Say it like it is.....

Sarah: "Sometimes I just wish we had a rooster to listen to make noise, instead of Max."

Max has entered that full of energy, everything is exciting, everything I say needs to be a yell, unless I'm really yelling and that is a scream, I like to bang things loudly, and make noise all the time stage. It is hard on the ears, but it is so fun to watch. I forgot how lively toddlers are at this point and how exciting every little thing is...like catepillars, leaves, and silverware. His siblings laugh at his antics, but it is VERY LOUD!

Happy Easter

We had a very holy Holy Week and are now celebrating our Lord's resurrection. Happy Easter to all!

Top Ten

Following a good friend's lead, I've decided to sum up the last month-and-a-half with a top ten list of what's been happening. We've been soooooooo.....busy!

10. Sarah turned eight!!! How did this happen? The time is going by so quickly. It seems she was just a wee little thing sucking her fingers and carrying around her pink blankie with pig-tails in her hair. While we sometimes still get pigtails, she is now a young lady volunteering her time with the elderly, caring for her siblings, working on crafts and helping me around the house. How thankful we are for her.

9. Grandma and Grandpa Army came to celebrate Sarah's birthday with us. It was so nice to have their company and special for Sarah to be spoiled by her grandparents. They got to help with the sleep over birthday party as well!

8. Grandma Tic-Tac moved in with us. We just love having her around, and the help she offers me is great. Our laundry has never looked so good thanks to her. She is volunteering at at nursing home and taking the big kids with her which is such a wonderful experience. Max is loving her dog Bogey, and the kids are making wonderful memories with their grandma.

7. Uncle John drove Grandma to us, so we got a nice little visit with him as well.

6. Uncle Jay and Maria came for a visit. The kids loved "crazy Uncle Jay". They "learned" all kinds of new songs which we are now trying to phase out of our repertiore....the kids loved Nina, Maria's 4 year-old granddaughter. It was nice for Sean to have a playmate his size.

5. We danced our heart out the week of St. Patrick's day. Apparently that is quite a busy week on the Irish dancing circuit. It was great to see all the progress the kids have made and Sean's little toes are itching to dance next year.

4. The transmission on my van broke. BIG bummer. We spent over a week with three drivers and one car....and four kids. I was very thankful when the car was finally fixed....although I will be more thankful if I never have a car repair bill that enormous ever, ever, again.

3. Three drivers and two cars leads, eventually, to three drivers, three cars. Patrick is now the owner of a charcoal colored Ford Explorer. It is quite a man's car, although the whole family has ridden in it on several occassions as it seats seven. There is a towing package on the car.....Patrick can't wait to tow something.

2. We Crossfit! I started working out right before Christmas and Patrick has joined me at the gym for about the last month. We wake up at 5:45 and hit the gym a bit after 6am. I love it! It reminds me a bit of high school sports. The workouts are crazy and intense. It is circuit type program utilizing all the muscle groups and functional movements (ie...no bicep curls, etc). You work out as hard as you can, as fast as you can, and then post your time on the board for all your gym-mates to see. Patrick is putting on muscle much more rapidly than me, but I can say I haven't felt this great....since about high school. I can now do boy pushups and I just did my first solo pull-up without the cheater's rubber bands. One of my favorite exercises is hitting a huge tire with a sledge hammer or pulling tire from a chain around your waist while you run. Best of all....I have yet to vomit due to a workout...apparently that happens at the gym...we'll see. Crossfit is a nationwide chain, check out the crossfithickory website for interesting pictures.

1. We're headed to the Bahamas....without the kids! We're very excited for a few days away as Patrick has a conference and I decided to tag along. I'm also quite nervous to leave the kids behind....We leave for 4 days near the end of this month. I'm making lists and trying to prepare the house, refridgerator, freezer, and kids for this adventure. I pray we enjoy ourselves and can relax without worrying too much about the kids back home. I'm praying even harder the kids are ok, have fun, behave, and no one gets sick while Mom isn't there.

Oh yeah... we do lot's of yard work like moving trees. Neighbors with tractors make that easy work. The boys loved that.

We homeschool

One of those days...Enough said.

On The Mend

We were struck by a nasty stomach virus this past week. First Max, then Sean, then Mom, then Luke/Sarah, and finally Dad. Everyone is now back to normal but I decided to blog few photos and some memories. (These are the kind you want desperately to forget, but better not!)

Things to be thankful for during "the pukies":

1. Babies to hold, even when it involves lots of vomit.

2. A warm house and the ability to adjust the temperature when needed. This was necessary when a baby needed several baths during the night.

3. A washing machine and dryer that wash clothes so I can go rest "until it is time to repeat".

4. Cleaning Products that make you feel like you got rid of the germs (and smells) even if you very likely didn't.

5. A wonderful husband who jumps up, just as you do. And even better, one who eagerly jumps in the shower with sick babies and wipes them clean....so that mom can handle the laundry.

6. Very thankful that I don't have to deal with tragic diseases like cholera and the like. I'm so not cut out for that. However, I did say silent prayers for all the mothers who do have to deal with such things.

7. A large quantity of jammies for each child. They came in quite handy.

8. A husband who willingly took a sick kid to work to check a patient, while mom took big kids to the library...because I promised them. (We happened to be out shopping when the pager went off and the four year-old noted his tummy hurt)

9. The coaching abilities of a husband. Not only can he coach sports, but he can teach a 4 year-old how to vomit...and somehow make it into a game.

10. For God's wisdom in allowing me to be sick and home with the little ones on Sunday. Husband had the big kids at Mass. He dealt with Sarah going unconcious at church. He did tell me how blue she turned, and how he had to carry her out. Again, I'm so not cut out for that.

11. For God's wisdom in allowing me to be sick and home with the little ones on Sunday. Husband had to watch Luke serve as an altar boy at Mass....on the altar....deep breathing....turning green. Luckily he didn't puke. (He told us he felt fine. He insisted he go and serve Mass) Again....I'm not cut out for that. I would have stressed the whole time.

12. For friends who call and email to check on our recovery. Some even brought a bag full of movies, crayons, coloring books, jello, and popsicles.

13. For a babysitter who is so graced beyond her 13 years. She rode home from church with our family to hold a bag for Sarah and help her if need be. Luckily that wasn't needed. I could not have done that at 13.

14. For feeling better...for smiles and hugs.....for pink lips instead of blue...for a family to care for.

Time Well Spent

Assigned work: 3 lessons in Henle Latin (comprehension activity, translating into latin, vocabulary)

What was accomplished: The "play kitchen" was organized. Meaning the appropriate foods were placed in the proper location....freezer, cupboard, refridgerator. In addition, the food was placed in such location, left to right, in alphabeticl order. My student must have forgotten we have a 1 1/2 old destoyer in this house.

Thought: Since it was organized alphabetically, can I count that as school work?

A scarf?

She is learning to knit from kind friends who are willing to teach. I think this may be a scarf. I stand corrected....it will be baby doll scarf. It is fun to watch Sarah try to learn all things domestic. She wants to sew, knit, crochet....too bad I can do so little. Crafty friends are a blessing.