Quick Takes #152

Have been joining the fun this week with the 7 posts in 7 day challenge, reading as well as writing and these are some of the posts I've been enjoying.

1. This great one on Monday by Kate of The Rhodes Log that convinced me to kick the funk and join the challenge.
2. On Tuesday I got to join a virtual birthday celebration of Colleen of Martin Family Moments and learned a whole bunch about one of my favorite bloggers.
3. Wednesday brought another great give-away from Grace of Camp Patton. Bonus while looking around White Plum I scored a great sweater on clearance.
4. The challenge provided the motivation I needed to again join one of my favorite link-up ~ Theme Thursday hosted by Cari of Clan Donaldson.
5. Of course the Friday spots has to go to our link-up hostess Jen of Conversion Diary and this Day in the Life post proves that she is a multi-tasking juggler extraordinary.
6. Another great blessing of this challenge is reconnecting with a IRL friend from graduate school who also joined the challenge. And now I'm catching up on her kids and get to be so jealous - I mean so happy that she is headed to the Edel Gathering this summer.
7. So now 5 posts in ~ with no idea what I'll post this weekend I want thank all my fellow bloggers who joined the challenge and provided such wonderful reading this week.

Please head over to Conversion Diary for more Quick Takes

Theme Thursday: Fences

Linking up with Cari of Clan Donaldson for Theme Thursday

  We have the canonical 'white picket fence' in our front yard, and I love it and have loved it since we first saw the house many moons ago.  Going through my photo backlog for this week's theme I've enjoyed seeing it pop-up in pictures as we mark different occasions.

Halloween '09, Lisbeth ~ 20 months

First day of Pre-K

First Day of Kindergarten

 You use to not really be able to see our back fence much but as more and more trees have fallen victim to hurricanes and ice storms; the fence has definitely become a more prominent part of our view ~ as has the church behind us.

Please head over to Clan Donaldson for more Theme Thursday: Fence

When remembering hurts

   Earlier this week Kathryn of Team Whitmaker wrote an excellent post about being changed and a bit haunted from the time her son Luke spent in the NICU and other aspects related to his prematurity.  This post really hit home with me because I have NICU memories that haunt in the back corners of my mind.

  I've been saying for awhile that I need to write out Lisbeth's birth story to add the the backstories page and for myself, but really I don't want to ~ there is so much that went wrong and could have gone horrible wrong ~ I still have a lot of anger about that time if I really marinate in those memories and start brooding.  Since she has, that we know of, suffered no long term effects ~ over the years it has been easier for me to say 'all's well that ends well'.

  However this year since she will be six starting Sunday the day and date will again match exactly the year she was born (her birth year was a Leap Year) so perhaps it is time I faced the memories, write them done, and made my peace with them.

Day 3 of 7 in 7 hosted by Jen

100 Days Smarter

  Today Lisbeth's class finally got to have their 100 day celebration; it has been a bit of an elusive goal with the snowy winter we have had.  In anticipation Lisbeth decorated a banner and put together a 100 piece collection which included

• 10 pennies
• 10 marshmallows
• 10 paper clips
• 10 crayons
• 10 toothpicks
• 10 m&ms
• 10 stickers
• 10 flossers
• 10 hair ties
• 10 rubber bands

  According to her it was a "Great day!" which included a party to mark the occasion, she also brought home a book with a hundred words she wrote herself.

First day of school

   What I've noticed over these many days is her increased confidence with reading, ease with writing and sounding out words she is unsure about spelling.  I've enjoyed our conversations about God's creation and love for us; as well as her curiosity about habitats and temperature states ( a couple of the science concepts they have explored).

I know that we are only about 2/3's the way through the school year but this was a fun occasion to stop and celebrate how far 'we' have already come.

Jumping In; 7 posts challenge

Joining in on the Conversion Diary challenge of 7 posts in 7 days challenge hosted by Jen.

  Guilty of giving in a bit to the February funk around here; the re-entry to teaching was a bit tougher than I expected plus weather related cabin fever, plus mild sickies that have passed round and round the family.  So when I saw the announcement I was excited to be a spectator/reader but thought there was no way I could be a participant/contributor ~ then I thought there might be a reader/writer out there who is having an equally fun February and might appreciate reading a note of solidarity and perhaps celebration of life with little trenches.

So here's to:

Fighting the February funk by having some fun!!

Things I want to hold onto about the last couple of weeks:

• Caitlin learning to give hugs & kisses and offering them to disgruntled older siblings
• Impromptu pizza parties
• Being inspired by another blogger to make snow margaritas
• C & I keeping our valentine promises
• Lisbeth and I taking turns reading at bedtime
• Watching the stars of his Twilight Turtle with Liam

What about you, any wonderful February memories to cherish?

And your name shall be; A link-up

Joining the fun and linking up over at Team Whitaker for the Baby Name link-up

I love hearing all the stories of how people chose names, those who come to birth day knowing what the name will be and those who have to 'meet the baby' first, and those who a day or two later are still trying to discern the right name.

In our case we always had strong first place names (we've never found the sex before the birth) with a couple back-up options if the top pick does not ring true when we try it out face to face.  Our pattern is to pick first names based on what we like and use family names in the middle.

Elisabeth Anne-Marie: I have loved the name Beth forever (since my teens) and later loved the versatility of Elizabeth once it was demonstrated to me in Anne of Windy Poplar.  The spelling comes from being half-Belgian and seeing it often when visiting.  Charlie was fine with the name and the slightly different spelling.  Marie is one of my middle names and a family name on my side; Anne is a family name on Charlie's and bonus my sister's (Lisbeth's godmother) middle name. Catholic currency: plenty of saint options!!

Come to find out after she was born that Charlie didn't like the nickname Beth; and I worried that Liz or Lizzie would lead to no one ever remembering how to spell her name ~ hence Lisbeth

Liam Charles Pierre: Charlie is a junior whose first name actually starts with an L and while he didn't want a III, we did want to honor his dad who died early in our marriage by using a name with the initial and Liam was our favorite boy's name.  Charles was also the first name of both of Liam's paternal great-grandfathers.  Pierre is for my maternal grandfather.

Caitlin Therese Margaret: Charlie got to take the lead picking this 'girl name' as I got my fave first time out, and Caitlin is a long time favorite.  Therese is in honor of Saint Therese de Lisieux but also one my mom's middle names and my mother-in-law's confirmation name.  Margaret is another family name.


For more great name stories head over to Team Whitaker.

Wordless Wednesday: Snow Eater!!

Playing Catch-Up

Allo!

Happy President's Day! Lisbeth was suppose to have the day off but instead is making up a snow day which I suppose make sense winter day for winter day.  Hopefully the weather begins to improve as every snow day going forward will need to be made-up.  We are working on various activities to celebrate 100 days of Kindergarten; which is a bit of a moving target. The 2 teachers have asked for everything to be turned in this Friday in the hope that the 100 day mark will be hit and celebrated next week!!

I need to get a picture of Lisbeth's new smile ~ she lost tooth #3 yesterday ~ her first on top!!

Returning to work has been a bit Shakespearian: "the best of times ~ the worst of times" 'Nough said!

Caitlin is now wanting to stand all the time but still not showing any interest in cruising still preferring crawling as her mode of movement.  Newest words are 'eyes' 'yes' and 'hat'.

40 day Spiritual Workout; A book review

A 40 Day Spiritual Workout for Catholics
Bob Rice

   While I'm sure some of the metaphor was lost on me as a daily workout is not currently part of my lifestyle I did like how the daily 'workout' built from just a bible passages and reflection (Hydration, Reflection) to later include prayers of blessing (stretch)  confessing your sin/accepting God's mercy (fat burning) and muscle building, cardiovascular (seeking God's will and giving thanks for his grace) and (cool down) as the 40 days progressed and the prayer workout intensified.  I found his reflections on the bible passages interesting and thought provoking and liked that the suggested activities also increased in complexity; seemed to fit the model well.

I was not able to get in a workout everyday (so to speak) but was as consistent as I could and completed the book in about 2 months and would recommend to anyone looking for a structured devotional; athlete or not particularly with Lent coming up in about a month.

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 A 40 Day Spiritual Workout. The Catholic Company has great gift ideas for all seasons of the liturgical year, be sure to check out their Advent selection and Catholic Christmas Gifts.

Quick Takes #151 ~ a bit late

1. Edel Gathering; Really hoping to be able to attend but regardless just so excited that it is happening.
2. On the home front ~ everyone is mobile!! Caitlin has been able to army crawl for a little while now but tended to only do so to reach something just out of reach. As of this week she is up on hands and knees and interested to see where she can get and what she can get into
3. Olympics ~ watcher or non-watcher?? What is your favorite sports?  We (the grown-ups) are both watchers especially of the skating and skiing though I know far less about the favored athletes than usual.
4. We were luck to never lose power in this latest ice storm but the heavy snow and ice will probably prove too much for a couple of trees in the back.  
5. Have been thinking a lot about what to do with this little blog of mine. Have not come to any conclusions but this wonderful post by Cari of Clan Donaldson gave me some good food for thought.
6. I got nothin'
7. The coming weekend may bring us Storm #3 for the week.  Whatever it holds for you ~ have a good one!

Please head over to Jen's for more 7 Quick Takes

Keeping my committments

mostly to myself.

     Towards the end of last year Dwija of House Unseen started posting weekly pictures of her kids (gorgeous btw) and I said to myself "Self what a great idea, lets do that starting in January".  Well in this like so many other ways January kicked my butt.  So for January we going to call it this Month's shots and move forward 'kay.

Someone turned 1

Only picture I could find of Liam was a group shot, ah well.

Mama needs Coffee ~ Wellness Project: Did make a start with this wonderful idea but am recommitting this month to fight the winter blahs by choosing each day in some little way to care for myself.

And so I resolve to take the pictures and take care of myself ~ here's to the new month and a reboot!