Thursday, March 21, 2013

Pretzels!

For the past couple Lents, we have tried to make Friday our pretzel night.
When the kids come home from school we have a bowl of dough and we roll out
 a 'snake' and hopefully it ends up in pretzel form.
 
 
Keep looking at the camera Hannah. (She won't notice if I go real slow.)
Oh, now it's all sticking!

Finished product.
 No touching, Louis.
 Well alright, just a little bite.

 Hmmm, that does look good, maybe I will lick that cinnamon too.
 

 

How good I have it.

I feel so thankful when Pat comes home and dives in to help get dinner on the table ~ I don't even mind when he tells me my soup is lacking flavor (just a little salt, he soothes),
 or uses a jar of cream sauce and adds pasta to the whole meal.
It is just appreciated to have him not be annoyed the dinner is not on the table when he arrives,
but that he takes matters into his own hands and gets it there.
By the way, did I thank you "dear" for these new appliances I was telling you we didnt really need?
I do like them and have appreciated them, giving the kitchen a fresh new feel!
 
 
Then, to have Drew sit and finish his homework without me telling him ~ does make my heart glad.
 

 This too: you girls enjoying each other ~ "Sisters, sisters"
 Isabelle now learning to read, and Hannah enjoying it just as much.
 
 Of course after dressing up.
 Glad to be home from school and glad to have her home.

Uh, where's Louis?

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Preparing for "Pipsqueak"

The week after Christmas we were gifted with the knowledge that #5 was on the way.
It was special having Mom N here to share our acceptance and joy.
Pat gave her the positive pregnancy test as announcement.
Her comment: "Oh, so this is what a pregnancy test looks like!"
Mom, you had 8 kids. I guess things were simple back then. :)
When we returned from our trip to Hawaii we shared the news with the kids.
Of course they were very excited and of course Louis had/has no idea.
Yet, for some reason (I believe due to the 3 new cousins of his born this yr so far)
he has really taken to the baby dolls, which he still calls "sssssshhhhh"
One Sunday morn, preparing for Mass, Dad and I couldn't figure out who was humming;
it sounded like Louis, but certainly must be Hannah.
Upon peeking out of the room, we discover it is Louis: a pile of blankets laid on floor,
doll on top and him humming away while attempting to properly cover the dear.
 
 
 Of course as all little ones do Louis loves shoes,
this was just so fitting b/c they are Isabelles little black Church shoes.
 
 
Hannah and I have been playing so nicely together.
"Mom, Louis is so cute."
 


Monday, March 11, 2013

Spring is near, but not here!

I love it....that the kids can't contain themselves to get outside to play.
We took the bikes down this weekend ~ it was in the high 50s,
the snow melted fast...but still splotches here and there.
One can imagine the mud! Dad was not happy with it dug up under the swings
(sure that the lawn will never be redeemed and it may not); tracked across the patio,
crusted on the bike tires, and splattering their pants and boots.
But ~ so far nothing like last year. 
My heart was so happy that I had not heard from the kids in a long length of time.
They were getting along so well, and enjoying the outdoors.......
I had looked out to check on them but not closely enough until it was too late:
they were covered in mud, even their faces. What were they thinking??!!!
They came to the window in response to my "quiet" yell for them (lest I be overheard by a neighbor), only to explain/justify they were just doing what Father did.
It was a week after AshWednesday.
They had barely recognizable crosses on their foreheads and of course slathered everywhere else.
 
Just enjoying a snack at the picnic table.

Dad, could I please shoot now?

Come on Louis, you can do it!
 
Hannah this is great!
 

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Happy Birthday Drew!

It is hard to believe you are now 8!  


You were anxious to set up dinner so you set the table,
I realized you set Dad and Mom on either side of you with Louis at your corner; the condiments in the middle of the crown of thorns.
 

The first gift opened: from Grandpa Nistler. You couldnt wait and the excitement wasnt disappointed.
You wore this light on your hat the whole day!
(Before we remembered our manners: no hats at the table.)
Actually Dad took you in the evening to a hockey game....you were in bathroom together (eyeing your hat and light in the mirror: "Dad, this does look pretty cool doesnt it?"
 
 Dessert --- Dirt Cake. I am sorry Dad (well kind of), no Lumpy Bumpy Cake again.


Best of all was how you responded to Hannah's home-drawn card.
Opening up the many folds: "Let me see...Hannah! Did you draw this?!
This is so good, did you see this Mom and Dad?"
I am not sure if you were trying to make up for "peeking" in her gift bag prior to the day to reveal the contents of your gift (just socks!) or....no doubt your big heart was acting with true appreciation in response to her heartfelt gift, making her feel special. 
(It is still sitting down here on the chair-rather forgotten....
but the initial response did make Hannah beam with pride!)  
 

A little help from Isabelle, Hannah did admit.
 
 
Andrew we do love you so. You are a great big brother and you have a very generous and grateful heart. It is now the next day and you have already came to me a couple of times and said
"Thank you for all the things you got me on my birthday Mom." Heartfelt with a hug.