Morning at the Park

The Snackmaster Strikes Again......

Almost Here on DVD

Cant wait!  Got it on preorder

Fun Playing with Our Cousins

Sunday of the Veneration of the Cross

Third Sunday of Great Lent

Troparion - Tone 4

O Lord, save Your people,
and bless Your inheritance.
Grant victories to the Orthodox Christians,
over their adversaries.
And by virtue of Your Cross
preserve Your habitation!

Kontakion - Tone 7

Now the flaming sword no longer guards the gates of Eden;
it has mysteriously been quenched by the wood of the Cross!
The sting of death and the victory of hell have been vanquished;
for You, O my Savior, have come and cried to those in hell:
"Enter again into paradise."

Review of Applegate Uncured Chicken Dogs

Very good.  Lean, low sodium.  Hubby likes them but thinks they are a bit chewy.  But perfect with homemade chill and cheese.

Passed Out

Someone got up a little too early and passed out...well nursed back to sleep.. so I got to go to Liturgy without him today.  Marlee still came along but we got to sit in front and not in the cryroom.  It was so nice to sing and participate.  The sermon was just what I needed too.  Father talked about living your life for eternity and not to worry about the people of this worlds option....follow Gods word.  How reassuring.

Just in Time

A Little Way of Homeschooling-
Thirteen families Discover Catholic Unschooling
By Suzie Andres...Forward by Mike Aquilina



Are you blessed with one of those friends who just seems to know when your gonna need a little pick me up? I'm blessed with a few of them and one of them I think of as sort of like a mentor of sorts... someone who is a few years a head of me on this journey of motherhood and who is just so darn inspiring. She seems to understand most of what I'm going through and has been there and done that. Well, she blessed me the other day with this book and just seemed to know that I was going to be needing the inspiration and affirmation.

I'm doing the best I can here and I'm going to be always trying to do better but I do have a set of core beliefs that just aren't going to change no matter how some may feel about them. They aren't going to stand before God in judgement for my decisions.... I am. I do not believe in birth control.... the Church teaches its wrong...each and every child is a blessing.

 I practice NFP and I do my best. Am I activity trying to conceive right now..no. And if I was I probably would be. I am blessed with fertility not cursed! Why is it that at times others make me feel like it is a curse. Am I ever going to feel anything but fear and apprehension when it comes time to tell family members if God does choose to bless us again with another life...no and thats so sad but so true. Wont be any different than its been for years.
Okay, there is sooo much more I would like to say but I think I'm just going to hold my tongue and pray about it.... I dont want to go to Divine Liturgy this morning feeling like this....angry, sad, and disappointed. Man, now I feel like I need to go to confession for all the thoughts that have been swirling around in my head!
Blessed St. Anne pray for me and all mothers for peace, gentleness of spirit and acceptance.  In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit....Amen.

Enjoying Spring

Marlee is drawing the beautiful daffodils aka narcissus we picked and then she identified the type..."Ice Follies". They smell so good.

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Madison's Learning to Cook

Madison cooked them after Malree and I mixed up the batter.

Marlee helped me set the table

Yummy...

Manny sat and ate for about 30 seconds in his highchair before he climbed in my lap....needless to say we both needed a bath when we were done.

Always Getting into Something

So cute though....

More Signs of Spring

One of the best parts of homeschooling is being able to fully enjoy every season and take our classroom outside. Our children love to identify the birds and the emerging spring bulbs.

Crocus and tulips

I'm so happy to see buds on my raspberry canes.

Finally Manny standing still and Mason is the blur.

Madison and the boys enjoying the raindrops.

Manny Loves the Bath

Beautiful March Day

Today was the perfect day wheather wise.   Partly sunny, light breeze, and high of 74.  I could live with that all year long.  Thats warm enough for me even after a long, cold, and snowy winter.

Cheetos Surprise!

I ran to the downstairs freezer to get some ice and I heard what sounded like marbles or something dropping on the floor above...but I dont have any marbles around with a baby who might try and eat them... and then I realized my baby must have gotten into the snack cupboard.  So I ran- as fast as a person can run with a bum knee- up the stairs in the hopes of saving some of whatever it was being dumped all over the floor but I was just to darn slow.  Our whole bag of Cheetos were laying there all around my lil man who was happily eating them!  Poor kids, I hardly ever buy Cheetos and they love them.  I'm so mad at myself cause I'm always preaching to everyone about how we need to keep the clips on the bags ...it atleast buys us a few more seconds when he gets them.. and I forgot.  I was so far away it probably wouldn't have helped anyway.

Signs of Spring

Strawberry plants

Daffodils

We transplanted our bulbs in the fall and I'm so happy to see them emerging!  Looks like atleast some of the strawberry plants made it.  Now I'll just keep praying for my yellow raspberries.

Forgot to Water the Shamrock

Opps.  We forgot to water the Shamrock plant.  Luckly it rebounded with in an hour of being given a drink!

We are so Blessed

Not many 5 year old boys could get an awesome Lego set and just hold it in the box all evening and patiently wait till morning to build it without a fight.  Well, I'm proud to say our Mason is one of them!  We went out for a while on Sunday and found a Lego Indiana Jones set that all of the children have been wanting so we got it for them to share but told them that since it was getting late and we still had to eat dinner that they had to wait till morning-or early afternoon by time Morgan wakes up to help build it- to open it and build.   Mason cheerfully agreed and just looked at the box, loving held it, and talked about it all night but not once ever begged to make it.  I dont know if I could have been that patient.  He also did have to wait till about noon the next day till everyone had breakfast and I took the baby out shopping so that they could build it without Manny taking pieces and putting them in his mouth.  I'm so proud of him.  He is such a good and kind little boy.  Yes, he has his moments like all children do but I do pray that Manny grows up to be just like his big brother.