Check out the wisdom... it is worth watching...

http://www.wisdombook.org/

A "Spook"tacular Halloween

70 degrees AND a Friday night... it doesn't get any better than that for a Halloween celebration. For dinner we served up brains on a bun, cheese fingers, eyeballs and spider cookies then we were off for some serious Halloween fun.

On to Thanksgiving!

Be Open to the Moments

I fear missing the girls funny and endearing moments because of always being in a rush. A new goal for myself is to "be open to the moments."

You Might As Well Dance

Life may not be the party you imagined, but while you are here, you might as well dance.

Check out this video... you will be glad you did...
http://www.vimeo.com/1211060

What a ride...

The last 5 days have been a roller coaster ride.

My "Cowboy" Grandad of 96 passed away and we celebrated his funeral Mass last week. There were as many laughs as tears and the stories were plentiful. Because he was so healthy and full of spirit, he was able to travel up until the last month of his life. He was famous for his sayings.. our girls favorite is repeated at the dinner table on a regular basis. "Up to my lips, touch my gums, look out guts here it comes."



On Friday, Maeve who is only in her 2nd week of kindergarten, received a school honor... her name was announced over the intercom for getting the viking virtue for responsibility. However, since Maeve doesn't know the meaning of "Viking" or "Virtue" and when she hears "Responsibility," it usually isn't good. Hence, she thought she was in trouble and had to go see the "principal." Instead of a proud smile, she burst into tears. Her sisters finally calmed her down and explain it was a "good thing." So much for her first school honor.


The Irish Festival and Feis was this past weekend. Although I missed the festivities because of travel, my in-laws accompanied Brian and the girls. Thankfully my MIL was able to curl Molly's hair ( check out the ringlets that are required for an Irish Dance competition). Molly won a first place in her Single Jig and also medaled in her light jig and slip jig. Upon learning she had won, a bystander was heard saying, "watching her reaction is better than watching the dances!"




The weekend capstoned yesterday at the Body Mind Spirit Triathlon. Our family church group hosted the event. The families participating started preparing last May walking/running 26 miles, reading 26 books and doing 26 acts of service -- one mile, one book and one good deed at a time. The celebration run/walk was yesterday. Hundreds of people showed up, and we were able to raise $10,000 to go to a school in Africa. Our Maureen prayed last night in her "specials" that we keep raising money so that all kids everywhere have a school to go to. Amen Maureen!

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  To see photos from the event, click on MMB Photos
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First Day of School

Yesterday was the first day of school for the girls. We took the traditional photo in the same place so that each year we can compare how much they have grown. ( Like I need a photo to remind me how fast they are growing!)

Apparently this is a new phase of motherhood. I suppose it is called the "no-babies-left-at home-so-start-growing-up-yourself" stage. Given I have the mental age of a 28 year old and am married to a man with the mental age of a 21 year old, the girls will soon be more mature than us.

Life Happens... I might as well embrace it and get ready for this next "stage" of motherhood. Who knows maybe Moms in this stage get a whole new hip-no-spills wardrobe?!

back to school plans

The crayon box with no broken crayons, the unmarked notebooks, the clean tennis shoes... these are the signs of back to school. Starting off the school year fresh and full of hope is as much for me as our girls. This year I plan to get up at the first sound of the alarm, wake the girls with a "good morning" vs a "hurry, we're late!" I plan to allow enough time for them to eat breakfast in the kitchen vs the van. I plan to keep paperwork organized and school artwork in safe keeping. I plan to say "no" to regular night meetings and say "yes" to more family time.

I plan to be flexible and friendly, open and optimistic, prepared and purposeful.

...now every plan evolves so check with me by October to see how things are progressing.

The Simple Woman's Day

The Simple Woman's Day

Out my window... I see a grill that needs to be cleaned, toys that need to be picked up, weeds that need to be pulled. I see work.

I am thinking... about my to-do list and wondering why I am not doing it.

I am thankful for... the girls are playing together without fighting

From the kitchen... new groceries but nothing for dinner

I am wearing... khaki shorts, brown top ( my uniform)

I am creating...reasons not to tackle my to do list

I am going... to spend the last summer days with my hubby and kids without over scheduling

I am reading... another Jodi Picoult book, Harvesting the Heart ( not one of my favorites) as well as A New Earth... I am still on chapter one hoping if I re-read it another time I will finally understand.

I am hoping... I can get our home and family organized before school starts

Around the house... are projects: photos to be put in albums, laundry to be away, toys to be donated...

One of my favorite things: a glass of wine and alone time with my husband

A few plans for the rest of the week: clean off my desk, make a real dinner, start my excercise routine, BE with my kids, say my prayers.

It is a Beginning...

To blog or not to blog. For me, it came down to wanting a record of the days passing by me. I don't scrap-book. I don't journal. I don't write important "memories" on the calendar. I do take photos and I do use a computer. My hope is if I write about it or photograph it, the moment will last longer. Perhaps I will even share some day. But today, this is just for and by me. It is a beginning.