Our Magnum Opus

Have I Mentioned...

...how much I love, love, love being a mom?

Miss Four Year Old

Happy Birthday Maria!  (I don't know who is covering Dom's mouth, but I have no doubt it needed to be covered LOL)

Maria wanted a pony birthday.  The craft store had no pony cake pans, but the princess birthday line was 50% off!  I guessed princess would work and could be tied in with ponies somehow.  :)  So here is mine and Monica's attempt at decorating a crown cake.  Being the frugal mom that I am, we will use the cake pan for other feasts too.  Maybe Christ the King or Epiphany...

This has a funny, little story.  These gifts are from Uncle Frank.  Maria is very shy and will not speak to people.  On our vacation, she was quite taken with Uncle Frank and invited him to her pony birthday.  She even spoke to him on the  phone!  He has a fan in Maria! 

Thank you Uncle Frank and Aunt Jutta!

getting some help with new roller skates

big sister, little sister

cuddling with dad after an exciting day

Holy Orders

Recipe Binders

I know everyone is frantically  busily getting ready for the school year.  Me too.  One of my projects was menu planning.  But I realized that menu plans get changed frequently around here.  Why can't I stick to the plan?

Because there are leftovers to be used up, an abundance of ripe produce, a great sale on marked down meats at the grocery store...  I need flexible food plans.

So I organized my overstuffed recipe binder.  I purged recipes that were not a hit, or that I will probably never make due to time constraints and obscure ingredients.  There are now sections for beef recipes, chicken, pork, meatless, breakfast, lunch, snacks, desserts, sides, and homemade mixes and cleaners. 

On large index cards for each section, I made a list of the recipes in that section, and also listed the dishes that I do not need a recipe for , like sloppy joes.  In parentheses after each listing, I wrote the main ingredients for that dish.  I will use the cards for planning meals from the sale fliers and keep them with me in the grocery store in case I run across a good deal on something.  That way I can decide what to cook with the sale item and make sure I have the other ingredients for that recipe available.

I just couldn't get a sharp camera shot of the cards.  Here is an example on the beef card.

Broccoli Beef (soy sauce, pb, Tabasco,corn starch, cut broc. and diced stew meat, cooked rice)

I made a separate binder for holiday and party food.  No index cards for that one.

Next I'll do a master list of what I want to keep stocked in the pantry, fridge and freezer.

HT: The index card idea came from Milehimama

New Motto

The parents conduct, in good times and in challenging times, must be the model for how we hope our children will conduct themselves in similar situations.

To reflect Christ, we must be patient in our actions, gentle in our directions, steadfast in our faith,  courteous in our words, firm in our expectations, and always ask ourselves 'how can I help this person grow in holiness and good character?'.

More Visiting

Kristina and her kids are sort of related to us by marriage.  We were delighted that they made a visit to Michigan.  We all have a good time together.  This was her first trip since the death of her husband, Paul.  I am quite impressed with her courage and the job she is doing as a single mom.  Paul was missed and was included in the visit in our conversations.  I am sure he is proud of his sweet, fun family.

Regina and M.  They really could be sisters or cousins, no?

J. and Blaise.  J. fits right in with my boys.

the three moms, Kari, Bridget, and Kristina

the three families after Mass on Sunday

Next time the visit will be in Minnesota!

 

 

The Catholic Faith in Northern Michigan

We found a lovely parish in St. Ignace across the bridge for Sunday Mass.  Fittingly, it is St. Ignatius parish.  Blaise was especially pleased as Ignatius is his middle name.

 

The altar piece is beautiful, but we forgot to take pictures after Mass and this Christmas picture was the only one I could find on the web.  It doesn't do justice to the altar.

We took a quick side trip to Indian River to visit the Shrine of the Cross in the Woods.

They have a small museum featuring dolls dressed in the various habits of religious orders.

Dom and Maria showing off their religious trinkets from the gift shop.

Thank God for northern Michigan, camping cabins and family!

At the Campground

We enjoyed bonfires, swimming at the beach and the pool and spending time with aunts, uncles and cousins!
Alex on Maria duty at the pool

Dad with Dominic and cousin John

A few of the descendants of George and Mary Galbraith enjoying the pool

the family reunion in the barn at the campground

What is Dad telling Monica at the bonfire?

Regina and Uncle Bill making breakfast

Black Lake

Uncle Frank and Aunt Jutta's cottage was on the beautiful Black Lake.  They invited us out one evening for boating fun.

The Fab Four, Kevin and his siblings.  Frank, Bill, Kevin and Kari.

Cousin Marshall helping Blaise maneuver his kayak, obviously the water was not deep

Regina kayaking

Monica

Dominic

We bring our own security detail on trips.  The always watchful Dad.

the toddlers wondering when it will be their turn to go out on a boat

Their turn came, Aunt Jutta took them out on the big boat.  Here is Will with his G-pop. (God father)

the boys on the boat

the girls on the boat

Aunt Jutta let Dominic drive the boat

Maria enjoying a little speed

We love boating!

What Kind of Lame Mother...

...allows her children to go parasailing?  Any overprotective mother worth her salt would not allow this.  I don't know what came over me.

One of the highlights of our northern trip was Kevin, Alex, Monica and Blaise parasailing.

Alex and Monica

Kevin J. and Blaise

the rest of us enjoyed a spectacular view of the parasailers from a park

Uncle Bill and Aunt Roxanne (are they not adorable?!)

Kevin and I, trying to look as if we had sleep