A Proud Momma moment--Laura singing with The Elders

"That was MY girl!!!"

I'm such a geek!!!

Men of Erin--and Holy Cross Academy

What a great show!!

My teenage girls, and the entire Holy Cross Choir, had the joy of performing with the great Irish Band....The Elders.

It was a wonderful night for everyone, especially the kids, who got to experience this once in a lifetime opportunity!!

Accomplished!!

Milky Way cake and
a new church slip for Kimmy.....both in the same day!!

The Backyard in Winter---A Photo Essay

Jeweled Hearts

This is a pretty self explanatory craft.

You need a corrugated cardboard heart, pink paint and "jewel craft gems".
First we painted our hearts a nice pink color.

After the paint dries, glue on the gems---any way you want too.... they come out lovely however they are decorated.

Our finished hearts--already for Valentines Day.

I used yarn to make a string to hang our hearts.

Kimmy added some of our buttons to her heart.

Our house is looking prettier and prettier everyday.

Wordless Wednesday---My Winter Warrior

Yarn Along.......

From the founder of Yarn Along~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading?~

Most of my yarn work revolved around this heart garland this past week. I crocheted a few at a time throughout the week and completed them yesterday. You can see the full post about them here.

My personal reading is the same as last week. Most of my daily reading revolves around the kids schoolwork and the liturgical year. These are the books about the lives of the saints that we read from daily.
I love the softness of this yarn from Michaels craft store.
I am starting a blanket for Mark. I did a garter stitch border and then a stockinette stitch for the body of the blanket, putting a row of garter stitch every 2 inches for texture.

I have also started a baby blanket (I am behind on my baby blankets and have a few momma's getting close to delivery).

I am using another yarn from Michael's craft store--Snuggly Wuggly.

And, what am I reading???....many, many picture books....This is where I keep most of the library picture books, in the corner of the living room.

Happy knitting and reading everyone.

Crocheted Heart Garland....just in time for Valentine's Day

We need to brighten this house up. The winter has been relentless, so now is the time to look toward Valentine's Day.

I had the idea of a heart garland for a while.

I found this pattern for a heart here. I started out with this pattern, following it exactly, except I added one round of single crochet around the outside of the heart, to add size and to make a more "finished" look.

I made a long single crochet chain to string the hearts onto....

I love the look of our livingroom window.

Valentine's Day, here we come!!

Figuring Life Out---One Thousand Gifts

Simple Woman's Daybook--January 24

Outside my window... a crystal clear blue sky and minus 15 degrees. We have at least 2 feet of snow on the ground. I guess I am looking at a very chilly winter wonderland.

I am thinking... about my family members who are in Washington DC, to "March For Life", on this cold day. I am thinking it can't possibly be 38 years since the Roe V. Wade decision...I was 7 years old. I remember hearing a sermon in church about this decision and being so afraid because I thought someone was going to try and kill my baby brother...How many baby brothers have been killed in these past 38 years? One killed would be too many, but there have been millions....we need to PRAY today....

I am thankful for... a warm house, snuggly blankets and cozy slippers. From my daily "thankfulness" journal: A Grandma who invites everyone over after church for "doughnut day". A new 11 year old in the house. I am very thankful for doctors and medicine and private health insurance.

From the learning rooms... We have to get on track. We have to get on track....I think I can, I think I can....

From the kitchen... chocolate chip cookies as soon as I am done writing this post. I need to warm up the house and everyone will appreciate the yummy smell of baking cookies while the house warms.

I am wearing... Guess what? I am wearing my brown, flower flannel pj pants and a Holy Cross t-shirt.


I am creating.. Valentine crafts with the kids, and Valentine crafts for the Momma...I am making a crochet heart garland....pictures will be up soon because I am almost finished with it.

I am going... to church with the kids at noon to say the rosary for the unborn and for the safety of all the marchers. Our little community has sent 2 full buses of marchers to Washington DC.

I am reading ... schoolbooks, Holiness for Housewives, The Magnificat, and Small Steps for Catholic Moms. These seem to be the only books I have time for lately, but they are the only books nessesary.

I am hoping... for the safety of all the travelers heading to the March For Life today

I am hearing... kids talking, kids laughing, dogs barking...the normal morning noises

Around the house... We will slowly brighten this winter dreary house up this week with Valentine crafts....if we can climb over the "lived in" look....


A Picture I Thought of Sharing... Gracie and Kim enjoying Mark's birthday

Don't Wake Daddy!!---Makes My Monday

Don't do it!!!

Don't Wake Daddy!!!

YOU WOKE UP DADDY!!!!

Macro-Monday---at the birdfeeder

A female downy woodpecker taking flight.

The temperature barely reached the single digits on Sunday, so the poor birds where trying to eat enough to keep warm.

It was too cold for me to head out of doors, but a clean kitchen window let me get some good photos and stay warm at the same time.
A goldfinch with its winter colors.
A male downy woodpecker at the suet feeder.

The birdy buffet!!

Head on over to Lisa's Chaos and check out more Macro Monday posts.

L.E.N.S. Photo Challenge---This Moment

Luke with cornstarch and water....

This has to be one of my favorite photos of all times.

We had made a big batch of cornstarch and water and I just sat back and took pictures.

The full posts are here: cornstarch and water

Make sure to check out other L.E.N.S. Photo Challenge posts at Home is Where You Start From.