Everybody Loves Allison

Please don't contradict! And don't tell me that people don't think about me as much as I think people think about me--I don't believe you Sondra. Case in point--the Pope is comming for my birthday! That's right---to help commemorate Allison reaching 36 years (the square of my second favorite number, and a multiple of my favorite) Pope Benedict will arrive in the United States. I'm sure he's aware of this and will give me a quick call to say hello and remind me how much Jesus loves me. . .we are both Jesus freaks after all.

Other news--we had a wonderful vacation--photos to come as soon as the camera batteries are charged. The Hobbit Hike and Hobbit beach were perfect, as was the weather, the company, and the A-frame cottage we all shared. 4 adults and 11 children. Sounds like a lot, but really it is amazing how well the children all play together, get along, and don't take up too much room because they want to be up in the loft or out at the woodpile. I even sang some songs with my guitar, and we played clue! I love clue. Except I have a hard time with the new grafics and Mr. Green becoming Reverend Green. But I do like the new figures--they are fun.

Anyone else having a fun spring break? Anyone else love me? Anyone need gift ideas? I think there's a baby around who's having a birthday soon too. . .gotta look into that.

Oh Yes!

Christ is Risen!

Alleluia!
We are off on vacation for the next 3 days. Will write many wonderful reflections when I return. . .promise!

Girly Girls

I'm not an apologetic kind of person. Not that I don't apologize when I've made a mistake. . .rather that I don't apologize for the things I am not, or choose to not do. It's one of the ways I am decidedly NOT Canadian. (Canadians apologize for everything.)

In this vein, I am not an interior decorator. The army of lovely women who decorated my house three and half years ago can attest to that! It's just not something I'm good at or want to spend time on--though I do appreciate a lovely room.

Enter LISA. LISA is an interior decorator. Really. Once all her kids are grown she may even make regular $ at it. Lisa does really nice things like designing pretty rooms for her daughter. She does even nicer things like designing a new pretty room for her daughter when the old pretty room becomes boring/childish/old news. This is mind boggleing to me. If my daughters ever got a "designed" room from me it would be such a miracle they would not expect it to happen again in their lifetimes!

But the BEST part about Lisa is that she would pack-up all the movable parts of the old room and send it to some deprived girls on the other side of the country. TAHNK YOU LISA (and Betsy!)>

Quotes of the Day

Thaddeus: O-Merica O-merica God shed his face on thee!

John Henry: (when sister is picking on him too much) Thalia's ignoring me!

Thalia: Can I count your money. I love counting money!

Arveragus:
I know I'm all boogery, but at least I'm cheerful about it. I do really need to give you a big boogery hug and opened mouthed kiss.

Civil Disobedience

Well, not really. Just a rally. We brought all the kids on Sunday afternoon to an event happening close to us. This was our first time. . .and we were so pleased to see the wide range of people participating. Black, White. Young, old. Catholic, protestant, Islamic. It reminded me of the "coexist" bumpersticker you see everywhere.

The down side was the opposing views' response. It took the form of angery shouts from pasing cars. Lots of rude gestures etc. I tell you! That never happened at breastfeeding support rallies!

But there were also lots of honks and waves, and thumbs-ups of support.

So the pro-life movement has some new active members.

I Love Publicity!

Here is an article published today about our school. John is at the end. I am "the school leader" who is inderectly quoted about why fam day is single sex. . .not quite famous, but close! I also spent 40 min on hold today trying to comment on a show about memorization. . .they didn't get to me. Ah well--fame alludes me once again.

The Time of my Life

Life has settled into a nice rhythm. Homeschooling, outings, chores, etc. The highlights of my days are the times when we are all gathered around a good library book--or the times the children play nicely while I cook, read, or write. I do have some back-burner jobs to do that will boil over if I don't face them soon. #1 on this list (ok--after the dinner I have yet to begin. . .) is the Easter dresses. It is true that the second dress goes faster. But the first dress is not QUITE done. . .still needs sleeves and hemming. I can predict the future, and it's looking like late nights for Allison before Easter. . .

I also really enjoy my time alone in the apartment. This happend at least two times a week. Cleaning and exercise and reading are always on the "time alone" to do list. With the time change I'm thinking I may be able to run after John gets home! Yeah! Jumping rope is fun, but not as fun as running--esp since the baby got wapped with the rope by accident this AM (bad mommy award for me!).

I have been stewing on how best I can spend my time. An offer to help me get going on free-lance writting got me stewing. . .and I got a ball of dread in my stomach. I have always owned-up to my poor work ethic. Not that I'm not a hard worker--but rather that I hate getting paid to work. Weird I know. I think it's a genetic flaw I inherited from my trust fund family. (Unfortunately being one child of 5, from a father who's one of 7 doesn't bode well for dividends--and you can tell I'm worried about this enough to limit my own reproduction--NOT!)

Do I want deadlines over my head while caring for the children. Do I want to write for someone else, or for myself and my friends? Do I want to make $ or make bread and cheese and granola and all the other yummy stuff I love?
I do work hard on the budget too
. . .not that I mean to slip into defensive justification. . .
it's just that I have little worldly ambition--but pleanty of heavenly ambition. As my friend Ann once said "When I get to heaven I want to be in the front row!" For me this means being able to balance my own needs and those of these sweet babies, and this loving husband.

It's the little things like cleaning the fridge. OK not just cleaning the fridge, but letting the baby play in the yoghurt mess he made, just because it's a fun tactile and tasty experience.

Life IS short. My slow paced life is often very fast. Arveragus will be one soon--where did that year go?! How is it I was a big round egg mama last Easter, and this year I have a babbling bundle of exploration for a son? It is a mystery to me--and I am clinging to every dribble of love I get! Thank You Jesus!

Technology Allison!

I was sad I had no comments. . .then noticed that I had "comments to moderate". Since the bad link a while ago I now read comments and approve them before posting. . .and I got another dud link! But now I have comments! So easy to make me happy!

Why is Holly Hobbie Cooking Breakfast!?

Full Bladder

From our very first pig butcher day, two and a half years ago, Mary Catherine has wanted to get her little county-fied hands on a pig bladder. The reason is Laura Ingles. In the first Little House book she and her sister bat around the bladder that Pa has blown up for them. What fun!
Last week was another butcher day--at the Ecce Veritas farm. The girls asked the abatoir, and pormptly received two bladders. With the help of a straw they were inflated. Dry and leathery--Bladders are indeed fun to "bat around"!

Just A Good Day

It has been a pretty simple day out here. Made breakfast. Sent ALL the kids out with John for swimming lessons. (Plunk is not taking lessons yet--he just watched). Did some long lost work on the computer. Why is it that I'll have bunches of things to do on line, but when I'm actually in front of the computer I can't remember a one?

Today I had a list. Life insurance. Health insurance. After that, cleaning the living room was a treat!

Fam came home. Did the budget for the month. Started lunch. Took ALL the kids out for a walk around the neighborhood so John could have some quiet time with his books.

The cherry trees are blooming. I think it's unnatural for there to be so many crocus' (croci? crocapodi?) without any snow! The kids could only make it once around, so MC played on the lawn with everyone while I took a 10 min run around our route.

Lunch. Bath. Hanging-out with each other. Crafts. Bread making. Laundry (half done--four loads on the living-room floor and two more to be dried in the AM--gotta love 11 o'clock Mass). Yummy dinner. Books. Prayers. Bed.

A good day. Happy children. Happy husband. Happy Me.