Quick Takes #200!! In celebration of a blogaversary!

1. Checking the archives my first Quick Takes post appeared on January of 2009 as my fourth post and seven years later we have reached 200! Needless to say I've grown so much in these seven years; mostly as a mom, wife and Catholic but also as a blogger.
2. While I certainly don't post as often as I wish; having this space (and format) to come back to and share ideas and thoughts (even those that never get published) has been such a wonderful blessing in these 'in the trenches' years.  And often the posts that I worried were the most incomplete struck the biggest chords.
3. And reading others has given me more than I can describe but regardless of how tiring a week it has been or how crazy a Friday it is I always make time to read at least a few of the 7QT's posted. And without fail there will be something that uplifts me or makes me laugh or think about life in a different way.
4. Really want to giving thanks for Jen for creating this wonderful format and Kelly for keeping the fun going.
5. Looking back on a mission statement I made 3 years ago, I find that it largely holds true and is a story I'm still interested in telling these many years later.
6. Coming back to the realm of the everyday; it has not started snowing yet but we are ready and the kids are excited for Jonas. Hoping everyone in the path of the storm stays safe!!
7. Thanks to all of you who have read and commented and made these past seven years more fun than I could have ever imagined!!

First picture I ever posted here: Lisbeth age 1

Please head over to Kelly's for more 7QTs

Quick Takes #199 Happy 3!

1. Guess who's 3!! Despite the fact that she says she wants to be a hundred  Lady Cate is in fact as of a week ago three years old.
2. Loves to give hugs, Minnie Mouse, Max and Ruby, hash browns, being read to and trying to do whatever her siblings are doing while still insisting that she is still a baby.
3. Hates tackle hugs, not a big fan of breakfast despite overall being a good eater and not too picky.  She is also an expert archer for when she does not want to be put in her carseat.
4. Potty Training is still in the talking stage but I have big plans for the next couple of months.
5. She is still in the crib having as yet never tried to climb out. She is still snuggling Sophia & Amber at bedtime; during the summer she began to voice some fear of the dark so Lisbeth's Glow Seahorse from her toddler days is now keeping Caitie company at night.
6. She seemed to really enjoy the Minnie Mouse themed play date last weekend; and this weekend the family party with Grandma who also has a January birthday.
7. Sweet Baby Cate can't wait to see what the coming year has in store for you and all of us!

Please head over to Kelly's for more 7QT's

Quick Takes #198 What I did on my Christmas Break

1. 1.  While the trip began with a very long drive through the pouring rain which was with us for the whole while; it was overall a wonderful Christmas holiday.
   2. The payback for enduring and driving straight-thru was that Christmas Eve morning found us at our destination and able to dig in on the preparations for Wiglia and Christmas. We paused for Mass where all the kids did well and afterwards I got to watch Liam singing Happy Birthday to Baby Jesus.
   3. Christmas Eve dinner traditionally includes reading the Christmas story from the Gospel of Luke and this year Elisabeth and her cousin Claire was able to take a part. Christmas it self was its usual wonderful chaos of many people opening presents and sharing yummy food and changing out of pjs eventually.
   4. Ice Skating happened again this year and this time Elisabeth, my sister-in-law, and niece were able to join Liam and me. The kids all did really well and I again remembered how much I enjoy skating. Hopefully it won't be a year until I go again.
   5. Snow finally arrived early the next week and the kids happily broke out the saucers and went a-sleddin. A snowman was built and in general winter in New England was given its due welcome.
   6. Charlie and I were able to get away for an Anniversary lunch where I had a delicious lobster pie.  We later saw the New Year in with a wonderful fondue dinner and hilarious game of Trivia Pursuit with cousins of Charlie who came with their family to celebrate the New Year.
   7. The drive homeward was much smoother and more fun due to the total lack of rain. We are slowly putting the house back into order but are very grateful for all the fun and wonderful memories.
    
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Now please head over to Kelly's for more 7QTs

Reading recap and looking forward

I will with a bit of luck finish the book I selected for the final category of MMD's 2015 reading challenge later this week; Snowflake Bay a book I choose for its cover and that it was set in Maine at Christmas time as that was where I too was spending Christmas.

Good not great with decent dialogue but I found the plotting slow and the chemistry between the hero and heroine a bit forced. Plus the book kept referring to a city as being in Rhode Island that I know to be in New Hampshire.

Looking forward Modern Mrs Darcy is hosting another reading challenge this year and I'm signing up again. Starting off with Brideshead Revisited for the Book that Intimidates Me category and I have ideas for a couple of the other categories feel like the categories leaves room for me to discover some books along the way.

Speaking of reading challenges; Lisbeth's grade was again challenged to read 40 books over the course of the school year. However unlike last year where it was a tough slog this year she is doing amazing and is already over halfway done and having fun discovering different genres.  As part of the challenge she needs to read 10 non-fiction books and so far 4 of the 5 she read are about dinosaurs.  That's my Lisbeth!!

What are you reading these days?
Anyone else joining the reading challenge?