S.tay A.t H.ome M.om at Work

pic credit: smashingapps.com Doesn't it seem like just yesterday we were celebrating the New Year 2010?  And now?  2011 is on it's way, and it just doesn't seem real.  What is real, I'll tell you, is the amazing bargains we found today while out shopping with my two youngest girls.  We really only went to Target, but boy the deals were everywhere.  Brand new shoes for $4.00.  Christmas anything was reduced 75% off.  Many winter clothes on clearance racks for 30% or 50% off.  I was shocked. We went from aisle to aisle, finding new little treasures at the fraction of the cost, and I truly felt, that I spent according to what I felt it was worth.  What a joyous feeling!  I actually left the store feeling like we found great deals, instead of miserable, having bought more than I wanted at twice the price I wanted it at. But I digress, back to New Years. As usual, HH and I have planned our annual feast of a New Years...

 pic credit: lssacademy.com   I’m a planner.   I like to be prepared, having thought out all the possible rebuttals, or distractions.    This is especially true when teaching my children a very important formative lesson.   I like to think it out, double check my theology, checking my online sources for help and then come up with some great way to present, explain and sum up the whole formative teaching.   Unfortunately, as mothers, we know, life is not like this.   We run out of time.   One child or another will always need us when we planned to do our research, a baby will be crying when dinner is underway, or a number of things stand as an obstruction.   Let’s be real, many times, the clock is simply not our friend.   Our family attended the Christmas Eve Mass at our parish.   Four of our five kids were singing in various choirs, and this Mass was the designated Mass for them to attend.   It’s a beautiful Mass, as is all Ma...

Just too cute not to post.  Enjoy!

So we lit the last candle of the wreath, and this week we are consumed with Love: that realization that God loves us more than we can even imagine.  It's tough to contemplate the wideness and greatness of His love. This week I saw elements of sincere Love and it helped me to better see, that I have just barely glimpsed His Love. My Carefree Knight had a situation at school, minor, yet I felt important to resolve.  I was informed that he had misbehaved in class, and had to be told repeatedly to stop his actions....which he finally did stop, begrudgingly. Once I had heard what had happened we started a conversation about what respect means....what does it mean to respect your teachers.  Why are they there?  They are there to teach you, and if you don't allow them to do that, or disobey them, you are disrespecting them.  He agreed that he should watch his behavior a little closer, and to make sure his teacher knew that he would be making this change, I ...

So the Giveaway is complete!  Over the weekend you had an opportunity to win a children's book, "Little Star", just by leaving a comment.  Well, four people commented, three here on the blog and one on my Facebook site for Sahmatwork. Just so everyone knows how fair we really are in our house, I photo-documented the process this afternoon.  Here you are...... Announcing the winner: Congratulations Lynne!  Please contact me with your mailing address so you receive this children's book by Christmas!  

I've never done a giveaway, but in an attempt to get into the Christmas spirit, I've got one for you! At the request of the author, Anthony DeStefano, this is a review of "Little Star", and for this review, he sent me a copy of this delightful children's book. As mothers we work to incorporate the true meaning of Christmas into all our holiday planning, so our children once again, live the birth of our Lord, not just wait for Santa and Frosty. This children's book can assist in that exact preparation for Christmas!  Written by DeStefano and illustrated by Mark Elliott, they capture an innocence and real truth about the Lord's birth.   Our hero, Little Star, is the smallest of the stars in the heavens and as he hears of the coming birth of a king he also hears of a reward that shall be given to the star that shines the brightest. Little Star, being the smallest, is often overlooked, ignored and avoided.  And then, on the coldest night of the year, h...

Ah, the pink candle is finally lit.  In our Advent journey, it seems it will never end, or at times, that it is going by too quickly.  This week is dedicated to JOY.  What joy there is, in the waiting!  Our Serious had her birthday yesterday, and as requested, unicorns had a serious presence.  There was a moment during dinner that was just too priceless to not mention.  She had requested nuts as a side for her birthday dinner, and having some pecans, walnuts and almonds on hand, I simply put out a bowl of these mixed nuts.  During dinner, I noticed Serious not eating the nuts on her plate.  I asked her, "Why aren't you eating the nuts?  You did ask for nuts with dinner, right?" She leaned in to whisper, "Mom, I don't really like these kind." I leaned in too now, and asked her, "What kind do you like?" She said, "Cashews." "Oh, no, honey, I'm sorry, I thought you just wanted any nuts, I didn't know you wanted cash...

Could it be that I am overly zealous when it comes to cake decorating? Could it be that I'm a gluten for punishment? I prefer, I'm a sucker for a six year old's innocent wish for a Ballerina Birthday cake.  Entertainer:  WE LOVE YOU!  Happy 6th Birthday!

Time for those Small Successes, they do add up to one big triumph.!  1.)  Nursed sick 5 year old back to health.  She says, "Sorry, Mom, please wash my school shoes and socks, I threw up on them." 2.)  Nursed myself back to health, and still made yummy lasagna with summer's canned tomatoes. 3.)  Potty training in full gear:  three full days without diapers!  Smarties and M&M's are working. In Progress: 4.)  A Homemade Christmas....gifts in progress.  Sewing machine needs a break. Have some to share?  Go here!

Just after the Words of Consecration, Entertainer, suddenly grabs my arm, and with a confused look on her face shouts in her whispered voice:  Entertainer:  I don't get it!  Mom:  What, honey? Entertainer:  How could He speak?  I don't get it! Mom:  Huh? Entertainer:  Jesus, I mean.  He gave his body to His friends, right? Mom:  Yes....and? Entertainer:  Well, (she motions at her neck), if Jesus took a big piece of his body for His friends, how could He speak to them, and tell them to eat it?  Wouldn't He be dead? Mom:  Oh, no.  Jesus used the bread on the table and turned it into His body for His friends. Shocked, wide eyed Entertainer:  He can DO that? Mom:  Honey, Jesus is God.  God can do anything He wants, anything, right? Entertainer:  Oh, right.  I guess He COULD do that.

How hard is it to find Peace in this busy Advent Season? Over the weekend, I went out to brave the cold, the snow and yes, the other busy holiday shoppers.  See we have two birthdays in December, St. Nick's as well as Christmas.  It's a busy month, and an expensive one.  For the most part, store clerks were happy and helpful, the customers were polite and easy going.  And I know why.  It's only Dec 6th. As Christmas gets closer, I know things will change.  They always do.  I'd like to hope that there won't be angry shoppers, impatient drivers, or cranky sales people, but I am usually a Christmas Procrastinator.  I leave things to the end, and cram it all in the week before.   And that's exactly when I have seen all the Christmas crankiness.  There's pressure, I get it, for everyone to get a million things done, parties attended, presents wrapped and so on.  For me, this year, I said 'good-bye' to that exact pressure....

Recently, HH and I attended a dinner/dance fundraising event, and while most items were of little interest to us, one in particular caught my eye.  It was a two hour interior decorator consultation.  We made a modest bid simply wanting to donate to such a worthy cause, and because, well, frankly, I have no skill at interior design. I admit that.  I don't have that gift.  And it is a gift to be able to situate furniture, decorate with taste and class with some semblance of practicality and functionality that our home must have for a family of seven.  Lo and behold our modest bit was the top bid and we were informed we had won our prize.  How exciting.  And I was excited, thrilled to say the least that someone who does this type of thing for a living, would come to my home, and help me in my lack-luster decorating. I connected with our decorator, and set the date....for today.  It has taken me all day to digest what had happened in my ho...

Serious:  Mom, which kid, you know, is your favorite one? Mom:  My favorite one? Oh, geez, each one of you kids is special to me.  You are all my favorites. Serious:  But you have a favorite color, right? Mom:  Yes, I do. Serious:  You have a favorite animal, right? Mom:  Yes, I do. Serious:  Which kid is your favorite?  (She leans in to whisper)  I won't tell the others, I pinkie promise. Mom laughing:  Honey, I love you all in very special and different ways.  Moms don't have favorites, they love them all! Serious:  Humph.  Ok, well, which one of us was the cutest when we were born? Mom:  All new babies are super cute. Serious:  Humph......Hum...Well.....Who had the longest hair when we were born? Mom:  You all had the same length of hair.  Serious:  Well, you are my favorite Mom. Mom:  Oh, I see.  Today, you are my favorite six year ol...