Multitude Monday Vol. 10

I've missed a couple weeks with Ann, still, blessing have been in abundance in our home.

I was at our neighbor's parent's farm today taking some pictures.  The kids went inside for a snack and when I came in not only was I pleased that our children said thank you for all they were given to eat, but I was also really taken with this simple wooden sign that hung over a doorway.  It read:

When life becomes to hard to stand, kneel

I resume my counting:

Friday Morning Mass

Waverly Playdates

Excellent Homilies

Walking to church

The Secret of the Rosary

Littles saying Grace on their own

Beautiful weather weekend

Children just learning how to ride their bikes

Completing overdue errands

Psalms Bible Study

Jump start on weekly cleaning

Jump start on Christmas shopping (I know!)

Photos of the neighbor kids

Farms

Old School Living

Work beyond measure


Numbers 197-213 of my 1000 gifts.

Tina

Seven Quick Takes - Vol 9

It seems like it's been a long time since I've participated in Jennifer's Quick Takes or have been doing any blogging for that matter.  I've missed 7QT and 1000 Gifts. 

{1}

On Thursday's Henry brings a little something to share for "Share Time" at his school.  I should say sometimes....I'm slow on the uptake.  I say this because I totally forgot about Share Time today.  Nice, really nice.  I only remembered when we were sitting at the table checking in...I could see his face being sad that he didn't have anything for Share Time so I whispered in his ear that I would put a pumpkin (gourd) in his backpack and it would be there for Share Time.  So the girls and I went to the local grocery store only to find out they didn't have any gourds or Indian corn.  Now what?  I called my friend and she offered to find something at her house.  She had a pumpkin (it was kind of big) and ghost and a witch.  I went with the witch.  Drove back to school and dropped the witch in his backpack.  {As I did this I caught a glimpse of him with the teacher on the computer....he was so cute.  I called hubby and told him how absent minded I was in forgetting share time and what I did.  About 15 minutes he called me and said, "Do you think it was a good idea to bring a witch to Henry's (Catholic) school"?  Opps..maybe not? 

 

{2}

I started a new Bible Study on the Psalms.  I appreciate being guided by others who have studied the Bible and Psalms beyond what I have.  I am thankful for the wisdom.  The study is not specifically on all of the Psalms but more on studying them in general.  The parallels.  The song.  The meditation.  It's a great way to spend the early morning hours.

{3}

My schedule has been off and on.  When it's off, I'm off.  When it's on, I'm on.  When I'm on, everything runs smoother.

 

{4}

Henry has been loving school.  He is so happy and proud of himself when I pick him up.  I just love that he loves it.  He's broadened so much in the last two weeks.  We are so proud of him.  He also has taken a liking to a little girl in his class named Sophie.  So cute.

{5}

Karley misses the play with Henry when he's at school but it's nice that she turns to Sophie to be her friend.  As close as Henry & Karley are to each other I want there to be room for Sophie as well.  The older Sophie get the more things change.  The older they all get the more it changes.

 

{6}

Sophie has been doing everything!  She jumps on the trampoline, crawls down the stairs, climbs up the couch.  She has yet to walk though.  She still requires two hand and if I try and go down to one she cries and buckles down.  She'll get there. 

{7}

I've got some housekeeping to take care of in the next couple of days and if you can bear with me I am going to have a couple of giveaways too! :)  Be on the look out all you CSN lovers!

Have a blessed weekend!

Tina

  

Photos at area churches

The Handbook for Catholic Moms - Book Review

I am very excited to review my first book with Tiber River for Aquinas and More Catholic Goods.  I was even more excited to get The Handbook for Catholic Moms by Lisa Hendey in the mail a few weeks ago! 

I had The Handbook for Catholic Moms on my wish list for a long time.  I can't remember how I came to find it, but I am sure am glad that I did.  It was a great read and will be a great resource for years to come.  I really enjoyed how all the chapters were laid out:  A Bible verse to start, a story of her own, another relatable story from another resource, (some authors I've read previously and some that are new to me), the main contents of the chapter, quotes relating to the topic, followed by "Mom's Homework" and finally "Resources".  I thought each chapter had a nice flow and ending with the homework and resources brought it all together.

I underlined, circled and starred many words, thoughts and resources.  I plan on going back through the book to start implementing some of the items I marked.   All the ideas and suggestions were simple life suggestions but if you don't have a reminder, or one place where all the ideas are all collected, you could easily forget with the business of life. 

As a mother with three children (ages, one, two, and three) it was nice to hear her encouraging words from her own life, as well as all the other mothers who wrote in with similar stories and alternate ideas to work for an array of Catholic moms.  

Without a doubt I will be visiting Mrs. Hendey's website http://www.catholicmom.com/ a lot more as well as referencing my book regularly. 

You can purchase a The Handbook for Catholic Moms here.

I wrote this review of The Handbook for Catholic Moms for the Tiber River Blogger Review program, created by Aquinas and More Catholic Goods, the largest Cathlic store online. For more information and to purchase, please visit Aquinas and More Catholic Goods.

Tiber River is the first Catholic book review site, started in 2000 to help you make informed decisions about Catholic book purchases.

I receive free product samples as compensation for writing reviews for Tiber River.

Henry's First Day of Pre-School

Today was rough.  Rough to say the least.  Today was Henry's first day of pre-school and to say that it was harder and me than him would be a lie, it was hard for him. 

Yesterday Henry and I went to school to visit Ms. J to show Henry him his classroom once more and for me to get the ever loving "paperwork" {I read a lot and signed my name just a much}.  I thought it would be good for Henry & I to go alone as the other visits with Ms. J and his room were with the entire family.  I also wanted to have a date with Henry afterwards where we could talk about school and being there without Karley*.  

* In the last month we've had the desire to take one of the big kids on a outing with one of us.  Henry will not go without Karley.  Incidentally Karley has gotten to go on her own with Daddy to an auction. Henry was a mess when he then stayed home with Sophie and I.  We thought this would be a good teaching moment where the next time he'd take the opportunity to go on his own.  When this opportunity presented itself {trip with Daddy to Menards} he again refused.  Thinking ahead to today, I decided yesterday's orientation would be one step closer to being on his own.

Yesterday when I told him that he was going to go with Mom to his school he immediately asked if Kardee was going to come too.  Being honest and up front I told him no and for the next hour he cried and told me his wishes of his Kardee coming with.  When I dropped the girls off at Susan's he cried in the car, Sophie cried in the house and Karley just made her way to the toys.  {You're so brave Karley!}  Henry was fine the minute we got on the road to school.  He was great with Ms. J and made a craft project while we talked.  After we left I asked what he wanted to do and be still my heart, he said he wanted to go to the church across the street from school.  My sweet boy.  We went inside, looked at how beautiful it was, lit a candle, said a prayer for a good school year.  Then we went for "hot coffee" and "hot chocola chocola" {warm chocolate}.  We again talked about how fun school would be and he told two older gentleman that he was going to school tomorrow.  {Maybe this won't be so bad?}

Our plan was that Adam was going to come with to drop Henry off at school.  In thinking I asked Adam if he thought it was a good idea that we would all be leaving him, would it be a bigger production?  I said I didn't want to take anything away from Adam but wondered what he thought.  He decided he would just go to work because it would indeed be a bigger production and that might not be helpful for Henry.  Bummer but it was bad enough.

I brought Henry his clothes and he obviously knew that I was bringing him something nicer he asked if we were going to church.  I told him no, it was school today.  The next 45 minutes before we had to leave he spent crying that he didn't want to go alone.  Most of which was in a corner.  {He's never done this.  Not a good sign but still I thought it wouldn't be as bad as it was....and actually it just progressed.} 

After Karley got her "Pack Pack" all loaded up I brought the girls to the car. 

I then came back to carry Henry, all the while he cried, to the car.  My heart breaking the whole time.   He cried most of the 15 minute drive to school.  I tried to reassure him that he would be fine, that Ms. J would be there, that even when I am not with him or Karley that Jesus would always be with him, that he could talk to Him anytime, he could tell Him that he is scared.  I hope those words stick with him.  I carried him into the school crying, saying, "don't leave me".  {I am sorry to the mother who was video taping her daughter that my sons words will forever be on your tape.} 

I brought him to his cubbie/locker, talked with him about the books we ordered, his paperwork for Ms. J, he was hysterical.  We walked into the classroom, tried to talk about the apple that had his name on it that he was to put a sticker on, and the next thing you know, he was crawling on all fours, crying, out the classroom door.  I picked him up.  Talked with him.  Set him down and back on all fours he went towards the door.  Teachers, students, parents all watching my adorable sweet boy crying on all fours towards the door.  Ms. J picked him up.  I passed her and left hearing her ask him what was wrong, he did so well yesterday.  {Ms. J previously asked if there was a problem with separation for the parent to leave and not drag on a "coming back for one more comfort or reasoning", so I did.}  YIKES.  That was hard.

I made it to the car, called Adam and lost it.

I also wanted to mention that I read this blog post from my dear blog friend Angie last night.  It was a reminder to me to make sure I get certain pictures for his book.  The three pictures I do have are sad.  There wasn't any such picture by his school sign, by his locker, or at his desk. 

On the way to pick him up I asked my sister...."What if he doesn't make it in a months time?  What if they tell me he just isn't ready?"  She said, "Well, then he just isn't ready".  So I had it in my mind that it would be okay if he isn't ready, it will be okay.

Then as I pull up to school....I see this.

As all the parents waited for the kids to come to the door all the other parents told me that Henry was fine as soon as I left.  One man thought Henry was very creative on how he was going to escape.  They were all very re-assuring that he was just fine and was all calmed down within a few minutes.  Praise God!  After hearing that, I as I was watching him wait for his name to be called to be excused from school I started to get tears.  I had been holding it all in (since talking to Adam) but once I knew my baby was okay, had a good time I think the emotions of school finally came.  I cried then at the fact that he is a big boy.  Where is the time going?  He had a fun time, I am so glad. 

I did end up getting a few pictures that I hoped for.  Now this afternoon he's been re-creating school.  I can hear the differences in his play.  What a big boy!  He was so excited to show me his paperwork folder he put stickers on and the paper that indicated he had a great day.  We made it!

Blessings to you!

Tina

I wasn't sure about posting the pictures of him crying as he was so devastated but since the day turned out okay I went ahead.

Progress

Our babe {who isn't really a baby anymore} has been doing quite these days. From the time we had the school district come to evaluate her to the time the testing was completed she no longer qualified for any in home help. YEAH Sophie! I was given exercises to work with her which has totally helped even though she fought everything she could. An example of that fight is that she would cry every stair crawl as I would physically move her through each step until we made it to the top. With each day she got better and better and now sails up those stairs. As a matter of fact, anytime we are downstairs she immediately climbs back to the top. She just doesn't like doing anything until she wants to and just in the last couple of days has decided she will throw herself down on the ground and cry if she doesn't want to do something. She's definitely a girl who knows what she wants and what she doesn't!

It seems as if Sophie's first birthday was a marker that she's no longer a baby. She has been joining the big kids more and more. She wants what they eat, what they play with and wants to go where they go. She is no longer happy just hanging out with Mom. For me, I am happy to see three playing together. It just warms my heart and yet it's a little sad.

Sophie has also been using her big toys. She has been sitting at the piano now for quite awhile. It blew me away the first time I realized that she got on it herself. She has been trying to climb aboard the zebra but can't quite get the leg over the saddle yet. I think in a week she'll have it mastered. It's just so nice to see her coming along.

Yesterday I went to ask Adam something while he was outside with all the kids and found Sophie climbing aboard the Fred Flinstone car. I had to quick get the camera...it was so cute to see. She's been watching for so long and is now happiest being able to join big sister and big brother. We just love it.

Hopefully soon we'll be seeing her walking, chasing after "the monster" whoever that may be on any given day.

It was hard to know if we were doing the right thing in seeking help for Sophie. In the end I am glad that we did. I am sure that the exercises I was given helped me to help her. I have now realized that she is resistant to change, already likes to do it herself, and very much enjoys her brother and sister doting on her. We also believe her ear infection played a roll in her delay. In any case she is getting back on track!

We love you baby girl. We are so proud of you in how far you've come.

Blessings to you!

Tina

These photos weren't of the best quality but they so caputred her beautiful smile we so love to see.