Lauren, Lauren Lauren

I have told you before that my second child never ceases to crack me up and she did it once again. I was eating dinner with the kids while Scott worked late and they were complaining about their food, as ususal, and I went into a lengthy talk about how there are children all over the world who are starving (wait, haven't I heard this somewhere before?) and those children would be sooooo grateful for mom's yucky cooking. They proceeded to ask so many questions and just couldn't believe that there really are kids who have no food on the table. I thought I would make it more real for them and talk about how the kids go through trash cans and dumpsters and eat food that other people throw away. I could just see the wheels turning in Lauren's head from the look on her face and then she said " Mommy I have been throwing away my sandwich at preschool everyday because I don't like bologne and I didn't want you to be mad at me so I didn't tell you, but now I can tell you because you will be so proud of me for sharing my food with the poor kids who dig through the trashcans! Right Mommy!" Without missing a beat and having nothing to really respond with so as to not dash her enthusiasm for serving the poor I replied "sure Lauren."
I also have a funny story that happened last week. Scott took the kids to Lauren's gymnastics class so I could have a minute to do the dishes and with 10 minutes he called me and said "Did you forget something?" I said "no, the juice and snacks are in the diaper bag." He said "how about a diaper?" I said "I am certain I put it in the bag." He calmly said " How about a diaper on Ben?" I busted out laughing so hard because I had an image in my mind of him standing there while Ben was pissing all over the floor. I could hardly breathe. Three kids and I have never forgotten to put a diaper on one of them. He was not pleased at my amusement God love him. I went to rescue ben and he was covered from his neck to his feet in pee. It was like he took a diuretic or something. I am sure all the fresh air just kept making him pee. I just can't stop telling tha story. He has forgiven me enough to release me for a weekend at a bed and breakfast in missouri wine country with none other than my sister who I talk to 10 times a day at least and live next to. I am sure we will appear as a lesbian couple and I pray there are not people who want a quiet romantic weekend because many have witnessed it but there is no quiet in Klump when you add wine. Emily came to me crying tonight and begging me not to leave and miss her game. I told her I am a better mommy because I do leave and have fun on my own. She said "it's not fair for you to have fun if I'm not there." Unlike my mom who never had a minute much less a weekend break from her kids, my 3 weekends a year are an absolute necessity to my well being and I always come back with a much better perspective (and usually a hangover)

Second place

Well, we have spent the last two weekends at a soccer tournament in Florissant and it ended with Emily's team in the championship game against the other Assumption first grade team. Kids who were friends at school were in fierce competition against one another. It came down to a tie which went into double overtime then a shootout, best of 5. That is where it all went sour. Our poor goalie was in tears when we lost even though she was the only one to score during the game which got us into a tie. We all did our best to cheer her up and most of the other girls could have cared less because the trophies for second place were the same size as first. Finally Em got her trophy with a little soccer player on it. That was true success for her. She also was goalie for the first half and stopped all but one ball. My nerves are shot after all these intense games. I get way too into it but with the Rams and Cardinals sucking so bad I have to put my energy into something.
We were totally rained out at 6flags yesterday and Emily found out she is too short for the upsidedown rollercoasters. Bummer! She was so ready. Jackie had a Wii/ Rock Band party last night that went into the WIII hours of the morning so I am exhausted. I like to watch people do rock band but way to hard for me to enjoy playing it. I guess I do not have an inner drummer like Jax that is just dying to get out! Have a good day!

Good Job Emmy!

Well, I started off the day at 6:30am with a parent teacher conference at em's school. Her teacher is having a baby next month so she is doing them a little early. I was a little unsure of her teacher at the beginning of the year because she looks like she is 20 and has 28 kids to deal with, but I feel much better after talking with her. We started the meeting out with a prayer that we said together asking for God's blessing on Emily on her journey of education and for His help in guiding her teacher and Scott and I to lead her down the right path. I was so impressed and felt like she had the same priorities as I do. I was even more relieved to find out how well she is doing and is at the level of a second semester second grader if not third grade in reading. She will start an accelerated reading program where she will pick out a book at the library that is challenging and after reading it twice her teacher will test her on it. She had to do a book report. Can you imagine? First graders dealing with reading comprehension? I was lucky if I could see spot run at that age. I also like that each grade is paired up with an upper grade student to do one on one reading. They call them reading buddies and once a week they get together to read to each other. It is supposed to build confidence in reading aloud and gives the older kids a feeling of doing service and helping others. Emily just loves her buddy and said she is glad because she is like having a big sister.
I was at her school during recess and just loved to see our newly ordained priest doing jump rope with the girls. He is quite talented! Our pastor, Fr. Joe who is very animated himself, said his mission while he is here is to make himself visible as much as possible and to share his joy of life as a priest to as many kids as he can and I think he is a great mentor for our new priest. I think the best way to inspire new vocations is to make priests visible and accessible to kids. Growing up I can only remeber one priest, fr. Costello, who even remotely looked like he loved his life and vocation. Most of the priests were harsh and I was afraid of them. I want my children to be able to run up and hug the priest after mass. To me that is more the image of Jesus that they are there to represent.
Anyway, gotta go!

What a beautiful day!

I have to say, it is one heck of a gorgeous day here in the midwest! After getting 6 inches of rain in 24 hours sunday, there is nothing but beautiful blue skies, the greenest grass we have ever had at the end of summer and my flowers are still alive, another first. I just finished with Ben outside. First we decorated for Halloween and he clearly wanted to go for a walk and did not want me to continue working. As he walked up the sidewalk with the sun behind him, he found a new friend. His name is shadow and I totally remember the first time each of the girls found the same friend. He was cracking up. He would move his hand up and wiggle his fingers, and so would shadow. He kept running up 3 squares on the sidewalk and back then would turn around to make sure his friend was still there. Then I would have my shadow come and get him and he would just squeal. So much delight in such simple ways. I am so grateful to my kids for reminding me of the joys in seeing the world through a child's eyes. It is something that is so easily lost in the dismal outlook we find on the news, in magazines and through the complete negative, world is ending view that some members of my family have (i am not naming names but you know who you are). It is scary turning on the TV each day with more depressing financial outcomes, and although thankfully we have not been affected yet, I just try to savor the beauty each day has to offer and all that I have been blessed with and leave my stress and worries with the Lord who will help me work through whatever may come my way. Enjoy the simple things today that bring a smile to your face!

YYYYUUUUMMMMMYYY!

i just love the Kraft Food and Family magazine. so many good ideas and usually I have the stuff.
Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes
2 large sweet potatoes
2 oz cream cheese
2 tbsp ff milk
1 tbsp brown sugar
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 c pecans

Heat oven to 425 and slice potatoes lengthwise and place face down on foil lined pan.
Bake 30 minutes till tender then scoop out middles and add everything else and mash with fork. Spoon back into shells and top with nuts. Bake 8 minutes. I topped mine with 2 marshmallows and made it dessert!

Labor Day Weekend

The pictures to the right are from our last camping trip to Mark Twain Landing up near Hannibal. It was a large family gathering of sorts. Mary and her family came from Kansas. Tim and Jeff and their families all came and we brought Dad along. Those who are not accostomed to camping, spent the weekend in either a condo or nicely equipped cabin.It was chaotic at times but we enjoyed ourselves. It was a perfect weather weekend and we went to the water park 2 days in a row and watching my brothers struggle to get into an inner tube during the active wave pool brought so much laughter! The guys had a huge grill master cookoff on sunday and we ate incredible food!The only things missing were our dear sisters Jackie and Sharon who were basking in the Florida sunshine in peace and quiet. They have already commited themselves to coming next year. Camping with Tim reminds me of going with Cousin Eddy from Vacation. Always a good time!

Oh boy-here we go!

For anyone who knows me at all, this is very uncharacteristic for me to use a computer to do anything other than check emails. I downloaded pictures, ordered from snapfish and started a blog all in the same day! I have no idea how often I will get to this but will update as best I can.
This year was a big change for me with my oldest, Emily starting school full time. She is my rock and it has been difficult to handle my baby, Ben (15 mos) without her. It is great when kids reach the age where they can be an extra set of eyes and ears. Lauren is my 4 year old and such a comedian. I am trying desparately to prevent second child syndrome which I have witnessed to be prevalent in my family. I really try to give her activities and outings that are completely different and separate from Emily. The competition is bound to erupt eventually but I will enjoy peace for now.
My husband, Scott is starting to get worried about me. I have become rather obsessed with the politcal campaign going on. I have turned into a Fox news junkie. I wasn't really interested in it until the introduction of Sarah Palin, whom my hubbie's friends call "Baberaham Lincoln." My brother in Alaska says she has done outstanding things for the people of alaska and the sheer prospect of a woman in the white house is very exciting! Anyway, I really should spend more of my time scrapbooking instead of screaming at the TV.
Being outdoors has become a passion of mine. We are camping fanatics and this past January bought our dream pop up camper which now brings every comfort of home out into the woods. It always amazes me how entertained a child can be with something as simple as a caterpillar or watching crickets or catching fireflies with a butterfly net and putting them into a bugjug until they typically meet their untimely demise. No TVs, no phones no computers. It is just us and usually a bunch of laid back, middle class folks who spend more time in picking out and hanging just the right lights from their camper than they do preparing their taxes. We have a set of little Cabela deer lights to honor my hubbies passion. TTFN!