--1--

Trying to write these SUPER quick because my sister's about to get back from Mass with the big kids and this is my reward for cleaning the playroom while they were gone...

--2--

This is what Cecilia wore to Mass yesterday - terrible picture, but I think you can see most of it...  Ballerina dress, polka dot cardigan, pink shorts underneath, and she completed the ensemble with striped socks with glitter hearts and pink flower shoes.  Yes, she got MANY compliments on her outfit!

 

 

 

Her outfit today is even better - she came out with a striped dress and plaid skirt, so we reminded her that she needs pants or shorts under a dress, NOT a skirt.  But she REALLY wanted to wear the skirt, too.  So she added white leggings, her polka dot sweater, and her flower shoes.  

Fashion icon, this girl.

--3--

But more importantly, everyone actually did a really good job at Mass!  We went to a noon mass with a ton of other families all sitting in the same section and I was prepared for mayhem...  In our pew alone we had our four kids, me, my sister, Andrew, and a friend of ours and her toddler.  None of the older kids needed to be taken out!  And Elizabeth only had to be walked around a little bit, AND none of the other families had issues either!

It's an Assumption miracle. 

--4-- 

I was really excited to see all those young families but I feel so awkward trying to talk to them after Mass...  I need some ideas for family pickup lines.  What exactly does one say?  

"So...  What's your favorite homeschool curriculum?"

"What type of NFP do YOU practice?"

"Does your minivan seat 7 or 8?"

I don't know...  I need ideas! 

--5--

Look at what I got in the mail!

 

It's my penpal packet from Ashley!  Isn't it the cutest?  I'm working on my first letter :)

--6--

Our tomatoes are out of control!  The yellow pear tomato plant is trying to invade everything else - we've had to tie it onto other cages, stake it all over the place, and brace various branches.  There's one section that has FIFTEEN tomatoes on one branch!  I'm a little concerned that I should pick some off while they're green so that they don't break the branch when they get too heavy...

 

This doesn't even show what a ridiculous mess it is...  

--7-- 

We saw our pastor at Costco yesterday and the kids were pretty excited!  Awkwardly, he didn't know our names and thought that we were a differently family that lived with our grandmother?  So that was a little weird...  

In case you were wondering, apparently priests buy bottled water and eggs at Costco.  So now your curiosity should be satisfied :P

THERE!  Quickest takes ever!  Check out more at Jen's!

PHFR - Wedding-style!

Linking up with Like Mother, Like Daughter to give you a wedding picture photo dump:

{pretty}

The flower girl in her tiara

Surprisingly, the little girl who refuses to keep hair accessories in her hair EVER actually kept the tiara in her hair all day!  Well, she took it out to admire it many times and then put it back in...  But still, I consider it an important milestone!  She was the flower girl, and threw most of the flower petals on the floor right before walking down the aisle.  But she's so cute that it didn't matter, right?

{happy}

The happy couple and family (photo stolen from my mom)

I can't explain John Paul's expression, except to say that he's John Paul.  And he's 4.  I think that's explanation enough!

{funny}

We bribed her with pickles to get her to take more pictures

{real}

Can you guess who didn't make it through the whole wedding?

John Paul actually did a pretty good job with his ring bearer duties, but he was VERY upset at having to actually wait until everyone was ready for him to walk down the aisle.  And he did really well at the beginning of the wedding, but once it was time for me to play the piano for one of the songs Andrew was singing, he freaked out because HE wanted to be the one playing the piano.  So he got taken out, since the twins didn't even make it through the processional and Cecilia walked right out with them!  To be fair, it was a wedding that took place in my father-in-law's living room, so they weren't exactly used to having to sit still in such a familiar location...

He calmed down later.  Once he got some pickles...

No duties to perform, but the babies may have stolen the show with those dresses and shoes!

Of course, they couldn't pose simultaneously...

Particularly not when there's grass to be eaten!

The kids looooved the bubbles!

And John Paul can actually blow them by himself!

Check out more PHFR links at Like Mother, Like Daughter!

WIWS - Quickie-Style!

I am waaaaaaay behind on my blog reading & commenting and responses to comments...  So here's a VERY brief WIWS post and I promise I'll respond to all your awesome comments on Friday's Awkward Conversations post!  I just don't know when...

I felt like a flamenco dancer with that veil...

Kaitlin requested more pictures with my veil, so here you are!

Dress:  eShakti

Scarf:  Forever 21

Shoes:  DSW

Veil:  Veils by Lily (recommended by Laura)

The pants-free linkup is open until the end of the day (Eastern) on Wednesday and so far a grand total of... ONE person who is not me linked up!  Thanks, Erica :)  So go show it some love!

And check out some more timely linkers at Fine Linen & Purple!

Awkward Conversations

I've been trying to venture out with the kiddos a little more lately, which leads to the inevitable remarks on our family size from strangers.  And I just can't help but wonder...  Don't they realize what an awkward situation they're creating?

For instance:

Scene:  I'm at an afternoon farmer's market with Elizabeth and Cecilia in the double stroller, John Paul sitting on the footrest, and Mary Claire on my back in the Ergo.  We walk up to a booth to buy some cherry tomatoes when the vendor glances at us incredulously.

Kind of like this, minus the husband...

Vendor:  All those kids yours?
Me:  Yup!
Vendor:  You been BUSY!

Cue raucous laughter from surrounding vendors.  I smile knowingly and walk away (very slowly, because pushing a heavy stroller uphill with 80+ pounds of children isn't the easiest feat), tomatoes in hand.

Now, this didn't really offend me.  But I found it extremely awkward.  How exactly does one answer that comment? 

"Why yes, my husband and I have had intercourse at least 3 times!"
"I just can't keep my pants on!"
"We're like bunnies!"
"I find it's my personal duty to battle the low birth rate in this country."
"Someone's gotta pay for your Social Security!"

Honestly, I thought it was better to just walk away...

The next scene was slightly more offensive, though:

I'm at Costco on a weekday morning with Elizabeth in the seat, Cecilia sitting inside the cart, John Paul riding on the back, and Mary Claire in the Ergo.  The children are behaving remarkably well, as they tend to do at Costco because of the samples.  We approach a cart of samples of squeezable applesauce and a 50-something male customer glances at us and mutters something to the employee manning the table.

Man:  That's like birth control for me...
Employee:  Awkward polite laughter

Now, he wasn't talking directly to me, so I didn't respond.  But really?  Really? 

My four adorable, well-behaved children sitting quietly in their cart, smiles on their faces as they approach a VERY exciting sample cart...  That convinces you that you shouldn't have any (more?) children?

Disgusting, they are.  Who could possibly want MORE of these?

Honestly, that convinces me that you probably shouldn't have any (more?) children, too!  Because if all it takes is the sight of four children ages four-and-under to terrify you, it's probably a good thing that you aren't procreating.  But really, I think this is an example of someone with NO internal filter and I'm just going to assume he had Tourette's. 

This last scene though, it was the winner of the awkward award:

I have just spent hours preparing a meal for almost 20 people from Andrew's dad's side of the family and his dad's fiancée's family.  We're hosting at our house because otherwise we wouldn't be able to get to dinner at all once bedtimes are factored into the equation.  The kids have behaved pretty darn well, especially considering it is now more than an hour past bedtime for the big kids (the babies are both asleep).  Cecilia, who has been nothing but adorable, cheerful, friendly, and sparkly this entire time (a HARD feat for one as shy as she is), is throwing a rather ridiculous temper tantrum in the bathroom because first there was too little toothpaste on her toothbrush, then too much, then I needed to wash it off and then how dare I wash it off?  I close the door to the bathroom and leave her to decide how she wants to handle this...

Random relative:  I don't know how you do it...  Four children!  You aren't planning on having more any time soon, right?
Me:  No, not any time soon (meaning not in the next 9 months, since I'm pretty sure I'm not pregnant right now)...
RR:  You mean you're going to have MORE???

Mind you, she is sitting at the dining room table in front of a picture of St. Cecilia, an icon of American saints, and an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  And she chooses to start this conversation...

I continued going about my business cleaning up after dinner, turning to make an astonished face at my sister who later told me that her other response, which I didn't hear, was as follows:

RR:  I would kill myself.

Now that I wish I had heard!  Because my immediate response was, "Well then I guess we won't be asking you to babysit!"

Obviously, these faces would make ANYONE suicidal!

Apparently she also warned my brother-in-law and his serious girlfriend not to have so many kids.  Because, you know, it would clearly make them both suicidal.  After all, she had two kids two years apart, and there's NO WAY she could have handled more!

It's not like I haven't written about this before - and Kendra pointed out how much better life is when we don't assume the worst from what people say.  But I think sometimes it's raaaather difficult to assume anything BUT the worst! 

And it makes me appreciate the fact that I am one of the least emotional people I've ever known - my sister has always lamented the fact, but perhaps God gave me a heart of stone so that I don't get terribly hurt every time someone tells me just how insane I am to have sooooo many kids already (it's like they think I CHOSE to have twins!).

I just figure, at least I'm the one repopulating the earth singlehandedly (well, with Andrew's help I suppose :P) and not them, right?

7 Quick Takes - Important Blogging Tips

I think we all know that just about everybody is going to be talking about blogging and different types of blogs and the effect that they have on people in the coming days.  And I have to admit - it's very confusing to me.  The conclusion I have come to is that there's just no. possible. way. to please everyone.  So here are my 7 tips on how to write a blog that offends nobody!  After all, I have dozens of followers and at least 10 page views every day!  If that's not success, what is?

--1--

Use your own voice.  Write authentically.  But if you're boring, try to imitate someone else whose blog you like.  Consider switching blogging styles to emulate on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. 

--2--

Nobody wants to read a blog that isn't funny.  Self-deprecating humor always gets a laugh.  But don't beat yourself up because then you'll make people upset that you take blogging too lightly.  Make sure not to joke about serious subjects, but consider adding some lighthearted humor to any post that touches on a hot-button topic.

--3--

Don't be too perfect all the time!  Vent about every single bad thing that happened to you today, but make sure that you're still super-uplifting so that you don't scare anyone away from your vocation to motherhood/teaching/rodeo clowning/medicine/eating as many cinnamon rolls as possible.  Don't spend too much time dwelling on the negative, but make sure to include a LOT of it so that nobody thinks you're living too perfect a life.

--4--

Everybody likes pictures in a blog post!  Make sure to go out and buy a really expensive camera JUST for blogging.  Then include only beautiful pictures with no trash on the table, no toys on the floor, no uneaten food strewn about.  But be sure that everyone sees these things so that they know your life isn't perfect and is something they can emulate!

--5--

Write all your birth stories in gory detail, making sure to insert snarky judgments of anyone who doesn't subscribe to your particular philosophy.  Make it impossible for anyone to click away by enlisting some sort of hacker who can ensure that a click on the little X simply sends visitors to the same page again.  In fact, consider doing this with every page, since no one should be allowed to close a blog post and stop reading.  After all, it's not our own choice what we read on the internet - it is the fault of bloggers for writing something we don't want to read!

--6--

When commenting on other blogs, make sure to correct grammar as often as possible.  Check for factual errors and enlighten the writer.  Take offense to everything that is written, and comment away!  If your comment is particularly caustic, make sure you click that "anonymous" button so that you don't have to own up to your nasty nature.

--7--

Above all else, know that regardless of your intended audience, whether it be family members, other parents, the general public, etc. much of what you are blogging about you are WRONG about, and everyone is probably offended.  You are making someone upset who is reading about your perfect life.  You are angering someone who thinks you complain too much.  Everything you are doing is wrong.  And it's your job to please the masses, since they can't just click away, they are being FORCED to read your blog!

And just in case you can't tell, this is intended to be sarcastic.  Blog about what you love.  Blog about what you don't love.  Nobody's forced to read your blog, and if a post of yours makes someone feel bad about how bad their life is in comparison/how bad your life is/how dirty your house is/how clean your house is/how skinny you are/how good your hair looks all the time/how cute your kids are/how depressing you make everything IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT because YOU ARE NOT FORCING ANYONE TO READ YOUR BLOG.

Now, can we all please stop complaining about everyone else's blogs?  People like different things.  People write different things.  The internet is big - if you don't like something, you don't have to read it.

This post would have included funny pictures but my memory card is stuck in the camera, so...  You just get to read about how annoyed I am.  And I don't mean to offend you but if I do...  Sorry!  Feel free to close the window.