Small Successes

For today November 12, 2009

"It’s important for moms to recognize that all the small successes in our days can add up to one big triumph. So on Thursday of each week, we do exactly that."

~1~

So many thing, where to start... :)

Jesus, Mary and Joseph are finally done for our Nativity!!!!  YIPPEE!

I've framed AND hung all of our recent, and not so recent, pictures.

~2~

We've started on Thanksgiving crafts.  I have a few planned, I'll get pictures up soon.  Promise!  And I have several Advent projects in the works.  I'm also looking at several of the blogs I follow for more ideas.  The big question is:  Are we going to get any non-Advent/Christmas related school work done???  We'll see :)

~3~

Speaking of Thanksgiving...I've planned the guest list (family, we're not fancy) and we just need to get in contact with one person, the menu AND who needs to bring what (just need to tell them :) ).  Now I need to get another folding table (the family keeps growing) and decide on desserts, make a shopping list and set my timetable and I'll be done.  Gee...that's not a lot is it?!?  BTW...I'm sooo methodical that I actually plan what to do (cleaning, baking, thawing, etc) for each day of the week leading up to a holiday.  I also plan what time each thing needs to happen on the day of! What time the bird goes in the oven, comes out, needs to be carved.  What needs to be put on the stove & when.  It helps the time flow smoothly and we eat on time, but man, am I compulsive!

What are your Small Successes this week?

Stop by Faith and Family Live to read more of this week's Small Successes.

 

Pictures hung!

I mentioned in my daybook the other day that I was trying to get some pictures hung.  I finally got them all done!!!  Yippee!!!  I also moved around some other pictures so we could have more wall space in our school room (aka dining room).  Here's what I ended up with...

First, I laid out the pictures on the living room floor.  In trying to decide if I liked what I saw, this happened...

My cute little imitators!  Doodlebug has his hands on his hips too.  You'll notice I'm sporting the "new" glasses.  I need to have hubby get a close up of them.

This is what ended up on the wall...

To the far left are the latest portraits of The Professor (far left), then Velcro Boy (top) and Doodlebug (bottom).  The family portrait (middle) is scheduled to be replaced after Tuesday's portrait appointment at JCPenney's.  I'm planning on getting the big 10x13 (or whatever it is) so I planned that in this layout.  I already have the frame and mats so all I need is the print!  Next to the family portrait are the "baby panels".  3, 6, 9 and 12 month portraits of Velcro Boy (top) and Doodlebug (middle).  The one on the bottom is a portrait study of the 3 boys from last Christmas.  This *may* get replaced too, we'll see.  The 5x7 to the far right is a pic of myself with the 3 boys and my great-grandparents.  We went to visit them this past summer up in Rhode Island.  It's not the greatest picture (*someone*) didn't want to cooperate, but we only get up there every few years so we made do.

In our foyer, we have...

 

 

These are  "cutie kissables" collections of each of the boys.  The Professor (top left), Doodlebug (top right) and Velcro Boy (bottom).  Each of the openings is a different close-up of some cute, kissable part of their ~3 month old body.  They are way to cute!

This is a close-up of Doodlebug's kissables.  

 

 

It took forever to get this done.  The mat is a 9 opening double mat and VERY difficult to cut.  My dad was kind enough to cut the ones for The Professor years ago.  He passed the mat cutter along to us and hubby had to cut the mats for Doodlebug.  Velcro Boy's was done by a professional photographer.  (This guy is AWESOME, pricey as expected, but incredible.)  Anyway, this is what inspired the kissables to begin with.  We had him do one for Velcro Boy, and of course what you have for one, you have to have for the others...so here we are.

Joseph is done!

Finally!  Actually, I got him done 2 weeks a few days ago and just forgot to take pictures.  Poor St. Joseph!  First I forget to take his before shot (until after I start painting him!)...

Then I forget to take his after.  I wrapped him up and put him back in the box with Jesus, Mary and the other figurines (still unpainted)!  Poor guy.  Well...here he is at long last :)

Nice, huh?

Daybook - November 9, 2009

For Today...

November 9, 2009

Outside my window... right now it's dark out.  But today was overcast and gloomy for the most part.  We also got quite a bit of rain courtesy of Tropical Depression Storm no, Hurricane ahhh...whatever it is Ida.  Fortunately it looks like we're not going to get hit with it.

I am thinking...that I can't wait for Advent.  I have so many projects planned!  Then again...maybe I CAN wait...I have SO many projects planned :)

I am thankful for...our health.  So many are sick right now.

From the learning rooms... working hard so we can take a week (or more) off for Thanksgiving.  The Professor is back to adding 2 & 3 digit numbers with carrying, is starting the lessons on sin in the Baltimore Catechism and is finishing up dental health in science.  Velcro Boy and Doodlebug finished reviewing letters A-L and are now on "M".  It's amazing how well they're learning the letters.  There are even several others we haven't come to yet that Velcro Boy already knows.  I'm thinking of starting the Alphabet path.  I've seen some really interesting ideas on several blogs.

From the kitchen...basil chicken for supper.  Tomorrow... hamburgers!

I am wearing... tan shorts, burgundy short-sleeves, naked toes.

I am creating...a Jesse Tree!  I've been meaning to do this for several years, but never gotten around to it.  Joseph is done! 

I am going...to drive myself nuts the next few weeks trying to get all this done.

I am reading...several things.
Long-term:
1. MOM's a Personal Journal by Paula Hagen and Vickie LoPiccolo Jennett. This is a study course to help us realize the importance of our ministries as mothers.

2. Full of Grace by Johnnette S. Benkovic. This is another study course to help deepen our appreciation and understanding of the Catholic faith, recognize the strength of prayer and the power of obedience.


Short-term:
The latest issue of Family Foundations.


I am hoping...to finish getting some pictures hung up around the house.  We got new pictures of the boys a few months ago recently and I have yet to get them posted.

I am hearing...a debate discussion regarding the new healthcare policy.

Around the house...no more Halloween.  On to Thanksgiving crafts and planning for hosting dinner for 15-18 people.  I know...not a very big group, but big enough for me. 

One of my favorite things...seeing the light of understanding in my son's eyes when he finally gets something that he's been struggling with.

A few plans for the rest of the week: hanging pictures, school, grocery shopping, Women of Grace meeting.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...













Aren't they cute?!?

To view more daybooks, visit Peggy !!

Speech Therapy update

The book interrogation  information packet is done!   It took several hours.   There was also a packet of the statutes applicable to this type of educational screening.   It is fairly age-appropriate, though not all the questions really pertained to him.   It's a social and developmental history form.   They ask the normal questions (age, name, address, who does the child live with, marital status, etc.), reason for screening, others in the household.   Medical history (prenatal, delivery details,complications), current medical information (illnesses, pediatrition).   Developmental history (motor-sit, crawl, walking, potty), language (babble, 1st words, putting them together, sentences, questions), social development (changes in lifestyle-divorce, births, etc, getting along with others, behavior problems), daycare.   Then financial info (Medicaid eligible, insurance, etc).   Then Parental observations, development as compared to other kids the same age, 3 or 4 things about your child that you consider to be strengths (things your child does well, personality traits, etc).   Any other information that you feel is important in order for us to better understand your child. I tell you, I REALLY have earned the worst parent award!   I was looking back through Velcro Boy's journal (no baby book for child #2) to answer some of the questions.   I noticed some gaps between what I noted for Velcro Boy vs. The Professor.   I knew there was a lot of things I didn't keep track of for him that I noted for The Professor.   Well, I really dropped the ball for Doodlebug.   There were a ton of things that I noted for Velcro Boy that I *know* Doodlebug has already done and I didn't note, journal or post about.  Thank God he's a boy, they don't usually look back at baby books and journals etc :)   I can't imagine a 4th or 5th child.   They would be lucky to have records of their births! :) Now to wait to hear from the case worker.

Halloween is done!

As much fun as we had, I'm glad Halloween's over.  Now on to fall :)  I thought I would post some pictures of the last of the Halloween crafts.

Velcro Boy's Ghost: (He didn't want it to have eyes :) )

The Professor's Ghost:

The Professor's bats:

Velcro Boy's Spiders: (yes, I KNOW spiders have more than 4 legs :) )

Our display:

Doodlebug (teddy bear)

Velcro Boy (UPS driver):

The Professor (FedEx driver):

All together:

The decorations have now all been taken down.  Now to make fall decorations!

My epiphany

 I had an epiphany tonight.  We were praying the 4th decade of the Rosary tonight and The Professor was acting silly (over tired I suppose), so I put my arm around him and cuddled him up to me.  This settled him down.  But it suddenly struck me that I had my mind on the wrong thing!  I usually try to keep WHAT Jesus went through in His life, Passion and death in front of me.  You know... the torture, rejection, humiliation, temptations...all the bad stuff.  But it suddenly hit me tonight that I was forgetting the WHY about all of that.  He went through all of that because He.Loves.Us! (so darn much it makes my head spin).  That's why I do what I do, because I love my family (and God of course!).  Plain and simple.