Daybook for 01-16-13

Outside my window...

It's COLD. Really cold. I aspire to go outside more with the kiddos so we can all get a good dose of vitamin D but then I think about how cold and painful it would be and I hole up a little bit longer! 

I am thankful for...

My sweet husband. For some reason, the transition from Christmas break to going back to work and school has been a bit hard for me. I think coming off of having him around, sans work or assignments, spoiled me. I got a little bit down and just can't seem to catch up with all the chores and homeschooling that needs to be done. Nothing is far behind, it's just always there and never quite done. He sent me the sweetest card (through the mail!) that thanked me for all the hard work I do for our family. That man.

I am thinking about...

Dinner. I'm trying a new recipe! Homeschooling: we need to do it today.

In the Schoolroom...

Just trying to get on a schedule.

From the kitchen...

Making a smothered honey mustard chicken tonight. We have a bag of potatoes that need using, so probably either baked potatoes or scalloped with a side of broccoli. 

I am creating...

Not a lot. Trying to establish peace in our routine, home, prayer life!

I am working on...

coming up with inside, active activities for the kiddos. I move the coffee table every day now so they can tumble and dance. Any other suggestions?

Clicking Around...

Only this sticks out in my memory:
http://catholicmom.com/2012/07/09/gods-plans-for-your-child-can-be-revealed-through-their-talents/

I am reading...

Just started A Tale of Two Cities to read as my "enrichment" novel. I've made a personal goal of reading or re-reading the classics throughout the year, not just fiction novels that are easy to ready, enjoyable, often enriching, but often not, too. :)

I am praying for...

A sweet friend on the anniversary of the loss of her mama; another friend about to give birth with some impending complications; another dear friend who's sick, with kids, and without husband; some special intentions. Most especially, for employment for my husband!

I am hearing...

Little giggles coming from the kitchen where a rousing round of Ring Around The Rosy is going on.

Around the house...

Not messy, not immaculate. Trying to slowly do one last (or second to last!) purge before we start slowly boxing things up to move in the coming year. Why am I even thinking of packing? I'm not yet, but I do want to get rid of things that we just never use and I don't want to pay to move.

One of my favorite things...

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2011/01/chicken-tortilla-soup/

Seriously, I could eat that soup every single day and be happy. I garnish with tons of cilantro, lime juice, and tortilla strips. So, so good.

A few plans for the rest of the week...

I can't even think past naptime right now!

A picture thought...

My sweet, wacky girl. This is what she says her prayer face looks like. This picture is so precious to me because it sums up who this little girl is at three years: messy haired, food-on-shirt, girly-but-also-tomboyish, sweet, precious little Elisabeth. 

late in coming - Elisabeth is three!

I remembered my blog today and went to visit it. I found this beautiful reminder of who Ellie is at this age that I meant to post on her birthday. I want to make sure that I remember each little treasure that makes up our girls and this seems the most convenient for me (although I obviously forget about it all the time!). 



My sweet, Elisabeth Grace. Spending the last three years getting to know you has been one of the greatest joys of our lives. We can't imagine what life would be like without your sweet smile, your pirate face, your hair pets, and your little chubby arms around us in hugs.

You've grown from a spunky little infant, into a curious, mischievous toddler, into a bright, loving, still spunky pre-schooler. I can't believe it. You're a pre-schooler!

You're a joy to be around. From the moment you wake up in the mornings, you're just ready to go, go, go. You sometimes wake up whiney but as soon as you get food in your tummy, you're in a great mood. You love your food and want to snack all day long! You love sweets, fruit, crackers...anything! Except Asian food (which you call Agent food). We've tried to sneak it past you, but you just don't like it.

You are a collector. You squirrel away things just in case you need them at some point again. You have a backpack, a sparkly pink purse, a Spec's brown bag, a Mike's Hard Lemonade box, and probably other little hiding places that we don't know about. Your treasures are just that - little things that only you would treasure! You have stamps, little books, leaves, crayons, special Little People, special little stuffed animals, binoculars, little drawings. We love it (as frustrating as it gets, sometimes!). And you know when something is missing which tells us you really do love these little treasures! For Christmas, though you don't know it, you're getting a wooden box with your name on it to keep all your special things in. It's probably a little more apropos than a Spec's bag. ;)

Your favorite stuffed friends are: Jag (a black kitty named after Nonnie's black kitten) and Snoop-Bear. You have funny little voices for each. Jag speaks with a meow in each word ("yes, mewom" instead of "yes, ma'am); Snoop speaks with a lisp. You have a few little critters that are named Tyrone after the Backyardigan, but those come and go in regard to treasuring them. You also have the Babies Dolphin - two little bath toy dolphins - one blue, one purple - that your are pretty attached to. We have back-up after back-up because they're tiny and lost easily! You also have a bunny blanket that you can't sleep without!

The funniest treasure you have is a little book. You call it your special book. It's a Little Office Of The Blessed Virgin. You sleep with it, even, and cry when you can't find your book.

You love to play pirates, cowgirl, mystery-solving, Calico Critters, and family. When you play Calico Critters, you always play the baby boy. When you play family, you always play Mommy or Aunt Jessica.

You're very territorial and competitive, but you have a heart of gold. If someone looks sad because she doesn't have a toy or someone is losing a game, you always make sure that person is taken care of. You always walk holding Mommy's hand because you don't want me by myself.

You like to poke your bellybutton and laugh uproariously because Molly and Mommy find it disgusting. You're such a tomboy! You fear nothing. You walk on small ledges, jump from high places, and run without concern. Molly is always reminding you something is dangerous. At the same time, you have a love of delicate things. You love pretty books (which is why we think you like your Special Book), pretty flowers, pretty jewelry, pretty dresses. You ask me if your hair looks pretty a few times a day, twirl in skirts, and love the color pink.

You love sleeping in a tent and you're very anal about it being shut very tightly. Your tent is actually a sheet draped over the side of your bunk bed, though, so it makes it really hard to please you!

Your favorite shows are Backyardigans, The Busy World of Richard Scary, Dora, and Diego. Your favorite song is "Roll Away Your Stone" by Mumford and Sons. Your favorite color is pink. Your favorite book is a Backyardigans Jingle Bells book. You like to say "I told you" which actually sounds like, "I toldja!" You sleep very well though the night, have been potty trained for a very long time, and weaned yourself of your sippy at bed time.

You learn by touching. You have about this big world of ours by doing. Throwing, jumping, touching, running...it's how you learn best; it's so very different than your big sister and honestly, a little hard to grow accustomed to! I'm not used to a little girl running into the room I'm in, throwing a ball and saying, "Didja see dat, Mama!? Dat was COOL! Look how far it went!" We're both learning, little love.

You love to cuddle. We cherish how you lie with one of us and put your chubby arms around our neck and pet our face. You have a sweet little girl smile when you do this and you ask, "does this feel lovely?"

You love your godparents fiercely and get a little territorial about them around your sister and cousin. You love your sister and your Mommy and Daddy more than I think I even know.

You are the joy of my life. You make me laugh so many times everyday. When Daddy and I are in bed and talking about our day, we always end up in stitches over a funny thing you said or did. You're hard to discipline because of how much you make us laugh.

It is so fun to watch you grow up. I've seen you fight through your probably miscarriage and your heart defect and you've never lost that spunk. You're strong and smart (as you like to say!), funny and charismatic, kind and loyal and loving, full of imagination and spunk.

We love you, little girl. May you grow to be as holy as your namesakes.