Penrose

I found Abigail copying these drawings from The Adventures of Penrose the Mathematical Cat today. It just made me happy- the copying of drawings on her own volition and her finished product.

getting there

Mike gave me a tutorial on how to add pictures of the right size to my blog, as I was stumped after being forced into Google+. And he updated the HTML somehow to make blogging much easier, and faster-- I can now add as many pictures as I want in a post all at once!

My posts have been less frequent lately. Between having a new babe and just having a lot going on in our lives in general, I don't have much spare time (though it's therapeutic for me to document our goings-on here when I can). Opal has found a groove in the past couple of weeks, and her improved sleeping patterns have made a big difference. I feel like we're getting the hang of this family-of-six thing. For the first times since before Opal was born, I took the kids to the Family Hour of Adoration at the Oratory AND Armata Bianca (a children's Rosary prayer group), and those grace-filled outings were spiritually and emotionally invigorating. Jack had a friend over on Wednesday after Activity Day (where I had particularly good conversations with some of the other mothers), and he was thrilled to join that same friend and his family at a local story time the following day. I think through all of these things, too, God has been showing me what a blessing it is to live where we do, even if we are a bit anxious to get back to our rural roots and enjoy more "elbow room," as Mike says. At least for the time being, we are exactly where God wants us to be, and I'm trying to cherish our proximity to friends, conveniences, and culture.

A few captured moments from our past week-- I can't pass off a simple coloring book to this one. She wants to do "school" just like her big brother and sister. ("just because" flowers from Mike... he's pretty sweet) Being a love while at Steak 'n' Shake last Sunday. I love that flawless, silky baby skin, her delectable, chubby cheeks On Thursday, I told the big kids they could pick something more involved to do at the end of quiet time, before the babies awoke. They chose a lesson on oil pastels. I knew just the thing for Abigail to use as a reference. She was entranced by Degas' ballerinas when I flipped to the page in my book on Impressionism. Jack chose the radiated tortoise from a National Geographic book. I admit, I often struggle with teaching this one, as she balks at any suggestions I try to give. So I've taken to just drawing beside her, noting aloud what I'm doing, hoping she will glean some helpful nuggets. I'm just glad she seems to have a real enthusiasm for art- both visual and performing, especially dance. He finished it on his own later in the day and the next morning and added his own "touches." Such a sweet boy. The Wards brought over the exersaucer last night- what a blast! Lemmetellyou.

A few other things of note--

I finally started watching Downton Abbey (free streaming on Amazon Prime), after many recommendations. Mike, the loving husband that he is, has been indulging my interests and watching alongside me. I've always known I'm a lucky girl, but lately, he's really been melting my heart. I love that man.

We've been trying to read more classics and poetry to the kids. Jack has been writing his own poems that are so, so dear. The one he recited to me this morning was called, "High and Low have a fight." I really need to write these down in full.

Speaking of classics, I've been reading A Thomas Jefferson Education and would highly recommend it to anyone with children- public, private or homeschooled. It emphasizes great teaching, mentors and classics to inspire children to get enthusiastic about learning and apply themselves to their own well-rounded education. While I was Valedictorian in H.S. and got good grades in college, I feel I merely learned to play the academic game well. My actual education was severely lacking as far as knowledge of the classics goes. I want to offer my children better. So Mike and I are trying to play catch up now.

My (half) marathon training has been going well, though I don't hope to set any records this time around. My marathon was 4:06 (9:23 per mile), and my last half was 1:51-something (8:30 pace)- both faster than my expectations of the time. I'm just happy to have a worthwhile reason to run and a long-distance race for which to train. I knocked out 7.5 miles during nap time yesterday and felt good.

Jack wants to play the harp. But I think we've talked him into his second choice: the trumpet, which Mike will teach him. He's excited about it and says excitedly, "But, I'm warning you! I'm going to play extra, bextra, evil music!"

Yarn Along!

My mom gave me this luscious and fun handspun wool for Christmas, and I've been wanting to dive back into knitting with it. I'm just making something quick and easy, as that's all my time allows for these days, but it at least keeps my hands busy while watching shows after-hours with my love. The pattern is Woolly Moguls.

Through the suggestion via a friend's blog, I've been reading through some of the real Maria von Trapp's Around the Year with the Trapp Family, a treasure of recipes, traditions and beautiful anecdotes from their family concerning the Liturgical Year.  Worth the read...

{pretty, happy, funny, real} Valentine's Day

{pretty}

From February 4, 2013

I know they're nothing to write home about (I didn't use a comb or anything), but here's my first attempt at braids. They didn't look quite as neat once they'd been slept on multiple times (at least Abigail liked hers so much she didn't want to take it out).

{happy}

From February 14, 2013

Yesterday morning, the kids distributed valentines to the residents at a local senior center with some fellow homeschoolers. We were hesitant to participate, as a Valentine's celebration seemed a strange pairing with the sullenness of Ash Wednesday, but I'm glad we went. A special Ash Wednesday Mass was held in the dining room, and the homily, geared toward the children, was a perfect reminder to them (and adults alike) at the beginning of Lent of works of mercy and Christ's suffering. It was truly a blessing to see how the children lit up the faces of the elderly. Both groups were delighted.

From February 14, 2013

After Mass, the children exchanged valentines with each other.... a refreshing activity after experiencing preschool Valentine's Day, wherein the children came home with huge hauls of candy that lasted several months.

From February 14, 2013

(Our table is a sight after making some Valentine's Day crafts of our own this morning)

{funny}

From February 14, 2013

Iris took turns "feeding" Grandma and Grandpa selections from her kitchen the other night during our Skype session. This happened to be one of Russie's marshmallow horse delicacies. Clearly, Grandpa is enjoying his.

{real}

From February 4, 2013

I'll file this in the ecstatic Mama category as well, but I'm still pinching myself over her sleep the past few nights. She's been sleeping wooondrously. Last night was her best by far with a 10.25 hour stretch! I put her down at 7:45 and she didn't wake to nurse until 6 this morning (and promptly went back to sleep for three more hours). What luck that this was one of the very rare times I actually went to sleep soon after she did. About nine more nights like that should get me feeling chipper again!

Welcome to the world, Marlowe!

I was excited to get a call from Heather on Friday morning that things seemed to be set in motion with the birth of my newest niece. Little did we all know that she would follow in her sister's footsteps and give her mother days more of exhausting, sleep-depriving labor until forcing her parents to turn in their plans of a home birth and head to the hospital (what are plans when you still get the best gift you could imagine in the end?). We were happy to hang out with the soon-to-be-big sis, Olive, for much of the day yesterday while her parents focused on the task at hand. I was relieved to hear this morning that Marlowe Magnolia Nell had finally come out into the light, at the same hospital where Jack was born nearly six years ago. She had the same exact birth measurements as Opal. Our whole family went to meet her this evening. Opal looked huge beside the wee little thing, looking so content, swaddled in her Daddy's arms.

From February 10, 2013

Isn't she so dear? I love those ears. And that nose is her Mama's (and great-great grandmother's). We're looking forward to having our kids, who are conveniently close in age, grow up in close proximity to each other (at least for the time being).

Russie's coffee-bean people

From February 9, 2013

In the past couple of months, Iris' drawing abilities have really taken off. We've seen a lot of these funny little people.

From February 9, 2013

I love how they eventually evolve from scribbles to these little creatures with orb head-bodies and stick limbs to drawings more closely resembling people.

From February 9, 2013

From February 9, 2013

This one was done before Christmas (note the curly brown hair- and the sideways Christmas tree.) Not bad for a two year-old.

they've got the itch

{pretty, funny, happy, real}

{pretty}

From February 2, 2013

This was the scene from the back yard of the house Mike and I went to see this past weekend. While the house didn't seem like the one for our family, we both drooled over the 10-acre yard. The peaceful snow just made it all the more appealing. I truly miss being able to hear the snow falling. (We're not necessarily looking to move any time soon- we've just been keeping an eye out for more land.)

{happy}

From February 2, 2013

From February 2, 2013

From February 2, 2013

It seems I rarely get one-on-one time with my middle girl. So this past weekend, when Mike took the older kids to swimming, I put Opal down for a nap, and Russ and I had a special at-home date. We had sweet snacks (caramel popcorn and juice).

From February 2, 2013

And after we snuggled for a good while on the couch, I pulled out a gift I'd gotten on sale a long time ago- stashed for an occasion such as this. The child is obsessed with phones and almost made off with a friends' at a play date last week. As much as I try to avoid battery-powered toys, this one is pretty low-key, and she now has one that actually "works" (it's an alphabet phone).

From February 2, 2013

From February 2, 2013

(listening to the songs) She LOVES it.

From February 2, 2013

It provides sweet dance music on command.

{funny}

From February 5, 2013

This silly little face seems to make it into this category a lot.

From February 5, 2013

A generous friend lent this rocking play mat to Opal, and she thinks it's the best thing since Mom's milk on demand.

From February 5, 2013

From February 5, 2013

From February 4, 2013

"Can you see me?!"

From February 4, 2013

Her expressions just tickle me.

{real}

From January 28, 2013

I love the handful of warm days we inevitably get in the middle of winter. Last Monday was one of those days. I think it got up to the upper 60's- at least it felt that warm in the sun. The kids had fun unleashing some energy that's been pent-up for far too long indoors.