One more month and this tall baby of mine goes away to college.
Patrick, Edmund, Jill, Polly, and I are all "helping" him move in. I'm certain our caravan of characters will make a great first impression on his classmates.
Pray for him too.
Thanks.
Linking up with Carolyn because she's not at the Edel conference either.
1. Forget Anna and Elsa. Jill is only interested in Leonor and Sofia. She's been asking repeatedly who the Real princesses are, and I was finally able to deliver some names and images besides Princess Kate.
2. Father's Day was super lame around here. I thought I'd have somethingone for Patrick for the big day, but it he/she has not arrived as of yet.
I keep checking my email for tracking info, checking those baby apps hoping to see "Today you will have your baby." but nope. Nada.
Patrick spent most of Fathers' Day re-creating our Korean Barbecue experience. Food is his recreation and his love language.
These are Korean dumplings and the traditional 12 side dishes at the authentic restaurant we went to when our kids were out-of-town. We don't know what most of those dishes are, and neither did our server.
His Father's Day gift to himself. Omelet thingies here ^.
He made the Galbi beef short ribs, sauteed bok choy, pickled kimchi cabbage, Asian cucumber slaw, and those little omelet roll ups with the green onions served room temp. Those omelet bites are incredible with a little soy/chili sauce mixture drizzled on them. Everything was scrumptious. Even Jill cleaned her plate, eating mostly omelet bites and beef.
Korean beers and water. I'm pretty sure the water is Gangnam Style.
Some of the credit for that feast goes to Micaela for inspiring me to seek out the mysterious flavors of Korean cuisine. Go check out her series of interviews with homeschoolers, including one with yours truly.
3. Run out of summer fun yet? Multiple rainy days in your part of the world?
Yesterday, I got a package from my sweet sister-in-law, Adaire. A care package! With chocolate, and lip balm, and hair ties, and jewelry, and the cutest mug you ever saw! The hair ties and lip balm are going straight in my birth center go bag, should I ever need to actually go there and birth someone. The chocolate might not be with us very much longer.
The whole kit and kaboodle was adorably packaged. You really made my day, Adaire. The package and the prayers. Thank you!
Go check out Ruthiebox, and send someone some love in a care package.
5. Speaking of surprises and prayers, sometimes you find things where you least expect them.
My kids know their phones are subject to random checks. Technically, their phones are our phones, since we pay for them.
Earlier this week I found someone's phone surreptitiously peeking out from under a sofa cushion and decided to take a peek at what she's been up to.
She had been texting a male acquaintance the usual, "hey" "what's up" stuff. He asked if she was going on the upcoming group trip to a theme park this weekend. She replied, "Idk. My mom is due any day."
His response, "Oh, that's right. I've been praying for her."
Some kid who likes my daughter is praying for me?
Sigh.
Tears.
6 & 7. How to Cope with Being 40 weeks Pregnant at the End of June when Temps are in the 90s and You Don't Have Central Air Conditioning
Aside from window units, box fans, ceiling fans, and plenty of Red Raspberry Leaf Tea (iced), I rely on two very important products.
This is Culver's Lemon Ice. Culver's Lemon Ice is my very best friend. One scoop is 100 calories and zero fat. For $1.99, I can face another day. Cue One Day More theme music...
This is Dr. Teal's Lavender Epsom Salt Soaking Solution. I put about a cup or more in my bath before bedtime and I not only watch my cankles disappear, but I can sleep comfortably until the birds start chirping at the buttcrack of dawn. The 4 to 40 bathroom trips don't even phase me. Grace told me about this magic brew, but my midwives recommend it too.
That wraps up another whiny week with Jessica. Go see Kathryn for people with better quick takes and better attitudes. Do I dare to hope that I'll be in a better mood next week with better news?
1. Novenas frustrate me greatly. I often miss a day, or start them too late, or just get really angry with the idea that God won't hear my plea because I didn't say the magic words every day for nine days. God doesn't work that way.
Somehow, I found this Pray More Novenas site, and it's really dumbed it down for me. If a novena is coming up, I get an email alert. If I choose to participate, I get the prayer emailed to me every day. Easy, peasy.
Today is the Feast of St. Jude and I just finished saying his novena. A lot has happened in that last nine days, including my beloved Cardinals duking it out in the World Series again.
Jill, me, Lucy, World Series 2011, Game 7 win vs. Texas Rangers
2. But more importantly, as Edmund keeps telling the neighbor kids, he quit school.
I have been helping Edmund do 2 to 6 hours of unmodified (he has been diagnosed with dyslexia) homework every school night this year. His grades haven't been stellar. His self-esteem has been plummeting. He never had time to play outside.
I realized that this was screwing up my kid. I figure I can screw up my own kid in half the time and for a lot less money, plus I'll let him play outside.
So, one Friday afternoon, dismal test score in his hand, I told him to go clean out his locker, and he beamed at me.
3. Right now, I'm calling our one student homeschool, St. Jude's School for Kids Who Want To Read Good and Do Other Things Good Too.
Or SJSFKWWTRGADOTGT.
4. Our homeschool has been doing a lot of unschooling right now, partly because I didn't have a plan going into this and partly because St. Jude's can't afford to purchase all the multi-sensory subject curricula at once. (I suggested to our board, Patrick, that we sell some wrapping paper or raffle tickets.)
But mostly, not much structured learning is going on because of my dear friend's wise suggestion that we take some time off and detox from the stress we've (Edmund and I) have been dealing with.
Homeschool began last Monday. Tuesday, I asked Edmund to unload the dishwasher. He very politely informed me that he would rather not unload the dishwasher.
I suggested that he unload the dishwasher AND offer it up so that I don't screw him up too badly.
What do you mean "screw me up"? I've never done this before, Edmund. I don't know how to homeschool anyone. I think you're doing GREAT!
Plus, I let him do this at 9pm on Sunday night, after which he informed me he wants to do more science experiments.
5. Remember Stitch Fix? I know some of you do, because I just got notified of another credit in my account! Thank You! Mwah!
I have had varying amounts of success with Stitch Fix. I have returned entire orders. Once, I returned everything but a necklace. Usually, though I get one or two really great pieces that I never would have tried on, much less bought for myself.
My last fix had this bombshell of a dress in it.
The color is gorgeous. It's a wrap dress and very forgiving. I love everything about it.
Jill wore a new and beautiful dress, but I removed it from her person immediately after Mass because I have plans to never have to wash it.
One more month and this tall baby of mine goes away to college.
Patrick, Edmund, Jill, Polly, and I are all "helping" him move in. I'm certain our caravan of characters will make a great first impression on his classmates.
Pray for him too.
Thanks.
Linking up with Carolyn because she's not at the Edel conference either.
1. Forget Anna and Elsa. Jill is only interested in Leonor and Sofia. She's been asking repeatedly who the Real princesses are, and I was finally able to deliver some names and images besides Princess Kate.
2. Father's Day was super lame around here. I thought I'd have somethingone for Patrick for the big day, but it he/she has not arrived as of yet.
I keep checking my email for tracking info, checking those baby apps hoping to see "Today you will have your baby." but nope. Nada.
Patrick spent most of Fathers' Day re-creating our Korean Barbecue experience. Food is his recreation and his love language.
These are Korean dumplings and the traditional 12 side dishes at the authentic restaurant we went to when our kids were out-of-town. We don't know what most of those dishes are, and neither did our server.
His Father's Day gift to himself. Omelet thingies here ^.
He made the Galbi beef short ribs, sauteed bok choy, pickled kimchi cabbage, Asian cucumber slaw, and those little omelet roll ups with the green onions served room temp. Those omelet bites are incredible with a little soy/chili sauce mixture drizzled on them. Everything was scrumptious. Even Jill cleaned her plate, eating mostly omelet bites and beef.
Korean beers and water. I'm pretty sure the water is Gangnam Style.
Some of the credit for that feast goes to Micaela for inspiring me to seek out the mysterious flavors of Korean cuisine. Go check out her series of interviews with homeschoolers, including one with yours truly.
3. Run out of summer fun yet? Multiple rainy days in your part of the world?
Yesterday, I got a package from my sweet sister-in-law, Adaire. A care package! With chocolate, and lip balm, and hair ties, and jewelry, and the cutest mug you ever saw! The hair ties and lip balm are going straight in my birth center go bag, should I ever need to actually go there and birth someone. The chocolate might not be with us very much longer.
The whole kit and kaboodle was adorably packaged. You really made my day, Adaire. The package and the prayers. Thank you!
Go check out Ruthiebox, and send someone some love in a care package.
5. Speaking of surprises and prayers, sometimes you find things where you least expect them.
My kids know their phones are subject to random checks. Technically, their phones are our phones, since we pay for them.
Earlier this week I found someone's phone surreptitiously peeking out from under a sofa cushion and decided to take a peek at what she's been up to.
She had been texting a male acquaintance the usual, "hey" "what's up" stuff. He asked if she was going on the upcoming group trip to a theme park this weekend. She replied, "Idk. My mom is due any day."
His response, "Oh, that's right. I've been praying for her."
Some kid who likes my daughter is praying for me?
Sigh.
Tears.
6 & 7. How to Cope with Being 40 weeks Pregnant at the End of June when Temps are in the 90s and You Don't Have Central Air Conditioning
Aside from window units, box fans, ceiling fans, and plenty of Red Raspberry Leaf Tea (iced), I rely on two very important products.
This is Culver's Lemon Ice. Culver's Lemon Ice is my very best friend. One scoop is 100 calories and zero fat. For $1.99, I can face another day. Cue One Day More theme music...
This is Dr. Teal's Lavender Epsom Salt Soaking Solution. I put about a cup or more in my bath before bedtime and I not only watch my cankles disappear, but I can sleep comfortably until the birds start chirping at the buttcrack of dawn. The 4 to 40 bathroom trips don't even phase me. Grace told me about this magic brew, but my midwives recommend it too.
That wraps up another whiny week with Jessica. Go see Kathryn for people with better quick takes and better attitudes. Do I dare to hope that I'll be in a better mood next week with better news?
1. Novenas frustrate me greatly. I often miss a day, or start them too late, or just get really angry with the idea that God won't hear my plea because I didn't say the magic words every day for nine days. God doesn't work that way.
Somehow, I found this Pray More Novenas site, and it's really dumbed it down for me. If a novena is coming up, I get an email alert. If I choose to participate, I get the prayer emailed to me every day. Easy, peasy.
Today is the Feast of St. Jude and I just finished saying his novena. A lot has happened in that last nine days, including my beloved Cardinals duking it out in the World Series again.
Jill, me, Lucy, World Series 2011, Game 7 win vs. Texas Rangers
2. But more importantly, as Edmund keeps telling the neighbor kids, he quit school.
I have been helping Edmund do 2 to 6 hours of unmodified (he has been diagnosed with dyslexia) homework every school night this year. His grades haven't been stellar. His self-esteem has been plummeting. He never had time to play outside.
I realized that this was screwing up my kid. I figure I can screw up my own kid in half the time and for a lot less money, plus I'll let him play outside.
So, one Friday afternoon, dismal test score in his hand, I told him to go clean out his locker, and he beamed at me.
3. Right now, I'm calling our one student homeschool, St. Jude's School for Kids Who Want To Read Good and Do Other Things Good Too.
Or SJSFKWWTRGADOTGT.
4. Our homeschool has been doing a lot of unschooling right now, partly because I didn't have a plan going into this and partly because St. Jude's can't afford to purchase all the multi-sensory subject curricula at once. (I suggested to our board, Patrick, that we sell some wrapping paper or raffle tickets.)
But mostly, not much structured learning is going on because of my dear friend's wise suggestion that we take some time off and detox from the stress we've (Edmund and I) have been dealing with.
Homeschool began last Monday. Tuesday, I asked Edmund to unload the dishwasher. He very politely informed me that he would rather not unload the dishwasher.
I suggested that he unload the dishwasher AND offer it up so that I don't screw him up too badly.
What do you mean "screw me up"? I've never done this before, Edmund. I don't know how to homeschool anyone. I think you're doing GREAT!
Plus, I let him do this at 9pm on Sunday night, after which he informed me he wants to do more science experiments.
5. Remember Stitch Fix? I know some of you do, because I just got notified of another credit in my account! Thank You! Mwah!
I have had varying amounts of success with Stitch Fix. I have returned entire orders. Once, I returned everything but a necklace. Usually, though I get one or two really great pieces that I never would have tried on, much less bought for myself.
My last fix had this bombshell of a dress in it.
The color is gorgeous. It's a wrap dress and very forgiving. I love everything about it.
Jill wore a new and beautiful dress, but I removed it from her person immediately after Mass because I have plans to never have to wash it.
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