Macy's Parade Took a Major Detour

I'll admit that I've not always been a big fan of watching parades, especially after marching in so many throughout high school. Now that I have the munchkins though, I think it should be part of their childhood. So, yesterday morning, I turned on the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, telling The Saint that there would be lots of character balloons to see. He was so excited as he sat on my lap watching & waiting, waiting & watching. Boy, did those balloons fall flat!

I had the parade on for about 40 minutes. Do you know how much of the parade itself we saw? Maybe three minutes, at the most, when they went to commercials...and even then the middle of the screen was covered w/ ads. What did we see in between the commercials? We saw Meredith & Matt talking...discussing how close the parade route was to their location or sharing new TV shows. We saw a performance from some group of accapella singers...basically an ad for their show starting soon. We saw Al Roker being extremely obnoxious trying to talk to a high school's percussion members AS THEY WERE PERFORMING. (I was in marching band...I know how annoying, distracting, & rude that is!) We also saw Al Roker sitting in the stands talking to TV actors for NBC shows. Can you say, "Publicity stunt!"

Where was the actual parade? Such a disappointment! I felt so bad for The Saint...he kept asking for the balloons.

Okay...my rant is over now! Other than that, we had a GREAT Thanksgiving. I'll try to get a post up in the next few days, including pictures. I took a bunch!

Small Successes

Danielle Bean says, "It’s important for moms to recognize that all the small successes in our days can add up to one big triumph. So on Thursday of each week, we do exactly that."

1) With a little of the boys' help, I cleaned their room & moved a few things around. It really looks great now!

2) On Monday, I joined many Christians worldwide to fast & pray for Christians in Iraq. I only ate three meals that day & each time I started to feel hungry, I offered another prayer.

3) I successfully made a four-layer round cake for The Prophet's birthday today. I'll do a birthday post in the next few days w/ photos!

Happy Thanksgiving to All!
May God Bless You Abundantly!

A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings

My dear blogging friend, Judy over at A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings, hosts this meme every Wednesday. Simply list five things (or a prayer or any thoughts) for which you are truly thankful this week. Voicing my thanks helps put my life in perspective & realize that, no matter how bad things might be, there is still MUCH good surrounding me.

1) We stopped by Kroger Marketplace after church Sunday while waiting for the munchkins to get out of PSR & just happened upon a 30% off of ALL toys & games! We got about 1/3 of the munchkins' Christmas shopping done there...things we were already planning to purchase elsewhere at higher prices. THANKS FOR SALES!

2) Yesterday, I ran multiple errands w/ all four munchkins around lunchtime...not usually a good idea. This time, however, they were all really good. We were at the doctor's for an hour for The Archangel's ADHD appt., grocery shopped at Aldi (where they helped shop & didn't ask for everything in sight), & ran inside the bank. Knowing they'd be hungry, we stopped for a quick bite at McDonalds in between. THANKS FOR THEIR GREAT BEHAVIOR!

3) After almost a week of back & forth phone calls, our insurance company finally approved the prescription for The Archangel to try for his ADHD. It's a new medicine that is supposed to be good for both his ADHD & aggression/defiance. It's biggest side effect is not loss of appetite, like many other meds...which is great in our case because he is so skinny. (He eats, but he's so active he just burns off all the calories.) THANKS FOR THE APPROVAL OF THIS MEDICINE.

4) My parents got back last week from an almost two week trip out west. While I missed them, I know they had a great, well-deserved trip. THANKS THAT THEY MADE IT BACK SAFELY (esp. driving through blizzard-like conditions in Colorado!)

5) We were stopped at a traffic light yesterday next to an SUV that had the best sticker on the window. It said, "Body Piercing Saved My Life." I was a bit puzzled at first, until I saw the picture above...a hand w/ a nail piercing the wrist. THANKS FOR THIS AWESOME DISPLAY OF FAITH!

I am thankful for all of my dear readers & wish all of you a wonderfully, blessed Thanksgiving tomorrow! God bless each of you!

Small Successes - The Food Edition!

Danielle Bean says, "It’s important for moms to recognize that all the small successes in our days can add up to one big triumph. So on Thursday of each week, we do exactly that."

1) Using the pumpkin puree I made last week, I surprised the munchkins w/ pumpkin pancakes the other morning for breakfast.

2) I got through yesterday even though I was out of coffee...LOL! I did have a cup of instant, but that is just NOT the same!

3) I read this idea somewhere once & decided to try it...each of the munchkins got to pick out a fresh fruit or vegetable from the store. It had to be one they'd never tried before.

The Results:
The Archangel chose an avocado which only The Princess liked. It just cut it into cubes & tossed it w/ olive oil, salt, & pepper. (I know the obvious choice would have been guacamole, but Casinodad & I are not big on it.)

The Princess chose parsnips & they were a hit w/ everyone except The Archangel. I used this Roasted Parsnips recipe (I used horseradish sauce instead of plain horseradish) I found online & they were DELICIOUS! So good, in fact, that I bought more parsnips last night to make again this weekend!

The Prophet wanted star fruit, but I can't find any right now (out of season) so he chose a papaya instead. We'll try it when it ripens a bit.

UPDATE to the homemade dishwasher recipe I posted in last week's Small Successes: It didn't work w/ our dishwasher. Even w/ the vinegar rinse, everything came out w/ a cloudy film on it & they felt kind of dry. Back to store bought for now, but I'm not giving up! Powdered detergents have not worked w/ our water in the past, so I'm thinking perhaps I should search for a gel/liquid detergent. Any thoughts?

A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings

Judy over at A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings, hosts this meme every Wednesday. Simply list five things (or a prayer or any thoughts) for which you are truly thankful this week. Voicing my thanks helps put my life in perspective & realize that, no matter how bad things might be, there is still MUCH good surrounding me.

This week, I'd like to feature my thanks in pictures.


Casinodad (or Goofy Pirate Man in this photo!)

The Prophet (soon to be 10)

The Archangel (age 7 1/2)

The Princess (age 5, going on 15...in a good way!)

The Saint (a typical 2 yo boy!)

Personal Care - For Ladies Only!

(FYI - This post is all in good fun! I apologize in advance if this offends anyone, but I couldn't resist posting this!)

Ladies,
When you choose your feminine care products, what prompts you to make your purchase?

Is it the brand that you love & trust?

Is it the cost?

Is it because of the absorbency?

Or is it because of the "Shimmering" plastic applicator?

Yeah, I thought so...I'd go for the shimmering too...LOL! (And don't you love how my camera caught that nice little glare too? Kind of enhances the shimmering aspect!)

Small Successes

Danielle Bean says, "It’s important for moms to recognize that all the small successes in our days can add up to one big triumph. So on Thursday of each week, we do exactly that."

1) As I said in yesterday's thankful post...we've done 2 art projects this week. As much as the munchkins love to do art, I'm not always up for the messes that are also created, so art is usually pushed to the back burner. This week, they used watercolors on Monday & oil pastels on Tuesday.

2) I cut up two of the four little pumpkins my mom gave us, cooked them down, & pureed them for future recipes. While I had the puree out, I decided to make some spiced pumpkin bread. Topped w/ pumpkin ice cream & a bit of chocolate fudge Magic Shell, we had a DELICIOUS dessert after dinner.

3) I replenished several of our homemade cleaners & made up a new one also. I found a super easy recipe for dishwasher detergent at diy natural. It only takes two ingredients: washing soda & borax. You just use 1 T. of each in your dishwasher. (I mixed 1/2 c. of each in an airtight container & just used 2 T. of the mixture.) For a good rinse, it also says to add white vinegar to the rinsing agent hole.

Has your week been a good one? Celebrate your successes at Faith and Family Live.

A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings

Judy over at A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings, hosts this meme every Wednesday. Simply list five things (or a prayer or any thoughts) for which you are truly thankful this week. Voicing my thanks helps put my life in perspective & realize that, no matter how bad things might be, there is still MUCH good surrounding me.

1) I'm thankful for a productive school week so far! We've done 2 art projects (maybe this should be a Small Success tomorrow since it's such a BIG achievement on my part!) & the munchkins have been very cooperative w/ all their subjects.

2) I'm thankful for the nice 60 degree weather we've had this week. I've been able to open up the house & air out the germs that have been creeping in.

3) I'm thankful for my Catholic faith. Each day I continue to grow stronger in my beliefs & understanding of this beautiful faith.

4) I'm thankful for the gift of music & the wide variety of styles that I am able to enjoy. Last night, I'm listened to a couple tapes (yes, I said tapes!) that I haven't listened to in years...James Galway's The Enchanted Forest & Kitaro's Kojiki...beautiful Japanese music. (I've been drawn to Oriental music for years & even played a couple of Japanese pieces for my college flute recitals.)

5) I'm thankful for the many great authors out there. Without them, I wouldn't be transported to different worlds, times, & places. I love to be carried away by a good book. Right now, I'm reading (& enjoying) Jan Karon's latest in the Fr. Tim novels, In the Company of Others. In this one, she takes her readers to Ireland & adds a little mystery to Fr. Tim & Cynthia's trip.

Fall Family Fun 2010 - Part Three (2nd post today)

Continuing our Hocking Hills trip...

These next photos were taken at Ash Cave, one of six natural areas in the Hocking Hills region. Open on one side, it spans 700 feet & has a horseshoe-shaped rim. From front to back, it is 100 feet & it is about 90 feet from the rim to the floor. What a beautiful cave! (If you're interested, more detailed information on Ash Cave can be found HERE.)

There are two paths to follow. We chose the lower trail because it is handicapped accessible & didn't think the rougher ground would be good w/ the stroller. There was a large stump along the trail. Three of the four munchkins were just fine w/ Mom's photo shoot there. Can you guess which one was ready to move on?!?

The Saint w/ another light saber, er...stick! Check out those Jedi moves as The Archangel runs away in the background!
The sunlight hit so perfectly during this photo. Isn't it beautiful?

I took this one standing underneath the rim of the cave.

Along the path w/ the cave in the background

When we arrived in Hocking Hills, it was too early to check into our cabin, so we drove around a bit. We passed Lake Logan & decided to stop there the next day.

There were two beautiful swans who seemed to have no fear of humans.
There was an older gentleman feeding breadcrumbs to the swans. I had to hold The Saint back because he wanted to pet them.

Unfortunately we didn't have swimsuits w/ us this trip, but we did let the munchkins wade in the water. The Saint didn't quite understand "wading" & kept wanting to splash, jump, & sit in the water. He's such a boy!!! Needless to say, everyone got baths upon our return to the cabin!

Small Successes

Danielle Bean says, "It’s important for moms to recognize that all the small successes in our days can add up to one big triumph. So on Thursday of each week, we do exactly that."

1) I cleaned parts of the basement. No, not the toys...the cobwebs from most of the ceiling & the dust/lint around the washer & dryer. It's amazing what a big difference just those things can make!

2) I made a GREAT main dish for dinner Tuesday night...pasta! It's so versatile that everyone in the family was satisfied. The older boys ate buttered noodles, Casinodad had alfredo sauce w/ imitation crabmeat & asparagus in it, & The Princess & I had the same but w/ sauteed onions added (just like you see them do on the cooking shows...Mmmm! The kitchen smelled so good!) The Saint had the same, but mostly ate the crab & asparagus.

3) I learned some lessons from an Adam Sandler movie!!! I wrote up a review & my reflections about the movie 50 First Dates HERE. Warning: If you haven't seen the movie, my review does contain numerous spoilers.

Wordless Wednesday - Festive Pizzas by Casinodad (2nd post today)

A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings

Judy over at A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings, hosts this meme every Wednesday. Simply list five things (or a prayer or any thoughts) for which you are truly thankful this week. Voicing my thanks helps put my life in perspective & realize that, no matter how bad things might be, there is still MUCH good surrounding me.

1) I'm thankful that The Princess has been so helpful around the house lately...even doing things w/out being asked. I see such a loving & pleasing spirit in her.

2) I'm thankful to see how generous the munchkins have been w/ their Halloween candy. They gave some to The Saint, Casinodad, & me. They've also given a bunch to their friends.

3) I'm thankful for a safe drive to drop off our van last night & that my mother volunteered to watch the munchkins for us. The ABS & Brake warning lights lit up in our van last Friday & we couldn't get it in until today.

4) I'm thankful for the Fall memories our family has made this year. See Part 1 and Part 2, w/ more parts to come because I took so many photos!

5) I'm thankful that Casinodad & I both have jobs right now in this tough economy. Sure we are hurting, just like everyone else, but our family is together, healthy, & our needs are met.

Fall Family Fun 2010 - Part 2 (2nd Post Today)

Okay...I didn't realize how many pictures we took while in Hocking Hills. So, I think I'd better break these Fall posts up even more. Here is installment one of Hocking Hills.

This was the outside of our cabin...Noah's Ark Cabin. We LOVED it & can't wait to go back next year.

The view upon entry, made even better by that handsome man & adorable munchkins in the kitchen!

The munchkins' bedroom...because there were no rails & hardwood floors, they were allowed to play on the top of the bunk, but not sleep there.

The master bedroom...quite a high bed!

Dinner time & my dear hubby is holding onto two of his favorite things...food & me!

The munchkins loved eating their meals at this kitchen island, big enough for all four of them.

The rest of the photos are from our trip to the KOA campground. They had a gem mine. The older three munchkins each got a small bag of sand & gems to use in the sluice. I think this was the highlight of the trip...they had so much fun, as you can probably see on their faces. They were so focused on finding their gems, including the super tiny ones. I don't think any gem was left behind!

Casinodad & I took turns keeping an eye on The Saint. Here they are discussing the finer points of basketball.

The Saint enjoyed mining the rocks on the ground & playing in the water of the sluice.

Fall Family Fun 2010 - Part One

Well, I guess I'm slacking a bit in the photo department! I promised photos of our Fall family vacation, but haven't posted them yet. I wanted to post photos of our trip to Wright Patterson Air Force Museum in Dayton & haven't done that yet. And now, here it is, the second day of November & I haven't posted Halloween photos yet. So how about a Fall photo edition for my blog, highlighting the fun times? Part Two will have photos from our trip.

The Air Force Museum doesn't have great lighting, so most of the inside pictures are very dark. The following ones are some of the hands-on activities that the munchkins really loved

The Princess, manning the "out-of-order" control panel game.

Astronaut Prophet

This was a simulator to help show how the propeller blades of a helicopter work w/ the air. The Saint just liked to jiggle the handle.

Astronaut Archangel

No matter how many planes he saw, The Saint couldn't get enough of the sticks he found outside. They made perfect light sabers for him! (Yes, The Archangel is wearing part of his Halloween costume from last year...Mario!)

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And speaking of Halloween...here are some of our photos from this year:

Isn't it great when the little ones can wear the same costume several years in a row? The Saint was a bee last year, but I think he got much cuter this year!

Nothing beats the traditional bed-sheet ghost. (BTW - That's The Prophet, in case you were wondering!)

Indiana Archangel! (Much cuter than Harrison Ford, in my book!)

After The Princess received her rose from St. Therese on her feast day (SEE HERE if you missed the post), she decided that she wanted to be St. Therese for Halloween. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to pull off the costume, but every time I turned around, another piece of it presented itself to me. She was so pleased w/ her costume & got a lot of compliments.