This & That

 

Lewis has been asking to play in rice and I finally remembered to buy 10lbs at HyVee. It usually lasts a year, and we were due for a fresh bag, and it was a fuel saver item to boot.  

I had put two valentines in the hutch that Augustine gave me so as not to loose them in the shuffle. I just remembered to open them, and here's one of them (above). Isn't it lovely, and very similar to the poop emoji? (He has never seen that emoji because I would never hear the end of it.) It made me laugh.  

Found this color match/sort game for $5. I knew Lewis would like it. We will get $5 of fun out of it.  

My mom made all of their stockings (and mine too). Aren't they beautiful? And so much work. I think Augustine's has over 100 pieces. 

This morning at Mass Augustine tapped me on the shoulder and handed me a bloody front tooth. Super ew, but also super exciting! I believe it's #4 to come out. It's bittersweet to see his baby teeth fall out because he was a terrible teether. It was so.much.work to get those teeth in, only to have them fall out 6 years later. *sigh* But he's growing and healthy so it's good. (Awesome photo credit: Logan)   

Logan took this one too and said "Isn't he just so cute?!" Agreed. He's just so cute in the backward hat, Mass clothes, golashes, and Earl May popcorn bag. It's his favorite place to go, Earl May. He used some of his Valentine's Day money to buy birdseed because he wants to watch the birds eat. We will make a little feeder this week. Probably a few different kinds.  

I have this photo of all my boys. Comparison post to come.  

He liked the house set too. I watched the Oscars a lot longer than I thought I'd get to because he was so happy playing.  

They spent time at Grandma Susan's and did quite a bit of stamping. Such concentration.   

And what G&G visit would be complete without saying Mass a few dozen times?! We seem to have multiple Liturgical seasons happening at the same time here, but meh.

Husker Nation

 

Now that Elias is on meds and sleeping a *little* better, we had some energy to get out of the house. A Varsity Catholic missionary and two of her (volleyball) students gave us an awesome tour of Devaney and Memorial Stadium last weekend! 

Elias really really liked the basketball fountain.  

The boys ran the track, and realized just how giant it is. Poor Lewis had to walk at the halfway point.  

I haven't been in the gym for years, so it was fun to see all the changes.  

We got to see the volleyball locker room, and when we went in I didn't even realize that's what it was because it looks nothing like a traditional lockeroom, of course.  The photo above is the room they use for film and studying and napping. 

Then we went to the Stadium and saw the weight room on our way to the field.   

The boys love any chance to go on the field, so they were having a blast! 

Lewis found his number.  

Augustine found his letter.  

The Burda Brothers on the "B".  

It was Elias' first time on the field. He's a true Husker now. 

And of course they had to tackle each other.  

Then we popped up to the top of the sky boxes. I'd never been up there. See the Newman Center bell tower in the distance?!    

They can't wait for the Spring Game. Augustine went two years ago, and we had tickets for last year but the day of the spring game last year ended up being Elias' birthday.

When life is a little much...

I don't believe the old saying "God doesn't give you more than you can handle". Totally disagree. I think God gives us WAY more than we could EVER handle on our own so that we have the chance (time and time again) to run to Him. I'm constantly given reminders that I can't do this on my own, and the last three months have been my latest reminder. 

Last week the weight of giving when I had nothing left was almost too heavy to bear. I can count on one hand the times I've felt like this in my life. It's a very helpless feeling. I know I need help but I am so weary that I don't know how to get the help I need.

First off, I need Jesus...but He and I, well, ok obviously just I, am not awesome right now, but I have plans for Lent. For the first time I may actually be looking forward to it. I know I'm going to need some heavy guidance to get through it, so I bought a road map and I'm begging Jesus to do the rest. 

 

Join me. Get it here.  (Not affiliate, I just wish you the best for Lent.)

Second, I called in reinforcements. Read: Grandma's. My mom has done my dishes more times than I can count this week. She has taken hours of QT with my boys so I can go to doctors appointments, get food in the fridge, pick up meds, shower, and just freaking lay down and do nothing. Logan's mom has played with the boys so I can pick up Logan from work, let us borrow her car, kept me company, and provided more meals than I can count when I don't have the energy to cook. Friends have checked to make sure we are still alive (bc we've been stuck at home so we don't infect others and bc I'm too tired to go many places), made up silly songs that make my kids laugh, listened to my weary heart, and even taken a turn with the dishes. My ob doctor who I haven't seen in 8 months texted me bc she heard the baby was sick (what doctor does that?! She's incredible.) and offered lots of good advice. And my husband...he just never stops serving our family. He's amazing...mostly bc he loves me in all my irrational sleep deprived glory while he himself is sleep deprived. 

Third, I tried to boost morale by making pie crust for the first time. Risky move you might say, and I would agree. But turns out pie crust is fantastic to work with, and the random recipe I chose off of Pinterest exceeded my expectations. 

I knew I was supposed to poke some holes in the top of the pie, and that it's traditional to make an X in the middle, so I made an X and then decided to add a heart for Valentine's Day. 

I just poked the holes quickly because there were three kids under my feet, and none of them were happy. Augustine didn't have school that day so he was annoyed and a stinker all day, Lewis was being 4, and Elias was diagnosed with pneumonia earlier that day so he didn't even know what he wanted by then. I was on the verge of tears. Why did I decide to make a pot pie from scratch when needs were so high?! 

I was about to start yelling at Jesus, when I remember that someone had told me to stop making Jesus the enemy in my thoughts (why are you letting this happen to me?! kind of thoughts) and instead see Jesus feeling the things I am feeling (my heart is breaking for my sick baby, my big boy needs a hug, my fournado needs some silly attention from me, and I myself just need to know it's all worth it), so that's what I did. Jesus was on the verge of tears with me, and saw my children as I was seeing them. He was right there in my stay home mom world living it with me.  It brought some peace to my heart.

Those were quick thoughts and as I turned my pie straight, my X ended up being a cross, in the middle of a heart. 

 

Silly as it seems, it reinforced the quick prayer that had just gone through my head. This stay home mom who was close to breaking asked Jesus to be in the difficulty of the moment, and in a little way He showed me He was there. 

 

So thanks to those who helped us through. I'm hoping we're on the upswing. 

And thanks to the One who is here with me as I'm in WAY over my head. 

Valentine's Day

 

I had leftover won ton wrappers so I made crispy cinnamon hearts. Pretty good.  

Aunt Lisa sent us this idea. Lewis liked it so he made his own rendition:  

Sorting the loot and read the cards together. The boys got some dollars from Grandma Kathleen and G&G. Their first request was to take one of their dollars to Gianna's for a treat. My mom made the little cake in the middle. We had a spaghetti dinner with Grandma Kathleen too. It was a fun day!

10 Months

He climbed up there with the broom in his hand all by himself. I was shocked there was no large tumble.    

He thought it was so fun. All I could think of was Georgio Frassati. Is that how you spell it? He's 18lb 6oz bc he lost a pound due to 3 months of illness.  

New big boy car seat. Bittersweet every time.

He really likes it when his big brothers build him a little house because he doesn't have one of those...

(See just behind him?)  

Grandma Kathleen had some fun when she heard Elias needed some pants that fit. And that hat! 😍 

He is feelin' like big stuff now that he can play with trains. See that bruise on his head? He's walking a lot now, and he managed to hit/fall that exact spot three times in one day. #bottomteethsmile We cut bananas because they were causing problems. Within 48 hours of being banana free he was a new kid.  

It's been beautiful 60-70 degree weather here so he has been watching out the window a lot. The squirrel was very intriguing...sorry Grandma Susan. He's walking more steadily for longer distances and turning corners.  

He got an ear infection at the beginning of November, and it lasted until mid December. We had tubes put in his ears, and then a week later he got a cold. It kept getting worse so we took him in this past Monday and found out he has pneumonia. Oy. Enough with the being sick, kid.  

Our friends passed on some super cute shoes, but I think after a day of wearing them they are a little too snug. Cute though! 

"My antibiotics haven't quite gotten me over the hump yet, but I'll try to have fun. Weeeeeeee." #thosekickstho #smoulder

Day 5 antibiotic: He's like new again!!!! And having opinions like"I'll feed myself, thank you."  

Drawings

 

I taught the boys to play Pictionary and they like it a lot. The other day I was putting my sick baby down for a nap and after the 20th time of telling them to find something quiet to do they settled in on Pictionary with each other.  

"Aunt Beth" by Lewis  

"Smiley Face" by Lewis

"An Alligator" by Augustine   

"A Valentine" by Augustine's school buddy