Planic

Now is the time for all Mothers of Basketball Players to band together and demand a Schedule from the coaches. Because tomorrow is the last day of November, and I have to start making a new Meal and Transportation Plan for December--but I can't, because I don't know when Middle Sister will have her basketball games. I've already got Big Brother's Fuller-Than-He-Likes-It indoor track schedule (this is a boy who has always valued his free time).

Suffice it to say that Planic has set in. That is the emotion you feel when you need to Make a Plan that will allow you to Keep Your Sanity for the next 31 days, but you can't, because a big piece of the puzzle is missing.

Imagination

Little Brother has been riding his tricycle up and down in front of our house (and one neighbor's) for a few minutes. Then he came in and asked me to give him a newspaper, so he could play Paper Boy. I found a few ads from this morning's paper, rolled them up, put a rubber band around them, and warned him to stay out of the street. He is happily "delivering" the paper to our neighbor, then picking it up, riding up and down, and delivering it again.

Here's A New One On Me

Today was the day Little Brother and I volunteer in the school lunchroom. There's one little boy in first grade who asks, every day, for a "metal spoon" (come on, Mom, give the kid a spoon for his yogurt!) It's got to be metal, too, not plastic. So we just tell him to bring it back when he's done.

He comes back to return the spoon, wiping it off on a paper towel. Then he says, "If I wipe off the spoon real good, do I have to give it back?"

The Birthday Meme

I was tagged by Jennifer at The Catholic Path.

Here's how you play:
1) Go to Wikipedia
2) In the search box, type your birth month and day but not the year.
3) List three events that happened on your birthday
4) List two important birthdays and one death
5) One holiday or observance (if any)

My birthday is July 28.

3 events:
1821, Peru declares its independence from Spain
1914, World War I Begins when Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia
2002, 9 miners in Quecreek, Pennsylvania are rescued after 77 hours underground

2 important birthdays:
1844, Gerard Manley Hopkins
1945, Jim Davis (creator of the comic Garfield)

1 death:
In 2004, Francis Crick, co-discoverer of the structure of DNA

Holiday/observance:
System Administrator Appreciation Day
Various saints including Pope Innocent I and Saint Ada

Tag! You're it!
Amy at R.C. Mommy
Michelle at Rosetta Stone

No Surprise Here

You Belong in Fall

Intelligent, introspective, and quite expressive at times... You appreciate the changes in color, climate, and mood that fall brings Whether you're carving wacky pumpkins or taking long drives, autumn is a favorite time of year for you

What Season Are You?

It's true. I love fall. I'm not much of a pumpkin carver, though.
H/T to Laura and Julie for this quiz.

Pray for the Holy Father This Week!

We should, of course, be praying for him every week. But this week is particularly important due to the threats made against Pope Benedict if he made his trip to Turkey.

Here's a special prayer for the next 4 days, from the Knights of Columbus:

Heavenly Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name, we humbly ask that you sustain, inspire, and protect your servant, Pope Benedict XVI, as he goes on pilgrimage to Turkey – a land to which St. Paul brought the Gospel of your Son; a land where once the Mother of your Son, the Seat of Wisdom, dwelt; a land where faith in your Son’s true divinity was definitively professed. Bless our Holy Father, who comes as a messenger of truth and love to all people of faith and good will dwelling in this land so rich in history. In the power of the Holy Spirit, may this visit of the Holy Father bring about deeper ties of understanding, cooperation, and peace among Roman Catholics, the Orthodox, and those who profess Islam. May the prayers and events of these historic days greatly contribute both to greater accord among those who worship you, the living and true God, and also to peace in our world so often torn apart by war and sectarian violence.

We also ask, O Heavenly Father, that you watch over and protect Pope Benedict and entrust him to the loving care of Mary, under the title of Our Lady of Fatima, a title cherished both by Catholics and Muslims. Through her prayers and maternal love, may Pope Benedict be kept safe from all harm as he prays, bears witness to the Gospel, and invites all peoples to a dialogue of faith, reason, and love. We make our prayer through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Thanks to Dan at Faithmouse for the graphic honoring the Pope's new Coat of Arms.

Advent Encouragement

In yesterday's church bulletin, I was delighted to find a "Family Advent Calendar." On it are actions or prayer intentions to do for each day of Advent. These items range from "Pray for those who live in nursing homes" and "Pray for our soldiers all over the world" to "Be a Peace Maker at home today" and "Do an act of kindness for another person" and "Collect some canned goods for the food pantry" and "As a family, say two Hail Marys." None of these take a long time or a lot of money to do, but each of them is another step that can be taken as we Prepare The Way, and family members of almost any age can participate in some way.

I appreciate that someone took the time to put such a calendar together. It is important for families to do a little something together each day of Advent, when possible, to prepare our hearts--and it's nice that our parish is helping us get started.

UPDATE: In this week's National Catholic Register there is a wonderful article called "30 Days, 30 Ways" that speaks about evangelization. I'm not sure what's up with the website as I can only see the first part of the article there--so try to get your hands on the print edition and read all of it.

Can I Get That Coffee in an I.V.?

Little Brother invaded my personal space and hogged my personal pillow at an awfully early hour this morning. He came bouncing into the bedroom announcing, "Mommy! It's three-oh-OH!"

I mumbled that there are TWO "three-oh-ohs" in a day and this is NOT the one I want to see. I made him take a side trip to the bathroom before letting him into the bed, where he spent the rest of the night smacking me in the face and bumping my kidney with his knee.

Good thing none of my errands today take me more than 2 miles from home. I'd probably be a danger on the road on a longer-distance trip. Pass the caffeine.

Little Brother's Soundtrack

Little Brother is sitting on the floor, enjoying the last few minutes of playtime before bed.

As usual, he provides his own musical accompaniment to his games involving Dinosaurs, Knights and Army Guys (plus the odd Rescue Hero.)

I'm enjoying tonight's lyrics, sung quite melodically:

"Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, Lego, Lego, Lego, alle, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia..."

Memo

To: My Family
Re: College Football Season

Another season of college football has come to an end for me.

It wasn't a pretty end, either, but the season is over. It was mostly a good season and I'm thankful for that. It's always fun to see your favorite team win. Plus, I know the reputation I've come to have for being impossible to live with slightly disappointed when my favorite team loses. In view of that, I'm sure you are all thankful for Notre Dame's 10-2 record this year.

It would have been better if the season had not begun and ended on ABC. I'm convinced that the ABC announcers have it in for Notre Dame. Last night's "wearing of the Trojan helmet" from the announcers' desk was my first clue that things hadn't changed. So, to Big Brother, who had to listen to my outraged rantings every time the announcers dissed My Team, thank you.

To my husband, Middle Sister, and Little Brother, who went upstairs to watch a game show and play cards so I could watch last night's game without a four-year-old's interference, thank you. (Or was that so Little Brother wouldn't hear Mommy swear?)

To all of you who let me escape for a day when I suddenly had the opportunity to See a Notre Dame Game In Person, thank you. For me, those opportunities come only once a decade, so you're good for several more years.

To Big Brother who makes me great ND sidebars, you rule in Photoshop. Thank you.

To Big Brother's friend (AKA Casanova) who wisely figured out that it's smart to say "Go Irish" around me rather than betray your preference for The Other Team, especially when you sometimes depend on me for early-morning rides to school, smart move. The Irish are the best.

I'm well aware that my fanaticism loyalty to Notre Dame football makes absolutely no sense to any of you. It's what growing up in an Irish Catholic Subway Alumni Family can do to a person. And it got worse when I became a real alum.

So, thanks for putting up with all that. You have Mom back on Saturdays, now. There will be a Bowl Game, but that's subject to our Christmas plans. It's not necessarily Must-See TV.

Besides, basketball season is just getting started.

It's the Catholic Schools

You paid attention during 100% of high school!

85-100% You must be an autodidact, because American high schools don't get scores that high! Good show, old chap!

Do you deserve your high school diploma?
Create a Quiz

No autodidact here....I had 12 years of Catholic schooling from 6th grade through grad school. Guess the 7 years spent in ugly uniforms were worth it, academically.

H/T to Catholic Pillow Fight.

The Ultimate Compliment?

Middle Sister was snuggling up to me on the couch earlier. "Mmmmm, your clothes smell nice," she commented.

"Just like--DISH SOAP!"

We Interrupt Dinner Preparations...

...to advise one and all that it is highly inadvisable to taste-test the onion dip and follow it up with a big sip of coffee.

Happy Thanksgiving to all, and may your turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes all be ready to eat at The Same Time.

Thanksgiving Commandment: Thou Shalt Not Pulverize the Stuffing

I always use my grandmother's stuffing recipe for my turkeys. I have this recipe in her handwriting, and a friend of mine laminated it for me so I could have it forever.

The recipe does not call for those boxes or bags of prepared "stuffing bread." Instead, it involves spreading out two sandwich loaves all over the kitchen table and letting the bread get good and stale. My kids helpfully wander through every few minutes and inspect the bread for staleness. They also willingly sit around the Very Big Bowl and break up the bread once it's stale enough.

Big Brother just wandered through and asked, "When can I help crush the bread?"

"No, no, no, no, NO! You do not PULVERIZE stuffing, or you will wind up with this really disgusting mush inside the turkey."

He was properly contrite, as he's old enough to appreciate the importance of Following the Family Recipe. Plus, he loves stuffing.

I can't wait until the morning when I get to open my brand-new box of Poultry Seasoning.

I am SUCH a stuffing geek.

Maybe He's Trying To Deflect Blame?

This morning as my husband was putting on his shoes, he took one right back off, fished around inside, and came up with a tiny gray Lego helmet.

I told the kids at breakfast, "This morning Dad found a Lego helmet in his shoe."

The Big Kids both had the same response: "OUCH!"

Little Brother wanted to know, "Did it WALK there?"

I'm Feeling Grateful

...that I have the kind of neighbors I can call at 8:00 on a weeknight when they're in the middle of getting kids off to bed, so I can borrow an ingredient I forgot I needed in order to make this for tomorrow's dinner.

Embarrassed

Michelle's story about her daughter's clothing angst reminds me of something that happened a couple of weeks ago.

It's only a matter of time before my daughter stops wanting to be seen with us. I can see it coming.

Little Brother always wants to wear things belonging to the Big Kids, or things that look just like the Big Kids' clothes. (Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, after all). About a month ago he wanted Big Brother's track jersey. I couldn't let him wear that to play in, so I dug up Middle Sister's old basketball jersey--the one from two seasons ago where the numbers were already starting to peel off--and popped it over his sweatshirt. He was thrilled. He wore it everywhere, even the supermarket. Of course, I didn't let him wear it to church, or where nicer-dress clothes were required, but just for our regular errands, I didn't see the harm in it.

Then, a couple of weeks ago, I was getting ready to take Middle Sister and Little Brother to Wegmans, which is a rather "upscale" supermarket. How upscale? When it opened last winter, I was practically the only shopper who didn't have a fur coat. I go there weekly to get their fantastic produce and take advantage of their low price on milk. Anyway, Little Brother ran to get his jersey, so I helped him put it on.

Middle Sister was horrified. "Mom, you're not going to let him go to Wegmans in that!

Do you think that was why she kept volunteering to go get some other item from some other aisle, for me? It was an extraordinary level of helpfulness, for sure.

Obviously she doesn't remember the time she went to the supermarket wearing a bathing suit, ballerina tutu skirt, party hat and magic wand, with snow boots on her feet. (No, I didn't get a picture. Wish I had, though!)

Want to Learn a Little about Third Orders?

There's a very well-done article in the Columbus Dispatch on the topic of Third Orders.

I'll admit to having a certain family pride, as it were, about the Secular Franciscan Order, but several others exist as well.

H/T to and also with you for pointing the way to this worthwhile article. I intend to express my thanks to the Columbus Dispatch for such a wonderful piece. It's not often that this happens in a mainstream newspaper, and it's certainly commendable.

Flying High

It's All Airplanes, All The Time at my house right now.

Today I made two trips to a local airport. Big Brother is a member of the Flight Club at his school, and the club was meeting at an airport to take the boys on some short flights. I didn't have the whole day to stay and watch, so I just dropped off and picked up.

Today my kid flew an airplane. He actually took the controls and FLEW THE AIRPLANE. His feet haven't touched the ground since.

This is my cautious child, who 5 years ago would get a stomachache from the prospect of choosing between two fun alternatives. Last night, as Senior Patrol Leader, he conducted his Boy Scout Troop's Court of Honor. Where did all this courage and confidence come from? He is FLYING AIRPLANES.

Little Brother was almost as thrilled as Big Brother. He got to see the traffic helicopter from the local news land. He saw at least 10 small aircraft landing or taking off. He was so close (yet behind the fence) that the pilots were waving at him and he jumped up and down, dressed for the occasion in his "flight commander" sweatshirt and carrying his Hess biplane.

Next Friday we'll be back, because Big Brother won a free 30-minute flying lesson. He can't wait.

Curiosity Will Kill the Mom

Sooner or later my children's eagerness for scientific experimentation is going to be the death of me. Just now, I had to instruct two of them:

"Get that (digital fever) thermometer out of the FREEZER!"

If you're thinking that Little Brother was involved in this escapade, you'd be way wrong.