get down before you crack your head open…… again!

The story of Derek’s cracked head (the First Time)

See May 23, 2007 for Second time.

So we go back to Sept 2004. Derek is 22 months old.

The three kids are playing upstairs, I’m downstairs eating. They are jumping around and I yell up there…. “Stop jumping around”
I finish eating and I’m at the sink. I hear a very loud “THUMP”
but then it is quiet………….. “What was that?” No answer.

OH…side note: Derek is a Breath Holder…… He holds his breath to passing out purple when he is trying to cry. I can tell that his is happening. So I bolt up the stairs. The kids are running from the back room towards the stairs as I’m coming around the turn to the 2nd flight.

As I reach the top they are all there and I can see the blood already.

I grab him up, because of the blood AND he is not breathing and will fall over from passing out, to take him downstairs.

I run towards the kitchen to call 911, but I change my mind, thinking MAYBE it is not as bad as I think. So I turn around and we run towards the front door. I tell the kids, let’s go across the street to the neighbor mom to help me survey the damage. I’m too chicken to look, too nervous to look and did I mention, as like normal people, I hate the sight of blood.

So we get to the door and I look back and see the trail of blood drips behind me. From the stairs, into the kitchen, and back out toward the front door. It may be worse than I think.

I decide I’m calling 911. But I send the kids to get the neighbor while I run back to the phone in the kitchen and call.

I’m sitting on the floor of the kitchen holding his bloody head--- ON HOLD with 911.

The neighbor comes over with her daughter the same age as Derek on her hip. She has 3 kids the same ages as mine. All of the older kids stay at her house.

By now I’m talking to the 911 operator and describing the blood. She tells me to put something on it - duh, so my neighbor grabs the dish towel.

Derek is crying and wants to nurse. The operator says NO, no food in case he later throws up.

>>> I forgot to tell you how this happened >>> He jumped/fell ?? From the top of the Bunk Bed. There was nothing on the floor, so we don’t know how the cut happened exactly besides hitting the floor.

So the paramedics arrive and it is a huge gash in the top of his head. It is not bleeding as much by then. The gash is over 4 inches long and gaping wide. It is on the front right hand side of his head. It is jagged.

We are loaded up in the ambulance and we go to children’s hospital. Where he gets 11 stiches.
Now I don’t remember exactly but, 5 or so for inside layer and 6 on outside layer.

Since then I’ve always been able to say “Get down from there before you Crack your Head Open AGAIN!”

Here are pictures where you can see his hair is thinned where the cut us and the dark spot from the stiches and healing wound. This picture is from the kids' first day of school.

James is starting 2nd grade. Katherine's 2nd year of PreSchool.

A Prayer for the confidence of your child to Mary

FOR THE CONFIDENCE OF A CHILD

Mary, pray with me to obtain the gift that I may have the confidence of my child [children].

As you know, a mother needs this confidence in order to guide her children properly. When there are difficulties, or problems, or troubles, may they be shared with me trustingly, that I may more readily perform a mother's task of helping her child. And, Mother most prudent, when this confidence is shown, obtain the grace that I may know how to help and instruct my child; that I may not only have the wisdom and prudence which is needed then to direct my child, but that I may also have the courage to say in a way that will be truly helpful the things my child should know.

Be to me a mother of good counsel and, through the grace you can bring, direct me at all times in the responsibilities of my holy office of motherhood.

Amen.

Seat of Wisdom, Pray for me!

by A. Francis Coomes, S.P. ...... in Mother's Manual

Padres vs. Cubs - a game at Petco Park.

The Padres are playing the Cubbies.

This probably our only visit to the Padres game for this year. Good thing we didn't buy tickets for last night!

Here are some great shots of the kids at the game. The top of Derek's head with his 4 staples!

We had seats in the "bleachers" section. There are not backs on the seats and there is a big sand pit for the kids to run around and play. The fence is right at center field.

A Padres Mascot.

Mom & Derek -he's making funny faces for the camera. A hug for dad!
James was there of course, but I didn't get any pictures of him?

do I call 911 or not?

Oh it is so hard to decide whether or not to call 911 when your child's head is bleeding............
not that it is not important, but moms find out that heads, faces, etc. BLEED a LOT!
sometimes they are small wounds and sometimes...... they are NOT
SO now we have officially called 911 3 times now.

Yes -- the fire engine sirens were for Derek once again today. (That's for you Suzanne -- who always worries about us and sirens and emergencies, since she showed up at my house as we were leaving in the ambulance last time...................)

We were at the YMCA and he hit the top of his head running under the equipment and blood was all over.

I carried him inside with the help of another mom (thank you, thank you, sorry about the blood on your white shirt!) and after 5 moms looking at him and still bleeding we decided to call 911.

The fire engine seemed to take forever, probably the 5:00 traffic. But they arrived and the blood was less and there was no gaping wound (like last time). It was actually hard to see what was actually bleeding through his hair.

So they called off the ambulance. I hung out till they filled out their reports and gave time for Geoff to arrive and keep J & K for their classes while I took Derek to urgent care.

We arrived at Urgent care - "You don't have an appointment??"
UH No, this is urgent care isn't it? - - I'm still figuring out Kaiser.

She looked at him and cleaned him up with water and then peroxide and found a small gash a bit bigger than a pencil eraser (I thought)
She suggested one or 2 staples. But she didn't have them there ?????????? We had to go to the ER over on Zion. I went to the UC at Vandervere.

Anyway, go 2 blocks up to the hospital, re-park and carry him in to the ER.

While holding numbing gel on his head for 40 minutes, Derek fell asleep around 8 p.m.
He was so brave and bold and didn't flinch or whimper while he got MANY shots of Novocain and then 4 staples!
After the DRr. irrigated it the wound was gaping about 3 inches long and an inch wide. (That's what the nurse said, I didn't look)

So we got home around 9 p.m. and he'll be OK.

I know you want the story about "Last time"............... stay tuned.....................

making paper airplanes

We all have a fascination with paper airplanes, but I only know how to make one kind.

So for Easter I found this great "Klutz Book" that includes instructions for 10 different airplanes and includes different papers that are fun. I've made almost every kind.

James is trying his hand at it too.

homeschool points?: art, science, math (following instructions), reading comprehension.

OK, check, check, check......................

This is a good price at amazon. I got ours at Michaels and it was $16 with 20% coupon is $12.79

spellingtime.com makes spelling fun time!

I've written about Spellingtime.com before, but I've been telling so many moms about it the past two weeks that I thought I would mention it again.

My kids race to the comupter and can't wait for their turn to do spelling.
While it was a fight and a chore to do it in their workbooks.

Spellingtime.com has word lists entered for grade levels, but you can go to the Green button: Modify Lessons, and clear out the words to that lesson and enter your own word lists.

I use their word lists from Seton spellers. We are finishing up the last quarter.

After each lesson they earn 1 coin to play a game in the arcade.

I get emailed immediately after they finish a pop quiz or the spelling test of their results and which words are misspelled.

Very handy!

miraculous medal

The Miraculous Medal

One of the most common medals used by Catholics is one populary called the "Miraculous Medal." The pattern of the medal was manifested by the Blessed Virgin Mary in a vision to a young French girl, St. Catherine Laboure, who, in the year 1830, was preparing to be a nun. The countless extraordinary favors obtained as a result of the reverent use of this medal have earned for it the title of "Miraculous Medal."

According to her own account, Sr. Catherine saw Our Lady as shown on the medal and she heard an inward voice telling her to have a medal struck and promising that all who wore it should receive great graces (symbolized by the rays of light emitting from her fingers) through the intercession of the Mother of God.

Perhaps the most famous event in connection with this medal is the conversion of Alphonse Ratisbonne in 1842. He was a Jew who, having reluctantly agreed to wear the medal, received a vision of Mary in a church in Rome, whereupon he became a Catholic and a priest, and founded a religious congregation.

Here is the official prayer offered to God by the priest when he blesses the medal:

"O Almighty and merciful God, Who, through the manifold apparitions of the Immaculate Virgin on earth, has deigned continually to perform wonderful things for the salvation of souls, graciously bestow Thy blessings on this medal, that they who piously venerate and devoutly wear it may feel Thy protection and obtain Thy mercy. Through Christ our Lord. Amen."

Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, pray for us.----------------------------------------------------------Taken from:A Wreath of Flowers: Marian Activities for ChildrenDumb Ox Publications

Holy Spirit Novena

There is a centuries old Novena to the Holy Spirit which begins on May 19, 2007

to help prepare for Pentecost.

Print out the Novena calendar from Coming Home Catholic and practice the Prayer to the Holy Spirit! (Click here for Novena calendar)

Lady in Blue

Our Lady's Color - - Blue, as a liturgical color is not in use throughout the Church, but is used in some places at certain times. It is the color specially associated with Our Lady and indicates constancy, fidelity, genuineness, and aspiration. By special indult, some dioceses of Spain must use blue vestments instead of white on the feast of the Immaculate Conception and during it's octave. Mexico has the same privilege as also does Lourdes, France.The idea that blue is peculiarly Our Lady's color is quite modern and confined to the Western cultures. It has been popularized by pictures and statues, and perhaps especially by St. Bernadette's statement that Mary appeared to her wearing a blue sash.In England, blue has been a token of fidelity at least since the 16th century ("true blue"). There is an expression in French, Vouer au blanc et au bleu, literally, "To dedicate to the White and Blue." It signifies the dedication of a child to Our Lady.----------------------------------------------------------Taken from:A Wreath of Flowers: Marian Activities for ChildrenDumb Ox Publications

Prayer to Our Lady after Holy Communion

Prayer to Our Lady after Holy Communion

"O my sweet Mother Mary, mother of Him Whom I hold within my heart, keep that heart which thy Jesus has chosen this day for His dwelling; defend it by thy ceaseless prayer, and obtain for me that the spirit of my Jesus, abiding with me, may continually remind me of the gift of gifts I have received and inflame my heart with love and with all holy desires.

Pray for thy child, O dearest Mother, that the soul of him who has been a living tabernacle for the Eucharistic God may seek in all things the glory of that God and the interests of His Sacred Heart." Amen.

----------------------------------------------------------Taken from: A Wreath of Flowers: Marian Activities for Children ..................Dumb Ox Publications

Mary, Pray for us

Mary, Pray for us!

Help us to forgive ourselves as we forgive others.

If your child doesn't look like you, is it still your child?

Article on Adopted children and how they don't always look like parents at FOXnews.com
If Your Daughter Doesn't Look Like You, Are You Still Her Mother?
Thanks Esther for the topic & article.

I get asked most often why my oldest son (adopted) has dark brown hair while my other two (birthed) are blond while I have brown hair. I try to say "God made them that way" Instead of going into genetic possibilities ..... my dad had black hair & brown eyes........
and making split second decisions about whether to tell this nosy stranger about how my 3 miracle children came to make us a family. James is very happy to let people know he is adopted. I usually look to him to answer the question based on how he wants to each day.

I guess haven't really written yet about our children. As you have learned, James is adopted. After almost 3 years of infertility treatments, drugs, shots, surgery, testing...................
An adoption attorney down the hall from Geoff's office knew we were trying (I was Geoff's legal secretary for a while) and he asked us if we wanted to adopt a baby that was due in a month. The parents that were set up to adopt backed out. So we had 1 month - Feb 25th 1997 to March 29, 1997 to prepare for new baby James!

Then after a couple years we went to try and adopt through the County adoptions office and they said it was a long wait. SO we went back to the Dr. and were pregnant probably that month - Feb 1999 and Katherine was born Dec 1999. Then we were blessed with a baby in heaven Dec 24, 2001 and finally our miracle Derek was born Oct 2002.

Homeschool & Socialization Comic

Check out Jason Holm's comic in color, or add to your blog at InflatableStudios.com

My favorite part is how happy the fish looks in the ocean surrouned by all different kinds of sea life. Contrasted with the blank stares and wide eyes of the school of fish.

Nifty 50 United States

4th grade lesson plans are for us to learn the 50 states, their capitals and location on the map. I decided it would be easier if we all work on the same thing. Katherine needs something fun & interesting to work on since she has pretty much finished 1st grade and has decided that she doesn't need to start 2nd grade yet, even though I bought the materials.
I found this song Nifty Fifty States, sung by a chorus. There are other lyrics but the important part is the alphabetical order of the states.
James is writing out the 50 states and their capitals. (I just happened to snap the pic when he was itching his eye) He is using the Melissa & Doug puzzle. The piece lifts out and the capital is underneath. I was busy searching the internet and printing out the list of states & capitals. I was very happy he was handwriting it out without me asking him too.



I finally joined Enchanted Learning. Paid my $20 and printed out lots of copies of the USA and the Western States to start with.
Printed out California Map/Quiz, with the state and 10 questions about landmarks.

Printed out a booklet for Derek & Katherine on "Where I live" Early Reader Booklet.
I was overwhelmingly shocked when I checked on Derek's paper and he had copied the words on the line below. He writes his name, but we don't work on his letter writing. It wasn't perfect, but for a 4 yr old without practice it was pretty impressive. And He chose to do it without thinking if he could or should. I thought he was coloring. His coloring is pretty good too.

Legoland Monday

I checked the weather Friday, to make sure we would have a beautiful day for First Eucharist, and YES it was going to be warm - HOT. So i planted the seed in my mom brain to remember to go to Legoland today.
After almost 2 weeks of a grumpy mom, cleaning house and buying food for the BIG party, we all deserved the day off.
Especially because it was supposed to be 88 degrees.

SO off to Legoland we go. I remembered my camera this time!

Derek & Katherine on the water play equipment in the Pirates Cove.

James squirting the people on the Pirate boat ride.Derek driving the Jeep through the Legoland jungle. There's an alligator just off the top of his head.

Breastplate of Righteousness

From Soul Scents email........................

Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. God's Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this on going warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out. Ephesians 6:13-18 (The Message)

Breastplate

Do you ever struggle to forgive yourself? I know I have. There have been times I’ve been so overcome with my faults that I literally pictured my hand with a knife, stabbing my heart. Perceived failure hurt so badly it seemed my heart deserved such assault.

Thank God, He’s showing me how to don the breastplate of righteousness.

Much of the enemy’s attack on our souls comes in the form self-doubt and self-hatred. Satan comes against our identity as a Saint saved by grace and tells us we’re full of blame and deserve death.

Before we received Christ’s salvation that was true. But it’s not any longer. Christ’s salvation took away all need for punishment.The breastplate of righteousness is an important part of our armor because when we are hopeless against our own failure and shame, we are given Christ’s imputed righteousness.

Imputed is an old King James word that many today don’t understand, but I just love. It means, when used this way, “to attribute (merit) to a person as transmitted by another.”*We don’t have to despair because Christ gave us HIS righteousness. The enemy wants us to kill off the heart that loves Jesus. He wants our hearts deadened. Shutdown. Afraid to love, serve, and believe passionately. Satan wants us full of self-doubt, failure, and shame. He assaults our heart. But Christ died to take away all condemnation.

Jesus says, “Don’t worry, I’ve given you my perfection. You meet the standards of all that is good because I put my righteousness into your heart.”

I love the way the Matthew Henry says it. “The righteousness of Christ, imputed to us, is a breastplate against the arrows of Divine wrath. The righteousness of Christ implanted in us, fortifies the heart against the attacks of Satan.”
**These days God has given me a new picture. As I receive Christ’s gift of salvation and understand that His righteousness is now mine, I put on the breastplate of righteousness. The breastplate is impenetrable. If I give into the temptation to pick up that knife to punishment my heart, the knife can no longer meet its mark. It clangs against the steel breastplate and falls harmlessly to the ground. Next time you are tempted to punish yourself for your failures, remember that Christ has given you His imputed righteousness. Picture the breastplate protecting your heart and let the self-condemnation fall away, never hitting its mark.

Stand firm then . . . with the breastplate of righteousness in place. Ephesians 6:14b (NIV)
~Paula Moldenhauer
*The American Heritage Dictionary** Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible


If you would like to receive Paula's Soul Scents go to this link

First Eucharist Day for Katherine

Katherine preparing to receive her First Eucharist. Waiting in the vestibule for Mass to begin.



Our Parish: The Immaculata, University of San Diego campus.

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Oh what a beautiful day. The weather was gorgeous, Katherine was gorgeous, Mass was beautiful and the party was great!

If you want to see Lots of pictures (68) follow this link to access shared pictures:
share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AZOWrRy5cuXqw

The day before...... last minute details

Over at Camp Homeschool she is as busy as we are.

Geoff's been outside planting flowers and mowing the lawn, it looks beautiful.

I ran errands and kept the kids OUT of the clean house.

We're having ham (I have it) & chicken - We have to pick up 10 at costco along with picking up the Ice Cream Cake on the way home.

I still need to set out tables and chairs. I stopped at party city today and picked up some cute "Hawaiian" tablecloths.

Now on to vacuum one last time!

Pray for First Communicants this weekend

Over on the 4Real Learning Forum there is a wonderful list of children receiving their First Holy Eucharist this weekend.

As you know, Katherine is one of them. And her best friend TAS.

Some moms, with have put together a chart of the USA and starred the states where children are located.

We are praying for all those making their First Holy Communion this weekend. I think we have included everyone in our rosary this morning: - Sarah in Michigan - Blaise in Michigan - Laura in VA - Timmy in VA - Nicholas in VA - Kolbe James in VA - Mary Elizabeth in NC - Katherine in San Diego - Isaac in Saskatchewan - Aaron in Pennsylvania - Nicole in Ohio - Lily Ann in Vermont

organizing our books with Library Thing.

Thanks to the Catholic Mothers Blog List I found The Thinking Mother, and found how she is cataloging her books using Library Thing.

This is just what I need. I have so many books, and so many children's books, and now that I have the books from my father's collection, I have some duplicates and need some sorting help!

Plus I already have a Cue Cat so this should make it easier.

IF anyone needs a Cue cat, I have an extra one. It plugs into a keyboard port (purple) also has an extra plug so that you can attach it to your keyboard cord. I'll post a picture tomorrow.

UPDATE:
In less than an hour I've entered 37 books and tagged them .
SO this is pretty great. I'm using the Cue Cat so it goes VERY easy.
The only drawback so far is that some of my books are old and do not have an ISBN number.
You can enter them with the title, so I'll make a separate pile of those books.

The list is public. But I haven't found a way to post the website on my blog yet.

This may be a great way for us to share books. Among the Catholic, homeschool and friends that read the blogs we can see what books be can borrow from each other.

Moms who Blog - a new info blog

OK all who blog and anyone who want to be bloggers.

A new Blog called, "Moms Who Blog" has been set up to teach us all new tips & tricks.
There are mulitple contributors and they all have excellent blogs and will teach us a lot. How to set up a blog, how to make it look nice.

Good I have a few questions............

There is also a Cafe Mom site with a Forum and they take and answer questions.

What book(s) I am reading?

I was tagged by Esther at A Catholic Mom in Hawaii to list the books I'm reading.
I did lots of reading last month, so I was in a bit of a lull. Plus getting ready for the party this weekend is taking lots of time for shopping for food and cleaning the house.

I just picked up these two books at Costco on Monday:
I love the picture on this one and it references one of my favorite books The Red Tent on the cover. So I'm hoping it is good too. So far I'm in the first few pages of being introduced to Joann, wife to Herod's chief steward. She went to Jesus for healing and met Mary, and later found out they were cousins (I haven't read the family tree info yet, just that they are cousins)
This one is just for fun. I've been wanting to read it for a long time and now it is going to be a movie, so I thought I would read it before the movie comes out.
I was a nanny in college so I was seeing if anything I can relate to happens to her.
So far it is so-so. She is not that interesting and the child is a brat, who does warm up to her but the mother and father are disinterested parents, living selfishly, in their own worlds - - what did they even have a child for???
I got this out during lent, but was reading lots of other things. It was in my hand to put it away on Monday and I flipped to the pages for last week. I was struck and had to sit down to read the chapters on the Real Presence, and the gifts we receive in the Holy Eucharist. Since Katherine & I are studying this, I read some out loud to her. How the Holy Eucharist helps us to fight off Mortal and Venial sins. How the Eucharist is food for our souls, and helps us to grow in holiness ( like food helps our bodies to grow). Very timely. So onto the bedstand it stays.
Good news, bad news. The good news is that our family room is DONE!
and my new bookshelves are ready to be filled! Good news is that I can empty those boxes of books that are in the closet! sad news is that 2 of those boxes are books that belonged to my father who passed away a year ago Feb. Good news, we shared a similar taste in Catholic Books.
This was one of his books. I picked up Blessed Faustina's Diary during Lent, but just couldn't tackle that thick book. This book is easier for me. It is broken down by daily doses and each month has a theme. So her rabbit trails are condensed into topics and given together.
This has been on my nightstand for a long time. I can only read it when I'm in the mood. I tried harder and read a lot of it during lent. But it has been a few weeks since I've picked it up. I just can't imagine being able to remember the words of Jesus paragraphs at a time and being able to write them down later. Maybe that's why I'm not a writer (can't you tell?) But she and HE have interesting conversations and you can find nuggets of gold in there. Sometimes finding just what you need to hear from Jesus.


I'm quizzing Katherine to get her ready for her First Communion this Sunday! So much to know for a 7 year old. I'm so excited for her to be receiving Jesus and to grow in holiness and faith!

Well, if you read this YOU are tagged! Let us know what you are reading......
I'll have to think of some friends to tag.

St. Joseph the Worker Feast Day

My favorite saints are Mary & Joseph, Holy Parents of Christ.

St Joseph pray for us.

Pray for our working husbands.

"O Saint Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the Throne of God, we place in you all our interests and desires. O Saint Joseph do assist us by your powerful intercession and obtain for us from your Divine Son all spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ, Our Lord; so that having engaged here below your Heavenly power we may offer our Thanksgiving and Homage to the most Loving of Fathers. O Saint Joseph, we never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms. We dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press Him in our name and kiss His fine Head for us, and ask Him to return the Kiss when we draw our dying breaths. Saint Joseph, Patron of Departing Souls, pray for us. Amen."

First Eucharist Season

Cottage Blessings has beautiful pictures of her daughter's First Eucharist dress.
I love the razor scooter shot!


Katherine is getting ready for her First Eucharist this Sunday!!

I think I'm more nervous than she is.

Plus I'm planning a huge bash at the house, that is getting up to about 50 people!

I made a first trip to Costco today and will go Friday for fresh chips & veggies.

What's Blogging and why do I want to get stuck in traffic?

I've been blogging for a couple years but I still feel brand new.
It's one of those computer things that have new ways to do it better & faster everyday - so you have to keep up with the latest.

The best thing about Blogger, is that you can go create a post and under "Post Options" can give the post any date that you choose.

This has saved me. I know I can remember something I want to share and put the date it happened. I can find pictures I want to share and same thing.... back date them.

Just today I had my aunt send the awsome picture of my son recieving the flag at my father's funeral last June and was able to post it back in June.

I use my Blog more as a diary for myself & family. But I hope someone finds my life a little interesting or can gleen an experience from it somewhere in the world.

I really hope my love for God, Family, Children, the Catholic Faith & Homeschool show through my blog.

OK the assignment from Jennefer is to tell how we get YOU - readers - to get to our blog, and more importantly - how to get you back!
She gives us her way at HOW to drive traffic to your blog
Read her post, and everyone else's she lists for TONS of information.

#1 My best advice is Google Reader.

I can visit blogs and then subscribe to them and Google REader lets me know everyday who has new posts and how many.
TODAY I learned, and put a "Button" on my blog for readers to SUBSCRIBE to my blog - as easy as clicking the button from "Add to Any"

#2 Have an interesting Titles to your a) Blog, b) posts

#3 Write about funny, interesting stuff. Or have cute pictures of your kids?

OK so I'm not the best writer, and don't express myself very humorously, but it takes all kinds!!

So, I'm clicking publish now and this is my contribution to the CARNIVAL !
i'm going for my pasta & garlic bread dinner now.

food & books what more do ya need? (& God too)

Katherine asked several times today for Ham .... since Easter she has decided that she likes ham & bacon. We didn't want it tonight, so she asked for it at her First Eucharist party on Sunday.
We've been working on the menu for the party all day.
So I'll pick up a spiral ham at costco. Geoff suggested sandwiches and I quickly shot him down.... and went on to explain our lengthy menu, planning and the work we already have to do on the 10 costco chickens we plan to get. I'm not making sandwiches too. But I think it will be easy to set out a ham and people have slices. some rolls and mustard to go with it.

(Derek was cute, he contributed that we can make the sandwiches with saltine crakers and the ham in the middle)

My mom said we should get the costco nacho sauce and she will bring her crockpot. we'll have nacho dip to go with chips & salsa.

I found this book closeout site
and searched for the lloyd alexandar books and found a few http://www.bookcloseouts.com/default.asp?N=0&Nty=1&D=Lloyd+Alexander&Ntk=Default&Ntx=mode%2Bmatchallpartial&Dx=mode%2Bmatchallpartial&Ntt=Lloyd+Alexander

and that Usborne england is publishing them too: http://www.usborne.com/catalogue/browse.asp
I wonder when we'll have them to sell in USA. Usually takes a season for them to "come across the pond" watch my website www.usbornebookbasket.com

Have you read any of Melissa Wiley's books about Laura Ingalls Wilder's grandmother & great grandmother? I'm going to order this set of 4. We borrowed them from the library but they are a bit thick and K is not ready for them yet. http://www.bookcloseouts.com/default.asp?N=-37743 Her blog says they are going to be condensed and re-published. SO I want to get the original versions before they are gone.

Did you know Melissa Wiley has blogz and lives in san diego? http://melissawiley.typepad.com/
& homeschooling one http://liltinghouse.clubmom.com/

St Catherine of Siena Feast Day

St. Catherine of Siena (1347-1380)

Katherine & I have been doing reasearch on the multiple St. Catherines & Katharine during religion study time, in honor of her name and upcoming celebration of First Eucharist.

Akiane, child prodigy painter of Heavenly, spiritual

Check this out.This CNN report tells an awesome story of a 12 year-old girl who is a self-taught painter. She paints pictures of things from heaven that she says that God has let her see.
The pictures are amazing.

Here is Akiane's website

Moxies' birthday party

Celebrating Moxie's birthday.
Doggie Ice Cream! Peanut butter flavor
Cake for the people! The kids have to have the frosting off the candles first.

Exceptional Photos of Pope Benedict XVI

Stefano Spaziani has beautiful photographs of the Pope doing Masses & celebrations.

There are hundreds, maybe thousands of pics.

Thanks for this information and link to Esther @ A Catholic Mom in Hawaii.

This is not one of his pictures.

I didn't want to "steal" one of his, so I googled and found this one, and "stole" it instead.

She's into.......... eating out!

So we are driving along and the kids are watching the end of Shrek on the DVD player.
The Ricky Martin song - Livin La Vida Loca - comes on and Derek (age 4) sings the line:

............ She's in to Souplantation....................

I start cracking up. He says, "What's so funny?" I say, "Oh, that Shrek movie is so funny, it makes me laugh."


(Souplantation is a restaurant that is like a cafeteria with salad bar, muffins, and soups, well that's what mom & dad go for, the kids go for the unlimited soft serve icecream bar)

"Swept Under the Rug"

I was posting this at first because I told the story to my brother - under cute things kids say - about how Katherine asked me what "Swept Under the Rug" meant (she's 7).

I had an awful migraine yesterday and we don't normally watch daytime TV, but I could barely move off the sofa so we were flipping around and stopped on Mia Farrow on "The View".
Her comment was about China's involvement in Darfur is "Being swept under the Rug" in light of their hosting the Olympics
Mia said nothing can be done about China's support of that region because they get their oil from there. Since China is hosting the Olympics, we should essentially boycott the Olympics and notify the Olympic committee that we object to China's support of the terror in Darfur region. We can also make a difference by notifying our state government of this injustice.

Katherine needed explanation of this - - - well is it a euphemism or colloquialism? or is it just a saying? It may be an Idiom.

Anyway, I'm not much of an activist. But in the tragedy of the people in Darfur just gets to me.

http://miafarrow.org/ there's more to this post at her website.

St Catherine of Siena

Katherine is working on a saint study and chose St Catherine of Siena.

We found some beautiful websites and "Super Saints" by Bob & Penny Lord was on EWTN about St. Catherine.

I've never heard of the 14 Holy Helpers. She is in the top 3.

Her Feast day is April 29th - This Sunday.

She was the youngest of 25 children.

I found her Dialogues online.

Once again I'm findng reference to "my neighbor" and how God is using my trials to learn about Him:
How virtues are accomplished by means of our neighbor, and how it is that virtues differ to such an extent in creatures.
"I have told you how all sins are accomplished by means of your neighbor, through the principles which I exposed to you, that is, because men are deprived of the affection of love, which gives light to every virtue. In the same way self-love, which destroys charity and affection towards the neighbor, is the principle and foundation of every evil. All scandals, hatred, cruelty, and every sort of trouble proceed from this perverse root of self-love, which has poisoned the entire world, and weakened the mystical body of the Holy Church, and the universal body of the believers in the Christian religion; and, therefore, I said to you, that it was in the neighbor, that is to say in the love of him, that all virtues were founded; and, truly indeed did I say to you, that charity gives life to all the virtues, because no virtue can be obtained without charity, which is the pure love of Me."

I found a new quote for my email signature:
Everything comes from love, all is ordained for the salvation of man, God does nothing without this goal in mind. -Saint Catherine of Siena

Lunapads and Divacups

I was researching Luna Bars, Luna tea cakes and the Luna Elixir and found out about Lunapads (totally different product and company) and their Divacups and Sea Pearls.
They are alternatives to that monthly visitor. Organic cotton pads that are reusable by washing and Sea sponges, used as a tampon, that are washable and silicone cups, inserted like a tampon that collect the fluid and are cleaned out a couple times a day.
Well you learn something new everyday, especially with the internet.
I don't know how soon I'll be trying any of these but they do get you thinking that there are alternatives.


BACK TO LUNA BARS:

I lived on Luna Bars during pregnancy and after having babies. They are tasty, satisfy that chocolate craving and are pretty good for you. Chocolate Pecan Pie is my favorite. It is the only one the kids will eat anymore. I keep trying new flavors, but nothing beats it.
For a while we would eat the Nuts over Chocolate, but it is a bit too peanut buttery.

The last one I tried was S'mores and it was just OK. The Dulce de Leche wasn't too good either.
Oh well, we'll be devoted to the Chocolate pecan pie!

I do want to find those Tea Cakes and try the Elixir. The elixir has mixed reviews so we'll see.

Jesus Day! a mini-retreat for First Communicants

Katherine joined the CCD children of our parish for a mini-retreat called Jesus Day!

She is the blonde in the light blue jeans in the front row.

They had different stations where they played a beanbag toss game, colored a beach ball, made a necklace with colored beads for Jesus, Made a fun foam cross and practiced what they will do in Mass when receiving their First Eucharist!

Fr. Matt came for the Meal Blessing and a slice of pizza.

As we were leaving, Katherine stepped on a bee.

So we stopped at Target for some benadryl.

She was fine. I was mostly worried because I'm allergic to stinging insects! and the last thing I wanted was her to have an allergic reaction and spend the night in the hospital.

Then we were on our way home, after a quick stop at Michaels for some sticky letters, to work on the banner that will hang on the end of the pew our family sits in.

Parkinson's Walk to Fight Step by Step

We had beautiful weather for our Parkinson's Association of San Diego fundraiser Walk today.


After a stormy Friday weather we were happy to see blue skies.





10 of us walked. 5 in my family and 5 neighbors on our street: Marcy, Cori, Susan, Jean & Rhonda. The team raised $420.

Derek, Geoff, Katherine & James

Susan, Cori, Marcy, Laurie, Jean & Rhonda

After the walk we got a family picture with the bagpiper that played during the walk.

Susan's father passed away last year too.
She & I check in with each other on how we are doing.
She asked how I was feeling about my dad as the walk started and I was doing well.... didn't feel sad or anything until I heard that bagpiper about halfway through and he was playing the military taps.
That got to me and I welled up.
My dad was Retired Navy, the walk was being held on the former site of the Nval Training Center - where my newlywed father came at age 20, from Iowa, to do basic training. So the memory of my dad being on these grounds 20 years ago, I may be walking somewhere he did.
And the sound of Taps will probably get me for a while. The military representation at my father's funeral in Iowa played Taps as they folded the American Flag and handed it to my oldest son, James. That's a memory that will choke me up.

Where did Starbuck's Get it's name?

Geoff is watching "Moby Dick" and heard the name of the mate Starbuck. He asked where Starbuck's got it's name and this is what I googled:

Starbucks began in 1971 when three academics—English teacher Jerry Baldwin, history teacher Zev Siegel, and writer Gordon Bowker—opened a store called Starbucks Coffee, Tea, and Spice in the touristy Pikes Place Market in Seattle. The three partners shared a love of fine coffees and exotic teas and believed they could build a clientele in Seattle much like that which had already emerged in the San Francisco Bay area. Each invested $1,350 and borrowed another $5,000 from a bank to open the Pikes Place store. Baldwin, Siegel, and Bowker chose the name Starbucks in honor of Starbuck, the coffee-loving first mate in Herman Melville's Moby Dick(so company legend has it), and because they thought the name evoked the romance of the high seas and the seafaring tradition of the early coffee traders. The new company's logo, designed by an artist friend, was a two-tailed mermaid encircled by the store's name.

Birthday party for Nathan

Derek was asking when we were leaving for the birthday party since we got up, it was not until 4:00
Very fun place. Air Time Jump in Spring Valley

posing on a camel

Proud Member of Catholic Mothers Online

I am very happy and proud to be a new member of Catholic Mothers Online.

Check out the beautiful picture of Mary & Jesus and the Blog roll of other Catholic Moms Blogging.

I use Google Reader and have many of these blogs on my list so I can keep up with the loving, faithful mothers and their families.

We have so much to learn and teach each other so that we can all raise many saints for God!

Spread the Good News!!

Reading - Sacred Doorways

I'm busy reading Sacred Doorways.
I borrowed it from the library about 6 weeks ago, but it is involved reading about the history of Icons, the technique and mechanics of Icon making. From the Orthodox, Byzantine & Russian artists (Masters).

Busy Reading - Sisters, by Danielle Steele

Back to reading again. This book has to be back to the library within a week.

So I was up till 2 a.m. reading Sunday and 1 a.m. last night.

This book was just OK. The sisters bickered and were not that interesting.
It seemed more like she was just writing quickly and not thuroughly - to get the book done.
Especially the ending. All of a sudden the book was getting a little interesting - the girls were finding interesting men and boom! last chapter, the book ends.

I think since the last book of hers I read was ""Echoes"" I was hoping for something as awesome as that book was. Echoes was one of the best books I've read in a LONG time.