A Post from the Alma Mater

It feels completely foreign to be writing on my own blog.  Maybe I can blame the awkwardness of typing with an index finger swaddled in bandages (never chop basil chiffonade when you're half asleep), but I'm guessing it's because this just isn't the season of blogging for me. I am so grateful for a daughter who is passionate about photography and writing; otherwise, these brimful days of teaching a houseful of vivacious young ones while plodding through a tiring pregnancy with my 6th would remain undocumented.  I keep thinking I must be extended as far as possible; then God stretches me just a bit more.  My days are challenging right now, but I am determined not to let the hilarious moments get forgotten or to wish away a single hour of this life God has blessed me with.

Recently I was enjoying some of the quotes I kept from my older kids' toddler days and wondering if all I ever did was follow them around with my camera and notebook.  I decided to start another yellow Post-It on my fridge to capture some of the funny things my littlest ones have been coming out with.  Before I knew it, it was full of cuteness I just had to share:

Rus is an analytical sponge for details like his daddy and likes to share his knowledge in painstaking detail.  He was reading the Bible story about Belshazzar and when he got to the part where he served wine in the consecrated goblets, he said to Tert, “Okay, let me go back and explain about the Babylonian Captivity of Judah so this makes more sense to you.”  Tert was wiggling like crazy but humored his big brother until he got to the question and answer part.  Rus asked him what the writing on the wall meant, and he said, “Mene, Mene, Minie, Mo…  Did it mean CATCH THE TIGER BY THE TOE?”  

I couldn't resist showing off a bit during my Latin lesson w/ Rus by rattling off the Lord's Prayer with impeccable pronunciation. When I asked Rus if he was impressed that I still remembered it (having taught it quite a few years ago to the older ones), he shrugged and said, "No, you can say it like that because you know all the dipthongs."

Rus beamed as he showed me his first attempt at caligraphy:  "Mom!  Look at my CHEMISTRY!"

Tert to Rus:  "Hey, can you play with me?"

Rus:  "No, I kind of have a lot on my hands."

Tert:  Came in from playing with his siblings outside and announced, "Mom, I've been keeping the kids contained."

At age 2 1/2, Filia is growing quite articulate.  She makes the most endearing comments about my growing belly and the little "Sisser" she's sure is in there.  She explains in detail how she's going to hold the baby and what she will feed him/her.  The other day she pulled out her old "piece of fire" (her name for the pacifier) to share with the baby.  Although she is a precocious big sister, she still nurses a few times a day and night. In the morning, she knows that she must recite the answers to 13 or so  catechism questions before she can nurse, and she'll sometimes throw in the Lord's Prayer or 23rd Psalm for good measure.  The other day she asked, "Mom, can you nurse me while you're doing Omnibus with Sissy?"

Stella caught Filia writing on my post-it notes and asked her what she was doing.  She answered, "I'm doing my perforations (school preparations)." 

Filia has discovered that our lab, Cora, functions like a vacuum cleaner with dog food and will eat indefinitely.  Occasionally, we'll find her feeding Cora without permission, and she will explain, "I'm being SOOO helpful!  I'm just feeding Cora God's food (dog food)."

Filia was staring at my great big tummy (at her eye level).  She looked up at me with a mixture of curiosity and compassion and said, "Mama, did God give you that belly button?"