A blogaversary and thoughts for the way ahead

   6 years ago I started this blog and while this past year I struggled a lot I kept it going ~ the blog is still here and some am I. Perhaps not posting as often as I would like and but maybe the 'little engine that could' feeling I've been feeling is not so wrong.

The Saint Generator sponsored by Jen Fulwiler of The Conversion Diary selected Saint Therese of Lisieux for me this year and in the spirit of her Little Way I will continue.

In pretty much every way this is a little blog but as long as I'm trying my best and am sincere in my desire to share a bit of what I know and what I'm learning as I grow in my vocation there is a reason to keep posting and sharing.

A huge hug and thank you to you readers who have kept reading though the postings grow lean.

Onward!

Quick Takes: #170 Recently Heard:Kid Speak

1. Caitlin: "I'm Princess Caitie! Where is my dress?"
2. Elisabeth: "Is Christmas over over?" Me: Yes. Elisabeth: "Does that mean I have to stop listening to Emmanuel (her favorite Christmas song this year)?"
3. Liam:  Tomorrow is Mother-Son Day and we should have a party! What are you getting me? (I resisted the urge to ask him what he was getting me.)
4. Caitlin: Happy Birthday!! (said every time she sees the Sophia balloon we got for her party)
5. Elisabeth: I'm not going to need a haircut for a year!! (said after she had donated 8 inches as part of a service projected hosted by her school)
6. Liam: You're the best mom a kid like me could ever have!
7. So despite the fact that you will not see this little ole blog listed for a Sheenazer this year I do apparently have fans... and seriously do encourage you to head over to A Knotted Life and VOTE!

Now please head over to Kelly's for more Quick Takes

WWRW: January 21st

   Finished Dear Mr Knightly by Katherine Reay earlier this week which I found to be a sweet quick read in the flavor of Daddy Long Legs. While I occasionally found the letter writing format of the book cumbersome at times I really enjoyed this lovely coming of age/romance with all it's great book quotes.

While I'm off to conquer other books on my book stack I do hope at some point soon to check out Reay's next Lizzie and Jane.

Up next for me is the current Stella Maris book club selection The Dean's Watch by Elizabeth Gouge; the story of an unlikely friendship between the dean of an English Cathedral and a watch maker.

What are you reading?

Please head over to Housewifespice for more WWRW

WWRW: January 14th

   Nearly done with Sense and Sensibility and while it will not compete for the status of my favorite Austen, Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion get to duke it out for that distinction, I am glad I decided to reread it (started once in high school and never finished).  I found Eleanor much more engaging, Marianne less annoying and the side characters more entertaining then I remembered.  And I now have a place holder for the "book I should have read in high school' category for the MMD reading challenge; ideally I will slot one in that I start and finish this year but nice to have the challenge begun.

Fiction wise I'm staying in the Austen realm though in a modern take and hoping to read Dear Mr. Knightly next ~ will report back later.

Non-fiction wise I am reading A book of Saints for Catholic Mothers by Lisa Hendey and am so far enjoying it though discovering it is really more of a daily devotional am scouting around for more of a chapter at a time book.

So what is in your book stack?

Quick Takes #168 Christmas Recap

1. Christmas Eve: Frantic but lovely; Charlie was able to leave the clinic in time to come to Mass with us. The kids did reasonably well and Lisbeth loved joining her fellow 1st graders in helping Father put Baby Jesus in the Nativity Scene. Wiglia small but nice as we began to explain some of those important childhood traditions which we hope will come to be important to the kids too.
2. Christmas morning: Big kids actually waited in their bedrooms till 7a; checked out stockings and then we woke Caitlin for present opening amongst the 5 of us ~ then loaded up the car and headed out for....
3. Christmas in VA, arriving after an amazing traffic-free, stop-free drive down in time to enjoy and wonderful dinner with my side of the family and more gift opening. On Friday we enjoyed some downtime to enjoy the new stuff. On Saturday the kids spent some time with their cousins and Bonne Mamy taking charge Charlie and I enjoyed an amazing day trip to Williamsburg. Really deserves a post of it's own with pictures but summary version: we had a great day to walk and explore not just the Colonial capital but the campus of William & Mary too. Stayed late enough to see some of the Grand Illumination and enjoy a wonderful dinner at the King's Arm. Truly a wonderful anniversary gift to each other!
4. On our actually anniversary we drove back to PA, and on Monday paused to do laundry, clean out the car a bit and sell our first house. I posted about it here when we moved this summer and of course the closing stirred up all the emotions a bit but only a bit as we were off on our next adventure...
5. Maine for New Years: After a longer, more traffic-full drive we made it to Maine and a wonderful New Years Eve/New Years Day filled with more presents and cousin time!!
6. Winter Sports featured on Friday with Lisbeth going skiing for the first time and Liam's inaugural ice skate. I too went skating which was a blast ~ something I used to really enjoy and haven't had the chance in years.
7. Re-entry has been a bit bumpy so I think we are all looking forward to a catch-up weekend but also think this Christmas Season will go down as exhausting but most excellent!!

Please know head over to Kelly's for more Quick Takes!

And then she was two

 Despite the fact that if you currently ask her how old she is she says 'fee' she is newly 2, though she may well think she is older because she VERY much wants to be big like her sister and brother.

  

                                        

Current Likes: Sophia the First, in particular the Sophia and Amber dolls she snuggles at night, running, milk, baths, her big brother. She is open to trying pretty much any food especially if Liam is eating it.

Case in point: She will often ask for a banana when Liam does except she doesn't like them. And I can't decide if she keeps forgetting that or because he likes them she is willing to keep trying them.

Current Loathes:Having her teeth brushed!! Being put in her crib before she is asleep. Wearing hats.

18 months

She continues to be the most amazing mimic, and quick to pick up patterns such that she tells knock-knock jokes and can count to 14.  She also sings along with many of the songs we sing at bedtime.

Happy Birthday Caitlin! Thanks for being such a happy, along for the ride, chick!!

Guess what?! Love you!!