Christmas gifts

Some lovely generous Oregonian benefactors enabled us to go out for a rare family dinner. We went to the local Asian restaurant. We all enjoyed the deep fried candy meat, Lumpia, and Moo Goo Guy Pan (MC ordered that just so she could say it. . .it was good). Extra MSG please. Soda's for all! (A large family eating out on a budget is used to Mom and Dad saying "water please" very emphatically. . .). A really wonderful holiday treat. The conversation included finding out who would prefer to swim in maple syrup, and who would prefer running in marshmallow fluff--most were fluff people, Thaddeus and I opted for the syrup. Geargie was neutral.


Also--just found my cell phone--lost since Christmas day. Mary Catherine and Thalia shared the Chocolate reward offered for any information leading to it's return.

I'll post the official Christmas Caard soon!

Cookie CountDown!

This is the first year we are officially counting Christmas cookies made--in competition with Babci, and Cioci Mary. 144 so far! We have till twelthnight as far as I can tell. . .

They are Done!

At least the big ones are. I want to make about 10 more little-uns.

Update:

I have eaten half a bag of chocolate covered java beans. No dinner--may cut the caffein effect. Babies had late naps. . .bed will be late--alas! Dolls have to wait.

Here's the Situation. . .

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and I want to make 4-8 of these sweet dollies, some with clothing. . .some with scented filling. . .some bigger, some for stockings. . .

The pressure is mounting.

Can I do It?

Will I be able to get out of bed after nursing the baby down?

Will the sewing machine jam?

Will I start crying and give-up?

Will I lay my success as a loving mother at the mercy of my crafting ability in the wee hours before Christmas--or will I just get another breast infection?

Stay tuned. . .(though I did buy myself more time by announcing at breakfast that homemade gifts may show up an ANY TIME during the 12 days of Christmas.)

Where is Jesus?

He's still in Mary you silly! He only comes out after Mass on Christmas Eve! That's also when the wise men appear--they spend 12 days travelling closer and closer to Jesus. You have to find them every day somewhere in the house.

Chilled to the Bone

I fell into some water today. This was outside, in the snow, after my run and warm shower, UP TO MY WAIST! Don't ask. It's not a pretty story. But I did notice after the fact that my first thought, as I stood in the frigid water screaming for John-who-saved-my-life, was "Darn it! My wicked cute outfit is wrecked!" I was wearing these, and a cute black skirt. The yoga pants that replaced the freezing wet clothes (which are still sitting outside the front door--hope I didn't moon the neighbors) fall short.

I have been cold ever since. As a reward for doing a days worth of dishes and starting dinner I will take a hot bath. . .AHHHHHHH!

ATTENTION!

I have a new favorite Blog to your right. . .Life in the Library, by my big sister (but she's actually pretty small. . .) Harmony. AKA Too-to (pronounced Two-Two--has something to do with a lulaby and my inability to say her long name. . .). Too-to is the least librarian-ish woman I know, but she obviously loves her job!

Contentment and Desire

This is the face of a happy 9 year old. Content. And yet, her deep desire for a little sister is JUST below the surface. Thalia has been praying for "Agnes-on-the-way" for going on 6 years now. Thankfully God sent Temple and Iska, so there's an extra baby girl to go around whenever we visit. They wear a lot of pink, since they were preceded by 2 boys.

We certainly do want more babies--but one never knows--and of course we can't promise a girl. . .and sometimes even I get frustrated at Thalia's seemingly relentless "When will we have another baby?!" Not the thing to ask when Mommy is tired out from a busy day with her existing children.

But during my calm moments I am right there with her. I love all my babies, and will love having as many more as we end up having. I used to answer the "Are you done yet?" or "when will you be done?" queries with the old "Weeellll, there's this thing called menopause. . . ". But now I realize that there are recorded miracles in scripture of post menopausal women having a baby--so my new answer is "Sarah and Elizabeth were sent babies in their old age--I can only hope. . ."

Then again--I'm an optimist. A friend is caring, long term, for her infant grandson. She's tired. Maybe menopause is a good idea for most of us.

But until then Thalia and I will keep praying for Agnes (or Notkur) on the way.

Martha Martha!

You are worried about many things.

Yup--that's what I feel like Jesus is saying to me. I am all better today, and have enjoyed having John home to help with the homeschool catch-up for half the day. But I also feel like two infections in two weeks is a bit of a warning that I'm doing too much for this poor old body. . .

So I'm spending today taking a deep breath--not picking up every stray item as I see it, and figuring out what my activities should be so I can take care of myself and my family. I think it's harder here in Maine because my greater community needs more mother-care than our community in Oregon needed. And I'm a mother--and I have the bad habit of making myself sick trying to fix everyone else, and comfort everyone else. . .but I gotta go to make a post partum meal. . .ironic I know, and I'll start saying no--but I already said yes. . .There is a balance between Mary and Martha--I'm trying to find it.

In the mean time I did get a closet all cleaned out while I was "resting in bed" yesterday. I'm incorrigible!

Bed Ridden

So I sick in bed--slightly functional--but waiting for the antibiotics ($100 worth!!) to kick in. I've been instructing the younger kids from my pillow. But Mary Catherine is doing a unit study on home economics, ie running the house. So far she has made breakfast for dinner (last night), washed dishes this morning, and is making lunch right now. Thalia and John Henry are doing their part also--picking up the floor and setting the table--but those are normal chores for them.

Mary Catherine is being a helpful and hardworking little homemaker! I wonder what I did on sick days when I only had small children?

God Bless Mary Catherine!

Our New Kitties

I like this kind of kitty. I mean the adult, already fixed kind. Theo is a mini Bear Cub. He is really sweet. Best of all is he is a willing victim for the girls' need to preen and primp something. I think he came with 4 combs and brushes!

Phish--who has quickly taken on the nickname "titch"--is as silky and smooth ass Theo is furry and fluffy. She does seem to be the hunter. She has already been scoping out the location of the recent Beaver attack.

Quote of the Day

John Henry: German women are pretty. (out of nowhere. . .)

There's a Beaver Eating my House!!

At about 4 am I was wakened by what sounded like LARGE RODENT TEETH chewing wood in the vicinity of my closet. I woke John and he threw a Lego--always withing reach at our house. It was too small to scare large rodent. So I threw a book. It stopped.

Then It started again. John charged and stampeded the area. Rodent apparently took the hint.

I NEED A CAT!!!!

Good Question

I'm not sure what sparked it, but while listening to the news Thalia asked "Why do they take care of adults, when they kill babies?"

"Good Question." Was my quick response. My mind spun off into thoughts of able bodies adults getting government aid while babies are aborted because their mothers don't have the resources to care for them. . .

Then Thalia said, "I mean, why take care of an adult, when they could have been killed in an abortion when they were a baby?"

Pithy--the sanctity of life. The baby is as valuable and deserving of respect as the adult. If we value the adult, why don't we value the baby? Murder is illegal right?