Thoughts for Thursday

We started a Thursday tradition over at Building Cathedrals, so I thought I would try it out in Gasperini-Ville too! Fun, fun...

What am I cooking?

I hate to disappoint you, but tonight was Mac 'n Cheese and leftover night. We've been eating so much chicken lately (it was on sale for $1.79/lb.!!!! You know I stocked my freezer full!) that I decided to go easy on the boys and give them an "off" night where no one cried over what we were eating and no one had to stay behind to finish his meal. Picky children are exhausting!!! We are winning the battle, though. I'll have to share soon about some new signs I came up with to remind the boys of the foods they like...

What am I reading?

I have been dabbling in and out of Interior Freedom by Jacques Philippe now for a bit. It was a book given to me two years ago for my birthday by a sweet friend and I'm just getting around to reading it. So far, so good, if only I had more than a minute or two to offer for reading it!

What are my weekend plans?

My parents are coming into town tomorrow from FL, so we will be spending quality time with them. We will hit soccer games on Saturday morning and then GG and I have a date planned for Saturday evening up in DC. We are meeting up with P-ton friends for dinner while my parents watch the boys. Should be fun!! Sunday we'll do Mass, donuts, and more family time.

What are my prayer intentions for the day?

For my bro-in-law finishing up his tour in Afghanistan. For a friend enduring radiation while battling cancer for the second time. For another friend recovering from a serious car accident.

What can my children do instead of watching TV?

How about acting out one of the scenes from The Cat in the Hat, their new favorite TV program? haha I just happened to have a Dr. Seuss hat in our dress-up hat box. Thank the good Lord!

What is one product making my life a little easier?

My automatic can opener. I just press the button and walk away. It is incredible!

What have I done for my marriage this week?

I've been understanding when GG has needed to work late many nights this week, which means I handle the four kiddos on my own for bedtime. No small feat, but I know he doesn't do this on purpose. He'd much rather be at home with us, for sure!

What's challenging me lately?

Errands. And working them around MG's naptimes. Oh, how I look forward to the day when Gasperini-Ville is nap-free!

Something that made me think?

I was recalling to the boys about my childhood the other day and remembering a certain boy, Robert, who was really a bad apple at school. They were asking me all sorts of questions: "Yes, he went to the principal's office." "No, I never went to the principal's office." And so on... Pretty cute and funny. They seem to eat up stories of my past and I enjoy the trip down memory lane.

Blessings and happy TGIF tomorrow!

Monday Gratitude

As I wiped a poopy handprint from the bathroom door this morning, I was inspired to feel gratitude rather than annoyance...

* for the children I have who produce the great messes

* for the fertility I have to produce the children who produce the messes

* for the greater potty independence these children have lately

* for the home I have to be messed up

* for the time I have to clean it

* for our husband/daddy who works hard to provide for us so I can stay home

* for his job and his ability to provide

* for the money I spent to buy Clorox wipes from Cost.co

* for a place like Cost.co to shop

* for America and its overwhelming resources

* for all the blessings that make my day what it is... They are too many to count!

Thank you, Lord!

A Wee Note

Here's my "sassy baby" look. Like it?

Hey there, friends!

Just had to fill you in on the latest in my ever-changing baby world... On Sunday I decided to ring in my Gramz's birthday (Happy birthday, Gramz, by the way!) with a few rolls from front to back! Mom also thinks I'm close to going the other way from back to tummy very soon. I keep telling her to relax by smiling a lot and even giving my brother a few chuckles the other day. He's so funny (and tries to make me laugh all the time--a comedian!)

Speaking of rolls, I'm also developing a few here and there which means I'm eating well and healthy. Mom has starting to notice I whimper/cry more in the middle of nursing when she stops to burp me. I'm obviously a hungry girl! Two ladies the other day thought I was storing food in my cheeks, they're so round. lol. Someday I'll take it personally, but I just smiled in return. My sleeping has continued to be very good, my mom can't complain, though I've started to wake around 4:30/5am for a feeding (kind of like my brothers did). My mom doesn't totally love this, but she's willing to comply to make sure I get enough to eat. Don't I look hungry?! ;)

I am 3-months-old on Friday and am moving into the 3-6m range of clothes. Today I have on the sweetest green floral bubble, sent from my godmother, Catherine. It is beautiful, which is why my mommy took so many pictures of me. No wonder I went to sleep so well this morning--all I could see were bright spots due to all the flashes!

Sayonara 4th trimester--here I come month 4!

Little MG via

Blurry

From starting school to soccer to Jurassic Night...to the Oktoberfest...

Can you tell we've been a busy bunch?

The Gasperini-Ville town sign (not real) is a bit of a blur because we're moving so much. lol.

While I thought starting school would be a break for me, it really feels like its been just the opposite. Kids need to go here and picked up there. Baby needs to be fed at this time, then napped here. B-mama and GG are off to various commitments, then back together for a brief time again... It is hard to keep everything together and all of our schedules synced.

Then I begin to think about the future... all the events to come... and after-school extracurriculars. I begin to think about my schedule as a tween back in the day and I multiply it by four... and that's when I really begin to worry! Lord, help us!! We will just have to take it one year at a time. One year at a time. (keep repeating)

Which brings me to loving these four little ones. Man, they are lovable. I've been trying to love each of them very distinctly, in the way each of them needs it. It has been exhausting and wonderful all at the same time. Snuggles here, playing catch here, reading here. Busy and wonderful... But thank the good Lord I'm able to do it right now, physically, mentally, emotionally. He's providing and I am grateful. Most days He gives me just what I need to make it through the day and then I collapse.

But we're making it. And loving it. And feeling crazy within it.

Tonight we were at a local Catholic parish's Oktoberfest, our annual tradition. It was a blast and the kids always seem to enjoy themselves... But by the end we had 3 very wound up, slap happy boys who were running around and excessively loving on their sister. The 4 adults (us with Mimi and Papa!) were spent. We were a walking spectacle, for sure. At least it was a Catholic event, right?! :)

One day at a time.

Enjoy the posts below with updates on our family--just finally getting around to posting these after a whole week!! (T's school event is backdated)

Thanks for walking this road of life with us!

Blessings,

Soccer Continued

We managed to get T on the field today for a brief moment, which I'm chalking up to a minor miracle and great motherly accomplishment. If you'd been there to see us walk up without shoes on, throwing a good 4yo temper tantrum, you'd have been really proud of this too! :) Praise God for T's dear, dear coach, who gave him a lot of love and encouragement. I could tell T made it this far because of him. Thanks Coach John (that's him on the left directing T!) We're aiming to touch the ball one time next week... Here's to hoping!

M played at the same time in the lower field and was really getting into it. After watching him play pretty aggressively, Papa remarked, "He's ready for football." Where else is shoving allowed? Sign him up!

And here's our Most Wonderful Dad and Coach of the Year

The game couldn't have ended better-- lower left corner is M scoring the game's final goal. He was hustling 'til the last minute and it paid off! Way to go, buddy!

My guys are pretty wonderful. Love 'em to pieces.

T-Bone to School!

That's right.

T started preschool this week!

And as far as I know, he likes it!!

But don't take me at my word too closely because I've gotten very little information back from the primary source...

Whenever I ask T questions, I mostly get, "Nothing" as the answer.

Oh Lord.

Isn't that nice? This is how it really makes me feel ;O!!! Ahhh!!!

Mimi has already warned me, though, not to let on that this bothers me or else it will be used against me in the future and then I will really get nothing!! lol. So I've been coyly collecting information since then (through brotherly conversation, from random tidbits in the car, etc.) And I've discovered the following: 1) T likes his teacher, 2) he plays with a boy, Symeon, on the playground, 3) they play rocket ship and go to outer space, 4) there's a timeout chair, 5) Annabelle has been to the timeout chair (lol) :)

Cheers to a new school year, my wonderful T, and MG, my girl who will (hopefully) someday divulge everything and make her mother very happy! :)

Less confident in this last pic as he's ready to go inside the classroom! :)

Soccer and Sweeties

The one and only soccer pic (this is what happens when a. your child only plays for a nanosecond of the game and b. you are nursing an infant and managing two other children at the same time!!)

Our soccer season started off with a bang this weekend!!

T began our Saturday run of games with his first soccer practice and scrimmage. Mind you, this guy has been asking for his turn to play soccer for two years now leading up to this!! We were all so excited and then... cold feet! We were late and missed the beginning practice (such a bummer!) and then T shied away from the game. Ho hum. Poor guy. His response? "I didn't score a goal." We tried reminding him that it took his older brother several seasons before he scored... Alas, T was determined to stay on the sidelines. All in due time. We'll give him a chance to warm up next week and then see what happens. GG and I know not to get too worried/excited yet... He'll play when he's ready.

Soon after T's game, M and GG had their season-opener. GG made his debut as "coach extraordinaire", leading M's team to victory. M had a great game and hustled like I've never seem him! He even managed to have a breakaway at one point to put the ball in the net. After that rotation, he came out (*very excited*) and said, "Mom, I'm going to take a quick drink and then go say a prayer that God helps me have strength for the rest of the game." lol. He was clearly fired up!! As the mom, I was just thrilled he wanted God to have any part of it! :) I'm sorry to say I don't have any pictures capturing the event. My camera was just over my shoulder in the stroller and I just never had enough hands to reach for it! Next time, I promise!! :)

But you'd better believe I had hands enough later on to capture this:

Might I boast that she is the sweetest, smiliest little (chunky) thing you could EVER get your hands on! Can you tell we're a bit in love? I'd say so!! Especially when she gives us these grins...

God bless for a great week!

I've heard...

that kindergartners are wiped out after their first week of school. Not the case here--our guy continues to have endless energy.

It's really his mother who I'm worried about!

Sorry for the lack of posts--I'm whipped!

Falling-asleep-while-playing-with-the-kids-tired,

;)

Success!

M had what seems to be a wonderful first day!

He liked his teacher, had fun on the playground, played games in gym class, learned classroom rules... (mind you, I procured all of this information by asking well over 20 questions! :)

His favorite part: "nap time" (lol) then later he said, "all the parts"

His clumsy moment: falling out of his chair on accident (thankfully the kids around him were nice and asked if he was okay)

His "oops" moment: breaking a classroom rule without knowing it was a rule--I tried to get more information out of him, but he couldn't remember the whole scenario (or so he says!) and it all sounded pretty innocent. For some reason, I have a feeling it had something to do with the classroom computers. Just a hunch! :) Like mother, like son.

Mom's oops moment: packing too much food in his lunch! Trust me, I heard about it and won't ever, ever do it again! How dare me! ;)

The cherry on top was a note from the teacher saying he had a great first day!

Yahoo!

There Goes My Baby

Off to kindergarten...

"I'm excited for school, Mommy. I'm excited for my supplies."




No tears on the mama end today because he was happy (I already had my mini mama breakdown last week at parent orientation when he walked away with his class--Oh Lord, I was that mother! I tried so desperately to hide it. We were only meeting him back at his classroom 15 minutes later. lol! :)

The kiddos and I pick him up today at 2:15pm. Can't wait to hear how it went!

Cheers to the next 13+ years!

Beloved

Today we're focusing on LOVE in Gasperini-Ville.

We've been lacking it a bit among brothers and towards Mom, so we're tackling it head on. And who's the better teacher than God, himself, through His Word!

Two new posters went up near the dinner table, inspiring us toward greater love. Perhaps you need a little Biblical love boost? Read on!

"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love, does not know God, for God is love." 1 John 4:7-8 (this will also be taught in the version of a tune, which I hope the boys commit to memory and heart!)

"A friend loves at all times." Proverbs 17:17

And speaking of love, here's my little lovebug, herself...
And one of the boys this morning loving on their sister. She seems to be the sole family member being loved beyond capacity these days! lol.

Blessings for abounding love today,

The Crums

As in "Crummy".

That's how the day went today...

Clouds descended late last night when a family issue arose regarding an upcoming wedding.

They remained this morning as the boys and I floundered throughout our first hours together.

I learned of a friend's troubles.

We missed a playdate with some encouraging Catholic moms.

The boys argued more than usual and time-outs were prevalent.

Even sweet MG was not quite up to her usual happy self.

We were all just a little off.

To top it all off, upon traipsing out to the mailbox, I opened it to find a package that I had sent out earlier in the week to a friend who's birthday was today. The problem: not enough postage. My issue: I mailed it from one of those darned mail kiosks (mind them, with four! children in tow at 4:40pm!!!) and it printed out the wrong postage. Annoying!!!

Gasperini-Ville's current status: low clouds giving way to a clear night.

Tomorrow's prediction: blue skies, lots of sun.

Let's hope so!

Thank you, God, for cloudy days to remind me to look to the Son as the source of all things good and worthwhile.

Cheers to better tomorrows,