Now that Bobby has had his
First Holy Communion, he qualifies to be an Altar Boy at the Old Mission. I so love it there. No classes, no sign-ups -- if you've had your First Communion you show up and suit up and the older boys start showing you the ropes.
If you've been wondering whether I really
do have a system for
everything, I think I can clear that up for you with this:
My Sack Lunch Numbering System.
It was born over the summer when I send my preschoolers to the neighborhood park day camp near my in-laws' house in Chicago. They would sometimes come home with half eaten lunches, but always the wrong half was eaten. They never
could seem to remember that sandwiches should be eaten before cookies.
So, I started numbering all the stuff I put in their lunches. I also do it during the year on our co-op days.
And now they always eat the important stuff first!
I walked into my bedroom yesterday to find this:
lined up across my bed. Bobby had tried to tell me that Frankie was up to something, but I was busy and cut him off with my standard interruption to tattling children, "Is it dangerous or destructive?" Bobby said he thought it probably wasn't and so Frankie finished what he was doing and I got to find it later. I asked Bobby about it and he insists that Frankie, all by himself, took all of Anita's shoes out of her closet and then MATCHED THEM UP PROPERLY atop my bed down the hallway.
This is an eighteen month old who barely talks and thinks all toys are for throwing, but somehow managed this task. I like how he just did his best with the single dress shoes. They're pretty close.
So I am left wondering: genius or weirdo? Only time will tell.
This is what my desk drawer currently looks like:
Why yes, that IS a used pregnancy test in there. I always feel uncomfortable throwing away the thing that says I'm pregnant, especially at the very beginning, when it's all I have to prove to myself that it's really true.
Of course, now, I have the all consuming
morning all-day-sickness to keep me company. So probably it's time to get the thing I peed on out of the pencil drawer.
Speaking of all-day-sickness . . . I still
really can't complain, since it's way better than last time, but I'm feeling pretty lazy, and school is winding down for the year. We only have two weeks left on our syllabi and then some testing, but the year is broken up a bit top-heavy, so the days go a lot quicker after Easter break than at the beginning of the year.
Which is all to explain how I've been able to spend so much time watching
Doctor Who.
I've been meaning to watch it for a while since so many of my fellow bloggers seem to love it. Honestly though, I just don't usually have time to watch TV. But I've been sneaking off during the afternoons with my iPad to watch it streaming on Netflix, and it was just what I needed: creative, silly, ridiculous and fun.
I love how unapologically throwback the Brits are. I decided to start with 2005, Season 1 of the new version, rather than back at the beginning with the classic 1963 episodes (also available on Netflix). In the US when they bring back an old show it's usually a "reboot" with a new world, a new cast, a new history. But the Brits say, "This show has a talking robot dog in it, like it or lump it." I like it.
Now I was assured that I just had to stick it out through the beginning with the Ninth Doctor, until I got to the Tenth Doctor, the best Doctor of them all.
But it just goes to show "to each her own", because I adored the Ninth Doctor. He was tall, and goofy, and cheerful, and authoritative. Nineteen year old me would definitely have followed that guy all over space and time. Fantastic.
I know that British actors don't usually stick with shows very long
but once I started liking him, I figured I'd at least get a couple of seasons, maybe three, and Rose would get rid of Mickey, and . . . then BOOM he's gone, regenerated at the end of Season 1.
But I'm thinking, well maybe the Tenth Doctor really
will be better. But, no, not for me he's not. I'm only four episodes in to the second season, but he's a bit spazzy and sarcastic for my taste. Not to mention irresponsible and womanizing. And what's with all the evil-cat-nuns and evil-ninja-werewolf-monks in season two? I know they're not really represented as Catholic (or Catholic anymore), but it wasn't my favorite. It would be nice to see a positive representation of religious characters. But I'm still feeling poorly enough to stick it out for a few more episodes.
All I know about the Eleventh Doctor are the photos that came up when I was looking for a picture of the Ninth Doctor, so maybe I'm wrong, but it sure looks like they made one of those kids from One Direction into a Time Lord, so I guess I have that to look forward to.
So with baby number seven on the way we are about to officially outgrow my Chevy Venture, for which I have a great fondness. It's an eight-seater, which is hard to find, but that won't be enough. So we're planning to get a new van before the baby comes. We're not actively shopping yet, but I've been keeping my eyes open, just hoping to somehow avoid the big ol' white airport shuttle van everyone else at the park drives. So imagine how excited I was to see this little number pull up to the birthday party we went to last weekend in San Diego:
 |
| They've got two car seats strapped into it! |
It's a
Pinzgauer High-Mobility All-Terrain Vehicle and it seats two up front, twelve in the back. And you can just hose it out when it gets dirty. It only goes 55 miles per hour, but, hey, I drive too fast anyway! The husband is thinking it would perhaps not be the most practical vehicle ever, but I remain partially-smitten with it. How awesome would we look piling out of that thing?
And lastly, to reward you for making it through another one of my epic "quick" takes . . . I have a giveaway for you!
Reader Heather sent me this Flexi Hair Clip from
Lilla Rose to review and she's offered a free Flexi Clip to one lucky reader.
I've been really impressed with it. I almost always wear my hair in a pony tail. My dear Aunt, who is very stylish and has extraordinary hair herself, is forever giving me lovely things to put in my hair other than the standard black elastic I always wear. But I rarely wear them because they're heavy, and tug at my scalp, and are uncomfortable to lean against. So back to the elastic for me.
But the Flexi Clip has been different, it's really lightweight, and doesn't tug, and it's comfortable to lean against, even in the car. They have different sizes available. I ordered the small and it's perfect for my hair up in a twist.
(Note: this contest has now ended!)
If you'd like to be entered in the drawing for the free clip, head over to
Heather's website and tell everybody what your favorite item is in the comments of this blog post. You can also earn additional entries for any of these:
- liking Heather's FB page (https://www.facebook.com/OrigamiOwlHeatherGaffneyID)
- liking Catholic All Year's FB page
- following Heather's blog (http://mamacre8s.com)
- following Catholic All Year
- following Heather on twitter (@mamacre8s)
- placing an order (couple more chances) (must provide order # in order to get chances)
- booking an online or catalog party (more chances) (must provide date in order to get the chances)
- signing up to join Heather's team (most chances) (can be done via her website, must provide DIW # in order to get the chances)
A winner will be selected at random on Monday. Make sure your comment is linked to an email address so Heather can contact you. Good luck!And here's how you know it's legit:
Eligibility: Open to legal residents of the US and Canada who are 18 years or older. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. Only one person per household may enter. Use of multiple addresses and/or email addresses, logins, or multiple identities will disqualify you. Winner must not be a registered customer of any other Lilla Rose Independent Consultant. Retail value is $16.
Winner Selection: One winner will be selected in a random drawing from among all eligible entries received throughout the promotion period. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. Winner will be notified by email within 48 hours of promotion close and will have 48 hours to respond and claim prize. Any winner notification not responded to or returned as undeliverable may result in prize forfeiture. No substitution or transfer of a prize is permitted.
I just found out that they're having a 10% sale on a few styles, Friday only:
