This and That

Dinnertime.  That peaceful time of day when everyone sits calmly and politely around the table and offers soothing commentary about life. 

Or something like that. 

Today, amidst the cacophony,  there were two snippets that merit recording. 

#1)  Kid 118, who is now age 12, as of 2 weeks ago, gave his sisters his criteria for their future spouses:
"They have to be attractive, share your faith, and meet my approval.  And I have to be able to beat them in a fight." 

That might narrow things down a bit.

#2) Me to Joy after she told a really painful joke: "I'm sure you did not make that up."

Joy to me:  "Of course not, Mom. Our generation just regurgitates the internet.  You gotta love me where I'm at."

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In other news, Crash is doing just great in swimming lessons.  Paying for a private teacher is expensive, but worth every penny.  He just gets better every week.  Today, he swam a few feet independently.  He is super proud of himself, and we are proud of him!!! 

For Fat Tuesday, we tried out the electric s'mores maker I got for Christmas.  It worked great!!  Happiness. 

For Lent, Joy challenged me to follow her diet (of many allergy restrictions, including grains).  I have accepted.  So, today, I ate donut holes, and I do not feel bad about it. 

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Lent is almost here!  Time to put away the Nativity set.  Everyone is excited to enter into this special time of  year.   Friday Soup and Stations of the Cross - here we come!!! 

Random News

-Life is never dull with child #3.  His vocabulary is impressive and his thought process...  Unique.  His 12th birthday came and went a couple weeks ago, and with that milestone, the onset of a tiny bit of acne.  He was proud.  So, I bought him and his older brother some masculine face wash of the pore-cleansing variety.  The day after his inaugural "facial":  "I can almost hear all the bacteria crying for mercy!"  

-When you have a couple kids with "special needs," (but, really, don't we all have some of those?), the little things become the big things....   Pulling up your pants all by yourself?  Cause for ice cream.  Following the directions of your swimming teacher?  Party time.  Every little accomplishment is a big deal.  As it should be.  

-Speaking of swimming lessons, Crash has been taking some private lessons at a little Swim School.  They have been great!  The first thing they work on is jumping in and turning around to grab the wall.  Apparently, many drownings occur right beside the edge of the pool when kids fall or jump in.  They don't remember or realize how close they are to the edge.  I love that this is the first skill he's working on, and after only 6 weeks of lessons, he's almost there!!  

-This unseasonably warm weather - what a treat!!  Please don't leave us with dreary coldness again.  Spring, don't tease us.  We've already become accustomed to leaving home without coats and playing outside.  

-Found on my iPad- about 100 pictures like this:

-Preparing for Lent:  So far, while the kids have been talking about what they'll give up, all I have done is buy an Easter Dress for Yoyo.  Time to plan some reading materials, etc.  I love that Stations of the Cross is available every Friday at Church...  Just by participating in the life of our parish, Lent finds us.  

-Big basketball tournament this weekend plus Snow White ballet rehearsals.  Thank Goodness for my little camper.😀

-If anyone out there is actually reading this😍, please pray for my friend Joe, married to my lifelong friend Jenny.  He has a brain tumor.  

God bless you!!