Crazy Month of August:

The following is for my own personal records: feel free to ignore this excerpt.

I started this blog for my family scrapbook...
(In hopes that my kids would remember that I actually was a nice mom, sometimes.)

I just need to document the fact that I made it through one of the craziest months of my life!!!

August 2010:

August 1st: Woke up to baby with fever and husband under the weather. Then off to mass with the rest of the gang. Got home and rushed to Brunch in Virginia with the gang and my oldest daughter's boyfriend...didn't get lost. Home to relax with hubby and baby.

Aug 2nd: clean house

Aug 3rd: dentist appointments, Boys out with grandma to Police Night out, 12 year old has a friend sleep over.

Aug 4th: 6:30 mass, Pack car for trip this afternoon, take son to Towson for the day get home at 2, leave at 2:30 with nine kids to Berkley Springs, West Virginia. Get to cabin safe and sound.





Aug 5th: Take all kids to 8:30am mass and head to shopping, pool, walks, fun at cabin. Remind those at home that teenage son needs to get to Doctor for sports physical.

Aug 6th: Remind dad and 15 year old to get to the dentist. Wait for daughters and friend to come to cabin!!!

Aug 7th: Get text message from my hubby saying that son who has been discerning a vocation for the past three years is coming home.

Aug 8th: Clean up cabin and pack up 12 kids to go home and prepare house for son's homecoming. Say good bye to 17 year old who is home with dad and heading off to Habitat for Humanity in Delaware. Drive home in record speed...start gutting the bedrooms and switching kids around. Thanks to my big sister who dropped everything to come and help. start cleaning out rooms.

Aug 9th: Finish cleaning out rooms and switching cribs, beds, furniture, and stuff...Pick up new 15 passenger van...Pick up son at airport!!!

Aug 10th: Go to appointment, take son to community college to get registered, go to pool, daughter bbsit at neighbors.

Aug 11th: pick up new furniture for oldest daughter at grandparents, soccer practice

Aug 12th: take son to ortho, take daughters to b day party, daughter sits for other neighbors

Aug 13th: son goes to get sports physical, make dinner for family with child in hospital, kids at youth group

Aug 14th: son to work, lunch at friends in Bethesda, grandparents for dinner to celebrate 3 year old's b day

Aug 15th: Feast of the Assumption, son's 3rd b day, go to wedding, big kids throw a star wars party for little brother



Aug 16th: Thank God for a new week...Mass, soccer tryouts, soccer meeting

Aug 17th: clean, soccer practice, dinner out with my girlfriends

Aug 18th: daughter sits for friend, clean, visit with friends, soccer practice

Aug 19th: daughter sits for friend, clean, go to see MARY POPPINS at the Kennedy Center with my almost 7 year old for her b day and our own dear mary poppins, get to bed at midnight

Aug 20th: Daughter sweet 16 b day...my 14 year old brings down the 6 year old (yes the one I took to the Kennedy Center) who fell off her bunk bed and hit a chair...off to the emergency room...yes it was broken...then later that day to get full leg cast on for six weeks of no walking, using a little walker...ugh...gult, then home to get the house ready for 40 teenagers to celebrate a sweet 16, feed my family, and make dinner for friend who just had a baby...thanks Marylee for helping me out and delivering the meal!!!





Aug 21st: son soccer, granddads for pool and crabs, nephew sleeps over, go to bed early

Aug 22nd: going away party for seminarian going to Rome, boys go to b day party, daughter in cast goes to outdoor movie party

Aug 23rd: college kids start, soccer, funeral home for wake, soccer practice, umbrella homeschool meeting

Aug 24th: funeral, clean, start getting school stuff ready, make meal for neighbor with cancer, soccer practice

Aug 25th: play date for kids, hair cut for daughter, tennis party and pot luck

Aug 26th: soccer, youth group

Aug 27th: doctor leg check up, birthday pool party, homeschool tutor meeting, teenagers over for a bonfire and movie

Aug 28th: soccer tournament, pool party, clean

Aug 29th: Boys serve early mass, daughter and I run nursery at 10 am mass, dad runs Annapolis 10 miler, have friends over for a cookout, go to the pool

Aug 30th: both teen daughters sitting for neighbors, make dinner for friend who just had a baby

Aug 31st: go to Hagerstown to see mom and family for biggest sisters b day, son at dentist to get tooth pulled, soccer practice

Thank God that month is over...and this is just the stuff on my calender...not to mention all the places I forgot to go to and the things I was going to do...

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

WATCH OUT TEEN GIRLS...

Selling Identity

by Vicki Thorn

While on a field trip today to a bookstore, I got lost in the magazine section. I must admit it was an eye-opening experience as I took the time to look through three teen magazines.

All three magazines were publications that have been around for some time. Seventeen caught my eye, its cover promising “823 Fashion & Beauty Ideas” and “The Best Fall Clothes for your Body.” I was stuck by the huge number of ads: Out of the 222 pages, close to 100 were paid advertizing, not counting the sections devoted to fashion items and where to buy them. What a tsunami of stuff that will make you more beautiful, better dressed, more attractive! Teen Vogue also oozed fashions —“386 looks you’ll love,” to be specific. Even Girl’s Life, which aims for a slightly younger audience, had “382 ways to look fab for fall.”

According to a 1999 study done by the Kaiser Family Foundation, teens aged 15 to 18 spend an average of 13 minutes per day reading magazines. Media studies show that readers of teen magazines turn to them as a “valued source of advice about their personal lives.” Perhaps most disturbing were the in-depth interviews with 12 and 13-year-old girls who regularly read teen magazines. The interviews revealed that the girls “used the magazines to formulate their concepts of femininity and relied heavily on articles that featured boys’ opinions about how to gain male approval and act in relationships with males.”

A few years ago, the American Psychological Association published an insightful article entitled “Driving teen egos—and buying—through ‘branding.’” It was on how “a glut of marketing messages encourages teens to tie brand choices to their personal identity.”

According to the APA article, teen girls spend over $9 million on makeup and skin products alone. In 2004, companies marketing to adolescents and kids spent $15 billion to influence over $600 billion’s worth of spending. One can only wonder how much more is being spent now.

“Comparing the marketing of today with the marketing of yesteryear is like comparing a BB gun to a smart bomb,” said Susan Linn, Ed.D., of Harvard Medical School. “It’s enhanced by technology, honed by child psychologists and brought to us by billion(s) of dollars."

She continued, “In the new millennium, marketing executives are insinuating their brands into the fabric of children’s lives. They want – to use industry terms – ‘cradle to grave’ brand loyalty and to ‘own’ children.”

Then there are the articles on sex and relationships.

One piece grabbed attention with the headlines “Scary Sex Rumors! Deadly shots! Pills that can hurt you! Is everything you’re hearing true? Get the facts right here.” The questions deal with Gardasil, the HPV vaccine; and whether the Plan B “morning after” pill is comparable to having an abortion. (The authors say it isn’t, and go on to tell girls how to get the pill over the counter if they are over 17, or at a Planned Parenthood clinic or doctor’s office if they are younger – all confidentially.) Talking about Pap smears, the article states that girls don’t need the check until age 21, as cervical cancer is extremely rare among teen girls – despite the Center for Disease Control’s advice that Pap smears begin at 21 or within three years of the onset of sexual activity. If a girl begins to have sex at 16 or 17, 21 does not coincide with the CDC recommendation.

The article does suggest going to the gynecologist for STD tests or prescriptions for birth control in order to prevent pregnancy or help with painful periods. However, what I found most troublesome is that the piece went on to advise girls how to get around their shyness of being open to their mothers about sex.

“If you are afraid your mom will think you’re having sex, if you ask to go the gyno, just say you have questions about your period or want help for your cramps,” the article suggests. As a mother, I resent a magazine telling my daughter how to get around me.

The article continues: “If you’re having sex, you should be on birth control pills (they’re more effective) and use a condom to protect against STDs.” Nowhere does it suggest that girls should be tested by their doctor to see if they have a blood clotting factor that would indicate they should not use the Pill. Nor does it tell girls that if they shouldn’t be on the Pill if they smoke – and according to the CDC, nearly a quarter of teens do smoke.

Another article in the “Real Love” section recounted how “I fell in love with my best friend” – a 17 year old’s story of suddenly becoming attracted to her female friend after sneaking a drink from a parent’s supply. Though they kissed, the young woman said, the “love didn’t last.” And yet: “It helped me reveal a part of myself I’d tried to hide. Realizing that I’m bi(sexual) was like opening a door to a new side of me …”

And we wonder why there is such confusion amongst our teens.

Praying for Debbie:

PRAYING FOR DEBBIE WHO IS ON THE WAY TO THE HOSPITAL TO HAVE HER sixth BABY...a BOY!!! PRAY FOR THIS amazing family!!!

update: thanks for the prayers:

Debbie didn't wake until around midnight, got Bruno up at ten til one, got on the road by 1:10, and gave birth at 2:01am!!!! Somebody must have prayed for SHORT labor ?

Welcome, Rocco John Angelo!!!

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

CHEESY POTATO CASSEROLE

Old family favorite...the best and taste good with anything...especially ham.

CHEESY POTATO CASSEROLE

2 lb. bag frozen hash browns
1 tsp. salt
1/2 c. chopped onion
1 pt. sour cream
3/4 c. melted butter
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 can cream of chicken soup
2 c. grated cheddar or American cheese
2 c. crushed corn flakes

Mix together all ingredients except corn flakes and 1/2 cup butter. Pour it all into 9"x13" pan. Cover with remaining ingredients. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

MOVIE REVIEW MONDAY:

Raising Helen

Just loved this flick...
Highschoolers and above...I watched it on TV so don't know if it had bad stuff in it.

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Prayer of Abandonment...Or as I say..."THY WILL BE DONE!!! "

Saw this in the missal at mass this morning:

Father,
I abandon myself into your hands;
do with me what you will.
Whatever you may do, I thank you:
I am ready for all, I accept all.

Let only your will be done in me,
and in all your creatures -
I wish no more than this, O Lord.

Into your hands I commend my soul:
I offer it to you with all the love of my heart,
for I love you, Lord, and so need to give myself,
to surrender myself into your hands without reserve,
and with boundless confidence,
for you are my Father.

This wonderful Prayer of Abandonment is written by Charles de Foucauld. More info here.

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

+++SWEET 16+++

My sweet Lizzie is 16!!!
You were our little sunshine when you were born...
now you are a nanny with a learners permit...
always organizing and cleaning...
a really good friend and big sister...
great student!!!

You make us laugh on family movie night...we love you sweetie.
May God guide and direct you all the days of your life, KEEP THE FAITH!!!

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

HAPPY BIRTHDAY 3 YEAR OLD:

Happy Birthday to my sweet E...we love you...11th child who was born a whooping 11 lbs and a tank. Your ruff and rugged personality is loved and feared by all. May God Bless and keep you all the days of your life. We love you and are so happy you are in our family...keep the faith.

WITH YOUR UNCLE AND NAMESAKE

+++BAPTIZED+++

FIRST BATH FROM AUNT BETSY

HOURS OLD WITH YOUR GODMOTHER AND BIG SISTER

BAPTISM DAY

MY HANDSOME HAIRY SON

YOUR FIRST BIRTHDAY...AT KITTY HAWK, NC

CUTIE PIE

ALMOST THREE

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

We could always use some hired help...

Do you, like me, dream of the days when people had "hired help".
I do daily...ok hourly!!!

Then I remember my blessings:

Husband: Accountant, Handy man, Personal Trainer, Cook, Chauffeur, Grocery Shopper,etc...
Alex-20: Event Coordinator
Joshua-19: Grounds Keeper
Caleb-17: Chauffeur
Elizabeth-16: Maid
Barbara-14: Nanny
Joseph-12: Athletic Trainer
Robert-10: Chef
Dominic-8: Lawn Mower
Mary-7: Baby sitter
Cecilia-4: Laundry Helper
Eric-3: Energy Maker
Kolbe-1: Joy Provider

It's a good thing they work for free!!!

Keep Praying for this crazy family!!!

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Effective Home Schooling:

Nice article here.

It is that time...ugh...
time to prepare...ugh...
sorry for all those starting school next week...ugh...
I am so blessed to get to Homeschool my children!!!



THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Unborn baby cookie cutter???

Don't know if I would buy it...
but, it may be a cute thing for a youth group to make for the March for Life or something?
Maybe a baby shower?

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

TOY REVIEW TUESDAY:

Crayola Paint Brush Pens

Buy them here.
Really any other brand that has the paint in the brush work great.
The ones I have can be refilled with paint.
If the kids leave the tops off...
just have them dip the brush in water and it brings it back to life.

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Movie Review Monday:

Spiderwick Chronicles...
Kinda creepy/scarey...upper elementary.
View first if your kids get scared easily.
Make your kids read the books first.
They also have the book on tape at the library.
for more insight check out Plugged In.

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Movie Review Monday:

The Book of Eli:

Great! First R movie I have seen in a long time. Language bad=the rest ok.
Gotta watch it twice...to pick up on everything!!!

Thy Will Be Done!!! +JMJ+