Link to Original Project at ‘Train Up A Child’, Outdoor Obstacle Course

Link to My Pin: (which doesn’t look have as awesome as my outcome) HERE 

Follow me on Pinterest: HERE

Maybe you caught my reference to a family jog we took a few weeks back. We’ve kept at it, following a Couch to 5K ap on some evenings and other evenings, just going for a stroll to the playground. My goals were to help get the kids in shape for track and help us get out and be active as a family. Unfortunately, the kids didn’t understand how running or walking for 30 minutes would help them win a 40M dash, long jump or shot put toss.

While trying to explain all my well-intentioned goals and reasons in a calm and rational voice over dinner last week, some how, the idea for replacing our “boring” runs with an obstacle course took hold. (But only after I quickly ruled out buying them each their own personal DVD player to carry while they were running.) I sort of forgot about it until Monday when after a rough morning I found myself dreading an evening family jog. After a bit of time on Pinterest I found all sorts of inspiration for a backyard obstacle course. ‘Train Up a Child’ had some of the best ideas, so it’s the one I re-pinned but a quick search will locate many other obstacle course party pins, indoor obstacle course pins and half-naked people scaling walls in a Warrior Dash. (That’s just a heads up if your kids like to sneak a peek over your shoulder. “Mom, why’s that lady in muddy underwear jumping over a bonfire?”)

Before long, I was dragging pool noodles, ladder ball rungs, bocce balls, scrap lumber, hose from the pool pump, a sprinkler, four unconverted rain barrels and a partridge in a pear tree out to the back yard. And by partridge I mean a few stray chickens that kept wandering onto the course trying to eat the bocce balls and by pear tree I mean our cat who kept trying to attack Edie (because he knows Edie hates him). Seeing as I was no longer angry and screaming, the children helped me get the course set up. Once Tony got home, the Mantoan Dash was on!

GO! First, under the disgusting yoga mat supported by the ladder ball set.

Next, over the rain barrels, however you can manage!

Then, jog to the shot put area, clearly marked with a pole and tube from the pool, and hurl your bocce ball!

Like. A. Boss.

Then zig zag your way through the cones. “GO TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE CONES! Don’t cut through the middle…NO…the out….forget it…”

The only child not confounded by the zig zag.

Avoid the cat and make your way around the burn pile and across the balance beam.

Finally leap like a drunken gazelle over the pool noodle hurdles before the finish line sprinkler rewards you for your efforts. Proceed to whine to the time-keeper about why putting only one foot on the balance beam should count.

So for family time guaranteed to wear everyone out; obstacle courses!

Right after the dueling wheeled zig zag portion, Tony and I took turns having heart attacks.

See all the Pinishers this week at Scrutinies!

1. I’m so organized, this week I put my kid’s toys on a weekly schedule. The low down: condense 95 percent of the toys on the first floor into four 20 gallon tubs, with only one tub of toys making an appearance in my living room each week.  Even though I regularly weed out toys for donation, we still had a lot of really nice toys I didn’t want to part with. As the younger boys can’t play upstairs or in their room, and we don’t have a separate playroom or den, our living room had become overrun.  However, after the great toy divide of 2013, I walked through the living room repeatedly without injury or expletive. Organization high!

2. Awhile back, I was convinced we’d need to do a fundraiser to buy a new handicap vehicle for our family. Then, somehow, my husband and I convinced ourselves that we didn’t need no stinkin’ fundraiser, we could handle it with our own bootstraps or something. Then, after looking at vehicles and running some numbers I was like, holy crap, we can’t afford anything even with a ton of fundraising! Then after some prayers we looked some more and I think we’ve found something perfect…which horrifies me. I can think of a ton of instances where Tony and I were convinced that we’d found “the one” whatever, only to have something fall through at the very last second shattering our dreams. And if we do acquire said dream item, it turns out to ultimately suck and ruin our lives by becoming an endless money pit (our current house, our former B&B our Ebayed camper, etc). We keep trying to make these very wise decisions, shaped by past choices but somehow, without an angel in a dream giving us the answer, we screw up.

3. Which brings me to my next take/point. Our previous experiences have given me a real “monkey’s paw” attitude towards prayer. Like God’s sitting there thinking “Oh, you want a nice handicap vehicle huh? Okay, here’s one for a great price…but the lift will stop working in six months and you’ll be stranded at home for weeks while the garage orders in special parts which are made for this model only in the mountains of Peru.”  Or if I start to think, I just want things to be a little easier around her, I’m instantly afraid someone will die thus “lessening” my workload. Is this just me? Am I completely nuts? I don’t know why it’s so hard for me to just ask God for what I want or need and be at peace with it. It’s also why I’m always asking saints to intercede for me. “Yeah St. Joseph, it’s me again. Look, this house…I know I said I wanted it, but could you ask God to make it stop falling apart. I’m afraid if I ask, it’ll catch fire instead or something. Thanks.”

So, in a round about way. If you wouldn’t mind saying a prayer for us and our vehicle situation, I’d appreciate it. It’s more a matter of discerning what we can really afford given our current financial situation, whether or not we need to fund-raise and what role government programs (which take forever to reimburse) should play in our purchase.

4. This week I started using a “gold star” incentive chart with Fulton to motivate him to complete a bit of school work. External incentives make me want to puke; they should just love to learn damnit! But here I am, justifying my means. For the first month or so after Fulton’s nurse left, he acted out towards me and refused to do any educational games he’d once loved to play with his nurse. Frankly, it was preschool, I wasn’t going to spaz about it. But of course, since family knew I had “started school” with Fulton they kept asking me, and him, how it was going. Fulton is also bright and I thought he might enjoy learning to read so several times I tried reintroducing some games with no success. So although I don’t think kids should be rewarded endlessly for completing assignments, I’m giving Fulton stickers on a chart to motivate him and it’s working. Once he fills the chart, he get’s a new Lego minifigure. I’m hoping I only have to buy him one or two before the habit has sunk in. (For the record, all I’m asking him to do is 10 minutes of a letter game on his iPad, 10 minutes of a numbers game, [both are simple Montessori inspired games so no flashing lights, loud songs or craziness] 10 minutes with a fine motor activity and for him to listen quietly to a story a sibling reads to him.) The most surprising part is the older three want their own charts to fill out to earn minifigures. I’m starting to become concerned about how much all these incentives will wind up costing me.

5. I’m considering adding sponsors to my sidebar. I currently have some Google Ads and Amazon links that generate little to no money and typically  suggest my readers buy sexy leggings or do a background search on someone. Honestly, I’d prefer to make little to no money promoting Catholic businesses, Etsy shops, blogs and the like rather than ‘The Language Method Language Professors Don’t Want You To Learn About!” But is there interest? If you’re not afraid of my reputation, send me an email. I’m thinking dirt cheap, between $2-4 a month for a button roughly the size of that Sheenazing award. At this point, I’m opting out of sponsored posts or reviews. Really, I don’t think you want to go down that road with me anyway. And if I broke some unspoken blog etiquette rule by writing about sponsorship I’m sorry.

6. That was a lot of long deluded takes wasn’t it? I’m going to stop before I lose you. Oh wait….I guess you clicked back to Jen and the rest of the Ticky Quakers awhile ago. Well, thanks anyway for making a pit stop at my roadside stand on the information superhighway.

PS I’m giving myself a C+, half a gold star and a “Nice Try!” on today’s effort.

After our rosary, we got right to work. I brought forms and instruction sheets and we had six wines to try. Some moms declined to taste, (did they think my offer to let them swish and spit into the hostess’ kitchen sink was insincere?) and only chatted and sampled the snacks.

The whole evening just reeked of classiness.

So since this is ‘Five Favorites’ I’m going to share the top five wines…out of six. (But I think there was talk about doing this again next month…or next week, so I’ll update if things change.)

Franzia’s Pinot Grigio, which I brought, was easily eliminated  with its most flattering comment;

“Why bother? I’d rather have soda.”

I may or may not have left that behind at the hostess’ house as a “present.” Thanks again for having us all in your house until the wee hours!

The Last Supper and a table of boxed wine; clearly a Catholic household.

5. Franzia’s White Zinfindel averaged a 2.6 on a scale of one to five (with five the “happy face score”). The highest score came from a reviewer on her sixth sample who was not swishing and spitting. So, if you’re hosting a party (Baptism, Confirmation, etc.) this would seem to be the wine you break out once everyone’s having a good time.

4. Also scoring a 2.6 was Almaden’s Mountain Burgundy, by far the most hotly debated wine of the evening. One mom passionately wrote,

“Yuck! If I could give it less than a one I would! It is not ‘soft and elegant’ [as written on the box]. False advertising!”

She later amended her review to add it had a ‘full bodied throw up taste.”

However other moms described it as sweet, “knock your socks off” good and “[I'm] shocked that wine in a box can be yummy. A little sour, but a good box.”

Therefore, if you’re hosting a dinner party and are worried about where the conversation might go, serve this wine and everyone is bound to be caught up arguing about it for the rest of the night.

This was right before the cat fight broke out. Kidding!

3. Folonari’s Pinot Noir came in at 2.9. For a red wine, it didn’t make my face go all puckery and a few other reviewers noted fruitiness. Even the reviewer who said “Blah, with notes of meh” gave it a three. It also had a slightly high-end looking box that clearly proclaimed “Italian Wine.” Whether it’s delivery or DiGiornos, stuffed shells or Spagettios, Folonari’s is guaranteed to add some class and, at the very least, not horribly offend anyone.

2. One of my favorite’s, Franzia’s Sangria garnered a 3.5. (The truth is out; I’m a wine snob.) The score would have been higher except for a Russian judge that snuck in and gave it a one, writing “Perfume fragrance with a sickening sweet medicinal flavor.”

I for one, find Sangria the perfect accompaniment to blogging, and Christmas cookie swaps. (Bring the burnt ones. No one will care!)  One mom even suggested indulging in a little Sangria before visiting the Maryland Science Center, based on personal experience.

So for educational outings and building camaraderie between moms, Sangria for the win!

1. Hands down the best wine of the night, if only because it was packaged LIKE A PURSE, was Volere’s Merlot Pinot Noir blend at 3.8. Regardless of how it tasted, I think all the ladies in attendance were enamoured with a wine that could probably be snuck into a movie theater, band performance or homeschool kindergarten graduation. Sure, everyone will wonder what all the ruckus is in row E, but IT’S WINE IN A PURSE. I rest my case.

Chauffeur Joe Wetterling prepares to take his lovely wife, and their purse of wine home.

Now don’t forget to pin, bookmark or print this post so next time you’re faced with the dilemma of selecting a quality boxed wine for under $20 you don’t need to ask the opinion of some twenty-something wine clerk who doesn’t understand the needs of the homeschooling mom community. My friends and I, we’ve done the hard work so you can reap the rewards. It was a tough job, but ….okay so it wasn’t but now you can head back to Hallie’s a little wiser anyway.

It’s ‘What I Wore Sunday’ circa. 2007. Me in my twenties, Addie, 4, Byron, 3, Edie, 1.

The dress: Thrifted. You can see another picture of it here, so you know I still break it out occasionally.

Why the trip down memory lane? I wanted to reflect back this Mother’s Day on my time as a younger mom, overwhelmed by young children at Mass, and offer some support to other moms who feel like this will be them for the rest of their lives.

Believe it or not, you don’t need to do anything differently. The real work belongs to the rest of us.

See that squirmy kid in a tie? He screamed for the first two-years of his life every time we stepped foot into a church. That ratty green blanket went with him everywhere, but did little to control his unruly behavior that often left me at the back of the church, or outside or in tears. Today, he can help serve a Latin Mass.

That pouty girl in pink? She’s now a responsible 10-year-old who can hold babies, escort younger siblings to the bathroom, hold doors and keep the little ones in line when Mama or Papa need to exit the pew.

That wee one in purple refused to sit through a Mass in the Church, preferring the comfort of her Mama and baby brother in the cry room and pitching tantrums whenever we tried to make her sit with her Papa. While she still loves to snuggle close to me in Mass, she’ll be receiving her First Holy Communion next spring, without my apron strings attached.

Me? I’m still in the cry room with a very chatty two-year old, but even Fulton sits through 90 percent of Masses now.

The madness will end; I promise you! Even as you keep having new kids, the older ones will finally sit still, stop throwing up all over your Sunday dress and actually make things easier for you.

Hang in there! When the family in front of you keeps turning around and shooting you glances, I know this was the week the baby decided to start cutting teeth. When someone tells you how to discipline your kids because “you’re obviously not doing enough at home” I know you’ve been up since 4 a.m. with morning sickness and only manged to drag yourself to Mass by God’s grace. When the usher comes over and asks you to move to the lobby with your family, I know you’re doing your absolute best. Even if it’s not enough in that guy’s eyes, or that family’s or whomever’s, it’s enough in God’s.

I know that when you’ve got more kids than hands and more in diapers than not, Mass is hard, and rather than assume you’re lazy, or lax in your parenting or just plain inconsiderate, I’m going to offer to hold or watch your child. Maybe they’ll scream louder, but I’m going to smile and tell you it’s okay, don’t worry about it. I’m going to offer you words of encouragement when I see your child make it to the Gospel without screaming the word poop at the top of his lungs. I’m not going to compare your four-year old to my four-year old and make a cutting comment to another mom, because I know next week it might be my child who has the melt down, or slams the kneeler or rips a page out of the hymnal.

I may disagree with your parenting style, but I know that after wrestling two screaming kids through an hour-long Mass is not the time to offer you advice. I’m happy you came to Mass with your kids and so is God. You and your family are a blessing to our church and a witness to what being open to life really means. And if you’re there begrudgingly, only to humor your husband, I’m going to overlook the way you allow your child to run wild, and try to say a kind word to her and you so that you don’t prevent your husband from coming. I want you to know that you are welcome here too.

I’ve met moms whose children have disabilities that make it hard or impossible for them to sit through Mass. I’ve met moms with disabilities who can’t chase their children or haul them out of Mass fast enough when a tantrum strikes. I’ve met moms in bad marriages who drag all their kids to Mass alone because there is no one to help them, and only opposition at home. What cross are you carrying to Mass today? Let me help you. Just ask.

Next time I hear a child disrupt Mass, either sporadically or continuously,  I’m not going to judge that family or assume I understand their situation. I’m going to pray for them. I’m going to remember how it feels when nothing works and I feel like a failure. I’m going to pray that family doesn’t get discouraged, encounter someone uncharitable, leave Mass early or stop coming altogether.

I’m going to stop worrying about what other families are doing with their kids and focus on my family. I can’t control other parents or children, but I can guide my children and hopefully be an inspiration or support to others.

And so, young mothers, do not be discouraged and experienced mothers, do not discourage. Let us love and support one another for all are welcome here.

What is the mark of love for your neighbor? Not to seek what is for your own benefit, but what is for the benefit of the one loved, both in body and in soul.

~ St. Basil the Great

Now go share the love back with all the lovely ladies and moms over at FLAP. 

Knowing inspiration was at an all time low (I can’t even slap photos together for a decent slide show these days!) I turned to my friend social media for some ideas. Thankfully, my online friends came through. So now, I answer seven questions submitted by my readers.

“Do you sleep on a specific side of the bed?”

1. Yes, at home I’m always on the left. When we travel, I take the side closest to the bathroom. However, to y’all I might reveal that last weekend while traveling I picked the side against the wall to “encourage” Tony to get up with Fulton and Teddy. But I’ll deny it if you tell him!

“Best poop story, most embarrassing story from before you had kids, childhood crush, which boy band is your favorite (Backstreet Boys, N*Sync, or 98 degrees), WHY do you live in New Jersey???”

2. Hmmmm… Would a story about how I pooped my pants in second grade count for two? (Ha, number two!) Anyway, I was wearing this cute one piece sailor suit when I ran to the bathroom in panic and couldn’t figure out how to get out of it before …stuff hit the fan. My teacher found me in the bathroom crying “It’s not me, it’s the sailor suit!” She took me to the nurse’s office where I got to pick out an awesome outfit that must have been in storage since the 70′s. Even at seven years old, I knew it was hideous. (Yet, I willingly wore a sailor suit. Puzzling.)

3. Boy band? I’d say Backstreet, but I have a soft spot for N*Sync because I saw them in concert while interning at my local newspaper. But my story never got published because I drove a company car to the event and lost it in the parking lot.(Was it a Taurus or a Cavalier?) I wandered around for hours sticking my key into random cars with no luck before finally spotting it in an adjacent lot after most of the crowd had gone home. This was before I had a cell phone so I showed up back at the office way past deadline with this horrible story and basically two of my editors looked at me like, “You’re never going to make it in this business.”

4.  Ah, the Garden State. As a child, I wanted to live here just to be close to the ocean. However, I could never have predicted our move here. After I learned I was expecting Byron, we decided to move from Upstate New York to Lancaster. But Tony was only experienced in the Defense Industry and the closest job he could get to our new home (also a bed and breakfast) was in Camden, NJ. We figured he’d make the commute for a year and then we’d be able to live off the income from the B&B and he could quit. (Insert crazy laugh here.) After two years as inn owners, we moved to New Jersey, to a tiny apartment within walking distance of a train station. I seriously felt the previous years’ horrible commutes (plus the problems with our business) aged Tony about ten years in that time. Consequently, reducing his commute time to 40 minutes of walking and riding the train was like a vacation.
While we never meant to stay in Jersey, we quickly discovered our parish and entered into a community I can’t imagine leaving now. Plus, homeschooling laws in NJ are probably the most lax in the whole country, so even though the majority of our sky-high taxes go to schools, I get no hassles here. It means there’s more homeschool activities and groups than you can shake a stick at.

“Vacation snippets… pics”

5. An exchange I had with Addie after Mass in Kitty Hawk.

A: “Why did they clap at the end of Mass? Were they glad Mass was over?

Me: “No, they were clapping for the musician playing the guitar.”

A: “WHAT?!? This isn’t a performance!!”

6. We ate at a pirate restaurant on Sunday; two days after their kids eat free promo. D’oh!

The most memorable moment came when I manged to pierce the bottom of Teddy’s Styrofoam cup full of chocolate milk with his pirate flag straw and empty all the contents onto the table, and Teddy and my feet. Seriously, you can’t take me anywhere.

Kinda like this guy…

“Why is it that we drive on the parkway, but park in the driveway? Why does sour cream have an expiration date? What does a yellow light mean? How come in Star Wars, the Imperials can immediately scan an escape pod to determine there are no life forms aboard, but can’t do the same with the Millennium Falcon? Where do babies come from?”

7. Let me do you a favor.

Anything else you want to know? Send me an email. I’ll gladly answer all your queries next time I’m lacking material. Until then, go check out the rest of the Quake Tickers at Conversion Diary. 

Traveling with a large family requires a certain amount of Type A tendencies, otherwise, you’re assured of forgetting a million important items. It’s why “Outer Banks 2013″ has been carefully in the works for months. (And I still manged to forget to map directions to the rental office to pick up our keys. Thankfully, the office was located on the main drag and we found it with minimal bickering between my husband and I.) And yet, Fulton takes vacation planning to the next level.

First,  I whip out Fulton’s two page packing list, because I don’t know of any neighborhood 7-11 that I could walk into and ask “What aisle do you keep the 10 french pediatric catheters and surgical lube? ” I simply cannot forget anything.

Fulton’s room packed. One of those little suitcases belongs to Teddy. The rest, on the floor and bed, are Fulton’s. (Including the medical pole.)

Every night he’s hooked up to a minimum of two machines (three if you count the humidifier that hooks into his bi-pap.) If he’s got a cold, or we traveling for longer than a weekend, that means three more machines to haul. All the machines need to be plugged in at some point either to run or recharge. Right there, logistics rule out any spontaneous weekend camping trips. And as you can imagine, setting up a mini hospital suite for only one or two nights is a pain. Fulton’s sleeping needs were one of the main reasons we decided to rent a house for a week as opposed to spending a night or two on Assateague Island and a few nights in the Outer Banks. Tony and I love camping  (a.k.a. cheap overnight accommodations for large families) but we’ve come to realize future trips will have to be budgeted to allow for home rentals.

Fulton’s equipment set up in his vacation bedroom. We had to move a dresser to put his machines closer to his bed. Plus we put a foam wedge on the bed to elevate his head.

We take a small trailer with us when we go away for more than a couple of nights. Our van can’t fit all the luggage and medical equipment otherwise. At least, not without making it impossible to load/unload Fulton’s wheelchair. Long drives are difficult simply because there’s often no place to lay Fulton down to stretch him out or change his diaper. He’s far to long for restroom changing tables and who trusts the floor in those places?? We’ve started taking his mat to lay out on the ground at rest stops. As long as the weather is good and it’s not completely paved, this works well.

In trying to stay on a budget (a.k.a. spend as little as possible) we rented the cheapest house I could find within walking distance to the beach. Most homes with elevators were astronomically priced and the few non-elevated homes were either too small or also too expensive. That meant all week we carried Fulton and his medical stroller up and down the steps to our rental. We didn’t realize until we’d drove around that quite a few homes in the OBX are built with long ramps leading up to the front entrance. Something to remember for next time.

Who needs a weekly membership to the Y when you can just haul two youngsters up and down the steps to this place several times a day?! I’m still feeling the burn.

Luckily, we can still carry Fulton around, although I don’t like doing it. Fulton is 35 pounds of dead weight. (For lack of a cheerier term.)  He has limited head and neck control. One false step and I don’t even want to think about the consequences. I no longer allow anyone except Tony and I on very rare occasions to carry Fulton upstairs in our house and never down our basement steps anymore. I know the older and heavier he gets the less options we’ll have. Yet, I hate to deny Fulton the opportunity to do anything his siblings do or prevent his siblings from doing activities just to ‘be fair.’

Tony couldn’t manage to carry Fulton into the captain’s quarters so the guide kindly showed them pictures of the interior.

Tony did mange to get him into the main part of the ship where Fulton and Edie scoured an officer’s hidden treasure chest.

Tony and Fulton examine part of the Wright Brothers sculpture.

We’ve also learned that handicap accessible does not always equal power wheelchair accessible. Something as insignificant as a three-inch lip to a curb or doorway can cause all sorts of problems. Poorly marked or hidden handicap entrances, cracked or buckled sidewalks riddled with tree roots, people illegally parking in front of entrance ramps: until you see the world through the eyes of someone like Fulton you don’t realize how inaccessible places really are. We tried to avoid these problems by taking Fulton in his stroller when we were uncertain of accessibility as it’s easier to lift over curbs and bumps.

This was as close as Fulton could get to this playground in his powerchair. The grass pictured was surrounded by a concrete curb with no access ramps. The other kids had to cut playtime short.

One of the things I anticipated the least in adjusting to life with SMA was dealing with other people. This is where I still struggle immensely. Sometimes the attention is polite and friendly and we may even receive special treatment, like a discount at one attraction “because of our son.” Obviously, we get lots of stares. I don’t even mind that. I mean, before Fulton,  I’d stare if I saw a toddler in powerchair. Kids usually think Fulton’s chair is cool and want to touch it or ask questions about why he needs it. Again, I understand that.  But what rubs me the wrong way, and I feel bad about it, is just the fact that everyone wants to talk to Fulton and touch him; his hair, give him a high-five, shake his hand. Just because he’s in a wheelchair doesn’t mean he’s extra friendly, in fact, unless you’re a young blond nurse, he’s not going to want anything to do with you. Sorry. And it doesn’t mean he’s mentally disabled so please don’t speak to him like he is or ask me questions about his life span while he’s right. next. to. you. In most of these instances, Fulton can’t really remove himself from the individual (like hide behind my skirt or run away) because the person stands directly in front of him. If he can drive away he usually does and when allowed to talk to people on his own without his personal space being invaded he often does.

I know people just want to be kind but I have three older children who would love to chat with you, can I direct you towards them? I don’t want to force Fulton to have to talk to all these people or let them rub his hair. I’m hoping in time he’ll develop the patience and sense of humor to deal with it. For now, everyone just thinks Teddy’s a very well-behaved two-year old in a stroller. But once we’re out an about with two kids in wheelchairs plus the rest of us….good grief.

Vacations are also hard because we fall out of our routine. On one hand, it’s easier because Tony is around all day to help with Fulton and Teddy’s care but on the other, sleeping in, day trips, missing naps: all these things throw off my groove and I’m more likely to forget to administer someone their meds at the right time, or make sure Fulton’s adequately hydrated. For this trip, we really tried to allow plenty of downtime to make sure all of Fulton’s care stayed on track. I really can’t see us vacationing with other people (outside grandparents) because we can’t go,go,go all day. Probably the only good thing about coming home is slipping back into a comfortable routine.

Despite the extra work, I love family vacations and spending time together. (I hope this post doesn’t make it sound otherwise.) We’re planning another trip to the midwest this summer to visit family and already I’m dreaming about a few nights in Ocean City. Every time I start to wonder, how will we mange this or overcome some new struggle, I try to remind myself of all the things we’re doing now that I couldn’t imagine a couple of years ago. And having fun doing too! So long as we have the will, God always helps us find the way.

Where to start about our vacation…. According to all the kids, “everything” was their favorite and the trip was a ten on a scale of one to ten (except for Addie; she gave the trip a nine because we had to leave and because I made her complete the Junior Ranger book at the Wright Brothers National Historic Site. But then Byron said he’d up his score to an eleven to counteract Addie’s nine. So I guess that means perfect score.) As I’ve committed myself to creating the next summer blockbuster (i.e. Ken Burn’s style photo slide show) I’ll limit tonight’s post to a few of my favorite pics.

Digging in the dirt…just like a Native American! Exhibit on agriculture, check!

Protecting the booty on the Elizabeth II.

I want to know how many people are prosecuted every year for stealing this sign? What are my odds?

Fulton feeling the ocean between his toes as the sand wreaks havoc upon his high-end stroller. Seriously, now the brakes aren’t working correctly. I guess this beach loving family needs to look into a PVC model.

Teddy digging. And preparing to demand that I stop taking pictures and dig too.

Sixty degree water and air temperature apparently requires swimsuits. I’m either the best or worst mother ever.

Just trying to not get blown away next to the Wright Brothers monument.

Fulton wouldn’t sit in the theater for a thirty minute film on the Wright Brothers’ flight, but he would sit next to this painting making plane noises for at least that long.

On the boardwalk in Duck.

One of the things not pictured here that I loved was PEACE AND QUIET…at least, after the kids were in bed. There weren’t many people around and all the activity meant everyone slept really well most nights. Limited web distraction meant I got more reading and journaling done in seven days than in the last couple months. (If I never get around to a full post on ‘A Little Way Of Homeschooling’, just know I enjoyed it and recommend it to anyone who feels they’re not doing enough in their homeschool or needs to scale back during the school year due to a new baby, moving, whatever.)

Plus, I had awesome beach hair all week with no effort. I just washed with my 99 cent VO5 shampoo and condition, stood on our front deck and within five windswept, humid minutes: Pinterest worthy beach hair. Oh my word! If I post a selfie, can I link up with Pinishers?? Wait, Dorian’s on ‘Home’. Well, maybe next week.

I feel a bit rusty jumping back into the blog, but when in doubt, I’m sure I can dedicate a post or eight just to funny things the kids said while on vacation. For example:

Addie: “Mama, these are some interesting billboards. I never knew Smokey the Bear had boobs.”

Better wrap it up there. Join me later this week when I’ll have accepted the fact that I’m not moving to the beach any time soon and that yes, I’m very happy with things just the way they are.

Dress: Burlington Coat Factory
Coat: Goodwill
Scarf: Target
Teva Sandals
I’m also wearing a purple cardigan from Old Navy but it’s hidden.
And while Teddy and I are sitting here all bundled, my older three are running around getting soaked in 60 degree water. Even Fulton tried to convince Tony to put his stroller “closer to the waves”. Maybe our family vacation can include a little pneumonia too. (And I’ll see if I can out do Micaela’s photo dumping too! THROW DOWN!)

Amy is the winner of the Flexi-Clip giveaway. WOOT! Go Amy; you’re a rockstar! If you didn’t win, visit Katrina’s website to shop online or contact Katrina to host an online party and earn yourself some free Lilla Rose gear.

I’m signing off until next week. In my absence, be sure to visit all the rest of the FLAPers. (I’ll miss you too, but absence makes the heart grow fonder right?)

So, anyway, grumble, grumble, grumble……come back Sunday when I’ll be jumping online to announce the winner of my giveaway (less than 24 hours to go!) and then hopefully I’ll be able to keep myself away from the screen for the duration of the trip.

I really, really, really wasn’t feeling like there were five things in the world I hearted this week but, I need to distract myself from all the laundry and packing a weeklong vacation with five kids entails so GO TIME.

1. Social Media

Scheduling a last-minute playdate? Done, through Facebook. Finding a great gluten-free beverage? Shared and discussed across Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.  Meeting and chatting with great people across the globe I’d never have met otherwise? Thanks once again Facebook, via my personal wall and blog page. I didn’t physically leave the house much this week but that doesn’t mean I didn’t get to connect with lots of great folks. Saving my sanity; priceless.

Speaking of a gluten-free beverage…

2. New Planet Gluten Free ‘Tread Lightly Ale’

IT TASTES LIKE BEER. I cannot tell you how happy it made me to crack into this and not throw up a little in my mouth after taking a sip. For a beer brewed from sorghum, it does not taste all nasty sorghum-y. I really like hard cider, but when you crave a beer, cider doesn’t cut it. Now, at last, the heavens have parted, the angels are singing and pizza night is looking a lot better.

“Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” -Ben Franklin

See, God loves gluten-intolerant folks and celiacs too! Yay! (Okay, so we already knew that but let us give thanks anyway.)

3. Lego Aps

Lego makes a ton of free aps for the iPad and iPhone/iPod touch. They’ve got Lego Duplo aps for the littles, Lego Star Wars for the middles, and neat Lego video and photo aps for anyone…like me.

It’s my face in Lego bricks! Okay, back away from your screen a bit and then look. Well, just trust me, it’s my face in bricks. Next favorite amongst discerning Mantoan family members (of which there are none) is the Lego Movie Maker ap which guides you through the making of a stop animation DC superhero movie. The doctor’s waiting room will never be the same.

4. Pinishers

Dorian’s doing a Pinterest link up on Tuesdays starting next week; the week I’m away on vacation! So I’ll have to join in on week two, but really, the creation of the word Pinisher ( with your choice of gender buttons) really tops anything I’ll be submitting. (Those who do not know history…) Still, I’m excited to see what everyone else links up.

Every time I see this, I think “punisher”, like, how much is this crafting experience going to hurt me?

Did someone say vacation? Booyah!

5. Family Vacation

The Mantoans will be hitting the road to the Outer Banks for a week! It’ll be like the Griswold’s going to Wally World without Christie Brinkley or untimely death. (RIP Dinky and Aunt Edna). We’re going to visit some educational sites but mostly just relax…with the five kids. I’m pretty sure I’ll come back completely recharged and in possession of some kitschy souvenirs, you know, to display with the vase.

Ah, sweet seashell man; we had joy, we had fun, we had five sweating kids with sand in every orifice. Good times.

Look at that, I did find five things that made me happy and didn’t add to my stress level. Well, the vacation planning did, but who can stay mad at that cute souvenir shell? Now brush the sand from your shoes and mosey on back to Hallie’s for the rest of the Moxie bunch. 

First the Sunday style;

And this was supposed to be a “nice shot.”

Dress; Been there. Done that; Burlington.

Shoes; Target

Sweater; Burlington

Accessories; The Celtic Knot Flexi-Clip by Lilla Rose

You know I usually wear my hair down but with my hair growing out and warmer temperatures arriving, I needed something to keep my hair up, up and away. Enter in my reader Katrina who offered me a Flexi-Clip to keep my mane at bay. And let me tell you, it is light years better than an elastic pony or big plastic clip (which have been breaking at record rates lately). Now instead of screaming “unwashed mommy hair’ my twist says, “I could be chaperoning a prom.” And I love that I can rest my head back in a chair/seat and the Flexi-Clip doesn’t painfully dig into my head making it impossible to sleep in those few minutes from our house to church. And after the usual amount of wrestling, lifting, yelling, quickly running to the sound of loud banging, my hair was still securely in place.

The only downside is, it’s so pretty, so easy to use, that my daughters keep trying to get their hands on it.

Addie trying to steal the clip from my closet. Caught you red handed! Guess who needs to visit the confessional this week???

Success. Amazing what you can achieve with a little team work.

We obviously have a discipline problem in this house.

And now for the exciting part, Katrina is offering a Flexi-Clip to one of my awesome readers! Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway below for your chance to win one for yourself (or maybe your glamorous daughter(s)). The contest will be open until next Sunday when I announce the winner during my weekly WIWS post. If you can’t wait until then, swing by Katrina’s site and shop around. Once you’ve entered, be sure to sashay back and check out the rest of the FLAPpers.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This week I am dedicating my takes to anyone and everyone who has even remotely considered attending the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. Yes, the Latin Mass. Our church still allows for those and whether it’s a strong desire pulling you towards all things traditional or just a faint curiosity about what the heck it actually is, I’m extending an invitation to YOU! There’s been a lot of talk around the web about Traditionalists lately. Who are these people?? Well, me and many of my friends for starters. (Thanks for the quotes guys! I was serious when I said I would post them.)

We’d all like to welcome you to your local Latin Mass. We’re not a bunch of crazies. I don’t think any parish or denomination can claim a monopoly on angry, holier-than-thou, uptight, or conspiracy theory believing members. And I challenge you to discover this for yourself. 

1. Find a local Latin Mass at the Ecclesia Dei website and learn about the Latin Mass movement in your community by visiting Una Voca. Mass times are always subject to change so it doesn’t hurt to call before hand.

2. Dress in your Sunday best. The majority of Latin Mass attendees dress up for Mass. Men sport business casual at the very least, with dress shirts and ties the norm. Ladies, dress slacks are perfectly acceptable as are modest skirts and dresses. Plunging necklines, spaghetti straps, short shorts, socks with sandals; you won’t typically see these at a Latin Mass. Note: At daily Mass it is more common to see people in more casual attire as they are coming to and from work.

“…real trad men are bearded.” -David S. (It’s cause we were hipsters before hipsters were hipsters!!)

3. Ladies, a veil is never mandatory, so if you’re really uncomfortable doing so, don’t worry about it. If you like to try but don’t have a veil, there are usually some extra in the back of the church somewhere you can borrow. Read here if you’d like to veil and need some ideas

4. Children are expected to be well-behaved. You typically won’t see children at the Latin Mass holding iPods, Nintendo DSs or cell phones. Sippy cups or bottles, maybe some dry Cheerios; yes. Oreos and two liters of soda; no. If you’re child is screaming or wants to run, many churches have a cry room or lobby where they can let off steam.

We all have Sundays when our kids are wild hellians, and unfortunately, the nasty comments you sometimes get aren’t limited to the Latin Mass crowd. I actually have gotten the most positive comments from the members of my parish (You have such beautiful children! They did good today!), usually on the most horrible Sundays when I needed it the most.

“All should observe holy silence and holy dourness when in the nave of the church.” – David S. (See, we have a sense of humor!) 

5. Be prepared to receive Holy Communion kneeling and on the tongue, and you don’t say ‘Amen’ before receiving.

6. Don’t try to follow along. For the first three to four visits, just sit and take it in. You will pick up what is going on and once you’re familiar with the liturgy, you’ll have an easier time following along with a Missal. Many Latin communities have proper sheets available so you can read the Epistle, Gospel, etc in English, and hymnal numbers are usually posted in plain view. And if you’re juggling multiple children, following along in a children’s Missal with them will probably be enough for you all.

“…it is possible to find familiar markers of the Mass and find the rhythm that way. In a blog post, I would point out exactly what those are (Kyrie, Gloria, Homily, Lavabo [Washing of Hands], Sanctus, Orate fratres, Consecration, Pater Noster [Our Father], Agnus Dei [Lamb of God], Ite Missa Est [Dismissal] are the ones that come to mind off hand).” -Kori R.

7. Be prepared to give a second chance. Years ago, our parish consisted of many older families who were not always the most receptive to new, young families with children (DAGGER EYES!), however, today we are bursting at the seams with young people. If you tried a Latin Mass before and something rubbed you the wrong way, I humbly suggest you try again. And trust me, no one is going to notice that this is your first Latin Mass, except maybe to offer you a missal.

“If you have preconceptions, pack them away. If you’ve only heard negative things, you’ll be looking out for them the whole time and miss the point. .. I didn’t LOVE it the first time (in fact, I think my exact words were, “It was really nice, but it’s not for me.”), but by the 3rd or 4th mass I had experienced, I was hooked for life.” -Danielle H.

“…accept the experience for what it is. Just like the N.O. Mass [you] would probably be familiar with, Mass is not a spectator sport and isn’t there to be analyzed. It’s also not there for your personal “feelings.” It’s Mass and you should go into it fully prepared and expect to be as prayerful, fulfilled or distracted as you would be at any Mass. More than that is a bonus. And again…, it might take a few times for it to sink in.” -Kori R.

“…go for the Liturgy and keep focus on the Liturgy, not on the inevitable shortcomings of some people. [Our church] and places like it exist because of the [Traditional Latin Mass]; the social is secondary, but very rewarding once you’ve found your niche. Actual results may vary.” -John R.

Convinced? Great! Let me know how it goes! Be sure to say a prayer for Jen and Joseph while you’re there. Any remaining questions? Ask away! And in the mean time, swing back to Grace’s for the rest of the quicker takes.

**NOTE: Disagreements of opinion  sometimes arise around here. I always welcome thoughtful commentary and criticism.  Insults and ignorance are not tolerated. I reserve the right to remove or mock any comments I deem inappropriate. Now play nice!

Dionysios runs Potamitis with his wife and their five young “helpers” or children who were laughing and running around the office when I called. This family business seeks to publish children’s books with illustrations that “speak to children” and expose them to truth and beauty, in contrast to all the other ugly images the world seeks to push on our children that tear them from Christ. Within the last five years they have released more than 100 books in 10 languages.

Dionysios guarantees their books will ship from Greece, damage free, or they will refund your money. To purchase simply mention “From The Lyceum” in your comments and when you receive the email confirming your order, you will see the 10 percent and shipping deducted. Any questions? You can go right to the source by calling their American number at (410) 734-2771 or emailing Dionysios directly at dionysios(at)potamitis.info.

Still uncertain? Here’s just a few examples;

St. Catherine of Alexandria book with CD

St. George and the Dragon

Saints of Ireland coloring book

Christmas Icon coloring book.

And just a disclaimer, I haven’t been paid or given any free merchandise to promote Potamitis. I’m just a lover of beautiful things, especially books. Please let me know if you purchase a book; I’d love to hear your thoughts!

My husband and I had always assumed we’d send our kids to Catholic school. Then we saw the price tag for our growing family and wondered what other option there was. Enter in several families already homeschooling who suggested we give it a try. Having NO IDEA what homeschooling entailed I contacted someone from CHAPLET and started chatting with several moms educating their kids at home. When I walked into my first CHAPLET homeschool conference seven years ago and saw the crowd, I knew that if all those people were crazy enough to homeschool, I could be crazy too.

Now, five of my favorite conference thingys:

1. Meeting online friends in person! Not only did I chat with regular reader Jen, I got to meet fellow blogger Camille from Assorted Joys (and her adorable son Leo who I could’ve kissed A LOT but didn’t for fear of starting things off on the wrong foot. I was also terrified of saying her name wrong, as I have no other friends named Camille but I think I did fine or she’s just really sweet.) I have a history of making bad first impressions so while I want to connect with online friends, I’m also mildly scared to death. Hopefully, I didn’t talk too much or too fast or offend Camille and Jen with my outfit. (But if stripped roller derby sock are wrong, I don’t want to be right.)

2. I also got to say hi to Allison from Totus Tuus Family and Catholic Homeschool. She’s posting notes on her blog from some of the talks. Although my name badge said AV Expert, it’s going to take me a few days to upload all four talks to YouTube, (only because I’m not an expert in squeezing 26 hours from each day.) Until then, read Allison’s notes, or watch last year’s talks HERE.

3. USED CURRICULUM!!!! One whole room packed to the gills with books you didn’t even know you needed for pennies on the dollar! I’m only sorry I can’t share the savings with you….WAIT! I can! Do you know about Catholic Curriculum Swap (a.k.a. cathswap)?? It’s a huge online used curriculum sale. I’ve told a bunch of people I’d send them the link **cough**Camille**cough** and never did so CLICK HERE, read the site’s guidelines, sign up and search for that bargain copy of Spelling Power or scan the ads for awesome deals. “Wheelock’s Latin in mint condition with free vocab cards and grammatical form summary for $10! Who cares if I won’t use it for the next 5 years, I need to snap that up!”

4. Potamitis Publishing is an Orthodox children’s book publisher that sells the most beautiful icon inspired picture books. First, I should admit to loving iconography; for a non-Eastern family, we’ve got quite a few icons. If you don’t “get” icons, this whole gushy favorite will be lost on you. I bought the story of St. Christopher and to call the pictures lavish seems almost unfair. But wait, there’s more! Their story books each come with a read aloud CD! But maybe you want coloring books with posters and stickers? They have those too! (Am I angling for a sponsorship deal? Maybe. Or perhaps it’s just the first step towards healing the great schism. Baby steps people, baby steps.) UPDATE: View my latest post for a great deal from Potamitis!

5. And I need to squeeze in a few more of my favorite vendors: Arx Publishing, Hillside Education and The Catholic Daily Planner. These businesses are owned and operated by Catholic homeschooling  families. I can guarantee you’ll get excellent materials for your money. (And no, this isn’t a paid endorsement, although for an Applebee’s dinner, I could probably write a lot more, hint, hint.)

If my favorites have whet your palate, search online for some conferences in your area. If your batteries need recharging, I can’t recommend it enough, just please, go with a budget in mind or things can get out of hand fast. It’s beans and franks around here until the next payday…but have you seen our new picture books??

Until next time, swing back to Hallie’s for some more flava fives.

First the outfit -

Skirt: Burlington Coat Factory
White shirt: Gap
Cardigan: Old Navy
Shoes: Target

And here’s a serious shot (that accentuates my Easter candy pooch)

Last week after bemoaning my limp hair, a good friend left a comment that detailed some ways I could’ve dressed up or improved my look. Rather than get offended by her unsolicited advice, I thought, “Kellie is a great friend, a smart writer, she’s been instrumental in organizing fundraising for Fulton and she’s always been a sympathetic shoulder during tough times. I trust and respect her judgement.” Once I stopped crying, I decided to view the comments as constructive criticism and work to incorporate them into this week’s outfit**.

I think your hair would look great pulled back in a bun or other simple style (not a pony tail!), even something on the side, very simple.

I went with a single Princess Leia style bun on the side, but since my hair isn’t that long, I’m afraid it resembles a hair tumor more than anything else.

With some nice earrings, and one of your cute dresses, and a little makeup, this would look really great…

I was wearing makeup in last weeks picture, but since it wasn’t obvious, I figured that meant I needed to add more. I tried to achieve the glamorous liquid eyeliner effect Hallie is always raving about. What are your thoughts on the result; sultry cat eye or too Egyptian? Maybe the eye makeup is too hidden behind my large glasses? I also accessorized with some of my grandmother’s costume jewelry because you can’t miss that stuff from a mile away but I’m wondering if it’s too distracting from my outfit or hair and makeup.

Unfortunately, while I felt pretty comfortable with this new look my children were terrified and I was turned away from my church, being told “We don’t do clown Masses here!” I tried not to take it personally. Maybe with a yellow sweater, a skinny belt and some new shoes I could rock this look next week. What do you think? Practice makes perfect, and I’m willing to work at looking good for as long as it takes!

For some more fashionable fashions, modestly fashioned, swing by the rest of the lovely ladies at Fine Linen and Purple.

**Seriously, Kellie a good friend so no hatin’ on her comments. I’m thankful that she also has a great sense of humor, right Kel?