***Don't forget to click "Older Posts" at the bottom to see photos from our camping trip.
Outside my window...it's so pleasant! Last night I slept with my window open and this month in general has been so delightful. I'll take this kind of July any year!
I am thankful...for parents, my parents and Mark's parents. When we need them, they are there whether it's donating stuff to our yard sale, helping run the dang thing or coming to our rescue when we are waiting in the ER with all 4 kids (more on that later), they are the best of the best.
I am thinking...the kids are really maturing this summer. Everyone is in a much better place. There is no bedtime drama, Nash stays in his room without being locked for his safety, Brooke has been putting herself to bed, and the kids are really helpful with the chores. We have fallen into a nice rhythm and it's plain to see that this crew is getting older. I'm happy about that, but sad at the same time.
In the kitchen...We got a new garbage disposal. Sound the bells and whistles!! :) Mark was a handy man when he replaced our busted garbage disposal himself for only about $100. Love that inexpensive fix for what could have been an expensive plumber house call. I knew I kept him around for something!
I don't ever want to forget...Luke saying about Nash, "It's good God gave us such a cute son." I love that he loves Nash and I love that he called him "son" instead of "brother". And also, one day Nash woke up crying from his nap, which is unusual, so I went in to comfort him and asked why he was crying. His replied, "Sometimes people just do that". He's a hoot!
I am reading...or just finished reading is more precise
Teaching From a State of Rest. It's a must read for home school moms! Luke and I just finished
Frightful's Mountain and Stella and I finished
The Boxcar Children (the first book). In the car we listened to the 3 books of
My Father's Dragon series and now we are on to
Prince Caspian from the Narnia series. I just got the
Merry Adventures of Robin Hood to read next to Brooke and Luke, but I'm kind of intimidated by the length and the big words. :) We will see!
I am pondering...how Evangelical Christians can say that the Catholic Church has erred in belief, practice or in doctrine. These two quotes from my daily reading from
In Conversation With God keep rattling around in my head...
"When people speak of the so-called defects of the Church in days gone by or in the present, they betray a mistaken understanding of the nature of this supernatural institution." and...
"The holiness of the Church is an inherent characteristic, part of her nature which does not depend upon the number of Christians nor upon the depth of their commitment to her. The Church is holy due to the constant action of the Holy Spirit and not because of the behavior of her human members." In Matthew 16:18 it says, "You are Peter on this rock I will build my church, and
the gates of hell shall not prevail." Or in St. Paul's letter to the Ephesians (5:26-27) when he compares the love of a husband should have for his wife to the love Christ has for the church. "That he might present to himself the church in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and
without blemish." It just doesn't make sense.
The gates of Hell shall. not. prevail. The so called "reformers" totally threw the baby out with the bath water!
I am looking forward to...Mark being home. He's worked so much and when he's not working we've been traveling hither and yon and it feels like forever since he's been home. He's working and then going camping with the Troops of St. George so I guess we'll see him next week. :)
I am praying...for the healing of broken hearts, a friend's dad, my nephew Dan and his bum ear and foot, my friend's baby that's having open heart surgery in the AM, several special intentions and that I may remember in the daily grind that by mothering my children I am building "cathedrals" for God.
Upcoming plans...I am leading part of the tutor training for our old Catholic Schoolhouse co-op now doing business as "
Lyceum Catholic Community" (or LCC for short) this coming week. I am happy to help and even happier that this is the extent of my commitment. :) I am hosting a dinner Saturday for the moms and kids left behind from the Troops of St. George camp out. And speaking of camping, we are also going camping again this time in Erie, PA. Should be fun, but I just hope all this traveling doesn't kill this homebody once and for all.
Here's what you really stopped by for... :)
Brooke bought a Pogo stick at our church's garage sale and she learned to jump very well in a few hours.
The Pogo "show".
Nash has been napping very well this summer! This day I let him sleep in my bed so that he wouldn't stay up and watch the kids swimming in the kiddie pool on the back deck when he should be sleeping.
Swimming in our friend's pool. I so want this, but if you've ever seen our backyard (and bank account), you'd know that was laughable.
My dad planted one pumpkin plant? seed? and it spiraled into all kinds of craziness. Maybe we won't have to pay a fortune for our pumpkins this year. :)
Brooke's cabbage plants! She started these in yogurt containers and my dad planted them in his garden and now they are big and beautiful.
On my birthday (also known as the 4th of July) we went over to my parent's house instead of the lake because we were heading to MI to go camping a few days later. We had a lovely time and now I know I prefer sleeping in my own bed without having to listen to the fireworks echoing around the lake. We went to the YMCA swimming and the kids were thrilled (even if it was only 70 degrees!).
The kids watching a movie in my mom's newly redecorated bedroom.
GF cupcakes made by my children.
I turned 36 in case you were wondering.
After our camping trip we went to the lake the following week and on the way we stopped at my cousin's house in Georgetown, KY. We really had to pass the lake, but still, it seemed "on the way" because we only had to go an extra 20 miles to get there.
Yes, that's a loom that my cousin's daughter is spinning wool to make yarn.
We love suuummeerrrrrrr!!
Luke lost two teeth this month and Brooke one. There is no eating corn on the cob for Luke.
Nash is smiling so sweetly because he's not allowed to be on top of the slide and he was BUSTED.
This is the bracelet I bought at
this cool shop when we were at the beach in May. It's made out of spoon handles and I wear it almost every day.
The "swimming" practice Nash did with his life jacket at the beach house pool transferred to the lake. He was so pleased with himself.
The kids surprised Mark and I one morning by not only making breakfast for themselves (eggs and cereal), but they brought eggs to us like Mark brings me breakfast while I'm in the bathroom getting ready when he's home. They even cleaned up after themselves! Having the kids do chores is really paying off! They were rightfully very proud of themselves as were we too.
The boat gas station also known as "Ruby's".
They have dogs to pet which comes free with the overpriced convenience of getting gas on the lake. :)
When Mark is doing any kind of job, such as getting gas, Nash can be found in his hip pocket.
Brooke got up skiing for the first time ever...
and then her worries kicked in and she let go.
Best $20 slide we've ever bought at a garage sale.
You may notice that I am wearing a jacket on the dock. I told you this July has been crazy pleasant. Here I was helping the kids fish while Mark was lounging in the boat assuming my photographer duties. I was ripping worms apart which is so creepy, but necessary. Mark's resume of manliness does not include fishing or worm ripping.
Washing worm guts from beneath my fingernails.
It was rainy and cool so we ended up staying inside more than usual and taking Brooke and Stella for hair cuts at the local Dry Ridge Great Clips. It was a very good use of time! :)
Last weekend we participated in our neighborhood garage sale. My mom and I organized the basement recently and had a huge pile of stuff to sell as well as stuff my parents got rid of and Mark's mom gave us lots of stuff too. This is 1/4 of the stuff as we sold 3/4 of it on Friday before noon and so then on Friday night I did another sweep of the house and got rid of even more! I love purging. I think I love it as much as I love thrifting. Two days later all but 3 small boxes of stuff were left to donate and I had $1000 in my pocket!! The money is going towards a new kitchen table which should arrive by the end of next month. It was exhausting, but totally worth it! A new table, people!!
Brooke scratched the itch to have a lemonade stand. After 30 minutes she was bored, so I don't imagine I'll have to shoot down requests for a lemonade stand in the future. :)
This week we went bowling. It was Nash's first time and oh, my goodness! he was adorable. Your eyes are not deceiving you, on his first turn, he took the ball to the line and kicked it. I almost peed my pants.
More precious than words could ever say. This kid was thrilled to be bowling.
He quit trying to kick it in favor of rolling, but once it did not make it down the lane. Mark gave him a little help after that.
We bought a loft from our neighborhood garage sale for $20 for Brooke's room. We split the cost. Mark put a fresh coat of paint on it and now it's good to go. She loves it, so we love it. Her room is so much cleaner with the loft and the fact that now she's been able to let go of stuff. The hoarding has gotten so much better with medication and her room is the proof.
A trip yesterday to Parky's Farm resulted in a trip to the ER.
The kids had a blast playing in the play barn for over an hour and then we took a break for lunch. I ran to the car to grab our cooler while the kids played on an outdoor playground and when I got back they were strangely all seated on the edge in a row. Come to find out, Nash had fallen (none of the kids saw him) and he busted open his chin. The kids were so helpful and responsible in the way they handled the whole situation. Another mom gave Brooke paper towels to hold on it and she had everyone sit down and wait instead of sending Luke to get me because she said, "We didn't need anyone else falling and getting hurt."
Brooke told me later when I complimented her on her quick thinking that the ideas just kept popping into her head about what to do. I explained that the Holy Spirit was guiding her and helping her in a time of need. When I got a good look at it, it was one of those moments where I had that sinking feeling that we were going to have to get some medical help. We ended up in the ER for stitches. Thankfully, Mark's mom was able to pick up Nash's blanket, pacifier and the iPad on her way to the hospital to take the big kids home so we didn't all have to wait.
We were in and out of Children's Hospital in no time. There was one other family in the waiting room so we were called back in about 5 minutes. They took off the band-aid I put on and replaced it with a new one with some special numbing gel. He watched Netflix on the iPad for 45 minutes while the gel worked it's magic.
A team of 3 ladies came in and got to work. One doctor, one assistant and one to distract although we didn't need her because I held the iPad upside down over him and Nash was cool as a cucumber. He was totally numb and he laid totally still while he got stitched up. When he was finished they gave him a Popsicle and he looked at me and said, "These are only for the small people, not the moms." Got it, Nash!
Eight stitches later we were back home. This picture totally grosses me out, but I am thankful this is the first time in almost 10 years of parenting that we've had stitches or any accident related trip to the ER for that matter! This was the best case scenario and I feel totally blessed with the way everything worked out so well.
Nash was most upset about having to leave the farm before we had done all we set out to do. "But we didn't see the animals!" He also told me that he'll feel better in the morning and he was right, this morning all was well in his world. He gets them out in 5 days which is easy enough since Mark's dad is going to save us a trip to the doctor. It's nice to know people. :) Tomorrow we are heading back the the farm to see the animals and to finish what we started. Hope we don't end up back in the ER!
