Big Belly and Christmas party

Connor goes to Sunday school during mass and Jacob and Nolan used to go to the nursery and play. However, the last two Sundays they have wanted to come up and be with us. They have actually done pretty well for a 2 and 3 year old. They color or draw on their Etch a Sketches.

Today I'm standing there and Jacob wanted to get by me to go stand by Grandpa and Grandma, so he whispers to me, "Mommy, can you move your big belly for a second please". Ha. It was said so nonchalantly I let out a chuckle. Good thing the choir was singing.

We had our daycare Christmas party tonight. Mary always goes above and beyond with this. The grandparents are invited also. She has Santa come, she has crafts, she has appetizers and a delicious meal, the kids exchange names to buy a present, and then Mary also gives the kids a present. This year she even practiced some songs with them to sing for all of us. It was adorable. She is so good to us.

Crocodile Dock Camp -VBC

Connor is going to Vacation Bible camp this week and is having a blast. The theme this year is Crocodile Dock. The music is fun (we get to drop him off and pick him up to it every day), he goes to different stations called, Snack Shack, Bible Bayou, Dockside Drive-in, Gator Games, Crayfish Crafts, and they have the Crocodile finale. Every morning when Jacob and Nolan I drop him off we want to stay and have fun too. ;) It's so cool seeing him excited about this and talking about it so thoroughly and at a mile a minute when he gets home.

Chrism Mass

Tonight my church held the 2009 Chrism Mass for the Diocese of Winona. It was amazing being a part of it. I can't tell you how many times I got goosebumps and this feeling a pure "awe". Not to mention the music was beautiful. The church was packed, in fact the Bishop said it was the largest turnout he has ever been a part of. My guild helped out at the reception afterwards, and I couldn't believe the hundreds of people that were there (my mom had a huge part of putting the whole dinner, mass, and reception together as part of the liturgy committee). Nice job mom! The priest from every church in our diocese was there, not sure what that number is but I would guess around 80+. The Chrism mass is where the Bishop consecrates chrism and blesses the oils to make them holy. The chrism is used for the celebration of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders. The oil is used for anointing the catechumen and the sick. It was very cool seeing the big vases full of the oil and then seeing how it was distributed to each of the priests to take back to their parish.

After school today I picked the boys up from Mary's, dropped Nolan and Connor off at home with Matt, and took Jacob into Urgent Care. He was up at 3am this morning screaming that his ear hurt. He and I didn't really go back to sleep the rest of the morning. Poor guy. He was warm, but no temp so we took him to daycare. Mary called me during the day to ask if she could give him some Tylenol because his ear was really bothering him. The doctor cleaned out all of this "goopy stuff". She said it was really bad and his ear was draining. She put him on oral antibiotics and ear drop antibiotics. Ugh.....

Nap time in chair

I went to a church women's retreat this morning with my mom. The priest that spoke talked about "The past cannot be changed, but how I feel about the past can change". He focused on some themes like being strong, loving, and wise. He also talked about forgiveness. One of the best things I came away with was wanting to realize the difference between what is beyond and what is within my control. I sometimes focus too much on what is beyond my control. Even tonight I was all concerned about something that was beyond my control....I cannot control other people, what they do, or what they say....but I can control myself, how I feel, what I do, and how I treat other people. There are so many other productive things I could be doing...why waste time focusing on what I can't control?

I love to go in and give the boys kisses when they are sleeping. This afternoon while Connor was at a birthday party, I went in to go check on and give the younger boys kisses. I walked into Jacob's room...found him sound a a sleep in bed, gave him a big kiss, and fixed his covers. Opened the door to Nolan's room.....found him sound a sleep in.....his Elmo chair! What? I don't know when he moved from his bed to here, but he did. Matt left him a sleep in his bed. We still use the monitor in his room and I did not hear a peep the whole time....I don't know how or when he moved from the bed to here. I put him back in bed, gave him a kiss, and fixed his covers. ;)

Mom and I went to the movie "New in Town" tonight. Though I thought it was a little far fetched about us Minnesotans dontcha know....it was hilarious. Thanks mom.