Rutabaga Dreams

While I was vacuuming this afternoon, I came up with an idea for a better Halloween.  I thought that perhaps we’d get pizza from Papa Murphy’s, make sugar cookies and other junk food, hang out together, then let the kids stay up late and watch a movie together.  I ran it by Matt, who was planning on surprising us all and going to the Halloween thing at church together (and believe me, he wanted to be there less than I did!) and he thought it was a great idea.  I ran it past the kids and they thought it sounded great.  

We ended up making sugar cookies in the shapes of pumpkins, cats, dogs, moons, hearts, and Christmas trees (that’s what happens when the 2 year old gets to choose too) and fudge.  We had pizza and now we’re watching a movie together.  It has been a great evening, especially since we all haven’t seen that much of Matt because of his super busy work schedule.  I’m thinking this should become a new family tradition!

Can we just pretend it isn’t Halloween?  *sigh*  This has got to be my least favorite holiday of the year.  Bah.

There’s a carnival and a “trunk or treat” (people decorate their trunks and the kids go trick or treating from trunk to trunk) at church tonight, but it’s been raining and there’s more rain to come.  I would rather skip it, but I doubt I can get away with that short of a huge downpour or several inches of snow.  Well, I could just be mean mom and say no, but I’m not really sure that’s the best idea.  It seems rather selfish, don’t you think?

I refuse to make special costumes and all though - they just are raiding the dress up clothes.  At least there’s that…  Such a pointless and ridiculous holiday though.

Nathan was baptized after the 11 o’clock mass today, praise be to God!  Two wonderful people I know from Families of Nazareth are his godparents, and several other families I know through this wonderful Catholic lay group were there as well.  I am so thankful for this group and the people I have met through it.  Nathan’s baptismal gown was made by a wonderful woman who introduced me to the group - she made it for one of her grandsons, but they didn’t want to use it.  So when I asked her on Thursday (this was all scheduled rather last minute for this weekend, because of travel schedules and such) where I could find a gown she had it waiting in her closet and was happy to give it to us.  And it is just perfect too - not too fancy or fluffy or anything.  Isn’t that wonderful?  

Nathan was not too happy about the whole thing - especially the water part - but after the oil he quieted down and was  much more chipper.  The husband of Nathan’s godmother videotaped the event, but I wonder how much you’ll be able to hear over Nathan’s crying.  Oh well, next time we’ll do it sooner and hopefully the baby will just sleep through most of it.  *grin*

This is a great post about those lovely conversations we moms get roped into sometimes - well worth reading.  Thanks to Jennifer F. for the link.

Of course, it would be nice to have a home…  one of these days, right??

I finally dumped my camera this morning and I thought I would share a few pictures from it.  Hopefully I can get this done before Nathan wakes up from his nap!

Baby cuddles!  Emma is such a great big sister.  She really wants to help take care of Nathan, and most of the time she’s able to help out quite a bit.

Gregory really likes Nathan too, but we have to make sure he’s not too rough with him.  He isn’t trying to be rough, he just doesn’t understand what Nathan can take.  He’s very kind and caring with Nathan - he gets toys and his blanket for him, and tries to entertain him when he’s unhappy.  It will be a lot of fun for both of them when Nathan’s a little bigger though and can move on his own.  I think they’ll have a great time.

And this is what it looks like after we come home from the library.  We are definitely a bookworm family.

And isn’t he getting strong!

Well, Nathan woke up in the course of this post, and the kids came inside…  but I’m still going to try and post a couple pictures of our paint progress on the house blog.  

This evening while I was making dinner Gregory came up to the bouncy seat where Nathan was sitting, gave him a hug, and enthusiastically told him, “Nathan, I love you!” several times.

Yes, Nathan, we’re all very glad you’re here!

From and ad in today’s local paper:

“Time = Money.  At a certain point in life, this equation gets reversed.”

Because money = time is something remarkably different?

Hmm….

The days are going by very quickly right now.  Nathan is going to be four months old tomorrow (how’d that happen??) and he’s turning into a delightful little guy.  He loves to watch Emma and Gregory, and he’s discovered the joys of toys.  He’s rolling over back to front and getting more and more stable when he tries to sit up.  He has a great laugh and a great smile, and he is adored and admired by one and all.  He’s also huge - I moved him into 6-9 month clothes two weeks ago and he’s already starting to get too long for some of his PJ’s.  And it isn’t just his length either, he’s a sturdy little guy all around.  I’m not sure what he weighs right now, but I’m glad I’ve had two other children already to help me strengthen my back and arms so that I can carry him around comfortably!  

Matt got a promotion at the beginning of September and started a new project right around then too.  He’s been incredibly busy with work, easily working 60+ hours a week…  and then there’s the house.  If you’ve been reading the house blog, you know that he’s updating that again fairly regularly and posting his progress.  I’m doing very little on the house these days, because taking care of the kids - especially Nathan - takes most of my attention.  I’m pretty much useless as far as the house goes.  If I do get involved in a project there that takes more than 10 minutes or so, it is guaranteed that I will have to either give it over to Matt or he’ll have to take Nathan so I can finish.  It is sometimes frustrating for both of us, as I’m sure Matt would like more help, and I’d like to be more involved… but it just isn’t the way our life is working out right now.

We’ve added a few new things to our schedule too, which is making things busier.  I’m really glad we’ve added them though, I feel like we’re much more centered now that we used to be.  Here’s our schedule, in case you’re curious.

Monday - Morning prayer (we’re now praying all of Lauds together - at Emma’s request), Gospel reading, School in AM (Math, Latin, Bible, History, Music) then lunch, then working on the house/gardening/chores/whatever needs to be done.  

Tuesday - Out the door at 8, Mass at the Chapel at 8:30, grocery shopping, errands.  Home for lunch, then school in the afternoon (Math, Latin, Christian Studies, Science, Art)

Wednesday - Morning prayer, Gospel reading, school (Math, Latin, English Studies, History, Practical Skills), lunch, chores/work on the house/update finances, early dinner, then off to faith formation at 5:30.

Thursday - Out the door at 8 for Mass at the Chapel at 8:30.  Religion class for Emma, then playtime with the other kids in the class.  Then it is off for errands and the library.  Home for lunch, then school in the afternoon (Math, Latin, Christian Studies, Dictation/Recitation, Science), then dinner by 6 so I can leave at 6:30 for my Catholic discussion group (We’re very slowly reading through In The Arms of Mary and discussing it, section by section).

Friday - Morning prayer, Gospel study, school (Math, Latin, Saint of the Week, Geography, Nature Study), lunch, then chores/work on the house/collapse because we’re worn out from our busy week!

Saturday and Sunday are given over to working on the house (except for church on Sunday, of course) unless something else absolutely has to be done.  

If it wasn’t for the whole working on the house thing, I think this all would be great.  As it is…  well, I’m really tired of the house being such a pressing concern.  It has been the focus of every bit of spare cash and time we’ve had for the last year and a half at least, and honestly, I’m not sure when it won’t be.  At this point, knowing what I know now, I would have settled for a heck of a lot less.  But now it is way too late for that!  Maybe someday we’ll actually get to live there and it might start to seem somewhat worthwhile.  At least the kids will remember very little of all this, and hopefully I’ll forget a lot of it too in time.  

I can at least console myself right now by reflecting back on last year, because things are a lot better now than they were last year.  At least we’re not living in a tiny tin box on wheels with no electricity and no running water, worrying about getting the structure of the house up before it started to rain and snow in earnest.  I’m not in the throes of morning sickness and trying to figure out how to keep my kids warm and occupied in said tin box.  Yes, things are certainly a lot better than last year!

The kids all have colds again.  Nothing too serious, but everyone is pretty tired, snotty and sluggish today.  It started on Tuesday and I think today is probably going to be the peak.  I hope today is going to be the peak!  They are currently watching a movie and even Nathan is fascinated.  (well, was, now he’s on my lap and sounding hungry)

We tried the Safeway grocery cart car on Thursday again and it seems that was a bad idea.  I wiped the thing down with the wipes beforehand and let it air dry and I also wiped the kids hands after they got out, but apparently that wasn’t enough.  Either the wipes weren’t effective, or I missed a spot…  but I’ve decided to forgo further experimentation.  For now on, the car carts are a banned item in this family!