Christmas Already?

I just got finished getting Thanksgiving put together and am slapped with all the rush of Christmas. Man, oh man, I am behind. I am making almost everyone a present this year. I have been working on them since the beginning of November, but I still have mountains to move. I love sewing!
Mark is working hard. He has been working as much as humanly possible and it makes me love him more each day to see how hard he works for us. He is truly the best head of household I could have asked for.
Fiona is in the Advanced Placement Reading Group at school. She spends every waking moment sounding out what you say to her. It is a hoot. She tried spelling "Bethlehem" the other day. She is quite the thinker and work in progress. She is also one of the moodiest kids I have ever met. She will be Miss Doom and Gloom when she is older, but I will still love her for it.
Brigid is her usual cheerful happy self. Heavenly Father knew what He was doing when he sent her second. She is my blessing everyday. She has been helping with my daily chores and has gotten very adept at bed making. This morning when I told her how wonderful her side looked, she threw herself in my arms and told me, "No, Mama, you did a great job!" She then proceeded to jump up and down until I hugged her and whisked her off for kitchen duty!
I have been reading up a storm. Just for kicks, I am almost done with the entire works of Jane Austen. She is truly my hero. Actually, I have her action figure in my kitchen. I have read them before, all except Mansfield Park. I can never get into that one. I dislike every character in it. No one seems to have any redeeming qualities and there is very little humor. On the other hand, I could read Northanger Abbey and Sense and Sensibility over and over and over again. I discover something new each time. On top of the reading, I have been writing A LOT! I put on the ipod and the stuff just pours out of me. Maybe in a few years, I will be a famous writer! Who knows?

Random Kid Quotes

On Monday, we were driving to the mall with my parents when I asked Brigid who her favorite superhero is. Her answer, "God." I guess we are doing something right. :)

It has been a long long summer...

I cannot believe that it is October already! We have moved into the house almost completely. My in-laws are working hard at emptying the last few areas. It has been very grounding having a place all our own. I planted some this summer, but we moved in too late to get a good vegetable garden, so I have a tomato plant for my kitchen. Even if I only get one tomato all winter, it will be worth it.
Fiona has started school and it is just Brigid and I all day long. She loves being with Mommy, but misses Fiona terribly. She asks all day, "Is it time for sister yet?" She has gymnastics one day a week and that certainly fills her day. She is actually a total natural at everything she decides to do or touch. I wish I had her blessings.
Fiona loves school and loves Mrs. Davis, her teacher. She has bloomed in kindergarten. She is no longer painfully shy and she talks non-stop. I guess she channels Great Grandma Frankie like I channel Grandma Ethel, my Dad's Mom. She is also in a gymnastics class and loves it. She, unfortunately, is as uncoordinated as Mark and I.
Mark is still working in Syracuse, but he got a new shift and works Monday through Thursday every week. It has been a real blessing to have him home mornings and on the weekends when everything happens.
I have been busy baking and cleaning. I sew on occasion and knit when I can. I finally finished Mark's Irish Scarf with all the cables. GO me! It is time for Miss Brigid's nap and I want to find something constructive to do. More tomorrow including the best cake recipe, that needs no frosting!

I am trying to do better

But, it has been so beautiful here. The lilacs are blooming and everything is covered in caterpillars. It has truly been a wonderful Spring.
Mark started painting our new house yesterday. He scraped and primed the back and it looks really nice. I got to pull weeds at the apartment house that my sis-in-law owns next door. My herb garden is still thriving since I put it in 7 years ago. If anyone needs peppermint let me know. I could open a shop.
The girls are well and growing like weeds. Fiona has quite the green thumb and insists on knowing what every plant is called. Her favorite right now is the Poppy and Johnny jump ups. She is my little lady.
Brigid is her usual self. She is always on the move. She also wants to know everything. I hear "Why?" at least one thousand times a day.
Fiona gave the scripture in Sharing Time. She has memorized, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." She now recites it on command. I am so happy that she loves Primary. Both girls do. We have been blessed with that.
I added a quote on the bottom that I think is rather interesting. I happened on a website called womenagainstfeminism.com. These are women who believe that feminism is a lie. There are lots of articles about homemaking, modesty, and anything related to the home. It is a treat to look through and heartening to see others want a good home on one income too.
Well, the sunshine and my laundry call. Have a wondrous day!

I am really horrible at this!

We have been busy busy here as usual. First of all, until yesterday it was summer here. We played outside almost all day. And I mean all day. The girls ate breakfast and lunch on the porch. We rode bikes, gardened, and played on the swingset. It was absolutely wonderful.
Then, when I woke up this morning, it was SNOWING! Luckily, tomorrow will be nicer, 55 and sunny. I hate being cooped up after all that glorious sunshine.
Mark's birthday is Cinco de Mayo! He loves that millions of Mexicans get together to celebrate his birth. We are going to Garcia's Mexican Restaurant on Saturday with everyone to celebrate. It should be a lot of fun!
Well, I am off to bed. More tomorrow!

Phew! Busy Busy!

We have been so busy here with the much improved weather. It has been in the 80's since Thursday. With the elevated temps comes outdoor play as much as possible. Last Sunday, it snowed, so we will take this summer weather.
Girls are good, but crazy. Brigid hates coming in for anything. She even wanted breakfast outside on Friday. Fiona is quite the gardener. She loves to dig in the mud and see the worms.
I got to go to some of the year's first yard sales. Yipee! I love yard sale season. I got a nearly new iron for free, and the neatest measuring cup. The cup measures ounces of flour, sugar, then regular cups and fluid ounces. Then, the handle is a mini cup that measures tablespoons. I paid a dime! I just need a dining room table for a quarter!

Rain, rain go away come again some other day

It rained here today, but nothing too bad. Brigid still has a runny nose and is now coughing, but you would never know it by the way she acts. She is the only kid I know who still seems to be cheerful when sick.
Today was pajama day at Fiona's preschool. She didn't want to wear her jammies because no one else wears footie pj's in her class. I LOVE footie pajamas, in fact I own a pair in my size. Mark bought them as a joke, but I love them. So, Fiona was a lump on a log and didn't participate. Other than that, she had a good day.
The missionaries called at 3:30 to inform me that they were coming to dinner. I couldn't stretch what was on my menu, so Dad sprung for a pizza and wings. It was super yummy!
I finally got to watch some of the mini-series, The Capture of the Green River Killer. I don't normally watch anything on Lifetime, but I was interested in this. I saw the first part and it was really interesting and quite good for a made for TV movie.
On the book front, I got a book on the 1854 Cholera epidemic in London. It is called the Ghost Map and it is really about how the world's reaction to epidemics and epidemiology changed because of this particular outbreak. So far, a fascinating look at the poor of Dicken's London. Check it out, but you have to order it. I got it from the Ithaca library.

Hectic Day

Brigid and I went for a forced march yesterday. She loves her walks. I love that they tucker her right out. Mark and Fiona went to Ithaca for some daddy daughter alone time. She had a blast running around the mall and Daddy bought her a painting your finger nails kit. She loves make-up.
I actually got most of the house in order, except floors. That is my goal for today, after my Salvation Army trip. Today is half-price day and Brigid needs some things for summer.
I actually went grocery shopping yesterday at 5 p.m. I will never shop at that time ever again. It was so busy and Aldi's was out of a lot of things. I prefer my early mornings when no one else is around. I sometimes even have the store all to myself. Which has allowed me to befriend the girls there. They let me know who manufactues a lot of their products. It has been a real eye opener.
Well, I have kidlets to get dressed and ready for the world. :)

Another Warm Day

It is going to be 65 again today! I already took Brigid for a walk this morning. Mark took Fiona to her kindergaten orientation. She really is enjoying that, though she doesn't want to go to kindergarten. She wants to stay home and have Mommy teach her. I think she is scared of the bigger kids at Parker Elementary. We'll see how she does when she actually has to go.
Our snowdrops are all blooming and some purple crocuses are beginning to peek. Soon we will have tulips and leaves on the trees. I love the rebirth of spring.

Brigid Cuteness!

I found this on the camera and thought it was cute enough to share. Unfortunately I need new batteries and can't get the others off of the camera. This is from Fiona's Princess Tea Party. Poor Mark really wishes we had a son. He has had enough pink and purple craziness for the rest of his life. :)

Apple Oatmeal Cookies

I just tried a new recipe and I am in love with these cookies. As some of you know, Mark and I live with my parents and my Dad is a dessert man, actually so is Mark. I like to have sweets on hand, but as Dad is a diabetic and we are all on the pudgy side I was looking for something a bit healthier. Here it goes:

2 sticks of butter, melted
1 1/2 c. sugar + 1-2 T. molasses
2 eggs
1 t. vanilla
1 t. baking soda
2 t. cinnamon
3c. oats
1 1/2c. flour, I used whole wheat
1/2-1c. chopped apples, I used fresh, but you can use dried apples
I also left the skin on the apple. I prefer them that way.

Mix everything well. Roll into balls and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten a little. Bake 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Let them cool for 5 minutes and then cool on rack. These are chewy and filling without being too sweet. Next time, I may try some other spices with it too. Make them seem like apple pies. :)

First Day!

Everyone is blogging and I love to journal so here goes nothing!
Yesterday, I got to see President Monson speak in Conference. It was so beautiful. I love to hear these old guys talk about their wives and their lives. It makes them so human and loveable.
Mark is off for the next couple of days. I am glad to have him home, but the girls really needed him. That being said, I love the 4 days on, 4 days off schedule. He gets a mini vacation every work week.
It is supposed to be nice here today. Upper 50's! And last Sunday we had snow. Time to get the kiddies out to play!