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The Breakfast of Champions – All Stars Game Day

March 14, 2009 By Laura 7 Comments

Last Sunday was {A’s} All Star Game Day. But late the evening before, when we started to feel a little pressure, it occurred to {A} and I……..we need Wheaties for breakfast tomorrow morning! I mean….it’s the ‘Breakfast of Champions’ right? It’s necessary before a big game like that!! Thankfully, Daddy-Boy embraced our sense of urgency, and ran out and got a box!

As excited as she was for the day, it was all a little bitter-sweet, because it was supposed to be a big family day for us. But…the little ones were just not well enough yet, after their bout of fevers and all, to go. So Daddy stayed home with them, and I went so I could take a few photos. It was hard though….not letting the trio come. They have been SUCH FANS all year, of not only {A}, but her whole team!! All season, the 3 of them knew every single player by name…..and even knew their numbers by heart!! The girls loved them, and would always be willing to shoot and play some on-on-one with them after the games.

She got her jersey when she got there…..even had her own number on the back!

All in all, the day was great. They called out the players by name to center-court, one by one, just like they do at the big pro-championship games, as the crowd cheered for every player. Then the game was ON!! It was a whole different vibe, with all the best players playing each other! TENSE!!! But fun and exciting to watch at the same time!! So tense and fun.. I wasn’t taking as many photos as I normally would. I’ve only got one game shot to show here, because in all of the other shots, there are lots of other players I shouldn’t put on the blog, without their parents permission. But here’s one, with a little blur help.

At half-time, they had half-court shooting contests…..for a$1 a shot to raise money for the program

{A} was off the court for the end of the game. It was a really great game, with really great players who ‘brought their game’. In the end her team lost 23-26. But she was smiling anyway…..knowing she played well, and she was an ‘All-Star’!!

After the All-Star game, {A} and her team had one last scrimmage on their regular practice night, and the whole team all signed her basketball.

{A} is a little sad another season is over. But she has re-directed her attention and energy to some serious training for the next basketball season. She’s a serious, serious player, with a real passion for this game of basketball. It seems it will be THE MAIN GAME for this family, if the trio’s enthusiasm for this sport is any indication! Practicing shooting hoops, dribbling, blocking, game chit-chat and future-planning regarding basketball is a regular part of any given day around here! Even I am starting to play!! (I’m not bad either….beat my husband today, who can PLAY. My own Daddy, who was visiting, was mighty proud, and impressed. : )

And so the SUN goes down. But with all of her hard work that she plans on doing this spring, summer and into fall….another HOOP season will be here before we know it! Until then….you won’t have to hear us talk QUITE so much about basketball. : )

What sport is big in your family?? Are any of your kids really passionate about a particular sport? How about YOU?? Are you passionate about a sport of your own, or about any of your kids sports? (In other words…do you scream your head off from the sidelines, like me? : )

Tell the truth, now. lol And then have a fabulous day!

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A Big Surprise!

March 13, 2009 By Laura 13 Comments

I’ve got great news today, and I hope you all find it all as exciting as I do! 2 GREAT SURPRISES, actually!

Some of you may have noticed, that since our family blog here was born, almost a year ago, that it seems “I”, Laura, have been the one running the show here. But the truth is, my husband, Michael, has always been a big ‘behind the scenes’ contributor. He sees it as his blog too, because it certainly is his, and our whole family’s. He’s just….quieter. He always has ideas, his own important input into this post or that (that he wants said,…or not said…lol), he’s the ‘proofreader’ too (any mistakes yet, Honey?) , and the one that won’t let me us quit bloggin’, when I think I just don’t have time for it anymore. I know…I have been all over the place with the direction, or demise, of this blog. (Because I’m complicatedly simple, and simply complicated. Ask anyone who knows me. (Well, maybe you shouldn’t ask anyone. ) But some think that’s what makes me FUN and EXCITING! : ) (Right, Honey?!) Now, our oldest daughter has also contributed some to the family blog, with her own posts-and also doesn’t want to let the blog go.

So here’s Surprise #1!: Michael has decided he wants to become even more a part of the blog here! He thinks it would be a great idea to start posting about his various projects, sometimes. What projects, you ask?? Oh, he’s always doing something. He is Handy with a capital H! (If you are a regular reader here, you may also know this is a blessed genetic-trait of his family’s….or maybe, a learned behavior….passed down from at least his grandmother, to her son (Michael’s father), to him. Genetic or learned behavior…whatever, it’s just a blessing!! Together, collectively, they have probably saved millions of dollar$, by being ‘Do-It-My-Selfers’. I kid you not! So some posts of his may be a ‘To-Be-Continued-Documentation’ of a project, and others may be ‘Step-By-Step-How-To’s’ of a project. It just depends. He’s finished the inside of half of this (dream of ours) house all-by-himself (from plywood floors, and walls that were just studded and insulated), and we’ve still got 1/2 to go! So home projects will likely be part of the deal. But his projects skillfully and talentedly cover the whole big picture of trades. So WHO KNOWS what’ll come up here. You may find your own husbands fighting you for the computer chair in front of our blog! lol. So as his own projects come up, they’ll be coming up here at Our House of Joyful Noise, too. We’re going to just wing the whole dang thing here, and see where it goes. Wanna join us?

Here’s Surprise #2!: Michael has wasted no time in asserting his newfound roles around here on this blog. He has demanded that we start having REGULAR GIVE–AWAYS to our blog visitors!! How’s THAT for cool?? The only thing is, we haven’t quite figured out all of the logistics of that one, quite yet; like how we will determine who to give a Give-Away surprise to. But we DO know that the Give-Aways will be at least monthly. And then, randomly whenever we feel like it! Basically, it could be any day. : ) We also know that it’ll always be something new and exciting to give away!! We’ll probably start off with small things but fun/lovely gifts, and let it grow from there. (I’ve got some BIGGIES in mind!) We’re going to just wing the whole dang thing here, and see where it goes. Wanna join us? AFTERALL,……

WHO…doesn’t LOVE Give-Aways?!

WHO… doesn’t LOVE ANYTHING THAT IS FREE?!

WHO …doesn’t just LOVE WINNING…ANYTHING?!

WHO….doesn’t LOVE getting a SpEcIaL PaCkAgE on their porch step, or a SuRpRiSe in their mailbox?!

Some of you actually DO know us pretty well. And some of you only know, what we have decidedly shared with you. So the GRAND MAJORITY of you don’t know all there is to know about us, now, do you? : ) Oh, there is lots more to us. And we always have lots up our sleeves!! So we hope you’ll join in on the fun, come along for the ride, and help us get this PaRtY StArTeD!! Are you ready??!!

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Our first give away is …..

a MYRIAD OF HOME & HAND MADE GIFTS!! (Made just for you, with LOVE!!)

Details: A package full of all kinds of things that’ll make you smile! (Well, we assume!) Some things you may have seen here before. Some things you have not. And some things we haven’t even had the idea for yet! : ) (But don’t worry…..we have faith in our ability to have good ideas, and you should too!) It’ll be a great package, filled with lots of surprises, and delivered right to your home! How fun will THAT be to open! It’ll be like Christmas!!

How To Win: In future Give-Aways, there will be different rules of how to win. But while we get our creative ducks in a row with all of this excitement, we’re going to go with the ‘name picked from a hat’ route this round! Ok…it may be a bowl, or a jar…we’ll keep you posted on that if it’s important to you. lol SO…..every time you leave a comment in the month of March, your name goes into the….whatever. And guess what?…..If you have left comments already this month….we’ll grandfather them in! We’ll go back and put your name in, for every comment you have already left this month. (There aren’t many posts, with our blog break. But lots coming!) And guess what else? We’ll even let anyone go back and leave comments for any posts from the beginning of March. SO….the idea is…..the more times your name goes into the, whatever, the higher your chances are for being drawn! (That’s right….just like raffle tickets. )

Deadline & Drawing Date: Comments count closes March 31st @ 9 p.m. EST. Winner announced here on the blog, sometime on the morning of April 1st! (We’ll only post your User Name, in case you’re worried. : )

We’ll get much more creative than this in terms of how to win! Promise! We just have to come up with some cool new ways to WIN!! And we surely will!! But we’re sure you’ll love the prize!

Any questions?? Let us have them! Otherwise….

READY–SET–GO!!!!

XOXO ~ The ‘Our House of Joyful Noise’ Family!

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A Quiet Dr. Seuss Day Celebration

March 2, 2009 By Laura 12 Comments

We just wanted to share with you a peek into our quiet Dr. Seuss Day celebration.

“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.”

~ Dr. Seuss

Earlier today, we celebrated the 105th birthday of Dr. Seuss. It was a much quieter celebration, than our usual fanfare, because most of our kiddos (6 years old triplets) are a bit under the weather. Low grade fevers, little coughs and headaches, and a big dose of the ‘Quiets’. That’s just who they are today. Actually, 1/4 is recovering, 2/4 are pretty down and out by this time of the day, and 1 was out playing in the new-fallen snow. But late this morning and early afternoon, they were up for a little quiet fun and reading. We did some Dr. Seuss – themed face painting for them, for the occasion.

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Dr. Seuss was a man of wise words. One of my personal favorite quotes from him is:

“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”

That’s one I try to keep in the forefront of my mind, because we need to remember it frequently! It’s so hard for us to understand why some people are the way they are. So what to do? Well, another Seuss quote comes in handy as well:

“Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.”

Enough said there. lol

We’re blessed in that all 4 of our kids truly do love reading. They just love books, and always have. And we know that will take them a long, long way in life.

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”

The little ones are quite beyond their grade level in reading, so the Dr. Seuss books are at this point, way too simple for them. They are reading chapter books now. But today, as we celebrate this gifted author and artist, for his great contributions to children’s literature, we honor the value of his non-sensicals, that are so cleverly woven with his words of wisdom, which even an adult can gleam advice from. So we all enjoyed his books today, none-the-less.

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It was the perfect activity, for a day that called for quiet and rest.

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Here’s another great quote, that simply must be a Pro-Life declaration!:

“A person’s a person, no matter how small.”

They were somewhat smiley this morning, as quiet as they were. But as you know how fevers go….as they day wore on, they were feeling less and less their best. I sure hope they feel better tomorrow. Meanwhile, we’ll keeping enjoying the quiet, and giving cuddles. Things could be worse! lol

Thanks for dropping in! See you again soon, perhaps!

“Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one.”

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Veggie Pockets – Lent Meatless Meal – Recipe

February 27, 2009 By Laura 5 Comments

Here’s a delicious meatless meal for the Fridays of Lent, or for any day, for either lunch or dinner! My kids love most vegetables, so these pocket sandwiches are always a real hit with them! They always cheer when they ask what we are having, and they always ask for 2nd one!

I didn’t take any photos in the early stages, as I usually do just for fun. But I think you’ll be able to follow along just fine without them.

Ingredients:

red peppers
zucchini
summer squash
broccoli
vegetable oil
American cheese
whole wheat pockets

~ Naturally, you can use any stir-fry type vegetables your family likes best.

1.) Wash *all vegetables well, of course. : )

*How many of each vegetable you use depends on your family size. Use your best judgement. Once it’s all in the pan you’ll get a better idea.

2.) Clean out red peppers, and dice.

3.) Zucchini and summer squash:

>>> a.) Cut off ends.

>>> b.) Cut length-wise in half

>>> c.) Cut again lengthwise, cutting halves into half. Now you have 4 quarters of lengthwise slices. (Aren’t I great at explaining these things? Maybe I should have taken photos of this part too. lol)

>>> d.) Now slice the quartered lengths the short way, about 1/4″ thick. You will have nice quarter-0f-a-slice pieces.

4.) Cut up broccoli into medium sized pieces, chopping off ends first. (You will chop it all up later.)

5.) Get broccoli going in a steamer. (We have a Black & Decker Handy Steamer. But you can steam however you do.)

6.) Heat a large stir-fry pan at medium-heat, and add 1-2 tablespoons of vegetable oil.

7.) Add red peppers, zucchini and summer squash to pan, and stir up.

8.) Cook all vegetables in steamer and pan, to desired tenderness. (We call it done when fork inserts nicely. Be careful not to overcook.)

9.) Remove steamed broccoli from steamer, and put on cutting board.

With a large chopping knife, chop up into smaller pieces, and then add to the pan on stove-top, with other vegetables.

Stir all vegetables together.

So happy to-ge-THERRRRRRRR! (Name that tune!)

For pockets, we use this brand:

10.) Take a bread disc out, and cut in half.

11.) Lay some slices of American cheese in the pocket half. Break slices up to fit nicely. (Us grown-ups sometimes put some Pepper-Jack in too, for some kick! But it’s delicious just with American.).

12.) *Fill pocket up with vegetables.

* For the little ones, we don’t overload it, because it’s a wide/big pocket, and a little bit difficult to for little hands to handle. Reminders to eat over plate are a good idea, with these babies! But what falls to the plate can be eaten up with a fork, after.

** Us grown-ups really fill it up. : )

Filled just right for a kiddo.

13.) When they eat it all up, and ask for another, SAY YES!! A kid can never eat too many vegetables! : )

ENJOY!!

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We Welcome This Lenten Season!

February 23, 2009 By Laura 3 Comments

With the Lenten Season just 2 days away, beginning with Ash Wednesday, for once our family is ready. Usually, it seems to sneak right up on us, (despite the many reminders along the way), and we are scrambling to figure out what we will do for Lent. Of course, we all know, that with making such decisions so spontaneously and haphazardly, we didn’t truly contemplate in our heart how we would go about living the Lenten Season consciously, or how we can best grow closer to Christ, as we prepare our selves and our hearts for Easter. We did get into the swing of it, in the first few days of ‘too late’, managing to follow our Catholic obligations. But they were done almost just as that > obligations.

But this year, we weren’t letting it happen again. What’s more, I have heard Lent calling me for some time now. And by this time, we are all well prepared; armed with Lenten plans, and joyful hearts of anticipation.

I suppose Easter is time in which most ‘anticipate with joyful hearts’. And we certainly do as well! After all, Easter is THE most sacred and celebrated day of the Catholic faith. Even more so than Christmas. For in God’s Only Son, rising to life, rose with Him salvation that is ours, if we choose to embrace it.

But Lent is a time we are anticipating with joyful hearts as well, because it is a time we can best show our love for Christ. It is a time we are called to focus more on Him, sacrifice for Him, spend time with Him and grow closer to Him. Through reflection. Through prayer. Through Penance. As an individual, and as a family, we ultimately grow in strength and commitment to our relationship with Christ. How can these gifts be anything less than joyful? They are indeed gifts we are called to embrace. As Catholics, we are unquestionably called to embrace them in these 40 blessed days, until the celebration of Easter. And for the good of ourselves!

I won’t get into my (longer than usual) personal list of Lenten commitments, of which I have pondered with an attentive heart. But I will share with you a couple of other agendas on our Lenten list. As a family, we have decided to add a Mass to our week. And early morning Mass…..which, for anyone who knows us well, is a sacrifice in itself. We are not at all a morning family. We enjoy waking up when we do, and having our leisure morning—sipping coffee, (< definitely me), nibbling toast made of home made bread, starting our fire – to keep us warm as we wake and wash, and get ready to tackle our schooling and work agendas for the day. No…..dragging ourselves out of bed, after a crude alarm sound, and rushing to get ready to leave anywhere, is just not our cup of tea. Even a little. But, we figured…..Lenten sacrifices are not meant to be necessarily enjoyable. They are meant to be….a challenge. Difficult for us. A personal hardship, of sorts. And hey…..if we can make it to an 8:00 a.m. basketball game (we did TWICE this season!), we can surely make it to Mass!!

Attending and experiencing the Mass itself, ….not at all a sacrifice. But a BLESSED GIFT!

A couple of weeks ago one evening, my oldest daughter, {A}, and I, had come across a Mother/Daughter Quiz, in my FAVORITE magazine, Faith and Family. To begin with, the questions posed were for me, as the mother, to answer for my daughter. It was to see how well I knew her. One of the questions was : “What is her favorite day of the week?”. I knew the answer to that immediately: Sunday. She loves the Mass. But more than that, she loves to SERVE the Mass. As an altar server. She has expressed countless times, how much closer she feels to Jesus, being up on the altar, and serving Him. It isn’t just something she SAYS. It’s something EVERYONE can SEE. I can’t tell you how many times we have been approached by people after Mass, to be told how they are amazed at how reverent she is up there. Truly absorbed in every moment. Relishing in it, even. She is scheduled for certain Masses, (and always the most important ones), but gleefully and (very eagerly…trust me…) volunteers to fill in for anyone who does not show up at the Masses we attend. She jumps out of our van to go check and get ready, before our van is even turned off. So yes……clearly the answer was Sunday.

Ding Ding Ding!!! Another right answer for Mama. I scored very well, in the end, I might add. I know my kiddo.

At the end of the quiz, the daughter is to question the Mama. My answer was Sunday too – but for a different reason:

I VERY MUCH love receiving the Body and Blood of Christ. I look forward to until I find myself ‘at His table’ once again, and I receive with a joyful and hungry heart. It lifts me in such an indescribable way. The moment I consume the Eucharist, and Jesus once again becomes part of me, I feel whole. Alive more so than before. I am certain I feel the Holy Spirit flowing through my blood, and renewing every part of me. I feel an overwhelming urge to weep, out of the relief! It truly gives me strength to ponder or resolve the difficult situations/relationships in my life. (Although sometimes, it takes 2 to tango. lol). More than any other time, I can deal with them with at least some shred of grace. A Christian perspective that in all honestly, I know I am called exercise always. I am weak, and a sinner. I’m a constant work in progress. With the Good Lord’s help, I like to think.

My beautiful, freckle-faced, spunky little God-daughter, will be welcomed to Jesus’ table for the first time this spring. She is making her First Communion this May. I am SO excited for her, I can’t tell you. I will travel to be there, to witness her on this special, special day in her life. Oh, I know children don’t always fully understand the vast reality of what a gift this is, for them to be able to participate fully at the table of the Lord, from that day forward. I know they are a child, and have not yet experienced or comprehended all that this means for them. But it is, prayerfully, a very crucial milestone, in the spiritual journey we are called to follow. I have faith, and pray regularly, that she will grow closer to God, with each precious day of her life. And that one day, she will feel what I do, when receiving, and becoming one with Jesus. Perhaps she will feel something quite special inside. A magic she cannot explain. Some children do!! But one day, God-willing, she will be old enough, and have an open heart enough to know, just what that feeling inside is. It is not a figment of the imagination, or sugar rush. But the love of Christ and the movement of the Holy Spirit, renewing our very souls. It will be a beautiful day, no matter what the weather. (But let’s pray for sun! Remember?….He hears these little, petty prayers. He’ll decide if our petition is worthy of granting.)

Our own three little one’s will receive their Sacraments of Penance and First Holy Communion, next spring. We are preparing them, with SUCH excitement and anticipation. On both our parts, and theirs! They have waited for as long as they could talk….always asking “When can we go up too?” “How old will I be when I can receive Communion too?”. At each Mass, at Communion time, they sit back, and pull up their legs to ‘Sit like little Indians, so that all of the people in our pew can get in and out. And they seem to watch us longingly, as I glance back occasionally to check on them. What a day that will be, when we will not have little Indians in the pew any longer. My-oh-my!!

I also look forward, in this Lenten season, to spending more time with Jesus, at the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. My only quiet time with Him, is often spent half asleep. Because my children must be asleep, to have true quiet! So I intend to find the time to sneak away, and have that time with Him.

Our kids will also be taking part in this program called Lenten Adventures. In fact, they start later today! It is a free online program for kids that consists of videos, stories, prayers, activities – all as part of lessons on their faith during the Lent/Easter season. It’s free! All you need to do is sign up, and you get 3 e-mails a week, with links to everything you need. We can’t vouch for it yet, as we have never done it before, but it looks pretty good! If you are interested in checking it out for your own kids, just click on the link above. I hope it is fun and deeply educational, and helps them truly participate in their own age-appropriate way this season. I guess we’ll see!

May we ALL grow this Lenten season….as individuals and children of God…as families who hope to hold Christ as the center and core of their homes and families. May the light and love we called to, especially during this season, be a place we long to stay in each and every day, long after our 40 days are done.

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READY–SET–GO!!!!

“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.”

~ Dr. Seuss

“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”

“Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.”

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”

“A person’s a person, no matter how small.”

“Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one.”

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