace, he wasn't raised by rich, well-to-do parents.  He didn't come down from Heaven blazing in almighty light to show who He was.  He came to us simply, humbly, knowing that we all too often do not feel or know our own worth.  All God wants from us is an open heart to receive Him.  God wants us to feel His love.  May we use this Christmas season to open ourselves to the gift of Jesus and remember that HE is the reason for the season!

Wondrous Wednesdays (17)



In the spirit of gratitude, I’m listing wondrous things happening in my world every week on Wednesday.  If you are a blogger and want to list what you are grateful for, feel free to do the same on your own blog every week and please be sure to link back to my blog.   If you are not a blogger, feel free to comment here on my blog with your own three wondrous things you are grateful for on Wednesday. 

(1)

Baby monitors are a wondrous invention.  Right now, as I type this the girls are supposed to be napping, but Alicia is telling Hannah, "You're not supposed to throw your toys out of the bed."  I knew that Alicia asking to go for a rest at the same time I was going to put Hannah down for a nap would be trouble.  At least Alicia informed me that Hannah had to go potty so I could change Hannah's diaper...  It's actually really cute.  However, this is why bed time is usually staggered.  Otherwise they'd never go to sleep in there.  Now Hannah is laughing in there.  I don't know what's going on.  I'm guessing they are playing rather than sleeping.  So I'm going to let them have some fun before I go break it up!!!

(2)

Even though the girls are sick this week and we haven't been able to go anywhere to visit friends yet, I am so thankful for the change to our schedule.  I really am enjoying this first week being home with the girls during the day.  Hoping that by Friday they are both better so I can head to 9am mass with them and possibly followed by the moms group at our church.  Thank you hubby.  Someday it will be a different job too!

(3)

It is wondrous how much Alicia is excited about Elfie, the name she gave the Elf on the Shelf.  She has watched the movie I don't know how many times.  And it makes asking her to do something much easier.  I'm not normally one to go with the secular holiday traditions, but this one is pretty cute.  She will go look for Elfie through the day to check to make she she is still there.  She hasn't woken up thinking about looking for her yet, but I'm guessing that will be soon.  Thank you Santa for sending the girls their elf.

Below is a linky list if you’d like to add a link to your own Wondrous Wednesdays. (1) Make sure the link you submit is to the URL of your post and not your main blog URL. (2) Include a link back here.

Seven Quick Takes Friday (23)

Thanks to Jen for hosting over at conversiondiary.com. 

-1-

Alicia and I had a lot of fun helping memere cook on Wednesday for the Thanksgiving festivities.  She was enjoying getting the ingredients and trying to mix them too.  She ended up making a huge mess with the flour at the beginning, but she really had a good time.  It was so sweet.

-2-

I had a really nice Turkey Day.  So thankful for my hubby, our girls and our family and friends.  Lots of love and support from so many people have made the tough times a little bit less stressful.

-3-
Unfortunately, on Turkey Day my hubby and Hannah and I missed mass.  Alicia did make it with memere, pepere and aunty "k."  I like starting out Thanksgiving day with our church family thanking God for all he does in our lives.  But Hannah has been sick and wasn't even awake by the time we would have needed to head out the door and neither hubby nor I woke up feeling well.  We eventually felt better, but it was probably best to stay home.  I hear that our church was packed, which will probably mean that Christmas masses will be jam packed as well.  So sorry we missed it!

-4-

Some pictures from Turkey Day:

Watching the Macy's parade. Ok, vacant stares, I know
but it's the only picture they are looking in the same direction!

I was trying to get them both to do touchdown. 
Hannah sometimes doesn't play for the camera.

But here she is cheesing it up!

Alicia having a great time with her cousins!

-5-

Hannah is back on abuterol with her nebulizer.  For a child who was breastfed, she sure gets sick a lot.  I think the whole breastfeeding-is-great-for-a-baby's-system truly depends on the child.  Hasn't seemed to help her.  Alicia was a lot less sick as a baby and she was on formula almost from day one.  It seems as though Hannah is getting back to normal, although she still doesn't seem very interested in real food.  Probably has to do with her teething too!  She's still sleeping worse than she did as a baby.  Two hours of sleep is not enough.  Good thing I don't have a job, well if this not sleeping continues that is... 

 -6-

Speaking of no job, for my current job search, I think I'm leaning towards applying to work at restaurants rather than retail.  We will see what happens but truth be told I'm worried that without recent experience I will get no one to speak to me.  I've worked both retail and restaurants, but it was probably over five years ago.  Ok, maybe more like 10 years ago... Jeeze, has it really been that long!?!

-7-
Black Friday is today, but there is NO WAY that I am going to do any type of shopping today.  Craziness!  Instead, I am going to try to get some things accomplished at home that have been long overdue.  And try to figure out where most of our Christmas decorations are in my parent's basement.  Weekend plans include: Christmas parade with the girls on Saturday and getting the tree up and hopefully decorated on Sunday.  I LOVE THE CHRISTMAS SEASON!!!!  So excited it is here!

Wondrous Wednesdays (16)



In the spirit of gratitude, I’m listing wondrous things happening in my world every week on Wednesday.  If you are a blogger and want to list what you are grateful for, feel free to do the same on your own blog every week and please be sure to link back to my blog.   If you are not a blogger, feel free to comment here on my blog with your own three wondrous things you are grateful for on Wednesday. 

(1)

So this happened on a Saturday, but I still feel grateful for the compliment today. My hubby, girls, parents, sister and I went out to dinner at Ruby Tuesday Saturday night, which by the way was a lot better than I expected it to be.  We walked to our table and there was an older couple sitting nearby and as I was settling the girls in I heard the gentleman mutter under his breath, "We just can't get away from it."  I thought it may have to do with young children in a restaurant, but couldn't be sure.  But he definitely looked aggravated.  As they got up to leave, we were still there enjoying the last bits of our meal.  The man leaned over to me and said, "Your children are very well behaved.  You should be proud."  I thanked him and thought to myself how nice of him to say something.  I guess making Alicia and Hannah sit at the table while we all eat and finish our meal is worth the effort.  There are days it does not seem to be. 

(2)

Hubby has made it to my Wondrous Wednesday list again, merely for his love and support.  He  always seems to know what to say when I need it most.

(3)
I think it is wondrous how God works in our lives, behind the scenes.  Even when we do not know what it is He is doing, it is revealed to us in due time.  Praise God for all the wondrous works He does in my life.  Truly blessed!

 

Seven Quick Takes Friday (22)

Thanks to Jen for hosting over at conversiondiary.com. 

-1-

So last week hubby got a shift change to work days FINALLY and I gave my notice last Friday.  Which means this is my last week working part time at the Currier Museum of Art (who by the way if you live in the NH area has a really great Rock and Roll photography exhibition running now through mid January).  I have really enjoyed my work at the Currier and have met some really great people.  I have to try to find something to replace at least part of my income, which hopefully will happen sooner rather than later.  My last day of work is the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. 

-2-

WOW, Thanksgiving already?!?  Cannot believe how quickly this year has flown by!  I did manage to find a couple of cute matching dresses for our girls for Thanksgiving. 

-3-

I have also found two different sets of cute matching dresses for the girls for Christmas.  I should be frugal and return one of the sets, but one set has short sleeves and the other set is sweater dresses.  It is always super hot at my hubby's nana's house, so I may just keep both.  Besides, the girls could wear the matching sweater dresses at any time, not just Christmas.

-4-
Speaking of looking for work, 'tis the season for seasonal retail, but I don't understand why it is that every place you apply expects you to fill out a survey that is over half an hour long.  I realize they are trying to make sure they hire people with good customer service skills and people who won't steal from the company.  But this is not life and death - I mean it isn't like they are hiring a nurse.  Besides, don't most people answer these questions in the manner they think the company wants them to respond?!?  And what will we talk about in an interview anyway?

-5-

Hubby being home for dinner and for bedtime has already made an impact on the girls.  This morning Alicia asked daddy to take a "short work" like memere is doing today.  She must have missed her daddy more than we realized.  When I asked her if she liked him being home for dinner and bedtime, she had a big smile and was nodding.  So sweet and so glad that we decided this was a good change for us.

-6-

My scariest moment as a mom to date happened this past Wednesday.  I decided to take the girls shopping to try to find some matching boots to go with their sweater dresses.  It was an unsuccessful trip, but a very scary one for me.  We were in the parking lot and the girls were strapped into one of those two person shopping carts at Target.  I was putting Hannah in the car seat first and when I turned around to get Alicia she was no longer in the shopping cart.  I thought, "did someone take her (I watch too much Criminal Minds)?  did she wander away?  Did she get hit by a car?"  I screamed her name, no response.  I screamed her name again, still nothing.  So I ran to the back of the car and she wasn't there.  I pushed the cart out of the way and started up the other side...  still didn't see her, so then I screamed her name again and she came up to me and said, "Here I am mama!"  Scariest. few. seconds. ever!

-7-
I grabbed her and said, "You scared the s*%t out of me."  NOT my proudest moment, to swear like that, but it just came out.  I was so freaked out about it that I didn't really yell at her or anything, but I was almost in tears and she could tell something was wrong.  I tried to explain to her how scared I was and asked her if she would be scared if she lost mama or dad.  She said "it's ok mama."  Not the response I hoped for.  If this happens again, next time there will be some severe yelling going on if not a spanking. Good grief.  I thought Hannah would be the one to do this sort of thing...  don't know what I'd do if I lost her. 

Wondrous Wednesdays (15)



In the spirit of gratitude, I’m listing wondrous things happening in my world every week on Wednesday.  If you are a blogger and want to list what you are grateful for, feel free to do the same on your own blog every week and please be sure to link back to my blog.   If you are not a blogger, feel free to comment here on my blog with your own three wondrous things you are grateful for on Wednesday. 

(1)

It is truly wondrous that my husband, after three plus years of a night shift - basically since our first daughter was born, has made the switch to a day shift this past Monday.  I feel like I can already see a difference in his demeanor and happiness level, only after two days.  Sometimes a small change can make all the difference.  I am so happy for him that he can now be home for dinner and putting his little ladies to bed.  He was an occasional bedtime story teller on weekends and days off, but now he should be able to be there for all of that.  I think it will be great, not only for the girls and for me, but for him as well.

(2)

My husband has been doing a fast every Wednesday for the past month.   He is doing it as part of e5men - Husbands Fasting for their Wives.  Basically the plan is to

Fast on plain bread and water at least one 24 hour period a month for your bride for her needs of spiritual growth and/or  healing; preferably on the 1st Wednesday of the month.

He sacrifices a lot for us and this is just one more he does to witness to his love for me.  He's had people at work ask about it and he explains the idea behind it.  I am so blessed.

(3)

It is wondrous how much our three year old daughter enjoys hockey and, like me, enjoys Tuesday night with all the "funny hits".  Somehow we have to hope that it will not translate into a love of hitting her sister.  I am glad that my parents can share hockey games with her. I am sure most of why she likes it so much is that she gets to spend some quality time with her memere and pepere.


Below is a linky list if you’d like to add a link to your own Wondrous Wednesdays. (1) Make sure the link you submit is to the URL of your post and not your main blog URL. (2) Include a link back here.

Go For It! Make It Happen!

So, for the most part I had been doing really well with waiting on searching for a home.  Then all of the sudden, WHAM, I decide to take a look at properties online.  Now, I keep telling myself that we need to save money, we NEED to wait.  Then I see a few potential “houses” in our price range and I start to get all excited that maybe we CAN do this now.  But with little to no money saved, deep down I know that it is not our time yet.  God is trying to teach me the virtue of patience.

Our society is definitely one that tells us, if you want it, go for it.  No time like the present.  If you want something to happen, then YOU have to make it happen.  And conversely, if you think you can't, you can't.  But deep down we know when something isn't the right thing to do, don't we?  We know when sometime is not the right time.  I think what we miss in this process of "making things happen" is that we miss out on what the opportunity would have been had we waited, had we done what's right.  God has a plan for us.  Why don't we wait?  Why this instant gratification?

I think we can all look back on something in our life and say if only I had waited.  Yes, hindsight is 20/20 but if we just admit that there is a right way to do things and a wrong way, I think we'd all be better off.  I'm not saying this to be preachy.  Just as an example, in my past, I dated all the wrong guys, guys I knew that were not at all someone I could see myself marrying, all because I was lonely.  To be honest all that dating the wrong guy so that I wasn't lonely made things worse because eventually I would feel lonely AND USED.  I know now all that heartache I went through was to get me to my husband, to be able to truly appreciate the man that he is.  But those were tough times.  I guess what I'm saying is that, regardless of whatever decision we are facing, we all are going out there and grabbing at what we THINK we need.  We don't wait to truly discern what it is that God is trying to prepare us for. 

We need to trust Him more.  This whole trusting God's plan thing, I do alright with for a while.  Then I suddenly start to think, "What is it I'm waiting for?  Shouldn't I be DOING something?"  In all honesty, right now, I am doing what I need to be doing.  Humbling myself to admit that we need some help and we need some time to regroup.  Praying and discerning what it is that God has planned for our family's future.  I think that this is almost the best outcome of having humbled ourselves, is that we are trying to let God show us the path.  I know he has something better planned for us.  Not easier necessarily, but something better than we were dreaming up in our minds.

I'm sure there are people who know our situation and think, "There is no way.  I would never move back in with my parents with my husband and young children. NEVER!"  But what was the alternative?  Continuing on in the situation, living with no savings, unable to make ends meet, struggling and building up credit card debt that we have worked so hard to eliminate?  Or maybe finding a place to live that would work better with our budget, but in a horrible neighborhood with a poor school system as our girls continue to creep up on their school years? That is something I would NEVER do, just to save my pride.  We have to think of what is best, what is the right thing to do and not what would make us look strong, independent, or gritty.  We have to realize that sometimes we do not have all the answers.  God does.

As I said, this has not been an easy situation, not on my parents, not on myself, my husband or our relationship as a couple.  However, I truly believe that in the end we will be in a situation that will help us to meet our goals for our family's future.  That is what keeps me going, knowing we are doing the right thing.  Knowing that we are looking to God so that, in His time, He can lay His plan out there for us to follow.

Seven Quick Takes Friday (21)

Thanks to Jen for hosting over at conversiondiary.com. 

-1-

First order of business for the week is a couple of Halloween pictures since our Trick or Treating was just this past Sunday, November 6th.  I'm one of THOSE moms who loves the crying baby photos.  I laugh every time.  I know, mean mama!!!

-2-

I wandered into the playroom Wednesday morning to find our one year old walking around with a copy of "Theology of the Body for Beginners" by Christopher West.  She was so proud of herself - she would thumb through the pages, hold it up to show me and stomp around, stop and look through it again.  Too cute and I tried to get a picture, but this was the best I could do. 

-3-

Monday night was not the best night I've had.  I truly do not understand why it is that when you have a newborn, you can deal with a sleepless night, but when one comes out of the blue with an older child, you are truly unprepared for it. 

Hannah, our one year old would not sleep after our three year old woke her up with a very LOUD, "MAMA, I HAVE TO GO POTTY!"  From 1:45 am until 5:45 am I was trying to get her to relax enough to go to sleep.  If they were not in the same room, I would have let the one year old cry it out.  However, with Alicia having bad dreams I wanted her to try to get some sleep.  That did not work either.  Every time I tried to put Hannah down, she would freak out crying, waking up Alicia and who would then "need someone to sit with her."  I cannot put Hannah down at that point because she freaks out at bedtime if you put her down and stay in the room.  WHAT A MESS!

-4-
I managed to go to work on about 2 hours sleep.  I COFFEE LOADED and in I went.  I know, I know.  I said I would stop with the Dunkin's.  See, I definitely could use DDA!!

-5-

At this point in the game, I usually have done at least a little Christmas shopping.  Some of you are going to say, "what are you, nuts?"  But I really dislike all the crowds that start right after Thanksgiving.  In truth, I just can't handle it.  I've never once done the Black Friday thing.  This year, probably in large part due to our tight quarters at my parents' house and not much storage room, I haven't gotten a thing.  Usually I pick up a thing here or there...  Nothing.  This is will not be pretty.

-6-

Our parish has the Annual Bazzar this weekend, which I have enjoyed going to in recent years - they have a penny sale, theme baskets, baked goods, a 50/50 raffle and a raffle for some decent cash prizes.  A while back, there were a few years in a row that I won something, but have not had this good fortune for a few years.  It is always fun anyway.  I just have to remember to bring scissors for those penny sale tickets.  Ripping those is just sooo time consuming.

-7-

People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.

If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.

For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

Mother Teresa

Wondrous Wednesdays (14)



In the spirit of gratitude, I’m listing wondrous things happening in my world every week on Wednesday.  If you are a blogger and want to list what you are grateful for, feel free to do the same on your own blog every week and please be sure to link back to my blog.   If you are not a blogger, feel free to comment here on my blog with your own three wondrous things you are grateful for on Wednesday. 

(1)

What wondrous love it is for parents who will take you back in, and not just you, but your husband and two toddlers?  Not to mention that they now have to contend with what happens when wee ones have bad dreams and get freaked out or are teething and cry inconsolably.  While sometimes I get into the negative habit of thinking how our situation is less than desirable, I know that we are loved and am in awe how much my parents are sacrificing for us to live with them.  This is a time in their lives that should not involve being kept up late at night with crying little ones.  It means the world!

(2)
Wondrous craziness of same said little ones running around the house giggling, screaming, yelling and letting off some energy.  I love seeing such pure unadulterated joy.  It reminds me that sometimes, in the middle of everything seeming to be overwhelmingly difficult, you just have to be silly and not take everything so seriously.

(3)

I have been following a blog on couponing - The Extreme Coupon Professors - in hopes of saving some extra money.  I even went to one of their classes and think that there are some things that I can do to make a difference in our budget.  Once I can get myself organized, I think it is going to be wondrous the money that can be saved.  What will be truly wondrous will be if my little girls will actually try to new foods that we discover.  It's all about what's on sale and what you have a coupon for!  Should make dinner time even more of an adventure!

Below is a linky list if you’d like to add a link to your own Wondrous Wednesdays. (1) Make sure the link you submit is to the URL of your post and not your main blog URL. (2) Include a link back here.

Seven Quick Takes Friday (20)

Thanks to Jen for hosting over at conversiondiary.com.  The power outage Snowtober edition.

-1-

Young children who go to sleep with night lights on and wake up to complete darkness, freak out and cannot get back to sleep.


-2-

Wood stoves are truly a blessing when you have no power.  Keeps the house warm enough for you to not have to worry too much about where you will sleep for the night and whether or not your kids will be warm enough.

-3-

Having a gas stove, instead of electric, is wonderful thing.  You can at least heat up some water, cook some food on a burner.  Makes things somewhat manageable.


-4-
There is a certain peace that comes from not having electronics on all day for "background" noise.  But another bonus is that it makes the one movie a day rule seem like a piece of cake once your power comes back.

-5-

When it gets dark out, give your one year old who has been walking around for a while a little battery operated lantern to hold on to.  If he or she has started to imitate words, say "light" and ask him or her to show it to you.  You have your own cute little drunk for entertainment!


-6-

This happened last time we lost power but was pretty cute so I thought that I'd add it here.  Tell your three year old who is asking why there are no lights on in the house that you lost power.  He or she might soon be walking around the house with a flashlight trying to "find" the power that you "lost."  They are so cute at that age and make you realize that sometimes the phrases we use make no sense.  Another favorite phrase of mine that is silly is when you tell them to "hold it" when they say they have to go potty.  Ever try to "hold" pee?  Another thing that doesn't make much sense to a three year old.

-7-
Snowtober Special: Veggie soup - if still without power try this because our power came on while getting this soup going, although more than likely if it is day six and you still do not have power, everything has already defrosted and possibly started to rot!   You also wouldn't be able to see this post unless you were looking from work or some other device, like your phone.  Anyway, this soup consists of all frozen veggies that have defrosted in the fridge:  red bell peppers, onion, broccoli, zucchini, corn, spinach and celery.  Add spices of your choice, I used some parsley, oregano, basil, chili powder, garlic powder, and minced garlic.  Pretty good, although it is even better when topped with some cheese...

Wondrous Wednesdays (13)



In the spirit of gratitude, I’m listing wondrous things happening in my world every week on Wednesday.  If you are a blogger and want to list what you are grateful for, feel free to do the same on your own blog every week and please be sure to link back to my blog.   If you are not a blogger, feel free to comment here on my blog with your own three wondrous things you are grateful for on Wednesday. 

(1)

When you do not have power with two young children it is easy to see how wondrous our modern technology truly is.  Hot showers, refrigerators, ovens that work and heat are come to be seen as such luxuries.  This week has been a reminder of how blessed we are to have these things we so easily take for granted.  Tuesday early evening, our power came back on.  WOOHOO!  Thank you God!

(2)
So thankful that my parents, memere and pepere to our little girls, have a wood stove.  It has given us a warm place to relax, despite being out of power from Saturday through Tuesday night.

(3)
It is wondrous how many people have offered their help.  From neighbors bringing by coffee the morning after the storm to family and friends offering hot showers and any help that is needed, we are truly blessed to have such loving and caring people in our lives.  Thank you everyone for all your love and support. 





To everyone still without power, we will keep you in our thoughts and prayers.  Hope that your power comes back soon!  Happy Wednesday!!

Seven Quick Takes Friday (19)

Thanks to Jen for hosting over at conversiondiary.com.  This was a quick one for me.  Didn't even require much thought... some weeks are easier than others I suppose!

-1-

Snow!  We have snow!  Thursday night I put my one year old to bed before the three year old.  I have taken to staggering bedtimes so that hopefully the one year old falls asleep before the three year old can start freaking out about having a dream.  Luckily sitting in the room with said three year old has been helping, probably that I'm sitting there praying doesn't hurt either.  Anyway, after putting Hannah down and playing with Alicia for a few minutes, my mom comes into the room and says it is snowing out!  So being one who LOVES the snow and Alicia seeming to follow suit, we put on her rain boots (I still have yet to get winter boots for her) and her new winter coat (thanks memere for getting her one just on Wednesday!) and outside we went.  I didn't put on any extra layers, which probably was silly, but hey, I'm a New England girl!!!   What can I say?  SO EXCITED!

-2-

I am also very excited for Halloween this year.  It seems that Alicia is actually excited about it and keeps telling people that she's going to be a dinosaur.  Hopefully, we do not have a repeat of this:

 


-3-

Really bummed out that hubby won't get to be there for trick or treating on Halloween this year.  His work schedule really has to change.  Three years is enough of this night time schedule, right?  I don't know how couples do it that don't get to have dinner together regularly, no nighttime routine schedule together with the kids on a permanent basis.  And this also means I have BIG TIME RESPECT for any single parent, mom or dad.  Definitely is tough on everyone, parents AND kids, I think.

 

-4-

Going to meet up with some homeschool moms from our parish on Friday night for a "Busy Bag Night."  I'm hoping that this will give our three year old a new interest other than movies.  I have weaned her down to one movie per day, but I really want her to find some things to do for some "quiet time."  Hoping that this does the trick.

-5-

I cannot believe that hubby and I will actually be going on a date on Saturday.  Our usual 'dates' include trips to the grocery store, rides in the car or other things like teaching teenagers the Catholic teachings on sexuality.  Really looking forward to going to the movies with him.  Going to see "Courageous", so long as it will still be in theaters.  I have a hard time going to see any "normal" movie these days.  Last movie I saw in the theater was "Something Borrowed."  Had a hard time with everyone cheating, the lack of morals - I found it a little gross.  Some of it was amusing, but I seem to see things so much differently these days.  Maybe I've lost my sense of humor.

-6-

And we will also be going to a hockey game Saturday night as a family with memere and pepere.  So excited.  Wondering how Hannah will sit still, and when she will konk out.  Hopefully she gets in an extra nap somewhere, but she's taken to having just one nap a day.  Hopefully if it snows, it won't be too bad for traveling...

-7-

Met up with a friend from my parish this week that I hadn't gotten together with in over a year, basically since we each had our babies.  It was great to catch up, but I hope that it isn't that long until we get together again.  Was really great to see her and have our children play together for a while.  Both of my girls fell asleep in the car after our visit so I was able to run some errands without any chatter.  I had the radio off and really enjoyed some quiet time.  Boy was that necessary! 

Wondrous Wednesdays (12)



In the spirit of gratitude, I’m listing wondrous things happening in my world every week on Wednesday.  If you are a blogger and want to list what you are grateful for, feel free to do the same on your own blog every week and please be sure to link back to my blog.   If you are not a blogger, feel free to comment here on my blog with your own three wondrous things you are grateful for on Wednesday. 

(1)

It's absolutely wondrous how easily Alicia has gone to bed the past two nights, when for three or four nights in a row it was over two hours of struggle.  It was starting to become a nightmare but I decided to stagger bedtimes so long as Hannah has only had one nap.  Hannah goes to bed first and when she's just about alseep I start the routine with Alicia.  This way Alicia is pretty tired after going all day without a nap.  I I think she feels more safe with me staying in the room, so it's been working out alright so far. 


(2)

What is also wondrous about this new routine is that it gives me a time of quiet for prayer. Time to pray for my girls, talk to God about what is really important.  I've been finding that I'm making some progress.  FINALLY after what seems like maybe a few years of confessing the same thing I may actually make some headway on prayer.  The recommendation of our new pastor helped too.  There are lots of little moments when I'm stressed, aggravated, or the girls do something really sweet, cute or have a fit of the giggles.  These are all times I can use for quick little prayers when I can either ask for help in moments of difficulty or give a quick praise to God for these endearing moments.  So far this idea has really worked out well for me.  I'm hoping to continue to make progress with prayer.


(3)
The last class we taught this past Sunday for the confirmation students was about dating with purity and purpose.  For the most part, disregarding the handouts thrown in the trash on their way out by a select few, the students definitely were paying more attention.  Probably because it was more a how to live this stuff out, a class that was more a guide about dating.  It was truly wondrous to see them sitting there actually looking at us instead of with their heads down, giggling over whatever it is that caused them some distraction.  I still wish that they opened up for discussion a little more, but the seeds are planted and maybe some of them will talk about the class with each other outside of the classroom.  And maybe, next time around, we will manage to figure out a way to get them to open up earlier than the last week of class.  

Seven Quick Takes Friday (18)

Thanks to Jen for hosting over at conversiondiary.com.  A few things I've seen this week...

-1-

I think part of the reason I started my blog when I did was that I was tired of seeing friend after friend on Facebook post about Larry King, Elizabeth Taylor, and Tiger Woods failed marriages as a "why not gay marriage."  I'm just going to leave this at : here's the newest FB thing going around that is irking me:

-2-

Jason and Crystalina Evert have a book out called, " How to find your soulmate without losing your soul" and all week this week they have been on Women of Grace on EWTN.  I posted the link on Facebook and am glad to see that someone shared it.  Putting the link here because if you know someone who is single and struggling in bad relationships or tired of being lonely, the first show can be viewed online, then with a free subscription you can access the other four episodes this week.

-3-

We are going to be giving our students a CD (so long as I can make a copy in time) called "Do's and Don'ts of Dating" also by Jason Evert.  It shows ten simple strategies for finding true love while navigating the modern minefields of impurity, peer pressure, and heartbreak.

If you would like a copy, let me know and maybe I can get a copy to you, but give me some time.

-4-

I had a conversation maybe about a month ago about Disney princess movies. Basically what horrible messages they provide for girls.  This picture really says a lot.  I tend to not watch them often but occasionally my girls do like to watch a few of these.  Somehow we will have to counteract these messages.  Or maybe stop them from watching these altogether.

-5-

Movies I want to see: "Courageous" and "The Way." Has anyone seen either of these?  Hoping that maybe hubby and I can go on a date night next weekend since our TOB classes will be done.  Really hoping that they stay in theaters in our area for a few more weeks. 

-6-

So I really like hockey, and I really do miss having season tickets to college hockey, but luckily we now have good cable and I can watch my fair share on TV these days!  Anyhow, Boston College hockey team is ranked #1 in the nation.  They have beaten Michigan State (5-2), North Dakota (6-2) and UNH (5-1).  Their only loss was their home season opener to Denver (4-2).  I do not like the team being ranked #1 because the only way to go is down!  My parents will be taking our oldest daughter to the game tomorrow night and I'm sure they will have a great time.  Someday we will go again on a regular basis instead of such spotty attendance!

 

-7-

So Thursday night it took well over an hour and a half of my three year old saying "I don't want to dream" before she could get to sleep.  I guess her fears and bad dreams have not gone away.  There were about 5 trips to the potty, the last one being after I put her down after an hour and a half.  Will try the holy water which someone suggested last time I posted about this.  It's so hard to not lose patience with the incessant I-don't-want-to-dream statements, but it's hard not to be sympathetic when she starts crying and freaking out.  Poor little lady.  Oh and as I finish this up in the wee hours of early Friday, she has woken up four more times to go potty.