Friday Photo Favorites: Best Friends...

Peter and Isabelle

Peter and Isabelle are only 16 months apart but the distance between them seems to grow smaller with each day they spend together.

From birth Isabelle has adored her big brother's every move...

and was determined to be next to him as soon as she could tag along.

And he, for his part, has embraced his companion with equal enthusiasm.

One of their favorite past times is sitting together, reading books...

playing with their babies (before little brother Daniel arrived)...

or just chatting in a laundry basket.


They experienced fishing for the first time together.


Once, I found them outside, reading in their baby strollers together,


and watching a movie in a box, in a basket.

How blessed they are to have a best friend so young,


and for the rest of their lives.

Small Successes

It’s important for moms to recognize that all the small successes in our days can add up to one big triumph. So on Thursday of each week, we do exactly that.

1. I walked a crying baby at 4:30 am instead of nursing her, AFTER having already been up twice with two wet beds and a missing pacifier.

2. I went to the doctor this week upon her urgent orders, requesting only that I could finish sweeping up my pile of dirt in the kitchen first. And I did not get upset, after being sent back to the "blue room," when I discovered I was in line behind a dog and horse. Although I was relieved to learn the doctor could not find a heart beat in my abdomen, and my ears had neither an ear confession nor bugs in them. I can not say as much for the dog. In the end, the interruption was far more pleasant than driving across town, and my budding physician was delighted to have someone besides a brother and his toys to assist.

3. I waited until 1:00 pm to write this, my designated time.

Friday Photo Favorites

I am joining my sister in taking a look at some of our favorite photos, old and new, on Fridays, lest you all forget how adorable my children are.

Oh, to be free...

Small Successes

1. I walked a mile in someone else' shoe. Someone with very poor fashion sense.


My sprain from last Monday turned out to be an avulsion fracture of one of the foot bones. Thankfully, only another couple miles should be required of my new attire, before I can hobble on my own.

2. I called for help. Not vocally. Not even literally, I guess. My husband dialed the numbers. But when it was clear ankle, boots and crutches were more than my husband and I could handle, we called in the Calvary and repressed my desire to keep all my balls in the air on my own.

Thank you for all your help, mom, you have been amazing!

3. We played Slap Jack instead of putting the kids to bed. They did eventually find their beds, but one big boy was much happier knowing his promised game was not postponed yet another day.

Lotza Greeka Meata ballz!

Last September we had the joy of visiting the Greek Festival here in Dallas. Unfortunately, we did not have the joy of leaving satisfied, as the scales were more heavily weighted on the stroller rider side than the pocket book.

Our solution: homemade Pitas, Greek meatballs and Tzaziki sauce, a pile of tomatoes and feta and a whole lot of fun!

Unfortunately, Daniel did not think the meatballs were as worthy of the "OPAS!" after trying one. This was a call to arms for Daddy, who rallied the troops in a remarkable display of sibling rivalry and competition. Daniel, who normally is as adamant to contradict as he is determined to not lose, could neither be coaxed into submission by taunts for the most meatballs crammed into one child sized mouth, nor a continuous dialogue of his inability to consume meatballs at all.

Peter, being the natural leader he is, stepped up to the challenge beautifully, getting two whole meatballs in his mouth and keeping them there long enough for a photo-op.










Izzie got two in, but there was a minor explosion moments later.

He was unfazed by both the taunts and explosion.

But Luci enjoyed her 67th taste of food.

(We have been informed that the counting will end at 81, she is currently at 77, although I will need to verify with Peter.)

What did she think of them?


OPA!!!
(of course!)

A Mother's Pain, a Son's Gain

On Monday I had the misfortune of stumbling over Isabelle while balancing Luci, a bag and my husband's tennis shoes. In heroic maternal form, I sacrificed my ankle for the crushing blow Luci might have otherwise suffered and performed a stellar mid air half flip and twist to land with one sideways ankle and a black and blue knee. Unfortunately, Isabelle missed the entire show despite her front row seat. She was busy chasing the runaway raisin in her trail mix.

The one blessing in this production is the extension of liberties for which Peter has been desperate, since the birth of his little sister. Now, not only is he allowed to pick Luci up, but I have been begging him to cart her all over the house, even, to his delight, in and out of the crib. She doesn't seem to mind the new transportation arrangement, but we are all grateful for what looks like a quick return to mommy's mobility.

Can you see, "look how big I am!" written all over his face.

Notre Dame Commencement

As many of you have heard, Our Lady's University is honoring a President whose views are anti everything the Church stands for on Life issues. This is a video made by students who want to prayerfully protest this weekend's commencement activities.




I know that some of you may disagree, but this is the equivalent of NOW inviting President Bush to speak at their convention. It is antithetical to everything they believe. There would be protests all over the place. Pro-choice followers believe that they have a right to choose, but what is that choice? They never complete that sentence, because they know what the end of it means, the end of a life. They know deep in their soul that that choice is a selfish choice. Many times, they see no other option, because of a lack of hope. We, as a nation, have turned away from the one thing that brings us hope by choosing to separate ourselves with a choice. A choice that many now fight for because of their own lack of hope.

Let us pray that many eyes will see the real reason behind this protest, it is not political, it is about life.

Small Successes

1. I persevered through the sweet pleading of my two year old, even ignoring the single tear rolling down his cheek despite my aching mother's heart, to follow through with a punishment I knew my doodle Dan needed. Thankfully, I was able to find a time to award him the denied cookie later that day.

2. I made a decision about our homeschool curriculum for next year. Decisions are not my expertise, considering every detail of each option from all angles, is.

3. I did not make one correction, suggestion or interjection while my husband prepared dinner for us and allowed me to rest my sprained ankle. He did quite well. Thanks my dear.

School Room

Last weekend my mom came to town for the next phase in the on going "School Room" project, that of texture and painting.

Here are the first strokes of her first texturing attempt ever. Five thousand four hundred fifty eight strokes later the room was finished!

With the new texture, which unfortunately doesn't show up well in the pictures, and a coat of paint along with some help rearranging from my husband, the school room is possibly our favorite room in the house.

Our new art center.

Our reading corner.

The time out chair... but with the addition of another table it will become a great private work station.

And finally our math and sensory development area.
Who would have thought a ten by twelve area could be divided into four separate areas? And as long as none of the kids grow, we can continue this way.

Small Successes

1. When things got crazy this week, twice, and dinner prep was replaced with doctor visits, ear infections, fever and chills, I forced myself to put the car keys back on the hook and open up the fridge for another helping of "Casserole Creations." It is amazing how many left over veggies can be tucked into a fritata!

2. Knowing it was hotter than I like, the kids and I still took one of the last pre-lunch walks we will enjoy for a while, courtesy of a slight break in the descending Texas heat. Upon returning, we all promptly kicked off our shoes and spread out under the fan.

3. After a long day of juggling the roles of house cleaner, nurse and teacher, and after persevering through my second "Casserole Creation" of the week, instead of taking a break while waiting for the healthy portion of the family to return with my baby's medicine, I used the minutes I had to clean what I could rather than leaving it for my husband while I attended the homeschool meeting that evening. Unfortunately, my minutes were few, sorry my dear!

Come here my little pretty!

At various times throughout the day today, the children have burst into the room to declare, "Hey mom, your the scary monster who tries to come eat all the little children safe in their house," or "Oh, mom, now your the mean pirate who wants to steal all the toys on the boat from the little kids," and my favorite, "you're the evil dragon who's vacuuming and trying to suck up all the kids!" I have also had the unintentional privilege of being a hungry lion and some kind of ferocious beast who was forced to fight the sword wielding Peter with nothing more than a stack of laundry.

I am not sure if I should be pleased that none of them were willing to assume the role of such vile characters, or concerned that I was their constant favorite.

Mommy and all her sweet little prey