Me and My House: March 2012

" . . . decide today whom you will serve . . . 

As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."

Joshua 24:15

That's our goal, anyway.  Lately we've been trying to read Scripture in conjunction with the Lenten "Jesus Tree."

Here's a snapshot of what else is going on:

• Len supervised the replacement of his parents' driveway with a new, concrete one.  The owner of the concrete company is a friend from elementary and high school.  Who has such long term connections in northern Virginia?  Wow!
• I signed our family up to pray outside an abortion clinic in conjunction with 40 Days for Life, a peaceful, prayerful, worldwide movement.  We spent an hour lifting up babies, their parents, and the clinic workers.
• Lauren is home for spring break this week.  She's been visiting, doing schoolwork, and preparing for life after college.  She and most of her bridesmaids went dress shopping, and today Adam and Lauren went apartment hunting.  No final decisions on either front, although Lauren found a dress for herself for the rehearsal.
• David (also home for spring break--hurrah!) and Colette celebrated Pi Day (3.14) by making two pies:  a chilled, creamy raspberry and a baked cranberry.  Those who didn't give up dessert for Lent seemed to enjoy both.  ;-)
• On Saturday Daniel took his first SAT.  He's practicing the goalie position on his school's lacrosse team; the first game is next week.
• Joseph is not playing lacrosse, but has joined the running club at school.  With our current warm temperatures (hitting the 80's this week!), he must be working hard.
• This year Marianna is dancing in both her regular and a "show" class, which means she is stepping out quite a bit this month.  Last weekend she danced in the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Washington, DC:

She's got two performances tomorrow, with another on Saturday, and a second parade!

• Rebecca, our resident ballerina, has learned some Irish steps so she and Marianna can dance together.  She was disappointed yesterday (and wasn't the only one) to discover that Tangled is no longer available on Netflix's instant programming.  We were hoping to to watch it with Lauren, who has shockingly never seen it!  Even Daniel and Joseph enjoy this movie, and quote their favorite sections.

I've been trying to type this up all week, so rather than searching for a clever conclusion, I'll just wish you continued growth and peace this Lent.

Me and My House 2/2012

There's usually plenty going on around here.  A mini update:

• Len recently removed a dog's salivary gland.  (He's always got an interesting or quease-inducing story to share.)  His latest home project was winnowing our 2011 photos down to 9 collage pages and printing out a set for each of our memory books.  It's hard to imagine that we once debated whether or not we would enjoy owning a digital camera!
• I'm trying to subdue a sore throat in time for tomorrow's neighborhood Soup Night (New England clam chowder and Italian sausage soup--yum!)
• Lauren is crazy busy with her final semester.  Her workload includes three studio classes, an internship at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, and the planning of the senior art show.  Over Christmas break we visited a seamstress and signed contracts with a caterer and dj.  
• David is carrying fewer credits than last semester, but his workload is no smaller.  His classes include math, physics, and computer science, and are all mind-expanding and time consuming (hours and hours of homework).  On Saturday he fenced in a tournament at GMU, and the girls and I were able to attend.

That's my boy--the one with the French braids and mutton chops!  ;-)

• Here's footage of one of his matches.  David is on the left.  I don't understand the rules well enough to follow along.  I just watch the director's hands to find out who makes each point.  (David won this match.)
• Daniel earned his driver's license in January and we are both enjoying his burgeoning independence.  He turned 17 on Saturday and will begin lacrosse practice this week.
• Yesterday Joseph performed in TYOF's latest concert.  Both orchestras sounded fantastic!  I'd share a picture, but Joe looks too serious in all of them.  His persistent requests (and a three year dog sitting job) paid off for Joseph--he'll be flying to Rome for Holy Week!
• Marianna has been dancing for several years, but only recently joined an Irish "show class."  Now she's preparing to dance in two parades and at multiple other St. Patrick's Day (really all through mid-March) events.  She's nervous but excited.  Marianna, her best friend, and Becca created and performed a play (about an orphan who dreams of dancing on Broadway) which we all enjoyed immensely!
• For weeks Rebecca had an exceptionally tidy, elaborate Indian encampment set up in my bedroom.  We finally moved it into Lauren's usually unoccupied room, and it's now been transformed into a messy American Girl/Playmobil wonderland.  We also pulled the couch forward in the family room so Becca can leave her doll house set up behind it.  I am happy to make room for such imaginative play.

 

I hope you and yours are enjoying this last little bit of February.  Some days it feels as if spring is already here!

Me and My House: Summer 2011

"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

Joshua 24:15

What with summer trips, summer calm, summer craziness, and computer issues, I've been away from this blog for quite a while.  It's time for a quick update.

When we left for our Smoky Mountain vacation in early June, the tadpoles had developed back legs and were resting on them, as well as hop/walking a bit. 

Unfortunately, the froglets began another die-off.  One expired the day before our departure.  As time passed, each morning and afternoon Marianna's best friend would find a new group of corpses, 5-10 at a time!  Yes, we had many creatures in that habitat.

Even though they changed the water every day (not a simple task, carrying two pitchers from the creek), fed the living, and removed the dead, our intrepid sitter and her mom couldn't end the carnage.  Perhaps the habitat was too crowded, or maybe a disease was running through the population.  Eventually we all agreed that it was time for an early release.  The remaining adolescents were carried to a calm spot and set free into the creek.  We'll probably never know what went wrong, but hopefully we'll have more success next time.  Yes, we hope to try again.

In June our family spent a week in the Carolinas, mostly in the Smoky Mountains.  We hiked, ate out, tubed, ate in, watched movies, visited family, played mini golf, swam, kayaked, biked, etc.  It was great!  That postcard photo above is the view from the deck of our vacation home.  Not too shabby, eh?  The fog is an almost daily occurrence, hence the name Smoky Mountains.

Over 4th of July week, we all spent some time in NY.  There was no Saranac trip this year, but we had a family reunion of sorts at my sister's house (and my parents' and other sister's, too).  She and her husband and children live in a charming old house

on several acres

complete with a large garden and chickens.

There's also an idyllic swimming hole at the creek down the hill.

Family time--gotta love it!

Rebecca enjoyed a one week visit from her favorite cousin just before our NY trip.  She's become a bookworm, and this summer is tearing through American Girl stories, Charlotte's Web, and other chapter books.  Now she's in the midst of dance/gymnastics camp, and is loving her first all-day-away experience.

Marianna's favorite girl cousin (from FL) spent 2 weeks in NY, so she was there, too.  Then came a week at camp in MD (close to David's college).  It was a Catholic camp, and the girls had so much fun!  Swimming, canoeing, daily mass, gospel reflections, Messy Olympics, games, songs, etc. kept them busy and entertained.  The Messy Olympics sound amazing--the girls ended up covered in food from various events:  spaghetti, peanut butter, ketchup, syrup and flour, eggs, and on and on.  Eventually a fire truck came to hose them off.  Really!  Marianna has two more 1/2 day camps coming up this summer:  Irish dance and basketball.

Ready for Marianna's final mass at camp

It seems that our youngest children are the busiest this summer. Joseph spent two weeks in NY and is now on a two week scout trip in Alaska! He'll have a week of camp in August followed by a pre-Labor Day school start.

On his way to the carpool to the airport to Denver to Fairbanks.

Daniel is working as part of the summer maintenance crew at our parish, painting, moving furniture in and out of classrooms, weeding, cutting grass, etc.  This means he can participate in fewer trips and camps, although he did manage a weekend in NY, a retreat in Steubenville (OH), and an August trip to World Youth Day.  Then comes junior year, with SATs, college visits, etc.  Here we go again!

David's job at the bike shop gives him a little more flexibility, so he was able to spend some time at the beach with his favorite cousin (are you sensing a summer theme?) after our NY reunion.  He developed (or modified--it's not quite clear) a role playing game and has enjoyed hosting a group of friends for weekly gaming sessions.  In June Dave hosted a bonfire that turned into a sleepover, since so many of the guests were college friends, driving two hours to attend.  We enjoyed spending time with such great teens.

Since her nannying job is in the neighborhood, we're seeing more of Lauren than in some previous summers.  She's been working hard on the personal front, too--getting her class schedule taken care of (so she will--God willing--graduate on time) and making wedding plans.

In this beginning stage, she's been concentrating on reserving a date and a hall.  Lauren has put in untold hours researching the possibilities while taking into account budget, beauty, distance, etc.  She found a lovely space in DC, which will hopefully be ours very soon.  We're planning a late summer 2012 wedding.

Meanwhile, at the beach, Lauren was dragged (kicking and screaming I'm sure--not!) to a bridal store by my aunt, cousins, and niece for her first dress try-ons.  (No, I missed it . . .)  My cousin took some pix with her phone, which I can't resist posting.

My baby!

Len's summer has been busy with work, leisure, and maintenance projects.  He and his partner hired a new veterinary graduate, who started working at Towne this month.  February (the clinic moving time) was not the best time for an open house, so that was also in July.  It was a fun afternoon with tours, raffles, children's activities, etc.

Len did almost all the organizing of our Smoky Mountain trip.  When we returned home he decided it was time to relax by refurbishing the deck.  This long overdue project (I won't lie, but I don't help much, either) involved power washing 17 years of weathering followed by staining/sealing.  Len dismantled the homemade table, found a new one on Craig's List, and built a gate for the stairs so that Dusty can join us for dinner without the otherwise inevitable deer chase.  It feels like a new, and newly welcoming, space.

And after a few too many "blue screens of death," our hero researched, bought, and installed a new computer.  Two interesting aspects of this projects are its speed (Len mentioned to Daniel one morning that we "would probably need to get a new computer," and by the time he returned from work, there it was!) and the fact that David approves of Len's choice.  Sometimes it's a challenge to keep up with our tech-savvy progeny!

My summer sounds quite dull compared to the rest of my crew's.  Keeping the house tidy, laundry done, and food on the table seems to be more challenging than expected.  We've been eating mostly dinners that can be yanked out of the freezer or whipped up quickly from staples on hand.  The freezer is almost out of last minute saves, so I'll have to start planning again soon.

Planning school is next on my agenda.  This year I'll have "just" a 2nd and 6th grader at home, but I want to do it right, which for me means having the game plan in place before we start.

In between driving, homemaking, and pooling (okay, not really a verb . . .) I have managed some knitting and more reading than usual.  I'm a bookworm at heart, but often don't read because a good book might not be put down, leading to several days of nothing getting done, which I can't afford any more.  And a book marginal enough that I can put it down means that I often do so, without picking it up again. 

This summer I've indulged myself.  Many of the books I've read are at the tween and teen level (checking them out for Marianna or reading along with the boys), which makes them quick.  The latest grown-up book I read is Unbroken, about an American captured by the Japanese in WWII.  Wow!  What a book!  Laura Hillenbrand is an engaging, thoughtful, and thorough author.  When I finished reading (after a few late nights and barely-there parenting), Len told me he was glad to have his wife back.  ;-)  You may be on the waiting list a long time (I was), but do put this in your library queue.

I hope you've enjoyed this rather long catch-up session.  Maybe next time we can visit over tea and scones.  Give me a call or drop by!

Me and My House

A mini update:

• Len is in Leesburg nearly every day, preparing for the transition to the new clinic.  This weekend he'll supervise pre-moving of shelves, basement storage, etc.
• Lauren is engaged.  Her cat is insane (now eating and vomiting plastic bags--yay!).
• David is back at SMCM, starting his 2nd semester classes today.  Haven't heard yet how it's going, but I did get his teapot to the post office today.
• Daniel had the day off due to icy roads.  He slept in, watched a movie, and kept the homeschoolers company.
• Joseph is annoying, but last night my sister-in-law said he's annoying in just the same way her brother was.  My darling husband turned out better than fine, so there is hope for Joe yet!
• Marianna has had two productive school days in a row.  Her secret?  Mom finally filled out a detailed checklist!  Shocking news:  a written plan helps some people stay on task.  Who knew?  (Okay, I did.  I tried to deny the truth and just slide by, but this ways works so much better . . .)
• Rebecca can't decide whether she's a big girl (excellent reader, focused student) or a toddler ("Warm up my clothes," "Stand next to me while I practice the piano," etc.).  It's an interesting stage.
• Speaking of vacillation, I run the gamut myself:  weight lifting then eating extra cookies, waking at 5:30 then zoning on the couch later, planning meals but nearly running out of produce b/c I don't make it to the store, praying a daily rosary but slacking off on the Bible reading . . .

What's new with you, my friends?

Me and My House

"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

This is one of my favorite mottoes. It's part of Joshua's speech to the Israelites before they renewed their covenant with God in the Promised Land:

"Now, therefore, fear the Lord and serve him completely and sincerely. Cast out the gods your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. If it does not please you to serve the Lord, decide today whom you will serve, the gods your fathers served beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose country you are dwelling. As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:14-15

Every day we decide whom to serve: the Lord or the gods of today: money, food, entertainment, power, popularity, SELF, etc. I don't always choose well, but at least I can try again each day.

None of which explains why I call my occasional family news feature "Me and My House." Oh, well.

• Len and his partner signed the papers on Tuesday and are now the proud owners of a building! In a few relaxed, effortless months (ha!), it will be renovated and their veterinary practice will move in. (They've been renting a former bank for almost five years now.)
• You know enough about me. I don't blog when I'm frazzled or depressed, so my recent regular posting must mean something good. On the other hand, I am ALWAYS tired! I get up when I'm supposed to, so I'm convinced the problem is bedtime. This is a seemingly simple decision/area of my life. Do I serve God and my family by getting enough sleep or do I serve my time-wasting, dilly-dallying self? Not proud of the answer right now . . .
• Lauren has sent us a few glowing emails from Italy. The villa has no internet, but she grabs a keyboard now and then on a daytrip. Anyway, she loves the food, the countryside (rural Tuscany), the people, the travels (Pistoia, Prato, and Florence so far), the art, the local wine produced by the monastery up the road, the busy-ness, and on and on. She has threatened to not return home!
• Short, cheerful emails (and rarer calls) indicate that David is also loving the college experience. His German books cost more than all his other texts put together, I know from an early email that he was up in time for an 8:00 sign language class, and he thanked me for the big BLACK mug that was one of his "sursies."
• Daniel is playing soccer on his school team and is a youth leader in the Catholic boys' club at our church. When rehearsals of the extracurricular choir begin next week, so will Dan's routine of spending the night at Grammy and Grandpop's every Monday. That tradition started with Lauren and includes much spoiling, only some of which (trips to 7-11, cash, short order catering for dinner, breakfast, and packed lunch) I even know about.
• Joseph auditioned this afternoon and was accepted to another year with The Youth Orchestras of Fairfax. I wonder if they know his violin teacher is working with him on "The Devil Went Down to Georgia?" :-) Most of his homeschooling this year will be on his own. He'll have coaching from and interaction with me, but the girls are sharing history and science texts rather than the big kids. Joe is taking physical science at a local co-op, has a higher level history book, will be taking Latin with Daniel's guidance, etc. I hope we ladies can stay on track without Joseph nudging me through the schedule . . .
• Marianna is eagerly awaiting Irish dance class, which begins next week. SOMEONE has procrastinated (I loved Mary's comment last week: "Don't rush me! I'm waiting for the last minute!") the ordering of new shoes. Is partial credit available if it's been on a list several times?
• Rebecca recently lost both top front teeth, and has a magnificent, gap-toothed grin. She's reading beautifully for a first grader (Len started phonics early with this one) and after some, shall we say, "intervention", is beginning to fuss less about piano practice.

There you go--consider yourself updated!

Correction

Daniel's engineering program is NOT at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (in MD), but at (metro accessible!) George Washington University. Here's a description from the program's website:

Intermediate Engineering GEMS:

A two week course for rising 9th, 10th and 11th graders that focuses on design, prototyping, and analysis principles of engineering. Students work in teams to create solutions to real-world problems. Students are exposed to more rigorous mathematics and physics and work with the near-peers to achieve the goals of the projects. Students are also expected to present their work, introducing them to professional communication and building leadership skills.

Me and My House--July 2010

We enjoyed a wonderful week at Saranac Lake in upstate NY, arriving home Sunday. The party celebrating my parents' 50th wedding anniversary came together nicely, and included seven surprise guests, a delicious catered meal, and a slide show put together by my dad.

Here's what's new:

• I'm easing back into a routine--laundry, groceries, cooking, etc. Must move on to something beyond the basics: school planning? blogging? daily mass (went today, anyway)? weight lifting?
• Len has plenty to do at work. Summer is his busiest time and there's lots of paperwork to catch up on, too.
• Lauren stayed at my sister's house in MD (on our way home) to spend a few days at her internship. Now she's in Richmond packing up the apartment in preparation to move out Friday. Next week she may go visit another sister in NY. Quite the traveler, not even counting her September departure for EUROPE!
• David visited SMCM (with Len and me) yesterday for a "New Student Day." Parents and students had mostly different schedules, but I was glad to spend time on campus. My only other visit had included the homeschoolers, when we spent our time at historical sites instead of at the school.
• Daniel is now taller than Lauren; he'll pass me soon. Next month he'll begin a two week engineering internship at Walter Reed in DC.
• One of Joseph's best friends has been living in Singapore for a year and half. He's in the USA for a short visit, eagerly awaited by Joe. Next week he'll (J) be off to NC for Boy Scout camp.
• Marianna went straight from Saranac to Mimi and Granddad's house to continue visiting with her FL cousin. We expect her back this weekend, just in time for Irish Dance camp.
• Rebecca is still in vacation mode, staying up too late and not practicing piano. ;-) She's been sleeping on my bedroom floor since her roommate is out of town.
• Dusty is extremely happy to be back home with us (wagwagwagjumpjumpjumpwrigglewag). Len just took him out for his final outing of the day, and he ran right past a skunk! There were a few tense moments while we waited to see if he'd come in by the (safe) back door. All is well. Whew!
• Emma is her usual cat self: out and about or lounging inside, and nearly always aloof.

Summer is never as mellow as I expect, but we're enjoying our less structured life.

Home Alone--Not

Total elapsed time in my empty nest: 28 minutes. Barely enough time to get off the internet. ;-)

Empty Nest

My children range in age from five through nineteen, yet I find myself home alone:

1. Lauren drove to Richmond for the weekend,
2. David is working at the bike shop,
3. Daniel is teaching tae kwon do,
4. Joseph and Len are vacationing (vet conference for Len) in Utah,
5. Marianna is shopping with Grammy, and
6. Rebecca just left for a swimming pool play date.

What to do with all this freedom?

It unfolded rather than being planned, so I have no great expectations. I'll enjoy a relaxing lunch and catch up in the kitchen (dishes, gyros for the freezer, biscuit mix, coffeecake and sausage casserole prep for tomorrow, etc.) while listening to a recorded book.

Dull for some, but homey and satisfying enough for me. Besides, Daniel will return soon, and this historic event will be merely a memory. ;-)

Me and My House

Another in the infrequent series of family updates:

• Inspired by Leila, I decluttered and dusted (!) the master bedroom. It's not perfect (laundry staging is still on the perimeter), but I've committed to keeping it nice for Len. I'm keeping the messies away--piles of hair holders, random papers, books I'm not reading, etc. While respect and affection for him was my inspiration, I'm enjoying the more peaceful place, too.
• Len has arranged a short family canoe trip for tomorrow. Next week he'll be off for nearly a week of kayaking with like-minded boaters. He had a great time last year.
• Lauren is busy with school work as well as plans for the summer and next school year. She's applied (for the fall) to a fabulous program in Greece. Her portfolio/personal statement will be turned in soon, and then the waiting begins. So many decisions about next semester can't be made until she gets word from the Aegean Center!
• Tonight David is at the prom. His school is small enough to cruise the Potomac together, and another family is hosting the after-party at home. He looks so sharp in his black suit, black shirt, and white tie. :-) Accepted at every college he applied to, David is close to deciding where he'll be attending next year (probably in VA or MD).
• I was so pleased to make a convenient orthodontist appointment for Daniel over our Easter break. Unfortunately, we had to cancel it in favor of our family hike in the Shenandoah. I doubt he'll get to the office until lacrosse season is over, so it's retainer wearing all day, every day for weeks to come.
• The homeschoolers are glad to be playing soccer again; last fall was their first season. Joseph has moved up to the U15 team, joining all the friends he missed in the fall as a U12 (October birthday).
• Marianna's Irish dance recital is coming up (the same weekend as David's graduation!), and she loves learning the steps of her piece. It's meant to be a surprise, so we're not allowed to see her practice. We made dinner together tonight: egg drop soup, stir-fried chicken and veggies, brown jasmine rice (the best rice ever!), and tin roof ice cream. The ice cream probably took the most time: preparing custard the night before, making and chilling the fudge ripple, coating peanuts with chocolate, freezing the custard, then stirring in the peanuts and layering it with ripple before freezing again. Of course, it was delicious...
• Lately Rebecca has become Costume Girl. Princess outfits, dance skirts, capes, etc. are all fodder for her imaginative play. She has a few friends and asks daily to play with them, but is also able to entertain herself for hours, with very little, "What can I do now, Mommy?"

Now you know a tiny bit about each of us. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15

Me and My House

This blog category is named for one of my favorite Scripture verses, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15

A little news about everyone:

Rebecca is in the last lesson of her math primer book. I've ordered "Alpha", and she should be starting it by next week. Math-U-See is a great program!

Marianna has indeed started wearing hard shoes for Irish dance. We bought some used shoes from her instructor. I don't know which I appreciate more, the discount or not having to SHOP!

Joseph earned his RED BELT in tae kwon do yesterday. Len and I were on a mini retreat and missed watching Joe's test, but we did have a special dinner at Grammy and Grandpop's house.

Daniel spoke about the ConQuest boys' club at all the masses last weekend. I'm still hearing comments about how well he did. I agree--he spoke slowly, clearly, succinctly, and with confidence.

David decided that yesterday's cold, snowy weather was ideal for driving half an hour (each way!) to try out a new (for him) mountain bike trail. He had a good time--just one fall--and got some slippery road driving practice, too. Thursday he went to court (that's how we do it in VA) to obtain his plastic driver's license.

I spoke to Lauren yesterday. Richmond was expecting 8-12 inches of snow, and it was coming down steadily. She had bought some rain boots in the morning, more appropriate for the mud and puddles she's usually walking through. Her snow boots are still here at home--good news for me. (I like hers better than mine.)

Len (along with Marianna) has been enjoying identifying new birds at our feeder. I'm buying a better seed mix than last year, which may be contributing to our increased variety of guests. He and Joe repaired a hamper today--Len's great at teaching practical skills to the children.

A few years ago I started making a bigger deal out of Valentine's Day here at home. For me this means baking a treat and getting a special gift for each of my loved ones. They're nothing elaborate or expensive, just thoughtful and not too practical. This week I picked up some fun books (that's all I can say--the kids sometimes read my blog).

Tonight I started the baking. The linzer cookies (with the flavors of ground almonds, brown sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla) will be frozen, then eventually sandwiched with raspberry jam and sprinkled with powdered sugar. They're crisp and tasty now, but if I fill them a day in advance, the cookies soften (a good thing) and the sugar dissolves in the window, leaving the beautiful red jam showing through.
Everyone gets one giant heart cookie plus a gift. The little flowers are for my Bible study...

Me and My House

This blog category is named for one of my favorite Scripture verses, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15

A little news about everyone:

Rebecca enjoyed her soccer games this week. She ran about her tiny field (U-6 plays three on three), focused on the ball and SMILING!

Marianna and a friend have "moved up" to a higher dance class. It is challenging, so we struggle to remember to practice throughout the week. She'll begin wearing hard shoes around Christmas.

Joseph, I think, wins our award for the most activities: homeschool soccer, violin lessons, youth orchestra, Boy Scouts, ConQuest (Catholic boys' club), and tae kwon do (though we haven't been much lately). His birthday party (12!) will be next weekend.

Daniel is enjoying playing soccer on his school's team. The game and practice schedule is the biggest reason he and Joe aren't making it to tae kwon do.

Dan's braces will be off as soon as the latest rubber bands reverse the over correction of the previous set.

David has submitted his first college application, to Christopher Newport University. He sent it in this early so he can participate in a leadership event being held there on October 30--during fall break, and on the same day our family was planning to be field-tripping in nearby Jamestown. Talk about an alignment of the stars!

After my urging (keeping the Sabbath holy), David requested to work Saturdays more often than Sundays, and his boss has honored that as much as possible. An added benefit is that Saturday's shift is 3 hours longer, giving David more money to spend on music and food save for college.

Although I thought I had permission, Lauren was chagrined to find I had emailed pictures of some of her classwork to more family. I guess you're never to old to be embarrassed by your mother!

One of her professors has made the Wednesday before Thanksgiving class optional, so we'll be able to drive to NY that morning rather than traveling through the bleak night with the innumerable masses (traffic rather than TRAFFIC). Hurrah!

While his partner is on holiday, Len has been working more days and hours than usual. Before Dr. B left, he blocked out an appointment for Friday and told Len that someone was coming to "see about some cages." The homeschoolers and I surprised him with lunch and a batch of brownies. The air crackled with excitement, whispers, and giggling as we hid in the office waiting for him to appear. It was a nice break in a long (8-8) day in a long week. Added bonus: science class consisted of observing a real veterinarian neuter a dog. Cool.

Me? My news is up here most days. I feel a bit frazzled lately, as though I'm spending too much time cooking and cleaning rather than planning and schooling. Here's something Jennifer at Conversion Diary wrote (one of the 20 things she learned after a computer-free week) that speaks to me:

"Planning is a critical element of having a peaceful life. I realized that it's almost impossible for me to make optimal choices once the chaos of the day has begun; if I don't have a plan, I drift into survival mode where I just do the bare minimum to get by. Preparing for each day in the evening before by getting things ready and visualizing my goals makes a huge difference in my life."
(emphasis mine)

Me and My House: July 2009

This week at the end of July:

• Rebecca: special times with Mom. Today we bought wonderful corn and nectarines at Whole Foods. Tomorrow we'll bake her favorite muffins: banana chocolate chip.
• Marianna: Irish dance camp (1/2 day). She was practically jumping out of her skin with glee when I picked her up today. "It was SO MUCH FUN! I can't wait for tomorrow!"
• Joseph: a full week of Boy Scout camp (back on Saturday).
• Daniel: lacrosse camp with kids and coaches from school (full day). Lax is actually a spring sport there, but this is a good chance to work on skills. There will be two 12th grade goalies this year, and Daniel is training as a 9th grader. He'll potentially have a big role the following year.
• David: driver's ed (online before scheduling behind-the-wheel) and work at the bike shop. He and some friends will be hanging out around a fire pit in the backyard on Wednesday. A fire is legal in our county IF you're cooking over it, just one good reason for marshmallows!
  
• Lauren: in Puerto Rico with her college roommate and family. So far she arrived at a much delayed 3:30 a.m., went to a beach with "crystal clear water and sand like velvet", and hiked to a waterfall in the rainforest where she jumped off cliffs into the water surrounded by banana and citrus trees. And that's just the 2 day (of 10) report! I'm looking forward to the pictures.
  
• Me: much more mundane than the lives of my children, it seems. I'll be driving to camps and getting some groceries to fill up our vacation-bare fridge. I'm actually looking forward to some school planning time, generously provided by my wonderful husband.
• Len: working hard, as usual, at home and the clinic. We're going on a date Thursday night; it's great having so many babysitter-level teenagers in the family!

Me and My House

Here's a little news about everyone (See all the things I'm NOT posting about?):

• Last week Len went on a three day kayaking trip in MD and WV with some local and northern (NY? New England?) paddlers. His favorite part was the first drop on the first day--Swallow Falls, a place we've hiked near Deep Creek Lake.
• Tomorrow is Lauren's last day of classes. Freshman year is almost over. Wow!
• David attended his school prom on Saturday. He looked sharp in a black suit with a black shirt, white tie, and black hat. No, I don't have a picture--it was a crazy day! This weekend he'll be a guest at the local homeschool prom.
• Daniel is sporting a big bruise, earned as the lacrosse goalie of his middle school team. He's enjoying the sport and camaraderie.
• Joseph recently auditioned (violin) for a local youth philharmonic orchestra. We'll learn in mid-May whether or not he advances to the next try-out. Joe's also (finally, he says!) joined Boy Scouts, and is serious about gathering camping equipment and exercising to prepare for advancement.
• Marianna has started a "Go Green" club with the neighborhood girls. They pick up trash, imagine ways to save the planet, and spend a lot of time getting wet and muddy in the creek.
• Rebecca still isn't sure whether she wants to take gymnastics, ballet, or Irish dance lessons. Meanwhile she's pleased that it's warmed up enough (upper 80's!) to fill up the plastic pool under the maple tree. Yay, spring!
• You already know about my cake. Most of my time is actually spent cooking, cleaning, driving, etc. (okay, sometimes schooling). Yesterday I volunteered at the library book sale, and in the evening Len and I taught an NFP upgrade class (bringing "old method" students up to speed) followed by a postpartum class.

I'm sure that's not all the news, but that's all you're getting for now!

Me and My House

Another one of my infrequent family updates:

• Len went to a veterinary conference in Roanoke last week. He's experimenting with blogging! The head of the house is also the ultimate team player; yesterday, for example, he drove the afternoon carpool (5:00 p.m. in northern VA--ugh!) AND took David to (and from) Sea Scouts.
• Lauren continues to spend lots of hours on her school work and art projects. Spring break is coming up, so she'll be home for Daniel's Confirmation. We'll see her for a few days as we are just one of the entries on her social calendar.
• David is looking forward to the spring lacrosse season. Practice has been delayed by SNOW! (We all enjoyed Monday's snow day.) He's become more fun with age. Dave's not my buddy (that would be weird), but we have been sharing some enjoyable experiences: rounds of bananagrams, crossword puzzle cooperation (our team can just keep up with Len), and a new tv show. It's too hard to watch a PG-13 show at 9:00 on a Friday night (noisy siblings who may not watch, bedtime for youngers, etc.), so we've been watching together a few days later on his laptop.
• Daniel will be playing on the middle school lacrosse team. He's 14 now (NO!), and had a fun party with school and neighborhood friends. They shared pizza, ping pong, and a diabolically difficult treasure hunt (an hour and a half?). Saturday he will be confirmed. We're looking forward to sharing the sacrament and celebration with family and friends.
• Joseph is happily tearing through the Ranger's Apprentice series. I think they're the Cliff's Notes version of Tolkein, but that's part of what he likes--quicker reading, more action per page. Joe participated in a violin recital last weekend. I thought he was fine, but he specifically asked me to NOT post the video here, so you are out of luck.
• I think Marianna may be turning into one of our bookworms. She is required to read for 30 minutes a day, but can often be found with a book during her extracurricular time. This is amazing because she is still very sociable, enjoying her time playing with any of the many girls in our neighborhood. Marianna seems to be maturing lately, noticing needs and offering help. She's a wonderful roommate for Rebecca.
• Rebecca's cast came off last Thursday, but she is still convinced that she can't walk. The doctor told me that some children take 7-10 days to get back up to speed, but I'm surprised with her apparent lack of progress now (day 6). She'll haul herself onto chairs and stools and scooch around the house on her bottom. She'll stand up, too, but without bearing weight on her cast-foot. Becca hobbled on it a bit on day 2, but no more.
• As for me, I have spurts of productivity, but feel I'm focused mostly on laundry, food, and other basics. (I'm definitely more Martha than Mary!) And by the time the day is winding down and I can start on projects (big or small), I rarely have the focus or energy. Something to strive for, I suppose.

Me and My House

"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15

Time for another family update:

We got back Sunday night from a wonderful week at Saranac Lake in the Adirondacks (NY). For the second time we shared a 12 bedroom house with 19 cousins, 9 (of 12) parents, and 5 grandparents. The house is just ten feet from the water, so we were kept busy with fishing, swimming, kayaking, canoeing, rowboating, sailing (sensing a theme here?), and windboarding. We enjoyed jumping off Tommy's Rock, rafting whitewater on the Hudson River, climbing Whiteface Mountain, playing bingo, watching a slide show (remember those?), stargazing (it's really dark there!) and staying up much too late. We have pretty much recovered from the week and the 13 hour drive home (whew!).

Len is enjoying a busy summer at the veterinary clinic. And being Len, he's busy in his off hours, too. His current project is building a shelter for the generator he recently set up at his parents' house. The generator is important because there is plenty of medical equipment in the house in an older neighborhood with big trees and above ground power lines, but apparently it is not supposed to run during heavy rainfall, hence the shelter.

I must also acclaim my husband as a master packer. While he prefers the less is more approach regarding what to bring, he managed to fit A LOT of stuff into/onto our 8 seat minivan (LOVE my Sienna!) for the Saranac trip: 2 kayaks, lifejackets, electric guitar, electric bass, 8 people and a week's worth of luggage, plus some groceries. He really got creative. The night before departure, as he took bags of food out for pre-packing he asked if it was okay to not keep it all together, which of course was fine with me. Well, when I opened the van door to drive away, I found three cans of corn in the driver's side door pocket! The passenger door held a jar of salsa and bag of granola. A little drawer held (in addition to my sunglasses) a bag of bread crumbs. Onions were scattered about the interior of the vehicle. You get the picture. Thankfully, after an hour we reached my sister's house and rearranged passengers for the convoy north. David was able to get the bass off his lap, and Lauren found some leg room.

I'm over my typical late spring burnout, and am excited to be planning school again. Lauren will be away (sniff), David and Daniel will be at Trinity, and I'll just have three at home. Inspired by two friends, I have some planners to replace the checklists we've used for many years. They look great for both organizing and inspiring. This year we'll cover flying creatures in zoology, medieval history, and continue with our math progress. I want to use the Signing Times dvds for Rebecca, and spend more time outside this year. As usual, we'll enjoy lots of books on cd. (I can't sit and read aloud without falling asleep.) I've even updated our prismacolor pencil set to enjoy for our art co-op and drawing during nature time at the pond.

I recently knit and felted a potholder. It was a short but interesting project. Now I'm trying to make a copy of a sweater I already own. With some coaching I've done plenty of figuring and refiguring. There has been a fair amount of knitting, but unfortunately almost the same amount of un-knitting. This was to be a summer project, but my chances for the Tuesday night classes are dwindling...

Lauren is busy keeping in touch with her friends (pool, movies, visiting) and preparing for college. We've done a little shopping together, but her grandmother is the one who took her on the major aquisiton expedition. The countdown continues (16 days)...

David is working at the local bike shop, mostly as a mechanic. He's spent his first several days fixing flat tires, replacing inner tubes, and assembling bikes. He's going to learn a lot. Mom likes the fact that the shop is close enough to bike to--yay! Soon enough he'll have his learner's permit and it will be time to teach our first teenaged BOY how to drive.

Daniel will be going to Trinity for 8th grade this year. Right now he's working hard to catch up on the first (of four!) year of Latin before school starts. We did some at home this year, but nowhere near enough... Daniel (with Len) is progressing towards his upcoming Confirmation. He is involved with a ConQuest boys club, which is fun and has also kept him progressing and maturing in his faith life. At the end-of-year campout he received (regional) awards for character and for exemplifying club ideals.

Joseph has a new violin teacher and is a great cheerleader and example for Rebecca. He is going to be the student leader at home for the next two years. Joe recently passed his latest tae kwon do test and is now a blue belt. He is hoping to join Boy Scouts this fall.

Marianna isn't even home now--she went straight from Saranac Lake to Mimi and Granddad's. She's having a special week there with her favorite cousin from Florida, and will transfer back to us at my cousins' NJ beach house in a few days. She sounds so happy on the phone, and today even professed to miss the brother she argues with the most. She doesn't know it yet, but I'm going to try to teach her to sew this year (while Joe and Becca are at violin). Her reading has really blossomed, too; she's currently immersed in her third Narnia book.

Becca is FINALLY POTTY TRAINED! This intelligent and incredibly articulate (You should have heard her when she was two!) child could have done it a year ago, but was just not motivated--not resistant, just uninterested. I am an experienced parent with many skills, but facilitating bathroom independence does not seem to be one of them. Rebecca is turning four in November, so her schooling will gradually get more formal. I want to browse through Elizabeth's Serendipity site for ideas, but Becca will also learn a lot by hanging out with the rest of us. She loves to draw and "write", so I'll try to make sure she gets in the habit of holding the pencil properly.

This has been a very long-winded installment of "Me and My House". My mother will not be pleased that I am once again up past my official 10:00 (hah!) bedtime. Sorry, Mom, the time marker records when the post is started. And if I want to I can write down any time I want there, anyway. So now I'll exclaim as I climb the stairs out of sight, "Happy August to all, and to all a good night!"

Me and My House, January 13, 2008

"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15

The "Me and My House" blog was created for family and faraway friends to keep up with what's going on with everyone here. As it turns out, I hardly ever post there, so tonight I'm deleting that blog. Everyone once in a while I'll post a "MAMH" entry here. Hopefully it won't bore the thousands of other readers (hee-hee) who aren't already friends.

Rebecca is still uninterested in potty training, but is lots of fun in other ways. She is good at keeping herself busy: painting, "writing", looking at books, playing with dolls and animals, playing in her kitchen, working puzzles, etc. She has to do something none of our other toddlers did: keep all her play out of the dog's reach. Overall success rate: 97%. Consequence of remaining 3%: chewed to oblivion whatever it was.

Marianna is preparing for her First Penance on January 26th. We've been reading King of the Golden City together. She recently went ice skating for the 2nd time and really enjoyed herself.

Joseph (along with Marianna and Daniel) is going to Great Wolf Lodge in Williamsburg with me later this week. We'll stay overnight at this hotel-with-an-indoor-waterpark. This was the "big" Christmas present for the three of them, and I'm looking forward to it, too. Len will be off work, taking care of Rebecca and carpooling responsibilities.

Daniel will probably be going to Trinity for 8th grade next year. We just submitted an application update. He applied and was accepted last year, so there was only a small amount of paperwork to catch up on. He should fit right in, although he'll be ahead in math and behind in Latin (which I'm hoping to remedy this semester!).

David recently attended a winter training weekend with his "ship" (Sea Scout crewmates). It was mostly book learning, but real boat work is coming up soon. Today he auditioned for a one-act play being put on by a local church youth group.

Lauren has almost finished submitting her college applications and portfolios. Now comes the waiting game... She is starting a painting class soon. It won't affect her portfolios, but she is looking forward to learning more about oil and acrylic work.

Len went kayaking yesterday. Some kids are surprised he goes boating in the cold, but not me--he loves the physicality of boating and the beauty of the water. There's always a list of home projects to distract him from work and paperwork and Daniel's confirmation training. The latest chore was yesterday's garage door repair. Not exciting, but useful.

I'm teaching in the art co-op this week. I'll have to post about this co-op later--it's been great! I'm trying to make time to read for two book clubs, one in the neighborhood (on Wednesday!) and one November 21 with some women on-line (In This House of Brede). Now it's time to plan a few days of school work before I get too sleepy.

The post below (Me and My House "archives") contains the 4 posts from the soon-to-be-deleted blog.

Me and My House "archives"

From November 18, 2007:

We've had several busy weeks here. Rebecca and Marianna dressed up as angels for Halloween. Joseph was a monk, Daniel a secret agent, and Lauren a fairy (at school). David carved the pumpkin and gave out candy while I trick-or-treated with the girls and friends. Now everyone's got a big bag of candy [November 1 sale shopping by those to old to go door to door! ;)], even Mom and Dad (who got lots of donations).

Rebecca turned 3 this week! This is only the second time we've had a three-year-old without also having a baby. Becca went to "Kids' Korner" at the local park (she's old enough now) and learned about turkey vultures.

Marianna also went to a vulture program at the park. She's becoming quite a reader. Right now she's reading the 4th Laura Ingalls Wilder book, On the Banks of Plum Creek. She also volunteers to read to Rebecca.

Joe's baseball season is over. His team was 3rd (out of 8), and his skills really improved. He's also had his first group violin lesson (once a month). It's nice to have his cousin in the same group.

Daniel and Joseph have both been serving some 6:15 (A.M.!) masses lately. There is of course spiritual consolation for the early rising. The physical reward is a trip to Dunkin' Donuts after mass. :-) Daniel and I made dinner together last night. We prepared homemade pizza (3), lettuce and tomato salad, winter fruit salad, and apple crisp.

David is in the Rhapsodes drama group at school. On Mondays after rehearsal he spends the night at Grammy and Grandpop's house. It saves us a rush hour pick up, and makes for some great spoiling/bonding time for him.

Lauren is busy working on her portfolio and college applications. Today was her last day at Target, at least until January. Her college prep and high school load (some honors and AP classes) take up too much time to make a paying job worthwhile right now. Lauren is also busy with Action, a service outreach of People of Praise. On most weekends, they're helping those in need of home maintenance, repairs, etc.

Len's actually been kayaking a few times lately. It's getting colder but there's more water now than there was most of the summer. He and his job partner have started clocking in and out to get an idea of how much time they're spending at work--he says the staff enjoys teasing him when he forgets.

Len and I went to the Divine Mercy Care gala last week. It was fun to dress up for a great cause. I attended the Phases of Womanhood Conference, too. It was a wonderful, spiritual day, with Imaculee Ilibagiza as one of the main speakers (on forgiveness). Tuesday night we'll be heading to NY for Thanksgiving with Mimi, Granddad, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. Yay!

From November 5, 2007:

Caroline's Labor!
Tomorrow morning Lauren and I will be out the door as dawn is breaking. We're driving to Arlington to support Caroline as her labor is induced. Please pray for this sweet young woman and her baby (Angel Shae is her name).Thanks!

Saturday, October 27
Today Daniel and Joseph competed in a tae kwon do tournament. They each earned third place in forms, the only category they competed in.

Marianna and Rebecca came along and brought Christine. In addition to forms and sparring, we saw some exciting self-defense demonstrations.

Lauren took her ACT today. She thinks she did very well on the English section, but says the math and science sections were harder and time consuming. Tomorrow she and Caroline and Sarah are going with the youth group to see Bella, which is supposed to be a great secular and Catholic film (it won at the Toronto Film Festival).

David is going to a Halloween party with some O'Connell friends tonight. He's probably resurrecting last year's hobo costume. PAM: The host is a son of Heidi Brennan, one of the founders of Mothers at Home and Welcome Home magazine!!

Len is on his way home from work with cat litter and dog food. An exciting life, eh? I'm now recovered from the morning scramble, so I guess it's time to get up and get going on those Saturday chores...We're trying to decide whether or not to go to church tonight. It would mean missing David's pick up, but tomorrow is quite full: Mass (or not), kayaking, working at the library book sale, lacrosse, youth group, work at Target, baseball team party... And that's just what I remember without looking at the calendar. There's probably something else, too!

From October 23, 2007:

The First Quick Update
Well, if I don't start sometime, this blog will be empty forever! Here's a little bit about everyone: Stripes (the guinea pig) still squeaks in welcome when we walk in the room, but I think he could use more time out of the cage. If only he didn't have that unfortunate habit of chewing Daniel's handmade (by Len) desk...

Emma (the cat) would LOVE to get back outside. She used to be an indoor-outdoor cat, until she stopped coming home for many days at a time. She hangs out a neighborhood over, but is grounded for now.

Dusty (the new dog!) is a 7 month old corgi-shelty-? mix that Len, Joe, and Marianna picked out at the shelter a few weeks ago. He still needs training, but has a wonderful temperament--perky, friendly, and affectionate. He's learning to behave.

Rebecca will be 3 on November 14, so today she had "special time" with Aunt Mary Alice. They went out to eat and then to MA's house for concentrated play and cookie baking. We may have one cookie left by now, but I'm not counting on it.

Marianna went to "Explorers" at Walney Pond yesterday. She learned about beavers and walked into the woods to see a lodge. It was a glorious, sunny, windy day, and she was happy to see some brothers she had met at camp this summer.

Joseph's baseball team won tonight's playoff game. I only saw the second half (Len was there from the beginning.), but it was a great show. There is a LOT of base stealing in this age group, which can make for some excitement. Unfortunately, Joe will probably miss the final game due to a tae kwon do tournament on Saturday.

Daniel went on a retreat/campout this weekend with the boy's club from church. I hear there were 50 boys and 20 dads! Daniel said he was freezing even with underarmor, tshirt, jacket, and sleeping bag. We're all glad he came back without poison ivy, which flourishes out there despite the best efforts of the brothers.

David recently joined a newly forming Sea Scout crew. This is a division/off shoot of Boy Scouts. He's already been on a weekend sail with another crew. His group will be refurbishing a donated sailboat. David was also elected boatswain (the senior youth position, I think).

Lauren is busy with college visits and applications. Her top choices (photography major) as of now are VCU, Drexel, NYU, and Pratt. She's been working hard on creating art in various media for her portfolio. The latest piece is a pencil self portrait. I'll see if I can get her to take a picture that I can put up here.

Caroline is having a birthday party (18!) here on Thursday, so she and Lauren and I are in the midst of the expected discussions: How many pizzas? Helium or air in the balloons? What's the best way to make black on a penguin cake?

Len is of course busy at work. I'm so glad he has a business partner--otherwise I think it would harder for his mind to be home even when his body is. He recently went to Atlantic City for continuing education (surgery techniques, etc.). The classes were good, but he said the hotel atmosphere was over the top with gambling, shopping, etc.

The newest things in my life are Dusty and the blogs. I've been thinking about blogging for months now, every once in a while saying to myself, "I'd like to share this with somebody." Dusty takes some care and training, but the biggest impact is that I take him for a walk nearly every morning. MWF I walk for almost an hour with Patty. Other days it's more like half that. Patty and I both enjoy the new, 26' retractable lead--much less stopping, tripping, and waiting for every little sniffing opportunity.That's all for now!