Violin Recital

In the fall, Bernadette began her second year of violin lessons. On November 19, she participated in the fall violin recital, playing “Moto Perpetuo” by Carl Bohm. At one point during the piece, Bernadette paused. At her next lesson, she told her teacher, “When I am playing a fast piece of music, it’s kind of like reading…

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Winter Wonderland or…

We were all happy to see approximately one foot of snow fall and stick in our neighborhood this week. My husband and I enjoyed looking at the beauty outside, while our children played in their winter wonderland.  Unfortunately, I did not take very many photos. We still have a lot of snow on the ground. As of…

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Dishwasher Repair – Watch the Video

About three years ago, we replaced our old broken dishwasher. When my husband purchased the new one, the store employee told him not to expect it to last more than two or three years, five years at the most. At the same time, a friend told me that she had gotten so tired of having to replace…

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Brendan’s Confirmation

On Wednesday, January 11, Brendan, his father and I went to his Confirmation evening of recollection. The evening began with a monastic type of potluck dinner, during which all of the participants remained silent while our pastor read to us about Maria (a holy young girl who lived in Mexico). After dinner, we proceeded to…

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Priestly Role Models

Sedes Sapientiae, ora pro nobis.  Our parish has been blessed with a second priest, Fr. Harkins. His presence has inspired my two youngest sons to pretend to be priests and “offer” Mass. They’ve been dressing up, cutting “hosts” from printer paper, ringing their little bell, and using their child-size thurible. The other day, Finnian…

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Baby Update

At my doctor’s appointment this morning, baby’s heart rate was 145 beats per minute and my “baby belly” measured 23 centimeters which matches up nicely with the baby’s age of 22 weeks and 4 days. I have another appointment in two weeks to check on the baby’s growth and test my anti-factor Xa levels again.…

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Ten Rules for Being Happy Parents

Happy New Year! I hope that everyone has a blessed Feast Day. In 2012, I am going to attempt to live by the rules below which are adapted from Father Raoul Plus, S.J.’s Christ in the Home. I would also like to reread his book. Thank you to Cindy K. who shared this with members of our parish.

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2011 Read Alouds

Alvin Fernald, Foreign Trader by Clifford B. Hicks Alvin Fernald, Mayor for a Day by Clifford B. Hicks Banner in the Sky by James Ramsey Ullman Dog Training for Kids by Carol Lea Benjamin Once upon a Time Saints and More Once Upon a Time Saints by Ethel Pochocki Petite Suzanne by Marguerite de Angeli Secret…

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2011 Personal Reading

The Art of Raising a Puppy (Revised Edition) by the Monks of New Skete Before and After Getting Your Puppy: The Positive Approach to Raising a Happy, Healthy, and Well-Behaved Dog by Dr. Ian Dunbar Boys Should Be Boys: 7 Secrets to Raising Healthy Sons by Meg Meeker I found this book informative, but it was…

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Tintin

On Tuesday, my five eldest children went to see The Adventures of Tintin with their dad and their uncle. I was happy to hear that they really liked it and that they are looking forward to hopefully seeing a sequel. Like their grandfather and me, they have grown up with the Tintin comic books and they enjoyed seeing him…

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Christmas 2011

Once again this year, my husband gave us the greatest Christmas gift possible by taking  us to Midnight Mass. As usual, Elizabeth and Finnian slept through the lessons and carols and the Mass. Patrick, however, surprised us this year by staying awake. After Mass, he told me, “Mommy, I think that I am definitely ready to receive…

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Passing on the Blame

A week ago, I went downstairs to start another load of laundry. Upon returning upstairs, I noticed that the living room was no longer clean. I asked those present, “Who destroyed the living room?” Elizabeth quickly informed me, “St. Nicholas destroyed it.”

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