7QT - geesh, I'm done with today.

1 - Falshed Junk Mind by Milky Chance. I like their stuff.


2 - Today I got out of bed a little after 5am so I could get a head start on the day. Within fifteen minutes two of my kids were walking down the hall. Fifteen minutes later four of them were up. The day pretty much went downhill from there. Not that anything really went wrong, well, until L's thumb got smashed by a landscaping rock and we had to take her to a prompt care (not broken). But all day it just felt like I was losing; I was actually looking forward to the "Game Over."


3 - When L's thumb got smashed she was in intense pain - the worst of her life she kept telling me. However, in the midst of her really incredible pain she kept saying really sweet, cute things.

Talking to her thumb she sobbed, "I love you but why do you have to hurt so badly?"
After I asked her if she'd rather Daddy or I stay with her at the prompt care she replied, "I'd like Daddy to stay with me. If that's okay with you."
And my favorite: Trying to get her mind of the pain so she could calm down she said, "I'm going to think about rainbows."

4 - Today closes out Catholic Schools Week. I had every intention of writing a post about how much we love our school as I listed off all the reasons why, but it just kept sounding like some stupid "let's add to the mommy wars" post about how much better my parenting decision is than yours. That's not at all what I was going for, but I was in a funk (see above) and so, in the end, I edited it all away and just want you to know this:

Seven years ago I did not have a favorable opinion of Catholic schools. In my experience, the vast majority of Catholic school families were rich snobs who cared more about a hoity-toity private education than vibrantly living out an orthodox faith. My experience with several Catholic schools in my area has changed that perception, though, especially my experience with the parish school my children now attend.

Is our Catholic school perfect? No. There's a few things I'd like to change about it (like a new building, grass and a swing set for the older kids to play on, air conditioning, and there's a few excellent Catholic books I'd like to sneak into the curriculum / teacher book baskets.)

But our school is amazing and we are very, very fortunate to belong to the parish and school community.

If, for any reason, you want to hear more about why we send our kids to Catholic school please feel free to ask. Or you can read all of Kathryn's good posts on it.


5 - JP is 18 months and he is really, incredibly trying. Exhausting. Future JP, if you are reading this, I love you buddy, but oi vey!

If you follow me on Instagram on Facebook then you know that he climbs onto the counters and gets into the cookie jar. He climbs into his booster seat and buckles himself in and then cries because he can't get out. He opens the garage door and wanders around, in his bare feet, sometimes pushing the swivel sweeper. I've caught him swivel sweeping the driveway when it was 36 degrees outside. He reaches up to the counter and pulls down raw chicken, milk, knives, eggs, dirty dishes... AND he's still waking up at night!


6 - I know there are a lot of worthy people and places to tithe to, but if you have an extra $5, or $250, to give away please consider giving to my friend Emily who is hoping to be trained as a Creighton instructor. Thank you!


7 - When you watch the Super Bowl commercials this weekend pay attention to the pretty blonde playing the wife and mother in the Nissan commercial. She's my friend, Jolene.

Rome. I brought her on a pilgrimage with me even though she was a non practicing Presbyterian. It was the best. 

Thank you, Kelly, for hosting!