I learn some new things

So, I started off the day with big plans. "Let's be creative and do some photography", I told the girls.

Yep, I can just see this one in a museum....


Such was my creativity that I actually took the time to exchange the cups to make the pictures more interesting, sad.


Not surprisingly, my husband never once questioned why I was taking pictures of plastic cups. He just went on about his business. I choose to see this as him having total confidence in my endeavors rather than a total lack of interest.

Anastasia is trying to follow in my footsteps, poor child.

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We went to church where the girls were singing in the choir. This meant we had to be at church almost an hour early, so I had the privilege of keeping little Catherine entertained for a long, long time in a very, very small space. Towards the end, she started barking. It wasn't pretty.

Then, we went to my mom's so she could try out her new waffle maker. I am always nagging the girls about listening and paying attention, but now I'm thinking it's really more of a guideline. Especially when my mom asked me not to leave bacon grease where the dogs could get it and I didn't listen, resulting in bacon grease soaking into her brand new rug.
My adventures tomorrow will include the dry cleaners.

Again, my husband did not bat an eye over this news.

While I was trying to write this, my cat, Alvin, jumped on the computer button, turning it off three times, desperately trying to tell me to STOP WRITING NOW! Evil cat.

Saying Good-bye

I attended a funeral of my friend's mom today. I just can't imagine it. Her mom, gone, forever. How could my own mom die? She is my confidant, my other half, my best friend. She has been there for me when no one else would. She has listened to me ramble, complain and whine for 42 years (yep, I am old!). She know every nutty thing about me.

After the funeral, I drove straight to my mom's house, hugged her and begged, "You better start eating right! Don't die!!!!"

Thank you mom! I wouldn't be who I am without you!


Doesn't she look so excited to be opening a cheap, frozen meal (it's really a coupon to a spa). She had just given me the worst Christmas present ever - a cookbook! It's still in it's plastic wrap hiding in the closet under the blender.


Here's my mom with my 93 year old Grandma who lives with her! We are all named Catherine!

Creative Homeschooling

Today, I took my camera out in the real world to document our exciting homeschooling efforts. My husband wasn't thrilled, especially when I took the camera into the bank and people kind of stared. I thought about taking a picture of him to capture the look on his face, but...some things are better left to the imagination.


First, we have physical education! Climbing daddy!


Next, we move on to recycling and learn how much garbage our family makes in two weeks!


In our math lesson, we learn to measure moving objects that are even larger than they appear.



Even the youngest learns. This lesson was about negotiating. Sit still at the bank and mommy will give you chips!




Lesson #4 You have the wonderful opportunity to do your schoolwork anywhere! Being happy about this is optional.



Sharing is caring!


Reading out loud to friends



Next we have our science experiment and service project. What's the easiest way to carry this ladder?! Then, we'll clean Grandma's gutters and observe the animals in the trees from on top of the roof!





Finally, we witnessed a miracle, my husband cooking dinner!


I certainly learned a lot! What did you do today?

"What are you thinking???!!!!!"

Someone said this to me the other day about adopting. I'm sure many other people think it too. The person said to me, "You will never qualify, your house is too small. You don't have time for all this! Put your kids in school and stop all this adoption stuff. You need to take time and think of yourself for a change.". So, of course, me being the worry wort that I am, started to imagine all the things that could go wrong.

What if..... we don't pass the homestudy?
What if......we can't get the money together?
What if......the country closes?
What if......we can't take the kids with us on the trip?
What if.......Nastya gets brain damage before we can get her!

And on and on I thought until I had to go watch a re-run of "Roseanne" on tv to shut my mind up. (I also felt compelled to eat several almond M&M's, but only the brown ones, so that was more healthy.)

Well, honestly, the person is probably right. I am thinking of myself. I could no more stop trying to adopt than I could stop breathing. How can I explain that these two girls who I have never meant are supposed to be in our family. I don't think God is kidding about this! When he says "Go!" He means it!

Besides, who needs a break from these cuties! Ok, maybe sometimes!

Vet Visits

(Shirley pays me back for my love and servitude by scratching my moulding. Thank you Shirley!)


I think I have logged in about 1000 hours at the vet this year. We have a kitten named Shirley, who is seven months old now, but only weighs about 3 pounds. I took her in for a rescue who assured me I would only have her five days. That was in July! She has the worst immune system, so no one wants to adopt her. Today we sat in the vets office for almost two hours, waiting and waiting. They had one cooking magazine (which I would never read) and one of those Rubix cubes to pass the time with . We all got so bored, we (meaning me) tried balancing the Rubix cube on our heads and it smashed and broke into a million pieces. My seven year old freaked out. "Mom, what are we going to do? What will happen to us?" I think she thought there was vet jail or something. I figured it was payback for the long wait. We put it back together, but one day, the vet is going to try to play with it and BOOM!! Smash city.

Sadly, this was the highlight of my day.

2nd Homestudy visit!

We had our second homestudy visit this morning. It went great! I am actually starting to believe that this will happen!!! Please continue to pray for us on this journey!

Catherine

4 Snow Days = Crazy, Whiny Mom!!

At first I was really, really excited about having 4 inches of snow! That was Sunday. Now, I am cranky, I have PMS, and I am out of chocolate. We actually took a ride in the car on the solid icy roads just to get out of the house. I thought we could listen to "Dancing Queen" and perk up. Turns out, little Catherine, decided to go into her mode of, "You will pay attention to me or else". So she yelled, "MOOOOOOOMM, you're not answering me!!!!! Does a priest ever sleep? MOOOOOMMM What is inside of me, tell me right now!" for 20 minutes without even taking a breath. Catherine also insists on putting on summer dresses with winter clothes in many layers and then undressing and throwing the clothes everywhere.

I tried sorting socks until I realized I turned all the white socks a puce color, so I can't tell what matches. My husband said he was going to throw them all away and start over. Fine by me.

My son is hoarding the computer and the tv.

My 7 year old spilled hot chocolate all over her bed.

My 10 year old tried to help me make muffins by cracking hard boiled eggs in the mix.

My husband (who has also been home THE ENTIRE TIME) decided to built a 5 foot tall igloo "for the kids". Meanwhile, the kids are no where near the igloo. Sneaky, trying to get a minute to himself!