Chocolate Anyone?

I have been craving chocolate. I mean craving. I haven't bought any, because my budget has recently gone to more important things. That's not to say that I couldn't really afford $1 for a chocolate bar. I could. I just haven't.

Anyway, today, had I had a bag of chocolate chips in the fridge, they would have all been eaten. By me. All of them. But alas, I didn't have any. All I had was a bottle of Hershey's syrup. And it doesn't satisfy that craving. Ahem. So...

For dinner tonight, I planned on eating up the leftovers in the fridge. When you're going to be gone for two weeks, that's what you do. Instead, because of this raging chocolate craving, I went online to see if Pizza Hut had anything chocolate. They do. And they deliver. But the cost of a pizza! And they're not that great really. Especially after you're used to homemade. So I talked myself down from that very tall precipice.

Instead, I thought I'd go wake the sleeping baby, pack up the kids and go to the store for some chocolate and maybe some ice cream. Then I realized I was being irrational. Wake a sleeping baby for chocolate?! So we had the leftovers for dinner as planned, and my craving, while still there, has subsided a little. Just a little. ;-)

So I had an idea, and while I'm not going to do it, maybe one of you will, and I'll be your best customer. Why not have a Chocolate Hut (or other such name) where people like me could call and order? There could be high end chocolate, but also budget friendly chocolate. And you'd deliver it to my door within 45 minutes!

So? What are you waiting for? Just remember that you got the idea from me. The least you could do is provide me with free chocolate whenever I wanted it. I'll tip your driver good, too. ;-)

Patty Cake

A Three Year Old's Prayer

Fritter has a friend who is about 7 or 8 named Jacob. Even though he's much older than Fritter, he plays well and is very patient with him, and Fritter adores him. Anytime we see these particular friends, the first words out of Fritter's mouth is, "Where's Jacob?" However, we haven't seen Jacob for a while, and generally I thought for a three year old out of sight was out of mind. I guess I was wrong.

Before dinner tonight, we, like many of you, bowed our heads and thanked God for our food. We also generally include various intercessions and tonight was no different. After I prayed especially for Daddy, I started to say "Amen". Fritter wasn't done though. Very quickly, he said, "And we pray for Jacob." I about melted on the spot.

A Melancholy Post

I'm feeling very lonely. I miss my husband. Thankfully, I'm able to talk to him everyday, but because of the time difference he's either just waking up, or I'm just going to bed.

I'm feeling very poor me right now, but in the back of my head are thoughts of those women (some of whom I consider friends) who must go without their husbands for much, much longer. Or who have had to. And they often are unable to speak with them everyday. And their husbands are in less than safe areas.

So then I feel guilty for feeling like I do, because there are so many in much harder situations than myself. And then I just feel lonelier.

Most of the day it's fine. I'm used to him being at work during the day, and we have our routine around here. But right around dinner time it gets hard. And it's not just because I could use another pair of hands with our two little ones. It's mostly because I want to hug him and kiss him and ask him how his day went.

*sigh* It's only been about six days since he left. And there is only nine days until I go visit him. So why does it feel like an eternity?

Thanks For The Shirt Dad! - Part 2

Thanks For The Shirt Dad!

Children's Art Museum

Today we went to the Children's Art Museum. Our library has a program that allows you to check out a pass to get into certain museums for free, so that was part of the plan. However, the passes for this particular museum were already gone, so we had to pay. ;-(

There is an area of the museum just for the 4 and under crowd, and naturally, that's where we headed. Besides a slide area and a car, there is a "Babies Only" area. Ladybug enjoyed not being trampled by the big kids.

Here she is playing with another little girl (Ladybug is on the right).

"So much to look at, where shall I start?"

The rest of the museum is set up like a house. There is a living room space, complete with books and little couches and chairs. And of course an art studio, but that's wasn't really up Fritter's alley. He wanted the food.

I think he might be hungry.


I love how the other little boy's shoe is on the counter.

Besides the indoor spaces, they also have a very cute "outdoor" space with a garden and a tree and a corn field.

Fritter planting carrots. I didn't know corn grew like that. ;-)

Overall it was a fun trip. If we come here again, I will remember to bring socks for the kids. It's supposed to be a socks only area, but we live in Arizona and rarely wear socks until winter. The museum has obviously thought about that, because they are making a killing selling socks at $1 a pair. I had to buy two, and we weren't the only ones.

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I also wasn't thrilled that it was aimed so much at domestic stuff. (Why do I feel a little sexist writing that?) But I suppose I should have realized that as well. It is an art museum after all.

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I think next time we'll venture closer to the city for the other Children's Museum. That one has a good mix of activities. And it also offers the same culture pass opportunity.

My Boy

Where Are All The Pictures?

Seriously, I've been a complete slacker. I thought I would post a recent picture here, because I don't have much to say, but I do want to say...something. A picture is worth 1000 words, right? I turned on the camera to see what we had stored. Nothing. Hmmm...

So I went to the file on the computer where the pictures are kept. The last picture taken was August 25. Wow! Almost a month without taking a picture of the kids?! What kind of a mother am I anyway? ;-) And of course, now that I'm thinking about it, they're both sleeping.

I'm putting the camera on the counter. I'm going to use it. Tomorrow.

And...he's gone

My dear husband left this morning for his six week work trip. As I dropped him off at the airport, I told myself, "I'm not going to cry, I'm not going to cry."

Thankfully, we will be able to go see him in two weeks. But then it's another two weeks after we get home that he gets home. So instead of one big six week stretch, I'm thinking of it as two week stints. And two weeks really isn't that long, right? Right?

I had planned on keeping us busy for these weeks, but so far that won't work. You see, the kids are still sick. And after their last doses of antibiotics yesterday, Ladybug spiked another fever. So they have a follow up appointment this morning. More of the same, I'm guessing. I think we're going to be staying home at least until this weekend.

And that's ok. It just means there are more opportunities for hugs and love, since we won't be so busy. Maybe that's best.

But I am really going to miss him.

Quarantined!

I need a hug. But you probably wouldn't want to get that close to me. Tuesday morning, Fritter developed a fever, along with a runny nose. Ladybug also started to get congested and Tuesday night was no fun for any of us.

So after yet another sleepless night for us last night, and another day of high fevers, I took them both in to the doctor. What do you know? Both have double ear infections along with raw throats. Both have fevers. And I'm beginning to feel it myself. I need a nap.

My dear husband leaves tonight for the Wyoming vs. Texas game tomorrow and then he'll be back Sunday. I'm hoping we're all much better by then, because he leaves for his big six week trip on Wednesday. I think while he's gone I'll bury my head in the backyard like an Arizona ostrich. ;-)

Small Successes

1

We are now officially part of the cloth diapering world! Ladybug has had a wonderful clothed bottom for two days now and I'm loving it. It's so nice to put a soft dry diaper on her, and I even look forward to changing times. I'm sure that part will wear off, but not all that soon, me thinks.

2

Because we only received one Bum Genius with our starter package for nighttime (and we used it the first night) I had to use prefolds last night. I was very nervous about it, but I folded one and put it in the middle of another that was pinned on and slid a cover over it. What do you know? Ladybug stayed nice and dry all night! Yay!

3

Since we're on the subject of cloth diapers, Cotton Babies sent us the wrong cover with part of our order. Now, it wouldn't have been too big of a deal, but we ordered only a small amount so we could spread the cost out, and this cover was a far inferior cover than we originally ordered. So I called them yesterday, and they are sending our right cover AND paying the postage for me to send back the wrong one. Normally it would take it around 10 days to get here, but because it was their mistake, and I really needed that other cover, they said it will get here on Monday. That's a success, right?

Go to Faith & Family Live and share your small successes!

Conversation with Fritter (almost 3)

(Upon seeing Fritter with the busy box overturned.)
Me: Fritter, what are you doing?
Fritter: Um, it's kinda a long story.

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Me to DH: ...yes, and I'm a woman.
Fritter: You're not a woman, you're a Mama!

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(sitting outside)
Fritter: (As he sidles next to me.) It's kinda cloudy outside.
Me: (Noting that it's yet again, very clear and hot.) Well, maybe a little.
Fritter: (sighs) Hundred fifty dollars, Mama!
Me: One hundred fifty dollars?!
Fritter: Yeah! Three weeks ago!
Me: Wow, that's a long time.
Fritter: Yeah. That's a long time ago. I mean (sigh) it's like a Boojum!
Me: (confused) Really?! Hmmmm...

The Waiting Place

...for people just waiting.

Waiting for a train to go

or a bus to come, or a plane to go

or the mail to come, or the rain to go

or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow

or waiting around for a Yes or No

or waiting for their hair to grow.

Everyone is just waiting.

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Waiting for the fish to bite or waiting for wind to fly a kite

or waiting around for Friday night

or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake

or a pot to boil, or a Better Break

or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants

or a wig with curls, or Another Chance.

Everyone is just waiting.

-Dr. Seuss

That's where I'm at. I ordered my diapers for Ladybug on Sunday evening, and they should be here today or tomorrow and I'm just beside myself with WAITING.

Is it wrong to be this excited about diapers? There is a world out there that I never knew existed. The world of cloth diapers. The science behind laundering them. The best way to get stains out. Which covers are the best, the cheapest, the most leak proof. Overnight and naptime diapers. I'll tell you, with the amount that I've read on them in the past few days, my head is spinning, and I'm not even sure I've soaked in all the information. Maybe I'm just not as absorbent as a Chinese Premium Prefold. *He*.

I couldn't resist.

Now, back to waiting.

*Edited to note: I just got an email from Cotton Babies that said my order will not be in until Tuesday. *sigh* More waiting. Did I mention that I'm no good at waiting?

Sacred Hymns

Sacred Hymns is a beautiful collection of traditional music from our Church. The Rees family has extraordinary talent. A few of the hymns are classic-straight-out-of-the-hymnal types like "This Day God Gives Me" or "Sing of Mary". My absolute favorites, though, are the latin hymns, such as "Tantum Ergo" and "Salve Regina". There were even a few that I didn't know and are now favorites, like "J'irai La Voir Un Jour". I walked around singing the refrain for three days.

The accompaniment is wonderful as well. This is not organ grinding, although some of the songs include it beautifully. Most songs are sung alongside a violin, guitar, cello, ect. which add to their beauty.

Sacred Hymns really shows the wonder of our Catholic faith through its traditional music. The music obviously transcends cultures, much as our Faith does. Besides the already named French song, there is a great Spanish song, "Muerto Para El Mundo". It's wonderful to be introduced to music from other cultures as well as to hear old favorites, and Sacred Hymns does that very well.

From a certain style in a few of the songs one would guess they have an Irish background, and after a little digging, I found that was true. Through their music, the Rees family shows their love of our universal Catholic Faith and their own heritage as well.

This collection of hymns is much more than just your average "collection of hymns". This is one CD I have come to turn on each day while fixing dinner. All Catholic homes should have at least a small collection of religious music to sing and pray along with (in my opinion) and this one is a must!

You can purchase this CD here.

I wrote this review of Sacred Hymns for the Tiber River Blogger Review program, created by Aquinas and More Catholic Goods. For more information and to purchase, please visit Aquinas and More Catholic Goods.

Tiber River is the first Catholic book review site, started in 2000 to help you make informed decisions about Catholic book purchases.

Be Holy - A Catholic's Guide to the Spiritual Life

Reading this book is like going to spiritual direction. There are so many practical tips in Be Holy to help us on our spiritual journey, and it meets us where we are. Be Holy covers just about all aspects of the spiritual life, and includes quotes from Church documents and the Saints. Actually, that is really its only downfall, in my opinion. The first couple of chapters are mostly quotes, with the author interjecting now and then. This does get better as the book goes on, though.
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There are recommendations for how to pray, including how much time should be spent in prayer. There is an explanation about the different types of prayer, and how they really are for everyone. A few spiritual books are also recommended for spiritual reading.
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The book begins with an explanation of heaven, hell, and purgatory to encourage us to really want heaven and to prove why we should not take a laissez faire attitude about our spiritual lives. This little book should really become a standard in most Catholic households for those times when we just need a little shove in the right direction.

This review was written as part of the Catholic book Reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Be Holy - A Catholic's Guide to the Spiritual Life.