Stations of the Cross at home

Friday night we decided to do the Stations of the Cross at home since Brian was out of town. It’s never easy keeping the kids out that late, but it just isn’t worth it without Brian to help. So we all sat on the couch and read the Stations of the Cross children’s book. Even Isaac sat and listened with the occasional flip, wiggle, and reposition. I was so touched that both the girls were moved during the actual crucifixion and the following stations. The reminder of what happened next helped to lighten their spirits a bit.

Before we did the Stations, I had the girls choose and illustrate one of the Stations. Hannah’s is the first one and Genna’s is the second. Hannah’s is the 10^th Station: Jesus is stripped of his clothes. Genna’s is the 12^th Station: Jesus dies on the cross.

Here is a piece of artwork Hannah brought home from school one day. I pulled it out of her bag and asked her to tell me about the picture. She said, “It’s Jesus watching over the world, of course!” She went on to tell me that the things over the earth were for all of the seasons, snow for winter, rain for spring, sun for summer, and leaves for fall. How clever of her to come up with this all on her own. I especially like that she pictures the earth sitting on a table like a globe.

Mommy's Maid

Friday afternoon, Brian was out of town and I was relaxing with a little embroidering before starting dinner while the kids played. Genna asked if she could watch me sew and then we had a funny little conversation on the couch.

Genna: Mom, when I grow up I am going to be your helper.

Me: You already are my helper, Honey. You help me all the time.

Genna: No, I mean real help, like with cooking and cleaning and sewing and taking care of the baby. I changed my mind. I don’t want to be St Scolastica anymore.

Me: So you mean you want your vocation to be my helper, kind of like a maid?

Genna: (enthusiastically) YES! I want to be your maid so you don’t have to work so hard.

Me: That’s so sweet and sounds like a great deal! You’re hired!

Sick Little Superstar

Look at that tear rolling down his cheek! How sad!

He woke up from his nap all out of sorts. These glasses stopped those tears pretty quick. Poor baby has ANOTHER ear infection. He has only been ear infection-free for a couple of weeks.

Isaac is such a boy, making all kinds of sounds, playing with cars on his tummy, giving his daddy "tight hugs" that sound like he is getting a hernia. I am just stunned by the innate difference between girls and boys. I mentioned his love of trains before, especially Thomas the Train. I found a Thomas the Train book with a crash in it and he has us read it to him about 30 times a day. He knows most of the words and his favorite part is the crash. He yells, "Oh no! Crash!" Once we pass that part, he sometimes tries to turn the page back to talk about the crash again. Like I said, such a boy!

Sentimental T-shirt

Part of our spring cleaning has been to go through clothes and get rid of stuff. My problem is the sentimental value of the clothing. You know it was my favorite shirt at one time, but I never wear it for such and such reasons. So I have been looking at a lot of blogs and tutorials about refashioning clothes and I am so hooked. I have a gigantic pile of clothes of which I am determined to make use. Here is my first attempt to change one of my husband's old short sleeved t-shirts that has huge sentimental value to us into a dress for the girls. The t-shirt is from the Bible study that we met at our freshman year in college. He didn't actually get the t-shirt that first year, but it still brings back memories of our courtship. Aah the days! Here it is, new and improved!

Front

Back

To my surprise the girls loved it and wanted to sleep in it. I told them they had to wait until I had two finished to actually wear them. I have more shirts from our college years already cut up and ready to sew. Plus, I plan to applique a cross or something on the skirt to cover a little stain. Then I am going to leave off the skirt on a couple to make some shirts for Isaac. I don't want to leave the little guy out of all the fun.

Speaking of not leaving him out of the fun, here he is jumping into the picture of my first model of the dress. He is pointing at Genna, saying, "Denna" trying to get her to get in the picture too.

Model number 2

By the way, this was super easy to do. I made quite a few other things lately, but none of them are 100% finished yet. I am waiting on supplies to be delivered, etc. So, hopefully, I'll have other cool things up soon.

Blue Moo

The kids all love this CD! Blue Moo by Sandra Boynton This CD takes Sandra Boynton's clever songs and puts them to good old fashion 50's music sung by well known artist from that time. The kids each have their favorite songs. Isaac loves Singing in the Shower. Genna loves Your Nose. Hannah's favorite is Personal Penguin. The best part is it isn't annoying for the adults. It's enjoyable even. Just thought I would share!

Let the spring cleaning begin!

Even if the Spring won't actually begin here until after Easter! I got in the mood, and Lent is always a good time to start that yucky business anyway. Since the result of the cleaning doesn't seem to last long, I decided taking a picture after I finished an area would make me feel like I actually accomplished something after all.

Toy Corner: New labels (don't know how long that will last with the "Destroyer" around), put away toys that don't get played with much anymore, threw away broken toys on the sly, set aside toys to get rid of.

Mud Room/Entryway: Gave Isaac his own shoe shelf (he has enough shoes now that it is necessary, rain boots, snow boots, tennis shoes, and dress shoes), removed all outgrown shoes, hats, gloves, etc., added a new basket for socks (they all wear the same size sock if you can believe it. Isaac wears a size 6-7 shoe and the girls are both still in a size 9!), separated out the mittens into another basket to reduce digging and therefore messing up my mud room!

Obviously, I still have many areas of the house to go!

Barber Shop Woes

Yep, we buzzed him again, but this time in a real barber shop. I thought he would like it since it makes a cool motorized sound, but Brian said he was none too thrilled even with the lollipop I sent (and the replacement lollipop when the first one dropped on the hairy floor). Father and son had good bonding time though. Isaac is just too cute, despite the tantrum phase we seem to be entering and the 5am wake up time. I've been through this enough times to know "This too shall pass." And I firmly stand by my statement that has been repeated to all my children many many times, "It's a good thing God made you so stinkin' cute!"

Here is a video of him talking a bit with a couple of my favorite phrases he says a lot these days. "Hold you Mama." "Have it please" sounds more like "Hab it peas."

Ashes Ashes

Today was a bit rough, but we made it. I won't go into details of our adventures today, I would rather focus on what's really important. We went to Mass at noon and got our ashes. Isaac had rubbed his off before Mass was even over. (When he is tired, he rubs his head on everyone and everything and noon is right in the middle of nap time.) During nap and rest time I got most of my Lenten decor up around the house. I am reusing my calendar I made last year. I scattered my purple cloth and ribbons on our religious items just like last year as well. I don't have my dry earth ready yet, but I plan to put it in a real pot this year on my kitchen window sill instead of on the table where I have this crown of thorns...

waiting for little bitty charitable, obedient, loving people to do good deeds and remove the thorns (toothpicks) from it. Genna already got to remove the first thorn when she jumped down off her tired daddy's tummy to move a kid chair closer to him so he could rest his arm on it without anyone even mentioning that he needed one. His arm was dangling and she jumped to assistance. So generous and thoughtful!

I gathered books to use for Lent. Two apostle books, four saint books, and the Stations of the Cross for the itty bitties...

and a few for the mama too.

This next photo is less than aesthetically pleasing, but it illustrates one of our main goals for this Lent. I hung rosaries for the kids and I on the nails that held the stockings not too long ago above the fire. (Brian carries his in his pocket so his is not there.) I did this because before we pray and read bedtime stories we plan to say a decade of the rosary as a family on at least three or four nights a week. We used to do this, but got away from it when I was having to play double roles in 2009. So Lent is a perfect time to get back into the swing of things here.

Our family sacrifice is to give up desserts and candy ("except on Sundays," the girls will remind you!)

Shrove Tuesday

Last day of Fasching!

Girls were out of school today.

Genna dressed up over her clothes and got so many adoring looks at the grocery store with her tiara and tutu. Hannah opted out of the dressing up because she doesn't like to add "bulk" to her outfit. (Side note: Notice their matching coats. I call Genna my sunshine and Hannah my blue sky when they wear these.)


Swim lessons went as usual, but the girls are improving. They showed me their synchronized statue falling into the water off a step routine. I can see why people always think they are twins. They got to go down the big water slide too.

I had planned to make a traditional pancake dinner, but instead we attempted to meet daddy at the Fasching parade. However, it was over by the time we made it there. There were some booths and rides left though. Isaac got to sit in the train on the carousel after daddy bought the girls tickets thinking he wouldn't care since he was cozy in the stroller. I knew better. After seeing his sisters go 'round and 'round, he started saying, "Turn!" So here he is on his second ride, after his sisters used up all their tokens.


We got home just before seven with super willing children to hit the sack immediately. Even Isaac was grabbing a book and calling, "Mama" as he headed to his room. What angels I have!

Stuck in the middle with you!

I was able to take Genna out on a (I don't know what to call it) "mommy-daughter get out of the house without everyone else thing" between Mass and the rest of our Valentine's Day plans. I took her to get her hair trimmed and we had lunch and ice cream afterwards. Maybe you could call it a date, but a haircut doesn't seem like a date. I digress. This turned out to be just what we needed. Lately, I have felt like I haven't had time to enjoy her, in particular, because I am always hurrying her along, switching shoes to the appropriate feet, turning dresses around the right way, and trying desperately to listen to and understand her really long, sometimes making no sense at all, stories while cooking and feeding the baby. On our little trip, she was her usual unique, backwards self. She wanted to ride up and down the escalator, "until you make me stop" she said. She asked questions like, "What is a galaxy?" and "Are we Catholic?" (I was hoping she knew this one already, but I am sure it is just a semantics issue.) She also asked me, "Who are the people who don't believe in Jesus?" After I explained and said that we should pray for them, she said, "Oh mom, I can't wait to see them in Heaven when they change their minds!" She's a sweet girl with such a sweet heart. My favorite moment from our outing was sitting on the bench listening to her talk and watching her forget she was holding an ice cream cone and turn it over dripping it all over the place. It so reminds me of my mom! What a treasure!

Baby Chef

After making the Valentine's cookies the other day, Isaac is into this cooking business! I have been doing a lot of baking lately which is sure to end with Lent fast approaching. If he sees me hauling out the Kitchen-aid mixer he drops his toy and starts pushing a chair over to the kitchen to stand on and help me. He also demands an apron for his culinary practice by saying "Apin!" until it is on him. So, I guess I need to find some cute boy fabric and make him one too. I was thinking planes, trains, and automobiles or something like that, but it is hard to find fabric over here. Here he is sporting Genna's apron that she has since become disenchanted with since it is not as "girlie" as she would prefer. So, perhaps for her birthday I can make her a more girlie one if I can find the fabric. Or I could find some girlie compatible fabric and embellish this one.

Isaac loses interest as soon as the rumbling sound of the mixer ends. He loves anything with a motor. Then the girls came downstairs, took over, and decorated their own red velvet heart cakes with cream cheese frosting and sprinkles.

Valentine's Plans

We made some Valentine's cookies for the girls' teachers (swim, Irish dancing, school) and our housekeeper. Isaac even got in on the action! He didn't want to be left out.

The mixing stage

The girls used their heart cookie cutters from Aunt Leah and Uncle Kent to cut them out. Fresh out of the oven! Yum!

The plan was to write "JOY" on the hearts. J for Jesus first, O for Others next, and Y for Yourself last. I found that clever idea online and thought it was a good lesson on how to love practically for preschoolers. (My husband had apparently already heard of this back in his Protestant Sunday school days and remembered the song to go with it. I heard him singing it to them while giving them a bath the other night.) Writing the letters was harder for Hannah than I thought it would be. She gooped it or went too fast and it just didn't look like "JOY." So I ended up doing a handful and then let them be creative with the rest.

I also taught them to cut out hearts the easy way by folding the paper and drawing half the heart. Genna is still in need of a little scissor help, but Hannah has mastered the art of cutting on a line. Then they went to town glittering and gluing and markering to make cards to go with the cookies. It was quite the mess to clean up! We gave little lollipops and Nerds out to their classmates.

I have some prayers selected for Valentine's Day, and we will read about St. Valentine, of course. Plus a coloring page from Waltzing Matilda will give them something to do Sunday afternoon. I also plan to make a Red Velvet Cake, or perhaps heart shaped Red Velvet cupcakes. We have the honor of making a dinner for a friend who just had a baby this weekend as well. Busy, busy!

My Three Little Fishies

During the girls' swim lessons, I play with Isaac in the baby pool. After the lessons, the girls join us for a while.

Genna's swimming either looks like she's drowning or she's going limp and floating. She needs a little coordination. Hannah is doing great, but she can't hold her breath very long at all. The teacher told me this week that they are the most mature students she has in any class. That's something! If they can't swim, at least they can be mature about it!

Puff Ball Mania

Isaac's favorite thing to play with (with the exception of the Ikea wooden train set) is puff balls! Puff balls are actually little craft pom poms. I got a small bag in the states for high chair play (transferring into cups, sorting colors, etc.) He became obsessed with them and I caved and let him play with them around the house. It makes quite the mess, but he is entertained for what feels like forever so I don't care. I may just start giving these as birthday presents for one year olds! They're cheap, they are small, and they are so much more fun than plastic toys apparently!

Here is a random thing I gave him for high chair play. Cut up paper towel roll and a paper towel holder to stack them on, what more could a little guy want? And I got to do the dishes without "help!"

Let the fasching begin...

Fasching is basically a German Mardi Gras or pre-Lenten celebration. I picked up the girls from school today only to find two strangers in their place...

I thought they looked precious. Unfortunately, we were headed to swim lessons after school and had to wash it off before getting in the pool.

Blast from the past!

This facial expression is a blast from the past.
Isaac, almost 18 months

Hannah, 1 year

Happy Birthday, Honey!

Hannah really wanted to surprise her daddy with a cake for his birthday, so she came up with a diversion and asked him to take her to the Backeri while I swiftly threw the cake together. Good plan, Hannah! I had just enough time to make the cake part. Later Hannah and Genna helped me make the non-sweetened (he doesn't like sweet icing on cakes) whipped cream topping and crumble Oreos on top of his Chocolate Mousse Cake. When we were finished and about to call the birthday guy in, Hannah asks, "Where's the moose, Mommy?" :)

Happy birthday to the best dad-husband combo ever!

"Choo Train Fast"

Isaac is suddenly obsessed with trains. He talks about trains all the time. I love when he tells me about the "Choo train fast" because he puts extra emphasis on the word fast and punches the air with his fist. So cute! I let him watch Thomas the Train once, and he was hooked. (It was a moment of weakness! I am not big on TV in our house, especially for toddlers. In my defense, he's not sleeping much these days and he's had a double ear infection.) Here he is in his chair watching Thomas with his friend, Pinocchio.

It is a miracle I don't smother this kid with kisses, because I absolutely can't stand not kissing his cheeks!

Well, I was going to keep it to myself, but...

yes, it is my birthday today. Somehow not as exciting as it used to be. When I told Hannah yesterday about my birthday being today, her face lit up and with awe in her voice, she said, "You are so lucky! Oh, you are so lucky to get my present!" She's right I am so lucky, or blessed rather! Thank you, God!

This morning both girls gave me a hand drawn gift. Hannah's was a treasure map directing me to look under her bed. She had a card there with a picture of me on it. I asked if it was me wearing a birthday hat. She said that it was me, and then she sheepishly apologized that she drew long black hair for me while muttering about not having a good reason for it. That made me smile.

My husband got the van stuck this morning while trying to take the girls to school. He eventually got his car out and went to work for some afternoon meeting he just couldn't miss. (Sigh.) I was hoping for us to be snowed in together for my birthday. Hopefully, we'll be able to keep our dinner plans in the neighboring village tonight.

Here's my favorite recent picture of myself, taken at my brother's wedding. One my adorable children happens to be in this picture with me, putting me to shame.

Jack Frost's still nipping at our noses!

I just can't believe the snow keeps falling! On Sunday, American Masses were canceled. Local German ones had no reason to cancel since every one can walk there. So that's where we went. Truthfully, this was the plan all along because some kids from the girls' school were acting out the presentation at the temple. We tromped through the deepening snow while Genna said her legs hurt the whole way there. (The girl needs more exercise, I guess.) The kids were excellent during Mass! We are actually considering attending this local Mass more regularly. We know enough about the Mass and enough German to get by and we found that singing the songs with the words in front of us helps us with our pronunciation (which stinks!)

Anyway, when we got back I decided to help out our neighbor and shovel his sidewalk so the kids could play out in the snow since we were all bundled up already.

This is our street if you can even find it under the foot of snow. I have never, in all my years in upstate New York seen a road this completely covered. It makes me want to throw my head back and scream, "Plows!" or "Salt!" into the quiet powdery village. I love snow, but I long for some confidence that I can get back up the hill when it is time to come home.

Shoveling

Snow Angel, in the pile of snow that I created by shoveling

I may have dumped a bit of snow on his unsuspecting head.

After some tummy warming potato soup for lunch and naps we went to our village ski/sled slope. The kids did not have as much fun as last time. Hannah and Isaac only went down the hill once, and Genna got all the rest of the turns. Genna enjoyed it until she got too cold.

Snowball standing...

By the ski lodge, there was a wine barrel picnic table.

All the Germans were laughing at Isaac's nose warming scarf ensemble.


Of course, we ended the day with hot chocolate and a fire

Blanket Time

I have tried blanket time out many times before only to quit because, well basically, I wasn't up for it. Blanket time , quickly summarized, is where you put your toddler on a blanket with a limited amount of toys and set a timer. The toddler has to stay on the blanket until the timer buzzes, increasing the time gradually. This is to teach boundaries and obedience, and the ultimate goal is to move to room time. I didn't do blanket time with the girls because I somehow skipped over it in the book Toddlerwise. I have friends that have had great success with this, and since Isaac is having trouble with naps I thought we would try this again to see if learning clearer boundaries and obedience in this particular way would help him in his crib during nap time. I started with 8 minutes and he did great this time. Other times he has thrown fits or had to be placed back on the blanket too many times to count. All I had to do today was explain the "game" and show him the timer. I asked if he understood, and he replied, "Ding!" So I took that as a "Yes." When he rolled his car off the blanket, I said, "Uh oh, you can't get that toy because you can't get off the blanket." Then he rolled another toy off (but not as far), and he looked at me and laid down on his belly to reach for the toy so he was still on the blanket. Yea! He started to get off one time, but listened when I told him "No." I hope I am not jumping the gun by thinking this is going to be easy now. Since we are snowed in with no place to go a lot these days, I think we shall dedicate some time to this on an almost daily basis.