Happy Halloween~

Happy Halloween!

Though not my fav holiday, it kicks off the holiday season which I love. 

This weekend was Cajun Fest at JG school, and so we had a busy and fun weekend at the festival.  Eating way to many funnel cakes, spending way to much money, and overall just enjoying ourselves.

The hubby starts a new job today, which we are VERY excited about.  It is a blessing in every way, but I think they thing I am most excited about it his boss.

He is an extremely Catholic and Holy man who is involved in the church.  It makes me feel so good to know John will have his morals and beliefs reinforced at work and also maybe a boss who will call him to a greater holiness. 

This morning JG class went to the nursing home to sing songs.  My little fire fighter had a good time cheesing up the camera and showing off. 

Happy Halloween Everyone!

Dont forget tomorrow is the Feast of All Saints!!

Impact

This week has been a busy week, like every other one of my life.  JG has been with me at work since he was 4 months old when I went back to work.  Now, since he is in school everyday, I feel like I dont see him or have the quality time with him that I used to.  This has been bugging me so much this week, because I feel like the time I have had with him he has been fussy, tired, and Im either busy or occupied.  Therefore, the time I spend with him is not quality time, just frustrating.
Last night as I lay in bed saying my prayers, both kids were asleep, and I thought about how to make my time with JG, even on those days when it seems so hard, good time.
1. He is always hungry when he gets home from school, is whiny, and tired.  So, instead of coming up with a snack that I have around, maybe make sure I have something he LOVES when he comes home a couple times a week.  I say "come home" but he comes to the office, where mommy is still working, many times on the phone or computer, and I try to get him situated quickly so I can finish what I need to and we can head home for the evening.
2. Stop and give him 5 minutes, where I sit on the floor at his level, look at his folder and ask him about his day.  Play with trucks or whatever he wants for 5 minutes.  For most moms this is probably like, duh Liz, but I have a hard time stopping and enjoying moments, when I feel like there are 10,000 other things on my mind.
3. Lower my expectations -- He is only 3....even though he is alot older and more capable than his sister, he is still little and needs me in alot of ways.  Even if he can do something, it doesnt mean he should do it every time, or that its not ok for me to help him.  All day at school he shares, is independent and generally does things by himself.  So if he wants me to help him potty after school, Ill do it.

This all might seem EXTREMELY elementary, and I do some of this on a daily basis, I have my routines in the morning and evening.  But it is that after school time, when Im still at work, that I lack in meeting his needs first, and everyone else's next.

Everything I do impacts my kids.  John and I are their everything right now, and I need to be a little more patient with my 3 year old! 

Go Tigers!

This weekend we made our way down to Baton Rouge for the LSU game!! It was alot of fun!  I say "we" went but me and kids hung back with my sister in law and watched the game from the comfort of her living room, which was great!  Hung out with my brothers and 2 of their better halves, and just had an altogether great time! JG rode John Johns mo-ped and became instantly hooked!  Fun weekend all around.

Barky

So, as your yesterday morning you may now call G "Barky."

Yes, the has croup and sounds like a baby seal barking for her mommy when she coughs. 

Youtube "croup cough" and you can hear the sound right in your own living room without your child being sick.  

The doctor says it sounds a lot worse than it really is......which I am glad, because the hubby thought she had something seriously wrong with her when the cry of a little seal came out of her mouth.  

It is finally getting cold in LA, and this morning it was 34 degrees, which means the footy pj's come out, and it gets harder to get out of bed in the morning.  But, all in all, I LOVE LOVE LOVE it. 

Have a great Thursday!!

Coffee Coffee Coffee

Yesterday, Monday Morning, my coffee pot begin acting a little strange.  When I set it the night before to begin brewing my morning pot, it always is done when I get up.  When my alarm went off, to my dismay no coffee smell throughout the house.  No coffee in pot, and pressed on button 5 times with no response.  As I am sitting there at 6 am delerious and now so mad....
I sit there and try to press harder......
then jab at it quite hard enough for the entire pot to move across the counter
then get a knife and try to poke on button cutting the top of it. 
Then, yes little green light comes on brewing. 
Go to bathroom
come back
no green light.....this process repeated about 3 times
then I sit there and hold the on button for 10 minutes while falling asleep on the counter, while my precious coffee brews. 
Now its almost 30 minutes after Im used to having my first cup, so we ran behind.  We were 20 minutes late for school.....moral of the story....coffee is a need, not a preference.


Then, yesterday evening, I tested it, and it miraculously started working again.  Must have been all those prayers I said for my coffee pot.  Yes, I prayed that it would work......and it did.  Yay! This morning I woke up at 6am right on schedule with my first cup being sipped at 6:01.  Were we late for school again?? I think not!

Weekend Recap

For the 1st weekend in 3 weeks, I didnt have to work, which means that my hubby didnt have to help me out either at the church.  So, what did we do?  Stayed home all weekend, with the highlight being the Saturday trip to Dollar General, the trip into town to mass, and the Bills game was on TV in Louisiana (which in our house is like the holy grail making an appearance).  So as my son continued to be indoctrinated with the Buffalo Bills and cheering everytime his daddy would, I cooked and cooked and cooked all weekend long.  Loved it because I havent had a chance to do this it seems in months.  Ill share my chicken recipe at the bottom. Anyway, we went to get ready for Mass, which is the Lifeteen mass.  The music is great, the mass is great, and everyone is in jeans pretty much.  Well, as I dress JG in his kacki shorts and polo shirt, he says:

JG: Mama I just want to wear my boots

Me: ok I think we have extra shoes at the office to change into before mass

JG: I want to wear my "Iwon Man" boots to Mass

Me: We will see

Get to office, no shoes so, rubber boots about an inch below where his kacki shorts ended.  Everyone was looking, starring, saying "oh how cute" but probably thinking, this mama is psycho.  Well needless to say, I pick my battles.  As he kneeled in church after communion with a clunk one of his boots fell off, but I put it back on and asked him who he wanted to pray for.  LOUDLY:

JG:  I WANT TO PRAY FOR EMILY!!

I love my kids!


Onion Chicken Recipe

French Fried Onions (Crushed)
Jalepeno (Chopped Finely)
Pepper Jack Cheese Slices

Chicken Breasts
Egg
Salt, Pepper

Roll Chicken breasts in egg and seasoning
coat with french fried onions (just like you would with bread crumbs)
top with diced fresh jalepenos (any amount to your taste)

Cook at 350 for about 30-45 minutes depending on size of chicken breasts
when done, put pepper jack cheese on top and turn oven off
let cheese melt

this is SO good!  recipe I stole from a friend of mine

HAPPY MONDAY!'

Having it all together

So this morning was ONE OF THOSE MORNINGS.  Things went wrong and I lost my temper with JG and then had to apologize to him.  He said "its ok mama when I get older like you, I can fuss at you for not being a good listener when its time to pick up your toys."  As I laughed quietly to myself as we made our way to go get the flu shots, I thought today can only look up.  So as we go to McDonalds after shots, because he wanted chicken nuggets,frenchfries,spriteandatoy.  Said that fast, and in order. I am in line, G is crying because shes tired, I am telling JG in the nices of voices to please stop running away from me and stand in line.  A lady comes up to me and says "i hope that when I have two, I can be as calm and put together as you."  WHAT???!?!?! She wasnt joking, even though I am sure she was.  I guess I then realized that she cant see inside my mind, that 101010 things are going on, I yelled at my 3 year old this morning, the house looks like a tornado hit it, and Im behind on laundry.  Appearances can be decieving......but as I got in the minivan and headed off, I thought, maybe I have it a little more together than I give myself credit for.  I do bring my kids everywhere, and do fun things with them, and try to make everyday special.  Most days I am able to stay calm.....so all you mommies out there who think they dont have it together.  Give yourself some credit, your kids are alive and well, dressed, clean (most days) and they are happy......
Sometimes I think we are harder or ourselves than anyone else is.  Food for thought.

We are called to "go out and spread the good news"
Even though I am 100% pro life and pro God, this made me think about not only my sins, but all the things that we do on a day to day basis that support causes that are not of God.  Watch this video, take the time, and spread it.  As election season approaches, what are we voting and how are we telling others about how we vote?

http://www.youtube.com/embed/7y2KsU_dhwI?rel=0

high of 89

So, now that it is mid October, the high is 89, not 110....which is nice and is inspiring me to do some fall cooking, and take out the footy pj's which is love love love!  So, now my heavy sauced, lots of butter and onion cooking fits in season, and I dont have to crank the air down to 60 to make some of our fav dishes with a kick.

Now, we eat seafood about 2 times a week because it is just as inexpensive as chicken or meat, and it gives us a variety, and is somewhat fresh (not like Ohio seafood that has been frozen and shipped for months).  Last night, shrimp fetuccini graced the presence of our table, which G smacked her lips begging for some and refused to eat the turkey and rice cuisine compliments of Gerber. So (hold your breath if you are super follow the book on babies eating)  I mashed it up, and shared with her.  No shrimp of course but noodles in sauce. Whenever she could stop mum mum mum mum mum, or taking breaths between bites, she would cry if I took a bite of my own.  Little piglet?  yes.

So here's the super easy recipe, that you might think you gained 10 lbs. after eating, but my boys love it, and apparently my almost 7 month old, as she slurped noodles through her lips.  

1 stick of butter

1 onion chopped

tablespoon of chopped garlic

Chef Prudomme's Seafood Seasoning

Tony's Chaceries

1 jar alfredo sauce

1/2 pint of milk or 1/2 and 1/2

1 lb. of chicken, shrimp, or crawfish

1 box fettucini

G loves it!!  This is while she was begging for a bite.

Saute onion, garlic in stick of butter.  Add in meat of choice for a couple of minutes (if chicken, make sure it is fully cooked.  Then add rest of ingredients.  Let simmer for a couple of minutes while cooking pasta.  Put all together and enjoy with a fresh salad and garlic bread!  Your sauce needs to have a orange tint from all of the seasoning, you will need a couple of tablespoons of Chef prudhommes and then season to taste!

What just happened......

MASS
So my hubby is now in charge of projecting the music for the Lifeteen mass up on a screen in the church.  This is so great, but now it is just me, and sometimes my mom with the 2 kids during mass. Yesterday, Cross International was visiting, and we had a guest priest.  He was making lots of jokes, and everyone was laughing.  Including my 3 year old, who would hear everyone else laughing and then start laughing himself (louder than the entire congregation combined) and would keep laughing beyond the time the obvious polite laughter had died down.  This happened about 4 times in a row, and shhhh JG, we are all done laughing, was not working.  As I hold a baby in one hand, and try to calm my 3 year old with the other, mass respectfully continues on. 
Then, St. Frances Cabrini School has been AWESOME! JG at 3 knows about 10 prayers by heart, mass responses, and is learning so much each day.  I really cannot believe how much they get done with that many PreK kids, and keep their sanity.  The Our Father, comes up, JG with a huge smile grabs hands and begins praying.  Well, he doesnt talk as fast as adults, so he is about 4-5 words behind, bellowing the Our Father (again louder than the entire congregation combined).  I smile to myself, and know that Jesus is smiling too, even if everyone is staring at us in church. 
Whew, I have to go home and reread the readings because I only caught part, but my kids are going to mass every Sunday, which is whats important.
Sorry for all of you who we distract, but we are trying to keep our kids under wraps......
Exhausted as I may be, I know there are graces flowing down to us, now one day maybe mass will be relaxing where I can sit and just clothes my eyes and pray....
maybe in 10 years :)

Missing FUS

So, this week being the Feast of St. Francis, I have really begun to reminisce about my days at Franciscan University.  Yes, it is a bubble, but being out of the bubble has shown me that life is alot easier and brighter in the bubble, where for some reason being surrounded by thousands of Catholic Students and Families, makes prayer life and focusing on the positive easier.  I lived with 7 other girls in a huge house that cost us each.....waitforit......$125 a month.  Yes, that is not a typo.  "The Hill" was the climb we made every morning, and downtown Steubenville held nothing.  But, all friends were a short drive or walk away, and house nights consisting of The Bachelor, and people dancing to music in front of the TV, tanning in front of the house while studying for finals, and having our morning coffee together make me miss my life at FUS.  Woodlawn Girls, all our friends, Liptaks, everyone! We miss you and think of you often!  Plus, I met my hubby there, and there my life changed forever.  Everyone wanna move back and live in Steubenville the rest of our lives?  We can live like college kids again and not work, or work 10 hours a week?  You think the student loan companies would give us yet more loans to just be perpetual students?  Wouldn't it be nice? Just food for thought, we need a reunion soon!!

Learning whats Important

As all marriage and family experts say, your marriage should always come first before kids, jobs, family, etc.  My mind says, but the kids need their every little need taken care of??  I have to get work done so we can survive? My kids are so easy to like and love daily,  As for the hubby, well, there are days where neither of us are very likeable.  But how do I handle it when me and my hubby have a scuffle, and when me and my 3 year old do.
John makes me mad: Silent treatment, saying things that I will need to go to confession for later, and just am overall not making the situation better with my attitude.
3 year old makes me mad: timeout, quick im sorry from him, and hugs.  and he just dumped an entire bottle of seasoning on the floor after I have told him 10 thousand times to stay out of the pantry. 
Ok, now I know these are on different levels, and the 3 year old didnt mean to make me mad, but most of the time, the hubby doesnt mean to either. 
Perspective?  I think I need some some days. Is there any point in making my husbands life miserable, just because he made a mistake?  Dont I make mistakes? All the time, and I am called to make my home a place of peace.  My mood more than anyone sets the entire tone for the attitude in the house.  Why dont I act in a way that brings life, instead of being self centered and mean, just to make a point?  Im hurting my own soul, my kids by not being genuine, and not being a very good example what it means to love.

So my new resolution - to be easier on my husband. The best thing I can give to my kids, is a strong, loving marriage, where they feel secure about Mommy and Daddy.  tho there is always room for improvement, and we get into the routine of life and forget whats important, things are pretty good between us most days.  But really, is there anything gained by being in a horrible mood.  No, but i need to see we are both tired, exhausted, stressed, and feeling overwhelmed most days.  Not just me.  

Living in the Country

JG showed the world yesterday, that we live in the country, and it is appropriate and ok to go to the bathroom outside.  I was loading up G in the van after school and I turn around.....
and all I see is a little while booty with a very large stream coming out.  AH!  Carpool line in full swing and my 3 year old is peeing in front of the church office.  Wonderful:)  always those moments that make you the most proud. 

Happy Feast Day to all the Franciscans out there!! St. Francis of Assisi pray for us!!