Mommathon

I had book club last week and this is our next pick. I recommended it to our group because I have read another book by him that was great, so I am really looking forward to this one. I think next month we are going to try and read a classic, so if anyone has any suggestions that would be great.

This was our latest book club pick. I did not like this book and only finished it because it was for book club. I actually didn't have it finished in time for book club, but was assured at book club that it was very good and that the story would pick up. It did pick up-around page 200. I think I didn't like it because the storyline would be interesting for a while and then nothing would happen for the next 75 pages and it went on and on like that and because it is supposed to be historical, but there is NO WAY that some of the things that happened in this book can be accurate. There just isn't enough known about da Vinci himself, let alone his mother. If you read the reviews on Amazon, people either loved it or were skeptical like me.

Saturday-Pasta with Meatballs
Sunday-Italian Sausage and Italian Tomatoes
Monday-Tacos
Tuesday-Italian Chicken with Potatoes
Wednesday-Salmon, Green Beans, Rice Pilaf
Thursday-Southwest Strata, Salad
Friday-Out to Eat?

This weekend Sean and I were discussing my FIL's upcoming trip to Europe. Colm overheard us say "Europe" and started in on how Indians live in Europe. Hmmm... Sean and I approached it from every angle we could think of that he might be coming from, but none of them were "right" according to Colm. He insisted that "Indians with bows and arrows" live in Europe. Once Colm gets his mind set on something, there is no convincing him otherwise. He gets this look on his face (which also happens to be the look he gets on his face when he's fibbing.) Stubborn little fellow he is. I wonder where he gets that from? :)

Why are children so fickle when it comes to the things they like to eat? For example, Colm ate pickles from the time he was physically capable of eating them until about a year or so ago. He didn't just like them either. He would beg for them at the store. If you were at a restaurant and you had one of your plate, he would more than likely steal it from you. Then, all of a sudden one day, he decided he didn't like them any more and refused to eat them. Why? Honestly, I think he might have gotten ahold of a sweet pickle when he was used to eating dill and that just ruined it for him. So, this weekend we were at the store and he asked for a jar of pickles. I hate to waste food, so I was a little skeptical, but he promised me he would eat them. Well, he loves them. He has eaten one at home and I put one in his lunch for school today and he told me he wants two or three in his lunch for tomorrow. Whatever, I won't complain, it's a veggie-right?

On the way home from the grocery store...

Me: Sean, I got you some chocolate Z-Bars.

Colm: So he'll stop whining.

Out of the mouths of babes...

Monday-I dropped Colm off at school and then went to Wal-Mart to shop for Easter Egg Hunt supplies. Was headed to Border's to buy the book I needed to have finished in three days for book club when my phone rings and my sister-in-law needs me to babysit. Her son's preschool was unexpectedly closed for the day and she has to go to work. So, I turn around, get Luke, and head for Bible Study which conveniently has babysitting. After Bible Study, Luke and I went home and had lunch and played for a while. His mom came to get him and it was time to go get the boys from school, go to violin, cook dinner, etc., etc.

Tuesday-Take Colm to school, stay at school and tutor kindergartners and first graders. Then help in the school library by typing labels for the spines of new books. Come home and go into hyper-drive mode to get numerous things done for the Easter Egg Hunt like publicity so people know when, where, etc. Go pick up the boys, go to Catechesis, head home, cook dinner, etc, etc,

Wednesday-Take Colm to school, come home and clean up my house which was a total pit, then go on a field trip with Colm's class which was fun but VERY tiring. I had nine boys in my group. Yes, nine pre-kinder boys. Come home, rest for a bit, then go pick up the boys from school, go to Tae Kwon Do, cook dinner, etc. etc. (If you are wondering why all the etc's it involves our nightly routine of violin practice, getting read for bed and all that good stuff.) I fell asleep on the couch that night I was so tired.

Thursday-Drop off Colm at school, come home and eat breakfast and then head to Liam's school to help the art teacher. Help her for a little over two hours and then head to a birthday lunch at North for a very dear friend of mine. Awesome lunch with great friends and a surprise appearance from Gary Lezak who happened to be eating there and was an acquaintance of one of the gals I was eating lunch with. He apologized for this weekend's weather. Go pick up the boys from school, come home and piddle around for a while, cook dinner, go to a soccer meeting, go to book club, go pick up wine for Gourmet tomorrow and then get gas. Head home and sleep.

Friday-Take Colm to school, go to coffee with the other first grade moms, come home, change clothes, head to Gourmet...good food with good friends, go pick up the boys from school, come home and piddle around, head to Spin for dinner, come home and watch KU. Very tired. I am looking forward to next week when there is less to do. I am not complaining though. I had a great week filled with fun school activities and plenty of social activities for myself.

Sunday-Tatum's Birthday Dinner
Monday-Rotisserie Chicken, Green Beans, Biscuits
Tuesday-Chicken Bacon and Ranch Subs, Baked Beans
Wednesday-Piggy Pudding, Cantaloupe
Thursday-Italian Chicken and Potatoes
Friday-Southwest Strata and Salad
Saturday-Fajitas
Sunday-Italian Sausage and Peppers

Colm got a lot of Berenstain Bears books at the library last week. This one, in particular, has been his favorite. How many times have we read it to him this week? I don't know, but I am glad we are going to the library today so we can take it back.

Today I took the boys shopping for some summer/spring clothes while Sean went to work out. They are having a super duper sale at Carter's, plus I had a coupon for 20% off. Colm scored big time. Poor Liam is too big for Carter's now. We tried, but they just don't fit. He did get a new pair of much needed jammies, but that was it. I promised Liam I would take him somewhere else some other day. We all met up at home, ate lunch and then went to go see my grandma. It was great to see her and I am glad the boys got to spend some time with her. She is 91 years old, she has a terrible time getting around and does not leave the house, so I know that visitors are very important to her. After Grandma's, we came home, Liam changed into his soccer gear and we headed out to his first soccer practice of the season. Then my father-in-law came over for dinner because my mother-in-law has been in the hospital since Sunday with pneumonia. (Prayers for her speedy recovery would be much appreciated.) No pics from today. Sorry!

Sean took off work today and tomorrow so we could do some things together as a family. So, Sean stayed home with the kids this morning so that I could go visit with his mom who has been in the hospital all week. We got in trouble with her doctor for talking though (she needs to rest her throat) so I didn't get to stay too long. I made lunch for everyone when I got home and then we headed out the door to go bowling. We had a great time bowling, but I totally lost. Completely. Then we played putt-putt. This is the first time the boys have ever played putt-putt and they had a blast. We didn't keep score, which was a good thing. Colm did come up with his own scoring system though, which I never did quite figure out. After that we went and explored a new park. It has a park/playground area, but then if you walk up the path a bit there is an old one-room schoolhouse, a nature center and a camping ground with these really nice cabins you can rent. There is also an amphitheater where the boys, Sean and I performed dances made up by the boys. (I am sure anyone who might have been watching must have thought we were cracked...it was fun though.)

From March 2009

From March 2009

I love going to Korma Sutra and one of the reasons I love it so much is because of the mango lassi. I had to buy some frozen mango for a recipe I made for dinner tonight, but had some left over. I was trying to figure out what to do with it when I had a lightbulb moment...maybe I could make my own mango lassi. With a little help from Google, I found a recipe that I could handle. I whipped one up and it was super yummy!!! Then I had another lightbulb moment...maybe I could make mango lassi popsicles. I think it would probably work. The boys would love them and they would make awesome treats to have around the house this summer.

Today the kids and I had lunch with Sean at work in their cafeteria. Oh, what fun!!! The boys love cafeterias...there's so much to choose from and they always get more than they could ever possibly eat. Then Sean took us on a little tour and let the boys play in his office for a few minutes. It was time to say good bye to dad so we headed over to Matt Ross to go swimming. I have never seen so many people there. The boys had a good time. They spent most of their time in the lazy river and going down the slide. They loved the slide because it is usually closed when we are there. I guess I had an okay time, but there were just so many people there that I felt like I had to be on high alert the whole time just to make sure the kids were safe. (No, I don't think the teenagers with the Lifeguard shirts on could effectively watch all of those people.)

Look at all the food on Colm's tray! No, he didn't eat all of it.

From March 2009

Hanging out in Dad's office while testing the new software...Liam is a beta-tester. :)

From March 2009

Today we went to Kaleidoscope. This was Colm's first time. He really enjoyed it and Liam liked showing him around. Then we met the cousins at Antioch Park, had a picnic and played and played and played. And if that wasn't enough, then we went to Sheridan's.

Playing with some really strong magnets at Kaleidoscope.

From March 2009

Being crafty

From March 2009

Making his puzzle..that was always my favorite part

From March 2009

Climbing at the park

From March 2009

Custard!!!

From March 2009

We did absolutely nothing all morning which was AWESOME!!! We finally got ourselves together, went up to church to play on the playground, went to Mass, then went to Waldo Pizza. Then we went to Reading Reptile, Brookside Toy and Science and then topped it off with some ice cream. Then we came home, had a potty break and headed to the neighborhood park. I am loving this weather!

Typing it old school at Reading Reptile

From March 2009

He loves that green chair

From March 2009

Can you tell he was eating chocolate ice cream?

From March 2009

Sunday-Migas with Bacon, Cantaloupe
Monday-Rotel chicken with rice
Tuesday-Spicy Chicken and Mango Stir Fry
Wednesday-Southwest Tuna Casserole
Thursday-Sloppy Joes and Cole Slaw
Friday-Fish Fry

Liam had a violin concert this weekend. (Thank you, Candy, for taking pictures.) Liam played Bach's Minuet 1 and he did a mighty fine job. When he saw the pictures of himself that Candy sent to us he said, "I DO look pretty nice." Cute, talented and humble.

From March 2009

I read somewhere once that sometimes children, as they start to reach their birthday, start to act out. Their body and mind are going through various changes and sometimes that results in the child acting like another person entirely. I hope that is Colm's case right now. He has lost so many privileges this week. I kind of feel bad for him because it seems as if the privilege loss doesn't seem to be working and he is a bit defeated, but how much can you take away from a preschooler? I can't take away his car, or his iPod or restrict his iChat time. He has lost TV time and his books at bedtime. I have even threatened to not let him go to kindergarten next year if he keeps acting like this because I wouldn't ask a kindergarten teacher to put up with this kind of behavior all day. He was upset when I said that, but not upset enough to change his ways. (Heavy sigh.) I remember going through something like this last year as Liam's sixth birthday approached. (He did manage to get through his seventh birthday unscathed.) So, please God, let this be a phase that will soon pass.

I would like to introduce the newest member of our family...JellyBean. Okay, actually she is one of Colm's class pets, but we are in charge of caring for her over Spring Break. I hate to say it, but I love her already. I want one of my own. Look how cute she is. Did I mention that we already have a dog and two cats? I'll just have to enjoy the next ten days. Also, the boys are ecstatic that she is with us. Colm is a little too overzealous and I had to reassign JellyBean to the kitchen from Colm's bedroom. (I wasn't sure he could be trusted in his room alone with her. After only turning my back long enough to go into the garage to get something out of the car, he had climbed up on the island, taken off the top of her cage and put three toilet paper rolls in there for her to play with. She can have toilet paper rolls, but not three at the same time and he clearly doesn't get that she needs to stay in her cage and that if she gets out the cats and/or dog will eat her.) Now you see why she has been stationed in the neutral area known as our kitchen.

From March 2009

I never read the prologues in books; I just want to get to the story. I am so glad I did with this one. I don't know why I did either. Honestly, I think it was because it was short. Anyways, this is such a good story. The first chapter or two may not draw you in, but stick with it...it picks up from there AND it has a fantastic ending. I would have never guessed the ending...ever.

We just finished week five of our ten week Bible Study and it is getting interesting, mainly because of the gals who are in the Bible Study. Everyone in the study is from my neighborhood and the Study is made up women who represent various beliefs...there are a few Catholics, Baptists, a Mormon, a Jew (who was raised Southern Baptist) and several other Protestant denominations. Clearly, we have some differing viewpoints, but we have been able to respectfully disagree so far. Last week we were talking about how you get into heaven...is it by the work you do here on earth, is it because you have been baptized, is it because you have accepted Jesus into your heart or is it a combination of some of the above? Can anyone (rapists, murderers and the like) get into heaven if they confess their sins and truly ask for forgiveness? Today we somehow got on the topic of homosexuals. Again, very differing viewpoints. We may not be staying on topic, but it sure is interesting.

Liam is taking over Colm's post for this week. I had to boot Colm out for the week because Liam's interests have swung in another direction and I just had to capture it. Liam has spent the last year or so reading every science fiction book in the children's section of the library plus many of the other series that are popular with the elementary crowd. He has read all of the A to Z Mysteries, all the Magic Tree Houses, all the of the Beast Quests, all the Secrets of Droon and all of the Jack Stalwart books and the list goes on and on...anyways, the point being that we were getting to the point where the library didn't have anything for him to read that he was interested in and then (drum roll, please)...he found the section in the library with the books about alien abductions, Bigfoot, UFOs, Atlantis and the like. He is obsessed. I am so glad he has found some other reading interests that also happen to be translating into topics for his weekly reports he has to write for school (which he was starting to have trouble coming up with topics for). I am hoping these topics will at least carry him through the summer and then maybe he will stumble upon something else that interests him.

Sunday- Italian Sausage Tortellini Soup
Monday-Fajitas
Tuesday-Roasted Chicken, Green Beans, Rolls
Wednesday-Rotel Chicken with Rice
Thursday-Lasagna
Friday-Veggie Burgers and Potato Salad
Saturday-Out to Dinner

We had just gone to the library and the boys were looking at their books in the back seat:

C: Why is there a skeleton in that person's yard?

L: Oh, no, that's Massachusetts a long time ago.

I have no idea what they were looking at, but the conversation struck me funny.

Liam is having a sleepover tonight and they wanted to watch Return of the Jedi. Sure, no problem, except we told them they had to wait for Colm to go to bed before they watched it. Our kids understand that there are some movies they are not allowed to watch and Colm gets that Star Wars movies are not on his "approved" list yet and he was totally fine with them watching it without him. (Which totally surprised me, by the way.) What was so funny was that as I was giving Colm his vitamins in the kitchen on our way up to bed, Sean was putting the movie in. Colm started freaking out...afraid he was going to see or hear some of this forbidden movie before he got upstairs. He was yelling no and covering his ears trying to get his vitamins out of my hands as quickly as possible so he could run upstairs before it started. I don't know what he thinks is going to happen if he watches a movie that we haven't approved for him...maybe he thinks he'll turn into Chewbacca.

When Liam got up this morning, he asked me if Sean and I had watched a movie last night after he had gone to bed. I told him that we hadn't and then he proceeded to argue with me about it. He was adamant that we had. Then he dramatically pointed to the inside of the trashcan and said, "Then what's this?!!!" It was an empty bag of microwave popcorn. Sherlock Liam had determined that where there is popcorn, there MUST be a movie. His whole tone was so funny. He knew he was right, it was just a matter of getting me to "admit" that we had watched a movie and had popcorn without him.

Monday-Spaghetti with Italian Sausage
Tuesday-Mexican Salad
Wednesday-Chicken Enchiladas
Thursday-Salmon, Salad, Sourdough Bread with Honey Butter
Friday-French Toast and Eggs
Saturday-Out to Eat

Yesterday was Liam's annual violin workshop. It's a one-day camp where they have a master's class, a technique class, usually a large play-in and then some other music-related-but-not-violin class. This year's workshop focused on fiddling and folk music and Liam really liked it. He learned how to play the dulcimer from a grandpa-type guy who was an awesome teacher and also happens to make dulcimers,too. He looked like he could substitute for Santa, was very enthusiastic and worked well with the kids. Liam also took a fiddling class which was also very cool. It was taught by one of the men that runs the fiddling camp that I would love Liam to go to someday. It's a day camp that takes place in the summer at a middle school north of the river. The man said Liam could take it because from what he saw he looked like he's ready, but technically they want kids to be in Book 2. He's almost there, but not quite, so I think we will wait until next summer. He'll be just that much more prepared and will get that much more out of it. Anyways, the workshop was awesome and this is the only picture I have from the entire day. I forgot my camera.

Learning to play the dulcimer