Theme Thursday - Grow!

This week's theme: Grow!


This little basil plant I picked up for $5.00 in a tin can.  You water it and let it grow.  I lost it, forgot about it, and then mentioned it to Jason the other day.  We finally found it hiding in the backyard and it had sprouted!!  I expect big things from this basil plant.  I live on caprese in the summer and can't afford it anymore because the basil is too expensive to buy in those $5 packets that only last me one lunch.

So this will be my bread and butter: 

I'm going to make lots of raw milk mozzarella to go with this even if it is saddest ratio ever.

Look what we found hiding in the corner!!


Then, while I was in the backyard snapping a few photos, I realized I haven't shared my favorite thing ever: The neighbor's backyard:


We live right across the street from the richest people on the block.  They own the local internet/cable provider.  And in their huge backyard, in between the greenhouse and the pool is this:


Just seeing it every day makes me happy.  I keep expecting some big-toothed Brit to pop his head over the fence and bid me a "S'appening??"  I'm sure it will never happen, but the possibility still makes me happy to live here.  

Never say never, right?


Now, go visit Cari to see the rest of the submissions!!

Potty Training made simple

This little beauty:


is potty-trained!!!!!!!!


She turned 3 in February and I was so nervous to try and potty-train her after the complete and utter failure of Leo, I sincerely thought I would just skip this major milestone...


But reason prevailed, and we happened to have all the treats on-hand after Easter, so I thought I would suck it up and try to improve my batting average.  (Just for reference I was at a negative 2,304,592).  I used chocolate, the iPad mini, oreos and the promise of a trip to the Zoo.


In true Elena form, it took only a matter of hours to potty-train her.  She is 100% successful. 

I am already laughing at how easy this one was.  


If only my wiser self could yell for my idiot self to wait until Leo was older to start trying!!!

The best part of this is watching her practice moving around without the bulky cloth diapers.





Time will tell if we nailed it.  Potty-training Leo (*too early*) was just the worst experience.  It took a year and half and lots of TLC to correct him.  I doubted all of my mothering skills and instincts in that year+...


And Roman helps me make sure she doesn't pass out and have an accident on my couch.  


This parenting stuff is EASY!!!


And look who gets his choice of any color diaper now that they are all his!!!

3 Reasons I Love Catholicism

Micaela at California to Korea is hosting a fantastic new link-up called "3 Reasons I Love Catholicism"

 photo 3a53cbef-c09a-41a2-9a0b-0f9af0b18a5b_zpsf2a9e461.jpg

 I love the idea and have so many more things than just three :)  But here are my top three reasons:

1) The Catholic Church is universal!!

You can travel anywhere in the world (did that) or move to a new state (did that) or just take a vacation anywhere in the world (did that too) and still you will be at home in your church.  When I traveled through Europe with Franciscan University, I never missed a Sunday service.  I could attend mass in:

Spain: 

France:

Bosnia:

Italy (Assisi)

Portugal:

Austria:

Italy (the Vatican)

Austria: 

Italy...again :) 

Poland:

Mexico:


and I could still understand everything that went on.  We never needed to shop around for a church we "felt at home in" and we never missed a Sunday mass even though we were no where close to home.  We are always home in a catholic church no matter where we go!!

cath·o·lic  

/ˈkaTH(ə)lik/
Adjective
(esp. of a person's tastes) Including a wide variety of things; all-embracing.
Noun
A member of the Roman Catholic Church.
Synonyms
universal - general

2) The reasonableness of it all.

credit

When I was younger, I was a lapsed Catholic for a couple years.  The rules and regulations of the church just didn't coincide with my lifestyle.  And getting up on Sunday morning after going to bed at 3 or 4 am on Saturday night...well...

CatholicMemes.com

But instead of finding a church that allowed me to do things that were bad for my health (spiritual, mental, physical), I just found my way back home.  After studying why the church teaches what she teaches, I found it to be true and reasonable.  I no longer feel ill-equipped when questioned about my faith.  It all made sense and came full circle.  I no longer misunderstood the teachings on gay marriage, abortion, contraception, purgatory, asking for the intercession of saints, veneration of the Blessed Virgin, etc.  In Catholicism, you are given the tools to learn reasonableness, i.e. the church has good reasons for teaching what she teaches.  You just have to discover the why to understand it all.

And as I learn more about the faith, I can just ask my super smart husband questions that come up since he has the ability to read and enjoy books on theology that my tiny brain can't even comprehend :)  I barely make it past the title on most of the books in his library!
The Pedagogy of God: Its Centrality in Catechesis and Catechist Formation

3) The Catholic Church is one of the largest charitable organizations in the world


From Forbes:

Catholic Charities USA–still No. 3 and also in Alexandria–reported pulling in $1.6 billion of private gifts. Rounding out the billion-dollar-donation club is Feeding America. The Chicago-based network of food banks reported donations of $1.1 billion, most of it food.



As Catholics, we not only practice what we preach but we also put our money where our mouths are.  In the same breath that we are praying to end abortion, we are opening pregnancy resource centers that will help and support all women who choose to keep these babies.  As a global Church, we give to charities around the world.  We care for the poor, the sick and the handicapped.  Even our Catholic hospitals have a policy where they do not turn anyone away even if they don't have insurance.  With each natural disaster, Catholics nationwide give to Catholic Relief Services.  We do this because we cannot travel to help.  But we can fund all those who are in a position to offer relief.

Check out more "3 Reasons I Love Catholicism" here!!!

Children ≠ Productive Blogging

I'm not the only blogger with three small kids.  Leo isn't even small anymore.  He's almost five!  But seriously, do you all duct tape your children to their chaires?  I am finding it dang near impossible to string together a few words without the keyboard getting smashed by the little feet of my biggest fan.


Make that fans.  Plural.


I'm in constant demand over here.   And it's not a bad thing.  But it sure puts a damper on blogging.  Especially when my only chance is between 8 and 10 pm.  


At this very moment, I've got my biggest kid sitting next to me, cheek to cheek with his arms around my neck.  The littlest kid is sitting on my other side trying to smash my camera into my keyboard.  Probably to get a rise out of me.  It works.  Each and every time :)

Again - none of this is bad and I won't regret neglecting the blog for a while to snuggle small children.





Oops.  Speaking of - just ignored this one for more than 5 minutes 

and all hell is breaking loose...

I am always surprised at how many blog posts other moms can put together and it never ceases to amaze me that I can barely get the first photo uploaded without hurling small children across the room.

How do you all do it???

Our Texan Easter Vacation

HAPPY EASTER!!!  You know the Easter season is longer than the Lenten season, right?  Bring out the chocolate!!!!  Actually - someone go to the store and buy me some chocolate.  I'm out...

We visited Jason's parents this weekend on the ranch and it was the most glorious visit ever.  It was also my very first Spring visit in the 8 years I have known Jason.  And I found out that I was missing out!!!  Early spring in Fredericksburg, Texas is amazing.


We also had front row seats at the tiny Catholic church in town.  We weren't late, but the only seats available were the 5 foldout chairs in front of the altar.  I spent the entire Easter service in the back with my tiny madman.


But the older two are getting so easy to take to Church.  Things are lookin up.  Not "I heard the whole homily and never uttered the 'shush' that even scares Father" up.  But we are making baby steps :)


Easter morning did not disappoint.  And Leo knows all about the meaning of Easter.

Me: Leo, do you know why we celebrate Easter?
Leo: Yes!  First the eggs hide in the grass.  Then I run and get them all.  And then I open them and eat the TREATS!!
Me: Actually...*attempt at explaining real meaning of Easter*
Leo: *hysterical sobbing*

Nailed it!!






Our weekend was jam-packed with awesomness.  Great Grandad took us out to feed the cows

Including a tour of the ranch.  This house was finished May 11, 1916


Jason and I would have loved to go into the two buildings to see what "treasures" were in there.  But Grandad said no way.  He did point to a cut out in the floor where they hid the moonshine under the floorboards though.  





Leo is manning the cattle prod just in case "Fiesty" over there gets a little too hungry


While Elena left a trail of treats for the deer...


...and soaked up the fresh air


I also begged Great Granny for a tour of her Canning Shed.

It is a small shed set under the rainwater tower and it is my new favorite thing in the whole world:

Granny apologized for the condition of her cabinets.  I assured her that we pay big money to have our furniture look half as cool as this!!


Look at all that awesome cast-iron cookware!!!!  *drool*


We also got a tour of her garden, complete with a handmade sign Great Grandad made just for her



Roman got to play with his two favorite people



We played hard



(Four Generations!)

We got a lesson in trapping




Played in the mud




Played with guns
*do I really need to specify that no children actually played with guns???

Threw large rocks 

And spent a whole lotta time with family




A Very Happy Easter season to you from us!!!


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