sporks

You know it's "Christmas Break" and your kids have been watching way too much WALL E

when you hear a conversation about sporks:

      Sam:"I really want a spork, don't you, Mom?"

      Patrick: "If I had a spork, I'd put it in the fork section (of the drawer)."

      Paul:"If I had a spork, I'd put it where the spoons go." 

 I guess twins just have to assert their differences.

What we woke up to this morning

There are limbs down all over our street, but thankfully we haven't lost power. Unfortunately, several thousand people in our county alone are without electricity.
We're spending the afternoon watching holiday movies, and attempting to bake cookies in our toaster oven!

Beautiful Advent Reflection

My friend Nancy had this beautiful reflection on her blog:

Reflections on Mary's Advent
"It must have been a season of joy, and she must have longed for His birth, but at the same time she knew that every step that she took, took her little son nearer to the grave.
Each work of her hands prepared His hands a little more for the nails; each breath that she drew counted one more to His last.
In giving life to Him she was giving Him death.....But Christ is life: death did not belong to Him....That is what it meant to Mary to give human nature to God.
He was invulnerable; He asked her for a body to be wounded.
He was joy itself; He asked her to give Him tears.
He was God; He asked her to make Him man.
He asked for hands and feet to be nailed.
He asked for flesh to be scourged
He asked for blood to be shed
He asked for a heart to be broken.
The stable at Bethlehem was the first Calvary.
The wooden Manger was the first Cross.
The swaddling bands were the first burial bands
The Passion had begun
Christ was man........"

The REED of God by Caryll Houselander

Concert Time

Last night we went to Sam's first chimes concert. He is the fourth from the right.  It was Sam's

first experience with performing since he was four years old, so he was excited.  After the concert,

big brother Sam had the opportunity to show little brother Paul how to ring the chimes. Paul's

looking forward to next year, when he can be in the chimes group, too.

Something great for Advent!

Thanks to my friend Jenn, I've signed us up for Advent Adventures, a free internet program from 

Holy Heroes.  We'll receive an email for each day of Advent with a lesson plan, a short video, 

coloring pages, puzzles, and other great helps for Advent. 

More Advent Traditions

We put the first two ornaments on the Jesse Tree this morning! The readings we used were Genesis 1:1-31 (Creation) and Genesis
2:1-4 (Adam and Eve). I also read from Geraldine McCaughrean's book, The Jesse Tree.

Here is our Advent calendar for this year. Each night before bed, one of the kids opens the appropriate door, and they each get
a small piece of chocolate.

First week of Advent

    

The Lights are Lit!

We braved the cold yet again for the annual lighting of our city's Santa display, on the side of 

a downtown bank building. We try to go every year, although we wimped out last year due to rain and kids with colds, and every year, as we stand there w-a-i-t-i-n-g  for the lights to be lit, I wonder why we do it. There's just something fun about the expectant crowds and excitement, despite the discomfort and complaints from our children. We did not, however, join the herds

of people walking around the corner to see the lighting of the Christmas tree. 

It probably goes without saying that the Corvette in the picture is not ours.

It's Grampy Day!

I realize this is an unfamiliar occasion to most; in fact it's our own made up day of remembrance. Today would have been my Dad's 76th birthday. He died of lung cancer six years ago. Dad was a warm, funny, flawed but very loveable man. The kind of man who was liked by everyone he knew. He adored my kids, had a special bond with my oldest, was so excited when we found out we were having twins. I wish they could have known him as more than "that funny man in the family videos", that they could remember how he sang songs, and played patty cake with them. Shortly before he died, I told him we would celebrate his birthday each year with memories and laughter. Later today, we'll watch those family movies, look at photos, tell funny stories about him, eat his favorite pineapple upside-down cake, and those of us over seven will remember.
We love and miss you, Dad.

The List of Broken Stuff is Growing

Who knew when the garbage disposal konked out a couple of years ago that it would start a trend? We didn't know how good we
had it. Since then, the dryer has stopped drying, the microwave gave out, the oven just stopped heating the other day, and our shower broke yesterday. Fortunately, we have a large basement in which to hang up clothes, Dh was able to fix the shower, and my mom had a spare microwave we could borrow. We'll have to fix the oven before holiday baking starts.
Everything else will have to wait, since Dh had to have new tires on his car. Oh, and last night, the heater in our van didn't work. I haven't worked up the nerve to tell my poor beleagured husband. I'm hoping it was a fluke. One good thing, I'm starting to thank
God every time something DOES work. So maybe that's the point.

Advent Preparations

For the first time ever, I feel like I'm at least a little prepared for Advent before it starts. This week between Christ the King and
Advent gives me a chance to catch my breath, especially since I'm not cooking Thanksgiving dinner (one of the things I'm thank-
ful for this year!). This year, our plans include two Jesse trees, one using ornaments from our homeschool group Jesse Tree swap, and the other, a handmade tree we won from our local Catholic radio station.

Another new start

Oh, how I love opportunities for a new start! As a Catholic, I'm given many of these opportunities: the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Advent, and Lent, to name some of the most important. Not to mention the usual "fresh start" of New Year's
Day. I figured since we're at the beginning of a new Liturgical year, and I've been inspired by talking to some homeschool friends, now is the time to restart this pathetic blog. Well, we'll see. And if I screw it up, there's another new start coming in January!

Sam's First Holy Communion

The Exploding Computer Monitor

Okay, it didn't exactly explode, but it did "blow up" with smoke coming out of the top. This is my latest excuse for not
posting anything for the last several weeks. We now happily have a new flat-screen monitor (well, a demo model, anyway).

Getting Ready to Garden

Although we were all disappointed that we couldn't go to Fernwood Nature Preserve as planned due to rain, I had a much needed break on
Mother's Day. I spent the day with my mom, shopping for plants, going out for lunch, and sitting by the fire (!) watching old
movies. Yes, I said sitting by the fire. It was cold as well as wet. I did get some of the flowers for my windowbox, and other
containers, though.

camera found!

Well, I found my camera, it's no longer winter, and our schedule has eased up a bit, so I'm giving this blog another try. For now.
We are working on a "Make Way for Ducklings" lapbook, and the only way I've been able to find to download (for free) duck pics
for the books is to put them on my blog. So here they are.

Struggling with the decision

of whether to continue blogging or not. I'm just not sure if I'm cut out for blogging, if it fits into my crazy schedule, etc. Maybe it's just the winter blues, but I'm taking a break from the blog for awhile, til I "get it together". And until I find my camera.