HOME

There isn't a greater feeling of relief for me ( well, besides delivering a baby :) than those airplane wheels coming in contact with terra firma and knowing I am just an hour away from being with my loved ones again.

Don't get me wrong. It was a nice, relaxing time away.....but nothing makes me happier than to be around my kids and my husband. As much as I *sometimes*( ha ha) crank and complain about the goin's on here, I am truly, truly blessed to have the life I do, the children I do, the husband I do, the home I do, the VOCATION I do.
Thanks be to God.

Daybook for November 17th, 2008 ( or should I say "week book" :)

For Today.... It looks like it might be a little warmer. I decided to come to Florida when they are having record low temps. Figures! :) Still, it is much nicer than the northern fare this time of year.

I am thinking…..about my kids and what awaits once I return home!

I am thankful for….. my parents who are so good to me ( us) and my lovely grandmother

I am creating….. well, I made 5 bead bracelets yesterday. Haven't been able to do that in awhile. I picked some little *weeds* :) that look like starfish on my walk yesterday.

I am wearing ......black knit capri's, gray t shirt and brown hoodie

I am reading...."The Boxer Rebellion" gripping. Once again makes me ponder the heroism of humanity and the barbarism.

I am hoping…..to go shopping SOMEWHERE today. I am going through withdrawl. Yes, I know I have a problem here.

I am hearing.....mom and dad rustling the morning paper and sipping coffee. Ella tossing about in bed every now and then.

Around the house… I can only imagine! :) :) :)

One of my favorite things: the sun, after a week or so of gloomy weather at home :) A Sonny's pulled pork sandwich and coleslaw. YUM!

A few plans for the rest of the week…..Tomorrow, I am scheduled to fly home. I think I must attend Naomi's volunteer opportunity on Saturday am. They are assembling Thanksgiving food baskets for the needy.

Daybook November 10, 2008

Dyl trying to look tough, but he is just too cute :)

For Today....Mass, and then home to lay around and try to stifle a cold coming on.

Outside my Window… a day that promises to be referred to as "November-ish". Gray, drizzling, a bit of wind, cold.

I am thinking…..about going to Florida a week from today. It's going to take lots of planning, before and while I am gone!

I am thankful for….. we have managed to stay pretty healthy all summer and fall.

From the kitchen….for Sunday dinner, Roast Chicken and all that goes along with it, & apple pie. I am SO proud of myself.....I finally figured out it takes 3 chickens to feed us all and I am prepared! I am even hoping for a few leftovers :)

I am creating…..trying to finish painting the hallway and I think I am getting Tim on board to get the kitchen floor done ( or at least started :)

I am wearing ......what I will wear to mass today :) green, gray and black plaid skirt, black sweater, black boots.

I am reading.... The Last Empress & The Boxer Rebellion. I think I am starting to get China.....at least the West's relations with China. :)

I am hoping…..I can nip this cold in the bud. Zicam, apple cider vinegar, Emergencee are all ready and waiting. :)

I am hearing....Jed and Manny bickering over the Walmart toy catalog.

Around the house…The new refrigerator is here! We had the choice of spending 1000$ on one that would fit into the little *spot* in between the cabinets this house designer made or one twice the size ( maybe that's an exaggeration :) for 700$. Pocketing 300$ is always a motivator, as is more space, so we went with plan B......although that meant we had to put it in the laundry room. Perhaps not the smartest move since the laundry room is usually piled ceiling high with dirty and clean clothes. I always think things like this will FORCE me to keep it better organized and cleaned. I can hope.

So- that left me with an empty space in the kitchen that looked like a refrigerator was supposed to be in it. :) A thought came to me to dash over to the Salvation Army and see if I could find anything that might work as a cabinet. ( I tried using something we already had, but NOTHING was that size) There wasn't much. I did find one thing that was really ugly, but might have had some promise with a coat or two of paint...... it was too tall. We were just heading out the door, disappointed, when I spied a lovely antique cabinet sitting by the exit. I took out my trusty measuring tape and lo and behold---the right size! Hurrah!

One of my favorite things: A good book.

A few plans for the rest of the week…..Dragging out warm weather clothes- AGAIN! for my trip south. Will I ever really put them away? :) Packing and trying to come up with a million lists to keep the kids ( and Tim) organized while I am gone. Finish painting the hallway ( almost there!) laundry room, laundry room, laundry room!

Big date last night......

With my three littlest :) We went to see the "Donut Man" at St Gerald's.
I don't know if it was more for me or for them :) The older boys loved the Donut Man when they were little and I have fond memories of jumping around, dancing and singing his songs together.
I'm not sure why, but after the first four we didn't listen much anymore ( if at all?)

Anyway, it was fun. Gabriella was mesmerized, Manny would stop and check it out periodically in between twirling around and weaving in and out of the aisles. Jed, in his usual way, was thoughtfully trying to figure it all out.....although he said in the car on the way home that we should have bought the DVD, so I'm thinking that means he liked him ;)
I had tears in my eyes when he did his "Jumping up and Down" number. Nostalgia.

If there was ever any doubt God really loved me........

Proof abounds!


( A new Sonic is opening 1 mile from our house......previously we had to travel 12 hours south to get a yummy cherry limeade!!)

Halloween 2008

Noah was a character from an old music video we always get a chuckle out of...KLF's "Justified and Ancient" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gzkllCIyww&feature=related ( yeah- I know it was supposed to be red, but we had a bunch of gold, shiny material hanging around :)

Ella was "Pebbles" from the Flintstones ( that's a bone in her hair :) My friend Theo made this costume. The other boys are self explanatory :) I didn't get a picture of George, but I think he just threw a bandana around his head...
Dylan dressed up as "Jim" from the office for a youth group party he attended. ( no picture, either :(

As Halloween eve approached, I wasn't sure it would be much of a celebration around the Vrazo house. :) Jed and Manny had been sitting on the fence about going out to trick or treat for weeks and were still there. We had been out running errands in the morning/afternoon and Ella didn't get a good nap and was very deranged by dinner time. After a tasty dinner of corn dogs and carrot sticks ( I know, I should be nominated for Mother of the Year! ;) everyone perked up and were ready to don costumes and collect candy.
It was a beautiful night, and lots of kids were out ( it sounded like a block party from our backyard!) so it turned out being a fun evening.

Daybook November 3, 2008

For Today....well, it's election day and Naomi's 14th birthday! HAPPY BIRTHDAY NAOMI! I should also add that our birthday girl's soccer team ( Summit) won second place in the National Homeschool Soccer tournament this weekend in Ft Wayne, Indiana. Way 2 go, girls!

Outside my Window… dark, but it is supposed to go to 70 today! Huzzah!

I am thinking…..about the election, what else? :) and Christmas, which will be here so very soon.

I am thankful for….. my dear sil Neana, who is a great help to me.

From the kitchen….I think we are going to grill hamburgers tonight since the weather is so compatible. Pita pizzas for lunch? Jed wants french toast for breakfast.

I am creating…..well, I did end up creating a robe for Noah last week ( for his Halloween costume). Wasn't sure I could get to it, but I ended up waking up extra early a couple days and was able to have a few good hours of uninterrupted sewing time. :)

This week we created a little memory book for Nan's 90th birthday.

I am wearing ......grey sweatpants and hoodie. "Proud Soccer Mom" t-shirt :) Haven't dressed for the day

I am reading.... The Last Empress

I am hoping…..we can go to George George park today for a walk and picnic

I am hearing....Jed and Manny trying to figure out how many days until Christmas

Around the house…most of the first floor got a good fall cleaning, especially the kitchen which Nita helped me do. I think I severely underestimated the amount of time it would take to get that done....and still the cabinets and pantry need organizing :) The upstairs....not so much, but we'll keep plugging away. The backyard needs a sprucing, too....but since the weather promises to be nice most of the week, I'll have no excuse not to get to it.

One of my favorite things: A clean house.

A few plans for the rest of the week…..last night we went to a special election mass and adoration at Grotto. Tonight I think Naomi and I will go out to dinner for her birthday. The littles and I have tickets to go see "The Donut Man" on Saturday. There may also be a burial service for Dad Vrazo on Saturday, too.