What We Did Wednesday

There's nothing quite like scrambling to make a feast day special only to find that God had already laid the groundwork far in advance. 

Like when you wake up on the Annunciation, which also happens to be your husband's birthday.

I scrounge in the freezer and come across a box of frozen pastries we purchased from a school fundraiser.

Heck, sure, let's celebrate with those! Wait, what's that? These happen to be BLUEberry flavor. How preordained, since we always declare a BLUE day at our house when it's a Marian feast day. 

Let's be productive and grab a toddler to help whip up a cake this morning. Daddy's choice was a (boxed) Angel Food Cake. What's that? The ANGEL Gabriel appeared to Mary and it's called the Annunciation. 

TODAY's feast day. Interesting. 

Daddy decided to stay home with us today and take a vacation day from work. Which, if you are around here ever, you'd know that actually going to work is more of a vacation. None the less, he accomplished some more work in the basement bathroom. We tried to leave him alone as much as possible. Some of us doing better than others. I think he's like a magnet for the little girls when they know he's around. I don't blame them.

School time found the girls coloring Annunciation coloring pages. Gianna is suddenly a superstar colorist or whatever you call someone who colors. 

We also took the time to play a game and put together some puzzles.

Someone showing off her rather brightly colored Annunciation. 

Before lunch we got the cake frosted. Take about 8 oz Cool Whip and some thawed strawberry juice and mix together. Frost the Angel Food cake with the fluffy 'frosting' and put it in the freezer. 

Serve later with the thawed (and slightly sweetened) strawberries on top. A nice spring time cake and light enough to celebrate, but also remain Lenten. 

For lunch, God again inspired me when I read it was Waffle Day in Sweden today for "Our Lady's Day." Serve with BLUEberries and again, how can you go wrong?

Smile along with your kiddos who are looking especially ANGELic for your birthday shot. 

Lastly, grab a photo shoot with your lovely and the baby belly. 

We totally had this feast day and birthday down.

Even if I didn't have them all perfectly planned at 5:30 this morning. By this evening, we looked back with fondness on a great day to celebrate both Mary and our favorite Man of the House. 

Happy Anniversary Baby

  Twelve years ago today I married the man of my dreams that God placed upon my heart to pray for and set my standards high.

I sure got me a good one and God's timing was perfect for both of us.

Twelve years, same town, 1 house, 5 children later.....

We're still the silly couple who fell in love during a whirlwind romance 

and we wouldn't change a thing.

When you have twelve years you've shared and hardly another thing you'd want or need, what kind of gift do I give an amazing man?

I was stumped.

What is one of the biggest symbols of our love, our marriage?

The first thing that came to mind was our children.

And so a little Pinterest searching sent me on a quest for a homemade gift to represent just that.

Now, don't think me weird or out of touch with what a man would really want for an anniversary gift. Over the years I've found that my guy appreciates the sentimental, the heartfelt.

I settled on some monogram pillows for our bed. I thought they would fit in perfectly and again, in a place that was 'us' and our space.

After a quick trip to JoAnn's in which I used coupons to add to the already sale price pillow forms, I was able to grab everything I needed at once. 

I used this simple tutorial as my guide and started cutting, sewing and creating.

For the monogram letters I found a font in Word that I liked, enlarged it to the size I felt was adequate, printed on paper and then traced on fabric. As suggested by the JoAnn's employee, I used Heat n Bond Ultrahold to adhere them on to the pillow fabric.

One pillow for each child, including our little Natalie in heaven. I felt that she needed a different size pillow that set her apart from the rest.

Cute, don't you think??

A little closer look

I think that they will make a great addition to our cozy homemade quilt my friend made for us a few years ago. They will also add another personal touch to our bedroom haven.

And what's an anniversary without cake, huh?

Happy Anniversary to the most amazing man that God could have created just for ME! 

I am one blessed lady.

Weekend Wrap Up: Father's Day

It's just too heard to chose a few photos from such a great weekend, so I'm just going to plaster them all here in one post and be done.

It was a good one. You know, one of those that you wish you could just do over, but make it last way longer? I think it was the summer sun, the family time and just good old honoring dad kind of stuff that  made it extra wonderful.

Just Me And My Dad

Saturday morning we met up with my parents at their new favorite restaurant, a nice local establishment, with excellent food. 

Nothing like starting the weekend celebrating dad with some food, right?

No clue why Gianna is into bringing her pillow and random stuffed animals when we head out the door lately. Hence, they get captured in memorable photos like this one:

After Mass on Sunday morning, the kids had plans of making breakfast. They got some help from me, but we tried our best to keep daddy out of the kitchen. They even cooked for two extra mouths since we had grandpa and grandma over for breakfast too.

My Cooks

Card from the Kids

Thanks to Pinterest, I found this simple print off that I had Lily and Jonah fill out for their dad. A nice personal gift to add to our store bought ones, but also memorable keepsake too of their thoughts on dad.

Our Mr. Incredible

When the temperature decided to hit well into the 80's, we decided water was in order. The lake is still a bit too cold, so we pulled out the kiddie pool for the little girls. The big kids decided to join in and asked to have their floaties inflated, just because they were new and all. Clearly, the pool is not big enough for the floaties, but we like to pretend.

Pool Kids

Notice Gianna in the last photo and this one? She held that expression almost the entire time, she had such a blast! She'll be easy to please this summer with the kiddie pool.

Poolside Freezies with Dad

For fun, we also pulled out the slip and slide for the big kids. They just couldn't resist taking the girls on it. Gianna knew better and wouldn't trust them, but Margaret, well, she's still gullible. She did seem to like it though.

Warming up with Dad

There's always time for a smooch with mom too.

Is this summer?! I could do this relaxin' thing all.day.long. All.summer.long.

After a picnic supper on the porch, we topped off the day with root beer floats. Minus the whipping cream and cherries, since I  someone forgot to buy them. Ah, well, we enjoyed them just the same.

By day's (and weekend) end, we could all agree that it was a very good day indeed.

Now, a couple days of work and then we are planning a couple days of Staycation. Fun things as a family, close to home and return to our own beds each night. Right now that seems manageable and maybe something more later in the summer.

How was your Father's Day weekend?

 I hope you had a great time honoring those special dad's in your life!

Hubby & Hair

 I know, I know, the two do not go together.
(You've seen my husband, right?)

We were long overdue for a lovey photo together, so I had Lily snap a few today. 

See? We're occasionally together. He's such a good one, that guy. He deserves a random shout-out every once in a while.

Now to the hair. MY hair to be precise. Anyone notice?

It was time for a new change again. Due to winter hair/falling out hair, I decided to go short again. So far this is working out really well. I can run/exercise and only pin back a little or put in a headband. The rest of the time I can either put in some product and let it go wavy or straighten it. 

I haven't regretted the chop yet. Hooray!

And that, my friends is my latest Honey Do update. I bet you all just couldn't live without that, huh?

I hope your weekend is going well and full of family, friends and fun.

Now, back to more partying with my birthday boy.

Lucky you, I'll be posting birthday pics on Monday. 

You may thank me later.

Saturday Scenes Including Mary

September 8th is a special day at our house and we do our best to celebrate the two special occasions:

#1- Our Blessed Mother Mary's birthday

#2- Reed and my wedding anniversary

We usually find some way to work Mary and her birthday into our anniversary. When you share the day with such an important woman, how could you not?

As with most Marian feasts a 'Blue Day' is declared in our house. We started this several years ago and our kids usually make the connection then to Mary. Whomever is able, tries to incorporate the color blue in what they're wearing that day. You know, because Mary's favorite color was clearly BLUE. However, if you have a baby in the house and she is a girl, blue is not even in her wardrobe combinations so she is excused from the obligation.

The day was beautiful and the morning dawned chilly, but that didn't keep Jonah from insisting on a bike ride. So, daddy took the three kids while I stayed home with Margaret. We both had acquired a little cold and decided to stay home and rest a bit.

In the afternoon, a trip to the Dairy Queen was warranted in order to continue the celebrating. This worked well since in that local city they also have a Catholic church with a Mary Garden alongside it.

They included a couple of different angel statues in the garden including Seraphim (I think that's this one).

One of the kids' (and mine) favorite, St. Michael.

A beautiful place to sit and pray on a perfect fall afternoon.



Eleven amazing years together and still going strong. We have been so blessed!

Happy Birthday Mary!

How was your weekend? Hopefully it was filled with family, fun and beautiful weather just like ours.

To The Man I Love

Ten years ago today we were the Bride and Groom.
Today we are the Husband and Wife.

It's true that God brought you to me at just the perfect time. He made me for you and you for me. I truly cannot imagine being nearly as blessed without you in my life.
So blessed, that when I try to list all of the many ways you fulfill your role as husband, I am overwhelmed by the limitless ways you faithfully do that daily.

Yes, you were my knight, my prince charming.
You came into my life when I relied most on God showing me exactly who was my perfect mate.
You were ready and so was I.

To be together was so easy and still is.
To connect, communicate and love so well hardly was believable.

After our whirlwind romance, we settled in and built a home and a family.

If the walls of this home, our home, could talk they would be able to share the joys and happiness that have filled countless days in our marriage together.

They could retell of sorrow and pain so immeasurable at times, that we could not help but be drawn closer to one another, God and our faith.

Our marriage has become unshakable.

In ten years we have ridden some amazing highs and carried each other through valleys so low our love-struck eyes could never have foreseen.

You have held my hand and walked beside me despite my many flaws.

You have always remained attentive to me and my needs and desires, most often putting all else before yourself.

With kindness and compassion, love and loyalty, patience and joy you have nurtured our love and our marriage over these years.

To daily walk beside a man filled with so much grace, strength and courage, I am humbled and honored. You still are my knight, my prince charming.

I look forward to the many years ahead together and the many ways that we will continue to grow and build upon our marriage that has been rooted over these first ten years.

I cannot imagine how many more ways God will see to it that we are blessed in our sacrament of marriage.

Thank you for the man you are, the husband and father you've become and the treasure you are to me.

I love you dearly, Reed. Happy Tenth Anniversary!

Wordless Wednesday: We Love Daddy!

When Like-Minded Adults Gather

This has become the better-late-than-never post. Each day I've wanted to promptly write my take on the Minnesota Catholic Home Educators Conference from last Friday and Saturday, but just haven't.

It won't be anything overly beautiful and wordy, just a brief reminder why I enjoy this conference each year. If you want to read more posts written far more eloquently, you can read Margaret or Tracy's version.

Ways Reed and I enjoy the annual conference:

-We get a little over two hours (one way) in the car together for uninterrupted talk time (or even silence).

-We get to meet up with a wide array of parents/educators, but mostly I enjoy meeting up with old friends and new ones too! So many ladies from my single days that I got to bump into again now that they are dear mamas who homeschool.

-A Bloggers Chat that gave me the opportunity to meet even more MN Catholic bloggers, along with those I've already gotten to know here in cyberspace.

-Curriculum shopping with my husband! He gently helps to keep me grounded and realistic on what I can or cannot undertake. Ultimately, he leaves decisions up to me but he helps immensely in weighing out all of those awesome resources out there. We bought almost everything we'll need for the new school year already! It helped to have an itemized list for each of the kids this year and we stuck to it.



-We found fun resources that other bloggers have talked about and get to see them in person. Like the Lapbooks for Catholics gals, of which we bought the Reconciliation, Holy Eucharist and The Holy Mass lapbooks for Lily and The Things I See At Church for Jonah. Lily's already looking forward to hers in preparation for her First Communion next spring.

-We get the opportunity to be inspired by amazing presenters...



Like Dr. Ray Guarendi, what a hoot that guy is! He has tons to offer on disciplining, teaching and guiding our children and he delivers it with such humor. It all just sounds so easy when he's saying it. I'd highly recommend his books or DVD's if you can get them.


Reed opted for fill-in David Rinaldi's 'Keeping Your Kids Catholic' and he really enjoyed it. I used to know Dave from my NET days, so I highly anticipated that his presentation would be dynamic and funny as well. And he delivered. A few of his points he delved into were: Family Prayer; Spend Time, Not Money; Speak With One Voice; Have A Spiritual Vision For Your Family; Renew Your Love For Christ and His Church; Renew Your Love For Your Spouse.



Of course, I chose to sit in on both workshops given by our favorite coffee loving blogger, Margaret. EXCELLENT! And no, I'm not just saying that because Margaret is Minnesota Mom and well, everyone loves Margaret so we all write nice things about her (although that is true too). She spoke with honesty and beauty and of course the wit that we've all come to love in her blog. She reminded me and the others to guard out heart and remember why we are home educating; not to be misguided and lured by the homeschooling family who has the perfect little crafts, the ideal curriculum, etc. That's not why we are at home educating our children. I think it struck a chord with many of us who jump around with curriculum, try to perfectly teach every little thing and spend too much time trying to create what is not best for us or our families.

Margaret had a lot to say in her second talk about perfectionism. Did you know she's a perfectionist? Again, this struck me so much. I'm still hearing her words repeat in my head asking how often we let our children bake with us? Because heaven forbid the cookies aren't perfect. We want all of these things all lined up and just so. Does that matter? She certainly gave me a lot to ponder on these last few days.

We both went to hear Maureen Wittmann, who presented 'The Thrifty Homeschooler' and had wonderful insight into easy ways of saving money in our homes and our homeschool too. She's author of this book, in case you didn't know it.


So, yes, we came home fulfilled and rejuvenated. Ready for the next school year, eventhough we had just finished the last one the day before. And tired.

All reminders why hubby and I enjoy this special date each year, why we attend it together and why we still choose to homeschool. We are so blessed.


*If you are interested in any of the sessions presented, you can purchase CD's too.

How Sweet He Is

Yesterday marked 6 years since the miscarriage of our child, Natalie Noel. We remember this tiny member of our family regularly, but especially on May 14th. Once again, Reed remembered and brought me something home.

Each year the card simply reads:

With Love,
To: Mommy
From: Natalie

And each year I tear up just a bit. As time has gone on the sadness has turned into acceptance, but the memory of that day comes flooding back in an instant. How precious this little child was and is.

Over time I've realized that due to current circumstances and difficulty becoming pregnant, there may come a day that I may walk that road again. I may lose again, but that cannot keep me from hoping and trying to bring more little ones into this world. Trust me, it's taken me a long time to face this reality and I'm going to do whatever I can to prepare a safe and healthy place for more little ones. But ultimately, only God knows how many little angels I will help bring into heaven.

What I Learned This Mother's Day

(Or otherwise titled "What I Should've Already Known")

We have a tradition around here for Mother's Day and it usually involves my dear husband preparing me a wonderful breakfast/brunch and slaving away over the stove. Hours in the kitchen, most often all of the work done completely by himself. Some years it is served in bed and I am instructed to stay in bed and sleep in, but other years I can't stand waiting upstairs in our bedroom and usually slip off to the shower and eventually emerge down the stairs.

My husband is thoughtful and he's also a very good cook, so I'm lucky. And I know that. But each year I can't help but gear toward Mother's Day as if it really is all about ME and is my only day to do as I wish. Selfish, I know. Therein lies the inevitable let-down that occurs most every year.
I build up images of obedient children, no quarreling, everything for mama. I realize this is very unrealistic. And ultimately, expectations are dashed and despite my husband's effort it is just another day.

And then I get to thinking. I realize the error of my ways and that each day is one that I have been granted to be a mom to my children, to nurture and teach, guide and love, discipline and encourage them. On that second Sunday of May, it is a day no different, but perhaps one to be more grateful that I was given the gift of motherhood at all. Mothering is hard work and demands that we deny our own selves many times daily in order to care for the little ones we have been granted to guard. Together, we bring one another toward heaven.

In the end, on that celebrated Mother's Day, what we did really doesn't matter that much. If I receive a meal someone else prepared and put their hard labor into and served it with love, I should be blessed enough. Thankful enough. And I am.

Of course, if you add in a couple of cards and a few heartfelt gifts, I count myself abundantly blessed. I just wish I'd realized all of this two days ago. I maybe would've appreciated yesterday a little more.


Still...It was a good day. See? I even have photos to prove it...


Homemade with love: cinnamon rolls, egg bake, fruit & yogurt parfaits

Our Mother's Day Family Outing

The Climb

The View

Cute Kids We Met Along The Way

And Their Nice Parents

You can't go to the Peak without stopping to see your mama, just down the gravel road. And you can't go through Mother's Day without visiting your heavenly mama.



Jonah had a little offering to leave Mary. He was so proud of that dandelion.

I hope that each of you had a wonderful Mother's Day, no matter how ordinary or how special your day turned out!