Friday Quick Takes

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I keep telling my husband that the reason I'm not writing anymore is because I'm just not funny anymore. Well, that's presuming I was at least a little witty or borderline amusing before... Life is hilarious, yes, but I seem to have lost any ability to capture that humor in words. I guess I'd have to say "Words fail me" which could very possibly be the first time in my life. The good news is that Bella does keep me laughing regularly, and I have a lot of other funny people in my life so I am sure that one day that useless brain cell reserved for being funny will wake up and I'll be back on track. In the meantime, I will let life be funny all by itself.

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Speaking of funny, there's Bella. Oh goodness, this child...
Me: Good morning, Bella.
Bella: "Hi Mommy, I slept very well and had good dreams about ____(fill in the blank with something new each day). Daddy at work?I not want to call him now, maybe later. Now I want to go play with naked baby(doll) and Anastasia." Can we say motormouth?

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Halloween was a BIG hit here. We spent about 2 weeks parading around in different costumes "pwetendin" trick-or-treating, which I had encouraged thinking it might help her on the actual night. Bella can be very shy and reserved and I did not want her to freak out the minute we stepped out in the dark, so we read books and played. Well, I shouldn't have worried. We had big cousins with us, which is always a confidence booster, and then we started with 3 houses we know well. It took ONE house to figure out that this meant REAL CANDY. CHOCOLATE. That child ran up to each house (as fast as her tiny legs can carry her, which was way behind the rest of the pack) and confidently announced "Trick or Treat!" and a big "Thank You!" afterward. She tired quickly, which is all the better since now she believes she should eat as much candy as she wants each day. The supply is dwindling which is a good thing for all of us.

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Anastasia loved Halloween, too, but she doesn't know what she's missing in the bright orange pumpkin bucket. No, she was more interested in being outside with a lot of people walking around cooing over her. Miss Social broke into an irresistible smile everytime I called her "My Baby Bumblebee!" Who wouldn't be charmed?

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I was just checking out a new clothing line at Target.com that was featured at one of my favorite freebie/giveaway sites. Given this is a new designer I decided to click the "sizing chart" button to determine how much fabric they count on using. I was directed to a list of sizing options, including "Tent Buying Information." Enough said.

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Okay, another Bella story because it just happened and it's been the highlight of my day thus far. She was pulling her panties back up "all by mysewf" and was reminding herself how they go. "The ruffles in the back, the ruffles in the back, hi-ho the dairy-O the ruffles in the back." (I have never sang that.) She also was "brushing that dirt right off of that seat" (her favorite South Pacific tune) earlier, too. She is forever making up lyrics to whatever tune is running through her head at that moment. She's kinda liker her Daddy in that respect, although she knows the right words...

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WE ARE GOING TO NEW ORLEANS!!!!! I am SO excited! A little nervous about traveling without Daddy, but I will have my mom. Bella will have her Mimi, is there anything else we need? My mom and I have been talking about going to see her relatives for a few years now, and had tried to plan something last year and it just never happened. This week she calls me up and says "let's go now." Well by Tuesday afternoon we had decided to fly instead of drive, had talked to all the relatives, and bought tickets Wednesday. Oh-oh-oh, I can taste the Po' Boys now! And catfish. And Beignets. mmmmm.
The best part of course is the chance to see the friendliest relatives anyone could ever ask for. I haven't been there in 13 years (!) and have a lot of catching up to do. Pray the travel goes well; once we're there it's like being home.

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Now, go visit Jen @ Conversion Diary for more great Quick Takes from other great bloggers.

Dave Barry Describes My Life

" The biggest problem with children's songs is that many of them call for actions on the part of the listeners. My Daughter, who is very strict, expects everybody to perform these actions. So if we're listening to "I'm a Little Teapot" and she notices I'm using my arms for some frivolous activity such as steering the car, she will repeat "Daddy do it! Daddy do it!" until I let go of the wheel and form my teapot handle and my teapot spout. I have discovered that I can, in fact, steer with my forehead, but visibility is a problem. "

Quick Takes

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We LOVED Gram's visit! As if they don't always seem too short, this time we all managed to get sick while she was here, too. However, despite our little bout with head colds we did venture to the zoo (a Bella favorite), the park, a yummy German dinner, a walk along the Potomac River in Point of Rocks, VA., baked muffins, daily Mass, Adoration once, and introduced painting with paintbrushes. A very good time was had by all, and we all miss her greatly. This is the first time that her leaving has caused such trauma, and Bella cried when Gram walked away into the airport. We're better now, but Bella does constantly dream and talk about when she will see Gram again.

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Anastasia used Gram's visit to show off. She started walking behind a walker, and pushing Bella around on a riding toy. There's no going back now; she has given up any activity that limits mobility and is intent on trying everything now.

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My favorite Bella story of late: Bella sings all the time, and all different kinds of songs. Her latest favorite is "I'm gonna wash that man right out of my hair" from South Pacific. She really gets into it, with great inflection and even ending the song in a crescendo. We sing that while I wash her hair, and then when I started listening to Broadway music again it came on and she stopped dead in her tracks and started singing along! TOO cute, and now she bursts into it whenever the mood strikes her right. OR when it comes on the radio. Or when prompted to perform for Mimi's friends because it's just too cute not to share.

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Word of advice - one should be careful when praying for increase in virtue. Welcome Home, Humility. For a few weeks I was doing pretty well around the house and with the girls, settling into a rhythm and routine. Please don't confuse that with the house being clean or my kids behaving perfectly, but I was just doing my best. Wouldn't you know that went down the tubes right before my mother-in-law arrived, and on a day when my uncle and his family came for a visit for the first time ever. Then of course there's the kids' behavior at Mass - I start to think to myself "yeah, we can do this. Bella is just so good in Mass, I must be doing something right." And then we have so many bad days in a row that I think the only one smiling is Jesus. *sigh* Yes, that's me sneaking out the back with my head down.

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I LOVE warm fall days; they are as close to perfection we have around here. There is nothing like taking the kids outside on a day that's cool enough to run and jump and play and bring out the rosy in their sweet little cheeks. Today was the girls' first experience with leaves this year (it didn't leave much of an impression with Bella last year) and they loved it! We raked a pile for jumping, and Bella and her cousins ran and jumped and buried themselves and did everything kids should do in the perfection of crunchy leaves on a warm day. Of course my camera was left behind, sorry.

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We celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary this week!!! You know, a LOT can change in 4 years. Nothing will bring this home as fast as watching your kids play. Happy Anniversary to my beloved Patrick - here's to 60 more!This is an oil painting by Patrick's mom.

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I recently revisited the National Toy Hall of Fame website and enjoyed. We are following that great example in our living room right now - you would have to maneuver around a large cardboard box/ tunnel, but OH the hours of amusement!!! Thanks to Maria AND Jen for reminding us that Christmas is only 9 weeks away!

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Go visit Jen at Conversion Diary for more great Quick Takes!

Who's Watching the Baby?

It's an important question. Let's suppose, for a moment, that it was her cousin's 2nd birthday, and we were celebrating with an ice-cream cake outside. And let's say I was holding the newborn baby nephew, and there are 2 toddlers and 1 preschooler running around like wild banshees. And the quiet, happy, easy Baby is sitting in the grass.


What happens?


Oh, yes.



My MY that was good!

Sometimes I stand in another room and listen. It's like eavesdropping on heaven, listening to that sweet Angel laughter. My whole heart swells with indescribable joy at the squeals of happiness emanating from the hidden picture of childhood bliss.

Sometimes I peek through the crack in the door and watch. From my hiding place I witness small acts with great love. I am privy to the secret world of gentleness and kindness. Virtue in its purest form.

You do not need to remind me that it does not last. Please don't jar me back to the harsher side of life with multiple children. I am not so naive as to believe that this is the full truth. I know that any moment this serenity will be shattered and my intervention will once more be required to maintain health and well-being. For right now, though, in this moment, I am simply breathing in the glory of heaven, the very peace of God.