Big boy footsteps

As mom's we all have our sturggles in handing over our "babies" into the world of big kids. I find myself in that struggle with my little guy. No longer a baby, he wants to do everything, "myself". I can no longer put him in or take him out of the car...he does it "myself". He climbs in and out of the highchair..."myself". He walks up the front steps..."myself". And when I fight the tears watching him grow, I call him over to give me a kiss....and he giggles and runs away "no...no...no" most of the time. He yells with joy..."I did it" to every new feat. He prefers playing with his siblings much more then mom. I do not recall the last time I saw him without a ball. They go everywhere with us now, golf balls, baseballs, basketballs, golf clubs too sometimes! While it is very exciting to carry on a full-fledged conversation with my guy, and hear him say "sorry" and "yes sir"----we are working on ma'am, after reprimands, I miss my snuggle bug. So everything about Sean is now big boy, except shoes. I refuse to allow him to wear big kid tennis shoes...to me that is the end of babyhood, and I'm just not ready. Take a look at his shoes...the new shoes. They looked like this 3 days after purchase. Sorry Grandma, but we will wear them until we out grow them. Maybe then, I will be ready to be the mother of an officially "big boy"!

Off with their hair!

Well, it is officially summer for the Kelty's. The boys have been buzzed! I can only take so many sweaty, little grubby boys for so long, and then I snap! First came the dog....you can't tell just how short he is in this picture. But, my big, fluffy, sheepdog-like dog is now a skinny twerp. Patrick is concerned he is malnourished, but I'm sure he is fine. He no longer brings all the leaves, and live oak tree pods in from the yard. Thus I no longer vacuum 5 times a day. Yay for me. Luke was next in the "trim" department. Then came little Sean. After leaving swimming lessons, someone asked if Sean took them too....um...no that is just his sweat covered head looking like he was doused in water. Off with his hair I say.

Easter

We had a blessed Easter and hope you all did too. It was a busy time as we returned from our vacation. We had an egg hunt at a local vineyard in town. It was a beautiful day spent with maybe 150 other people. The in-laws of friends own the vineyard and it is a thing they put on yearly. Imagine a scene from your latest Pottery Barn magazine.....and a bunch of little black gnats flying around! Then we entered Holy Week which I have concluded is my favorite week of the year, but most exhausting as well. We spent a quiet Monday and Tuesday around the house thinking of Jesus and trying to do good deeds in order to remove the thorns from our crown. (This was an idea we worked on all of lent. I made a crown of thorns--toothpicks stuck in a brown paper plate) For any unsolicited good deed, the do good child got to take out a thorn because those deeds where helping to relieve Jesus of some suffering. Perhaps next year we will work on Patrick's suggestion....jab the thorns in the crown for every mean deed....or maybe not.

Anyhow, we had some work to do Holy Week to have our crown to the desired "empty" by Easter. On Wednesday we went to a Byzantine Catholic Church for their chrism service (where they bless the holy oils to be used during the upcoming year) It was quite long-over 2 hours- but the kids did great, and we enjoyed the chanting and beautiful music and incense. Thursday I had a brainstorm.....we needed to celebrate Passover dinner as Jesus and his Apostles did. So I searched several grocery stores for lamb shanks (I have never cooked lamb before). The kids and I cooked the afternoon away...lamb, unleavened bread, grape juice, bitter herbs, apples and nuts.....I tried to do the best rendition I could. We discussed Passover at the dinner table that night and then went to Mass that evening. The kids love this Mass where we hear about the institution of the Priesthood, the Eucharist and the washing of feet.....the kids always hope they will be picked, but they didn't mind watching the others have their feet washed. Then we spent some time before the Blessed Sacrament. Then on to Good Friday. We decided to make an effort to be solemn and quiet from 12-3. Sean took a big nap, so that was easy. The kids and I colored our stations of the cross and posted them around the school room and then made our way of the cross in prayer. At 3 we went to a service at church. It is Sarah's favorite as she asks at various times throughout the year when she can kiss the cross......well she won't remember it this year as her head hit the pew in sleep about 5 minutes before we got to that part. Easter was ever joyful, with Mass and ham, mashed potatoes, collards, asparagus, and candy. We spent that afternoon at the ballpark watching the Riverdogs.....an interesting tradition in the making....hmmmm...... Anyhow, I am still tired from last week......I wish the kids were. They are still on a candy high I am afraid. Here are some pictures of the gang.

I did it!!!!

While this is one of Sean's favorite sayings at the moment (imagine loud yell, proud smile, hands clenched in the air as he masters a new feat), this time it is for myself. And only other moms will appreciate it, but here goes. Today, I accomplished everything on my to-do list! I don't remember the last time it happened, and frankly I fear it may not happen again for 16 or so years. So this entry will log my day and what I got done. First, let me acknowledge that I hate that I still try to accomplish my to-do list. I realize that being a fun, loving mom comes first (or make that second to a fun, loving wife...uh hmmmm.....) I struggle to let go of the housework, errands, and "stuff of daily living". It is a battle I admit exists for me and I am working to tame the "crazy demon woman" within who just wants to check off the stuff on the list. There are some days when most of the stuff gets done, but I crumple into a heap of "mom guilt" at night as I think of the time I squandered on things other than the children, who are growing much too fast. Then there are the days when the kids and I have a fun time, but I have trouble falling asleep as I ponder the messy state of affairs in the kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, etc.

But, here was today. I got up at 4:45 and was at church by 5 for adoration. I spent an hour in prayer (this normally falls as Patrick's Wednesday morning duty, but he was tired, and has a big test, and I can always use points in my "fun, loving wife" tally--so I went for him). I was at home by 6 for a jog with the dog (again, not my usual thing, but I am trying to make it that...too much Easter candy or something!!). It rained on our jog, so I gave Bosco a bath when we got home. I finished my exercising, cleaned the bathroom that smelled like dog and showered by 7:30. Did the wake-up, day clothes, breakfast, kid thing. Dusted, vacuumed, swept, and mopped the house, did two loads of laundry. Made a snack for the kiddos (I swear they would eat all day!) We did school, including are new subject (how to read music) and tried a bit of piano--eek, I can play with one hand, but not two. We had lunch. I paid bills. We went to the Children's Museum (this usually dispels any mom guilt for the day). We had dinner (wendy's takeout since the chicken I was planning to make refuses to thaw!). We had baths, read books, and were in bed by 7. It never, ever happens this way. Thank you God for miracles like this!

We're Back

We just arrived home from vacation. A week and Grandma and Grandpa's house and a quick stop in Cincinnati. We had such fun. The kids love to visit with "the family". The weather was better than expected, sunny and 70's for the week. Apparently we didn't need the winter coats, hats, gloves, and long sleeved shirts that I packed. Go figure! I think I am finally reorganized here at home following the loads of laundry, grocery shopping, mail sorting, etc that follow any trip. Now I have time for the other things in life....like trips to the library that my 6 year old begs for...daily. I cannot keep enough books in this house to last multiple days for Luke. I am so happy he loves to read, but so unhappy that I have to take my 2 year old to the library, again. I will have Luke looking for his books, Sarah looking for her books, and Sean taking any book possible off the shelf, or playing with the water fountain, or dumping out the box of crayons, or playing hide-and-seek along the shelves. I work up a sweat long before the trek out of the library, which entails trying to get a 2 year old to hold my hand, finding my keys, and helping the other 2 carry out arm loads of books which we'll try not to lose before we do it all again in 3 days. I also have to iron pokemon cards. I don't know if this will work, but it is my only idea to salvage cards that went through the laundry. Oh yeah, I have to iron many articles of clothing as well, but for some reason, the little people only care about the cards! So hence there is no picture with this blog entry. I hope to get to that in several days...as long as I'm not at the library.