SCC & MWS Concert

Lisa and I took a little road trip last night up to Lowell to see Steven Curtis Chapman and Michael W. Smith in concert together for their United tour. It was a last minute kind of adventure and those are always fun. We met Andrea and Gabriella at the Outback for dinner before the concert. My niece is so stinkin' cute! (Sorry. I didn't have my camera)

The concert hall was gorgeous and every seat was good. Both artists did some songs together and then also had 'alone' time. The band was great!!! A little of everything including a cello and violin. Also in the band was Steven's son, Caleb and Michael's son Tyler. How cool to have 2 generations touring together! I think the fruit is there that these men have lived out in their lives what they have written about in songs for 20+ years now.

Two highlights: First was Steven Curtis Chapman singing "Cinderella", changing the last line of the song to "But the truth is, the dance will go on." Tears and tears. He was so powerful speaking of how he had to re-decide if he believed his songs after his little girl, Maria, died in May; if he could still sing honestly and with conviction about a sovereign God who is always in control.

Second was a set of powerful worship songs done my Michael W. Smith. There's nothing like worshiping the God of the universe with 4,000 other believers!

Click on the link for Lisa if you want to see pictures of these super talented and annointed men.

Potty Training

SUCCESS!!! (mostly)

Last Monday I greeted Trevor with a chipper "Goo Monin'!!" as he happily announces upon waking. I took his diaper off, sat him on his potty and explained to him that his diaper days were over. Being my 4th baby, I knew I was in for a few days of cleaning up messes and a lot of frustration. The antidote...patience. Too bad I ALWAYS seem short on that.

Well here's a quick little journal without the gory details:

Day 1: Not too bad...better than expected. A lot of books in the bathroom, but he did go a couple times and we all danced and sang!

Day 2: We seem to have back slid. Did he pee on the potty at all?

Day 3: Frustrating. My 1st 3 kids 'turned the corner' on Day 3 and were basically done potty-training, but not this guy.

Day 4: I check with my husband, should I just quit and try again in a couple months. He says 'no'. (Well then YOU start cleaning up some of these messes!-I didn't say it outloud.)

Day 5: NO accidents!!! (except for pooping once, but that's a different issue)

Day 6: NO accidents!!! (except for pooping once, but that's a different issue)

Day 7: Only one minor accident all day! Remember this sweet picture from my last post? A minute later he peed on Bobbi's leg!

Day 8: NO ACCIDENTS!

And so that's where we stand. A big boy, pooping and peeing on the potty! He still needs to learn to tell me when he needs to go. For now I just take him every hour or two. He loves pulling his underwear up himself.

For readers who are still with me, I'll reward you with a funny little story on the same subject, just a different kid. A couple nights ago I was tucking Nathanael in. He was teary because he was so tired. He said, "Mom, I really don't wanna wear pull-ups anymore." I said, "Oh, don't worry about it. Pretty soon you won't pee anymore at night and you won't have to." (I've been telling him this for 2 years.) Half crying he said, "But I wish I could change my pee-ness." We both smiled as he realized that it sounded like he said, "I wish I could change my penis."

Happy Birthday, Mom!

We celebrated my Mom's birthday with a big breakfast, presents, and C4's hockey game. Lisa, Shaun and their girls came up and we had a par-tay. We feasted on a HUGE breakfast and she opened a few gifts. The kids had fun running around and climbing all over grandparents. I hope we're able to celebrate many, many more of her birthdays...AND I hope I age like her! Please, God, let me have those genes.

Nathanael's Randomness

Nathanael was up at the counter waiting for his sandwich. I could tell he was thinking. You can almost see the smoke from his ears when he's deep in thought. I always smile and think, "Oh, boy, what is going to come out of his mouth this time?"

So he stops and says, "You know what would be a real pain in the neck?" [here it comes...] "If you had to change every light bulb every day."

Well, he's right. That would be a pain in the neck. I just wonder how these things come into his head.

Hurst Farm

We visited the beautiful Hurst Family Farm for a field trip with our homeschool group. We had a gorgeous New England fall day to enjoy it. The farm is 3rd generation owned and run on 36 acres. The kids enjoyed a hayride, picking mini blue corn, pulling turnips and feeding them to the oxen. We were also treated to apple cider and cookies.

C4 feeds the goat

Mom and I sip warm cider

Maddy feeds the ox

Gramma and Fan-Man on the hayride

The country store

Weekend Get-a-way

We stole an overnighter away from the kids to celebrate our anniversary. Saturday morning we settled the 3 younger kids in with Ninny and arranged for C4 to stay with another hockey family who could cart him around to the two games he had.

I love traditions! For the last 3 years on our anniversary, we've gone up to try a different bed & breakfast in Vermont. This year we stayed at Deerfield Valley Inn. The ride up was just magnificent! Our room was cozy and romantic, complete with fireplace. In the evening we went out for a candlelight dinner. On Sunday, Colombo took me golfing. I've been about 4 times now over the last 10 years. I enjoy it, and it's a fun hobby to have together, it's just hard to make a habit out of it. But Colombo was so patient teaching me and let me drive the cart some.

After that we went to lunch and then to see "Fireproof", which I highly recommend. It was done very well for a Christian movie. The message within was positive and uplifting and a good reminder to us as we celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary.

We've certainly had our struggles, particularly in the beginning, but I know God gave me that man. Each passing year seems to get better and better and we marvel at how our love seems to continually deepen. I'm thankful for such a wonderful husband, who loves me unconditionally and a awesome Dad to his kids. I'm very blessed!

I Love New York!

One of my favorite day trips ever is to go spend a day in New York City. I'd never want to live there, but it's so fascinating and fun to go spend a day! My mother-in-law, Karen, goes every October with her sister, MaryJo and her two friends who travel down from Maine! This year, I was invited to join the group! We had SO MUCH FUN!!!

We took the train into Grand Central and made our way to Time Square, stopping on every street corner to shop for pashminas, jewelry, watches, purses...everything. I cannot get into details about all of our purchases for risk of incriminating myself. Suffice it to say, we got some VERY good deals on some things!

After grabbing a quick bite at a deli, we hustled to the Majestic to take in a matinee performance of...

It was excellent! I had never seen it. Although it's not my favorite, it was nice to check it off the list.

And what's a day in the city without visiting the Naked Cowboy?! This is Chris from Maine getting friendly with the Time Square icon. She is not right!

We laughed and laughed AND laughed!!!

Then more shopping, shopping, shopping til we took a break for dinner at the Olive Garden.

Me, my mother-in-law Karen, her sister MaryJo, Chris, and Mary

From there we made our way to the Gershwin to see...

It. Was. SO. GOOD! So, so, so good! I could go on and on about the music, the sets, the costumes! Oh my goodness! But you really should just go see it! It was TREMENDOUS!!

We walked / cabbed back to Grand Central and I was tucked safely in bed by 3:00 am. What a day! I felt so privileged to have the opportunity to go. I'm so grateful to my Mom who came and managed the kids all day so I could have the day off.

Columbus Day Tradition

It has been a tradition for years now to go to Buell's Orchard on Columbus Day with Lisa and my Mom. They have a mini festival with live music, hayrides, free donuts and cider, pumpkins, apples, and lots more fun. I remember the first time I went, I back-packed Maddy, so it's been about 7 years. Today was gorgeous...70 and sunny.












For a little Columbus Day trivia...
My son is Colombo IV. The name originated in his great-grandfather, Colombo Sr. who was born on Oct. 12 and given the name Colombo which was Christopher Columbus' name in Italian. Colombo Sr. had a brother Valentino born on Valentine's Day, a sister Parchi (meaning Peace) born on Veterans Day, a sister, Mary born on Christmas, and a brother born on April Fools...they named him Mike.---And now you know!

Another Hockey Season

We are THRILLED to have Colombo's brother, Jonathan, playing on the East Coast again. They'll only be a couple hours away as opposed to half way across the country. His hockey games have always been a part of our family. When C4 was 8 days old, we had him in the (the coldest) rink watching one of Jonathan's high school games.

Well, here we go with another season! We went to watch their home opener on Saturday. They won 6-4 and Jonathan had 4 assists and 2nd Star of the Game. He looked great. We also got to see the beautiful house they're renting for the year.

My niece, Gabriella

Nathanael Turns 5

How can this be?! How can my special little guy be 5 already. I have to admit, I fell instantly in love with Nathanael when he was born. Anyone who knows him knows that there is something very special about him. For instance, this is his bike, and he just doesn't even care...not a second thought about it.As of October 9th, he is 5. Somehow he grew up just in that day. Why can't time just slow down.

Although we had already celebrated with his baseball party, I still wanted his 'real' birthday to be special.

The day started with the special treat of Gramma coming to take him to the toy store to pick out a present. He ended up picking out a Red Sox wallet and a Red Sox mouse pad. He's using the mouse pad as a doormat for his bedroom.

For dinner, he picked tacos, his favorite. Then we ran to the hospital to visit our good friends who just welcomed their first child, a beautiful baby boy.

Back at home we gave him our gifts and had ice cream cake. The video is Madison interviewing him after we were done. He was in a very goofy mood, but he made us all laugh...he does that a lot...daily!

Apple Picking

We went on our first field trip of the school year to Scott's Orchard. The kids got a hayride, a sugar pumpkin, a bag to pick apples, cider and hay maze. Despite the cool, misty weather, they all had fun.

Celebrating Nathanael

We celebrated Nathanael's 5th birthday All-American style. He wanted a 'real' baseball game on a 'real' baseball field. So the plan was to go to the local elementary school's field with hot dogs, cracker jacks, peanuts, apple pie and baseball. Unfortunately the weather was if-y enough that we moved the party to our house. But the clouds parted and we were able to get the game in out on the cul-de-sac.

The kids picked teams. The fans lined the field in chairs. To kick it off, Nathanael announced that we'd start with a song. So everyone removed their hats and he led us in "Take Me Out to the Ball Game." It was so sweet.

Nathanael had been so bummed about the location change, but it all worked out and he had so much fun, by the the end of the night the field was long forgotten.

Celebrating with us: Gramma & Bobbi, Ninny & Papa, Pop & Kiki, the Cours, the LeBlancs, the Groves, the Orzoleks, the Werhles, and the O'Connors

Nathanael Makes Me Laugh

This morning before school I was reading the passage in Galatians 5 with the fruit of the Spirit. We were having a discussion about how "the old sinful nature loves to do evil...and the Spirit gives us desires that are opposite from what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, and your choices are never free from this conflict." So we talked about this constant conflict to either obey with a happy heart or disobey. Or to either let anger take over or forgive your sister when she bugs you.

Well C4 coyly said, "Yeah my sinful nature loves telling Madison that she bugs me." Madison couldn't let it go and replied, "Yeah, and sometimes I feel like telling C4 he's the meanest brother ever." Then Nathanael, not wanting to be left out, said very seriously as though he were confessing to his priest, "Sometimes I just want to say b-u-t-t so they'll know what I'm talking about."

I tried to conceal my smile and continue with the discussion about the evidence of the Holy Spirit's control of our life by the fruit we produce. I'm not sure if I should be distraught that the only word he knows how to spell is butt or if I should be happy that he thinks its some type of swear.

After lunch we tried our first 'Stewardship Day'. These are once-a-week chores like wiping down the baseboards and disinfecting doorknobs. I explained that we've been very blessed and that we- as a family- were going to take care of what God has given us. I was careful to teach each job and I set the timer for one hour so there was an end in sight. Half way through Nathanael, again very seriously, asked, "Mom, are you gonna work us to death?!"

What did Trevor do for Stewardship Day?

He found pleasure taking out and putting back in the "child safety" plugs. Funny...I seem to be the only one who has trouble getting those out.

School Begins

I really want to start with "Ugh", but I'm going to try to sweeten my attitude. We put off school starting til October 1st because of our move during the month of September. I know come June I'll really be wishing I hadn't pushed it off, but in my mind it was necessary to just get moved and settled and get the apartment ready to rent. Even considering starting school in the midst of that was nearly enough to cause convulsions. So the Principal and I decided October 1st sounded good. And even last night, I was digging through boxes trying to find the dry erase markers for the white board and arranging the school room.

My "ugh" is not because of school, it's just a general sense of still feeling a little unprepared and a little overwhelmed. But, Day 1 is complete. C4 is in 4th grade, Madison is in 2nd, and Nathanael is Mr. Big-Time Kindergartener. He is SO excited. Their enthusiasm about starting motivated me. Madison and Nathanael were so excited yesterday looking at their books. Last night they came to me 1/2 hour early and said, "We're gonna go to bed now 'cause we have a big day tomorrow." They were up at the crack of dawn. Nathanael went ahead and did his writing page before his lesson. Needless to say, we had to erase it and talk about how to actually form an "i". Then he did a few beautifully and he was super proud of himself.

They also woke up to their new and improved chore charts that I developed. I couldn't believe how much they accomplished AND with a happy heart just so they could put their little check marks down. We'll see how long it lasts, but I read a book regarding chores over the summer and developed our chart in order to create a home consisting of 'teamwork'!

So, all in all a great success. My "ugh" is already gone. Instead, I'm grateful for the the freedom to homeschool. I'm grateful for our situation that allows me to be home with our kids. I'm grateful for beautiful and healthy and smart kids that I enjoy being around.