Summertime Ideas For Your Little Engineer

Does the little boy in your household have a bit of a fascination with that cheeky little blue engine? Can he sing EVERY Thomas the Tank Engine related song over and over again?

If he's like my boy, you might be interested in a couple of finds. We're strongly leaning toward at least one of these to add to our summer calendar. Check them out!



#1 This weekend, the latest and greatest Thomas adventure kicks off in theatres. Misty Island Rescue will begin showing in select theatres. You can click here to find your state's listings for the popcorn laden, boxed candy peddling, air conditioned and cushy seat viewing area nearest you. And yes, your little boy will probably sit through the entire movie with a big grin on his face because he will enjoy it just THAT MUCH. As for you? You will be thrilled that it is not a full length movie. Unless of course, you are equally as enamored with that engine as your son.




#2 If you are going for the Greatest Mom In The World award this summer, then you might want to check out a longer source of fun and entertainment. Day Out With Thomas is probably just right for you if you are looking for a day long excursion and willing to fork over a little more cash. Still, not a bad attraction. Find a station near you hosting the event by clicking over here.



If you decide to do either of these, be sure to take photos to cherish in the years ahead. After all, a little engine and all of his friends surely aren't the worst thing your little guy could be crazy about. You never know when this phase will pass and he'll be on to something else. These young years are precious ones.

What's In Your Pantry?

Okay, let's talk cereals. They seem to have become a staple around here lately and I'm wondering if anyone else's pantry and cupboards are stocked with several varieties? Good gracious those kids love their cereal selection!

If we have only three or four choices, we "don't have anything new" or "we still have the same cereals?" according to my kids. I know we do our best to limit the sugary cereals, but do buy them as a "treat" or in a moment of grocery shopping excursion weakness. Really though, how many options to we need to have? I think my kids are under the impression that our pantry should be a well-stocked supermarket shelf at ALL TIMES.

This is especially tough to understand for my husband who likes few choices and sticks with routine. Oatmeal, Grapenuts and Raisin Bran are sufficient for him and he fits them quite nicely into a set schedule. He's a creature of habit, that one. Why fix what isn't broke?

Our current cereal stock is what inspired this post. When I opened the cereal cupboard and the pantry this morning, this is what lined the shelves (keep in mind some of these are even in those huge, Sam's Club boxes and not the itty-bitty ones from the regular grocery store):

Raisin Bran
Frosted Mini Wheats
Grapenuts
Corn Pops
Apple Blasts
Honey Crunch
Quaker Oatmeal Squares
Life
Special K
Oatmeal

That's 10 breakfast options! I suppose this easily happens because I do have the storage space to fill with these cereal boxes, but still.


Today I'm wondering, what cereals do you have on hand and how many varieties does your household require? What's your favorite cereal?


Consider this a 'Tuesday Tally' of cereal goods and share your comments. I'm interested to hear how other households handle the great cereal debate.

The Order Of Things According To My Seven Year Old

In a recent discussion, Lily was pointing out the order of love. She said she read about it in her Betsy-Tacy books (which are excellent books, by the way).


1. Acquaintances

2. Friends

3. Best Friends

4. Girlfriend/Boyfriend

5. Married

6. Children

There you go. Seems simple enough, doesn't it? I'm wondering if I should pass this on to a multitude of people who seem to get the sequence out of order?

Friday Garden Tour

We found a nest in our shrubs in front of our porch recently. This week, some new little birds (we think they are catbirds) hatched. See them peeking out? The kids were especially fascinated at how tiny the were.

Blooms this week:

Primrose in my backyard box planter

A few Hostas in the backyard are also flowering

This plant is also blooming, but it's name seems to escape me. Do you know what it is?

Jacob's Ladder

Another pretty one, but I can't recall its name either...Bee Balm?

Delphinium in Natalie's Garden

Daylilies in the front terrace

How does your garden grow? Tracy's hosting a garden tour each week over at Pinewood Castle. Join in and share your photos and leave a comment so I can stop on by your garden!

The Perfect Ending

Last Saturday we attended our diocesan priestly ordinations. Reed and I are fond of ordinations for a number of reasons, but we also become mushy about them since it was at the ordination of a friend of ours that Reed first saw me from afar. Romantic, I know. It wasn't until several years later that we finally met and figured out that I was in fact the woman he saw.

Any way, mostly due to distance we haven't been able to attend an ordination for quite some time. Well, also because there were a few years in there that we didn't have an one due to the fall in our seminarian population. Thankfully, we're getting a steady increase of dedicated, wonderful young (and older) men that are discerning God's call. So, with that, our children had not yet been to an ordination mass yet either. We finally figured that they could handle the length (a good two hours) and it would be the perfect way for them to see first-hand what a beautiful thing it is to see these men dedicate themselves to priestly ministry.

As timing would have it, we were running a bit later that morning and arrived at the Cathedral exactly 5 minutes before things began. We walked in and priests and seminarians were in formation standing their posts. And the church? Absolutely PACKED. No room in the inn for our little family. Until we discovered that there were still a few coveted pews way up in the balcony. You know what? That was even better because it allowed the kids to see fully every movement and beauty that I had explained would happen.

I think Divine Providence played a role in the actual scheduling of these ordinations since last Saturday just happened to be the final day of the Year For Priests that the Church celebrated. How's that for the pinnacle of this prayerful year?

Of course, I had to snap photos like crazy in hopes to capture whatever I could to share with you. And yes, I still did my best to remain prayerful and attentive the whole time.


Not all of our diocesan priests attended, but some of our favorites were in the crowd!


And of course some of our favorite seminarians were also assisting the Bishop. Standing at the steps are the three men to be ordained.


One of my favorite solemn moments in the ordination mass, when the other priests gather around and lay hands on each of the newly ordained.


Then all of them wait around the altar and then welcome the new priests as their brothers in Christ.


Fr. Michael, Fr. Scott & Fr. Matthew, our new priests processing out with their parents. I bet they were pretty darn proud of their sons!

Recipe Swap Thursday: Summer Salads

Chicken Club Pasta Salad

8 oz. corkscrew or spiral Pasta

3/4 cup Italian dressing

1/4 cup Mayo

2 cups chopped, cooked Chicken

1 cup Monterey Jack or Mozzarella Cheese, cubed or shredded

12 strips crisp-cooked Bacon, crumbled

1 cup chopped Celery

1 cup chopped Green Pepper

8 oz. Cherry Tomatoes, cut in half

1 Avocado, chopped (optional)


Cook and drain the pasta according to package directions and rinse with cold water. Whisk the dressing with the mayo in a large bowl, then stir in the pasta and the remaining ingredients. Spoon into serving bowl. Great for picnics too!



Feel free to join in the Recipe Swap and grab the button! Be sure and leave a comment if you participate.


*Note: Sorry I don't have a photo to share, but thanks to this Swap I'm reminded of this yummy salad and will be making it tomorrow to share at a potluck!

Wordless Wednesday: We Love Daddy!

Worry Not

I found this quote this morning during prayertime. It's fitting since I've got something on my mind lately that starts to get me frettin' more than usual. Timely, I'd say.



It is such a folly to pass one's time fretting, instead of resting quietly on the heart of Jesus.

~St. Therese of Lisieux~

Garden Tour

Over at Pinewood Castle last Friday, Tracy shared her garden photos and invited anyone to join in. I thought it would be fun to snap some photos and join her this week. Feel free to share yours as well. Leave a comment if you do, I'd enjoy seeing how your garden grows!

First, I thought I'd show you a few of my flowers not necessarily in gardens, but just around our yard:

In case you missed it in my Daybook, this one is by the swing set

Under a tree

By the playhouse door

In an old corn planter

Begonias & Spider plants in pots; Astilbe & Jacob's Ladder planted


The Gardens:

Front Terrace

Hosta, Hardy Geranium, Daylily & Salvia

Columbine

Perennial (Natalie's) Garden

Cranesbill

Spiderwort

Box Perennial Garden

The Dead Nettle is spreading like crazy. I just planted it last year.

Hosta/Mum Garden (newest addition)

Vegetable Garden

Yellow & Green Beans are up!

Tomatoes & Green Peppers


Thanks for coming along on my little tour! I hope to post more throughout the summer as my gardens grow and blossom.

Teaser

If you are eagerly anticipating the new Narnia movie arriving in theatres this Christmas, you may enjoy this sneak peek!

We cannot wait for its release!

Recipe Swap Thursday: Summer Desserts

Therese at The Musings of a Mom is getting back to hosting a weekly recipe swap. I thought I'd give it a whirl and join in! Click over here and check out the comment section to find more recipes.

Strawberry Pretzel Dessert

2 3/4 cup crushed Pretzels
3 T. Sugar
1 cup melted Butter

Mix above and press into 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 mins. Cool.

Mix 8 oz. Cream Cheese (at room temp.) with 1 cup Sugar. Fold in 8 oz. Whipped Topping. Spread over Pretzels.

Mix 1 (6 oz.) box Strawberry Jello and 2 cups boiling Water. Add 2 (10 oz.) packages thawed Strawberries. Spread on top of dessert. May serve with a dallop of Whipped Topping on top.

Wordless Wednesday

Mid-June Daybook

For Today... 6.15.2010

Outside My Window... more dreary, cloudy, foggy weather with misty rain. Chance of sun tomorrow and we can't wait to see it again!

I Am Thinking... about several overnight trips our family can take this summer. We've found out that these work much better for us and we get lots of mini vacations that way.

I Am Thankful For... the unexpected things that summer brings.

I Am Praying... for new little babies due to arrive within our extended family.

Around The House... potential painting projects, but not for a little while longer yet. There's still work to be done before we're ready for paint.

From The Kitchen... the smell of freshly baked apple pies for our church supper this evening. I found a Betty Crocker app on my iTouch this week and searched to find several easy recipes that I'd like to try: Baked Chicken Dijon, Baked Chicken Panzanella and Balsamic-Glazed Grilled Chicken Breasts. Don't they sound yummy?

For The Rest Of The Week... church supper to work at tonight; fun evening tomorrow with other families who volunteer with our diocesan Office of Marriage & Family; Ordination on Saturday and hopefully a picnic afterward.

Lyrics In My Head... I've seen miracles just happen..silent prayers get answered..broken hearts become brand new..that's what faith can do (I know I've posted this one before, but it seems to keep popping up in my head)

One Of My Favorite Things... fresh fruit. We've been enjoying having plenty of it around and eating it like crazy. I've always loved strawberries, but we've also had a bunch of excellent tasting raspberries lately too. Yummy.

Picture Thought I Am Sharing... sneak peak to my upcoming post on Friday





Read more Daybooks over at The Simple Woman's Daybook.

In The Morning Stillness

Husband and I lie awake. The alarm has sounded, but we feel no rush to rise. We hear the light rain hitting the porch roof in a rhythmic pattern. So softly it comes down and we are almost whisked back to sleep...until a clap of thunder jolts me and our Girl shouts for daddy. Soon, she joins us in our bed, only to be followed by Boy who comes to nestle in beside us. I kiss his sweet, fresh morning cheek. Girl sniffles and wiggles in her quarter of the bed. Boy runs suddenly to the bathroom and then comes back to settle in again. We lay silently listening to the morning, half trying to fall back asleep and half enjoying the simple morning pleasure of a cozy bed. Husband and I revel in it as long as possible, knowing that the quietness of an early morning will soon resound into the chaos of a typical morning. I remind myself to document it, for such a rare occasion is a morning like this.

Little Flowers Luncheon

As part of the Little Flowers program, they encourage a Tea for the girls and their mothers. Instead of going with the Tea option, I decided that a little luncheon would still be dainty and cute and work out best for our group.

The weather didn't cooperate as much as I would've liked, but thankfully it didn't rain. It was cloudy and windy, so that kept us from having an outdoor garden party type event. In the end, I think everything turned out just fine despite eating indoors. Everyone had a wonderful time!

I thought I would share photos for your viewing enjoyment. Please excuse the fact that I didn't seem to get any photos of the mothers at all and forgot to get a shot of all of the food before we served. I guess I was too busy watching the girls enjoy themselves!

~The Tables Are Set~

Mothers Table:

Little Flowers Table:

~The Food Is Prepared~

(We also served fresh fruit and veggie pizza)

~Game Time~

Lawn Games:

Tea Tray Game (Memory Game):

"She Likes It, She Likes It Not":

~St. Therese Craft~






~Our Little Flowers~





Thanks to Jessica, once again for all of her postings which really helped me with our luncheon and throughout the year. She just posted her photos from her Little Flowers Tea last weekend. They are pretty darn cute, so go check them out!