This and that

Now that I don't have a really little one I can attest to the adage "many hands make light work." Recently at Target, I did no unloading or reloading of the groceries- my team handled it.

My Lenten resolution is to cook healthier and break out of my recipe rut.  I'm teaching the children how to cook in the process and they love it.

Speaking of Lent- we've got our Lenten traditions in practice.   Our Lenten centerpiece- Shana brought us those olive wood candle sticks from Jerusalem.  We have a candle for each Sunday in Lent- basically just like an advent wreath.

Toothpicks in the grapevine wreath make it look like a crown of thorns.

The children actually beg me to make the sheep calendar every year.  

Sacrifice beads- when you sacrifice put it in the clear jar- on Easter the sacrifice beads turn to jellybeans.

And our votive Stations of the Cross set on the mantle- by the way all I used was a glue stick years ago to make these and they have held up great.

Friday the older two went to ballroom dance class where they learned the cutest dance where you make a box with two couples and go round and around each other.  It was right out of a Jane Austen movie. 

After ballroom we went to homeschool gym day where they played dodge ball and capture the flag for two hours.  Julia went home from gym day with some sweet girls- their mother texted me this pic and said,"LOL- they are reading Shakespeare."  :)

This morning they had a Troops of St. George meeting at a park.  They did team building exercises like line up games, tug-of-war, blanket volleyball and carry the injured man races.  They talked about Christian brotherhood and helping each other on the journey.  

They also played hide and seek in the woods-

Also this morning Marc had his last basketball game.  It didn't go so well, and he didn't play as well as he had been playing.  It's a lesson in having your body and mind ready for the game.  After the game we stopped by a restaurant where they had a car show out front.  

Sadly, Tucker and Charlie have never really gotten well since our trip to Orlando.  They still have cold symptoms, athough they have no fevers.  Anyway- we are keeping them home.  And poor Sissy got sick today as well.  I'm running a little sick room in the den- refilling juice cups and handing out rice cakes.  :)

Well I'm off to tend my crew.  Happy Saturday to all!

The Almost Snowy Day

Today all the schools and offices were closed for the "big snow storm" that didn't really come.  It was supposed to start at ten and last all day, but instead we got cold rain all day.  We enjoyed the day so much though!  Daddy was home and had a roaring fire in the fireplace all day.  He worked while we did our school.  I made chili for lunch and then in the afternoon we got out all of our snowy books and read them.

They were so sad about not having snow- so we made popcorn snowballs!  Baby wants a snowball- baby gets a snowball.  :)

I just used a recipe I saw on a blog: Melt two sticks of butter and a bag of marshmallows.  Throw in popcorn and coat- when it cools enough shape into balls.

I made them smaller than usual because I didn't want them eating all that sugar.  I think they look better bigger.  And on that note let me just say - lest my blog makes you think otherwise- I am terrible at cooking little treats like this.  It does not come naturally, and I see these things on the internet that look easy and when I do it I find it hard and cumbersome.  The whole time I was saying "Why is this easy for other people?"  But I keep trying. :)  And while we made it we were happy and listening to classical music.  Fake it til you make it people.  :)

And they tasted great!

After dinner we had movie night- one of my favorite winter movies- Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates-

We sat on the new cozy couch- it's blue!   I was so tired of brown furniture- everything in the whole room was brown.  We had to break it up a little.

The moment the end credits of the movie are rolling Marky looks over and says, "Hey- it's snowing!!!!" And everybody went crazy!  Hooray!

They had a snowball fight on the trampoline-

They are all still out there playing and having a ball.  I was inside a bit ago and little Charlie walked in- sat on the couch- and fell fast aleep in seconds.  He's "tie-yuhd about dis snow".  :)  Night night buddy.

Now buddy boy has been put to bed, the older children are still playing and I'm sitting by the fire grateful grateful grateful for this day.

Tucker's first soccer practice!

Tonight Tucker went to his first soccer practice for the season.  We tried soccer a few years ago when he was three and it just didn't work out.  He was too amused by the grass and people to actually play.  :)  He's been asking to play ever since, but Marky's busy sports schedule always took priority.  This spring we told Marky to take a break and let Tucker have time to shine.  We got a sitter tonight so Marc and I could give little man all of our attention!   :)

After his practice- they are the Grey Knights by the way- we took him to Dunkin Donuts.  One opened up by our house, and he has asked me every single time we pass it to go.  I always say no.  We were worried about Tucker and soccer because it takes a lot of obeying and self control- not exactly Tuck's strong suit.  But tonight he paid attention, focused on the ball, and earned a  treat.  

We always say, "We need a clean up on aisle Tuck Tuck."

And we ran by World Market on the way home and in seconds he found their globe.  "Oh- here's Morocco- we also call it Western Sahara. Oh!  And I can see Micronesia on this one!"

Also- I had all four children with me when I went to take Charlie to the doctor on Monday.  We waited almost an hour before seeing the doctor.  I had no books, toys, or anything to amuse them.   I started letting them take pics with the phone and sent these to Marc saying, "Help!"  :)

However, I did leave Julia and Marky in the waiting room, and when I came out the nurses bragged and bragged on their great behavior.  Two out of four behave- it's a start.  :)