Coming Soon!

A new feature, Mommy Matters, will post here starting next week. I cannot predict whether this addition will earn a weekly or more unpredictable schedule in posting.

What is Mommy Matters you ask?

Well, due to getting back into baby mode at our house and taking inventory, I realize that I could use some help. Several factors here, but mostly 1. since I've given a number of items away to those who really needed them when I did not and 2. because it's been five years since my last baby was born, I'm realizing I've got a lot of questions this time around.

Not that I've forgotten anything, it's just that there are SO MANY really neat products out there that have come out in the last five years and also that there were some things I would've done differently or purchased if I knew how much I'd appreciate them.

Okay, so you see that Mommy Matters will be a forum for me to throw out either questions on certain baby products or guidance in choosing between products. I know that I've got a lot of mom's who read here and a number of you are even mom's of many, so there have got to be some really smart women who'd love to share their input. Remember though, in order for this to work I'm going to need you to comment and give me your honest opinion.

I do realize that there is a A LOT of stuff out there that mom and baby really do not need and I think using my common sense will weed those items out of my shopping cart. However, I like hearing how others do things. Maybe you're an organic mama who has some products you'd love to enlighten me on. Or maybe you are a frugal mama who could really teach me a thing or two about cutting corners and coupons to get the most for my buck. Either way, when I post Mommy Matters, please chime right in and let me know your opinion. Maybe even link on over here from your blog if you think your readers can help me out. I'd appreciate it!

Looking forward to next week!

PS...and perhaps, just maybe, next week I'll also post a baby bump photo. Only because you've asked so nicely.

Our Little Getaway

Over the last couple of years we've found that mini family getaways prove to be just enough time for us to fulfill the desire for a new location, sightseeing, restaurant food and hotel time. All we need is two or three days away for the four of us to run around like true vacationers while still only driving within a few hours from home. This way, we can do it a couple of times during the summer, it isn't as big of a chunk of change from the family pocketbook and daddy can make it work for his busy work schedule.

There have been repeat adventures, but sometimes we seek out a new place that is both family and kid-friendly. Last week, we chose a new town that I hadn't been to since my childhood days, Stillwater MN.

I found Teddy Bear Park listed online and that was our first stop for the day before the heat hit. Our kids were thrilled with all the little nooks they found. Definitely a great park to stop and play.



A walk down main street revealed lots of shops and antique hot spots. We just peered inside, without actually going inside those quaint places.



But then, there are other shops that both children and pregnant mamas just cannot avoid. With our eyes wide and our tummies grumbling, we did our best to choose our treats wisely at the candy shop. Which is tough when there are just so.many.choices.







We also had decided that a lunch time Paddle Boat cruise would be a great experience as a family. It proved perfect and we all really enjoyed the two hour ride down the St. Croix River.



Just enough to do and see in the historic and original part of Stillwater that made it the perfect day trip while we stayed overnight in a hotel in St. Paul. It's pretty interesting to spend some time exploring our state's birthplace.



For me, since I was finally feeling a bit more back to normal and not as sick, it proved to be the perfect time to take a little vacation and get away as a family and make some summertime memories.

A Little Adam & Eve, Anyone?

Maybe it's because it's summer. Or maybe it's just because we've hit some type of new stage with my kids. We've got a serious case of AES, Adam and Eve Syndrome, around our house. Heard of it?

You know, where someone always has someone else to blame for their behavior. Because we all know that my children were not endowed with brains and free will like all of the rest of us. Yes, my children must be exceptional and their behavior totally depends on what is done or said to them and they act accordingly. Well, at least that's what my children seem to think.

It seems to come up quite often in scenarios such as this:

Mom: "Why did you just pinch your sister on the lip and make it bleed?"
Boy: "She MADE me do it. She wouldn't play with me."
Mom: "But that's not the point. I'm not asking you what your sister did. I'm asking why you think pinching (hitting, scratching, biting, spitting, pulling, etc.) is acceptable behavior for our household?"
Boy: "MOOOMMM...."

And from there it leads into the extended tale of woe. The one where all of the world's wrongs have clearly only been done to little tender heart. Oh boy. Cue the violin while you're at it.

Not that Sister has been without her treasure trove of ways to inflict injury to her sibling either. But really, where does this stuff come from?

So I try as much as I can to draw attention, especially to my dear boy that there is this amazing thing called anger and when we use it in wrong ways and hurt others that it's not acceptable. Several reminders that God gave us a free will and the decision to choose wisely are thrown in for good measure. I'm trying to figure out how to steer him in a better and more proper way of redirecting this emotion and realizing why he's really upset. Tough though. All he knows is that he's mad and somebody's gotta pay for it. Why not blame it on someone else?

After all, it all started with an apple, a man, a woman...and we all know where that got us. Yes, human nature and all it's flaws are alive and well in our house this summer. Just keeping it real here, people.



What about you? What kind of idiosyncrasies/syndromes/phases are hitting your household lately? Please tell me something is off kilter, just so I know that we are 'normal' around here.

Blueberries, Blueberries & A Recipe Too!

Last week I picked up our 20 lb. stash of blueberries grown and shipped from Michigan. These should last us for a bit. *yummy*

While I am not typically a lover of blueberries, these are quite exceptional. I usually clean them a bit first, pick out the bad ones and then freeze them on cookie sheets overnight. Afterward, they get put in old ice cream buckets for storage in the freezer so I'm able to take out whatever amount needed for recipes and snacks. There really is nothing quite like fresh-from-the-farm fruits and vegetables. I really enjoy stocking up the freezer and canning shelves with homegrown food for us to enjoy once the inevitable winter months are upon us.



There might be nothing quite as good as fresh blueberries, but even better when you bake them into some VERY delicious muffins!




Blueberry Muffins

Mix together:

1 cup Flour
1 tsp. Salt
1/4 cup Sugar
1/2 cup Brown Sugar
3 tsp. Baking Powder

Add:

1 cup Whole Wheat Flour
1 Egg, beaten
1 c. Milk
1/4 cup Butter, melted
1 cup Blueberries

Spoon into greased or lined muffin pan. Bake at 400 degrees for 18-20 minutes. Enjoy!

Favorite Catholic Prayers

My Midwestern neighbor, Therese, has tagged me for this special Catholic edition meme.


Here are the rules:

"Name your three most favorite Catholic devotional prayers, and explain why they're your favorites. Then tag five bloggers - give them a link, and then go and tell them they have been tagged. Finally, tell the person who tagged you that you've completed the meme. The Liturgy and the Sacraments are off limits here. I'm more interested in people's favorite devotional prayers."


1. St. Michael Prayer
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do though O prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell, satan and all the other evil spirits, who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

2. Act of Spiritual Communion
My Jesus, I believe that You are in the Blessed Sacrament. I love you above all things and I long for you in my soul. Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my soul. As though You have already come, I embrace you and unite myself entirely to you; never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.

3. Prayer to St. Anne
Good St. Anne, you were especially favored by God to be the mother of the most holy Virgin Mary, the Mother of our Savior. By your power with your most pure daughter and with her divine Son, kindly obtain for us the grace and the favor we now seek. Please secure for us also forgiveness of our past sins, the strength to perform faithfully our daily duties and the help we need to persevere in the love of Jesus and Mary. Amen.



The first two prayers are favs of mine since they are two that I have memorized and have become part of a series of prayers I pray when I wake up in the morning, before my feet even hit the floor. We also invoke St. Michael for all sorts of things and I pray it frequently throughout the day.

The prayer to St. Anne was added a year or two ago to my morning prayers when I try to read the daily readings and meditation for the day. I just kind of began to like the prayer and began praying it after I saw it posted on another mom's blog.



Let's see, I'm going to try and tag some ladies I haven't tagged before and are relatively new blogs to my list I read:

1. Mrs. Bubbles at Adventures in Mommyville

2. Mrs. B at Joy Beyond the Cross

3. Hope at Memoirs of a Hopeful Housewife

4. Kim at Falling on His Grace

5. Holly at Falling Upward

Wordless Wednesday: Papa Edition

With Expectant Joy

These were sent in the mail last week to our family and I couldn't wait to share it with you!

*SURPRISE* Bloggy Friends!