My Daybook :: Oct 30, 2012

by | Oct 31, 2012 | Daybook, My Siblings, Precious Moments: 01 | 7 comments

Outside my window… 
I hear the leaf blower as my husband cleans up the yard for our party tomorrow night!

I am thinking…        
about everything that still needs to be done… So much (that I’d like) to do and so little time!   (And yet here I am sitting at the computer… Everyone needs a break every once in awhile, right?)

I am thankful… 
that we were able to squeeze in a trip to the pumpkin patch this past weekend.   It was a whirlwind of activities all weekend long, but we had a blast!

Learning all the time & Celebrating the liturgical year… We have a light school week this week, as we wrap up our first quarter, so we can focus on celebrating the liturgical year.  We’ll be learning lots about the saints, attending mass on Thursday for the feast of All Saints, and the boys will be serving Mass at the Cemetery as always for the Feast of All Souls.

From the kitchen… 
dinner is simmering in the crock pot, Chicken with Marinara and Artichoke Hearts to serve over spaghetti with Parmesan Cheese, Dinner Rolls, and Salad.   After dinner I am going to start the Pumpkin Cupcakes for tomorrow!

I am working on… 
carving this year’s Saint-O-Lanterns!  After going to the Pumpkin Patch on Sunday with four of my siblings, aunt, uncle, sister-in-law, and niece, we headed over to my brother Brian’s house to eat dinner and carve pumpkins!   Since we weren’t at home, and there were aunts and uncles to visit with, my kids weren’t nearly as focused on carving this year so we only completed three. I have one more all ready to carve and Snuggles and I are hoping to finish it tonight after dinner.

While we were working on our Saint-O-Lanterns my brother cracked me up with his “Pumpkin Head Tiki Torch!”  While the tiki torch pumpkin was totally creepy, I loved his carving of a candle for his daughter!  I’ll be back to post pictures of our completed carvings later. 

I am creating… 
a couple games and a banner for our All Hallows’ Eve / All Saints’ Party!

I am going… 
to try and get back to answering emails soon!   It has been awhile and I am really really behind (some have been waiting a year or more).   I do read every email, but it is impossible for me to respond to them all, as much as I do try.   (Often times I am reading on my cellphone and have to wait until I’m on the computer to respond.)  FYI:  I usually work on answering comments on the blog first, followed by Facebook, emails from friends and family, and then other emails are usually last.

I am hoping… 
for the Hadley’s! We attended the 5th Annual Harvest of Hope Dinner, an annual fundraiser for the Hadley Hope Fund, this past Saturday night.  Here is an update on their beautiful family and a few pictures from the dinner.

2012 Hadley Hope Dinner © Marc Salvatore
Bud, me and my sister-in-law Meagan (You can also see my Dad just over Meagan’s shoulder)   © Marc Salvatore
Kristin & Ann-Marie (dear friends that I grew up with, Kristin was my Confirmation sponsor and is Rascal’s Godmother and Ann-Marie was one of my bridesmaids), Amy (who is losing weight like crazy and looking amazing) and Me (not looking my best!) 🙂
© Marc Salvatore 

I am praying… 
for those affected by Hurricane Sandy, for the soul of Barbara Curtis, for my sister-in-law Melissa who will be delivering another baby soon, for my little sister Jamie Jo who just celebrated her anniversary and birthday yesterday and the day before, and for Emily!  Oh, and that it doesn’t rain here tomorrow night!

I am (still) reading… 
the saint quotes and short paragraphs that my children have come up with to share with everyone tomorrow evening.   I will have an extra treat for any of the children that come dressed as a saint or biblical character and have something to share with everyone.   (A short paragraph, quote, or even just a coloring page for the little ones.)

Pondering these words…
spoken by St. Joan of Arc, which Chiquita found (all on her own) in her copy of The Pocket Daring Book for Girls and is planning on sharing at our party tomorrow:

“One life is all we have and we live it as we believe in living it. But to sacrifice what you are and to live without belief, that is a fate more terrible than dying.”

I am listening…  
to Prince Caspian, as we continue working our way through the 7 Volume Unabridged Audio Set of The Chronicles of Narnia.

Around the house… 
I’ve done over 20 loads of laundry yesterday and today and am almost caught up!  I’ve also sorted through half the kids clothing, boxing up everything that is too small and pulling out all the summer clothes.  What was I thinking starting this project before our All Hallows’ Eve party?

One of my favorite things…  
pictures at the Pumpkin Patch! I will be posting this year’s soon.

This week’s plans…

  • Lego Robotics Classes for the older boys (Tues & Thurs)
  • All Hallows’ Eve Party
  • Mass on All Saints Day, Tutor in the Afternoon
  • Annual Mass at the Cemetery for the Feast of All Souls 
A little peek at my day…
Captain lost his very last baby tooth last night! {sniff, sniff} Considering that his orthodontist wanted to have it pulled if it didn’t fall out within a month, the tooth fairy left an extra fun surprise for all his extra work on getting it out {6 lego mini figures packages}… Apparently “the tooth fairy is much better than mom at picking out mini figures!!” We had a very excited boy this morning!

7 Comments

  1. Anonymous

    Can you post the recipe for the artichoke stuff and pumpkin muffins?

    Reply
  2. Jessica Gordon

    If you click on the words/link Pumpkin Cupcakes, it will take you to the recipe at Catholic Cuisine. It's very easy and they turn out very delicious and moist.

    My crock pot meal was simply 6 chicken breasts combined with 1 can of drained artichoke hearts and 1 jar of trader joe's marinara sauce. I shredded the chicken and served it over spaghetti noodles. I did not use a recipe, just used what I had on hand. 🙂

    Reply
  3. Kelly

    As always, you and Amy *both* look beautiful. Radiant, really. I love your brother's candle carving. Very creative with just a smidgen of spooky. 🙂 I can't get over how big Bud is now. Wishing you all a very blessed rest of the week with your festivities.

    Reply
  4. Anonymous

    Jessica, You look beautiful! Such an amazing mom! Thank you for all of the uplifted prayers for us and I will continue to keep your sweet family in my prayers as well!

    Reply
  5. Krista

    We dodged a big one with Hurricane Sandy here in VT! WE mostly had high winds with some rain, but nothing like what NY, NJ, PA and other states that way got! We got hit VERY HARD last year with Irene and are still rebuilding in some parts of the state. It was a terrible storm, this Sandy. My heart goes out to all those that were not so fortunate…

    Reply
  6. Anonymous

    Now if that doesn't beat all I don't know what does! 20 loads of laundry in the middle of getting ready for a party of 70 is beyond staggering. A party for 15 OR 5 loads of laundry would do me in. I didn't even know this feat was humanly possible 😉

    Reply
  7. Anonymous

    Thank you.

    Reply

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Father in heaven, grant me the grace to appreciate the dignity which you have conferred on me. Let me realize that not even the Angels have been blessed with such a privilege—to share in your creative miracle and bring new Saints to heaven. Make me a good mother to all my children after the example of Mary, the Mother of your Son. Through the intercession of Jesus and Mary I ask your continued blessings on my family. Let us all be dedicated to your service on earth and attain the eternal happiness of your kingdom in heaven. Amen.


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Hi! I'm Jessica, a Roman Catholic wife and home educating mother to our nine children. I was home educated myself, along with my eleven younger siblings. I have a special devotion to St. Therese, through whom I have been given much help and many blessings--the beautiful "Shower of Roses" that she has sent my way! Here I will record a few of the blessings I treasure. Please remember that what you see here is just a little glimpse at our lives, so please say a prayer for us, as we continue to strive for holiness.

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