Life In General Archives | Page 14 of 16 |

Snow Sledding Fun!

December 23, 2008 By Laura 2 Comments

Christmas Eve is tomorrow, and our house is brimming over the edge with excitement!! I am sure it is in your homes and families by now too! The spirit of joy and celebration is definitely in the air here, as we prepare for the reflection of Jesus’ birth. It is solely the focus in our home and family, if you know what I mean. ; ) To see our children relish in the true joy of what Christmas is all about, with such overwhelming child-like excitement and happiness (which is so contagious), as we embark on all of our Christmas traditions, is such a fulfilling feeling as parents.

But on Saturday, there was finally enough snow to really play in! We went sledding!! Well, Kid-Daddy and our kids did—I took photos, which is still playing to me! What made it even more fun, is the snow kept on falling while they played in the winter wonderland. It really made it all the more exciting, if not a bit of a challenge for the photographer. lol. Still got some fun shots though. My frozen shutter hand was worth it. It thawed, with a little pain. So just sharing some of their snow-fun-filled day before Christmas Eve and Day is upon all of us.

This one below cracks me up the way J is amused by the rope having a ride too!

Only A would wear her glasses sledding. And wear a hunter’s hat too, no less. She loves that hat.

The race is on!

Stunt Girl!!

Maybe not……lol

There were lots of giggles echoing in the snow hills valley!

And lots of climbing back up for another run…..

Now am I the only mother that LOVES these faces with a squished brow from winter hats?? Sometimes, I tie it just a little tighter than necessary, just to gush at how cute they are!

Who needs sleds? Not my fools.

But I love my fools! They just make for more laughter!

Catching snowflakes, of course. I love these shots…

What a day!! Good thing we had a big thermos of hot cocoa waiting in the van!!

Hope you enjoyed seeing the fun with us, without getting cold!

Fall in All It’s Glory

October 26, 2008 By Laura Leave a Comment

What a GLORIOUS weekend it has been here in southern New England! We’d venture to guess this past week or so has been ‘peak’ foliage season, as opposed to the usually assumed Columbus Day weekend. Not only was this weekends absolutely beautiful visually, but we had very warm temperatures as well, so we really got to enjoy it!

The weekend started off for {A} with a youth group bonfire event. She had a really good time with her friends, singing songs, telling ‘ghost’ stories, and making s’mores! Over the course of the weekend, basking in the warm sunshine, she also spent an abundance of time with her wildlife friends. Chances are I’ll be blogging about that this week as well. All I can say for now is, she continues to amaze us with her love for nature, and it’s love for her!

We did get some much needed shopping done, and some house cleaning, as well as some very worthy house projects! (Well, Michael did the house projects.) For one, we have heat baseboards in the school room now!! After having put on our additions and finishing all of the interior ourselves, it was one project at a time. The floor got done just in time for Thanksgiving last year, I believe. Then we just never got to the heat. So although our school room is right off of our heated kitchen and the rest of our home, it was pretty dang chilly in there with no in-room heat source! Just like an old fashioned school room I suppose. But enough of that pioneer experience >> we’re happy to have heat in there now! Checked that project off our list!

Other than those accomplishments, we enjoyed the outdoors. Today we went on a little hike, and naturally, I brought along my camera. So I thought I would share some shots with you.

This first shot is of a horned caterpillar. We had never seen such an interesting little creepy-crawly before, but we did learn pretty quick that one of it’s defenses is emptying it’s stomach contents on you. YUCK!! (Sorry if that’s TMI….pretty gross indeed. But kind of interesting, in a gross-sort-of-way, don’t you think?). Anyway, the great thing about discovering this caterpillar, is that it solved a little mystery from last year! In researching exactly what kind of caterpillar this is, and learning it is a White-Lined Sphinx, we also discovered it turns into a White-Lined Sphinx Moth….which we recognized!! Last year, I had spotted one of these moths in the backyard, and I was ASTONISHED. I had NEVER seen such a thing. I couldn’t figure out for the life of me, what it was, and {A} didn’t know either. I was seriously afraid of it, but Michael wasn’t home, and I wanted him to see this thing! I nearly destroyed some of my plants trying to catch it. Was it a flying mouse? It sure looked furry enough!! But it flew like a hummingbird. (It is indeed described as a hummingbird-like moth. ) And it sure was SCARY looking!! I got it into a clear glass pyrex bowls, and it sure did put up a fight in there. It was so mad at me, I was afraid to ever let it out! The bowl had a cover on it, but he even seemed capable of taking off the cover. We could see in his eyes that he was thinking about how to do it. lol. So we put a big book, and a pair of shoes on top too, just for good measure! Eventually, Michael came home, and was just as baffled too, and disturbed. We just left it in the bowl for awhile, and then I let him let it go later. I stayed inside, though. With the doors locked. Did you click on the link above?? Check it out. Warning: NOT CUTE!!!

But here is the somewhat beautiful caterpillar it is first, along with a handful of the other shots I took. Enjoy!!

These leaves below are of a maple sapling, that has been growing right outside our schoolroom window. We’ve been enjoying watching the leaves change colors over the past weeks.

That’s all for tonight.

Hope you can come by again soon!!

A New Crucifix for Our Home

October 17, 2008 By Laura Leave a Comment

We have a new crucifix for our home.

At Mass a couple of weeks ago, there was a guest speaker from Bethlehem. He had 2 tables full of beautiful, hand crafted, religious wooden pieces for sale. He explained to our parish how the families of Bethlehem make these items, as a means to support themselves. Yet it seems that the town of Bethlehem is very poor now, because of a great decline in tourists, which is due to the danger there now, such as war, violence, kidnappings and the persecution of being Christians. He had a very heavy accent, and so we could not understand all of what he said, but it seems people are afraid to travel and visit there these days. So in an effort to bring in more income for the families, they are traveling and selling the items they make.

Honestly, I wanted so very many pieces there. There were all kinds of statues, rosary beads, and this large, glorious nativity set. There was even a wooden star at the peak of the front of the manger, that you wound up to play music. Be still my heart! We need a real nativity set, badly, too. We never really had a place to put a nice one before, but we do now. Frankly, now that our youngest are 6, the Little People Nativity Set we have isn’t cutting it anymore. It served our little ones well, in it’s time though. Unfortunately, the large nativity set I pined after, there on that display table that day, was way out of our budget. Although the price was well worth the value of craftsmanship that went into it.

So, we decided on this crucifix, which we all really love. The craftsmanship is so amazing, and the wood grain in this particular piece really adds to the beauty of it. We do still need to get it blessed.

There has been a crucifix hanging in every home I have ever lived in. Naturally, it is a very poignant symbol of Christian faith, and is meant have a place in every home where strong faith prevails. So this crucifix represents that here in our home as well.

But when I look at this one now, hanging in a place of honor in my home, I am keenly aware of the new feelings I experience in the depths of my soul. Perhaps it is heightened awareness of the reality of just what Christ went through, for us. The way, as we grow older and gain the wisdom that comes with time, something we always knew is embraced in a whole new way-with greater appreciation, gratitude, and the gripping meaning of it all. As we raise our children, and try to do so while teaching them in the light that all things, all actions, all lessons, all of LIFE, revolves around, and are tied, in every single way…our faith. It is all sprung forth from God’s creation, and our purpose, as we live our lives, day by day, here on earth. Seeing this crucifix brings all of those things to mind and heart, in one impactful moment, at the very glimpse of Christ there, on that cross, on our wall.

More than that, it has already served me well in another way. It’s been a reality check for me, when I really, really needed one. A well-deserved slap in the face, if you will. Because there was a day, or maybe 2, that I was having a bad day. And by ‘bad day’, I mean one of those self-absorbed, not getting over-myself kind of days. A day when I felt needless stress, for all I had to get done in that day, and the interruptions (blessings in transparent disguise that day…lol), that hindered me from getting it all done quickly. A day where, in this failing economy, I was feeling I had too much work and obligations, (I know…slap me now), and not enough time or focus to get it all done. So on such a day as this, I once again caught glimpse of this crucifix hanging there. And it served that reality check: “THAT, is a bad day”, I thought, looking at it. I recalled the truth of the matter: Here was the Son of the living God, being called a liar for who He was, being tortured in ways that brought about pain none of us will ever truly understand, and giving up His life, after a slow and merciless death…………..not for Himself. But for US! For all of us. For all of mankind, or at least, for each of us who accept his sacrifice, and embrace salvation in our hearts, minds and souls, and live a life accordingly.

And yet here I was…in a bad mood over, ummm….what again? A to-do list that wasn’t really that long. Certainly not painful. And when I really looked at it honestly, it was all blessings, I chose to see in a selfish light that day. They were all, in the end, for good things for ME, when the purposes come full circle. I mentally complained that day because I was tired (though I slept in a cozy warm bed most of the night). It irked me to see that basket of unfolded laundry, knowing deep inside some people must wear the same dirty rags every day. I groaned because I had so much work to do – which brings in the income to support my family, through the gifts God Himself gave me, and of which is a passion (sometimes of service)I feel in my heart. Because I didn’t feel like taking the time, to prepare meals, forgetting to be grateful for answered prayer when we say “give us this day, or daily bread”.

Shame on me, and I meant it, and felt it, when my eyes landed on that cross.

I live a life focused on gratitude, most days. I try to make a habit of starting each day in prayer ( a few times before noon), and counting our abundant blessings. I know in my heart, and remember 95% of the time, that nothing comes to me, to us as a family, that which is not first through the Father. And I feel, and fear, that when you forget to be grateful, the Good Lord tends to get us back on track with a swift and difficult life lesson, which makes us appreciate what we should, once again. Indeed, ALL GOOD comes through Him. We know this to be true. We have simple needs, as a family. As individuals. Yet we are very, very blessed. I would even go so far as to say, we are rich, really, when you consider what is really of value. He provides for us. He always does. He even gave the life of his own Son, as Christ did for us as well, so that we could have MORE, and eternally. It reminds me of that hymn, Whatsoever You Do. For we also know that what is ours, we must share with those in need.

So I think this cross will be hanging in our home for a long time to come. For all it means, for all it symbolizes, and just in case, for the reality check I may need someday again, when I am wrapped up in ME, and forget momentarily, that I have all I will ever need. I have woken up and smelled the coffee, after my partial day of ridiculous, unjustifiable pity. There is work to be done, which we quite enjoy, because work/income is coming our way, in a time some people can’t find a job, or despise their job, and in a time of a failing economy. There are meals to prepare, because we have food. There is laundry to fold, because we have clothing, and a washing machine in which to clean them. We have a home to clean, because we have a roof over our head. And beautiful, healthy children to tend to, because they are the very existence of our answered prayers, and joy of our life! They are just LOVE, making themselves known, all over the place. And all we need to do is remember to be thankful for such immense blessings, and sincerely follow a few other simple rules, and on top of all that we already have, we can then even enter into the home, of Our Father.

Amen, I say to you, Amen.

Whale Carcass Washes Ashore – A Spontaneous Field Trip

September 23, 2008 By Laura 1 Comment

This morning, after having had an extended weekend away, we were planning a regular school day today, with getting some our book lessons done. That is, until we woke up to helicopters, circling around and around, near our house. So my husband turned on the tv to find out what might be going on, and low and behold, there was a whale carcass washed ashore on our beach nearby. Time for a spontaneous field trip! THIS is the beauty of homeschooling!

So the kids ate breakfast, washed up and got dressed as fast as they could, and we all headed out in search of the whale. After a driving down a few side-roads that had public access ways, and checking the shore there, we finally found the spot. Except the only way down was very steep, very sandy and rocky cliff. But if you know us…..we went for it. We all made it down safely, as I wondered out loud, repeatedly, how we’d ever make it back up! But we’d figure that out later I guess. We had a dead whale to study. : )

Though it didn’t seem to be a full grown adult, it was rather impressive, nonetheless. (And seemed huge to our little kids.) It was so interesting to see all of it’s parts, up close and in person. as a whole, it was not pretty by any means!! Not anymore, anyway. Part of it was really decomposing, as it seemed to have been dead awhile, and just finally got washed ashore.

This side (photo below), was the worst. It was barely recognizable as a whale at all. And in standing on the other side, where the breeze came on off-water, the smell was intolerable. UGH! But it was this side that you could see the bones of the jaw, on the far right, as well as the eye socket. So it was fascinating, visually.

The kids enjoyed walking around it, checking it out, asking questions and stepping on it’s tail. LOL. Naturally, I was taking photos, and thinking about blogging with such yucky, yet interesting photos, about our unexpected experience. Below at this angle you can see the upper jaw bones even better, on the far left this time.

As we were looking at it, yet another couple of helicopters were flying around over head. Other people began to arrive too, and some guessed we were homeschoolers.

Once we had our fill of fascination and disgust, we decided to figure out which one of the many sets of beach access stairs, that climbed the cliff-side, were public. As we made our way down the beach, we came across a scattered intestines of the whale, here and there, that had washed up separately. (Yuck.) Once up the cliff and on our way up the road, back to our van, we saw the environmental police showing up. Marine biologists had already been there, in the earlier morning hours.

When we got home, we did some research and determined that it was a humpback whale. Later TV news reports throughout the day confirmed that. It’s not yet determined if this whale died of natural causes, or by accident due to being bumped by a ship, or caught up in fishing nets. It seems they plan to retrieve the the skeleton of the whale for museum display, and either bury the flesh, or drag it back out to sea.

It was yet another homeschooling adventure our kids were able to witness! They talked about it the rest of the day, and the little ones colored pictures of whales and other sea creatures, and recreated the scene with imaginary play. After we got all of our book lessons done of course.

A Day Worth Celebrating!! – Our Triplets Turn 6!

September 3, 2008 By Laura 1 Comment

This past Sunday was a very special day in our family; it was half of our family’s birthday!! Our triplets ‘babies’ turned 6!

As I probably mentioned in our oldest daughter’s birthday post a couple of months ago, birthdays are celebrated in a big but different way, in our family. Basically, no one works or has school, and we spend the day together, discussing and celebrating our loved one’s life in the ways that feel right to us. Every family is different, as we all well know. For us, annual parties with piles of presents never sat well with us. It just wasn’t what we wanted to do every year, as much as we LOVE to plan celebrations. It just seemed to us that the presents become the focus of the gathering — especially for children, who are still learning/being taught what matters most in life. I think that perspective became all the more important to us to really try to implement in our children, when we arrived at a child’s birthday party some years ago. When we got there, and came walking up the driveway, the birthday child started to coming to meet us, and I personally was initially very impressed with such manners, to greet their guests like that. But then the first words the child said to us were, “Where’s my present?“. We had one of course, but that kind of stuck with us, and gave us a new determination with how we wanted to try things differently, and try to redirect to the most meaningful parts of the day. Granted, teaching such values is a constant work in progress, but the kids seem to be pretty focused most time on the true meaning and purpose of Christmas, birthdays, and the like. We do give and accept gifts, as you’ll see in this post, too. But as a family, we really do focus most on our traditions and time together, thankfully, than the gifts. Although those are always pretty exciting too, huh? They are more like bonuses.

With that being said, I know some of you have been chomping-at-the bit (for different reasons I imagine), and checking many times a day (we’re flattered!) for this birthday report, with all of the sorted details and photos……so here it is:

J, O and S’s birthday was really beautiful. Really. I’m still flying with glee from it, to tell you the truth. Just an emotional, exciting and FUN day, that created such memories! Weather-wise, it was beautiful, but the whole day was as wonderful as we had hoped and planned it would be. It started on our bed. They always ask to hear the stories of when we were expecting, and all of the crazy things that happened while they were all crowded in there together. But as we tell stories, they are always watching the clock, waiting for those official minutes of the morning when they were actually born. We purposely skip the whole labor part, as that is a horrifying and terrifying story, that even I prefer to forget (but can’t seem to). So we skip right to the moments of joy!

Next the little bedheads, still in their boxers and t-shirts, which we call pajamas, headed to the table to wait for their (our family’s) traditional birthday breakfast.

We have pancakes often enough, but they are just extra special on birthdays.

They usually prefer strawberry yogurt with their pancakes, instead of syrup. But this day they chose syrup, so that gave me reason enough to let them have their first surprise of the day;

Electric (well battery powered) toothbrushes. I could tell by their expressions that they weren’t sure how excited they should be about this first surprise. Then I heard one of them suggest that they go try them out right away………..

It might have been the longest they have ever brushed!! They came out with great BIG smiles, and I swear their teeth were whiter! We’ve heard lots of extra and longer buzzing in the bathroom in the past 2 days. Let’s hope the thrill of it sticks around. : )

Then the phone rang, and it was their Papa (my father)….who sang Happy Birthday to them over the speaker phone. (He could have/should have been a country star, just so you know. He has a great voice, loves to sing, and self taught himself guitar and harmonica….which he can really jam on and often entertains us. The kids LOVE it.)

Once we were all ready, we headed to Mass. It happened to be Sunday, and {A} was THRILLED that she was scheduled to serve on yet another special occasion to her. But what a beautiful way, anyway, to start this special day. The trio’s Daddy and I loved going to Mass on their birthday, and having such an opportunity in that way, to give thanks to our Heavenly Father, for the gift of these children He has given us. They could very easily have been ‘taken back’ to Heaven, on more occasions than we care to remember, while in utero or the NICU. I personally begged and pleaded while on bedrest, and admittedly ‘made a deal’ with God, to keep these babies in an earthly way. He granted my (our) constant prayers I presented with him throughout our expecting these babies, both through my 6 months on bedrest as well as when they were in the NICU initially. I am keeping my promise to Him, in return, and will until the end of time. My gratitude is present in my heart every day I live, with every breathe I breathe. So at mass, as I gave thanks once again, the emotions just kept on coming. How many ways can you be thankful for such beautiful and healthy children, who didn’t have great odds in having such a life??

After Mass and some brief ‘hang-out- time with our friend Fr. Bob, who presided at this mass (see? perfect!), we headed home to change and grab lunch. Because…..we needed to head out to the big surprise of the day!!

Color Me Mine,….an AWESOME and FUN pottery painting place. The kids just could not figure out what they wanted to do all together for their birthday this year, so their Daddy and I came up with something we were SURE they would love doing. They walked into this place with wide eyes, and ‘wonder’ written all over their faces. Once we explained to them what we were doing, the 4 kids all chose a plate to paint (well, except {J}, who initially really wanted to paint a piggy bank,,,,but being the Mama, knew he would be sad later when everyone was eating off of the special plate they made…so I talked him into what I knew he would ultimately be happy with.).

They could paint it and design it anyway they chose. I have to tell you…2 of them were insisting they needed to use a butterfly ‘for Meme’. That is my mother, who passed away. (As if the day wasn’t emotional enough.) They see butterflies as her spirit visiting them, and reminding them that she loves them and is still here, as many people see butterflies representing their own loved and lost ones, I guess.

Figuring out what they wanted to do, and getting set up was the hardest part. But once they got going, they felt really settled and were as happy as clams to get to work!

The photos in this post are just a handful of the ton of photos I took on this day. Truth be told, I always have a hard time choosing which photos to post in the blog. Any photos of our kids are my favorites, and any from THIS particular day was especially special. But I did my best to narrow them down. Who minds?

{A} decided on a couple of ‘add-ons’ to adhere to the sides of her very personality-evident plate:

{O} really wanted a job at this place. Once she was done working on her plate, she was washing everyone in the place’s brushes and sponges. lol

Their father and I were very busy the whole time, helping them get more paint or showing them how to do whatever, and I was taking all the photos I could as well. But there was one thing I wanted to do before they closed shop………a family hand-print plate. We managed to get it done, and my husband hand-lettered our names under all the prints, all the way around. THAT will be a treasure of mine for a long time to come. Well…forever!!

Of course, all of the pieces you have seen are very ‘undone’. We are very excited to pick them up in about a week! Once they have been glazed and kilned, the color will all be ‘popped’ and they are going to be just beautiful!! It’s just another somethin’ to look forward to! (For you too…since I’ll take photos and put them on the blog, I am sure.)

After we scrubbed up and left Color Me Mine, still kind of covered in paint, and with smiles seemingly painted on too, we left STARVING!! It was time to go out to dinner, and 2 of the kids wanted to go to the 99. 2 others wanted to go to a seafood place. {S} wanted baked scrod, and {O} wanted fried shrimp. We figured out that we could probably get both of those things at the 99 anyway…so that’s where we went. What a LOVELY and enjoyable dinner together. We just laughed (hysterically at times) and chatted over a nice meal. {S} did indeed order baked scrod, with broccoli (yay!) and apple sauce. {O} could have ordered fried shrimp, but changed her mind to chicken tenders. The other 2 ordered burgers. Anyhoo…..here was a nice birthday celebration bonus. Our (excellent) waitress came to out table, and let us know that 2 of the kids meals were free (for the purchase of each adult meal), because the Red Sox won the night before!! SERIOUSLY??!! (Not that the Red Sox won….lol, but about the free meals because they did.) Well……. OK!!! I guess that’s the deal they offer. We love that. : )

On the way home, balloons were on the urgent agenda. The birthday trio REALLY wanted them. So we stopped on the way home to get them, and somehow that experience was pretty fun too!! They were allowed to choose their ribbon color too, so they were thrilled. Then the cashier, who was one of those people who had never seen/known triplets before, was an especially (puzzling) hoot. We were cracking up on the way out.

Once we got home, we still had a few things to do. A couple more surprises, and the ‘coffee cake’ they specifically requested (for months) for their birthday cake. There was also sweet message on the machine for them; a quite amusing ‘Happy Birthday’ duet and message from their grandparents. We listened to that a few times. : )

Their big sister, {A}, is just the sweetest big sister when it comes to their birthday. She starts planning weeks in advance. Once her birthday is over, anyway. She really works at figuring out just what she wants to get them, and insist on using her own money. she makes pretty good money for a kid, as she enjoys being our business assistants here and there, and we like to compensate her when she does. She saves most of it, and spends a little. So as their birthday approaches, she asks us to drive her to the places she needs to go, and we do. So she was pretty excited, as she always is, to give them their gifts. She always knows just what they’ll flip over:

{J} loves penguins, and puppets……..

Not too long ago, the kids Papa came down for their pre-birthday visit, and gave the kids a gift. He gave {O} a purse, which I thought was perfect. She’s so into girls things. In accepting the gift, {O} amusingly said in her sweet and grateful little tone “Well thank you, Papa! I don’t know what I have to put it in it, but it’s nice! Thank you.’ {A} remembered that, and got her plenty of purse things to put in it……

Last year, {A} bought {S} a blue hummer toy. He LOVED it…had it every moment of the day. Until one day it rolled off the table and broke. (A few times, actually….and we fixed it over and over). Eventually it was just done, from playing with it, and it dropping so many times. So he really wanted another one, and said so a LOT! Do YOU think he looks happy?…….

Then we had one more surprise for them, before cake.

They have been using an educationally based computer program called Jump Start. They’ve been using the 1st grade one for over a year, and seemed like they needed something more challenging, so we got them the next level up. Mind you, this isn’t a school thing we give them. It’s something they like to do in their spare time, outside of our formal school time, for FUN. It’s all parts of writing, reading, math, science, social studies, thinking skills, music and art. So….”sure kids! You can play with that for awhile!” They are getting a refurbished laptop of their own that is fast enough, because {A} needs hers for science and history/geography. (Here is {O} below using the program the next day.

The next day we realized there was some mail and books that came for them that we forgot to give them the (late) night before. Not to mention the pile of thoughtful cards they got more in the mail that day. They were all very sweet/funny, and they even got some handmade cards that were very appreciated by them. They also appreciate the phone calls they received with birthday wishes over a few days time.

So that was our wonderful day, in a nutshell, believe it or not. : ) Although I am (very) excited to share our always exciting first day of (home) school with you, (oh my goodness…the abundance of photos I took), I wanted to share this day first. I will be blogging about our unexpected first day of school soon, somewhere in between the work I have, school and everything else important. I need to go through and process the photos before then too.

Thanks for reading all about this big day in our family! We appreciate the visitors, as we share, and record our daily family life we are so blessed with.

We have a new crucifix for our home.

Shame on me, and I meant it, and felt it, when my eyes landed on that cross.

Amen, I say to you, Amen.

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