My Sunday Best, Volume 56: Mass in the Hot Seat

Sunday, May 28, 2017

You know how "they" say that your kids will behave better if you sit in the front? Well. I've never found that to be the case with my kids. Maybe because we've always got a baby + toddler or two?

So now John Paul has expressed such a strong desire to sit right near the front & center and I can't deny him, because he really does pay better attention (and so do I), but GOSH it's nerve-wracking when Father is preaching RIGHT THERE and you and the kids are right in his line of vision... And they aren't behaving!!

Oy.

Well, we made it through Communion before I had to take fussy Edith out, so it could have gone much worse. But really kids, do you have to loudly exclaim, "Is she pooping???" right when you hear the baby let one rip?

Week by Week, 20/52: Bike Rides, Strawberries, and CT Scans

Wednesday, May 24, 2017

My Sunday Best, Volume 55: There's a Dog in the Church!

Sunday, May 21, 2017

A very somber Sunday to you and yours, apparently?

Week by Week, 19/52: Make the World More Beautiful

My Sunday Best, Volume 54: Motherhood and Strawberry Plants

Sunday, May 14, 2017

We​ were picking strawberries from our little patch yesterday when Elizabeth accidentally pulled up a whole plant! Whoops. It looks like a baby plant from last year that was already trying to send out runners AND fruit at the same time, so it didn't develop the roots it needed.


Pregnant Twins and How to Get Rid of Your Tummy {7 Quick Takes}

Friday, May 12, 2017

It's been ages since I last wrote Quick Takes, and the kids are magically playing nicely together upstairs... Let's see if this'll last! Edit: It lasted approximately 3 minutes after I started writing this. Of course!

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--1--

I told you ages ago that I was exercising for Lent - I've been slooooowly making my way through an exercise program and it's actually been amazing! I'll do a full review soon, I hope, but my Diastasis Recti is healed (those pesky separated abdominal muscles), I'm MUCH stronger (I can get into the giant van without having to grab the handles with both hands and heave myself in), and I have greatly increased energy levels, despite fairly terrible sleep from the baby.

--2--

Library fines. Do you pay them? Do you make your kids pay them? I've been paying ours, because 100% of the time the fault is mine (don't want to drag everyone to the library, forgot to renew books, couldn't renew books because too many fines have accrued...). But right now there's a missing book (from this series, which is really fun!) and that's NOT my fault! And I really want to read it! So we'll see how I deal with those fines whenever it's located... Off to clear our account of wrongdoing today!

--3--

But I'm renewing this gem of a book, and adding it to my wish list! And it convinced me that we need to make the switch to raw milk, whenever I actually get my act together and fill out the forms...

--4--

Oh gosh, these two recent conversations with the twins? Amazing.

Week by Week, 18/52: Livestock and Sacraments

Tuesday, May 9, 2017





















 









Earlier this year Andrew and I talked about getting ducks, and how it would probably have to wait until next year because we had a lot going on. Well, then he decided we might as well not wait - I thought we were getting 3 or 4 ducks for the pond, but he ordered 15... And the hatchery sent 19, so evidently I'll need to learn how to cook duck!

We also got an order of 50 meat chicks (Actually 52, Cornish Cross, which Andrew doesn't want to try again because of all his research about them being "Franken-birds" but we'll see...) and they're adorable but we're obviously not getting attached, since they'll be filling our freezers in a couple of months! They'll be pastured once they're a bit bigger, and then we'll try our hand at butchering. Or rather, Andrew will and I'll keep the little kids out of the way?

The irises my mom planted last year and this year are blooming and are so, so lovely! And now I'm remembering that I also meant to plant coneflower along the front walk so that there's always something blooming out there - once the irises are done, I think that's all for the year? Unless we don't weed again and the goldenrod blooms... Actually, now I'm remembering how much the sparrows loved the weed seeds last year when we let it go, so maybe we just won't worry about it. It was so fun watching them hop around eating the seeds!

John Paul received his First Holy Communion on Sunday, and his second communion the next day. He's over the moon with excitement! We tried to get a family picture, and you can see how that went... I actually didn't get to see him receive - I was out getting Edith to sleep in the carrier, and tried to get up to the front when it was time for communion but there were people everywhere and I couldn't navigate quickly enough. Ah well, my presence wasn't the important part! Meanwhile Peter was remarkably quiet in the lobby with my mom, and the twins were complete terrors. And they wonder why they're not allowed to go to Mass together...

We celebrated at home with John Paul's requested menu of burgers, brats, and hot dogs. He wanted a white cake, and for some reason my attempt was a TOTAL failure - the cake pans overflowed and then the cake FELL! I've never had that happen before!! And I've made the same cake without any issues... My only guess is that maybe the fact that the eggs were fresh from the hens made the whites whip up too high? In any case, it tasted absolutely delicious, but I had to make changes... I made a pastry cream to go in the middle, filled it with berries, and covered it with whipped cream (which was *supposed* to be pipeable, but ended up too runny, so we just went with it). The day before, I had made a ton of tiny meringues and some meringue crosses to decorate both cakes (the other was a sourdough chocolate cake, with which I had no issues!), and the kids begged for me to let them decorate, so I relinquished control and let them. Both cakes were delicious! I think meringues might be my go-to decoration from now on - so easy and beautiful!

Week by Week, 17/52: Planting, Pastures, and Plums

My Sunday Best, Volume 53: First Holy Communion!!!

May 2017 Stitch Fix: My Best Box Ever!

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Well hey there! It's been ages since I did a Stitch Fix review, and I just got myself a box as a birthday present and had to share because my stylist, Alexandra, nailed it.

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Loveappella Junniper Knit Maxi Dress (size small, $74, similar, similar, similar)

You saw me in this dress already, but here it is again! I was skeptical right out of the box because maxi dresses are generally too long on me, but this was perfect. I'm a shorty (5'2") and hiked it up a little to tie it higher around my waist, which helped with the length - I think it would still work on someone as tall as 5'6" or 5'7" as well. SO comfy, belly-hiding, nursing-friendly (stretchy neckline), and sleeves? Sold!

Verdict: Keep

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