Mommy Journal 5/20/11

Pic Pic: I couldn't help but look at her today and marvel at how she is becoming such a little lady. She is losing all of the baby features and truly looks like a young lady.

Dan Dan: She amazes me with her words. I love to hear her say library. It sounds something like ybryee!

Ice Man: He wants so much to keep up with his sisters. He tries so much to communicate with everyone. I love to see his wide eyes when we converse with him.

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Mommy Journal

I saw a gift idea for this journal and thought it was a great idea. Its a journal that is designed to have you write a couple of lines each day for five years about your children. I haven't purchased the journal yet but thought I would start the idea here. I am going to try each day to write atleast one line about each one of my children. So here goes:

Pic Pic: She went to the dentist today for her first cavity fillings. Turns out that she need caps on both teeth. I felt so guilty that she was having to endure this. I couldn't help but ask myself if I could have prevented this. But atlas I remember that I have poor teeth as well and have had numerous cavities and even a cap.

Dan Dan: Poor baby was stung by a bee yesterday. She was playing outside with her sister when we heard her cry. I  go out and check on her and she has a bee stuck in her figure. Not ever having experienced this I am not quite sure what to do. I yell for her Dad to come out while I try to wave her hand to get the bee out. Luckily she only had some slight swelling and redness yesterday and this morning woke up with only a little red dot at the sight of the sting.

Ice Man: He is very much a boy! Getting into everything, walking along furniture, and falling.

I didn't know that!

I read this idea on Mat Anna's blog and thought it was a great idea to share a little about myself.

1. The furthest east I had been was Texas (if you can even consider that east) until 3 years ago when hubby and I made a trip to New York City. At the time were in communion with the Eastern Catholic Church and were able to see the Pope at Yankee Stadium.

2. I was a dancer for 12 years in my youth. I danced from the time I was six until right before my eighteenth birthday. I was mainly a classically trained ballet dancer. Interestingly enough I am quite clumsy and have two left feet (that are what I describe square Barney Rubble feet from all those years in point shoes.)

3. I prefer not to drive on the interstate. I am living in a big city and prefer not to drive on bridges changing from one interstate to another. They intimate me.

4. I have not lived outside of Arizona and have not lived where it snowed in the city. With that being said I have only seen snow less than a dozen times. However there is a possibility that we may be moving back east at the end of the summer. It should lead to rather interesting stories.

5. I saw Groundhog Day for the first time last year. Since then I have purchased the movie. Hubby makes fun of me for my lack of not having seen some of these classic 90's movies.

6. I have not been camping. Hubby does not know if I would be able to last in the wilderness with sounds of bugs nearby. Anytime I spot any sort of bug I run the other way. I use to run wildley but since having children I try and run calmly.
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7. I am a history and geography dud. Hubby always stumps me when it comes to geography and history. I am looking forward to learning and perhaps sparking a new interest in these subjects as I teach the children.

8. I am not a very creative person. Which does not make sense since I majored in Marketing. I am much more an analytical thinker. Give me a math problem or when I worked some kind of manual recalculation and I will have a spark of excitement and adrenaline.

9. The girls birth names and both dogs names begin with a D. More often than not I can be found calling the dogs by one of the girls names or the girls by one of the dogs names. We were going to continue this trend with Ice Man but couldn't find a name we agreed upon.

10. I haven't broken a bone. Glory to God I have been a healthy person. The only times I have been hospitalized were when I had my three children. The closest major thing I had done to that was having a wisdom tooth pulled. It is rather surprising that I have not broken bones as I am always running into things. I do end up with some nice bruises though.

My First Orthodox Pascha in the Church

Last year was our first Orthodox Pascha, however I was unable to attend any services as we were blessed with Ice Man being born during Holy week. Hubby attended the Pascha services on his own and was given the honor of serving for the first time in this Parish.

This year we attended all the Holy Week services. I relate Holy Week to giving birth to a child as hard work but exciting and definitely worth it. Hubby and I made the decision to have the girls stay home for the Paschal service. With it being my first Paschal service, we thought it was best for me to get an idea of how the service was before we brought all the children. We did take Ice Man as he still wakes throughout the night to nurse. He was startled a couple of times but I was able to rock him easily back to sleep.  He then woke right before communion. Hubby served and I sang in the choir.

I was blessed by being asked to make the red eggs for our Parish. I realized that I didn't get very many pictures as I was in awe the whole week. Here is a picture of a couple of eggs we brought home.

Hubby and I only got about four hours of sleep but it was well worth it. Sunday morning we had family over for an early brunch and then headed to Vespers with the children. Here are a few pictures and a video I captured of them on the way home.

There are a couple of things I want to try and remember for next year. Have all the cooking/baking and laundry done by Holy Wednesday. This year I made Pascha Cheese and Kulich but I made it at the end of the week which added to the exhaustion.

The Annunciation & Some Lenten Lesson Plans

Today we celebrated the Annunciation. After Liturgy we read the short story of the Annunciation from Orthodox Online and colored our icons.

I couldn't get them to stay still long enough not to have their colorings come out blurry. 

Pic Pic and I have also been working on a Lenten Journey Poster.

For each day of lent a footstep is added leading to the icons of Palm Sunday and the Resurrection.

We are having fun working on "crafts" as Pic Pic calls them for Lent. It is such an amazing thing to see her comprehending our faith. We have a few more "crafts" we will try and work on, time permitting.

Although this is our second year of Lent in the Orthodox church, we are still having many firsts. Last year we were living in another town and were only able to make services every other Sunday and the kids and I missed Pascha services since I had just had Ice Man.

"Let My Prayer Arise" Bortniansky duet

Daybook - Intentions

Outside my window... dark and cool. Looks like one last cool down before the summer heat is upon us.


I am thinking... I had all these intentions of how I want to spend this Lenten season. We have had a bout of viruses and visitors. I am going to try and dedicate this last weeks of lent to attend all church services and focus on prayer and spiritual reading.
I am thankful for ... a visiting family and an understanding husband.

From the learning room ... we are working on transitioning Pic Pic to kindergarten. She is doing well at preschool and seems to get bored with it. So far she is doing well. We are still doing some preschool activities for fun.
From the kitchen ... I am trying to keep an easy menu for the rest of this fasting period. I want to start thinking about what we will be making on Pascha.

I am wearing ... yoga pants and a t-shirt.

I am creating ...I am not a very creative person but I have been working on lesson plans and workbooks for Pic Pic. I also am still working on a home management binder that's going to work. I think the simpler the better.

I am going ... to bed early (hopefully). I have been having a sore throat the last couple of days and am praying that sleep and vitamins will cure it.
I am reading ... The Royal Way of the Cross.
I am hoping ...to be able to attend all the rest of our church services for this Lenten season.

I am hearing ...a baby boy trying to talk. Lots of baby chatter and trying to sing. Its so cute to really see them finding their vocal cords.
Around the house ... a mess. With all the viruses and visitors the house is in desperate need of good cleaning.

One of my favorite things ... hot tea to soothe a sore throat.

A few plans for the rest of the week ... church services everyday this week. I want to keep our plans simple until after Pascha.
Picture thoughts to share ...

Ice Man on his 1st
Birthday!