Barbies and Journals

When we were at Target yesterday we went down the Barbie aisle because, 5-year-old girl. They had this meditation Barbie. Or also known as "Breathe With Me Barbie". And it lights up and says 5 guided meditation sayings. I was really torn between thinking it was a great idea or weird. 

We didn't buy it, but I wasn't going to buy any Barbies at all so... but I could see a little Barbie yoga class being cute. 

In other news apparently, the Frozen 2 toy manufacturers aren't parents. There are 3 sets that come with an Olaf. (To go with the Barbie-sized people.) One comes with an Elsa that sings. Nope. I love that song but I don't need my Barbie bin to be randomly belting out Into the Unknown all night long. 

One comes with an Anna but you can take Olaf's sticks, buttons, and carrot off. But it's okay because you can keep the pieces in Anna's backpack. Hahahahahaha. Nope. 

So we will continue to not have an Olaf and that's just going to be okay. 

Tomorrow is my friend's birthday! She only gets one every 4 years! So I ordered this small journal off of Amazon and had Husband design me up this from the Litany of Humility. 

I think it turned out pretty great! I kinda want to make one for myself. 

Anyway, that's all I know! Happy weekend!

Sick Day

Well, we started Lent out with a bang. Poor M got sick at Mass yesterday. Luckily she's too young to be embarrassed by the situation and I had a lot of friends jump in to help me get everything cleaned up.

To be honest, I am fairly sure it was an "I didn't chew my lunch very well" situation rather than an "actual bug" situation but nevertheless she earned herself a day home with me based on the 24-hour rule. And I don't mess around with it because I want others to follow it and also there is a little boy in her class who is immunosuppressed.

After I got her home and showered I had her lay on the couch to watch Frozen 2 and rest. Just in case I brought in a big bowl and when I came walking in she said: "ooh popcorn!" Nope. Sure wasn't, but definitely was a good sign that she wasn't actually sick.

But the real good news is that she's totally fine and other than being deeply mad that she can't go to school we are poised for a fun day together.

C was so sad that we (the girls) missed Mass that he said one for us. I don't know if I mentioned that he got a Roman Missal to go with his Mass kit.  Authenticity is key.

It was a very nice Mass. Ash Wednesday is actually one of my favorite Masses of the year so it was nice to have a little bit of one.

Anyway, us gals will be snuggled up and hanging out today. And honestly, a sick day, when she's not actually sick, is kind of nice. Who doesn't love a bonus day with their kid? I sure don't mind, especially since these days together are fleeting.

Have a good Thursday!

CEW 2020

In 2018 I went to my first CEW retreat. Then I went again last year as a member of the team. I went again in 2020 as a member of the team. I had a fairly significant role and I am overwhelmed by the goodness of the weekend.

Truthfully, that is the only word that even begins to do justice. Overwhelmed. I am completely blown away by the Holy Spirit and how it can change lives. The very incomprehensible nature of Jesus' love is overwhelming.

I have a lot of emotions to unpack and I don't think it's going to happen completely for a long time. CEW has been absolutely life-changing for me. And that's good.

Closer to Jesus is always a good choice.

Hello Friends!

So much has happened since Valentine's Day! We have had something every single day. And it's been good good stuff but hasn't left a whole lot of time for writing.

So here is a weekly recap of everything we've done via photo dump!

We celebrated Valentine's Day with heart-shaped Bagels for breakfast care of Brueggers. I got special cookies for my 3 favorites. C and Husband got these Yoda cookies and another cookie that said "Yoda one for me." M got the sloth and another cookie that said "I Love you slooow much."

Saturday we went on an overnight with Husband's family. 11 people. 3 hotel rooms. Fun was had. 

This picture was taken when the car was turned off in the hotel parking lot. As some adults went to check-in, others waited. 

We swam a lot. We went to a small town and while they described what they had as a "water park" I would describe it as a nicer pool area. But nevertheless, the kids had fun and spent 2 hours in the pool Saturday and 1.5 hours on Sunday. 

Sunday we drove home past this pink Elephant. We went a different way home than we came so there was new stuff to see.

Sunday afternoon I had a show to go see. It was The Wedding Singer musical. It was good. And I loved the chair cover details. 

After the show we went to "last chance Mass" at 5:30. It was a very weird day and all the shifting from one gear to the next "extended family time! traveling! audience member! faithful! eat dinner! kids to sleep! writer!" it was an exhausting long day. 

We were all very thankful for President's Day. The rule was no one was allowed to get dressed. It was a mandatory calm pajama day. It was just what we all needed. 

Tuesday, my baby went to Kindergarten Round Up! 

And the sun was shining and the sky was so blue it looked unreal. Absolutely beautiful! 

Yesterday was Wednesday and also Walrus' birthday. Wednesdays are our one-hour early out days so I picked C up from school, had him staple a homework pass on his homework right there in the parking lot and we went to the museum to play! The kids checked out the new science exhibit. 

Then we went through the drive-through and they each got a scoop of the flavor of the day custard. It was Blackberry Cobbler. 

C wrote Walrus a birthday card:

"You are 6 now, so I say Holy Cow! But you helped me when I was scared, you were never unprepared. That's all I want to say, Happy 6th birthday."

Other than the mis-spelling of birthday, which had he slowed down 3 seconds I imagine he would have spelled correctly, this card is practically perfect.

Which brings me to today. It's Thursday and oh my gosh someone just keep reminding me of that because I can't remember what day it is! (Today is the first regular day in a week!)

Classroom Valentines

Happy Valentine's Day!

I am sure I will come back sometime this weekend and recap our awesome Valentine's Day but for now let me just wish you a very wonderful and happy day! I truly love this day. I have never been a cynical Valentine soul. I just love love. And saints. So it's kinda the perfect day.

This year for Classroom Valentines we once again made our own and we think they're pretty cool! M is passing out Boom Chicka Pop. If you haven't had their sweet and salty kettle corn I would recommend you NOT. Because it is so addicting. I love it too much. Her cards look like this:

If you haven't been around the preschool block lately, it's like from the book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. Here's a refresher. 

And then the card goes with the Boom Chicka Pop. It's punny. Or it is to me! 

C is passing out stress balls this year. The design looks like this:

And then all packaged together they look like this:

Worst picture ever actually. But oh well. They went to school today so I can't take a new one. Here is a picture from the side of C's cards so you can see the stress ball. 

I hope you have a fun way to celebrate, even if you don't celebrate it at all! 

A Weekend With George

This week C was chosen to be Star of the Week. He's been waiting and waiting. Because of all the short weeks and his small class they've really been able to stretch it out.

In first grade, when you are the star of the week, Curious George comes home with you for the weekend so you can journal about all your adventures with George.

On Thursday night we had French Toast, a cookie and played Just Dance. (George has had pancakes at a BUNCH of houses already this year so we were mixing it up.) 

Friday he also dressed like he was 100 and then joined us for Family Movie Night. We even watched Curious George: Royal Monkey which is about a look-alike George swapping places. So we got an identical friend to watch with us. 

Saturday George went to Story Time, swimming lessons and Red Robin. Plus got to play in C's room. 

Sunday, we were busy so George did not come to Mass or go to their friend's house. (Because I was 90% sure their puppy would destroy George per prior toy deaths.) 

He also got to bring some items for his star table and some pictures. Hopefully, it's a good week for him!

A Fun Day!

Today is 100 day at school! (Okay, technically it's the 99th day because of the ice day but no one wants to celebrate on a Monday.)

It's A BIG deal in first grade. A really big deal! All the kids dress like they're 100 years old.

Here's my little old man!

They had to collect 100 autographs, and 100 words they could read. They had a special snack of half of a string cheese and two mini donuts to have it look like a 100. They went on a scavenger hunt for 100 Hershey Kisses.

I went in and helped this morning. (Hider of the kisses right here!) It's so cute. Here are their 100 posters!

And in a little bit all the parents are invited in for lunch and we can bring take-out food. THIS is a big deal because it is against the rules to do so on other days. In fact, I believe this is the only time K-8 that it is allowed. So obviously I will walk in with C's Happy Meal with gusto.

BUT just when you think the fun was over, it's also preschool pajama day to celebrate the letter P week!

It's the ONLY day she's allowed to bring her Shu Shu to school so it's kind of a big deal there too!

Happy Friday everyone!

JUST KIDDING

Well... just kidding about the sun. Day 13 of clouds is upon us. Gross.

This morning was Spruce Up the School. Parents come in from 7:00-11:00 to clean the school. Disinfect desks, chairs, rid everything of all the grime. It was gross. The kids whose parents come and clean get an out of uniform. I go every year because if they want to let me go in and kill the cold and flu germs I have no problem doing so.

And now I am impatiently waiting for Husband to come home from having coffee with a friend and the grocery shopping. People* are hangry.

It's me. I am hangry.

And since a post isn't good without a picture, here is M's letter book homework for the week.

For real, the sun is supposed to come out tomorrow, but since we've been here before I don't even know. Fingers crossed! (Feels a little like groundhog's day anyway...)