Daybook August 30th

Outside my window: Are the beautiful mountains of Albuquerque. This is definetly becoming our second home and I really enjoy the landscape here. I think once you live here you become immune to the beauty of waking up to those mountains everyday...but they are truly majestic!

I'm pondering: babies. babies. sweet babies. Lots of new babies around me these days tugging at my heart stings. Seven week old little girl next to us in mass Sunday and when she cried it brought tears to my eyes...baby fever much?

I'm listening to: Cable TV, such a special treat. Most of it is unimpressive to say the least but I do love me some TLC!

I'm wearing: My favorite capri's and a high neck post melanoma scar tee. My wardrobe has a very clear distinction between pre-melanoma and post-melanoma :)

I'm thankful for: The opportunity to follow Jacob to Albuquerque. I feel so fortunate to be able to travel with our entire family.

From the kitchen: Nothing! Out to eat every meal here. I did buy some fresh veggies though to make sure we are all getting our greens in. Its easy as an adult to make the right choices at a restaurant but it is a challenge to get veggies on a kids plate at most major restaurants. So we supplement!

I'm thinking: About timeing and Gods plan for our family. Baby fever is upon us all and we are all prayerfully approaching his throne for guidance and for health!

Towards education: LOTS! I am so proud of the progress we have made this week as far as our home school pre-k. I ordered some awesome books from Seaton and also made some hooked on phonics purchases. I can hardly wait to get home to open up all the packages! We brought tons of stuff with us here too and are enjoying the fact that school is easily transportable!

Towards Rhythm and Beauty: working on a schedule that is flexible enough yet structured enough to keep us all accountable. I am not sure how our schedule is going to look just yet but I do know that with all our traveling and Jacobs heavy workload it MUST be flexible!

To live the liturgy: Every time we travel I am so thankful for the universality of the Catholic Church. Find a Catholic church anywhere in the world and know that the liturgy will be the same no matter where you are. love it!

I am hoping and praying:
For SO many new babies that have popped up this week, such amazing miracles!
For some NFP clients and dear friends as they are almost out of the first trimester!!!
For three dear friends joyfully accepting the many crosses involved with different stages of pregnancy
For family reconciliations
For a successful start to our schooling
For Jacobs workload

Around the house: I am really good at playing house in a hotel room. The suitcases are empty and the "kitchen" is in working order.

On Keeping Home: Home is wherever we are all together and this week its the pyramid marriott

One of my favorite things: Trying new things with the kids. This week we did putt putt and bowling it was wonderful to see the boys so excited to try something new.

A few plans for the rest of the week: more putt putt! We bought a few extra games so we could go back and enjoy the cool evenings here.

A picture thought worth sharing:

Pictures please

(not going to get to finish that post from earlier)

...because I'm making an awesome party book for my Grandpa.

Calling all Bos family...please please please send me any pictures you have from Grandpa's suprize 80th birthday party. I'm going to try to finish the book by Wednesday night by midnight, short deadline but I'd really appreciate anything you got. I have lots of cute ones of all the posed shots of everyone together but didn't get too many of all the special guests that were there. Thanks for the help!

I'll share the link to it here so yall can see it when I'm done.

Minnesota

Minnesota was a wonderful well needed vacation! We all had such a great time hanging out with Grandma Dubb and fortunatly nothing got broken :) Nicholas did set off her medical alert necklace though so we had to explain to the hospital that there was a little guy in the house and not a sick grandma. She cooked her famous mushroom soup meat...one of those dishes that tastes amazing but is completely unable to recreate by anyone but Grandma Dubb. I was thrilled to get this amazing picture of my boys with Grandma too.Love her! So feisty that lady! We can't wait to see her again in early November...and the rest of Jacob's Minnesota family too! Curtis is stealing the computer from me so he can do his "homework" so I'll have to finish up later. Hopefully tonight if I get a chance.

Oh ya you becha doncha know!

That's right folks we are headed to Minnnnnnessssotaaahh. We will be headed up to the northern lakes for a few days with our dear friends Mike & Emily Lavine. We will also get to eat some pie with Jacobs fun and feisty grandmother...so excited! Heres to praying that Nicholas doesn't break anything too expensive while in Grandma Dubb's beautiful appartment. We will be away from all technology for a almost six days so don't expect anything new here for awhile. Yahoo for no blackberry interruptions on our vacation!

Feast of the Assumption of Mary

Happy Assumption Day! We had a beautiful day making a Mary craft and then bringing flowers to Mary. Curtis was really excited about the entire day...Nicholas just wanted to swim in the pond and break our craft. Ohhhh that boy keeps me on my toes. Curtis and I tried so hard to pray a decade of the rosary after presenting our flowers to Mary but it ended up sounding like this...

Hail Mary (Nicholas don't throw rocks in the pond) full of grace (Nicky get down from there) the Lord is with thee (Nicholas Michael Counts don't throw my rosary in the pond...how are we doing to get that out?!) blessed art thou among women (honey, please keep your hands out of the pond) and blessed is the fruit of thy womb jesus (Jesus, Mary, & Joseph...you almost fell in that time!) Holy Mary mother of God (Nicholas keep the flowers out of the pond and out of your mouth) pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen (repeat ten more times)

Oh Mary...at least I tried right?! God I love that kid! Look at that smile...who me?

August Updates

We started off August with a wonderful family trip to Corpus Christi with the Counts clan. We had a wonderful long weekend playing at the beach, visiting the Texas State Aquarium, going to a Hooks game, and making hotel feasts Counts style! Only our family could pull off cooking a lasagna with salad and appetizer from our hotel room! We snapped some family pictures on the beach, I'll share those as soon as I steal them all from Jessica's camera. These are a few of my favorite pictures from the weekend but there are tons more on our shutterfly site.

Next week we head to Minnesota to visit the Lavine's and Grandma Dubb. We are flying to Minneapolis and then driving basically just south of Canada to stay in a lake house for a few days. We are SO looking forward to meeting sweet little James and catching up with our wonderful friends! Its been too long since we have seen them!!! But then again when you have friends like them...a few days is too long to go without seeing them!

On the health front: My return to the running world brought some strange symptoms with it. I am headed back to the doctor today to double check that these are just recovery symptoms from the heat stroke and not a clue into the reason it happened in the first place. I think my running days are officially over for now at least...

Sunday Daybook

Outside my window: Its hot...no surprise there. Not gonna change anytime soon either. This is the time of year when anyone who chooses to live in Texas seriously discerns their sanity. Then comes October...oh how I LOVE October!

I'm listening to: My dryer cleaning up yet another load of dirty clothing out of a suitcase. I believe I have unpacked at least one suitcase a week this entire summer.

I'm wearing: My PJ's of course! My scar is really bothering me the past few days though so I am trying to keep it exposed as much as I can at night.

I'm thankful for: Having all my nieces and nephews right here in town. I am so thankful to see them all as often as I do. I realize how blessed I am to get to watch them grow slowly and to be a part of their small milestones along the way. Way to go Kaylee on potty training this week by the way! Such a big girl!

I'm pondering: Should I call the doctor about my scar? Its looking worse than before...hoping the puffiness and redness are normal still this far out of surgery?

I'm reading: Just my magnificat, which I love.

From the Kitchen: I am eager to have Jacob home this week so I can cook some homemade food for him. Hes sick and tired of restaurant food after two weeks away!

I'm thinking: About a special project I am discerning...trying to come up with some sacrifice ideas to allow room in our budget for this project to happen. Giving up sodas? More coupon-ing?

I'm creating: Nothing. After a growth chart and (finally) a star for Nicholas, I'm done creating for at least a few days!

Towards Education: Searching slick deals for the entire hooked on phonics series. Still working on our math curriculum and contemplating "start" dates.

Towards Rhythm and Beauty: Working to get back into "normal life" for four days. The kids always have some adjustments to make after Daddy's been gone for awhile...Curtis needs lots of Daddy snuggles and one on one time and Nicky needs to establish safety in Daddy's arms again.

To live the liturgy: I am going to daily mass at least one extra day a week, I SO need it. Working on a confession schedule, probably bi-weekly, possibly once a month?

I'm praying for: Lots of our NFP clients who are expecting their first babies in the next month. The Groves and their adjustment to life in Augusta. The Livingstons and their food allergy experiments. Bridges to be built within our extended family. Discernment on school for Curtis. For an end to Curtis's tonsil saga. For Jacob and his tremendously stressful project at work. For peace from the "noise" in my head this week!

Around the House: Returning to normal for four days, then packing up for The Counts vacation to Corpus Christi on Friday...whoo hoo!

On Keeping Home: I am loving all the new organization in our school room. Still pondering a few more baby proofing ideas for Nicholas man that kiddo really should be a tester for baby proofing products. He is awesomely impressive at destroying things.

One of my favorite things: Playing at the pool with my boys. We all LOVE the water. It is such a blessing to have such brave little swimmers! Curtis had a lot of "firsts" this week and I so enjoy watching his face light up when he is successful! A big thank you to my parents for making those firsts happen!

A few plans for the week: Spending time with daddy is definitely priority numero uno! Hopefully getting a few minor projects done around here. Packing and organizing for Corpus Christi. Ein Karim on Tuesday, LOVE those ladies! Dinner with the Weisbruch's hopefully...

A picture thought worth sharing: Oh the wedding talk has been out of control here. See how they are watching and soaking in every detail...Curtis and Clare have planned out their wedding (to each other naturally) and Curtis promised her this week he would love her forever and ever. Their was even a pillow complete with rings :) When I took this picture I knew it would be a cousin moment I would want to remember in 20 years...