A quick rant.

Tiss the season... ...for sick kiddies. Do you know what's on the rise aside from flu? Pertussis. Do you know what your child can get immunized from beside the flu? Pertussis. Do you know what can't happen if you get immunized? Autism. Can you still get sick? Sure, but the chances are far less likely. Two years ago a friend of mine's daughter nearly died from the flu. She was three years old. A perfectly healthy little girl. She got sick. It got bad. She spent a week in a coma. She's fine now, but she's one of the lucky ones. There are two many kids who aren't so lucky. I do need to say that this friend was not an anti-vaccine person. She didn't put her child in harms way. It just happened. What makes me mad is people who willing do put their kids in harms way. They choose not to vaccinate. Which keeps diseases that should be eradicated around. What makes me angrier is that not only are they putting thierry own kids at risk but they are also putting all those they come in contact with at risk as well. I don't get all the science behind the argument. And quite frankly I don't care. I realize that some people can't get vaccinated because of some other medical issue. I don't blame them, in fact, I feel bad that they are out in such a difficult position. What burns me up are people who champion to stop vaccines from being mandated. People who believe vaccines are the cause of autism. People who are willing to put their kids at risk of serious illness for no good reason. I just don't get it.

Gadget love.

I love gadgets. I love what they can do. Simplifying complicated tasks.
What I have and how I use them (perhaps a bit braggy and pretentious but fun still):
1. IPhone - more than just a phone. It's my calendar, my email, it's my connection to everything and everyone. I do so much on my phone it's ridiculous. When we first got the phones we got the unlimited data package. Having no clue it turns out this was a great idea. For a time it was the only way I surfed the web. At times it has been too much of a distraction but for sure I'd hate to ever give it up.
2. iPad- wifi only. Didn't want another constantly connected device. This machine is incredible. I keep my grades on it. I have a plan book app to do lesson plans. I watch movies or shows. And more we surfing and reading. It is wonderful.
3. Nook. Black and white. It's easier to read long books on this screen then on the iPad. And I don't miss having real books. I love its portability.
4. Ninja food processor. See it's not all computers. From smoothies to chopped veggies this thing has worked hard for me.
5. Keurig. I got this for Christmas last year and am so happy with it. My guest can come and have coffee and I can have all the fun drinks in the world. My favorites: chai, hot cider, and southern sweet tea over ice

so I am sure that there are more gadgets I can profess my love for but I'll leave at that. Now I'll shear with you my wish list.

1. Sewing machine. Okay I have one, actually I have two. But both are simple basic machines. What I want is a digital controls one that does embroidery.
2. Camera upgrade. I would likea. Dslr camera. I have a fairly powerful camera with a lot of functions that I have been using that last few years. I've learned a lot with it. I'm ready for an upgrade. I want to learn even more and do a bit more. From what I gather a dslr will make some of what i like to do even easier.
3. A food dehydrator. Completely random right? I love gardening. And I love to preserve what I grow. I would love to expand my preserving by using a dehydrator to preserve peppers and make sundried tomatoes.


So there you have it. I love my gadgets. I love what I have and I use it all and well. And there's always more to want. But alas none of it do I need and I'll live without until I don't have to 😏

100 posts

It turns out this is my 100th post.
Don't have much to say really. It's the beginning of Advent. That always makes me happy. I love preparing for Christmas.
Actually, this is the first year that we are not set up right after Thanksgiving. Hopefully by the end of the week we will be. Why didn't we get it done? DISNEY!!!
We surprised our kids with a trip to Disney. It was my first experience on a plane as well as the kids. It was the kids first Disney trip and mine as well. (okay so I went when I was 3 but I don't remember any of it so it doesn't count).

Things from that trip:

• you can see some of our adventure on our trip blog
• I am so glad we waited until the kids were older
• I will never go with a baby or toddler. It may be a kid friendly place but never never never would I want that hassle. 
• My kids are fantastic travelers
• I am not
• Disney is all it's hyped up to be

I know I don't blog much. I keep saying I'll do more and then I never do. I wanted to post some pictures. But I'm not a huge picture person. I love playing with my camera. I want a fancier one. But I want to enjoy my photos and keep them to myself. I'm not a huge fan of photo blogs. For me pictures are to trap memories. I like the shots that capture moments in time. I don't like posed shots. I don't like looking at 100 pictures that all feel the same. With my big camera I took almost 800 pictures at Disney. Most of them didn't come out the way I wanted. But a lot of them caught some great moments. I tend to hold the shutter down and snap 3-5 pics at a time. It creates a really neat affect sometimes. 

ANYWAY, the tumblr has some pics and maybe in a few days we'll add some more. Right now we are prepping for Christmas. It's a time for shopping, crafting, baking and so much more. 

Catch you later

i know you miss me.

Well, I did it. I let blogging take a backseat. To, well, everything.

My last post was September 16.

Here's a disjointed brain vomit of what has happened since then.

Since then I have dove head-long into the world of working mom. The fall was/is pure insanity. Things are finally mellowing out with the sports season coming to an end.

There has been a lot of adjusting and a lot of eye-opening in the last month and half. Honestly it feels so far away. I can't believe that it's been only a month and a half.

I work 4 days a week and my schedule is inconsistent from day to day but week to week it's mostly the same. Each of the four days my hours are different and my location is different. It's taken me these last 8 weeks to really wrap my head around the ever changing days.

I'm learning that I need to take in more caffeine. I was a one cup a tea a day kind of person, but I find I need more just to get through the day. I don't know how else to keep my energy up and not pass out by 8am.

Thankfully the kids have adjusted beautifully to a working mom. For the most part it doesn't really affect them that much. They spend their days in beautiful ignorance of what I am doing and where. What they have noticed is my lack of presence at their school. Last year I stepped up big time and was volunteering twice a week. This year I am very rarely there.

The nice thing is that what my daughter really wants is to see me come to school masses. Those happen every Friday. Which happens to be my day off. I have been to two so far. :/

Some of our survival skills that were employed when the twins were born have really come back to good use. For a while there we were running to early evening practices four nights a week. Being big on the family meal we had to do some creative menu planning. Much like when the kids were babies we have made a lot of freezer meals to pull out on those nights where there's no time to cook. (A new favorite is taco pockets) (A book I recommend: Don't Panic Dinner is In the Freezer). We've been big menu planners for years. Every week we sit down and hammer out what we are going to eat for the week. This cuts out the "What are we eating for dinner?" problem.

In general we are doing good. Life is crazy. We have done a lot but I lack the time to tell you all about it.

Perhaps later this weekend. I'll get to some photo blogging. 

The thing about Josh.

Joshua is five. He is the younger of my twins (by 1 whole minute). Does this matter? The doctor thought it did. He litterally ifted his hands up on and watched the clock tic off a minute before he pulled Joshua out.

Joshua for a long time was my smallest child. He was born at 4lbs and change. Definitely the runt of the litter. :) Being small has never really slowed him down. If anything it gave him the perfect cover. Josh, from the time he was a small baby has always been my independent one. He thrives best when you leave him alone.

The irony to this is that he is also my space-cadet. This boy can get lost standing next to you. The poor kid comes by it honestly though. He doesn't mean for things to happen they just do.

Today marks the end of the 3rd weeknof school. In this time my darling boy has:

• lost track of a sweatshirt
• thrown away a Tupperware container
• put an open gogurt tube back in his lunch box
• put all of his lunch trash in his lunch box, rather than throw it away at school. This included and open applesauce, juice box and trail mix crumbs.
• left his library book in his desk for two days

The thing about Josh is that he's a little bit forgetful. A little bit exasperating. And a lot of fun.

i'm working. it's working.

A think to ponder before I do a full update:

A stay at home mom should be praised for her sacrafices. Admired for her ability to get it all done. A stay at home mom needs love and support from her community.

A working mom should be  praised for her sacrafices. Admired for her ability to get it all done. A working mom needs love and support from her community.

Some mom's can choose to stay at home and do so because that is what is best for her family. Some mom's can choose to go to work and do so because that is what is best for her family.

Some mom's have no choice to work or stay at home those are the mom's that need love, support and encouragement the most. They choose life and for that they should be praised.

Motherhood is hard. Motherhood is challenging. Motherhood is beautiful. Motherhood is rewarding. 

holy cow.

Hello September.

What the hell happened to August?!?

We went on vacation to Myrtle Beach and had so much fun.

We came back from a great family week to madness. Paul flew out to Hawaii and back (which isn't as great as it sounds, well Hawaii is apparently great, but his trip was not). My garden was in full bloom. It was harvest time.

We have been eating fresh tomato and peppers with our salads. I have so far canned 7 quarts of tomatoes, 10 8oz jars of bruchetta, and 5 pints of relish. I also have 1 8oz container of pesto sauce in the freezer. Today I have to can more tomatoes. It's a fair amount of work but it's worth it to have home grown food.

August was also filled with back to school shopping and the first day of school.

The first week went well. I definitely had some tired and sensitive kids by the end of the week. I'm grateful now for this four day weekend. 

You would think that getting the kids out of the house would free me up, but it hasn't yet. I don't exactly expect for me to get bored. There is always something for me to do. This week I have been preparing for a big consginment sale. You can read about it here. I have dug through every bin of clothing. My living room has bins everywhere. It will be a while before I get everything back in order again. 

I have piles ready to go straight to donation. A pile that goes to one friend. A pile that goes to another friend. A pile that goes to storage until the spring sale. A pile that goes into storage until the kids can wear it. And lastly the pile that is tagged and ready for the fall sale. Lot's of piles, lots of bins, but it's all going somewhere and most of it is leaving the house. 

I also don't plan on being home all year. I have been interviewing for jobs. I am confident that something will come down the pike that is right for me. Something that offers the flexibility I need and the opportunities I crave. 

Well for now I will marvel that it is September. My kids first cross-country race is this weekend. The second week of school is only four days away. So many new and exciting experiences are coming our way. 

wind down. wind up.

It's that time again.

Summer vacation is rolling to a stop. Funny how it starts off with a bang. You move so fast through the days and weeks. And then the final weeks seem to take a little longer as you gear up for the next transition.

My Summer Vacation rocked. Most of the time. I took the kids to the Zoo (twice). We went to the beach. We went to the pool. We completed our Summer Reading Programs at the local library. We went to the movies.

I kept the kids busy, and at the same time we spent lots of time at home. It was wonderful. The kids sleep in until well after 8 most mornings. Every day has started the lazy way. Making our way downstairs and through breakfast. While eating the kids always ask "What are we doing today?"

Some days we had lots to do some days we didn't. To the kids it didn't matter either way. They spent their vacation playing and having fun. But now we are down to the final two weeks of vacation. The school supplies box has resurfaced. Uniforms have been fitted. We are here in the home stretch.

I'm happy for it. Just as I was happy for the start of summer. I am happy for the start of our next adventure. This year will be the first that all four kids will be in school at the same time. I am thrilled beyond measure. I cannot believe that we have finally have come to this point.

I'm hoping for more changes this year. I'm praying for it. Five years ago I gave up my teaching post to stay home with my growing family. It was too much to work full-time with four small children. Day-care was far too expensive. Not to mention the ability to handle the work-load. Now that my kids are older and more independent, I am ready to go back to work. I just wish that finding a job wasn't so difficult.

Going back to work will be a huge challenge for sure. Juggling four school kids and a full time job won't be easy. But I am ready to take that on. I miss being in the classroom. For a long time that wasn't true. I was too busy with my family to want anything else. But my kids are older now. They need me less. I find myself more restless. I find myself wanting more.

It will be a huge change for everyone if I get a job and go back to work. Our lives will certainly get busier. All the things I do during the day will still have to get done somehow. I was a working mom before and we did just fine. I am sure that it will be just the same. Sure it's different. I have four instead of two. But my kids are older and more capable of pitching in then they were the first time I worked.

So here's to transitions. Here's to my kids going back to school. Some for the first time. Here's hoping I find a decent job. Here's to the good life!

9 years today.

I said "I do" 9 years ago today.

10 years ago (not to the day), I said yes to the most important question ever asked me.

I believe that marriage is a calling, in the Church we call that a Vocation. God called me to the vocation of Marriage.

My pathway to Heaven is through Marriage.

He sent me my husband, and when the time was right to full-fill God's plan for us to marry it happened.

We said yes.

And in the last nine years we said yes again and again.

Four times we said yes when we found out we were pregnant.

One time we said yes when we held each other through a miscarriage.

Many times we said yes when we celebrated life's big accomplishments. Buying/Selling houses, buying cars, getting jobs, getting promotions...

Many times we said yes when we sought each others arms during times of hardship. Through deaths of loved ones, day-to-day financial struggles, fear of uncertain futures...

We've said yes on our most difficult days.

We've said yes on our best days.

God promises us that if we have faith we will never be alone. I have never been alone. During the last 9 years I have had the best company. I see God's promise fulfilled in my Husband.

When the days are long and tiring I know that at the end of it Paul is there. I know that he will always be there whether I need him or not. That is the promise he made to me 9 years ago. Likewise, I will always be there for him whether he needs me or not. That is the promise I made to him. We will never break that promise. Never.

I know there are days were I have driven Paul crazy. I have made him angry. I may have even hurt him. But he is always there. He has driven me crazy. Made me angry. May have even hurt me. But I am not going anywhere. Every challenge we work through makes our bond stronger. Every triumph we celebrate brings us closer still.

I give Praise and Thanksgiving that God has called me to Marriage. I thank God for giving me Paul as a husband.

Paul has made me stronger over the years. He has made me more confident, as a wife and mother. There is no one I'd rather be with.

I love what we have said yes to. I love what we have been called to. And I can't wait to see what the next 9 years bring. 

fast updates.

Well it's August. There's truth in the saying "Time flies when you're having fun."

July
We had Catherine evaluated by the Orthodontist. Molds were made, pictures taken and the prognosis is in.
The girl has a tiny mouth and will need lots of metal to make it bigger and her teeth straiter. In my opinion her mouth is plenty big, but from an oral hygiene perspective not so much. In preparation for hardware installation she had to have two teeth removed. So off the oral surgeon we went and 30 mins later she had two less teeth in her mouth.
And like a good mother, I took her the day before we left for vacation. And because I love her so much I took a picture of her mouth full of gauze, and laughed hysterically at her drug induced state. The rest of her orthodontics will take place in the next few weeks. Should be lots of fun.

In the meantime, July flew past us in a daze. We celebrated Paul's birthday. We went to the beach for the 4th of July weekend (though the actual 4th was spent at home). My garden has grown out of control. Everything is growing bigger than I expected and faster than I can keep up with.

The end of July brought us to our family Vacation. This was our third trip down to Myrtle Beach, SC and once again we had a blast. We've been going every-other-year and this year might have been the best yet. Our drive was good (though I can't say that driving through VA has ever been easy), the kids are champs at fast pit-stops. We left the house at 5am and were on the beach by 7pm.

Vacation week was spent between the beach and pools. The kids love the swimming and splashing in the waves. They are finally big enough to do a lot of it on their own. We only pulled out swimmies for one day. The biggest pool has a large 3ft section which meant all of our kids could touch bottom. 3 out of 4 of the kids discovered they love being underwater. And they all learned to cannon ball into the pool. All in all the week was great. I look forward to going back again.

July gives way to August and I can't believe it's already the second week. The kids go back to school in just two and half weeks. I've done the uniform shopping now it's time to do the supply shopping. It's all so exciting and overwhelming at the same time. This year is a big one. All four kids are going to school this year. I can't believe this day is finally here.

In the meantime I'm still hunting for work. I've sent my resume out several times to no avail. I'm praying something comes up soon. So while I continue my job search I will spend my time on crafting and house work (all fun stuff right?).

I'm hoping to get our dining room project done soon. When it is I will post a picture or two.

observation of the day.

Since the summer started my kids have been playing board games like it's nobody's business. The have been spending hours playing games.
Trouble, Chutes and Ladders, Uno, anything they can get their hands on.

I'm not sure that there is a favorite among the pile of games. It's just whatever they feel like playing.

The other day Paul and I overheard Stephen telling his brothers that he didn't want to play any game because he always loses. Paul and I laughed at the thought and both agreed that this was a wimps way out. Harsh? Nah, it's reality. Only a wimp wouldn't play a game because he's afraid to lose.

Now before you go judging me I didn't actually say this to Stephen, but I would say it if we were in the same room if the conversation goes that way. They need to learn to taking losing as well as winning.

Story Part II
Every other Saturday my kids participate in something called The Lehigh Valley Road Runners. It's a free running program for kids. It's geared at getting kids excited about running and encouraging exercise in a world that doesn't encourage it enough. They break the kids into age groups starting at 3 all the way up to 12 and have them running races.
The last race was the first time that David and Joshua moved up from the 3-4 yr division to the 5-6. In the beginning of the summer David was running strong and coming in the top of the pack. This last race he didn't not do as well. Someone who doesn't know our kids would have no idea what happened. But Paul and I saw it and knew right away why David under performed.
See Stephen is in the 5-6 division as well, and Stephen is not a strong runner. He did cross-country last year and the poor kid try as hard as he did and always came in last. But the thing is he aways did it with a smile. David is fast. When playing outside he often outruns his brothers. I think David somehow got all of the athletic ability in the house. In this last race David was running with Stephen, he was staying one step behind Stephen the whole time. David let his big brother come in ahead of him.

Back to today's observation.
The boys were playing downstairs, and David convinced Stephen to play a game with him. Stephen won. David asked if they could play another game. Stephen declined. David then said, but maybe you could win that game too. Stephen still said no.

What this tells me?
David cares more about playing with Stephen than he does about winning. David is fully aware of how Stephen feels when he doesn't win, and David does what he can to spare his feelings. Sometimes ;)
David let Stephen win this mornings game. This is so that David can keep playing the games he wants to play with Stephen. This fascinates me. The boys are five years old. And they are already fully aware of how to manipulate each other to do what they want.

Before you go gushy.
Just so you know, that while this gesture of David letting Stephen win to spare his feelings is really sweet, David can also be quite the stinker. Like I said, David is willing to give up winning in order to keep playing. He wants to play these games, and he'll do what it takes to play. Yes, he does care about his brothers (and sister), and he does care if they are happy or not. But his motives are always pure. After all this is the boy that is known for hiding puzzle pieces when someone is working on a puzzle. ;)

need your opinion

I have been doing a lot of sewing lately and this is my next project. This is going to be for my husbands aunt. I have a dilemma. Here are my two fabric pallets.

I could go all black and white.

Or I could throw in a bit of color. 

I can't decide what will look better. 

If I throw in the color what do I do with the band around the top of the bag and the straps? If I stick with all black and white that's a no brainer. 

So I can't decide. What do you think?

Found this picture of my daughter. Didn't even know it was still on my computer. Thought I had transfered all of my photos off the harddrive.

It's amazing how small she was. I'd say this was around 1 year old. Not too sure. I know it was before Stephen because when he was born he moved in the the crib and she in a twin size bed.

july garden.

Remember when I was talking albout gardening. I put up a few pics of my piles of dirt. Well here we are. It's July. The soil I ordered was horrible. It's the weediest soil I've ever worked with. Two layers of weed block and I've been weeding since day one. It's also very clay like and clumpy. Not smooth at all. But my plants are still thriving. I had some issues with starting from seeds but that was due to weather not the soil. The seeds would spring up and and die in the heat of June. It was a hot hot month.

Above is the long box filled with celery, watermellon, peppers and tomatoes.

Above is a tomato plant growing taller than the cages. This might be the tallest I have ever seen them grow.

Tomatoes ripening up only a few more days. These plum tomatoes are wonderful. They are coming off the plant crisp and tasty. Soon I will be canning like a mad women. I'd say right after vacation it will be canning time.

Watermellon, a week ago this was the size of a grape today it's the size of a baseball. I didn't know they grew so fast.

This last photo is my small box. We had lettuce but it tasted horrible so I ripped it out. Strawberries are growing nicely though they haven't sent out too many suckers yet. In the back is the cucumber. I have two picklers and one slicer. I'm not sure how I will keep them apart now that they are climbing all over each other. Oh and in the middle there is a sprig of basil. Yummy Yummy

vacation week 3

Today begins week 3 of Summer Vacation. The first two weeks have been packed. This week will test my skills as a mom.

Week 1 was filled with drs appointments, baseball games, and a trip to the Philadelphia Zoo.

Weekend 1 was also busy with t-ball, road runners race, father's day and the twins birthday celebration.

Week 2 was Vacation Bible School week, also crazy busy. Getting up and out the door every morning coming up for lunch and then errands in the afternoon. We also went to another baseball game and had a dentist appointment where we were told it's time to take Catherine to an Orthodontist.

This past weekend, Catherine and I went to yet another baseball game, and slept on the field with her girl scout troop after the game. Lots of fun very little sleep. We also had a birthday party to go to on Saturday, and a graduation party on Sunday.

This week the calendar is empty. Today I'm planning a quick trip to the gym and then maybe the mall to get our free birthday cookies from Barnes and Noble. Then it's home to do some cleaning and crafting. Last week was rainy so very little laundry was done. It's time to catch up on that.

So far I have completed 2 water bottle holders. They came out fairly well. I'll try to get pictures up soon. I've also decided on the pattern for the Summer Quilt I want to make for our room (now it's time to start collecting fabrics).

I'm curious to see how everything works out this week now that we are not over scheduled. This is the week that will test the kids. How are they going to handle their freedom? Stay tuned for updates... 

babies on my mind.

It seems to me that a lot of my friends are getting ready to have their first babies. I remember early on in my first pregnancy reading a commentary that spoke of what you go through during a pregnancy. Not the physical stuff but the emotional stuff. One thing that it touched on was how it often feels like every women who has had a baby feels the need to share their own stories with you while you are pregnant.
I found this to be so true. Fortunately for me most of the stories were good stories. I try very hard to suppress the urge to always comment on a pregnant moms thoughts but it's not easy. I think it's the bond of women that makes us share our experiences. It's our way of saying you are not alone.
Because of all of these pregnant people in the facebook world I have been thinking a lot of my own experience. I want to share two things. 1. The best advice I ever got. 2. The thing I wish someone would have told me.

1. The best advice came from a co-worker at the High School I was at. She told me to obey my child's schedule. How true this turned out to be. As long as I fed baby when baby was hungry and let baby nap when baby was tired, we were all happy campers. I learned to plan outings around feeding and napping schedules. I can safely say that this strategy has paid off for me in huge ways. I don't take my kids out when they're tired, even now I won't do it. I know that disobeying my children's need for schedules is a recipe of disaster. It's not always possible to obey the schedule, but the more you do the happier you all will be. And for the record, I don't believe people when they say their child doesn't have a schedule. Every baby has a schedule. Every person has a schedule.

2. The thing I wish I knew before we brought Catherine home. Now this is a biggie. I think the reason no one told me was because it's not a pretty moment. Here's my story. Catherine was born around 3:30 in the morning, after 12 hours in the hospital and another 12 hours or so before we left for the hospital. To say we were exhausted when we finally met her was an understatement. I remember the day we came home, it was the middle of the week and so we didn't have any visitors. My mom was there she got us settled in and then went on her way. Catherine slept a lot that first day home. Paul and I were in a daze of emotion. We had no idea what was coming.
That night could have been one of the most difficult and scariest moments of my life. Nothing serious happened. Catherine just cried. and cried, and cried some more. We fed her, burpped her, rocked her... We did everything we thought we were supposed to do but she wouldn't sleep. Not for anything. I remember sitting at the foot of the bed the next morning panic stricken thinking "is this my new life?".
Turns out it wasn't. We just needed to help Catherine learn the difference between night and day. It turns out that we had a lot to learn. Thankfully it didn't take us more than a few days to get into a wake/sleep pattern that worked.
What no one told me is just how hard the first few nights are. No one told me that the first night home is often the hardest. When Stephen came home we were more or less ready for a few long nights. Knowing what was coming made it all a bit easier.
No one wants to tell you that you have no idea how hard parenting is going to be. We don't want to scare new parents. Being scared isn't going to get you anywhere. The other thing is that you really can't prepare for the experience either.

My honest and humble opinions on what you need in order to make it:

• flexibility - you might have a plan before your child comes a long, but in actuality your child will let you know if your plan was the right one - it's okay to change from your plan. I planned to breastfeed, and found it nearly impossible, once I accepted that it was okay to bottle-feed life got a bit easier
• a sense of humor - sometimes you just have to laugh
• courage - a wimpy parent is not going to get it done. Don't be afraid to tell people that you don't want visitors when the baby first comes home. If you have a rough labor and delivery you may just want to sleep and not worry about guests. Anyone who has had a child will understand this, those who have not will have to trust you. Honestly, the first 24 hours are hard enough without having to worry about visitors. People try to kid themselves saying no one cares what the house looks like, or what I look like, they  just want to see the baby. BUT we all know this isn't true. It's ingrained in us to clean up if someone is coming over. You don't need this kind of pressure. 
• acceptance - having a baby is a traumatizing experience. Both physically and mentally. Accept that you could never have been prepared for such a moment and all will be fine. Accept that you don't have all the answers or even all the control. Becoming a parent is a learning experience. We learn as we go, it's the only way. No baby book could ever get you 100% prepared. The thing about babies is they don't follow rules. 

I love being a mom. I pray that all future moms experience the same joy and love that I have. Motherhood isn't always pretty, but it's always rewarding. 

quick tip.

If you have children that leave the house with lots of stuff I have the perfect product for you. When we enrolled Catherine in kindergarten I knew we would have our hands full trying to keep track of all the stuff that leaves the house.
I found the perfect labeling system from this company. The vinyl labels go on anything and they don't come off easily, but when they do they don't leave a mark. Also, the are dish-washerable. Every thermos, bottle, cup that leaves our house leaves with a label. And the second part of the tip: Order them with only your last name. That way there is no sibling sharing issue.
We ordered the vinyl labels and the iron on labels filled with Anderson on them. And we use them for everything. The iron-ons are really easy to put in and they have staying power. I still have a bunch from my order three years ago, but if I ever run out I'm going back to get more because I have been so happy with their product.

Trust me, if you are sending your kids out of the house for anything school, day-care, sports, park-meets, etc these labels will come in handy.

Happy weekend. 

summer vacation.

This week was our first week of summer vacation. And I am loving the break. We haven't been out of bed before 7:30 all week (sorry this doesn't include Paul).
Most mornings haven't even started until 8:00am I know for those of you who don't have kids that's not late, but early. But most parents know that is a small miracle.
My four kids are an independent breed. They do not require my immediate attention. What does this mean? It means I can get up when I am ready to and take my shower and come down when I am ready. Regardless of what time my kids get up (within reason that is). My children will get up on their own, get dressed on their own and go to the play room to watch tv (locked on PBS for now), or play until I am ready. This makes mornings awesome. I can come down without feeling rushed and get breakfast going with little chaos.
Since vacation has started I have worked on a few routines with the kids. They are now more helpful then ever getting things out for breakfast. Putting out the juice and cups, and clearing their dishes properly when done. I also now have all four of them emptying the clean dishes from the dishwasher. (I have them work in pairs, everything they can't reach gets neatly stacked on the counter for me to take care of)
This week was a packed week of excitement. Monday was Catherine's yearly check-up (okay that wasn't exciting). Tuesday we took the kids to a baseball game. Wednesday we watched Stephen's t-ball game. Thursday we went to the Philadelphia zoo. Today is Friday, we wen't to the fabric store to pick up supplies for my next sewing adventure.
In between all that I am getting more time in at the gym. I swear if I would stop snacking I would lose the weight that I need to. I seem to keep the same weight all the time and I know it's because I work-out that I don't gain weight, but I don't lose any because I haven't changed my eating habits enough.
This weekend should be fun, we have so much cleaning up in the yard to do in time for Father's Day and the twins 5th birthday celebration. Next week will be filled with VBS activities as well as another baseball game, a dentist appointment, and a girlscout camping event.
It feels like it's a lot of running but it really isn't. In order to stave the boredom I try to fill my days with activities, but never more than one thing at a time.
For example.
Monday - gym and any needed errands. We are usually home by noon and tend not to go back out. After lunch I kick them out to play and then they come in and if all chores are done then they can have computer/wii/movie time. After dinner it's outside to play until bed-time.
Tuesdays - gym then library visit.
Wednesdays will most likely become the days we go to the free movies at the Rave.

My favorite thing about summer is that there is no real schedule. We can always change plans and do whatever we feel like doing. My kids are becoming more and more flexible as they get older. I am truly enjoying the season of life. 

dinner is in the pot.

Yes, it's going into the 90s today. Yes it's almost perfect grilling whether. Yes I'm obsessed with grilled food. Yes, I'm using the croc-pot for dinner tonight.
It's not even lunch-time and dinner is cooking. For the first year of the twins life we practically lived on croc-pot meals. It was a survivors tool. We learned that when juggling more than one child the croc-pot can be a life-saver. Paul and I are big on eating dinner as a family. It is a rare occasion that we don't all eat together. Sports schedules can jeopardize the family meal, but the strong willed can still make it happen. Thus, the croc-pot.
Today is the Last Day of School!!! Kids should be home any minute. It's Friday. We always celebrate a Friday. Stephen has t-ball practice. Lot's going on in the Anderson House today. So what are we having for dinner?

Drumroll please......

Braised Beef For Tortillas

1-2 lbs beef round steak

2 large cloves of garlic

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

2 tbs lime or lemon juice

3/4 cups chopped onion

1 tsp marjoram

1/2 cup beef broth

1 can undrained diced tomatoes

Put steak at the bottom of the pot sprinkle with salt and pepper. Mix all the other ingredients together and pour on top of steak. Set your croc to low and enjoy in 8 hours. 

the joy of growing up.

I remember when the first time Paul went back to work after the twins were home. I was terrified. Catherine was still in day-care but here I was at home with a 10 month old and 2 week-old infants. The only thing I remember was how scared I was to be on my own. Somehow I made it through the day. Then the week, then the month. Before I knew it we pulled Catherine back out of day-care and I was managing a household of 4 kids under the age of 3.
This is what I can tell you from the first year: I made it. We didn't always get out of the house. I didn't always get the dishes done before Paul came home from work. I did manage to get a shower in every day. I did manage to keep the kids well fed and clean. Year 1 wasn't pretty, but we survived it. In truth, after about 6 months I transitioned from surviving the days to living the days.
Every mom has days that they simply survive. But every mom needs to switch from surviving to living or they won't make it. That much I am sure of. The distinction is this: Surviving is going through the motions. The simple act of getting from point A (wake-up) to point B (bed-time). Living is actually breathing between point a and b, and maybe even enjoying some of it.
Fast forward from the first few weeks of trying to figure out my new life to the twins turning 1. This was a huge thing for me. I was learning how to love my life with my children. That summer we took our first family vacation. A 13+ hour road trip to Myrtle Beach SC. I can honestly say that the trip on a whole was a success. We found a way to have fun and relax. My parents and sister were a part of what made that trip work. There is no way that we would have went that far without them.
I think after that trip I knew that Paul and I were all right. We were in a place that was good. It was still challenging, but we were definitely moving forward. It was the fall of 2007 that things really started to shift again.
Catherine was 4 and it was time for pre-school. We decided on a 3 day/week program that was in the mornings. Our rationale for sending her was to help her learn to take direction from someone other than me. Granted, she had been through day-care but this was different. I saw this as the transition from home-life to school life. It was time for her to learn to work with kids her own age, and to learn how to handle the school structure.
That year, again, was challenging on me. I now had a 2 yr old and two 1 year olds that I had to manage to get out the door to get Catherine to pre-school. For the first time, we had a schedule that we had to keep. It was another shift in the family dynamic. We were overjoyed to be sending Catherine off to school. This was not because it got her out of the house, but because we (the parents) had helped form the child who was now ready to be away from us at school. Catherine blossomed under the guidance of her pre-school teacher. She grew exponentially in one short school year.
When that year came to an end I was so excited. My children were growing up right before my eyes. I was proud beyond measure that my child's school year went so well. I couldn't wait to do it again. We enjoyed the summer break and in the fall of 2008 we were at it again. This time it was full-day kindergarten. And somehow we landed Stephen in a state-funded pre-school for 3 year olds. My days were crazier then ever. We lived close enough to Catherine's school that I had to bring her and pick her up every day. Stephen's program was clear across the city. So every day I would drop Catherine off drive through the city and drop Stephen off. Spend the day with the twins, go get Stephen and then go get Catherine. Catherine was 5, Stephen 3, David and Joshua were 2. Because of the timing of everything nap-times became a thing of the past. (My trick to walking three small boys)
Each year my kids get older and a new layer gets added to our routine. I can't say that I am sad that my kids are growing up. I'm excited and thrilled. I love what each new year brings. I love watching my daughter learn to read. I love watching Stephen mature and step away from his brothers to advance in his own way. I love watching David and Joshua grow and develop and discover their individuality.
When Stephen was 4 we ended back at the same pre-school Catherine was at (the state cancelled its funding for pre-school programs). David and Joshua just finished the same program (3 days a week a few hours each day). The pre-school teacher at the end of this year was gushing at how much fun she has had with my two boys. She commented on how much she's enjoyed watching them grow over the years. From little babies that could barely walk. To toddlers clinging at my legs, now to boys who are ready for the challenge of school.
I love it. I love all of it. In 2006 I was terrified that I wouldn't make it, that I would somehow fail as a parent. Within 6 months I knew that I couldn't really fail as a parent, but I had no idea what the end-point was. Now almost five years later I know that there is no end-point. I don't think it gets better with age, just different. You start off with this tiny ball of pink fuzz, that you ooh and ahh over. The first sign of communication is when they smile at you as a sign of recognition. You're heart melts at that fist smile, then leaps at the first laugh. It darn near breaks your heart the first time they say I love you and mean it. As they grow they become less attached to you and more eager to explore the world. The thing about it is, they always come back to you.
I've been a parent for eight years. It has not always been easy. But I can say with certainty that it has always brought me joy. Friday marks the end of another school year. Catherine finished second grade, Stephen kindergarten and David and Joshua pre-school. I am not sad to see the end of the year, instead I am filled with joy. I can't wait to start the summer fun, going to the movies, parks, vacation, and library days.
Come September I will be filled with joy once again. Not because I want my kids out the house, but because they have been made ready for another year of growth and discovery. 

summer treat.

I made frozen strawberry lemonade and it was so yummy.
Here's what I did:

Grabbed a bunch of frozen strawberries and put them in my blender. After the were chopped up I added a few cubes of ice and some lemonade.
I kept blending until I got the consistency I wanted. It was really tart so I added about tablespoon of sugar to the thing and it was great. I had enough for one full glass for me and one for each of the boys.

There's no science to it, just keep blending and adding until it looks and tastes good. Last time I added bananas and used water instead of lemonade, it too was really yummy.

We have also bought yoplait frozen fruit smoothies and the kids like them. I don't like yogurt, so it's not my thing.

BTW, the Ninja food prep is the best machine ever!

projects I've done.

It turns out I have a thing for sewing. I might be the laziest sewer ever though because I don't like complicated projects and I often take short-cuts. In the past few weeks I have made a few purses. I started with one for me and then made two more. One for my MIL and one for a Cousin. Pictured below is a completed bag for my cousin and the fabric from my MIL's bag.

It is such an easy project to do. I put a few hours into each bag and love the results. I found this project at AC Moore and the fabric comes from jelly rolls that I buy from the store. The selection at AC Moore isn't huge but they always have something. It's fun because the rolls are tightly wrapped so you can't really see much but the first few strips. You don't know what you're getting until you get it home. 

Using coupons I can manage a bag for about $10, adding a snap is an extra $5!!! One magnetic snap is $5 again I can wait and use a coupon and get it for less. 

Second I got adventurous and made a dress for Catherine. This was far more ambitious and the most difficult thing I have ever made. It isn't perfect but it's wearable. I'm hoping to do better next time. It wasn't so awful that I'll never do it again. But I do have a lot to learn. For one thing, I need work on zippers. 

Yup, I made David model it for me. :-) I needed to see how the straps were attaching and Catherine wasn't home yet. He was a good sport about it, and asked me to take the picture. 

My next project will most likely be some curtains for the kitchen, if that goes well I'll see what it takes to get more curtains in other parts of the house.

I find that it's not always cheaper to sew things but it is more satisfying. 

a proud moment.

There are moments in a parents life that you look forward to. As a Catholic mom watching my kids receive the sacraments is one of those moments. Better than most firsts is the First Communion. Here is my now 8 year old girl in a dress made from the fabric of my wedding dress on a wonderful day receiving Communion for the first time. 

There's not much else to say except that it was a wonderful day. Catherine had prepared well and was all to excited to finally be able to receive communion. My mom did an amazing job on her dress. I still have to get professional pictures done (I'm hoping to once school is out and my schedule is freer).
The weather in the morning was sunny and warm, unfortunately it rained in the afternoon when we had her party.
All in all it was a wonderful day. I'll be back here in two more years preparing my son for the same great joy. 

all that I've been doing and plan to do.

Well as always life has gotten busy and so my blog remains quiet. A quick run-down of recent events and maybe this coming week I'll begin a series of updates.

1. I finished setting up my garden and put in plants.
2. Catherine made her First Communion in a dress made from my wedding dress
3. I learned how to make purses and found that to be fun craft
4. I also made my first real clothing item (a sun-dress for Catherine).
5. The boys finished pre-school.
6. I'm applying for work and researching Grad schools.

There's more but for now that's all I got.. Be back soon.

the veggie garden.

I started gardening about six years ago. I had no idea what I was doing. I was bored and I wanted to try something new. We had this tiny patch of dirt that we didn't know what to do with in our backyard so we decided that I would attempt to garden.

I think the first year I planted some tomatoes and cucumbers. With limited knowledge I watched the cucumbers grow out of control. I learned the hard way that cucumbers are vines and they need a place to grow. I also learned that tomatoes grow tall and get heavy and need strong stakes. That was year one.
I took what I learned the first year and set out the second year to do better. The second year was better but I still had some learning to do. Each year I would build my knowledge base and keep going. Now, six years later I consider myself a decent vegetable gardener.

Here are some general tips to vegetable gardening:

• For me it was all about experimenting. I would buy packets of seeds dig holes in the ground plant the seeds and see what happens. At the end of the season I would take note of what worked and what didn't work. I would note what we liked to eat and what we didn't like. I would also note if we had enough of what we liked or too much. So true tip number 1: Start a journal. write down what you are growing, where you planted seeds, what you liked, did you have enough?
• Raised beds are the way to go. If you plant about normal ground level you will have better drainage and your plants will thrive. My beds this year are about 6 inches above ground level, we shall see how this goes. In my old house they were 12 inches or more. 
• Growing tomatoes? Buy cages. Stakes are fine but are more time consuming. I have collapsable triangle shaped tomato cages. Once your plants start to grow just put the cage around the plant and it will provide the support you need. Stakes require that you tie the plant to it as it grows, cages don't need any kind of ties. 
• Have a trellis for vines or give them lots of space to spread. I personally like the trellis. It looks prettier when it grows and it keeps the vegetables cleaner. A trellis won't work for heavy fruits like melons or pumpkins. 
• Weed block is your friend. If you are starting from scratch at the bottom of your bed place weed block. It's not 100% proof but it will help significantly. If you already have a bed and don't have weed block you can still put it in: You can remove about 3 inches of soil lay the block down then replace the soil. Don't want to spend money? Newspaper works too. Works best about 3inches from the surface. Put the paper down (2 to 3 layers thick) spray with water then cover with soil. (my plan for this year is to put the weed block at the bottom of the bed and the newspaper towards the top--I really hate weeding)
• When watering your plants be sure to water at the roots (and never during the hottest period of the day) and not water the tops of the plants. 
• To stimulate plant growth prune the bottom branches. If you cut of lower branches your plants will grow taller and stronger. 
• If you are transplanting (moving plants from a pot to the ground or one pot to another) be sure to loosen the roots before putting them in their new home. Squeeze the roots and shake them out. This will help them spread and take root in their new home. Also plant deep, meaning that you plant deeper then they were in their previous spot go down the stem 1-2 inches or more. Again, this is all in an effort to strengthen your plant. 

Well that's what I have for now. As I think of new things I will be sure to update this post. As of today I have tiny sprouts that my kids started from seeds that are just waiting to be put into their new home. Between too many rainy days and other family events coming up I haven't had the time to put the finishing touches on my garden, so no transplanting just yet.

I have only one book recommendation. It's called: Carrots love Tomatoes. This was a huge help for me. I started gardening in an urban environment and needed to know how to maximize my space. The book goes into great detail about plants work together well and what doesn't. It also encourages you to plant things closer together than you might think is possible.

Gardening should be fun, can be relaxing and is most definitely rewarding. Let it be one big experiment. Try not to over think what you are doing and let conventional wisdom flow out the window. 

poison ivy an other lessons.

My cyber friend Marjorie has inspired this next post. I use the term cyber friend because I only met her in real life one time, but we talk online quite often. If we lived closer I am sure that we would be more than just cyber friends.

I feel a bit itchy right now and despite the title of today's post I am not infected with poison ivy. yet. Last summer I discovered poison ivy in my backyard. I discovered it the wrong way. I was clearing out a patch of overgrown weeds in my yard I was simply pulling everything out and throwing it in the yard waste pile. Days later the first red bumps started showing up. Within two weeks I had a full blown breakout. My arms, and thighs had seen the worst of it. When it wasn't clearing up and causing physical pain when I walked I went to the doctor. After a shot and a five day steroid treatment it was cleared up. Weeks later Paul attempted to clear the brush and while he thought he was being safe he still broke out. And again at the end of the summer we both got hit again. You would think by this poit we would learn something. We have tried cleaning out the brush with long sleeves and wearing gloves. We have thrown out the gloves after use and immediately take cold showers (hot showers let the oil in open pours while cold showers keep pores closed and helps rid the oils). And yet we continue to have breakouts.

Today I took the kids out back and showed them wear the ivy grows. I would not wish this discomfort on anyone, especially my kids. We are going to try some expensive chemical treatments on the areas that we have detected. I want the kids to play freely in our backyard without the fear of getting infected.

What have I learned from this experience? Be careful! Honestly, after the first out breakout I thought I was being careful. The reality is that poison ivy is ugly and painful. I am sure that I will breakout this summer, but I am going to do the best I can to avoid it.

Tips for my readers regarding poison ivy:

• poison ivy has three leaves, but then again so do other plants.
• their leaves are shiny
• poison ivy can be a bush or a vine. We have the vines
• The stem of the vine is hairy-like
• poison ivy thrives in acidic soil. How do you know if your soil is acidic? You can buy a test kit or look at what is growing around you. Ever greens are acidic plants. 
• if you come in contact with poison ivy taking a cold shower with non-moisterizing soap is the best way to get most of the oils out.

If you couldn't tell by my previous postings I am a gardener. An amateur for sure. But still over the last few years I have developed a love for gardening. I'm going to focus now on gardening tips. 

Up first Potted Plants. 

Tip for all pots: put rocks at the bottom of your pot. This will do two things: 1. improve the drainage and 2. reduce the amount of soil you need it each pot. Also, when watering plants never water during the hottest part of the day. Either early in the morning or late in the day. (This rule is true for all gardening)

Part 1. What kind of Pot are you using?

Terra cotta - these are my favorites. They look so nice all the time. They truly stand the test of time. They tend not to fade or stain which makes them re-usable year after year. Things to know about terra cotta: 

• The do not retain water very well. It is clay after all and very porous. Plants will need to be watered at least once a day and very thoroughly. Not only should you pour water directly into the soil but you should also fill the saucer that the pot is sitting on. 
• They tend to get heavy, which means that they tend to hold up in high winds. In the past I have placed filled pots going up my front steps with no issues. 
• The real problem is that they are fragile. It doesn't take much to brake one. Not a good thing when you have clumsy kids. 

Plastic pots - also nice, easy on the budget. They also come in a lot more colors and varieties than terra cotta. The disadvantage is that they do fade over time. General tips

• They do retain water. Most of the time you only need to water these plants once every other day and not use nearly as much water as with clay pots. Either pouring into the soil or filling the saucer is usually enough water. 
• Small plastic pots are light, and can blow over on a windy day. Make sure you position your pots in places that are blocked by the wind. Or move them up against a wall on a windy day. 
• Because plastic is more sturdy  and lighter going with plastic is recommended when going for the larger pots/plants. (My blueberry bush is in a giant plastic pot. I don't have to worry about the pot breaking or cracking in cold weather, and it's easier to move than a large clay pot would have been. 

Coated clay pots - a clay pot that is either painted or coated gives you the look of clay with the advantages of plastic. They will be heavy (meaning that if you have a large clay pot it will be difficult to move once you fill it). The coating/paint will allow the pot to retain water better than an untreated terra cotta pot. The best thing is they come in lots of custom designs which could really spice up your landscaping. 

Notes about large pots- If you are using oversized planters take note of it's ability to drain before you start to fill it. Most do not have holes in the bottom which means it will not drain excess water. What does this mean? You must be very careful not to over water your plant. You definitely want to have a thick layer of stones at the bottom on the pot (about 1/3 of the pot should be rocks). If it does have drainage holes then be careful wear you place the pot especially if it doesn't have a saucer. 

Final watering tips: Knowing when to water should be common sense but sometimes it's not. If your new to gardening it's a good idea to check your plants daily. Literally stick your finger in the dirt, if it's dry it needs water. If it's wet don't water. 

Also, look at the plant itself. If it's wilting it maybe drying out. A thorough watering can bring it back to life. Over watered plants will also wilt and turn a bit brown and slimy. If it doesn't seam to spring back after a day or so of sunshine, you may need to repot the plant to get the excess water. 

Well that's it for now. Up next I'll focus more on vegetable gardening. 

spring fun.

This years big outdoor project is to get my garden up and running. Step 1 install the rain barrel.

This was a birthday gift last year and I was excited to finally get it installed. The big hold up was deciding where it should go. Logically I wanted it as close to my garden as possible, so first I had to select a garden location. After much thought and exploring I chose the side of the house. Our backyard is tree lined which means high acid soil as well as poor sunlight. The side of the house has no obstructions and therefor the best location for a garden. The rainbarrel was easy to install. All I had to do was cut away the downspout and move the barrel in place. The barrel has a screen on top which keeps debris out as well as Mosquitos. The night after I finished putting it in place it rained and now my barrel is full.

Step 2 is prepping the garden boxes. We put two in on either side of the door (affectionately known as the kid door because we don't let the kids use the backdoor only this one, which leads to the mudroom). Both boxes are lined with weed block and soon I will order the soil and be ready to go.
The smaller garden box will be home to strawberries and cucumbers. The bigger box will have tomatoes, peppers, herbs, and maybe some beans.

spring...

The things I look forward to this spring.

1. Gardening - Last year I couldn't do much because of our move. This year It is on. This weekend Paul built me a garden area and it is huge. Today I bought some seeds to start in small containers. Next I will be ordering some veggie plants (to speed up the process). 
2. Hanging clothes outside to dry - I just read that you can save up to $1.75/load if you use the cold cycle to wash your clothes and hang your clothes outside. At an average of 7 loads a week that adds up quickly. We've been washing our clothes in cold water for years now (we don't use special detergent either and everything comes clean), but hanging things out to dry is new as of this past summer. 
3. Teaching my daughter to ride a bike - Okay I lied, I'm not looking forward to that. It's going to be a challenge but I want to do it. I do look forward to the time spent in the sunshine. 
4. Warm Sunshine - no comment needed. 
5. Grilled food - I love the smell of grilled food. I love the smell of burning charcoal. I love the taste of grilled food. I love the taste of char... he he just kidding. 
6. BURGERS - okay I know, burgers are grilled. We generally don't eat burgers in the winter and I have a special love for burgers. If Paul made me burgers everyday of the week I'd be in heaven. Maybe I should buy him a burger cook book. 
7. The end of the school year - School is a lot of work, for both kids and parents. I look forward to the much needed break. 

8 days.

I went to the neurologist on March 3 to deal with my headaches. Starting at the end of December I had been experiencing headaches of varying degrees of intensity non-stop. Most of January and February are lost in drug induced hazes. Never getting better and only suffering from vicious side-effects of each new medication that my doctor wanted me to try. I spent several weeks hardly able to move from the couch. I slipped into depression (thanks to the medication). I stayed as quiet as I could in cyber land conscious of being a complainer. I waited it out as best I could. Told my doctor what he needed to hear and eventually got my appointment with the neurologist. 

I came home from the neurologist cautiously optimistic. I was put on a less intense medication meant to treat a different type of headache (my primary doc had been treating me for migraines, the head doc wanted to treat it like a tension headache). I was told to chart my headaches. Take the meds and some vitamins and come back in  a month. 

It's March 28. I go to the doctor next week and so far I only have 8 non-consequtive days without a headache. I guess I could be concerned. But I am more determined to just find an end to it. The headache did break for a few days after the initial treatment, but they are still coming back. 

On the plus side I no longer feel like a zombified version of myself. Unless I supass a 6 on the ouch scale (which doesn't happen too often), I can still function and get things done. I just have a nagging discomfort pulsating behind the eyes, or at the base of my skull (depending on the day I'm having). The dizziness is gone. The lethargy has left too. It's just these darn headaches. 

I joke that most days I feel like I'm in my 1st trimester of pregnancy (which I am NOT), run-down, tired, and a little bit off (luckily no sickish belly). 

Well April is the end of this week and I am more than ready for this month to be over. I am ready for more sunshiny days. I find it amusing that I always feel better when it's sunny. The doctor even recommended getting out in the sun for a few minutes each day. I am loving forward to starting my gardening and I will find a way to get it done. 


Here's to feeling better!

teach the children well.

I'm on a parenting kick. So here's the next installment: Allowance and what it's good for.

Halfway through Catherine's first year of school our parish sent home a children's collection envelope. We decided that this would be a good time to start teaching Catherine about charitable giving as well as financial responsibility. She was five at the time so clearly she wasn't going to become a financial expert anytime soon, we just wanted to help her understand the value of money.

In general we are not in the habit of buying luxury items for our kids randomly. The two times a year our kids get "stuff" is birthdays and Christmas (and sometimes Easter). Throughout the year we will make sure that their needs are met, but new toys and treasures are a rare treat. This lifestyle does not prevent our children from wanting the world, it just teaches them that they can expect the world only on holidays.

At age 5 we decided that Catherine would get $.50 a week. I know that this isn't much, but it's enough for a five year old and over time it adds up. We had her put an additional $.50 in her church envelope. Every Sunday we would sit at the table and dole out the money. There were no strings attached to the allowance it was just given. Though we've never had a set chore list, there is an expectation that when we ask you to do a task you do it.

Overtime Catherine would have a build-up of money and that's when we would ask her what she wants to do with her money. There is no limit to what she can do with her allowance, we have always made that very clear. Most of the time Catherine uses hers for books. It gives her a sense of pride to take her hard-earned money and buy something that she really wants that we might otherwise pass up.

As Catherine has gotten older the allowance structure has changed a bit. She now earns $1 a week, and there are strings attached. Stephen is now earning money as well ($.50/week), no strings. Because Catherine is older she is more capable of understanding there are consequences to her actions she has the ability to lose part of her allowance if her behavior warrants it. If she acts up she is warned, if she doesn't change her behavior she loses $.25 at a time. We settle up every Sunday (and all four kids fill out church envelopes).

Giving our kids allowance has really helped them understand the value of things. Catherine sees the cost of things and really thinks about weather its worth emptying her bank. She loves to watch her bank fill up with money, and loves even more taking her money to buy something. Recently she was paging through the scholastic book club and was trying to decide what book she wanted to spend her money on, in the end we made a deal. There was a three book set that she wanted for $12 we made her put $4 in and we supplied the rest. When the books come in we keep two and she gets one. We will let her earn the other two (through good behavior/deeds) at a later date. Now she wants to save up money to buy American girl products. I'll admit, Stephen is less focused on saving and spending his money. He's been earning since September and has only bought one thing, at this point I'm guessing he has quite a bit of money saved up.

The second great lesson they are learning is being charitable. Every week they give money in their church envelopes. It's not a lot of money, but it's enough for them to understand what charity is. I try to explain to them that we are giving to the church in an effort to give back to God as a way of giving thanks for all of our blessings. In our times of need the Lord has always provided for us, and so it is only natural for us to give what we can when we can. We try to do this not only by giving money but by doing things for people. And when the kids ask why we are doing what we do, we explain to them that it is the right thing to do, and it's what Jesus wants of us.

I suppose what we have taught our kids has sunk in on some level because our kids are slowly showing a generous spirit from time to time. Last Monday I had the news on and footage of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan was on. Catherine was amazed (as was I) by the total devastation. After seeing what has happened she declared: I have to give up my allowance this week for these people. At that moment I could not be prouder, she didn't even hesitate. She sees a need greater than her own and has decided that she can do without for a week if it means helping someone else. We know $1 wont get very far, but for her $1 is what she has to give and that's all that matters.

Giving our kids allowance has been a good learning experience for us. Making them fill out church envelopes and filling them has also been a good instructional tool. Both have given us the opportunity to teach our kids about the value of money, goods and generosity. I know that we are not giving our kids a lot of money each week but that's not really the point. The point of the exercise is to teach them how to save not to allow them to get the things they want faster. As they get older we may have to increase their earnings but with that will come more responsibility on their part. For now what they get is enough for them, and for us too.