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've started "couponing." In the past, I never thought it was much of a benefit to us...I'd either clip coupons & forget I had them or spend more money because I'd buy something just because I had the coupon for it. Now, w/ the help of two websites (Coupon Mom & Happy Homemaker Cindy), I can actually save money w/ coupons. (Both sites have tutorials & helpful hits for saving.) They do a lot of the work for you...compiling list of sale items for local stores & telling you which Sunday's ads have corresponding coupons. It does take me a bit more time, but the savings so far has been great...esp. when you add in regular store discounts, too (like Giant Eagle's Fuel & Food Perks). Last week, I saved 59% at Meijer & 33% at Giant Eagle.

2) I've been doing little things for Casinodad to help him along in his day. One morning, when he was running behind, I got his cereal ready, I packed up his lunch, & filled his water mug for work. Most mornings, when I finish w/ The Word Among Us, I leave it out on the table so he can read the daily reading while eating breakfast. This morning, while he was still getting ready, I called the doctor & made an appt. for him. Even though they are just little gestures, they mean a lot to him.

3) The Princess turned six last week. She wanted me to make a Catholic cake for her, so I made a frosting Rosary for her. And, because she loves St. Therese of Lisieux, I added a prayer card to the center. She loved it.

A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings (2nd Post Today)

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 am thankful for the bountiful apples from my parents' trees & for my parents' generosity in giving us a BUNCH of them. So far, I've made several batches of Crockpot Applesauce that is easy & DELICIOUS!

2) I am thankful for my dear college friend who sent me the Crockpot Applesauce recipe at the PERFECT time & for Judy who sent me an Apple Butter recipe that I plan on using very soon.

3) I am thankful that Casinodad's car ONLY needed a new battery & it was not the alternator or something horribly expensive. It wouldn't start for me on Friday afternoon & when we tried to jump it, it wouldn't start. AAA came out, tested the battery, & jumped it enough to get to the battery store.

4) I am thankful that The Princess has emerged from the shyness shell she's been in the past few years...just in time to start Kindergarten PSR & to join the Little Flowers program. She LOVES both. Almost every day she asks how many days until Sunday for PSR or for the next Little Flowers meeting.

5) I am thankful Casinodad has this whole week off of work. Originally he was only taking off Wed.-Fri., but then found that he had extra vacation time & took off Mon. & Tues. too. So, we're having a fall break from school this week while we spend quality family time together.

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 relaxing, fun overnight trip w/ Casinodad last week. We headed out to Wheeling Island Hotel & Casino in WV. He had gotten a GREAT rate courtesy of a coupon he'd received ($49 + tax for the night...at least 1/3 of the regular rate). We gambled a bit, but nothing excessive, then just relaxed.

2) I'm thankful the munchkins did well for my MIL while we were away. This was the first time she'd stayed overnight w/ them.

3) I'm thankful for the few days of nice weather we had last week that allowed us to open up the house. Now if only they'd return!!!!

4) I'm thankful for all the love, support, & caring I receive from Casinodad on a daily basis. God has truly blessed me w/ a WONDERFUL husband...although at times, I wonder what I've done to deserve him.

5) I'm thankful that the munchkins have been so receptive to our first "official" week of school which started on Monday. Last week was just the wading pool, while this week we dove right in! I decided to tie some of their music studies in w/ religion & teach them church hymns this year. We'll focus on one every two weeks & we started with "Whatsoever You Do." They really liked it & caught on quickly! (This song also ties in w/ a discipline technique Casinodad & I are going to implement this week. More on that later....)

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) Despite (or perhaps because of) all of us being sick over the past week w/strep throat, sinus, ear, & eye infections, I managed to clean the kitchen. I made up a new batch of beach cleaner, washed the counters, table, & stove w/ soap & water, then cleaned w/ the bleach spray. I also wiped down all the door handles around the house. An added bonus...it's mostly stayed clean since Sunday!

2) I got the most of the munchkins' school work ready for their first day of school (hopefully this coming Monday...we didn't make it this week due to illnesses).

3) Despite all the stress we've been under lately, I HAVE NOT taken it out on Casinodad. This is a biggie in my book, as he normally (& I'm NOT proud of this) gets the brunt of my frustrations.

Have you any successes to share? Check out Faith & Family Live every Thursday, when Danielle Bean hosts Small Successes.

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 great weather & fun times are our family reunion on Sunday.

2) I'm thankful my friend Angela started the 30 Days of Insight Meme on her blog, Pretty in Orange. While there are some fun questions & topics, there are many that have made me think & reflect on my life. It's never too late to join in, so let me know it you try it. I'd love to read your insights.

3) I'm thankful for my Small Church Community. Many years ago, our former parish started the small groups for sharing. On average, we meet in a member's home twice a month to pray, read, & reflect. We named ourselves The HOPE Group (for the four things we do: Help, Outreach, Pray, Eat). In the 11 years I've been a part of this wonderful group, we've been through births & deaths, weddings & separations, illnesses & recoveries, laughter & tears. Even though only one of the group still attends our original parish, we have stuck together. One of the great things w/ our group is our diversity in ages & backgrounds. That diversity has made for some great conversations & for me, being the youngest, I've learned a lot from the other members.

4) As a continuation of #3, I'm thankful for the redirection our group is taking. In addition to studying the upcoming Sunday's readings, we usually have a book that we read together & share our thoughts. In a recent gathering, we decided to change & not concentrate so much on the fluffy stuff (not that the touchy-feely books are bad, we just want more focus on our faith). I recently did a review for The Catholic Company on the book Those Who Saw Her: Apparitions of Mary by Catherine O'Dell. I let our group leader borrow the book & even though she hadn't finished it yet, it got her thinking. We all decided to make this next year our "Marian Year." We are all very excited about this new direction for our group.

5) I'm thankful for my dear husband. God has truly blessed me w/ a great man. He is strong in his faith, a wonderful father, & a very supportive husband.

Click the link at the beginning of this post if you'd like to join Judy in the weekly meme of thanksgiving.

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 good times w/ extended family & friends. We spent Sunday at my aunt & uncle's house celebrating Father's Day & my cousin's college graduation. It was a fun, relaxing time, w/ the exception of The Saint's hand scare (see HERE for details, if you dare!)

2) I'm thankful for the gratefulness & joyful faces of the munchkins during those times the past couple days when I said "YES" to their reasonable requests, including an impromptu sleep-over here w/ their cousin.

3) I'm thankful for the 12 years of marriage Casinodad & I celebrated on Sunday. He's been a WONDERFULLY, SWEET husband & father. I am so blessed to have him in my life. (see HERE for our engagement story.)

4) I'm thankful The Prophet is old enough to mow the lawn now AND he likes to do it. One of us still has to be outside w/ him & touch up a few areas afterwards, but he does a pretty good job for us.

5) I'm thankful that all four munchkins LOVE to read, just like their parents. Even The Saint, at 22 months, will stretch out on his stomach to look through his picture books (& it's so cute to see his little legs kicking up in the air!)

Remembering The Proposal

Yesterday, Casinodad & I celebrated 12 years of marriage. In this post two years ago, I talked about how we met & left it w/ a "to be continued w/ the proposal." Well, I guess I should probably make good on that promise!

After he had asked for my phone number on Christmas Eve of 1996, he called me the day after Christmas. (Truthfully, I think he wanted to call me as soon as he got off work that day...he was so excited!) We talked on the phone several times before we actually went out...delayed a bit because I got sick w/ a cold. Our first date was shortly after New Year's Eve. We went to dinner at Chile Verde, a Mexican restaurant that is no longer open, then went to see Jerry Maguire. I think it's probably the last Tom Cruise movie that I liked. We stopped at the coffee shop next door when the movie was over. I think Casinodad was still a bit nervous because he ended up spilling hot chocolate on his shirt :)

We talked a lot that night & I think both of us knew deep down that we were destined to get married. We were pretty much dating exclusively from the start, even though we were taking things slow. We'd both had previously relationships that ended badly & wanted to be sure this time around. By Valentine's, after one of our dates, he told me that he loved me. My response..."Are you sure?" (Probably not the best question when someone professes their love to you!) Even though I knew I loved him by then, I wasn't ready to voice it for another couple of weeks. I think my comment gave him pause to think & fret. As soon as he got home, he called me, very worried that he had ruined our relationship. I assured him that he had not. By my birthday, at the end of February, I was ready to tell him that I loved him.

Shortly after that, we started talking about marriage & looking at rings...not making any specific plans because we wanted to wait a while. Basically, we were unofficially engaged. At the time, I was a store manager for Blockbuster Video & a coordinator for one of our church's music ensembles. I liked my job, but had some late hours. Once a month, we had to complete a store inventory & couldn't start until the store closed at Midnight. Inventory for April of 1997 just happened to be the night before Easter. Casinodad was to pick me up before the Noon Mass at church. He wanted to meet earlier to exchange our Easter presents, but knowing that I wouldn't be home until at least 4am, I wanted to sleep as long as possible & wait until after Mass.

I was in the cry room putting my flute away after Mass & the door to the church was open. Casinodad was talking to my best friend & overhead snippets of their conversation. That's when I started to get a little suspicious. She was basically asking if he'd done it yet.

After Mass, he seemed really nervous & couldn't wait to get back to my apartment. Hmmm! Something was definitely up! He wanted to exchange gifts as soon as we walked in the door. I gave him his first...a silver pail filled w/ men's toiletries from Bath & Body Works. He handed me a big oval-shaped basket that was holding six miniature plastic eggs & one larger one in the middle. I was told to open the little ones first. Each one held a small piece of construction paper w/ something written on it: "Beautiful, Brown Eyes," "Kind Heart," Soft Skin," Great Sense of Humor," "Enchanting Voice," & "Long, Flowing, Lustrius, Curly, Brown, Hair." And, in the larger egg was one last note: "My Sweet (my name), Look at the bottom of this Easter basket to see how much I love you. Love, (his name)." Underneath all the green fake grass was a green box & a beautiful, simple 3/8 carat diamond ring. Casinodad knelt in front of me & proposed w/ tears in his eyes. With tears in mine, I accepted!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to my Dear, Sweet Husband! I LOVE YOU & look forward to many more years together!

(to be continued w/ the wedding...I promise not to wait two years this time!)

A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings (2nd Post Today)

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 all the prayers for Casinodad's best friend this past week. He's doing so much better than expected. He was taken off the ventilator Monday & has been talking.

2) I'm thankful for a great visit w/ my friend & her kids yesterday. Our kids gathered up any toys they didn't want anymore & traded. Then any leftovers are being donated.

3) I'm thankful Casinodad has Thursday & Friday off this week. We're going to spend a lot of family time together!

4)I'm thankful for my mother saving us a lot of money. I mentioned last week that I was looking at buying new comforter for our bed. She had one that fit our bed perfectly & is a great match for our walls.

5) I'm thankful that a potentially stressful situation did not happen. It worked itself out!

Small Successes

"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."

Oops! Missed this last week, too! So, why am I having so much trouble thinking of my successes. I should have two weeks worth, right?

1) I've been doing well this Lent in keeping away from Facebook & constantly checking blogs that I read.

2) I cleaned our master bathroom sink, counter, mirror, & toilet. 'Nuff said!!!

3) Other than Tuesdays when Lost is on, Casinodad & I haven't been turning the TV on in the evenings. We try to spend that extra time talking, reading, or just sitting together.

Your turn! Share your successes at Faith and Family Live. While you're there, check out others' successes.

Small Successes

"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) At the Women's Conference on Saturday, I went to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This was a HUGE step for me as I have not been in a LONG, LONG time.

2) I loaded up the back of our van (& the passenger seat) yesterday w/ about 1/2 of the recyclables from our garage & took them to the fire station's drop off. They've been piling up lately & we haven't been able to make it because of the snow.

3) Several times this past week, I've had the opportunity to respond to Casinodad in a not-so-nice way, but consciously chose not to.

What's your week been like? Check out Faith and Family Live to share & see other successes.

Small Successes

"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) This past week was one of those when we had numerous doctor, dental, eye, & vehicle repair appointments. I felt like we were CONSTANTLY on the go with no time to breathe. My success is that I did manage to survive & have lived to tell about it! I really think it helps that I have been sticking w/ getting up by 6:15 each morning to have some peaceful prayer & reading time to myself.

2) Casinodad had Monday off for Presidents' Day. We had nothing planned & nowhere to go (& probably couldn't have w/ all the snow, anyway!) We spent the day straightening some of the house, did a couple loads of laundry, had a little school w/ the munchkins, & just enjoyed each other's company. This day was definitely needed after the previous week.

3) This success is bittersweet for me...The Saint has been weaned. Out of all four munchkins, he has gone the longest (18 months). The Prophet & The Princess self-weaned at 6 months & The Archangel (who was never a stronger nurser) stopped himself at 10 months. This was a tough decision, but needed to be done. He wasn't nursing much during the day, maybe once or twice, but he was still waking several times a night. The only way to get him back to sleep was to nurse him. He's now sleeping better (not perfect) & so are we.

So, how's your life been this past week? Inquiring minds want to know over at Faith & Family Live! Check it out & share your successes!

Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings (#3)

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 am thankful that I was able to SUCCESSFULLY make a King's Cake for Fat Tuesday. (An added thankfulness is that I am now "Awesome Mom" because that is what I let the munchkins eat for dinner last night!)

2) I am thankful that Casinodad had Presidents' Day off work. He was able to spend the whole day w/ us AND he didn't have to drive in our 3rd snowstorm in two weeks!

3) I am thankful for a very cuddly toddler at nap & bedtimes. I taught him how to do butterfly kisses last night. The look on his face was PRICELESS!

4) I am thankful that Casinodad was able to schedule a vacation day for Ash Wednesday this year. It's always been so tough for him to make it for Mass in time in the past. Now we don't have to feel so rushed.

5) I am thankful that our van is running much better after it's tune-up last Friday. (I am not thankful, however, for the cost...$150 more than we thought it would be! There were a lot of parts that needed to be replaced.)

Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings (#2)

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) Thank you, Lord, for the gift of Judy in my life. If you've never been to any of Judy's blogs, you are missing a TON of GREAT stuff. (Links to all can be found from on her link above.) She's such a great source of inspiration to me...whether it be family oriented, homeschooling, or faith life.

2) Thank you, Lord, that Casinodad has made it safely to & from work the past couple days with all this snowy weather.

3) Thank you, Lord, for the hill at my parents' house & for their hospitality on Monday. The munchkins spent several hours there sledding down it, then enjoying Grandma's homemade hot chocolate afterwards.

4) Thank you, Lord, for my new job & for the people I work with. The dietary staff took great care of me on Saturday by bringing snacks & dinner to me in the front office.

5) Thank you, Lord, for the faith I see coming out in my children. Just when I don't think they're getting it, they say or do something that completely changes my mind. On the way home from church Sunday, The Prophet told me that he thinks he might want to be a priest when he grows up. The Princess always walks around singing made-up songs about God being in her heart.

Thank you, Judy, for hosting this meme & for inspiring me!

"A Thankful Womans Book of Blessings" (#1)

Judy, over at A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings, hosts this meme every Wednesday. I've followed for a while & finally decided to join in. 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.

Here's what Judy has to say:
"God is so kind and generous. This meme is my little way of thanking Him for that. Would you like to join me? Simply list five things (or a prayer or any thoughts) for which you are truly thankful this week. Use Mr. Linky to send us to a post where you display the image above and your Thankful List...please also offer your readers a link back here to my blog :) Or...just leave your list of thanksgiving in the comments under this post. It's a good feeling to gather together and join our hearts as ONE in the Lord!"

1) I am thankful for my loving husband, Casinodad. Despite all my shortcomings (& yes there are MANY!) he sticks by me & loves me with all his heart.

2) I am thankful for each of my children. There are many days when I feel like they're going to drive me over the edge, but then I look into those beautiful faces & remember that they are precious miracles from God.

3) I am thankful for my extended family. I have been blessed w/ many caring family members who fill my life w/ love & support.

4) I am thankful for the many friends I have (both in real life & in the cyber world). I find such joy & strength in those friendships.

5) And coming from two of the BEST beans in the world...I am thankful for coffee & chocolate, without which I wouldn't make it through MANY days!

Thank you Judy for hosting this meme!

What I'm Thankful For

With Thanksgiving just two days away, I thought I would list some of the things I'm thankful for in my life.

1) Above all else, my Lord & Savior - Despite my shortcomings, blindness, stubbornness, self-centeredness, (need I go on?), He is always there waiting for me to return to Him. I find that the days I start in His presence go much smoother...still not perfect, but better than if I just rush into the day w/out Him.

2) Casinodad - I've said it before & will continue saying it, he is a wonderful man. God has placed this loving, caring, patient man in my life. He's a great father to our munchkins & husband to me.

3) The Prophet - At nine years old, he's grown into such a loving young man. Sure, he has his moments (don't all children?), but he cares about his family & will go out of his way to help out at times.

4) The Archangel - This very loving boy has brightened our lives from the beginning.
He, too, has his moments, but he can be very caring, especially to his siblings. He loves to come up & give us hugs out of the blue.

5) The Princess - This little lady, being the only girl, has the voice of an angel. She loves to sing & dance around the house, play w/ her dolls, & do all sorts of girly things. But don't let that fool you...being surrounded by boys, she can be just as rough & tough!

6) The Saint - He's such a happy toddler & is quite the tease. He has this sly grin & knows how to use it w/ his sneaky ways. Put on some music & he starts wiggling to the beat. He loves to discover the world around him, pointing out all that strikes his fancy.

7) My family & friends - There are so many loving, caring people in my life. I am so thankful that God has placed them there.

8) The many friends I've met in the blogging world - We've shared comments on each other's blogs. I've laughed & cried along w/ many of you in your daily adventures.

9) A roof over our heads & food on the table

10) Our new church family - We changed parishes this past summer & have been so welcomed in our new church.

11) Freedom

12) Coffee

13) Chocolate - especially Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, M&M's, & Nutella

14) Good books, good movies, & good music

There is so much to be thankful for, that this is in no way a complete list. If you're making your thankful list on your blog, let me know in the comments. I'd love to read yours!

I hope you & your families have a wonderfully blessed Thanksgiving! God bless each of you!

Does Your Man Talk Like This?

Is it just my dear Casinodad or do other men do this? Whenever he talks to his guy friends, whether on the phone or in person, he seems to take on a different tone of voice. He speaks w/ various accents, lowers his voice, & uses a lot of "Hey Man!", What's up, Dude?", "I hear ya, Bro!", & other manly-type phrases. He even has kind of a "stoned" sound to his voice (think Sean Penn in Fast Times at Ridgemont High or Ashton Kutcher in "Dude, Where's My Car?").

So, does your man do this too? Inquiring minds want to know!!!

Small Successes

Oops! I missed Small Successes last week! We are in our fourth week of school & I'm still trying to get us organized & on some type of schedule. At the rate I'm going, we might be on track by Christmas!!

Anyway, here are this week's Small Successes...

1) I went through all the boys' clothes in the crawlspace, decided what to keep & what to send to my in-laws for their garage sale.

2) No matter how much I've wanted to stay in bed lately, I've been making myself get up, go downstairs, start coffee, & read the day's readings. On Sept. 1, I also started working my way through Proverbs - one chapter per day. My plan is to continue this each month.

3) Casinodad & I had a night to ourselves last Saturday. My parents took all four munchkins overnight. We rented a movie (Pink Panther 2 w/ Steve Martin - very, very funny & clean too!), had a nice relaxing dinner (chicken, green peppers, & pineapple in soy sauce, rice, cheese wontons, & coconut-crusted shrimp w/ mango chutney sauce), & just enjoyed each other's company. We slept in the next morning (we'd gone to Mass Saturday evening), went to Tim Hortons for breakfast, & stopped at a couple garage sales. We really needed this time to focus & spend w/ each other.

What are your successes? Share them at Faith & Family Live & while you're at it, check out others!

Small Successes

It's that day of the week again. Wow! Times sure does fly! Here are this week's successes:

1) I cleaned out the van, w/ a little of the munchkins' help. We got out all the trash, toys, books, etc. Then I cleaned all the vinyl & vacuumed the inside. I even wiped down the interior of the doors. The only thing left is to take out the car seats & vacuum under them.

2) Instead of getting frustrated w/ Casiondad for not thinking & locking his keys in his car this morning, I took the high road. I volunteered to meet him at work this evening to wait for AAA. He's hasn't gotten around to getting a second key for his new car yet. I figured meeting him & calling AAA ahead of time would save time after he got out of work. I also decided to find more ways to help him out to alleviate some of the stress caused by rushing around to get ready for things. (Yes, I know I should be doing that anyway, but I tend to be a bit selfish at times & just get upset w/ him instead of helping.)

3) I planted squash in our garden. I was going to do the green beans, but I need to get some pot ash to mix in w/ the soil first. I started the tomato & pepper seeds inside about a month ago. The tomatoes are doing okay, but the peppers didn't take. I think I'll have to buy plants instead.

4) This is a bonus - I got my first pedicure on Saturday! Last Spring, some good friends of mine got me a gift card for a local spa & salon as a baby shower gift. I was going to use it in July for my SIL's wedding, but The Saint decided bedrest was a better idea for us. After he was born, time just got away from me & I never got to use the card. Saturday I finally got to use it - definitely worth the wait! I really enjoyed it & now my tootsies are are nice sparkly brown. I thought about going for a perky blue, but opted for the other - reality trumped fun in this case!

Check out Faith and Family Live's Small Successes to see & share more.

The Sounds & Sights of Summer

Ahhh...the sounds of Summer vacation! You know the ones - children squealing w/ delight as they chase each other around the yard, balls bouncing in driveways throughout the neighborhood, doors slamming as said children run in & out & in & out &..., the music box jingle of the ice cream truck.

And what about the sights of summer - barefeet running across freshly mowed grass, blankets spread on the grass as children enjoy an outdoor treat, bikes & toys littering the driveways & yards.

In our neighborhood, our munchkins squeal at yet another sight. Heard from The Archangel early this evening, "Look, it's the pizza man!" He thought he was coming around just like the ice cream truck does. Not a bad idea to Casinodad, our resident pizza addict!

Small Successes

Oops! I can't believe I forgot to participate in "Small Successes" last week! We were busy, plus Casinodad had last Thursday off (when he has to work on a Saturday, he gets the Thursday before off). So here goes for the past two weeks...

1) I mowed the lawn for Casinodad. He wasn't going to do it until Thursday, but it was looking pretty overgrown on Monday. The Saint was taking a longer nap, school was done, & it was a beautiful day. I probably looked silly at first - I hadn't mowed the lawn in almost two years due to The Saint's pregnancy. At first, I couldn't find the spark plug attachment then I couldn't find the button to prime it. But, alas, I found all & the mowing got done!

2) Last Friday was a beautiful day! After school was done, I packed the munchkins into the car, stopped at Taco Bell, & we headed to a local park. We had a great time! After eating, I let them play on the playground. The Saint tried the baby swings for the first time & loved them. Then we took a nature walk around the lake & saw frogs, dragonflies, fish, & a turtle.

3) The munchkins & I, along w/ my Small Church Community, took a trip to a center run by a Franciscan sister. It's only about an hour away, but they are so poor in that area. She takes in donations & distributes them to the local people. We try to go down there at least twice a year, then in Dec. we send financial support down to her for Christmas meals & gifts for kids. (This is the same place I've mentioned in past posts that our church donates to in January.)

Check out www.faithandfamilylive.com to view other Small Successes. What a wonderful way to share & show support of others!