A Winter Picnic

Two minutes after I posted my previous entry I decided I hated Winter LOL.  Just kidding, I still love it but I needed to get out of the house...TODAY!  With all the snow roller pictures being posted on Facebook, I didn't want to be the only one who hasn't seen them.  So I told my kids once the temps hit at least one degree above arctic we are out of here!  After the girl finished baking and the boys finished Math and Latin we got ready to put on our winter gear. UGH. Six people X Winter gear = Big Production. And don't even let me give you the equation for seven people, winter gear, CCD books, missals, Sunday morning LOL.

Anyhow, the snow-rollers were not hard to find, it was everywhere but none big enough or in a safe enough spot for us to pull over and take pictures. Now that I'm typing this I wish I took pictures of the tiny ones at the Metropark.  That's where we went sledding. Surprisingly the sled hill/metropark was empty aside from a group playing hockey on the frozen pond.  When the park ranger came around and saw us he took out a box with firewood and started a fire. It was awesome.  I knew God was trying to calm my mood.  I forgot to mention I've been in a bad cabin fever mood for two days. I still love Winter, promise LOL.

It was glorious out.  I was itching to take the kids hiking through the trails but I didn't have the necessary gear in this weather to do that with five littles.  Maybe in a few days.  Anyhow, here are some photos to share:

icicles forming out the window, it's time to get out of the house!

he's ready to ride

all five kids at different spots- the middle child is on the bottom of the hill, the youngest chasing after him, the girl on her scooter sled, etc, etc..

and this is where I was most of the time, thank you Park Ranger! oh and the baby went up to the park ranger and asked "are you a policeman?"

the girl's latest creation

keeping each other fed and warm

best picnic ever!

how I kept my toes warm(er) - no boots or feet were burnt in the taking of this photo

Happy Winter! I'm off to attend to chores I purposely ignored all day ;-)

Long Is Our Winter

There's no denying it Winter is here to stay.  There's a ton of snow on the ground and we're expecting another week of frigid temperatures.  I know so many of you are sooooooo over it.  I'm not! As a young girl growing up in the tropics the vision of snow to me was better than visions of sugarplum dancing on my head. Even now, as a not-so-young girl, I could stare out the window for hours as the snow falls softly to the ground.  I'm a little bit of a dreamer ;-)

Don't get me wrong, by mid-February I'm sure cabin fever will kick in and I will write a long post about how I hate Winter.  In the meantime, let me tell you some of the things I enjoy about the season, in pictures -

• children and snow- it's the perfect combination

children who love to shovel snow makes it all better

he was throwing a snowball at me

the oldest daydreaming on the sled hill

• baking/cooking- especially the long simmering soups and stews and the special treats that the girl bakes, nothing says Winter like a warm, yummy-smelling kitchen

making her own batter mix ala Bisquick, this was better than the boxed stuff, thank you Pinterest!

trying out a new chocolate chip cookie recipe using applesauce instead of eggs, it's a keeper (both the girl and the cookies lol)

• Winter hike - there's something so peaceful and meditative (and sometimes treacherous!) about a winter's hike.  Hot chocolate (or caramel flan latte!) after a good hike is the best treat.

this hike was from last year as we have yet to go on one this year, it's been too cold

•  prayer journaling - is that a word? I alternate between the Liturgy of the Hours and the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  This is the backbone of my day on top of daily Mass.  This is how I survive the rigors (sometimes mind-numbing routine) of the everyday especially in these long, cold Winter days.

 I don't have a picture of these but I do enjoy them in the Winter:

• napping - under a nice warm, electric blanket preferably with a cuddling child
• exercising - call me crazy but Winter is the best time to exercise! The cooler temps make huffing, puffing and sweating bearable. Yes, I'm still doing my crazy regimen of Insanity/P90x/Rockin' Body.  
• cleaning! - being indoors a lot at this time of the year, I can ignore the dust only for so long.  I have decided cleaning is my love language LOL

 What do you love about Winter?

What You Should Watch During Lent/Easter

Over Christmas break I recommended a couple of my favorite documentaries to tame the holiday craziness. As we slowly approach Lent (it's late this year) I want to recommend another documentary to watch called This Side of Eden. It chronicles the daily life of Benedictine monks in British Columbia, Canada (my home and native land, as the anthem goes).  I am biased about this documentary because I have a personal connection to this abbey. I have been a guest here attending annual retreats with different groups (Legion of Mary, vocation discernment) and I have enjoyed that Benedictine hospitality.  Watching this documentary and recognizing so many of the monks was like being home again, home in British Columbia and home in the faith.  I even challenged my husband to move us back there so the boys can go to the minor seminary at the abbey. The curriculum is a dream!  And he has been there with me so I think I have a strong case :-)

There are many nuggets of wisdom imparted in this documentary that is helpful to me as a mother. I have pondered the vows of stability that monastics make and have come to a slow understanding of it over the years as I try to grow roots in a land that isn't my own with five kids to boot.  Watching this has helped that understanding a little bit more.  My kids enjoyed watching this as well, I think it was fascinating for them when I would point out who is whom and what they did at the abbey.  They particularly liked one scene during Science lab as they were doing an experiment at the minor seminary classroom (a popping balloon was involved) we rewind that section a lot.

Here's a quick trailer then go over to Ignatius Press to get your own copy.  I promise you won't regret the splurge! I will post an update EWTN re-broadcasts. Pretty sure they will air it during Lent.

Sunday Snapshot

The six-year-old trying to impress his dad with his reading skills via the Walgreens flyer.  Happy to report that he was able to read "osteo bi-flex"!  I think he's ready for Harvard ;-)

Back to School, Back to Ordinary Time

After a somewhat prolonged Christmas vacation due to illness, we are back to school this week.  I was gearing up for a rough start due to some lingering fatigue and coughing and you know, it's never easy to go from vacation to vocation. I told the kids we will have a light week but once we got going we actually plunged right in to our normal schedule.

The oldest is preparing for Confirmation in April.  It just occurred to me that this is really the Sacrament of growing up.  He alone had to make the decision for his Confirmation name and sponsor.  It was surely something we could influence but we trust that in this matter he can prayerfully discern for himself. But I wasn't beyond vetoing a wrong decision LOL.

 I love this particular guideline on choosing a sponsor: - "We recommend that you choose as your sponsor someone who manifests a level of holiness that the candidate for Confirmation desires to imitate" (!) yay for you holy people.  "The sponsor should be a reliable person who will help the candidate grow in their faith throughout the years".  With that guideline we pointed out to him that he is very fortunate to have so many good choices, he is surrounded by holy people who are ready to answer to God if they mislead him LOL.  Needless to say he made good use of Holy Hour in his discernment.

So we are currently in the thick of preparing for his presentation on his chosen confirmation saint (St. Augustine!)  He wants something "different but fun"  and that means I might have to use some of my veto power.

It's good to be back to real life in Ordinary Time.  The beauty of the Divine has a special hum in the the sacrificial toil of the everyday.  Happy January!  Let's not talk about the winter blues until next month ;-)

back to our Latin flashcards and History books

12/Year- December

As promised, here is the December installment of the photo diary.  Thank you to my dear friend Barb at Praying for Grace for this wonderful link-up.  It was neat to peruse through the albums each month especially at the end of the year. This particular month is packed with pictures, that's a warning ;-)  Here we go...

the perfect Advent candles were found (yay Hobby Lobby!)

Christmas decorating began in earnest mostly by the kids. I just supervised.

the girl got creative hand painting a wooden doll as St. Nicholas, the beard and hat was made with pipe cleaners, this was a present for her brother and no, she does NOT get the talent from me. If you want to hire her for your wooden doll exchange she charges a very low fee (JUST KIDDING!!!)

feast of St. Lucy breakfast

a visit to the Christmas tree farm

a Christmas ornament selfie - the maple tree isn't spared from the festive decorations or my selfie-indulgence

I made this wreath a long time ago, every year I tell myself I need to replace this and every year I don't bother.  It's kind of pathetic since the trim gets out of place every time the door is slammed shut. I haven't gotten any offers to start a decorating blog.

my children are an outdoorsy people but the baby refuses to play out in the snow since he's not allowed to bring the lightsaber out in freezing temps

in the meantime, there were cookies to bake

I need Christmas cheer especially while doing dishes, this is on my kitchen window

we took this picture to text to her cousins in Texas, we exchange pictures of our dresses on special occasions like Christmas and Easter, that is the curse of the fashionable people LOL

Christmas morning

presents from Texas!  everything is definitely bigger in Texas, including the presents ;-) 

with the snow gone and the temps climbing it was time to take a stroll in my neighborhood, the contrast of light and shade at sunset is something only God can orchestrate. Get thyself to the outdoors even in the Winter.

playing bingo

doing a Science experiment over Christmas break, my husband even dressed up for the part with his lab coat from college

he loves Science experiments

And that's a wrap!  Happy January!

12/ Year - November

Okay, I know it's January. I forgive you for complaining that it took so long to post this installment of the monthly photo album ;-)  November is now but a hazy memory so here's a look back in pictures. And you know the drill, once you are done here go visit Barb at Praying for Grace, the gracious host of this link-up.  

this particular shot is a re-post to remind myself that once upon a time there was no snow and ice on the ground

basketball season started, bff's and their unplanned almost-matching green socks

we took a hike....literally or is that figuratively?! LOL

then the snow clouds came

from the dazzling colors of Autumn to the powder white of...Autumn - welcome to Ohio

the girl baked special cupcakes for her bff's family who had their seventh child -the pink is a dead giveaway, it's a girl and I love those sweet booties she made out of fondant

then college cousins came home for Thanksgiving

more cousin love at the Thanksgiving dinner

turkey!!!

the girls setting up the kids table

since we didn't host Thanksgiving this year I sat (and ate) a lot. I took this selfie for my sister who gave me this dress and yes, I was wearing matched socks that day ;-)

and before I forget, last but not the least, the girl's team won the volleyball championship, there was a sweet little blurb about it on the diocesan paper, she thinks she's famous LOL

December album will be done sometime this week..I hope.

Secrets of Mama-Fashionista

Some of you will remember the days on my old blog where every season I would post my fashion picks. That was before the advent of all these (sponsored) fashion guide blogs.  I completely missed out on raking in the big bucks on that trend, being a pioneer is a thankless job LOL.

Anyhow, I have to admit that my vanity years are almost waning.  My closet is deliberately empty of flash and fab. Part of it is trying to live in the spirit of poverty but most of it is because I'm getting older and can no longer be bothered by what's hot and what's not in the world of fashion. In short, I don't think I have anything to prove anymore.  That right there people is the sign of old age LOL.

Curiously a friend complimented me on my outfit for Mass.  I did try to wear my Christmas bling.  I've been home all week with sick children, I needed to feel like a human being in real clothes again.  What made me laugh about the whole compliment was a secret hidden under my boots - I was wearing mis-matched socks! I even jokingly told the girl today not to rise from her sick bed so she can't tell anyone my secret.  I didn't want to be late for Mass in search of matched socks, okay? Jesus didn't mind, pretty sure of that :-)

So every time you see me wearing those fancy boots, don't be fooled, I might just be wearing the rattiest, mis-matched socks in the face of the planet.

mis-matched in every way - color, length and texture

 Happy Feast of the Epiphany! Bring Him your finest gifts.

Chicken Noodle Soup For The Sick

Just as we were all clamoring for the girl to make us more apple pie the bug that's been hanging around our house got to her.  So it looks like pies will have to wait. Fortunately for these children the adults in this home are illness-free (thank you Jesus, hope I'm not speaking too soon!)  We're somewhat sleep-deprived running our little infirmary but otherwise doing well. I think I found my inner Polyanna LOL.

With the end of the world about to strike our neck of the woods we figure a good chicken noodle soup would be a good final meal ;-)  My favorite chicken noodle soup recipe is, as to be expected, Filipino-style. The following recipe which I am shamelessly cutting and pasting from Panlasang Pinoy, is similar to what I use but omitting the shredded cabbage: 

Chicken Sopas Recipe

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 medium sized onion, diced
• 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast, diced
• 32 ounces chicken broth (about 4 cups)
• 2 cups elbow macaroni
• 3/4 cup celery stalk, chopped
• 3/4 cup carrots, diced
• 3/4 cup cabbage; shredded
• 3/4 cup fresh or evaporated milk
• 1 cup water
• Salt and ground black pepper to taste

1. Heat a cooking pot and put-in the butter. Allow the butter to melt.
2. Add onions and cook until the texture becomes soft.
3. Put-in the boneless chicken breasts and cook for 3 to 5 minutes.
4. Sprinkle some salt and ground black pepper and stir.
5. Add chicken broth and bring to a boil.
6. Pour-in water and milk and wait to re-boil. Simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.
7. Add the elbow macaroni and cook for 8 minutes while stirring once in a while.
8. Put-in the carrots and celery and simmer for 3 minutes.
9. Add the cabbage and cook for 2 minutes more.
10. Turn-off the heat and transfer to a serving plate.
11. Serve hot. Share and enjoy!

Keep safe and warm out there!

Mama Mary watching over my homemade chicken broth as it cools out in the elements