Random stuff

We've been quite busy lately. We were on vacation last week-our first 'real' vacation since, oh...we've had our honeymoon almost 10 years ago! Our other vacations were always super short and we (the parents) were always so tired that once it was over, we felt we then needed to go on vacation! :) I had some auto-posts so that's why I did not mention vacation. When (ha!) I get time, I will try to post some pics. We had an unbelievably awesome time. All 8 of us. It was so great, so worth going back. So, we're planning to go again next year! We thank God for the gift of our family vacation. It enriched our family and our marriage. I could go on and on about it and maybe I will one of these days...It was just incredible.

So, now that I am back, it is camp week and my older 2 are at camp and I am home with the younger 4-what a difference!

These are some things that have been said or witnessed or just thoughts floating around in my head this week:

I am finding myself saying quite often "Why can’t you play nicely together? All I want to do is to leave this room to put the baby to sleep and you play nice. Why can’t you just play nicely with one another?"

AND "How come you are crying...again?!"

Why does my 2 yr old literally charge into my legs? He gets a pose, pauses, then looks at me and away he goes charging into my legs?!!?

Why are my plants’ leaves broken in half?

My (almost!) 4 yr old says “Mom, see this? This is a car with blah, blah, blah and this is the important part-these here are the guns. See Mom?” (What? gimme a break, she has brothers!)

I say "Let’s vacuum everybody!" So, we do. And then we eat lunch. Well, I guess it is: let’s vacuum again. (why do I do these things to myself?! When will I learn?)

Asking my kids about camp (FYI-they are at the same camp):

My 7 yr old DAUGHTER says “Mom, it is so great. There is this girl in my group and she has a pink headband. And we went to the clubhouse and made necklaces. Tomorrow we are tie dying our shirts. There are 2 pools and one is cold and one is warm. My counselor is nice and I stood by her while we all fed the goats. I was a bit scared. There are boys in our group too but I like to be with the girls. And I’m going to wear pink tomorrow too. Oh, we need to wear our bathing suits again, OK Mom? There were chicks there and I did not pick one up but I was near them. They are so cute. Mom? Did you hear all that?”

Then my 8 yr old SON answers “It was really good.”

Oh, it's Small Success for Thursday already!
1. I am so glad I have finished all the laundry from vacation only to start again. Oh well!
2. I have made time for daily prayer. Daily. Prayer. This is huge for me! ya hoo!
3. I had held my composure in heated times with my kids. Well, a good chunk of times, not all the time. I am so human. Good thing for confession.

Adios!
God bless, Mary

these are a few of my favorite things

at least here is ONE of my favorites! Have you seen this before??? I just LOVE it! If you can't read it - I don't think many, if any, can so here it is:
Here is a link that you can read a lot better than my "mug shot" (heee heee!)
God bless,
Mary

I am a genius!

I got it! I am a genius!

I have found a way to keep my kiddos hydrated with water during these hot summery days. It is a cooler filled with water and a bunch of ice cubes. Put it on the counter then "wa-la"-it is at their height and they drink till their hearts content :)

YES! I am a genius!

God bless,
Mary

The greatest pets EVER~!

It worked!
They became butterflies! We did not kill them! Yahoo! :)

My kids were so excited to wake up today to 3 live butterflies and still 2 cocoons...2 more to see become butterflies (we hope they did not die). They are so pretty with black, orange and yellow on their wings, and they are able to watch them close up :) What an amazing gift for them to see life change from caterpillar to butterfly...it is a great analogy to life on earth to eternal life.

Someday we will become something much much more beautiful!

I highly recommend getting this-soooooo worth the money. (and soooooo easy to take care of!)
God bless,
Mary

Happy Feast of St. Maria Goretti

My girls LOVE this Saint-esp. my oldest. She is a true role model for girls (and women too!). Do you know about this saint?

October 16, 1890Maria Goretti was born in Corinaldo, Italy to Luigi Goretti and Assunta Carlini.

Then on July 5, 1902, Maria was mortally wounded by her neighbor, Alessandro Serenelli, who attacked her with intent to do something very bad to her (if you get my drift....uhm...). He was 20 years old. In her struggle, she told him of the truth that what he was to do was a terrible sin, and that hell would be where he would end up. She did not hesitate to tell the TRUTH, costing her her life.

Then on July 6, 1902 Maria died at the age of 11 years, 9 months and 21 days, after forgiving this man, Alessandro. Did you get that? SHE FORGAVE HIM! What a saint!

She was a martyr before her 12th birthday-wow!

The really cool thing is that one night he had a dream or vision of Maria and she was gathering flowers and offering them to him. With that dream, his life changed. When he was released after 27 years (he was sentenced to 30 yrs), his first act was to go to beg the forgiveness of Maria’s mother.

Oh, St. Maria Goretti, pray for us!

On June 24, 1950 Maria Goretti is declared Saint!

She was so very chaste and pure and beautiful too, such a role model for us girls and women today.

May we imitate her love for God and for neighbors.

St. Maria Goretti, pray for us!

God bless, Mary

Rain? I like this type of rain!

I know...yet another video but this one is totally great!!!



God bless,
Mary

Some funnies

Why did the computer go to the chiropractor?
It had a slipped disc.

What keys can't you put in a lock?
Piano keys.

Ha ha!!
God bless, Mary