For St. Valentine

We celebrated the feast of St. Valentine with a family breakfast and an afternoon of games, gift exchanges, and fun with the home schoolers.

Wired hearts wrapped with red yard cover our windows

and the hanging hearts waited for the kids that morning in the dining room.

It's pretty sweet to hear their constant surprised voices.  Even if the surprise is small, it's received with oohs and aaahs.  Making the baking and crafting totally worth my time; even if my mood isn't in it.  But, to fill a little spot of excitement into my 7 year old... reminds me to take a moment.  Just a moment to bake some cookies or lay out sheets of colored paper and cut them into hearts. The results are always the same; good!

Most of what I put out this year came from my box of past crafts.  Cecilia didn't notice, nor did the older kids.  For them it was a fun surprise.  That's all that mattered.  

 

The Lineman came home with pretty flowers

 

A gift that was meant to be given on the Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord was instead received as a St. Valentine gift.  New scapulars handmade by Barbara; her Etsy shop (Mary Devotions) is filled with handmade treasures.  I've wanted to purchase many of her works before, but for one reason or another it hadn't happened.  Until now and these scapulars are BEAUTIFUL!! 

The girls and I made some goodies to share with friends and family.  We had a good amount to do, making me wonder if our next dentist appointment is going to be a surprise for The Lineman and I.  

There was a lot of taste tasting going on. 

May God have blessed you all with a lovely day!

"Spread love everywhere you go: first of all in your own house. Give love to your children, to your wife or husband, to a next door neighbor... Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness in your warm greeting."
--Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta

A Little Bit of Music

This neglected space desires some beauty.

There is in souls a sympathy with sounds:

And as the mind is pitch'd the ear is pleased

With melting airs, or marital, brisk or grave;

Some chord in unison with what we hear

Is touch'd within us, and the heart replies.

~William Cowper

{PHFR}

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~ 

Every Thursday, over at Like Mother, Like Daughter! {click HERE for more} {Pretty}

These are the main women of my family.  Many, MANY cousins, a niece, and close Tias are missing (Hey, shout out to my Tia Alde!!!), but my sisters, sister-in-law, mom are here.  Pretty ladies getting together for a very special day.  My sister's little boy isn't so little anymore.  At a whopping 6'2",  he is now 18.  We celebrated his big day with an all American Bar-b-Que, close family, and a cake that was perhaps his favorite thing of the whole afternoon... ...a coke on his chocolate lover's cake!

{Happy}

It was a date! And any date with my honey makes me HAPPPPPYYYY :+) {Funny}

It doesn't matter how old we get; there is something special about visiting a pumpkin patch.  When The Lineman took the photo from above we totally laughed at the way Lucy looks. It looks like we pasted her onto this shot.  She totally dominates the tractor and the other kids, oh man so fun!  My MIL and I shared in the photo opportunities, but I don't think we were as funny as the kids.  

{Real}

This past week our parish held their 4th Annual Dream Cuisine fundraiser.  Victor and I bought tickets and we had ourselves a date.  Yep! A Date! It was a Polynesian themed night of delicious gourmet food, drinks, wine from the local vineyards, scrumptious desserts, great entertainment; best of all it was all for a great cause!  The Wounded Warrior Project.  The folks at Wounded Warrior Project have been providing services for veteran soldiers injured while out projecting our liberties.  Starting back in 2002, they are there from the start of an injury and never leave.  WWP is a support system that stays with the solider.  From what we heard that night the men and women behind WWP are some of the coolest, thoughtful, and dedicated people; just the kind of folks our soldiers need.
This year St. Rose honored Norberto Lara, SFC , U.S. Army (ret).  You can see this hero's story here.  Our pastor proudly presented a nice check to this solider and we were all quite moved by his story and being a part of this evening.

{PHFR} A Mix Bag of Moments

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~ 

Every Thursday, over at Like Mother, Like Daughter! {click HERE for more}

{Pretty}

 

Pretty Momma at a quick visit to San Francisco 

Pretty background with...

 

Prettier daughters enjoying this treat around the bay on the ship boat.   

  

Funny thing happens when you spend the afternoon calling the vessel you are on a 'ship'; then have the young fold correct you each and EVERY time.  As I remember the comments were, "No Tia-Momma, it's a boat!" 

{Happy}

Max turned 12 last week.  

12!

He's almost a teenager; that'll make 2 teenagers under our roof. 

 Goodness me.

Birthdays are celebrated with the usual cake and family dinner, but the celebrant is also gifted with a day free of ALL CHORES.

Max was stoked when he was met outside and told to take the day off.

His sisters were not as happy.

They picked up the slack LOL

{Funny}

My goofy Rose was in classic form during our boat trip.  I was lucky to get the few good shots of her without some kind face or gesture.  Something about the sea air really got to her, she zoomed from one side of the boat to another.  Zip-zap! She would be next to me one second then off to the other side the next.  It was about chasing birds, not missing the scenery, and keeping her balance on the rocking water.

My sister had a bit more trouble keeping her feet from sliding around while chasing our nephew around.

{Real}

A 'real' Hobbiton style birthday party for my sweet boy.

More on his party here

... and a couple of REALly nice shots for us too 

Capture your moments

they go so fast...

A Hobbitish Party for Max

Max accomplished a big goal in his reading last year.  He not only read and completed The Hobbit; he LOVED it.  A rare moment in our history of reading and something that needed to be celebrated with a bang.  His 12th birthday, though, months away, presented a perfect time to to have a Hobbit themed party. Plus, it was far enough away that it gave me time plan.

With the help of Lucy, the wide world of the blogs, and imagination we through a most splendid Hobbiton party; with an adventure, ginger ale, some root beer and treasure!

{The Invitation Contract}

"Sorry! I don't want any adventures, thank you.  Not today. Good Morning! But please come to tea-any time you like! Why not tomorrow? Good bye!"

“All the same, I should like it all plain and clear," said he obstinately, putting on his business manner (usually reserved for people who tried to borrow money off him), and doing his best to appear wise and prudent and professional and live up to Gandalf's recommendation. "Also I should like to know about risks, out-of-pocket expenses, time required and remuneration, and so forth"--by which he meant: "What am I going to get out of it ? and am I going to come back alive?” 

{The Decor}

 

(credit for the banner goes to Jessica and Charlotte click on to either site to get the download, then use it how you like) 

A map of The Shire drawn on a simple plastic table cover. 

A whole $0.99 spent on a cool cover.

"Do we really have to go through [Mirkwood]?" groaned the hobbit. "Yes, you do!" said the wizard, "if you want to get to the other side. You must either go through or give up your quest. There are no safe paths in this part of the world."

Two trees made of craft butcher paper, one in the dining room and the other in the entry way, served as our version of Mirkwood

 {The Feast}

 "If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold [as the hobbits do], it would be a merrier world." 

The huge ham, some 20 baked potatoes, mini minced meat pies and green salad weren't around long enough to take a picture.  But, they added to the Hobbit style feast and was enjoyed by everyone; especially the boys LOL!

There was a lot of baking and cooking to get the meals ready for our little party.  The happy faces and satisfied tummies from from the kids and the adults made it worth it.

Most especially the face of Max, our honored burglar, who kept thanking us for such a "cool party!"

{The Cake} 

"And more cakes-and ale-and coffee if you don't mind," 

called the other dwarves

The web is full of examples and how-to-make your very own Hobbit Hole cake.  Here are just a few for your own quick reference

• Nikki's @ TikkiDo.com (You must check out her cool map above the dessert table--fabulous!)
• Melissa @ searchingfordragons.
• Amy @ ManyMasonMoments

{The Adventure}

  "We are plain quiet folk, and I have no use for adventures. 

Nasty, disturbing, and uncomfortable things." 

 The boys were asked to bring their own ponies bikes to the party.  Earlier in the day The Lineman and Lucy took a treasure box filled with jewels and gold (lots of lemon heads, jaw breakers, sour balls, and gold nugget gum drops) to the hills.  The treasure was hidden in Smaug's den, a crevice in the hills; the boys were then sent off on an adventure to retrieve the gold.

Of course, we sent them off with supplies since it was a part of the agreement to joining the party

 :-) 

At the end Smaug was slayed, via a cool looking dragon pinata, everyone scoring a nice batch of  sweets treasure to enjoy.  

"Never laugh at live dragons." 

Happy 12th Birthday Max!

You deserved the time spent on this day!!

Totally!

"I have chosen Mr. Baggins and that ought to be enough for all of you. If I say he is a Burglar, a Burglar he is, or will be when the time comes. There is a lot more in him than you guess, and a deal more than he has any idea of himself."

{PHFR}

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~   Every Thursday, over at Like Mother, Like Daughter! {click HERE for more} {Pretty}

Lucy has a new hat!

I think she looked quite pretty in it, though she was 'bugged' at my constant mention of it.  As her Momma I think I have a free pass to say how pretty I think she is over and over and over.

Last week was our first day back into school.  Little treats inside their "Schultüte" waited for the kids that morning; pretty packed cones with back to school goodies.

{Happy}

Someone also started ballet this week.

She strutted to the car with determination and JOY!!

Then she proudly showed me, before class even, how much she knew.

Ballerina class (as Cecilia calls it) was a hit!

{Funny}

I struggled with whether I should post this picture. 

 It just cracked me up to see her in this position.  

Plus, it was PROOF of WHY The Lineman and I can not have her sleep with us. 

 It's a battle each time!  

Cecilia is warm and cuddly between 7am-8pm, but somewhere in between she is a... 

Oh how can I say it...

a warrior

a wiggly worm

a monster even!

{I say this with pure love for my child, but this is the truth ;+))

So there, this is proof Cecilia.  

You do move around while you sleep.

  {Real} My 42nd birthday was celebrated this week. I am 42! Not shocking, no. Not bad, no. I feel great even; not all that different from 41. The coolest part of it, other than the quiet day of homeschooling, a family lunch outside, the raking of leaves, and the picking up of children's closets... was a new sewing machine to replace my 15 year old broken one. I haven't seen this model and I've only had a Singer before, so we (The Lineman) and I hope this is good buy. We'll see...
Lots of Love!