tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17011559383431674602024-03-05T19:33:12.034-06:00Consecrated HousewifeConsecrated Housewife ~~ solemnly dedicated for the high purpose of the vocation God has given meAmy @ Consecrated Housewifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00388283707930930940noreply@blogger.comBlogger103125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701155938343167460.post-61180096639927232012018-03-15T11:19:00.001-05:002018-03-16T06:58:09.841-05:00Raising of a Large Family<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Bandwagon, anyone? So I haven't posted in a really, really long time. My poor neglected blog really needs an update. BUT, I've enjoyed reading posts from <a href="http://thisaintthelyceum.org/a-big-family-balancing-act-juggling-it-all/" target="_blank">Kelly</a>, <a href="http://martinfamilymoments.blogspot.com/2018/03/the-care-and-feeding-of-big-family.html" target="_blank">Colleen</a>, and <a href="http://www.aknottedlife.com/2018/03/this-is-how-we-do-it-big-family-style.html" target="_blank">Bonnie</a> on how they "set up the pins and knock them down" at their houses. This post will just end up serving as a snapshot of our current life, I did a similiar post a number of years ago <a href="http://consecratedhousewife.blogspot.com/2013/07/five-favorites-organization.html" target="_blank">here</a>, but that was when the kids were younger. Here's what life looks like in our family now...<br />
<br />
<b>1.</b> <b> Laundry</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgllOylWc7Z9wBnogzrDU0p2QcpFKdRB_FWR5ZALqubrrbt1j0iCASI8LRf__dW6qjP7fJXpxOM2ve1PPdB8iBVL6xQr6DJG8pdVa56-CS-y3p0PDNNWxydRi_N9Q6hYIuPj2M23eYfYOI/s1600/20180314_092920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1302" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgllOylWc7Z9wBnogzrDU0p2QcpFKdRB_FWR5ZALqubrrbt1j0iCASI8LRf__dW6qjP7fJXpxOM2ve1PPdB8iBVL6xQr6DJG8pdVa56-CS-y3p0PDNNWxydRi_N9Q6hYIuPj2M23eYfYOI/s320/20180314_092920.jpg" width="260" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gertie sneaking in a <br />
photo op with a load of whites!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqrqgows0e5-mptzR5RikuhFDwDG423_ixiO76H4wWFSKcyVj0__ll8VsBH1xBZ0m0WeRf0iM9IOoB6mU7LFobNe7BaHtb1X-lPo3u81MrTskp-4RBBPuE38Ln73aHB47ck2CuXSR_aS8/s1600/20180313_145025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqrqgows0e5-mptzR5RikuhFDwDG423_ixiO76H4wWFSKcyVj0__ll8VsBH1xBZ0m0WeRf0iM9IOoB6mU7LFobNe7BaHtb1X-lPo3u81MrTskp-4RBBPuE38Ln73aHB47ck2CuXSR_aS8/s320/20180313_145025.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Uniforms</td></tr>
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There's not a set schedule to this one, I usually do one to two loads per day. The two oldest do their own (game changer). I put the younger kids together, Doug and mine, Doug's dress/work clothes, and a load of whites (which include the bath towels, which are also white). The kids who are in school have uniforms, which actually makes my life much easier. I just make sure to throw a load of uniforms in over the weekend and they have school clothes to wear all week.<br />
<br />
<br />
I don't sort colors (except I occasionally do a pink/red load). Instead everything gets washed on warm or cold. The load of whites is the only one I do with hot water and occasionally bleach. I pretty much fold and put everything away myself, sometimes the younger kids help if they're home from school. Sheets only get done if someone is sick or they look like they need it. I hate ironing so all of Doug's work clothes are wrinkle free, which I've found means you can only wash 4 or 5 shirts at a time and have them come out of the dryer actually wrinkle free. So once I have 4 shirts I throw them in a small load and hang them up right out of the dryer. The summer is a bit different because we swim almost every day. I usually hang the swimsuits in the bathroom to dry overnight and throw the towels in the dryer. Otherwise we have wet swim clothes laying all over the house.<br />
<br />
Teaching the older kids to do their own laundry was a game changer, before that I felt like I was always falling behind on laundry. This was especially useful when the oldest started scouts and Civil Air Patrol (which have uniforms that need to look presentable all the time). He's responsible for his own uniforms, I occasionally will remind him about the meetings but he stays on top of it. He learned how to iron so now he can iron his dress blues, one less thing I need to worry about. Seriously, laundry is a life skill, one I learned as a teenager when my mom twisted her ankle and ended up on crutches (and our washer was in the basement). I took over laundry duties for a couple months and after that I did my own. One less thing to learn when they move away from home.<br />
<br />
<b>2.</b> <b> Meal Planning</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTmi9c2NyTVuZMGqk7mopuCw6yUEYalawRpQpRDVhv9jpnUTUmhRCGfmT2oT0LdPnK2c2SyCd16F2xB4jYW_vZFzR-fYy1MkJZvih5ZQJm7ufLZUfZu1uljZxOJ1bDgRj222V3lFlgXIQ/s1600/20180127_095854.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTmi9c2NyTVuZMGqk7mopuCw6yUEYalawRpQpRDVhv9jpnUTUmhRCGfmT2oT0LdPnK2c2SyCd16F2xB4jYW_vZFzR-fYy1MkJZvih5ZQJm7ufLZUfZu1uljZxOJ1bDgRj222V3lFlgXIQ/s320/20180127_095854.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://cavemanketo.com/pork-carnitas/" target="_blank">Crockpot Carnitas</a></td></tr>
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This has evolved over the years. I hate shopping, but I used to do it weekly out of necessity and drag the then little kids with me. Doug, on the other hand, enjoys doing the shopping but doesn't really have time to do it. So the compromise is what we call "shopping dates", on payday I drive over and pick Doug up for lunch and we do the grocery shopping together on his lunch hour. Then I drop him back off and head home to unload and put away all the food (the homeschooled teenagers help). Bonus for the kids is I usually pick up fast food on my way home, so it's the two days a month they get Jack In the Box or Wendy's. Knowing they're going to get fast food those days has kept the kids from asking for it every time we drive by. Having a large family means sacrificing going out to eat, just going out to McDonald's can costs us over $30. We make almost all our meals at home and most of them are from scratch. I do keep frozen ravioli, frozen pizzas, and boxed mac and cheese on hand for the kids. Doug and I have been doing a ketogenic diet since last year (we've lost a combined 80 lbs and really improved our cholesterol and blood pressure), but the kids eat normal. I cook meals for Doug and I and then add side dishes for the kids or vice versa.<br />
<br />
We shop at four different stores, Aldi's by far is where we get most of our stuff. Their quality has gone way up over the years, if you haven't checked them out recently I highly recommend you try it (don't forget to bring a quarter for the cart). We shop Wal-Mart for the stuff we can't get at Aldi's and have some specialty stuff we grab from Schnucks down the street (like my coffee and white popcorn for the air popper). We also like shopping at Fresh Thyme, their peppered bacon is awesome. My MIL told me years ago that to save money on the grocery bill you really need to make up your menu by what is on sale at the meat counter. She is correct, we save a lot on our bills by making up our menu based on what meat is on sale. This is not something I would have been able to implement years ago when I didn't have as much variation in our menu. I was more in survival mode when raising babies but now I'm a more experienced cook and have had more time to experiment in the kitchen with different types and cuts of meat. I have an Instant Pot, a Ninja blender/food processor, and a double oven which makes cooking on a large scale a bit more managable. Plus I'm not nursing a baby (why do they always need to nurse during the 4:00 witching hour)?! I remember many a meal made holding a fussy 1 year old on my hip, which makes stirring mac and cheese an Olympic event.<br />
<br />
Now we make up weekly menus by looking at the ads and seeing what meat is on sale and what we have in our freezer. Doug and I head over to Schnucks or Fresh Thyme and buy whatever looks good or is on sale. We'll stock up in the freezer if it's a good special. So when Boston Pork butts go on special we'll buy 4 or 5 of them and throw them in the freezer because we use them for a crock pot carnitas receipe. If hamburger is on special we'll buy a ton, make half into hamburgers and freeze them with wax paper between them stacked four high. The other half we freeze in 1.5 lb bags to use for tacos, meatloaf or chili. Then I take them out to thaw (usually I thaw them in water an hour before I cook them). We always have frozen chicken breasts on hand, and usually pork chops or pork steaks too. Payday happens twice a month so we do two big shopping trips, but even with two refrigerators we can only hold so much. Luckily Doug's office is right down the street from Aldi's so he will occasionally stop by after work and grab more milk or eggs if we need it.<br />
<br />
<b>3.</b> <b>Dishes</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wine with groceries is<br />
always a good combo...</td></tr>
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All this cooking creates a lot of dishes! Currently we have a chore chart that lists whose turn it is to do the dishes that day. The older kids are paired with one of the younger and Doug and I take a turn on Sunday (although Doug states that this is unfair since we cook almost all the food we should be exempt from dish duty). The way it stands today the kids are on dish duty every other day. Now that the younger ones are old enough I'm getting ready to revise the dish duty chart so everyone takes one day by themselves and I'm thinking of leaving Doug and I and the youngest off the list. Toddler Boy has the job of unloading the dishwasher. Then the other four will rotate so you end up on dish duty about twice a week. I really don't want to assign myself a day since I will be helping the younger ones on their day, but I haven't gotten it figured out yet. We haven't implemented a really good dish system. It used to be a consequence that if you didn't finish your dishes from the day before you got stuck on dish duty the following day. But that led to arguments on whose dishes were whose and "when did we cook such and such" and it was a headache to enforce. I like the idea of everyone having a certain day because we can schedule the teenagers' days around their work and activity schedule. If I ever figure it out I'll have to report back, ideas welcome!<br />
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<b>4.</b> <b>General Cleaning</b><br />
<br />
Everyone is responsible for their own rooms. I take care of the master bath and the downstairs bathroom. The living room, upstairs bathroom and hallway, entryway and stairs are assigned to the kids. Sweeping the dining room and kitchen are assigned to the dish duty person. I usually clean the bathrooms the same day I wash the towels, about once a week. The other areas get swept weekly, sometime twice a week. Firstborn takes care of the pets in the house, feeding and grooming. He does this so well I don't ever have to think about it. In fact, when he goes away on trips I have to write myself a note to feed the dogs or I might forget! Soccer Boy mows the grass in the summer. Firstborn or I will usually take over his inside area to compensate for the time he spends outside mowing. Nobody gets paid for any of the maintence chores. I do sometimes pay them money for extra stuff, like cleaning out the van or shoveling snow. Both sets of grandparents live out in the country and usually have an abundance of outside work. They often pay the kids to come help them out with their bigger jobs.<br />
<br />
<b>5.</b> <b>Bill Paying</b><br />
<br />
Here's the thing, I have a Bachelor's in Accounting and Doug has a Bachelor's in Finance plus an MBA and has worked in the banking industry for over two decades. So if anyone should have their bills together it should be us. I joke that all these degrees come in handy when filling out our taxes but taking control of your finances requires a fair amount of dicipline and communication (something which young newlyweds typically lack). Many an argument we had over the bills, credit cards and balancing the checkbook! Almost 20 years married has taught us a bit about how we manage our finances, and although there are some general rules (try to stay out of debt, pay your bills on time, etc), each couple is going to be unique on what system works for them. When we were first married there was no internet banking, everything was paid by check. So I kept a list when I paid the bills and went in every couple of weeks and balanced the checkbook and made sure everything cleared. Now with online bill pay for virtually everything I write very few checks, it's all electronic. Which makes balancing the checkbook a breese since so little is outstanding at any given time. We usually sit down at the computer after putting the kids to bed and pay the bills together. Then we can talk about that pay cycle, what extra expenses we might have coming up (birthdays, car oil changes, etc). It used to be Doug or I doing the bills but by doing them together it keeps us both informed on what's going on with our finances. That way if one of us is out of town the other person can easily pay the bills solo and nothing gets dropped or forgotten. We've discovered when it's only one person's responsibility to pay the bills the other one quickly falls out of the loop. Then it becomes difficult to discuss your finances together when the need arises to pay off or consolidate debt, the one taking the backseat has to play catch up. If anything ever happened to one of us the other person is not left completely in the dark as to account balances, insurance policies, health insurance and the crazy amount of account numbers, login and password information you need to access anything. Same idea for taxes, in the beginning of our marriage I did them, then when the oldest were babies Doug took over. Now we do them together using TurboTax (I would like to point out when I did them it was all filled out by hand, multiple copies of everything because I had to file two state taxes, and mailed, ahem).<br />
<br />
<b>6.</b> <b>Clothes</b><br />
<br />
Still not got a handle on this one. We used to shop yard sales and consignment when there were some good stores in the area. But now we tend to shop the sales and buy ahead a season. So we buy the kids' winter coats for next year when they go on sale in the Spring. School uniforms are different, we buy those in the Fall right before school starts because that is when they are on sale. When we had three little boys right in a row we kept stuff and passed it on to the next kid. But I now find myself purging lots of clothes because there is just not enough room. The boys are all different sizes and now that they are older they have different taste in clothes. We always check out the sales racks to see what they have. This is another area that Doug excels in, he loves finding deals (am I the only women alive who absolutely hates shopping)? I love shopping solo at Target but hate getting drug around the Mall or Kohl's clothes shopping. I avoid the Mall like the plague (although Macy's is there and they have really good deals too). Old Navy isn't bad either.<br />
<br />
<b>7.</b> <b>Scheduling</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOuFWzaAHFA9MxWjhAkwC6FFsV5SbEDV_AY-LiFijs8vzkDfRStO3Bb2edH3RwBgMkwqgZYLFhjHX_HqQMQ8TG-_U6ts8vXMaPp8nn2Vk78DRlzgDvaqMLUMzg0U0y05HkmtB2CBZJU-Y/s1600/20170917_084253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOuFWzaAHFA9MxWjhAkwC6FFsV5SbEDV_AY-LiFijs8vzkDfRStO3Bb2edH3RwBgMkwqgZYLFhjHX_HqQMQ8TG-_U6ts8vXMaPp8nn2Vk78DRlzgDvaqMLUMzg0U0y05HkmtB2CBZJU-Y/s320/20170917_084253.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My happy place!</td></tr>
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When I worked I kept multiple calendars, my work calendar at the office and our home calendar (which was a paper wall calendar). Doug had his own work calendar and he would occasionally call and we would sync the stuff that needed it (like after hour business meetings and such). As the kids have gotten older and we've added activities the calendar is what keeps the operation running. A number of years ago when I was homeschooling all the kids I used a folder based calendar that I could carry around with me to work on in waiting rooms or at soccer practices. I merged the homeschool assignments with my calendar to keep track of everything. Now that I homeschool high schoolers they keep track of their own calendars (for the most part), I'm more hands off. Now the calendar is more important for making sure people don't miss practices or meetings and I know who needs to go where, when. I've started to make the switch to using a Google Calendar, so now I can use my phone to keep track and can access it when I'm on the go. Bonus, it will send me push notification reminders so I don't forget important meetings. I can also import other calendars (like my son's scout troop), so I know when campouts are being scheduled. The younger kids in school are now being taught how to use agendas and calendars to keep track of their homework. They start using agendas in 3rd grade. I find this a bit odd, I don't remember being "taught" how to use a calendar in school. But I recognize how important it is in today's fast paced society to know how to keep on top of your schedule. The calendar also helps me block off free time, when I see the calendar starting to fill up I know that I need to start saying "no" to new items to keep from becoming overwhelmed. The Mass I am going to attend is scheduled months in advance because I cantor and sing in the choir, so it is on the calendar (of course, it's not set in stone, if I need to I can trade days with someone). I also schedule Reconciliation, Adoration and date nights, because if those things didn't make it on the calendar they might not happen. I'm more intentional with my time and my calendar helps me prioritize what is important. At the same time I try not to be a slave to my calendar. I do have a lot of responsibilities and there are a lot of moving pieces with a larger than normal family, but I still want to leave room for God to operate in my life. I strive to be God's instrument in this world and being a wife and mom is a part of that, but I would hope that if God had something He needed me to do I wouldn't ignore Him for the sake of the schedule! The calendar is a tool to help me create the free space and quiet He needs to operate in my life. Nothing more and nothing less.<br />
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<i>There you have it, I'm linking up to Kelly on this not-so-quick post on how we do things around here. Head over to her link up to find more <a href="http://thisaintthelyceum.org/a-big-family-balancing-act-juggling-it-all/" target="_blank">Quick Takes</a>...</i>Amy @ Consecrated Housewifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00388283707930930940noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701155938343167460.post-13734573369772494732016-12-02T16:53:00.001-06:002016-12-02T16:53:15.107-06:00SQT - Advent Arrives<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>1.</b> Advent is here! Which means Christmas is around the corner, so I'm trying to stay ahead of the craziness. I don't have our holiday letter done or the Christmas cards made out yet. A bit behind because there have been years that was done before Thanksgiving...<b>BUT</b> I do have some of my gifts purchased. So that's something. Also, the tree made it up the weekend after Thanksgiving. Having some technical problems...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d_KRzWWYKNI/WEDhifrzFLI/AAAAAAAAC8Q/zRPtKyDXaiQF2jN95RpBbT0MVa06T0ENwCPcB/s1600/20161128_171417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d_KRzWWYKNI/WEDhifrzFLI/AAAAAAAAC8Q/zRPtKyDXaiQF2jN95RpBbT0MVa06T0ENwCPcB/s320/20161128_171417.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1/2 colored, 1/2 white</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1/2 white</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We have one of those light strings that change from colored to white (on a separate circuit). So when I plug the top "white light" only set into it they will only turn on if the colored button is switched. I seem to recall having this issue before but can't quite remember how it was resolved. I had to put the tree together <i>twice</i> this year. I'll blame it on the younger kids because this is the first year I let them help with that part and we missed the very bottom row...which meant we had to take it completely apart and start over. Maybe I should consider a real tree next year?<br />
<br />
I went out and purchased a new tree topper since our angel one is not working. Actually I <strike>lost</strike> misplaced the plug in adapter (details, details). Considering moving the tree out of the window and to the corner. I like the <i>idea</i> of the tree in front of the window but realistically our living room flows better if it is in the corner.<br />
<br />
<b>2.</b> I know, I know, it's Advent. Catholics everywhere are groaning. However, I was raised Protestant so I have no issues with putting a tree up before Christmas. If the tree doesn't make it up after Thanksgiving it sometimes doesn't get done until right before December 25th (I understand that is the tradition in some families but it's just too late for me). I am really enjoying all the Christmas music on the radio and the choir will soon start practicing the songs for the upcoming season. Those songs are some of my all time favorite to play on the piano too. I miss playing on a regular basis. Maybe I should take lessons again (Christmas present to me).<br />
<br />
<b>3.</b> I'm reading Heidi Hess Saxton's new book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Advent-Saint-Teresa-Calcutta-Meditations/dp/1632531348/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1480645158&sr=1-1&keywords=advent+with+saint+teresa+of+calcutta" target="_blank">Advent with Saint Teresa of Calcutta</a> for my devotions. I'm only a few days in, obviously, but liking it so far.<br />
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Speaking of books, we just finished <i>The Adventures of Tom Sawyer</i> during our Read Aloud time in the homeschool. I finally started including the Read Aloud in our morning routine and it has really made a difference. We've been doing Read Aloud time for years but I always had it on the schedule after lunch. Frequently something would come up and we wouldn't get it in, which meant we couldn't get through as many books as I would have liked. This year I moved it to our morning routine and that has worked out much, much better. We just started <i>The Best Christmas Pageant Ever</i>, which is a shorter story so we'll be able to finish it before we break for the holiday. I was considering doing <i>Watership Down</i> next but I think it is too long for Read Aloud. If we do something with too many chapters the boys start losing interest before it's finished.<br />
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I'm sure most of my readers know all about this, but if not Sarah over at <a href="https://amongstlovelythings.com/" target="_blank">Read Aloud Revival</a> has a great website with reading lists and lots of information.<br />
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<b>4.</b> We are preparing to do a major kitchen renovation after the holidays. The plan is to relocate the kitchen upstairs (it is currently downstairs). It was originally upstairs when the house was built but the previous owners moved it. Since we're doing a lot of the work ourselves it will be a major job but at least I won't be without a kitchen while we're in the process. Years ago we did some work on our current kitchen which meant we were unable to use it for a few weeks (which felt like a month). There was drywall dust everywhere. I love the finished product but really hate the process. Just watching Fixer Upper stresses me out.<br />
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<b>5.</b> Did lots and lots of baking over Thanksgiving, my family rejoiced! We still have two turkeys in our freezer. I had some help with the pumpkin pies...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mommy's helper!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turkey, rolls, stuffing and twice baked potatoes</td></tr>
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I ended up with white hand prints all over the cabinet and flour on the floor (how did that happen)? I should have had my dear hubby do clean up because Princess came into the kitchen and told me "Dad said we should come down and help you make the pies". So he could watch Netflix in peace (priorities). But they are cute helpers so all is forgiven.<br />
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<b>6.</b> I volunteered in our youngest's kindergarten class, the theme this week was The Gingerbread Man. They made gingerbread houses...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Always a treat!</td></tr>
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<b>7.</b> Whipped up a batch of my oldest son's favorite holiday treat...<br />
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We'll be going to our friend's Christmas open house this weekend and the recipe is courtesy of her. You can find it and more on Rhonda's website <a href="http://christmasnotebook.com/" target="_blank">Christmas Notebook</a>. I know I've mentioned her before, she teaches a class every year through a yahoo group on how to prepare for the Christmas holiday. The class starts Aug. 1 but you must join the group Feb - July. She taught me how to set up my own Christmas notebook back when Firstborn was a baby and I continue to use it to this day to plan my holidays.<br />
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<a href="http://christmasnotebook.com/2007/12/18/candy-jumble/" target="_blank">Candy Jumble</a><br />
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24 oz pkg. vanilla almond bark<br />
2 c. mini marshmallows<br />
2 c. Reese's Puffs cereal<br />
2 c. Rice Krispies cereal<br />
2 c. peanuts<br />
12 oz pkg. M&M mini baking bits (or regular M&Ms work too)<br />
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Mix together the marshmallows, cereals, and nuts in a large bowl. Melt the almond bark in the microwave at 50% power for about 3 minutes. You'll need to check it with a fork and stir it because almond bark holds it's shape when melted. Pour the melted almond bark over the cereal and mix (work quickly) then add the M&M's last and stir until just mixed.<br />
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Spread out flat on two pieces of aluminum foil to harden then break apart and eat or dump in a plastic bag to save for later. Yum!!<br />
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<b>8.</b> Bonus Take!!<br />
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Because the trailer for the upcoming movie <a href="http://www.theshack.movie/" target="_blank">The Shack</a> came out this week! Super excited to see it in March. I would rate this book as one of my top 10 books of all time. One of those books you can come back to and reread and discover more there than the first time you read it. There's a lot of depth to it. <b>Caution</b>, the story, in part, revolves around an abducted child so it is not an <i>easy</i> read. But it is very good. I would argue that the book has to take you into the depths of the characters' pain in order to reveal truths about God and in part answer the question "why does God allow suffering in the world". It's about forgiveness and redemption. The book was written with the screenplay in mind, I can't wait to see how God will use it to transform people's hearts. Here's the trailer...<br />
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<i>Enjoy your weekend!! Much thanks, as always, to <a href="http://thisaintthelyceum.org/sqt-keeping-anonymous-with-the-simpsons/" target="_blank">Kelly @ This Ain't the Lyceum</a> for hosting. Click over to check out more 7 Quick Takes.</i>Amy @ Consecrated Housewifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00388283707930930940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701155938343167460.post-41402856936029068442016-11-30T09:22:00.000-06:002016-11-30T09:22:16.987-06:00How We Homeschool - High School EditionI was looking back over old posts and realized it's been a while since I've done one of these homeschooling posts. When I was in the trenches of teaching only elementary kids I recall dreaming about the days when homeschooling would be "easier". When I didn't have little kids running underfoot, toddlers to entertain, babies to nurse and nap times to arrange. When the older kids could be more independent learners...<br />
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I hate to burst any bubbles but the reality of homeschooling middle and high school is not exactly what I envisioned. Life never is, right? This is a long post, but it's also real. I don't want to sugar coat homeschooling, it is an educational choice and one that works for our family. But for transparency sake I wanted to share what our days look like now that we have two high schoolers in the mix, the good and the struggle. Homeschooling isn't necessarily "easier", it's just different.<br />
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First off, I'm still facing a learning curve myself. I've taken Chemistry, but it's been quite a few years. I don't tend to use that stuff in my everyday life. Teaching at the high school level is like taking a refresher course on everything I've forgotten since college. Teaching phonics to a first grader takes <i>patience</i>. Teaching chemistry to a high schooler takes patience and a bit of review. Not that I have to be an expert in all the subjects but when my kids have questions I have to know where to direct them to find the answers.<br />
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Speaking of those high school subjects...gone are the days that we could get up early and fit all our schooling in before lunch. My older kids are studying four to five hours a day. Sure, if they could go hard core four straight hours and didn't need my input on anything we could pull it off. But that's not realistic. On a day we have something going on (like next week when we'll spend a couple hours at the trampoline park with some other area homeschoolers), we'll need to plan ahead to stay on track. That means the schoolwork for that afternoon will need to be done the day before/after or over the weekend. If there is a day I'm out (like going on a field trip with my younger kids) then the older ones have assignments while I'm gone and we have to work in time for me to go over them when I get home. I'm finding it requires all of us to be more diligent and disciplined about our schedules (which is not a bad skill to learn, something they will need in their adult life).<br />
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Speaking of field trips, we haven't been on one in ages. Again it is because of the academic schedule. My kids like having the summer break. They use it for camping, swimming, working and spending time with their friends. They don't like doing math all summer because they didn't get it finished during the school year. We tend to save the trips to the zoo, museum, theater, etc. for the weekends when the whole family can attend.<br />
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<b>Things my kids like to do during the summer besides math...</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uE1bLqBFh-c/V-Gzskf3hlI/AAAAAAAAC30/OrykMsLIbo4Mv0K3MEUpj174oMZd2VaRACPcB/s1600/IMG_1678.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uE1bLqBFh-c/V-Gzskf3hlI/AAAAAAAAC30/OrykMsLIbo4Mv0K3MEUpj174oMZd2VaRACPcB/s320/IMG_1678.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swim!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tree swing at Cider Fest 2016</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Visit Zoo with cousins</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Play at the park</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watch Cardinals Baseball!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXPt51dwrPk04gY8tP5dVzpZ-DH0quziPHwTF1muJb-zrTLyS6xKMb6zF4YAyD0HwbIKGWypem98UDsR60Y5WJDXF77FdnK0VmugXsGDEIIWFuw47ixefo5i3xiUWVdiCx1qvFHtKA0Qw/s1600/IMG_1732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXPt51dwrPk04gY8tP5dVzpZ-DH0quziPHwTF1muJb-zrTLyS6xKMb6zF4YAyD0HwbIKGWypem98UDsR60Y5WJDXF77FdnK0VmugXsGDEIIWFuw47ixefo5i3xiUWVdiCx1qvFHtKA0Qw/s320/IMG_1732.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eat fried chicken (Cider Fest 2015)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More swinging (Cider Fest 2015)</td></tr>
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Our two youngest family members are still in the public school so that means our homeschool sort of revolves around that schedule. This helps to keep me a bit more sane. If the younger kids are off school I tend to give the homeschoolers the day off too. My kids can rejoice that they will finally get snow days! Seriously, I use those break days to get stuff caught up around the house and try to take a break from teaching if I can. When the younger ones are home they want my attention and I am more than happy to accommodate since I don't get to spend as much time with them during the school year. I truly do miss them when they are gone most of the day.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Biology</td></tr>
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So it appears that this whole post is negative, negative, and more negative. There are some awesome positives to homeschooling high school. We have great discussions, I love debating classic literature or getting to reread some of my favorite books with my kids. Since I'm the teacher I can choose which books they read. Yes, they are more independent, so that means I can assign them work and they don't need me to be right there beside them to do it. Sometimes they have other teachers assign them work. For example, they take their science classes with a homeschool lyceum group. That takes some of my workload off, their schedule and labs are already set, I just do the grading. They also do some of their schoolwork on-line and I monitor their progress on the computer. At this stage much of my job is monitoring to make sure they're staying on top of their work.<br />
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Homeschooling is still flexible for the older kids. Normally you would take government as a Senior but I'm teaching it this semester because it is an election year. We can watch debates and talk about election coverage while it is happening. I can have them take their history, health and PE classes together. I do read alouds with my middle schooler and the older ones sit in too. In fact, this is part of our morning routine. I take my younger kids to school at 9:00 and when I return home the older kids are up and dressed and usually eating breakfast so we pray together and then start with a read aloud (currently we're reading Tuck Everlasting and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer). Then we break off, I usually work with the middle schooler while the high schoolers do their own work. I just rotate through with each of them, break for lunch, then finish up the middle schooler's work followed by the remaining high school lessons. On a good day we're done by 3:00, most days we're wrapping up around 3:30. I always end our day by 4:00 because the bus drops the younger ones off around then and I shift gears to help them with their homework and start supper.<br />
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Another benefit...the older kids don't have homework at night. They normally get all of their work done during the day so after supper is completely free. That learning curve I mentioned earlier? Teaching Chemistry is tricky this year because it's new to me. But when I teach it again in a couple years it will be easier.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Required Kindergarten eye exam</td></tr>
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Sick days are easier to manage too. If they're not up to a full day of work I can adjust their lessons to compensate. Maybe they'll break after lunch to take a nap. If they're sick for more than three school days I don't need to call the doctor to get an excuse. We schedule their annual physicals for September/October because that is when the doctor's office is not super busy (and any camp forms we fill out now can be carried over until next summer). I always hated trying to schedule their annual exams in the Spring when we were so busy with birthdays. This past week I had to take the 6th grader in for a tetanus booster (he stepped on a nail). When I called the doctor they were surprised he hadn't gotten it yet because in our state the DTap booster is one of the required immunizations for 6th grade and a majority of kids had to get it over the summer in order to attend school. I reminded them that he is homeschooled and isn't due for his annual check-up yet.<br />
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Last but not least, one of the best benefits of having older homeschoolers is that you don't need babysitters! If I need to run an errand or go out on a lunch date with my husband I can safely leave the teenagers at home without worry. Someone saw me out at lunch with Doug last week and commented "don't you homeschool anymore"? To which I replied "I'm on lunch break". Seriously, last I checked even the public school teachers got a lunch hour. She then asked what the kids were up to while I was gone. I replied they were eating lunch too and that 16 year olds are perfectly capable of eating lunch by themselves. I suppose you can't keep everyone happy! Homeschooling still requires a bit of a thick skin, even though I've been doing this for 9 years I still get the occasional odd comment.<br />
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Curriculum...if you've made it this far here's the breakdown and links (not affiliated)...<br />
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<a href="http://www.apologia.com/" target="_blank">Apologia</a> for science, Saxon for math, we use the Omnibus series from <a href="https://www.veritaspress.com/" target="_blank">Veritas Press</a> for literature/theology/history although I do additional stuff for history too. Their theology is very Protestant and can occasionally come off anti-Catholic so I watch for that and try to provide a bit more balanced approach. We're trying out <a href="http://www.readinghorizons.com/" target="_blank">Reading Horizons</a> this year for additional vocabulary and spelling, so far we like it (we use their "at home" program). Last year we did some videos through <a href="http://www.thegreatcourses.com/" target="_blank">The Great Courses</a> for some history add on and this year we're using a nutrition video series as part of our health class. In the younger grades we use <a href="http://www.allaboutlearningpress.com/" target="_blank">All About Learning</a> for reading and spelling, great for dyslexics and struggling readers. This is not all inclusive, just hitting the major stuff.<br />
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It's still a bit surreal to me that next year will be my 10th year teaching and our oldest child will be (hopefully) graduating our school! I still remember teaching him 3rd grade phonics and now he's driving and preparing to go to college. By far the biggest benefit of homeschooling is getting the privilege of being my children's primary educator. My kid's number one social network is their family, their brothers and sister are their best friends. (Not to worry, they do have other friends, they are not social hermits). The homeschool community is really a great place to raise kids. As a general rule homeschool kids are a pretty good bunch, I don't worry too much about bullying and negative peer pressure. If I had the decision to make all over again I would still choose this path, the benefits have far outweighed the costs for our family. So if you're reading this posts because you're trying to decide if you want to homeschool high school I would encourage you to try it.Amy @ Consecrated Housewifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00388283707930930940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701155938343167460.post-23420738622543223832016-11-29T13:36:00.000-06:002016-11-29T13:36:37.191-06:00Why We Don't Do Family PhotosIn case you're wondering, here's our photo shoot from last weekend...<br />
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There's always one monkey in the bunch! Hoping you all had a fun Thanksgiving weekend!!Amy @ Consecrated Housewifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00388283707930930940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701155938343167460.post-64857857740212361022016-08-27T08:59:00.002-05:002016-08-27T08:59:54.716-05:00Boundary Waters & Back to School!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>1.</b> Two of our family members just got back from a week long canoe trek in the Boundary Waters (Minnesota / Canada). <i>Confession: they actually returned August 6th but it has taken this long to download/edit pictures.</i> Plus I <i>may</i> have been a wee bit busy getting the younger kids ready to head back to school (see Take #7), so there's that. Continuing on...they paddled <b>57.45 miles</b> in 6 days and even made a brief trip into Canada. Pictures!!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally Home!!<br />(ignore child eating Krispy Kreme donut)</td></tr>
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<b>2.</b> While they were gone I held down the fort at home. No major house renovations, unless you count painting and hanging a re-purposed coat rack for the entryway. <i>Technically,</i> I did not actually hang it myself (thank you Dad). I do hang lots of stuff but this one required hitting studs so I decided to call in the expert. But it turned out great and makes me so happy, this will make getting the kids out the door in the morning so.much.easier and will also give them a place to hang all their stuff when they walk in the door. I was going to put a nice smelling candle on the shelf but then decided the odds of a heavy candle falling on someone's head if the front door is slammed is just too risky for our household.<br />
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<b>3.</b> Although they were only off the radar for 6 days the total time they were gone for the trip was almost two weeks. So to say we missed them is a bit of an understatement. I did take the other kids on a few day trips while they were gone...<br />
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No we did not see Ghostbusters, he's just fascinated with the sign! We were actually there to see the new Ice Age movie. We also rented quite a few movies from the video store because it was too hot for them to play outside much and I needed to get some decluttering done and curriculum put together for the upcoming year.<br />
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<b>4.</b> Speaking of that...we now have two high schoolers in the homeschool! I won't lie, I'm not particularly looking forward to getting the school year started. Mostly because I remember it is just a lot of work to get everyone (including myself) going. We start slow and don't throw in all the subjects for the first couple of weeks. The goal is trying to get everyone into the new routine. It probably takes about a month before things start running smoothly. A month of ordered chaos where the house sort of falls apart and the meals are bare bones as all my energy is diverted to getting the homeschooling up and running. I'm a bit exhausted just thinking about it. Received an e-mail from Firstborn's Chemistry teacher who mentioned classwork would start up soon. I think I heard an expletive cross through my mind when I saw it. So here we go...<br />
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<b>5.</b> Am I the only one who sees pinterest projects come across my screen and think <i>"that is a whole heck of a lot of work...who has time for that"</i>. For example, a cute back to school cardboard picture frame you can make after you spend what looks like 30 minutes cutting it out to look like a school bus, <b>then</b> painting it yellow, <b>then</b> painting their name, <b>then</b> adding chalkboard paint so you can write their grade on it (I'm assuming because it looks cute and not because you're planning on reusing it next year because cardboard projects do not survive 365 days in our casa...that's <u>if</u> I remember where I put it...a big IF). Add lots of tape and <i>shazam!</i> You have them hold it up so you can take their picture.<br />
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Right. I'll get right on that. Honestly I'm lucky I get a picture uploaded to Facebook. #notasocialmediaexpert<br />
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<b>6.</b> Had to call the pediatrician today and ask for a favor so our kindergartner wouldn't miss his first day of school. I hate when stuff slips through the cracks like that on my watch. I swear the amount of forms our doctor has to fill out for the kids annual check-ups is mind blowing. Seriously, I come in with a file folder full of stuff I pre-filled out for camps, scouts, sports, you name it someone has a form that needs signing. I thought I had gotten his check-up back in March because that was when kindergarten pre-registration is for our school. But no, as I was looking at my calendar today I realized I did not because it was a few weeks too early and the insurance would not have paid for it. At the summer registration (yes, I went through 2 registration processes for the same school) I asked the nurse if she had everything for him and she thought she did but was going to check her files and call if she was missing anything. I didn't get a call but last week I had this nagging feeling that I was missing something so I checked my calendar and called the doctor and sure enough...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is <i>before</i> he had to get 3 shots...</td></tr>
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<b>7.</b> The two younger ones headed off to school this week...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All smiles for first day of school</td></tr>
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The house has seemed eerily quite with them gone. There are still 4 people in the house all day but anytime more than one person is gone you can really tell the difference. Except for a slight bus mishap on the return home yesterday (he fell asleep and missed his stop) everything went well. My older ones warned Princess that 2nd grade is when school becomes "hard"...so I'm guessing everything before that is just "fun"? Hard to say, but it is funny what kids remember. The rest of the gang is still homeschooling and school officially began last week.<br />
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<b>8.</b> Bonus Take!! Because I just ran across this video on Facebook (from 2012) and thought it was excellent, especially for those of us parents in the trenches with struggling readers and/or writers. I wish I could have watched this years ago when my older ones were slogging through it. So I thought I would link this up for anyone else who'd like to watch it. I know it's a bit lengthy but I think it really does a good job summarizing many of the different issues kids can get tripped up on when learning to read and some of the ways to help them get through it. Lots of good suggestions.<br />
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Soaring not Stumbling, Teaching Struggling Readers and Spellers:<br />
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<i>That's it for now. It actually took me <b>three</b> weeks to put together one Quick Take, but I'm blaming the photo uploading and life in general. Probably why I don't blog for a living! Of course much thanks to <a href="http://thisaintthelyceum.org/sqt-how-do-we-keep-our-faith-when-bad-things-happen-to-our-children/" target="_blank">Kelly @ This Ain't the Lyceum</a> for hosting, head over and click away...</i>Amy @ Consecrated Housewifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00388283707930930940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701155938343167460.post-69403381743034550402016-07-23T13:48:00.000-05:002016-07-23T13:48:37.004-05:00Back to Blogging!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>1.</b> So....it has been too many months since I last posted, almost a year has passed. What can I say? It's been a season of silence and prayer. We attended too many funerals, one of which was a teenage friend of my older kids. I lost a friend when I was their age, so this had me reliving the experience as a parent. In some ways I think it was more difficult walking with them through the grief process than it was going through it myself so many years ago.<br />
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Although my blog was silent I was still reading and keeping up with many of yours (thank you Bloglovin).<br />
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<b>2.</b> It is hot outside!! Hot, hot, and more hot...<br />
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We are currently in an "excessive heat warning". I see people taking their kids to the area parks and zoo and I think <b><i>are you crazy</i></b>??!! I, obviously, appreciate air conditioning a bit too much. The high humidity outside just zaps my energy so we've been doing indoor projects with a late day trip to the pool thrown in. Last week we had storms roll through that took out lots of branches and uprooted trees in the neighborhood. When I took the kids out the next day they commented "why did all the neighbors decide to trim their trees at the same time"? We were blessed that our power was not out all night, some places in town lost it for days.<br />
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<b>3.</b> Our air conditioner on the van went out again last week. It went out a couple weeks ago and they recharged it and added a dye so they could find the leak. Did I mention how hot it is?<br />
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Great timing. We also found out it is a $2,000 fix if we want to keep the rear air vents going in the back of the van. In comparison, we're looking at $200 for a cheaper fix but we'll lose the back air vents. Really thinking the rear vents are not worth the additional $1,800 (granted, I don't ride in the back of the van that often). The kids may have a different opinion but they're not the ones paying for it. When I was young enough to ride in the back of a van the "rear air vents" were called "windows". Doug recalls their family always drove with the windows down and rarely ran the AC. In fact, when we were dating he preferred riding with the windows down. Nostalgic! He mentioned to me yesterday that he is almost getting used to not having AC again...which is my signal to get it fixed ASAP before he relapses into the 90's.<br />
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<b>4.</b> That sinking feeling you get when the kids ask if you purchased a "Big Hero 6" blu-ray. Um, no, why do you ask? Then they bring you a video rented from the video store <i>two or three weeks ago</i> that was not returned because it was mistakenly placed in our personal video collection. I know we've been to that store at least once or twice since then and they never mentioned the outstanding video! Sigh... (Update, it only cost me $2, hallelujah)!<br />
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Speaking of overdue fees, our library card is up for renewal and I'm considering asking if we can just get a free year because we probably paid more in overdue fees/lost item replacements last year than the actual cost of the card. I'm sure they just <i>love</i> us. When you have 5 kids and you're checking out the number of items we do being one day late costs us $2.00 (at the rate of 10 cents per item per day). No excuses since I can do the renewals on-line.<br />
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<b>5.</b> I just started reading this book...<br />
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I'm still in the first week of it, but so far I like it. A study on Divine Mercy according to the teachings of Doctor of the Church, St. Therese of Lisieux (the Little Flower). Great reading material for this Jubilee Year of Mercy. I read Michael E. Gaitley's previous book, <i>33 Days to Morning Glory</i> about this time last year. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Throwback pic from last Fall,<br />note pumpkin flavored coffee with whipping cream</td></tr>
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Really great stuff. The hardest part for me is only reading one page a day, I'm the type of reader who wants to devour the whole book at once and then go back over it and reflect piece by piece. Only reading and digesting a little at a time kills me.<br />
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<b>6.</b> My youngest did some artwork in his Sunday school class this weekend...<br />
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<b>Me:</b> Who did you draw<br />
<b>Youngest:</b> That's you and that's me<br />
<b>Me:</b> ???<br />
<b>Youngest:</b> I forgive you for last week when you dropped me off at class and told me you'd be right back but you didn't come back!<br />
<b>Me:</b> I did come back to get you.<br />
<b>Youngest:</b> You weren't very fast...<br />
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I'm glad he's paying attention in class but I think a 5 year old's version of time might be a bit different than mine. I did promise that I would not use the words "right back" anymore and let him know I would pick him up after class instead. At least I'm forgiven!<br />
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<b>7.</b> A picture from the pool...<br />
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<i>Thanks to the awesome Kelly at <a href="http://thisaintthelyceum.org/sqt-im-a-special-needs-mom-and-this-is-how-i-pray/">This Ain't the Lyceum</a> for hosting the 7 Quick Takes, click over to read blogs of people who post more than once a year!</i>Amy @ Consecrated Housewifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00388283707930930940noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701155938343167460.post-76647135698599971932015-09-18T19:51:00.001-05:002015-09-18T20:40:46.675-05:00Requiescat in Pace Mary ElizabethThe blog has been quiet lately, with the end of summer and the new school year moving into full swing. The two youngest are both enrolled in the local school districts and to attempt to keep my sanity I put our homeschool on the same calendar. Which means we actually started school in mid-August! <i>(heavy on the sarcasm, I would have liked to wait a few more weeks)</i>. I've had plenty of blog posts bouncing around in my head but before I get to any of those I wanted to get this one out there...<br />
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My paternal Grandmother, who just celebrated her <a href="http://consecratedhousewife.blogspot.com/2015/04/easter-2015.html">88th birthday on Easter Sunday</a> and her 70th wedding anniversary this past December, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday night, August 23rd at 11:00 pm. Our family attended her funeral on Thursday of that same week. Since then my extended family has been scrambling a bit because my Grandma was the primary caregiver for my Grandpa. I wanted to get this post out in memory of her, because she was such a big part of my life. I'm sure her spirit is shining down on the family left to miss her here.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grandma & Grandpa's 70th wedding anniversary!<br />
My Dad (left) and Uncle</td></tr>
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I think the thing that surprised me most about the funeral was seeing all the pictures of Grandma as a young lady. My Grandma loved to collect pictures, she kept them all in boxes and managed to keep them in perfect condition. She could pull out a picture from 1975 and it looked like she had just snapped it yesterday. I am grateful that during the last few months she had started to go thru her picture collection and pull ones out for me and my sister. She already had pictures in envelopes with our names on them.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The young couple!!</td></tr>
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Grandma was born right before the Great Depression, the youngest of eight children. She was a city girl who fell in love with a "country boy" and moved out to the middle of nowhere to raise a family with him. Grandma went out to eat with me for my birthday this past year and I asked her what was one of the best things about moving out to the country. She replied "Mom Leila's fresh cream butter". <br />
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In reflecting on her life I've thought a lot about how she spent it. She never traveled very far, never went to see the ocean. I don't recall her doing bake sales or serving on a school board. She might have done volunteer work when my dad and uncle were still young, but I don't know. Grandma didn't work a job that earned a paycheck. What she did was totally invest in the lives of those around her, in particular her family. I spent a lot of time with her as a young girl, she would always take me with her shopping or to the laundromat (before she had a washer and dryer installed at her house). She always kept my favorite snacks in her fridge. I never recall a time of her saying no to my request to spend the night at her house, she always said yes. Grandma had a magical way of having the post office deliver your birthday card on your <i>actual</i> birthday, every time. I always wondered how she pulled that off. She sent us money every year in our anniversary cards and told us to use it to go out for a date to celebrate (a tradition I'm going to have to remember when my own kids get married)...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grandma (right) and her sister</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grandma, Grandpa, my Dad and Uncle</td></tr>
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My Dad is an identical twin, and I can't identify him in the above pictures, but my Grandma could. She could <i>always</i> tell them apart in pictures (and argued that they got them switched around in their senior yearbook in high school)! Grandma didn't own a computer or a smartphone but I know she read my blog (I gave her a printed version for Christmas a few years back). She was such a beautiful soul, inside and out, I am so privileged that she loved me so much and I have the honor of calling her my Grandma.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of grandma's favorites, she'd say<br />
"those are my girls"</td></tr>
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<i><b>"We become what we love, and who we love shapes what we become"</b></i><br />
<i><b> ~~ St. Clare of Assissi</b></i>Amy @ Consecrated Housewifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00388283707930930940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701155938343167460.post-45533862662478891582015-07-24T12:11:00.005-05:002015-07-24T12:11:46.548-05:007 Quick Tips for St. Flags<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Our family used our free reading tickets this past week and headed over to Six Flags St. Louis. This was one of our better visits and my husband and I kept saying stuff like "we'll have to remember this for next year." So I'm doing a post about it that I can look back on it <i>next</i> summer when we plan our annual Six Flags outing. It's becoming a 7 Quick Takes posts so all the readers can benefit. Sorry, no pictures because I decided I'd rather live in the moment than document everything. Plus iphones and water don't mix.<br />
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<b>1.</b> Tickets!! We had three free reading tickets, one for me and we had two children in K thru 6th grade who qualified. Homeschoolers can sign up on their Read to Succeed website in October, the reading has to be done in January and February. Don't forget to log onto their site and verify their 6 hours of reading (although they send you multiple e-mail reminders). I usually verify the reading when I sign them up so I don't forget. Princess earned her ticket in school and I earned mine as a homeschool teacher with Game Boy. Six Flags e-mails you the tickets to print out. They expire the beginning of August, so you have to plan on using them in June and July. Also, they are not valid on Saturdays.<br />
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We decided to leave Toddler Boy with Grandma this visit so we had to purchase three General Admission tickets for Doug and the two older boys. There are ticket discounts on coke cans and in the McDonald's app. To use these discounts on-line they charge you a $9 processing fee. We found our best deal thru our local Farm Bureau. Members can purchase tickets at their office for $43 (as opposed to $62 at the gate). Bonus, pick the tickets up from the Bureau office and you can skip the ticket line at Six Flags and go straight to the turnstiles.<br />
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Thrill passes cost the same as a General Admission ticket (Farm Bureau sells season tickets for $60). If you're going to go to Six Flags more than once they are definitely worth the money. It might be a consideration for next year or when we have enough older children who would enjoy going more than once a year. Six Flags also has meal passes membership holders can purchase, which would be worth it if you plan on going to the park at least three or four times.<br />
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<b>2.</b> Parking costs $20 and there's no way around that (unless you have one of their gold memberships which gives you free parking). Drive to the far right lane when entering because this lane splits into three lanes at the ticket booth (which means it goes much, much faster). Not really worth it to pay extra for premier parking, if you get there when they open the general parking is just as good. Park entrance is to the right so the farther right you park the better. Also, the parking lot exit is to the right side in the back.<br />
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<b>3.</b> Weather. This was a big factor. It has either been raining or scorching hot this summer, very little in-between. Scorching hot with super high humidity is NOT the day you want to go to Six Flags. We did that one year, never again, not worth it. The blacktop in the park seems to radiate the heat, you are melting while standing in line. The water park was not even refreshing, water does not evaporate off your skin in high humidity, which is what cools you down. This year we scored a day with high humidity but temps were in the low 80s, which worked our really well. They heat the wave pool and lazy river so even with cooler temps the water was nice. Princess and I spent most of our time there while the rest of the family did the water slides. She loves wave pools. Game Boy's favorite slide is the Bazooka (the one that drops you in a tube). The rest of the gang thought the Tornado was the best.<br />
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<b>4.</b> We always do the water park first so the lines are short for the water slides. We managed to fit everything in a medium size locker for $16 but next year I might spring the extra $4 for the larger one. Then we change and go to the car to eat lunch, reapply sunscreen and head back into the park for rides.<br />
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<b>5.</b> This year we sent the older boys off by themselves to ride the roller coasters while we took the younger ones to the more tame rides. We met back at the entrance fountain in two hours (remember to send them with a watch). If you plan the trip mid-week the lines aren't terribly long but next year we might want to plan more than two hours. I have a friend who goes to Six Flags on July 4th every year and she swears the park is not crowded that day. Be careful because the free reading tickets are not valid on Saturdays, and this year July 4th fell on a Saturday.<br />
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<b>6.</b> What's up with changing all the rides? I realize this keeps things fresh and such but it can get downright confusing. The Evil Knievel coaster is now called "American Thunder" and the good old Time Tunnel was changed to the Scooby Doo ride (which added the laser guns). Now it has been reinvented to "Justice League, Battle for Metropolis". Sadly, I believe they changed that one from the beloved boat ride thru the air conditioned dark light tunnel. Now there is no water and you ride in a car on a track shooting targets with lasers. I miss the old Time Tunnel, it was kind of like going through a haunted house in a boat. I have fond memories of that one. We <i>didn't</i> get to ride the new Justice League one this year because it was down for repairs. Thankfully we had only stood in line for 10 minutes before it broke, I feel for the families who were in line for an hour or more before the shut down. Or, as Doug said, what about the ones actually <i>on</i> the ride when it went down? Six Flags got rid of our beloved bumper cars too, now replaced by a new roller coaster The Boomerang. For future reference, the first curve on the Mine Train is a hard one, make sure to hold onto little ones or they might get thrown out! Princess is <b>not</b> a huge fan of fast roller coasters. She didn't even care for the Log Flume, which is one of the original rides the park debuted when it opened in 1971. (Yes, we did ride the info train this year).<br />
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<b>7.</b> All in all, a very fun trip. The cost breakdown:<br />
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3 general admission tickets...$129.00<br />
parking...$20<br />
food for the cooler...$18<br />
McD's on trip home...$18<br />
2 drinks we bought in park...$7<br />
waterpark locker...$16<br />
1 lb. chocolate fudge purchased in park...$3.50<br />
6 suckers for kids from park...$5<br />
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For a grand total of $216.50, for a family of 6 it comes out to about $36 per person and includes the waterpark and two meals. Not bad<br />
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<i>As always, thanks to Kelly for hosting...click over to <a href="http://thisaintthelyceum.org/sqt-kids-say-things/">This Ain't the Lyceum</a> for more Quick Takes!</i>Amy @ Consecrated Housewifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00388283707930930940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701155938343167460.post-12270461979016846472015-07-16T20:41:00.001-05:002015-07-16T20:41:53.802-05:00To Love Jesus Like MaryI was watching this week's <a href="http://chnetwork.org/media/journeyhome/">The Journey Home</a> program and Father Leo Patalinghug from <a href="http://gracebeforemeals.com/">Grace Before Meals</a> was the guest. I have never heard of him, but a priest who is a foodie and has a cooking show is something I definitely want to check out. During the show Father Leo had a quote that really made me think. He said "we should love Mary like Jesus" (I've heard that before). But then he added "and we should love Jesus as much as His mother loves Him."<br />
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Hmmm, as a mom of mostly boys this quote was interesting. What does it look like to love Jesus like Mary? I grew up with one sister and no brothers so I wasn't the most qualified candidate to raise a family of boys. Seriously, some days I'm not sure what God was thinking. Over the years I've grown quite accustomed to all sorts of crisis situations (recently they had to do a search and rescue when one of the boys <i>accidentally</i> lost a tree frog in the house). Blood no longer makes me queasy either. Splinter removal has become an art form, as have my cooking skills. Now there is a special place in my mother heart for each one of my little chaos tornadoes. When I was newly married an incident happened that made me appreciate that fierce love a mother has for her son.<br />
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My mother-in-law is no stranger to raising boys, she gave birth to four of them and I married her oldest. I was her first daughter-in-law and our relationship was rough in the beginning because it was such new territory for both of us. She had come over that morning to babysit for Firstborn because Doug and I were both working full time. Doug worked in the city and I had borrowed his car the night before to go to a meeting and didn't check the gas gauge. He apparently didn't check it either and ran out of gas on the interstate about half-way between our house and his office. Doug was none too happy about being stranded on the interstate and after he called a co-worker to bring him some gas he called me at the house to let me know <i>just</i> how unhappy he was about the situation. We had a pretty heated <strike>argument</strike> discussion over the phone. I was upset because I hadn't <i>purposely</i> used up all the gas in his car. He knew I had used his car the night before, wasn't it <i>his</i> responsibility to check the tank? Newlywed life is just bliss, isn't it? I can look back and smile about it now but at the time I was angry enough to hang up on him and figured he deserved to be stranded on the road with that attitude. (Very mature of me). When his mom asked what happened and I told her she was upset and wanted me to drive her to where he was right that second to help him out. Uh, no. I'm not even talking to my husband right now and there's no way in you know what that I'm going to go help him. Besides, I told her he already had a co-worker on his way with gas and I wasn't even sure exactly where he was located. That answer was not going to fly with my now really upset in-law who was demanding I tell her where he was and SHE would go by herself (which would then leave me stranded at home with the baby until she returned). Moot point, because I couldn't tell her where he was anyway.<br />
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There's a few lessons to be learned from this incident:<br />
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<b>1.</b> It is never a good idea for a parent to come into an argument between a husband and wife. Because eventually the spouses will make up but the damage done to the in-law relationship will take more time to heal.<br />
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<b>2.</b> A mother's love for her son knows no bounds. It is a fierce and protective love, kind of like a mother grizzly bear. You don't mess with a mother grizzly bear. Ever. Nothing good will come of it.<br />
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Doug's coworker came to his rescue and I made it to work a bit late that morning. My husband and I made up that evening but it would be three months before my MIL would speak to me again. I just couldn't understand why she was so mad at me. As I gave birth to more sons and those sons grew older I started to get it. My MIL was adding more daughter-in-laws too as Doug's brothers married. I was beginning to understand her better as I looked at her actions in relation to her love for her children. When my boys were little she would watch some of their antics and tell me it reminded her of Doug and his brothers. She taught me how to cook some of his favorite meals (probably because she was afraid he would starve with my cooking skills). We frequently exchange recipes now. I became a better wife as I worked at seeing Doug the way his mom saw him. She saw him in his entirety and knew him better than anyone else. I loved him, but I only knew him as a teenager and adult. She had known him before he was even born.<br />
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When we love Jesus like Mary, it doesn't mean love Him in a "motherly" way. It means love Him with that kind of intensity, with that all encompassing passion that she has for her son. She carried Him, gave birth to Him, nursed Him and watched Jesus grow from a toddler to a strong man. She loved Him all the way to the cross and beyond. She knows Him better than any other human person and she wants us to love Him just as much as she does. As we draw closer to her she can teach us how to love Him better, just like my mother-in-law taught me. Mary was my biggest hurdle coming into the Catholic Church. As a Protestant, I figured I didn't need her. I already had a relationship with Jesus, why bring Mary into it? But that would be like me saying I already loved my husband Doug, why get to know his mom? Isn't my marriage, my relationship with Doug enough? But I didn't just marry my husband, I also entered into his family. We're part of Jesus' family, and his mom is a big part of that. As I grew in my relationship with my MIL it transformed my marriage, it helped me to love my husband and kids better. Mary can do the same thing for my relationship with Jesus if I allow her to lead me.Amy @ Consecrated Housewifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00388283707930930940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701155938343167460.post-62331591198558044272015-06-28T20:39:00.001-05:002015-06-28T20:39:47.363-05:007 Quick Takes - Monopoly & Horses<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Also linking up with Kelly for a <a href="http://thisaintthelyceum.org/sqt-after-the-storm/">7 Quick Takes</a> post. Thanks to you guys for hosting!!<br />
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<b>1.</b> I had a whole bunch of random stuff that has been going on around here so I thought I'd do a Quick Takes post and combine it with a What I Wore Sunday link-up. So here's the Sunday pictures...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTjnkZz8l4IcUIpkBOqxksZVEWAgNdE5iof9ma181kQ-k80jfBjAK_BGqR_gCr_1oMGbAcSzEDP5wvHNdodBCxxWYkQFKGMwgSB7ONkPdxicAne_4Dzf07DZnEkA_fE7gsWNHK9eip_PU/s1600/photo+%252891%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTjnkZz8l4IcUIpkBOqxksZVEWAgNdE5iof9ma181kQ-k80jfBjAK_BGqR_gCr_1oMGbAcSzEDP5wvHNdodBCxxWYkQFKGMwgSB7ONkPdxicAne_4Dzf07DZnEkA_fE7gsWNHK9eip_PU/s320/photo+%252891%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the porch...</td></tr>
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Courtesy of my in-laws' back porch swing. I had on the same black skirt I wore in my last WIWS post, the shirt is a new one I scored on sale from Kohl's. It's summertime in the Midwest (and I knew I was going to be visiting the country) so I braided my hair and had it twisted up. Doug was giving me grief that I was wearing my "Catholic bling" (miraculous medal) with the silver necklace he gave me last year. Medal is new, I picked it up when I visited the adoration chapel to do a holy hour on Friday.<br />
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<b>2.</b> I cantored my last time at 8:00am service this week. We will move to our new Mass schedule next week, the new early Mass time is 7:30am (which I happen to be scheduled for next week). Hopefully I won't wait until the last minute to practice like I did this week...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saturday around 11:00pm</td></tr>
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Rockin my daughter's pink headphones, listening to music and not wanting to disturb the little kids who were already asleep. I don't <i>normally</i> wait that long, but it's been a weird week. I was super excited that I got to sing Amazing Grace, my all time favorite hymn. I figured it was only a matter of time before it came up and today was the day!<br />
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<b>3.</b> More horse pictures...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Princess riding bareback</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXRs7zsIUrvKiO7V8OXxXFJd416Dyr5ar1UYa2kP1SMLXtHZf9YKpADNw40ACcXSDMaAsMADRJRK25jYk97yv3OgBlgLQXh434_Fm-6jGvJpN1D0Y2APZV9oMPqF_fJRT8N0Ux_5TAhr8/s1600/DSC_0109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXRs7zsIUrvKiO7V8OXxXFJd416Dyr5ar1UYa2kP1SMLXtHZf9YKpADNw40ACcXSDMaAsMADRJRK25jYk97yv3OgBlgLQXh434_Fm-6jGvJpN1D0Y2APZV9oMPqF_fJRT8N0Ux_5TAhr8/s320/DSC_0109.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They get REALLY close!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Firstborn & Savanna</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loving Princess' borrowed blue boots</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He's not particularly fond of horses<br />so points for riding</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGiThNvs1x8QrBSh5C50Y0jq0Okb-GOfQEQFhGXj0J13j4pH2NEShWgtr_EZPkE7xcZ4RLIN6K_d1MqEWZFxa8ELvV4c__cKlYxw_4Wv329JJ8yap00HBIbdnPVSEx0cMuA2OE7coztg4/s1600/DSC_0123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGiThNvs1x8QrBSh5C50Y0jq0Okb-GOfQEQFhGXj0J13j4pH2NEShWgtr_EZPkE7xcZ4RLIN6K_d1MqEWZFxa8ELvV4c__cKlYxw_4Wv329JJ8yap00HBIbdnPVSEx0cMuA2OE7coztg4/s320/DSC_0123.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dad & Toddler Boy</td></tr>
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We spent Sunday at Doug's folk's house and Princess was going into horse withdrawal so Grandma agreed to take her out to the pasture. No fear with her, she absolutely adores the horses. The older two boys commented that "the horses seem smaller since last winter". No, the horses aren't smaller, you've grown bigger!<br />
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<b>4.</b> We attended our Protestant church Saturday night and had a potluck afterwards to welcome our new pastor and his family. Complete with a bounce house, it's always nice to have something new to bribe the kids with to get them to be good through service. Added bonus, they were so worn out that bedtime was easy that night. The adult conversation was great too, it's good to be able to sit and talk with old friends while your kids run around with other kids and burn off energy. Usually it's so busy after church that it's hard to say more than hi and bye (that's if you even happen to attend the same service, we have four to choose from). My Catholic parish is also getting a new priest this coming month. What are the odds that both churches I attend are getting new pastors within the same month??<br />
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<b>5. </b> What is better to do on a rainy Friday morning? Play monopoly of course...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lPFONHRv3wc/VZCVAlEkuVI/AAAAAAAACK4/YxBEj_1pn5Q/s1600/DSC_0098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lPFONHRv3wc/VZCVAlEkuVI/AAAAAAAACK4/YxBEj_1pn5Q/s320/DSC_0098.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rolling dice</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uPmUgIr_9dQ/VZCVEO-kFII/AAAAAAAACLA/vT-0NsLJdsY/s1600/DSC_0099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uPmUgIr_9dQ/VZCVEO-kFII/AAAAAAAACLA/vT-0NsLJdsY/s320/DSC_0099.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Counting dice</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And moving!</td></tr>
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The little kids talked me into a game, which took quite awhile when allowing the youngest to count and move. BUT, great for math skills, the teacher mom in me is excited! I was the banker to help keep things moving along, Princess quit and gave her estate to Soccer Boy, I merged my estate with Toddler Boy but in the end Game Boy came out on top.<br />
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<b>6.</b> Referencing Miraculous Medal from take #1, I was glad I was wearing it this Sunday while letting Firstborn drive down to his grandparents house. It's took us about an hour and he had to go through a construction zone AND pass a tractor combine on the way and we all survived the ordeal. He's not a terrible driver by any stretch, but Doug and my nerves are about shot. And to think we have to do this <b>four more times</b>. We've logged in about 8 hours with Firstborn, only 42 more to go! I think I need to stock some heavier liquor in la casa, drink recipes welcome...<br />
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<b>7.</b> My girlfriend gave birth to her twins last month!! They are so sweet! I've been spending some time at her house helping out and holding babies...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qK0aarfTAyw/VZCKTGNnwrI/AAAAAAAACIc/hlkgCGXLTPo/s1600/photo%2B%252896%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qK0aarfTAyw/VZCKTGNnwrI/AAAAAAAACIc/hlkgCGXLTPo/s320/photo%2B%252896%2529.JPG" width="201" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Princess holding baby girl</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me with baby boy</td></tr>
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My friend is awesome and taking things in stride. She also has three other children, the oldest being 8 years old. So if you could say a quick prayer for her and her husband and family I'm sure they'd appreciate it.<br />
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<i>That's it for me, but head over to visit Kelly @ <a href="http://thisaintthelyceum.org/sqt-after-the-storm/">This Ain't the Lyceum</a> for more 7 Quick Takes and check out all the other beautiful ladies at <a href="http://www.finelinenandpurple.com/2015/06/28/what-i-wore-sunday-volume-134/">Fine Linen and Purple</a> for more WIWS posts.</i><br />
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Amy @ Consecrated Housewifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00388283707930930940noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701155938343167460.post-62769497419065399632015-06-25T09:56:00.001-05:002015-06-25T09:56:11.616-05:00Master Bath RemodelA couple weeks ago Doug and the oldest three boys headed off to camp. While they were away I asked my folks to come up and help me with a surprise bathroom remodel...<br />
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Here are the before shots...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3fm8dpon9AA/VYtXa5CI9gI/AAAAAAAACE4/6X1AkjaomcA/s1600/DSC_0018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3fm8dpon9AA/VYtXa5CI9gI/AAAAAAAACE4/6X1AkjaomcA/s320/DSC_0018.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Single towel rack and rusting curtain rod</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My daughter is an "artist"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZYF6MgAUNzU/VYtX59Ap0tI/AAAAAAAACFI/7MOdbRJ1kqA/s1600/DSC_0015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZYF6MgAUNzU/VYtX59Ap0tI/AAAAAAAACFI/7MOdbRJ1kqA/s320/DSC_0015.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Floor missing tiles<br />
Counter a jumbled mess...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsGF4SYprxA42BkfXtj7anDx9Hw5NOeldBGiCi4iTMkU-g63ANRIWXINhOwGDWFZzYgdQ0n7EuUk8jbCwjtYPprMjfo43KTbpFUkOc4FSuve6YBenzkrCG4X12g1UuMiMH-Py6sU_x1dY/s1600/DSC_0017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsGF4SYprxA42BkfXtj7anDx9Hw5NOeldBGiCi4iTMkU-g63ANRIWXINhOwGDWFZzYgdQ0n7EuUk8jbCwjtYPprMjfo43KTbpFUkOc4FSuve6YBenzkrCG4X12g1UuMiMH-Py6sU_x1dY/s320/DSC_0017.JPG" width="176" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I asked him to make a sad face!</td></tr>
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About 8 years ago we remodeled our master bedroom and in the process we enlarged our master bathroom. The bathroom floor was not completely level but we were in a hurry and didn't have time to correct it (which then caused the ceramic tiles to crack years later). Since it was in our master bathroom it was a project that was put on the back burner. My dad offered to come over and help me install a new floor and since you have to rip everything out to do that I thought I might as well go all in and do a complete makeover.<br />
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As soon as the boys headed off to camp I removed everything from our bathroom and put it in the boys' bathroom down the hall. Then dad came over and we removed the cabinet and toilet and took up the old floor. We discovered the copper pipes sat about 2 inches high so we needed to build the floor up to meet it or else the toilet wouldn't sit level. Dad did new subflooring and then he laid a floating tile on top.<br />
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I did lots and lots of painting. Painting until 1:30 am on multiple days kind of painting. Some of the pictures come off as green, but the wall color is actually a neutral beige. Installed a new toilet and a new, curved curtain rod. I kept our curtain because it wasn't that old and it happened to match the new paint color. But I did pick up a new white rug, white towels and a double towel rack. I hear what you're thinking...<i>white?!</i> I love the white, and bleach can fix anything.<br />
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Pics of the process...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4rRsvUH-75g/VYtZTyR6OmI/AAAAAAAACFc/fBJHq_lTzkY/s1600/photo%2B%252883%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4rRsvUH-75g/VYtZTyR6OmI/AAAAAAAACFc/fBJHq_lTzkY/s320/photo%2B%252883%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Primer coat done</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQarXm1T2MxN6vUxpY3abKXPiYig6UqW7J7XZhW5fdDk8BeH4O73P94VUGrHVUVY3zDb0aNOuXTa47UvUIaoGuSEjRZKXUrXFKj9oSoZlWK6bkoM4LDwucduRvP6OdAoufG_ZopAXeJC4/s1600/photo+%252880%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQarXm1T2MxN6vUxpY3abKXPiYig6UqW7J7XZhW5fdDk8BeH4O73P94VUGrHVUVY3zDb0aNOuXTa47UvUIaoGuSEjRZKXUrXFKj9oSoZlWK6bkoM4LDwucduRvP6OdAoufG_ZopAXeJC4/s320/photo+%252880%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adding the subfloor</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New color...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHAN5_czPjP2ZBa7COIryTWxOFY_b58ZuYnBIzpkEl7e7ogMMYMoIvG_1WRdY6pWAoapj__OfLPkPQJnIz5BDnABOXDi8av_l79UDX2p6eSzi-qe3lm9-yFJIQb1mgfUowfgOSxQYUrx8/s1600/photo+%252886%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHAN5_czPjP2ZBa7COIryTWxOFY_b58ZuYnBIzpkEl7e7ogMMYMoIvG_1WRdY6pWAoapj__OfLPkPQJnIz5BDnABOXDi8av_l79UDX2p6eSzi-qe3lm9-yFJIQb1mgfUowfgOSxQYUrx8/s320/photo+%252886%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New floor!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Painting over her mural</td></tr>
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We barely got everything done and the house picked up before I had to head off to camp to pick up the boys. They were impressed, Doug said he could leave town again if we wanted to do another project.<br />
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The finished product...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Cd6Xp5IHuF4/VYtZ37cOj5I/AAAAAAAACGY/vKgxKrw8LJE/s1600/DSC_0087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Cd6Xp5IHuF4/VYtZ37cOj5I/AAAAAAAACGY/vKgxKrw8LJE/s320/DSC_0087.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Added space from curved shower rod</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Floor makes me so happy!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love the white cabinets</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doubled towel bar</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dad wood worked a new piece we<br />
stained to match the floor</td></tr>
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<br />I've got to say one of my favorite things is the amount of shower space the curved shower rod adds. The illusion makes it appear that the shower is 50% larger, which is very cool. Laying the floor pattern the way we did makes the space seem bigger too. The white towels gives it a spa like atmosphere. I went with the more expensive Behr Marquee paint because we were doing a bathroom and I wanted to avoid mold. Since the plaster had never been painted (and I was covering the "artwork") I did a base primer coat before the color. Here's the specifics:<div>
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<i>ceiling & shower: Behr Marquee white interior satin</i></div>
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<i>cabinet & mirror: Behr Marquee ultra pure white interior semi-gloss</i></div>
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<i>walls: Behr Marquee interior satin MQ2-37 Eiffel For You</i></div>
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<i>floor: Allure Ivory Travertine tile flooring</i></div>
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Note to self...I was interrupted no less than 50 times trying to finish up this blog post, which took two days. Probably why I don't blog more. <i>#lifewithyoungchildren #Iwouldn'tchangeathing</i></div>
Amy @ Consecrated Housewifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00388283707930930940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701155938343167460.post-62756206168133173352015-04-19T19:04:00.000-05:002015-04-19T19:04:49.332-05:00The Mission Field - WIWS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Linking up with all the beautiful women over at <a href="http://www.finelinenandpurple.com/2015/04/19/what-i-wore-sunday-volume-124/">Fine Linen and Purple</a> for a WIWS post.<br />
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I like reading all the WIWS posts but I do not frequently link up with them because, well, I need a picture of myself. On a Sunday. I don't know how everyone else's weekends go but ours are a little bit holy, a little bit hectic with some crazy thrown in for good measure. So I find it difficult to get a self portrait for these posts. But today I had time to write up a blog post so I made the effort...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It is raining...</td></tr>
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This is the second outfit I tried out. I had a different dress picked out (thanks to cleaning out my closet recently and finding it hanging in the back). After trying it on I realized <i>why</i> it was hanging forgotten in the back. It wasn't all that comfortable. I will occasionally sacrifice comfort for the sake of style but not today. I was cantoring this morning and I know from experience to never, <i>ever</i> wear a "not real comfortable" outfit when singing. It can be hard enough standing at the podium without adding to the nervousness by wearing clothes that distract me.<br />
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The pastor at my church is getting ready to retire in a couple months. The Catholic population in my city is decreasing and because of this and the priest shortage many of the Catholic parishes are combining and having one priest serve two parishes. This is also the case at my Catholic church, so when Monsignor Jack retires the pastor at a nearby parish, Father Matt, will become the pastor for both churches. As you can guess, this is leading to a lot of restructuring of liturgical schedules, Mass times, etc. This hasn't caused a particularly emotional upheaval for me because I did not grow up in this town, attend my church's parish school or get married at this church. However many of my church family did so it is definitely a tougher transition for them. In today's homily Monsignor Jack spoke about the recent decisions made about the new Mass times. As our readings were about Jesus appearing to his disciples and telling them that they were to be His witnesses, Monsignor Jack also commented about our Catholic witness to our neighbors and acquaintances.<br />
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Yes, I know this subject well. Sometimes I feel like I'm on constant display as that Catholic convert that people know. Sometimes I feel like the <i>only</i> Catholic convert that people know. Before becoming Catholic myself I honestly knew no one who converted, except in instances of marriage. I did know a few people who became Catholic because they were engaged to someone who wanted to be married inside the Catholic Church. I associate with way more non-Catholics, usually Evangelical Christians, in my homeschool circles. I would bet that many of them are not even aware that I am Catholic. Because I also attend a protestant church with my family they assume I'm protestant. The protestant church we attend doesn't even know I'm Catholic. I volunteered to work in my youngest son's Sunday School class a few weeks ago because they were short of helpers and they asked me to fill out paperwork for a background check. I always hate filling out paperwork because my answers don't add up. It asks questions like:<br />
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<li>How long have you attended services here? <i>5 years</i></li>
<li>Are you a member of this church? <i>No, I'm a member of a different church</i></li>
<li>Church previously attended. <i>My Catholic Church, which I'm still attending</i></li>
<li>Are you an immersed believer? <i>This is a yes/no question which I would have to answer "no" because I was not baptized by immersion, nor do I believe immersion baptism is the only valid baptism. <a href="http://consecratedhousewife.blogspot.com/2012/08/infant-baptism.html">My thoughts on baptism</a></i>.</li>
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Then there's the statement of faith they ask you to sign, which is not really different than what I believe as a Catholic except for that one question, <i>Do you believe that trusting in Jesus is the only means of salvation</i>? Well, I do believe Jesus is the one way to salvation but I also believe that baptism is the sacrament God has provided to wash away sin, and that He has also given us confession as a sacrament to continually wash away the sin in our lives and as an avenue of grace to help us overcome those sins. But, again, not one of the choices. <i>Sigh</i>...<br />
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As fate would have it I have not been able to attend my family's church for the last two weeks due to staying home with sick children. So I've been able to conveniently avoid turning in said paperwork. I suppose I need to speak with someone in leadership there and get things ironed out. A post for another time.<br />
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So back to this Sunday...<br />
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Doug and I managed to squeeze in a dinner out, not quite a "date night" but better than nothing.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Took three shots to get this,<br />#needselfielessons</td></tr>
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We bribed the older boys into watching the little ones for a bit while we went not very far away for a sit down meal. Food was good and kids were alive when we got home. We're working our way up to being able to go out to a movie (baby steps).<br />
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Boys are outside playing football with Dad waiting for me to finish this post so I can start supper. Don't forget to click over to <a href="http://www.finelinenandpurple.com/2015/04/19/what-i-wore-sunday-volume-124/">Fine Linen and Purple</a> for more WIWS posts!<br />
<br />Amy @ Consecrated Housewifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00388283707930930940noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701155938343167460.post-43867393644149961402015-04-10T15:49:00.000-05:002015-04-10T15:49:41.975-05:00How Time Flies in 7 Takes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Thanks to Kelly for hosting!!</i><br />
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<b>1.</b> Today is Firstborn's 15th birthday! It is also the day he went in to test for his driver's permit...<br />
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He passed his test and promptly asked to drive home (uh, no). I <i>did</i> let him drive in the neighborhood and I think I only said the word <b><i>BRAKE</i></b> half a dozen times in the three blocks home. I'm counting that as a success.<br />
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<b>2. </b> Toddler Boy is adjusting to morning preschool. He missed a few days early this week due to being sick but he's back in the swing of things. I got him on the afternoon bus schedule, which means I only have to drive out to the school once per day (as opposed to the three times a day I was doing a few weeks ago). He's loving the bus ride, which makes me think I need to check out some Magic School Bus videos from the library.<br />
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<b>3.</b> As you can see in the above photo, the school dress code does apply to the preschool. Toddler Boy runs on the small end of the weight/height chart. We ran out to pick him up a couple of extremely large on him size XS polo shirts which he will probably be wearing for the next two years. The school pants had no hope of fitting him, so we had to go with the smaller non-school khaki and navy pants. Which ended up being more expensive even though they were in a smaller size.<br />
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<b>4.</b> I can't believe Firstborn is old enough to be driving and Toddler Boy is in preschool. A couple of time lapse photos to prove my point...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Group shot at the park, 2011</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Same group, four years later in 2015</td></tr>
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The picture was taken in the same park on the same rock. Crazy how fast they grow!<br />
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<b>5. </b> Here's another time lapse photo from Easter...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Princess and her cousin, Easter 2011</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Easter 2015</td></tr>
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They're getting so big!! Time slow down, please!<br />
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<b>6.</b> Spring fever is in full swing at our house. Now that the Easter school break is over it is time to buckle down and finish up the homeschooling for the year and decide what to work on over the summer. Plus now is when I like to make decisions on what curriculum we'll be working on next year. I sort of feel like I've spent my Easter break taking care of sick kids and cleaning/decluttering because the house seriously needed it. This weekend we'll be celebrating Firstborn's birthday, which is the last one in the "birthday season" for us. Starting next week we will hopefully be back on our normal schedule and be ready to finish up the school year.<br />
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<b>7.</b> I just wanted to add that I really appreciated Kelly's <a href="http://thisaintthelyceum.org/sqt-the-respiratory-edition/">respiratory quick take post</a> this week. It's really good, especially her take away from the whole thing (scroll down to number 7). She talked about spending her Easter break in the hospital with one of her kids. I so, so relate to that this year. This school year has been really rough for our family in terms of illness. Especially for Princess, who <a href="http://consecratedhousewife.blogspot.com/2014/12/when-christmas-doesnt-go-as-planned.html">ended up in the hospital on Christmas</a>. I have spent a lot of time nursing sick kids and ultimately I've come to discover God's grace in the midst of it. It has really allowed me to be present in the moment more, to love more deeply and to stretch myself to what I thought was the end of my limits, only to discover that where I end is where God abounds in His endlessness. God has never failed to meet me in my weaknesses.<br />
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<i>That's it for this week...go check out more 7 Quick Takes with Kelly at <a href="http://thisaintthelyceum.org/sqt-the-respiratory-edition/">This Ain't the Lyceum</a>!!</i><br />
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Amy @ Consecrated Housewifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00388283707930930940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701155938343167460.post-55916608207644914762015-04-07T09:08:00.002-05:002015-04-07T09:08:49.844-05:00Easter 2015<i>Happy Easter, Alleluia, Alleluia!! He is risen indeed!</i><br />
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It has been a rough holy week around here with the three younger kids coming down with (what we later found out) Flu B. We survived on rented videos, snack food and fever meds. Toddler Boy started running the fever Wednesday night, then Princess and Game Boy on Thursday. By Sunday they were fever free, so judgment call...do you take them to Easter dinner or not? We opted to go to my folks house for lunch but the Easter hunting wore them out so we skipped stopping by Doug's folks after that and went home. Hindsight, I'm glad we did because they started running fevers again when we arrived home. In fact, I took Soccer Boy to the doctor yesterday when he started running a fever and he tested positive for Flu B. The doc said that was the first time in his career he's done a positive test for Flu B this late into the season (April). Lucky us.<br />
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To add to the chaos, Soccer Boy was playing 9 square in the air at youth group Friday and twisted his ankle. He spent Saturday with his foot elevated and applying ice packs. Saturday was a baking day for me because I was bringing dessert and I also wanted to drop some food off at my grandmother's house. Her 88th birthday fell on Easter this year! What a blessing. My grandmother decided not to renew her driver's license this year. She told me she really never drives anymore, she only drove one time this past year. On Saturday my dad went with her so she could drive one last time, which she really enjoyed. When we heard the story at Easter dinner my BIL made the comment that it really makes you think. We usually look forward to the first time we get to do something (like us getting to teach Firstborn how to drive). But you rarely think about the last time you get to experience an event or activity. Puts things in perspective.<br />
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Doug and I did the divide and conquer routine so he attended Saturday Easter services as the Protestant church with Firstborn and then I attended Sunday morning Mass solo. We did egg dying Saturday while they were out, along with all the holiday baking (because I'm crazy).<br />
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The kids woke up to their annual Easter baskets, which I didn't get a photo of before they demolished them. I am proud of the fact I was ahead of the game and bought them <i>early</i>. Like, early early, when the stores first had them out. This is only because in previous years I waited until the last minute and baskets are the hardest thing to find. You can wait until Holy Week to buy plastic eggs and candy but baskets are in short supply. Princess got a Frozen basket and Toddler Boy got TMNT, which is his latest addiction. Game Boy was with me on basket shopping day and got to pick his own, he had a camo design. Game Boy and Soccer Boy are my shoppers, they love picking out gifts for other people. I also picked up some little toys and such to fill the baskets, then I spent all of Lent keeping them hidden.<br />
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Princess has been begging to wear the Easter dress that Doug's mom got her and she finally got to wear it to Easter lunch and egg hunting...<br />
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After lunch we sent our faithful teenage egg hiders out to assist the Easter bunny...<br />
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They did the job a little <i>too</i> good this year, some of the eggs were a bit difficult to hunt. Really, when dealing with a large field, all you have to do is lay them in the grass.<br />
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More egg hunting pics...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toddler Boy with Daddy</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Favorite TMNT shirt</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Grandma's house in background</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me, my mom and sister Julie</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the porch</td></tr>
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After the egg hunt there was dessert and then the older boys went fishing while the younger kids took a nap because they were so wiped out. The adults played a few rounds of dominoes, trash talking abounds, even on holidays in our family. I think Mom won all three rounds, we're still trying to figure out how she cheats at this game.<br />
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As I'm typing this the weather radio keeps going off, Spring has arrived in the Midwest. I think we're in for some rough weather over the next couple days. Stay safe and Happy Easter to all my blogger friends!Amy @ Consecrated Housewifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00388283707930930940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701155938343167460.post-41249250903927220472015-03-25T16:28:00.001-05:002015-03-25T16:28:51.717-05:00Chickens and Farm Fresh Eggs<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hello Gorgeous!</td></tr>
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Super excited about finally getting some straight from the farm fresh eggs around here. We don't have chickens but we have connections <i>(my in-laws know some chicken people)</i>. My MIL brought us some lovely brown eggs that we have been enjoying all week. Soccer Boy lamented yesterday that now he is ruined because scrambled eggs taste so much better with fresh eggs that he'll never be able to go back to the old ones. Their bright yellow yolks make me so happy, and I don't even personally eat eggs.<br />
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Our family got to attend a "chicken seminar" a couple weeks ago held at the local Rural King. The kids were <i>all over</i> that...</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Game Boy holding a hen</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They had baby bunnies too</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Princess with a bunny</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Checking out the ducklings</td></tr>
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They learned the proper way to hold a chicken and a trick to calming a chicken down quickly (you have to tuck their head under their wing and <i>gently</i> swing them). Other fascinating items:<br />
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<li>Both chickens and ducks lay unfertilized eggs.</li>
<li>Duck eggs are slightly bigger and have more cholesterol.</li>
<li>The color of the egg depends on the color of the chicken's earlobes</li>
<li>You can test the freshness of an egg by putting it in a bowl of cold water, fresher eggs sink and lay on their side, old eggs will float.</li>
<li>Fresh laid eggs have a natural anti-bacterial coating on them.</li>
<li>Wash the eggs with soap and <i>cool</i> water (hot water can permeate the shell).</li>
<li>Once you've washed the eggs you should refrigerate them because you have removed the natural anti-bacterial coating.</li>
<li>The average egg purchased at the grocery store is about two months old.</li>
<li>Grocery store eggs are laid by white leghorn (pronounced <i>leggern</i>) chickens.</li>
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They also taught us how to read an egg carton to estimate the age of the eggs inside. You don't go by the "use by" date, you look at the Julian dating printed on the carton. There should be a three digit number listed on the carton. Sometimes they run the numbers all together, so you look at the last three digits. This is the packaging date. Eggs are usually packaged within six weeks of being laid. So add six weeks to that date to get the oldest date the egg should be.<br />
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FYI, the Julian dating system gives a number to each date of the year as follows:<br />
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001 = Jan 1<br />
002 = Jan 2, etc...<br />
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So on the picture above, the number 065 translates to our calendar date March 6. So these eggs were graded and packed on March 6 and given a "sell by" date of April 4 (30 days after the packed date). If they were packed within six weeks of laying that would mean the eggs inside this carton might have been collected around the end of January, at the earliest. We purchased these last week, a little over a week after they were packed. They might be a little short of two months old, but ultimately there is no way of knowing exactly how old the eggs inside are. We did do the water test last week and discovered they do not lay completely flat on their side, they are moving towards standing on end at the bottom of the bowl. Now that we have our farm fresh eggs we will probably turn these eggs into Easter eggs with our dye kits.<br />
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There you go, a little introduction to chickens and eggs.</div>
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Amy @ Consecrated Housewifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00388283707930930940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701155938343167460.post-78507441286894908322015-03-20T06:25:00.001-05:002015-03-20T06:25:35.437-05:00Seven Quick Takes - March!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Thanks to Kelly at <a href="http://thisaintthelyceum.org/sqt-a-new-look-and-the-same-old-same-old/">This Ain't The Lyceum</a> for hosting...<br />
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<b>1.</b> Ah, March! I told myself I was going to be more committed to blogging on a more or less regular basis. I seem to have forgotten the small detail that March is birthday month at our house. Add to that we have made lots of friends who <i>also</i> have birthdays this month. So we have been hopping from party to party to party with still <b>more parties</b> left to go!! We went to our favorite local indoor pool/water park to celebrate Princess' 7th birthday this year and took an underwater camera (leftover from vacation). Prints still not back yet so I'll have to do a separate post for those. In the meantime here are some of the other pictures from our celebrations:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy 7th!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Her friends came for a "princess party"</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Excitement about new TMNT crocks!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our newest 4 year old</td></tr>
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<b>2.</b> The weather around here has been moving from one extreme to the other. When we went to the pool on Princess' birthday there was 4 feet of snow on the ground. The very next weekend it all melted in the 70 degree warm up. Today is a rainy 50 degrees outside, which is causing my sinuses to go crazy. I woke up to another headache this morning and didn't hesitate to down 2 ibuprofen with my coffee to try and hold it off. Which reminds me of the one thing I hate about Spring and the Midwest...allergy season!<br />
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<b>3.</b> So I have been faithfully avoiding Facebook during this Lenten season and I have to admit that I don't really miss it. I would like to say that I have spent my off line time in prayer and devotion, cultivating virtue and all that. But the reality is I've recently become a Suduko expert on my smartphone. Addicting. Sadly, Downton Abbey is now off until who knows when. It seems all my favorite tv shows have taken a hiatus and are playing reruns, although happily Grimm will be showing a new episode this Friday! We finally get to find out what will happen with Juliette being a hexenbiest and what's up with that cliffhanger?! Adalind is going to have another baby?! Would that be Nick's baby?? (I realize I'm way too emotionally vested in this storyline). I know Juliette isn't that thrilled about being wesen, but I got to say if you get to choose hexenbiest is totally the way to go.<br />
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<b>4.</b> We just received a call this week that someone moved and the preschool has an opening so Toddler Boy (I really need to change his blog name, considering he just turned 4) gets to go to school! Yes, still a homeschooling family but he's doing speech therapy and would really benefit getting it on the daily. He'll be going a few hours to the same school Princess attends. Already dreaming about what I'll get done without Toddler Boy creating craziness in the house. Reality is it's only about 2 months until school is out, so not much. We'll just have a bit more quiet time to get the older kids schooling finished before the summer pandemonium hits.<br />
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<b>5.</b> Firstborn gets to start a new class next week too...driver's ed. It is still hard to believe that Doug and I have a child who is old enough to drive. Crazy! It seems like just yesterday I was taking driver's ed class, then I have to be honest and admit it really has been 26 years. Can a quarter century pass by that quickly? I'm still in denial about my age. Doug is not looking forward to him being behind the wheel but he's very responsible so I know he's ready (or at least as ready as anyone really can be at 15). Maybe your not truly ready to be a driver until you're older and have children of your own so you know what's at stake. Or you've lived long enough and seen enough car accidents to respect the power behind the wheel. Those self driving cars are looking better and better everyday...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look out world!</td></tr>
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<b>6.</b> My girlfriends and I are supposed to go out tomorrow for lunch to celebrate our birthdays. I mentioned how March is the birthday month, and that includes my birthday too. My friends' also have birthdays this month. Last year we went all fancy and took our hubby's out to dinner in St. Louis while the kids spent the night at grandma's. Or was that the year before? Starting to lose track. We also went to the Melting Pot one year. I value my girlfriends so much, they provide playmates for my kids (see Take 1), share rides to school, and in general help me keep my sanity. One of my friends is getting ready to deliver twins, very exciting!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flashback...the Melting Pot</td></tr>
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<b>7.</b> Ugh, I am really not feeling well this morning. I feel like I'm fighting a sinus infection/cold. Can homeschool teachers take a sick day? Especially on a Friday (which is when our Lyceum classes meet). Today is the last archery class too, and Toddler Boy has a doctor's appointment. What I really want to do is drink hot tea and stay in a warm bed with the humidifier cranked up full blast. I need to schedule it, maybe after the doctor's appointment and before archery <i>(wait...that's when I'm supposed to make lunch)</i>. Maybe they can fend for themselves at lunchtime? The older boys could but the younger ones probably wouldn't fare well with that arrangement. I'll shoot for making an early lunch after the dr. appointment and grab a nap before archery...<div>
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<i>Looking forward to the warmer temperatures coming back this weekend!! Click over to <a href="http://thisaintthelyceum.org/sqt-a-new-look-and-the-same-old-same-old/">This Ain't The Lyceum</a> to catch up on more Quick Takes.</i><br /></div>
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Amy @ Consecrated Housewifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00388283707930930940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701155938343167460.post-10388409509549872832015-02-27T07:37:00.000-06:002015-02-27T07:37:13.470-06:00See Me Homeschool<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Theresa over at <a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2015/02/see-me-homeschool-blog-hop-and-link-up.html">Ordinary Lovely</a> and Micaela at <a href="http://californiatokorea.com/homeschooling/see-homeschool-blog-hop">California to Korea</a> are hosting a blog hop asking homeschooling bloggers to show a typical homeschooling day in pictures (no words)!! I did a interview post for Micaela's link-up last year <a href="http://consecratedhousewife.blogspot.com/2014/06/how-i-homeschool.html">How I Homeschool</a> so I thought the new link up would be a great way to see how we actually implement that into our days.<br />
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My teenager commented to me yesterday "the only typical thing about our homeschooling days are that they are untypical". No truer words! Confession: I snapped these pictures over two days for the same reasons everyone else has given (namely, you can't take pictures <i>and</i> get the homeschooling done at the same time). Also, I may or may not have bribed my older children with a gas station soda to allow me to photograph them doing their work.<br />
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Last but not least...I didn't do much cropping to these so you can still see the laundry that needs to be put away in the background. Just keeping it real life...<br />
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<i>Head over to <a href="http://ordinarylovely.blogspot.com/2015/02/see-me-homeschool-blog-hop-and-link-up.html">Theresa at Ordinary Lovely</a> to click on more See Me Homeschool posts by my fellow homeschoolers in the trenches!!</i>Amy @ Consecrated Housewifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00388283707930930940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701155938343167460.post-65681381034523510642015-02-20T16:34:00.001-06:002015-02-20T16:34:20.759-06:007 Quick Takes - Beach Vacation!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Thanks to Kelly for hosting!!</i><br />
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So we just returned from vacation in New Smyrna Beach, Florida and I wanted to photo dump...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise at the beach</td></tr>
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<b>1.</b> We stayed in a condo right on the beach. The beach = awesome! It was white sand with very few sea shells, which was actually nice because you could walk barefoot all day long and not step on anything but sand. The condo was beautiful but Doug and I decided that maybe condo living is not really built for large families? We spent the first couple of days hissing at the kids to <i><b>be quiet...</b></i><i><b>use your indoor voice...not so loud</b> </i>(you get the picture). Our family did a lot of day trips because it was impossible to keep the younger kids quiet and cooped up for long blocks of time and we didn't want to annoy our elderly neighbors. Typically we would plan a morning activity, come back to eat lunch, and then go out on an afternoon activity. We would come back to eat supper and then everyone was tired out enough to watch a movie and go to bed.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Balcony on beach</td></tr>
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I should mention that the condo was on the fifth floor with a balcony. Plus all the windows open! Whose brilliant idea was that?! We were ever vigilant parents for the first couple of days and made sure the windows stayed locked and blocked off. The little kids were not allowed on the balcony without Mom or Dad out there. I will admit that at night we totally blocked off the balcony door with chairs that made lots of noise if you moved them (we have some sleepwalkers). However, it did make a very nice place to drink my morning cup of coffee.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Morning cup of coffee...awesome!</td></tr>
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<b>2.</b> The drive down was not too bad. We stayed in a hotel outside Atlanta on the way down and in Chattanooga, TN on the way home. Both places had heated indoor pools and enough beds to sleep all seven in our family. I used <a href="http://www.sixsuitcasetravel.com/">http://www.sixsuitcasetravel.com/</a> to help us find some places big enough for our group. We also had lots of snack food, our smartphones, the Kindle Fire HD, two ipods, and a DVD player with double screens and headphones.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Princess at Florida welcome center</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Florida welcome center</td></tr>
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<b>3.</b> The older two boys spent a lot of time fishing. On Thursday they went out on a fishing charter and caught some redfish, which we fried up that night for supper. They were also brave enough to swim in the surf (the temps were in the 60s and 70s when we were down there). The kids claimed the water was warmer than the air once you got used to it.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Firstborn</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading for the surf</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riding some waves</td></tr>
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<b>4.</b> We took an afternoon drive north to St. Augustine to visit Castillo de San Marcos, which is the oldest American fort. We studied St. Augustine and the fort last year for history when my folks went there for a visit. When we were planning this vacation it was someplace I wanted to take the kids. The entire fort is made of <i>coquina</i>, which is a limestone made of sea shells. You can see all the shells embedded in the walls, it was really neat.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The gang outside Castillo de San Marcos</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Group shot</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Princess with the cannons on the top deck</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toddler Boy loved the cannonballs<br />
He wanted to take one home</td></tr>
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<b>5.</b> We also spent some time walking along the beaches.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shot of the guys...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Game Boy</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Racing the waves!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toddler Boy with me<br />
Still light enough to be carried...</td></tr>
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<b>6.</b> While the older boys were out on their fishing charter we took the younger kids on a boat ride to look for dolphins. The kids even got to drive the boat for an extra treat...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Captain for the day</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dolphin family</td></tr>
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<b>7.</b> The last day there my hubby and I got to go out on a date! We went out to lunch at the Sea Shack and then went for a walk down Flagler Ave. where I picked up some nice jewelry...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Valentine's gift from my<br />sweet hubby!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and my man</td></tr>
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We could have stayed an extra day but I'm glad we didn't because there was a weather system coming in and we don't love driving through the mountains on ice covered roads. We picked up our dogs from the kennel and made it home in time to do some grocery shopping before this:</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Back to reality...</b></td></tr>
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<i>Hope you're all staying warm in the final days of winter! Click over to Kelly @ <a href="http://thisaintthelyceum.org/sqt-thanks-betters/">This Ain't the Lyceum</a> for more Quick Takes.</i></div>
Amy @ Consecrated Housewifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00388283707930930940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701155938343167460.post-59974385225865090422015-02-17T14:52:00.003-06:002015-02-17T14:52:54.322-06:00Lent Starts Tomorrow!I haven't posted in a month because I was getting our family ready for this...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise at the beach...heaven!</td></tr>
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We just got back into town a couple days ago. I'm planning to do a post all about our week long Florida beach vacation on Friday, complete with pictures! But today's post is going to revolve around Lent, because Ash Wednesday is tomorrow and I wanted to get my Lenten plans out there, accountability and all. I have a sort of love/hate relationship with Lent. Usually I make way too many plans and things tend to fall apart mid season. In the past I could use the excuse that I was a baby Catholic and Lent was new territory for me. However, we're coming up on my four year anniversary of entering the Church and I'm thinking that excuse may be wearing a bit thin?<br />
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This year is going to be different! I am determined to not over extend and over commit myself and become a caffeine deprived crazy woman by the time Easter rolls around. The goal is to not allow my family to suffer because of my utter lack of self discipline during the upcoming penitential season.<br />
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I did decide to log off of Facebook for the season. I'm even planning on taking it off my iphone (gasp)! This is tricky because I do belong to groups who use that social media platform to plan meetings and make important announcements. I have them linked to my email address so I don't miss anything important. I don't post much so I doubt anybody will think I died, we'll see. I thought this would be a good thing to give up because I have noticed myself mindlessly surfing it in my down time. I considered taking a blog break but decided against it for this year. I tend to receive encouragement for the journey from you guys and as you can see from my posting record, I'm not on here that much. I read way more than I post, so I may limit that a bit. Haven't quite gotten all the details worked out, nothing like waiting until the last minute! Procrastination for the win...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bonus, my women's bible study<br />is reading it with me.</td></tr>
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The other major change I wanted to make this season is going to adoration for an hour once per week. We have a 24 hour chapel in the area that I've gone to a few times. I did pick up the book by Father Wilfred Stinissen, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Into-Hands-Father-Wilfrid-Stinissen-ebook/dp/B004O0UU20/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1424193402&sr=1-1&keywords=into+your+hands+father">Into Your Hands Father</a>. I have had it for weeks but I have forced myself not to crack it open because I wanted to save it for Lent. Granted, I was busy getting ready for vacation so I didn't have time to look at it, but still, willpower! I never like leaving a good book sit on the shelf. So the idea is to take it with me to adoration and read it there (this will also help me keep my adoration appointment).<br />
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I have other plans for doing some works of mercy and especially involving the older boys but I haven't quite gotten it all worked out. I may post more about it after it's on the calendar. That's pretty much it in a nutshell. These are my plans but I'm sure God has his own plans on what He wants me to work on during Lent and I'm looking forward to what He has in store and how it all turns out. His way is always the best way and He tends to surprise me, which is good. It keeps life interesting!Amy @ Consecrated Housewifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00388283707930930940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701155938343167460.post-56918614698265269272015-01-19T20:19:00.004-06:002015-01-19T20:19:50.585-06:00Another Teenager in the House!So, last week was Soccer Boy's 13th birthday! I need to get his birth story posted but it involves non-digital pictures and I have to figure out our new printer's scanner so it will have to wait. His birthday weekend involved <i>another</i> cold weather storm (figures). They were predicting sleet but thankfully it really wasn't that bad out this time around. His birthdays always seem to involve winter storms, the days surrounding his birth were filled with lots of snow. On his actual birthday the family celebrated by picking him up some Smokey Bones nachos and playing a few games of his newest gift:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ticket to Ride!</td></tr>
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The game takes some time to play (think Monopoly), so we've only played it twice. Firstborn won the inaugural game (just <i>barely</i>, only 6 measly points ahead of me)! Doug won the second round. We picked up an ice cream cake, per Soccer Boy's request, and headed to my folk's house a day ahead of the bad weather to celebrate with them. He finally got his fishing cake (reference <a href="http://consecratedhousewife.blogspot.com/2014/02/soccer-boys-12th-birthday.html">goldfish cake</a> from last year).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy 13th!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The whole gang...</td></tr>
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We were <i>supposed</i> to go to a local indoor gym, but when we arrived they were closed due to the expected bad weather. Since we were out and about I went ahead and took the kids shopping at the pet store and Toys R Us to spend their Christmas money. It was a real treat for them because we avoid that store like the plague. Taking the kids there tends to give them a case of the "gimmies" Berenstain Bear style.<br />
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This past weekend we finally made it to the postponed gym date...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nTgc2h7-i2g/VL1XQEwz9MI/AAAAAAAABt0/cBNLgSYuqYA/s1600/DSC_0015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nTgc2h7-i2g/VL1XQEwz9MI/AAAAAAAABt0/cBNLgSYuqYA/s1600/DSC_0015.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soccer Boy on trampoline</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZAJyhQYrUPvZoU2Hbyn43JYI3QWf0skQ8g4oqiaB4bu-UwiSvSDgeOiJwDLc1F6f9H92piestHrhfhPACGgGvcBFyRAb45lgV3E4EMXtlwnpZXUeSRxMPCjCh8Byk-AIputRdWvc7TOA/s1600/DSC_0014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZAJyhQYrUPvZoU2Hbyn43JYI3QWf0skQ8g4oqiaB4bu-UwiSvSDgeOiJwDLc1F6f9H92piestHrhfhPACGgGvcBFyRAb45lgV3E4EMXtlwnpZXUeSRxMPCjCh8Byk-AIputRdWvc7TOA/s1600/DSC_0014.JPG" height="290" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Firstborn scaling the cargo net<br />
Game Boy & Princess in background</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BpDirUVVRmE/VL1XjM-YZ6I/AAAAAAAABuU/PgY5dtiHtpc/s1600/DSC_0024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BpDirUVVRmE/VL1XjM-YZ6I/AAAAAAAABuU/PgY5dtiHtpc/s1600/DSC_0024.JPG" height="320" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still working the net</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K8VDrVz0Bus/VL1Xa7oqtAI/AAAAAAAABuE/Lr3y6T87fKE/s1600/DSC_0020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K8VDrVz0Bus/VL1Xa7oqtAI/AAAAAAAABuE/Lr3y6T87fKE/s1600/DSC_0020.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Princess on ring swing</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I-rh9TCaBZU/VL1XeGyw1-I/AAAAAAAABuM/ka8H2f1rVHw/s1600/DSC_0021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I-rh9TCaBZU/VL1XeGyw1-I/AAAAAAAABuM/ka8H2f1rVHw/s1600/DSC_0021.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Game Boy on obstacle course</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flipping on the trampoline</td></tr>
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It was a really neat obstacle course and they had a worker there to teach them how to use the equipment properly. He also taught Firstborn how to do a official "drop" (landing bottom first, legs straight on the mats). He was allowed to do a drop off the platform that was something like 20 feet up, suspended from the ceiling. The actual drop was only maybe 10 to 12 feet to the mat, but still crazy high! I wouldn't have been able to do it, but Firstborn enjoyed it.<br />
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So now I guess we're the parents of two "official" teenagers! Firstborn will be working on getting his driver's permit soon. Good times ahead!!</div>
Amy @ Consecrated Housewifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00388283707930930940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701155938343167460.post-72637056103072258022015-01-03T19:22:00.002-06:002015-01-03T19:22:38.499-06:00Starting the New Year Right - In 7 Quick Takes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Thanks to Kelly at <a href="http://thisaintthelyceum.org/freshstarts/">This Ain't the Lyceum</a> for hosting 7 Quick Takes (check out the new logo). I'm linking up there to start the new blogging year on the right foot...<br />
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<b>1.</b> Here I thought we were finally getting healthy at our house. But no, the fun is not over yet! Doug and I are still in recovery mode and I had to take Toddler Boy in to the doctor's office this morning. He appears to have what everyone else is dealing with, runny nose, congestion, cough, high fever for days on end. He also is the lucky recipient of an ear infection. Hi Ho, Hi Ho it's off to the pharmacy I go...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4JM1sHccajlmsv4WmuylHK8rbHqn-YRogAvukeGwfUFsA7yWaFanea2rn-K8YfvHueKdTZZ2hL8rBTZRQMZTLPPlP5dlDfFvC-CFdR9MlQK1QhOLEeqgfoDpy00BR2I-HIVk0P0KHqNA/s1600/photo+(35).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4JM1sHccajlmsv4WmuylHK8rbHqn-YRogAvukeGwfUFsA7yWaFanea2rn-K8YfvHueKdTZZ2hL8rBTZRQMZTLPPlP5dlDfFvC-CFdR9MlQK1QhOLEeqgfoDpy00BR2I-HIVk0P0KHqNA/s1600/photo+(35).JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poor guy, taking a much needed nap</td></tr>
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<b>2.</b> This is quickly adding up to lack of sleep for days on end <i>again</i>. Because I guess God decided I didn't learn the whole <a href="http://consecratedhousewife.blogspot.com/2014/12/when-christmas-doesnt-go-as-planned.html">insomnia patience lesson</a> well enough the the first time around. (Or it has something to do with having more than one child). Maybe I'm not the type of person who should be responsible for multiple children? This whole illness/lack of sleep/stir crazy quarantine to the house situation is showing me <i>ALL</i> of the spiritual areas in which I am sorely, sorely lacking.<br />
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<b>3.</b> Doug and I ran out together to return some of the videos we had rented over New Years. I'm assuming this qualifies for "couple alone time"? When we got back to the house we actually sat outside in the cold car, in the dark, in the driveway for probably 15 minutes while I poured out to him all this insecurity about motherhood that I've been dealing with lately. Neighbors probably think we're crazy (and they would be right)! The next day I was cleaning off a shelf and ran across a book I had received as a gift a few years ago that I actually haven't read yet. So I was thumbing through it and came across this section:<br />
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<i>"Now, most young mothers will tell you that they have to resist the urge to take their babies back from others who are holding them, because maternal instinct tells you your baby is really comfortable only in your arms. But when I saw Jesus holding Christopher, I had no urge to take him. I could feel that he was just as at home in Christ's arms as he was in mine. It was that feeling - the reassurance that Christopher was not just in good hands, he was in God's hands - that enabled me to give him completely over to God. It was then and there that Jesus gave me the peace that passes understanding and carried me through the next week in the hospital...</i><br />
<i><br /></i><i>It was in that moment I learned to let go of the need to be in control and learned that God was my true source of power. Trusting in Him rather than myself - that was the secret, and that was the lesson I learned through this. But I was enabled to hand over my baby to Him only because the hands into which I relinquished him were loving, strong, and powerful."</i><br />
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<i>excerpt from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mommy-Grace-Erasing-Your-Guilt-ebook/dp/B0023ZLFTA/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1420328340&sr=1-1&keywords=mommy+grace">Mommy Grace, Erasing the Mommy Guilt</a>, by Dr. Sheila Schuller Coleman</i><br />
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Love how God orchestrates these little instances in my life. Maybe the chapter spoke to me because I've been dealing with sick children lately, or because I've had a baby in the NICU and intimately knew that out of control and helpless feeling that a parent experiences. The book is a pretty light read, the chapters are short but encouraging. Perfect for this season in my life. It reminds me how God always has my back and He always provides what I truly need. He continues to feed my soul.<br />
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<b>4.</b> <a href="http://www.conversiondiary.com/2014/12/your-patron-saint-for-2015.html">Saint Name Generator</a>. I've got to hand it to Jen, I love this little invention. Last year I got Mother Teresa, which was interesting because I had been drawn to her writing for other reasons and the generator just kind of confirmed what I was already doing. Over the summer Firstborn and I checked a secular book out of the library that documented her life. I started keeping a list of all her quotes that I would randomly come across that spoke to me. Maybe I'll do a post listing them all and link it back here. This year I got <a href="http://saints.sqpn.com/saint-alphonsus-maria-de-liguori/">Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori</a>. I'm especially interested in his writings concerning <a href="http://saints.sqpn.com/saint-alphonsus-de-ligouri-uniformity-with-gods-will/">uniformity with God's will</a> and excited about what the new year has in store.<br />
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<b>5.</b> Along those same lines, I'm thinking of doing this book as my Lenten read this year:<br />
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Leila over at <a href="http://littlecatholicbubble.blogspot.com/2014/12/mind-blowing.html">Little Catholic Bubble</a> recommended it. I admit that I'd like to start reading it right now, but I don't think I have the time to devote to it (see number 3). My bible study group is finishing up the book on JOY and I want to use my spare mental energy to get the homeschooling kick started in the new year. So I'm forcing myself to not purchase a kindle copy and get a head start.<br />
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<b>6.</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful!!</td></tr>
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We got our new Kindle Fire in the mail over the holidays and I just recently had time to get it up and running. For now, this one is going to be <i>my</i> kindle and the old kindle will be for the kids. I'm sure that plan will bite the dust the first time I need the kids to watch a video on it (like, when we're driving down to Florida on vacation). But for now <b>it's mine, all mine!</b><br />
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7. </b> I'm really enjoying the Christmastide season this year. Maybe it's because we've been so sick that we really weren't able to celebrate properly on the actual day. The last time I was able to receive communion was at Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. I've been pretty much home bound ever since. I will admit that the house is looking quite a bit better. When not on nursing detail I've been using my spare time and energy to declutter and clean. I've even been cooking! I think my family forgot I know how to bake.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2MTReQnlvaEOcZnKOoH9w63wKD8AE0w-mitJF5_Hij8iHOAWwrEiwbeJGmW8wc-2UfME4uS4dVZFuzom9lE3u-r6oKsQJh1bhgDehZOb6rRrKOfEPbgimdD34FlT8omeCDuZ5oopTd_I/s1600/photo+(34).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2MTReQnlvaEOcZnKOoH9w63wKD8AE0w-mitJF5_Hij8iHOAWwrEiwbeJGmW8wc-2UfME4uS4dVZFuzom9lE3u-r6oKsQJh1bhgDehZOb6rRrKOfEPbgimdD34FlT8omeCDuZ5oopTd_I/s1600/photo+(34).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cranberry Almond Cinnamon Rolls!!</td></tr>
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This is a recipe I snagged from a 2002 Dierbergs flyer a number of years back. You can substitute raisins for the dried cranberries and pecans for the almonds and it's just as good. Here you go...<br />
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1 pkg. (16 oz) hot roll mix (or if you have a homemade yeast roll recipe, use that)<br />
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<i>Filling:</i><br />
1/4 C. butter, melted<br />
1/3 C. sugar combined with 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon<br />
1 pkg. (5 or 6 ounces) dried cranberries<br />
1/2 C. sliced almonds<br />
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<i>Glaze:</i><br />
1/2 C. powdered sugar<br />
1 Tablespoon milk<br />
1/2 teaspoon almond extract<br />
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Prepare dough according to package directions. Turn dough out onto a floured surface and roll into 10 x 15 inch rectangle. Spread butter evenly over dough, then sprinkle cinnamon sugar, dried cranberries and almonds over dough. Starting at 15 inch side, tightly roll dough jellyroll style. Cut into 1 inch slices and place in greased 9 x 13 pan.<br />
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Bake in 375 degree oven for 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown. Combine glaze in bowl and drizzle over rolls. Enjoy!!<br />
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<b>8.</b> Bonus take...because you all know here in the U.S. that Season 5 of Downton Abbey is airing tomorrow night, right?? Even Doug has begrudgingly started watching it with me, I'll make him a fan yet.<br />
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Please ignore all the poor style and choppy writing, I haven't had much sleep lately. Wishing everyone a healthy Christmastide season!!Amy @ Consecrated Housewifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00388283707930930940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701155938343167460.post-5798426757919927732014-12-31T08:59:00.002-06:002015-09-05T11:42:56.789-05:0012 in 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Linking up with Dwija over at <a href="http://www.houseunseen.com/2014/12/12-in-2014-link-up.html">House Unseen</a> for an end of the year photo review. So here's 12 pictures from 2014...<br />
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<b>January</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjValOxot5QHanxAoE_QS7POEYwBBzk9X1Wt90C4aLp3aQC28KjQatTYtY49HjXgKZc-WFu4-Jfz00nJ9zjHIzi1Pk8NaC4ooeFp45GeZwaoqf_2EgA2Q5D4UFH3Z5WFPLJKr4HHVU6A6Q/s1600/IMG_0048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjValOxot5QHanxAoE_QS7POEYwBBzk9X1Wt90C4aLp3aQC28KjQatTYtY49HjXgKZc-WFu4-Jfz00nJ9zjHIzi1Pk8NaC4ooeFp45GeZwaoqf_2EgA2Q5D4UFH3Z5WFPLJKr4HHVU6A6Q/s1600/IMG_0048.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy Birthday Soccer Boy!!</td></tr>
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<a href="http://consecratedhousewife.blogspot.com/2014/02/soccer-boys-12th-birthday.html">Soccer Boy's birthday</a> is in early January. This year we were trapped in the house for the celebration due to a bad ice storm blowing through the area. (It would not be the last winter storm in 2014). I did a Paleo Whole30 eating plan this month and lost 30 lbs. in the process. We also had some <a href="http://consecratedhousewife.blogspot.com/2014/02/one-crazy-new-year.html">repair issues</a>, with the computer, washing machine and van all breaking down at the same time. Home ownership for the win!!<br />
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<b>February</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicRz6ICcg5RFRKf4kaOVkYnX63AXMSENZXxZmNsgoI9QubUJPBypXAJSktpgLPjTaXnx_fE9SX9wCT5BROCj8dVJw8YdArC_p0uXQ12jEcctSN7raatlga_53xsqPU1EO-HeC476P4cI4/s1600/IMG_0051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicRz6ICcg5RFRKf4kaOVkYnX63AXMSENZXxZmNsgoI9QubUJPBypXAJSktpgLPjTaXnx_fE9SX9wCT5BROCj8dVJw8YdArC_p0uXQ12jEcctSN7raatlga_53xsqPU1EO-HeC476P4cI4/s1600/IMG_0051.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!</td></tr>
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We spent most of this month inside the house. It was bitterly cold outside, the kids could only go out and play in the stuff for minutes at a time. The amount of time it takes to get the little ones bundled up in their snowsuits, boots and gloves is more than the actual time spent in the snow! The area schools were on constant snow days, which made my <a href="http://consecratedhousewife.blogspot.com/2014/02/homeschoolers-dont-get-snow-days.html">homeschool kids insanely jealous</a>. Due to being under house arrest we did end up getting lots of homework done. The rest of the neighborhood went to school until June.</div>
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<b>March</b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy Birthday to me!!</td></tr>
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March starts our family birthday season, with four landing in this month, including mine. I hit a milestone as this is the year <a href="http://consecratedhousewife.blogspot.com/2014/03/this-is-40.html">I turned 40</a>! (Princess just told me I "look like a teenager" in the above picture, how sweet)! Basically it's all cake and parties every weekend. The cold weather started to thaw this month as we traded snow storms for <a href="http://consecratedhousewife.blogspot.com/2014/04/7-quick-takes-spring-is-coming.html">tornado warnings</a>.<br />
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<b>April</b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy Easter!</td></tr>
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This <a href="http://consecratedhousewife.blogspot.com/2014/04/7-quick-takes-of-slacker-variety.html">Easter</a> we had one with a stomach bug so we had to skip the extended family parties. It's also Firstborn's birthday month and I <i>finally</i> managed to get his <a href="http://consecratedhousewife.blogspot.com/2014/04/firstborns-birth-story.html">birth story</a> posted. I also did a post about <a href="http://consecratedhousewife.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-baby-i-didnt-give-birth.html">my miscarriage</a>, with 2014 being the ten year anniversary of our baby's heavenly birthday. Soccer Boy also played on a spring soccer team, with Doug as his coach.<br />
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<b>May</b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Firstborn's 8th Grade Graduation</td></tr>
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Finally, some great weather! Lots of pictures, we spent some weekends out in the country visiting our folks. <a href="http://consecratedhousewife.blogspot.com/2014/05/mothers-day-on-farm.html">Mother's Day</a>, <a href="http://consecratedhousewife.blogspot.com/2014/05/memorial-day-weekend.html">Memorial Day</a> and <a href="http://consecratedhousewife.blogspot.com/2014/05/8th-grade-graduation.html">Eighth Grade Graduation</a> (where we all managed to dress up and arrive on time). We started a bathroom remodel (which is still in process) and God used the time to <a href="http://consecratedhousewife.blogspot.com/2014/05/7-quick-takes-home-improvement.html">teach me about JOY</a>. I was bored while waiting for Jen's book to arrive, so I did a <a href="http://consecratedhousewife.blogspot.com/2014/05/lets-talk-about-sex.html">post about sex</a>. The pool opened at the end of the month which led to...<br />
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<b>June</b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8G31NmYo5ME/VG6wVTNjuqI/AAAAAAAABn4/88pf4_PaqEw/s1600/photo%2B(30).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8G31NmYo5ME/VG6wVTNjuqI/AAAAAAAABn4/88pf4_PaqEw/s1600/photo%2B(30).JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swim Team!!</td></tr>
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The entire month seemed to be dominated by Soccer Boy's swim team schedule. Daily practice and two late night swim meets each week, which requires one adult (me) to work each meet. It was a cool month, weather wise, and we had a few meets in the rain (if it wasn't storming) or rain delays. It was a great learning experience for Soccer Boy, he enjoyed the process and did well for his first year on the team. This does not surprise me, as physical stuff always comes second nature to him.<br />
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<b>July</b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Princess in a parade</td></tr>
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Lots of swimming and summertime fun. Princess and Game Boy got to be in our hometown parade with their Dad. The older boys went to a fishing church camp for a week. Soccer Boy competed in the Midwest Swim Conference. The entire family had a <a href="http://consecratedhousewife.blogspot.com/2014/06/a-moms-life-in-7-quick-takes.html">round of influenza</a> that threw me for a loop.<br />
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<b>August</b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last day at the pool</td></tr>
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We spent the month enjoying the end of summer. We headed to the pool almost daily, with the younger kids learning to swim and the older ones doing flips off the diving board. Our homeschool year started near the end of the month, and I did a post about <a href="http://consecratedhousewife.blogspot.com/2014/06/how-i-homeschool.html">how I homeschool</a>. Ironically, this is also the first year Princess is attending the local public school.<br />
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<b>September</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuw8sc7qBdrLd4R9RwRMGd7xvNzrKWFZwb33yI1SW7efDX35XO_VenMZmIjD68PuGszlYJQikCxqowNh2RtndMwiikBY9DidW2CjGGL2HQP00Zz8Kzck86k2fgFtRAfZZGhK76lhQyH6E/s1600/DSC_0231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuw8sc7qBdrLd4R9RwRMGd7xvNzrKWFZwb33yI1SW7efDX35XO_VenMZmIjD68PuGszlYJQikCxqowNh2RtndMwiikBY9DidW2CjGGL2HQP00Zz8Kzck86k2fgFtRAfZZGhK76lhQyH6E/s1600/DSC_0231.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toddler Boy at petting zoo</td></tr>
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We attended my niece's 3rd birthday party, which was at a park with a petting zoo. Our Trail Life troop had their beginning of year Trail Roundup ceremony, in which the older boys were awarded their staffs. This is also the year Firstborn crossed over to the Adventures group. I was on a blogging break during all of this, so no posts to link.<br />
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<b>October</b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family Pic 2014</td></tr>
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This was a busy month! We did our family pictures out at Doug's folks' farm. There were field trips and <a href="http://consecratedhousewife.blogspot.com/2014/11/getting-back-in-game.html">pumpkin picking</a> and Halloween. We also spent a weekend in Peoria with Doug's brother and his family. Our niece had a part in <i>Shrek the Musical</i> so we attended one of her performances (which was really good). Amazingly, Doug and I sat with our five kids plus two cousins for the play and they all did well.<br />
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<b>November</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Princess in costume for the Dinner Theatre</span></td></tr>
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Princess was in a Madrigal Dinner Theatre performance, which technically was in December. I'm putting it under November because that is when all the practices took place. Lots of mommy and daughter time as I went with her to all the practices. She also came down with Flu A right before Thanksgiving and missed a week of school. We spent the holidays with my in-laws, my parents were vacationing in Florida.<br />
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<b>December</b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas!!</td></tr>
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We celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary this month. I sang with the choir for Christmas Eve Midnight Mass (technically 10:00 p.m. for my church). Princess came down with pneumonia and we spent <a href="http://consecratedhousewife.blogspot.com/2014/12/when-christmas-doesnt-go-as-planned.html">Christmas morning in the hospital</a>, causing me to reflect on the meaning of the holiday season. Doug, Toddler Boy and I are now sick ourselves and spending this week recuperating at home.<br />
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Doug and I still managed to make our big turkey meal on Monday that we missed on Christmas day so we've been eating leftovers all week. We picked up Princess a new bed yesterday and we're almost finished remodeling her bedroom. Tonight our family will be watching movies and eating Smokey Bones nachoes as the kids attempt to stay up until midnight to ring in the new year at our house. Happy New Year!!</div>
Amy @ Consecrated Housewifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00388283707930930940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701155938343167460.post-58254532605921308392014-12-27T11:27:00.000-06:002014-12-27T11:27:08.977-06:00When Christmas Doesn't Go as PlannedWe had a little "detour" in our Christmas celebration this year...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Princess in the E.R. Christmas morning</td></tr>
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She had caught what appeared to be a cold and slight cough last Wednesday. Sunday night it took a turn for the worse with her starting to run a fever and up most of that night coughing so bad she had a hard time catching her breath. We took her to the doctor Monday, who sent her home on antibiotics. Still no sleep Monday night and by Tuesday her fever was spiking 105. I'm not sure I've ever had a kid run that high, we actually took it three times to verify it was right. Called the doctor to get some steroids to help her breathing. By 2:00 a.m. Christmas morning she was running over 104 and starting to wheeze in-between coughing fits. It was time to take her in to the children's hospital. Tests and x-rays confirmed pneumonia with a double viral infection, including RSV. They were able to get her fever down and her wheezing under control and her oxygen levels looked good. We headed home later that morning with a script for a nebulizer to help her breathing.<br />
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As of tonight it appears she is finally on the mend. We've only had to give her ibuprofen once today for fever, considering she's been on it almost non-stop since Sunday that's improvement. We've not had a solid night's sleep since last Saturday. Christmas night she needed two breathing treatments to get her through and she needed one this morning...</div>
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I'm praying tonight is better. <i>(It was, she finally was able to sleep through the night, praise God)!</i></div>
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We had plans to celebrate Christmas with family but Princess was too sick to even consider attending. We had plans to attend Christmas Eve services at our Protestant church but those had to be laid aside too. I had last minute gifts to purchase but I was needed at home. We were supposed to attend Doug's office family party but only the older kids went with Dad this year. The lack of sleep has been such a contributing factor. I become a different person when exhaustion starts creeping in, and I don't like it. Doug and I have struggled to take turns and give each other grace in the moments but nothing really makes it easier to bear. This was not the holiday I was envisioning just a few short weeks ago.</div>
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My friends and I joke that the Christmas season was much more fun when we were kids. As an adult, it just seems like so much <i>work</i>. Parties to plan, gifts to make (or purchase) and wrap, trees to decorate, cookie baking and holiday meal planning. All the phone calls and coordinating for the different holiday events. It seems I need a vacation!<br />
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Princess' illness has forced the entire family to slow down, and with it comes the reminder that Christmas isn't about all of the above. It's really not about the parties, presents and the perfectly decorated tree. Christmas is about <b style="font-style: italic;">Him</b>. It's only about Him. He came to us when we weren't perfect (when we were so, so far from perfect). Every year, we can work on preparing for Him through the Advent season, but we can never do it perfectly. And He comes to us anyway. His coming never depended on our readiness, thank God! It only ever depended on His love for us, which is perfect and knows no bounds. His birth was the only ever truly <i>perfect</i> Christmas gift, we are blessed!<br />
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I received an email yesterday from our Protestant church, it read "only 364 days until Christmas". I had to smile at that when I thought I get to celebrate the Christmas season for another 12 days, until the Feast of the Epiphany on Jan. 6th. Some churches celebrate Christmas for 40 days, until the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. My Catholic church will have a Christmas tree up and we will be singing Christmas songs for the next two weeks. My thoughts on the <a href="http://consecratedhousewife.blogspot.com/2013/01/12-days-of-christmas.html">12 days of Christmas.</a><br />
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I'm very thankful that my daughter is on the mend and hope to apply all the lessons God has taught me this Christmas to future holidays. I am hoping to do a post about some of those lessons when I've had a bit more chance to reflect and catch up on some sleep! Wishing your families a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year!</div>
Amy @ Consecrated Housewifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00388283707930930940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701155938343167460.post-78290049867146362014-11-21T20:17:00.000-06:002014-11-21T20:17:36.130-06:00Getting Back in the GameSo, where have I been?? My last post was almost five months ago. I really did not intend to take a blogging vacation and I can sum it up in two words..."real life". I've been through a season in my non-virtual world that has caused my hobby blogging to take a back seat. As I was finishing up the family Christmas letter that we send out with our Christmas cards it occurred to me that I needed to update the blog. So in one lengthy, picture filled post I will attempt to catch everyone up on the last few months...<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8G31NmYo5ME/VG6wVTNjuqI/AAAAAAAABn4/88pf4_PaqEw/s1600/photo%2B(30).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8G31NmYo5ME/VG6wVTNjuqI/AAAAAAAABn4/88pf4_PaqEw/s1600/photo%2B%2830%29.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a>First up, swim team. Soccer Boy became "Swim Boy" for a season and joined our pool's summer team. He did pretty good for his first season and even got to compete in the area Midwest Swim Conference. It made for a bit of craziness in our family life because of the two late night (and occasionally out of town) swim meets per week plus daily practices. He had a lot of fun with it and I got to be a swim parent for a season, which means working as a time keeper during part of all the meets. A learning experience all the way around and we both got to make some new friends at our pool.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Midwest Swim Conference 2014</td></tr>
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Then there were the fun summertime activities. Doug's office had a float in our hometown parade this year. Princess and Game Boy enjoyed being part of that one and got to throw lots of candy. Toddler Boy watched from the sidelines and worked on collecting lots of candy to share with his siblings. I was with him to make sure he didn't get run over by the crazy motorcycles! Good times, the older boys missed out on that weekend because they were camping with their Trail Life troop.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blurry shot of Game Boy running with float</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Church Camp</td></tr>
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Speaking of camping, the older two spent a week at church camp over the summer. They went to fishing camp for the first time and got to come home to tell us stories about the ones that got away. Firstborn and Soccer Boy also brought the stomach flu home with them from camp and gave it to the whole family! Not a fun season in la casa...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taken on the last day pool was open</td></tr>
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Spent lots of time meeting friends at the local parks and of course had fun swimming in the pool almost daily. Princess learned to go off the diving board this year! Game Boy learned to swim last season but really became a much stronger swimmer this year<b> (</b><i><b>read...I did not worry about him drowning all summer!!)</b></i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lining up all the beach balls!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Go Cardinals!!</td></tr>
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Our Cardinals made the playoffs again so we watched lots of post season ball on T.V.<br />
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We've spent lots of time at Doug's folks' farm this summer. Grandma was wanting to break in some of her new horses so Firstborn is taking horseback riding lessons. While he's riding the other kids have fun running around outside, fishing, and playing with the animals.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hanging with Harley</td></tr>
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Princess went off to school! Yes, we are still a homeschooling family but Princess is attending first grade at the local public school this year. She is loving going to school and making new friends and I am enjoying delegating some of her reading work to other teachers besides myself. It frees me up a bit to focus on the other kids and especially Firstborn, who is now in high school. There has already been field trips to the pumpkin patch and Halloween class parties.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Princess' first day of school!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playing in the corn pit</td></tr>
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Of course, our family went pumpkin picking too...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking in the pumpkin patch</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brothers & best friends!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Game Boy is a good shot!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying target practice</td></tr>
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The boys are taking classes this fall with our homeschool group, including their favorite, archery! We have settled into a nice rhythm with our schoolwork (good, considering the year is almost half over).<br />
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Last but not least, we had our first snowfall before Thanksgiving, which is a bit rare around here...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sledding in the backyard</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toddler Boy enjoying the snow</td></tr>
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That ends my roundup post, hope I can keep more up to date during the holiday season but that might be wishful thinking on my part. Doug is "officially" on vacation next week so we're looking forward to some family fun. Have a good weekend!!Amy @ Consecrated Housewifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00388283707930930940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1701155938343167460.post-21968187818402885762014-06-28T07:22:00.000-05:002014-06-28T07:22:37.512-05:00A Mom's Life in 7 Quick TakesWe had the flu here this week...it went thru the entire family. The weather was really nice so it's kind of a pity we were all stuck inside. Firstborn and Soccer Boy brought it home from church camp last week. Soccer Boy was sick Saturday, Game Boy on Sunday night, Princess on Monday night and Toddler Boy was sick Monday night <i>and</i> Tuesday night. By Tuesday night, after three nights of no sleep I finally succumbed and was sick that night and all day Wednesday. It got pretty bad, but after Mom was totally out of commission for 24 hours my family came to a new appreciation for what, exactly, I do around here all day long. Because my role in the family is so "behind the scenes" you really don't see it <i>unless</i> I'm totally taken out of the equation. A mom has to be pretty ill to be totally taken out, here's 7 Quick Takes on what I currently do on the daily...<br />
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<b>1. Meals</b><br />
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One of the bigger things and obvious, someone had to make food for the remaining six people in our family. Doug went in to the office yesterday morning while the older two kids held down the fort. They made scrambled eggs for breakfast and Doug came home and made turkey sandwiches for lunch. I recall him asking me sometime that afternoon what he should make for supper and I suggested just picking up a rotisserie chicken from Schnucks when he was out getting me Gatorade (a red one from the refrigerated section, because I could only gag it down cold). I think he made baked potatoes to go with it, but since I didn't leave my bed all day I can't be sure.<br />
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<b>2. Home Maintenance</b><br />
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Someone has to do all those dishes the meals are creating! That person isn't just me, we have a chore system in the house. I am the one who makes sure the chores are getting done. The world won't end if the recycling doesn't get taken out for one day. However if we don't do dishes for a day we won't have any clean ones for the next day. We have a dishwasher but the cups and plates for seven people will usually take up all the room. Which means the pots and pans will have to be done by hand or you run another load in the dishwasher.<br />
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<b>3. Calendar</b><br />
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When I went to pick Soccer Boy up from swim practice this morning he mentioned that we missed the team picture. Whoops, picture day was today, it was on the calendar and they sent out an e-mail reminder at the beginning of the week. However, my family is not used to checking the calendar. It seems at this point the calendar exists for my purposes. I keep the family calendar at home and Doug keeps his at work and we coordinate them every so often. Today I realized I need to teach my older kids the calendar system so when I'm out of commission they can keep everything on track.<br />
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<b>4. Chauffeur</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">His first swim meet went until 11:15pm<br />
due to rain delay!</td></tr>
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Speaking of swim team, Soccer Boy missed practice yesterday morning because I was just too sick to get out of bed to drive him to the pool. In a couple years this won't be an issue because Firstborn will have his driver's license, but for now if Dad is at work and I'm sick you're not going. I guess I could have called one of my girlfriends and asked them to take him but it was just one practice so not worth the inconvenience. He has a swim meet tonight and our family is scheduled to work. I had to tell them we wouldn't be able to work it because I'm not up to it and Doug appears to be coming down sick today.<br />
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<b>5. Take care of little ones</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toddler Boy <i>loves</i> his hot dogs!</td></tr>
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<b>Soccer Boy:</b> Toddler Boy wants hot dogs all the time<br />
<b>Me:</b> Yes<br />
<b>Soccer Boy:</b> I'd cut one up and heat it<br />
up for him and then 5 minutes later he'd want another one and I'd have to do it all over again!<br />
<b>Me: </b> Welcome to my world...<br />
<b>Soccer Boy:</b> Luckily I have <i>skillz</i> so I was totally on top of it.<br />
<b>Me:</b> You need "skillz" to cut up hot dogs?<br />
<b>Soccer Boy:</b> (gives thumbs up)<br />
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Beyond the whole "getting snacks for the little kids all day long" there is the "taking Toddler Boy to the potty" which ranks a close second. The youngest two in the house are not nearly self sufficient so a big part of being the mom of little ones is just that. They need help getting dressed and fixing their hair (I'm pretty sure that didn't happen yesterday).<br />
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<b>6. Homeschooling</b><br />
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If it had been me, I would have let this one drop for the day but Doug wanted to do their math with them...<br />
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<b>Princess:</b> I want to go to school next year.<br />
<b>Doug:</b> Why, didn't you like doing your math with me?<br />
<b>Princess:</b> No, you're not a good teacher because you say stuff like "you're doing it wrong".<br />
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<b>7. Laundry</b><br />
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I guess laundry could have been stuck under home maintenance, but I figured it needed a whole section unto itself. Because when dealing with the stomach flu we go thru an insane amount of laundry. Normally I do one or two loads a day, but I need to double that this week. Plus, Soccer Boy and Firstborn had just come home from a week at camp so I had extra from them. I know Doug threw in at least two or three loads yesterday, we're running out of clean laundry baskets because he didn't have time to fold or put away any of it. That's my project for today.<br />
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<i>Hopefully next week will be a bit healthier! Click over to Jen's to see more 7 Quick Takes at Conversion Diary.</i>Amy @ Consecrated Housewifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00388283707930930940noreply@blogger.com0