Dentist record maintained

First off I'd like to point out that I am posting from my NEW LAPTOP!!! I love it! I am excited to get wireless soon as sitting here next to the other computer is hard. I try to use the other computer's mouse and keyboard...old habits die hard I suppose. :)

Ok, next...

Four boys, four dentist appointments and NOT ONE CAVITY!!! My boys have yet to get a cavity. I know the time is coming, but until then I am thankful we have gotten this far without a cavity.

MIA

I have been "missing in action" in the blogging world. Let me tell you - I have had TONS of blog posts "happen" since my last post that I haven't had the time to post. Every time I sit down to post, something else happens. I will get through this one because only 2 of the 5 boys are awake at the moment.

So since I have posted last here's a brief list of what we have done....

• Brech had another tooth come in.
• That same week, he had roseola - we didn't sleep those 3 days.
• Spring cleaning the kitchen
• St. Patrick's Day party with guests (10 adults, 9 kids) complete with corned beef & cabbage and Irish Cream Chocolate Cheesecake.
• Violin lessons - its still going...ok
• a grouse tried to take out our front window, blood and guts still on the window (yuck, I know)
• a trip to Houghton, MI to Michigan Tech for a Latin Mass information meeting, I answered a couple questions
• school - we are on track to finish before Mauri's wedding
• another mean migraine headache, man do I dislike those!!!
• Darren bought a new gun, I bought a new laptop - its coming TODAY!!!
• Cormac and Rex finished their school for the year.
• new haircut (I had some trimmed off the last new haircut)
• wrote some new entries for my book
• still maintaining a fruitful Lent, looking forward to Easter
• Playing Michigan Branch Office secretary for my parents as they can't get on the internet. That means I have been checking their email every day.
• Planted some seeds for the garden. We have some beautiful Sunflower plants growing. I plan on posting pictures soon.
• created a dump book for myself - thanks Cindy Rushton for that great idea
• decided we are staying for 3 weeks in South Dakota after Mauri's wedding

Ok, so that is just a few of the things we have done. Its been a busy few weeks. I am hoping that with the laptop I can post more often as I won't have to wait for Blase to get off the computer. He's been doing two or three lessons in Math a day. He has only 19 lessons left for the year. He's so excited! He has been doing a great job, but takes up my computer time. Oh well, a small price to pay to finish the school year.

I hope you haven't missed me too much. I know my posts aren't worth much in the blogging world, but hey you're the one who is reading it so it must mean something to you. I'm sure if I took a head count it would officially number....2 readers. Ha ha

March prayers

I updated our March daily prayers at the bottom of the page.

Lent

We are well into the Lenten season here at our house. We have done things a bit different this year. Usually we give up one or two things for the WHOLE Lenten season, but we found that everyone gets a bit burnt out. Little kids are not wired for such long sacrifices. Well, at least my children are not. More power to you with saints for children.

This year we are focusing on one sacrifice a week. Some examples are no TV, practicing patience, being diligent in our work, making small hidden sacrifices for others, kneeling down for all prayers and charity outside of our home. I think doing one a week has worked very well this year. I am able to remind the boys to do just that one thing and they don't get overwhelmed by the list of "must do's".

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Another thing we are doing is keeping track of our sacrifices and prayers on a crown of thorns. We are hoping to turn it into a crown of flowers by Easter. I drew a crown of thorns on a poster board and have used flower stamps to keep track. The red flowers are prayers said during the rosary. The other colors are morning, evening and misc. prayers said during the day. The big hearts are activities we do as a family. Examples would be attending Mass, saying the Stations of the Cross and attending the Lenten mission at our church. For the boys' sacrifices I used a stamp with three hearts. We can then see how one sacrifice will one please God, two help someone else and three strengthen your soul. The pictures below were taken last week , so we have filled up all the thorns and most of the middle already.

This is our Lenten wall. I borrowed the mantle letter idea from Elizabeth Foss's website though I am not using it on a mantle. The picture about the letters is of Our Lady holding Jesus after He has been taken down from the cross. Above the picture are the words " O all ye who pass by the way attend and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow!"

A crown of thorns slowly becoming a crown of flowers.

This year I invested in a crown of thorns from the Holy Land and three replica Roman nails. They have been a powerful visual aid for all of us. The boys have each held the nails and felt the thorns. I am certain it will be a tradition in our family to display them every Lent.

Hats

I wear many hats, figuratively speaking. I would like a real hat for every figurative one, but my family thinks I'm odd enough as it is. :-) Hats...they come in many shapes and sizes, colors and materials. Hats have many purposes, be they practical or just for looks. Figuratively speaking, once again, the list of a mom's job responsibilities reads like a hat catalog. There are some that are just for looks, but mostly they are practical. They come in all sizes and never seem to END.

During Lent I usually spend a portion of the 40 days de-cluttering my house. I get rid of what we no longer use and I organize what happens to be laying around. I also spend some of the time rethinking the way we do something. For example, maybe I don't like the way the toys are always out so I come up with a plan to eliminate that stress from our lives. It might come in the form of a new toy swap routine or possibly getting rid (gasp, heaven forbid we part with our toys!!!) of a few here and there.

As I was pondering my de-cluttering plan for this Lenten season I couldn't help but examine my figurative hat collection. YES, I need de-cluttering. My goals need de-cluttering. My interests need de-cluttering.

Catholic Hat - This hat tends to be wore all day and all night. I think its more like a beanie that never comes off. Prayers and instructing the kids, growing my own spiritual life and mentoring to others - it never stops. I would like to read more and learn more. Before that I should make sure the boys are learning more. Before that I should pray. Before that...oh there is nothing before that. School time. SWITCH HATS

Teacher Hat - I'm planning on creating file folder games in the near future. Before that I must finish the matching games I printed off, cut out and laminated for the little boys. Before that I need finish cutting them out. Before that I need to finish teaching for the day. Why is no one coming when I call??? SWITCH HATS

Mom Hat - I am planning on working on my patience level with the boys in regards to their faults. I need to train them the right way and not just expect my yelling or nagging to actually do anything but harm. Before that I want to read up on character traits and how to develop them properly. Before that I need to have the time to read. Before that I need to analyze my boys and see where each one has a weakness (or ten). Before that I need to clean the house. SWITCH HATS

Housekeeper Hat - I have a pretty good system for keeping the house clean and under control. Even the laundry is somewhat kept up. I would like to update our daily/monthly/yearly cleaning charts as they were for the last house which we moved away from a LONG time ago. I would like to do some more research on making my own cleaning products and how to save money. Before all of that I actually have to clean the house and have a moment to spare. Before that I should come up with a plan for supper. Before that I should teach school. SWITCH HATS

Teacher Hat again - opps dirty diaper SWITCH HATS
Mom Hat again - ok, done oh poop I should take out the garbage SWITCH HATS
Housekeeper Hat again - done now its lunch time NO WAY we just started our day SWITCH HATS

Chef Hat - I had started a weekly menu list, complete with shopping list for that week, some time ago. I finished 4 weeks and it worked very well when I used it. I have another 5 weeks left to type up. Before I do that I want to research some healthier recipes to try. Before that I should organize my cookbooks, both e-book and true book. Before that I should just make lunch and think up a supper plan. Before that I should just stop and hug the boys because half the day is gone and all I have managed to do is juggle hats. SWITCH HATS

Mom Hat again - hugs all around and kisses for those who will allow such affections. Gee, boys can be so particular when they grow up. :-)

Teacher Hat again - school is almost done
Housekeeper Hat again - laundry and picking up the house before Darren comes home
Mom Hat again - hugs to the baby who fell off the chair

Wife Hat - Darren is home. I really want to be a good wife. I try and try. I do read books and blogs and listen to audios telling me how to be a better wife. Before that I should listen more. Before that I should have more patience. Before that I should forgive more. Before that I should love more. Before that I should actually attempt to focus on him. Sometimes it is so hard to put the husband before the house and the kids. Supper time. SWITCH HATS

Actually - its more like a stack of hats now. Chef hat, housekeeper hat, mom hat, wife hat and even a teacher hat in there at times. Suppertime can be a good time.

Prayers and bed...ahh quiet.

This is me time. Which hat to wear? Should I put on my Creative Hat and so some cross stitching? How about my Seamstress Hat and finish that apron that is 75% done. Or what about my Herbalist Hat (well, its more like the start of a hat) and read up on the benefits of garlic. I do like my Relaxation Hat, so maybe I'll grab a good book and take a hot bath. Maybe I should put on my Teacher Hat again and finish cutting out the matching cards for the boys. Or the Blog, Blog, Blog Hat (which is sorta like a Blab, Blab, Blab Hat) and post some worthless to most post. Housekeeper Hat? Nah, just let the mess stay until tomorrow. Wife Hat? Ummm...sounds great and probably the best option.

I GOT IT! I know which hat to wear. NONE OF THEM. GO TO BED, SLEEP, GET UP and start again tomorrow. Another day, another juggling show.

Yes, I need to de-clutter. But where to start??? As I ponder that I will be accepting applications for a housekeeper, teacher, mother's helper, chef and spiritual director. I must point out you will not be paid and the hours will be long. Sounds great huh?? Ahhh...my Blarney Hat is dusty, forgive me. The housekeeper hasn't had time to dust it this week. ;-)

Untitled

This is a story, my first attempt at writing a short story to be exact. Emphasis on s-h-o-r-t. I wrote it while in the van on our way home from a trip to South Dakota. We did indeed drive by a house with a tree next to it (its on the south side of I-90). As for the exact location - I'm not sure, but it is closer to Vivian than to Rapid City. I should look for the mile marker next time we drive that way. I am honestly not sure what type of tree it was, so I just chose one. The story is untitled and unedited, so bear with me.

Untitled

A lone tree stands near a rundown house. They do not mean much to the people who speed by everyday, but if the house and tree could talk they would surely share their wisdom.

It was back in 1923 when a young man built a small, cozy house on the west side of his 80 acre farm. Though the house was small it was well-built and weather tight. The house was set on a nob of a hill, not too tall as to catch the wind but high enough to see some of the surrounding prairie. The young man had just come west from Minnesota where his family lived. He had come from a hard working family of nine. God had placed him in the middle and so there was little chance of him inheriting any of his father's land. Determined to make a good living, he set out for the prairies of South Dakota and found the perfect little place near Vivian.

The young man had land, a house and plenty of back-breaking work to do, but his heart was sad. When he left his home town in Minnesota he had also left behind the love of his life. She was the pretty young daughter of the local general store owner. She was somewhat short with long, curly brown hair and captivating brown eyes. Her heart ached just as intensely as her beau's. It had been agreed that he would come back for her after he had built a house and harvested his first crop. She kept herself busy by sewing fine dresses for the ladies of standing. This also earned her some money which she intended to use to buy a few pieces of furniture after they married.

Just as promised, the young man boarded a train headed east when the last of his crop had been harvested. It was during this journey that the house grew to feel very lonesome. No one opened the door or windows so the air inside became stale. The only sounds the house heard were the wind blowing and the coyotes howling in the distance. It was a lonely time indeed. Just when the house thought she couldn't take it any longer a wonderful thing happened; the young man came back bearing his beautiful bride with him. The house couldn't have been more pleased with a fresh coat of paint for now she was a home.

As a special wedding present for his bride, the young man had bought a young oak tree. He planted the oak to the west side of the home. Now the home took it upon herself to protect the young tree from whatever elements of the weather she possibly could. She was as kind and protective as any good mother would have been.

As the oak grew so did the young man's family. The home was tickled from her floor boards to her shingles with every birth. The children learned to walk on her floor and talk to her walls (for their mother was sometimes too busy to listen). These things pleased the home, but it was the nightly family rosary that delighted her. Both the home and the oak tree loved to listen to the melodious sound of the family praying out loud. It was times like this that the home herself wished she too could pray out loud. What joys filled her heart through these growing years.

Many years passed by for the home and the oak. The young man became an older man and his wife's hair turned gray. The children grew up and left the home, which sadden her. The home itself became older and bit rundown for the old man couldn't take care of her as well. The oak grew and took over the job of protecting. He was like a good son and tried his best to shelter the home as she did for him when he was young.

Then the saddest day arrived - the old man and his wife must move to town. They packed their few belongings and loaded them in their car. Both took a few moments to remember the joys and sorrows shared in their small, cozy home. Both shed a few tears and said one last good-bye to the home. Gone were the pitter-patter of small feet, gone were the giggles of little ones, gone were the sounds of the family rosary. The only things that remained were the wind and the howl of a coyote in the distance.

To this day the house is not lonesome for she has the oak tree to talk to. They remember the good times and bad times. They continue to age and only time will tell how long they have together. Their only regret is no one says a rosary anymore. It is because of this that God smiles down with great happiness upon the house and the oak tree.

the end

My Family

My mother was interviewed by Modern Woodmen of America (their insurance company) in regards to our large family. It was a great article. Thank you to Darren's Aunt Arnis for sending me a copy of the magazine. The company also paid for a photo shoot. This was one of the best pictures, taken out in the yard. That is Bear Butte behind our family. Mom has a few more pictures that were taken inside the house. When I get a copy of them I plan to put them on here as well.

This happened to be our first family picture without Mark, even though Dad had Mark's picture in his shirt pocket so he was not forgotten. This was also our first family picture with Brech. Since then Luke and Jess have had Rebecca Dawn and soon Mauri will get married. It seems as though our family picture never stays updated long. ;-) My family reminds me of a poem I was given while in high school.

Our family.

Our family is a circle

of strength and love. With every

birth and every union the circle grows.

Every joy shared adds more love. Every

crisis faced makes the circle grow stronger.

...................

My family is the best. I am so grateful that God put me in this family. I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!