Five Faves

The blog has been a little quiet lately. I've been too tired and actually just too busy to actually have the time to sit down and write a post. I've thought about it several times but our days have literally been nonstop activity. And nap time has been spent with me reorganizing the house and prepping the boys room for the big transformation to bunk beds that is set to occur this Saturday. Anyways, before I get my ab exercises done, I thought I'd pop on and write about my five faves this week.

1. Gratitude from my students

The second grader I tutor had a writing assignment to write a thank you note to someone and she chose me! I was honored and really flattered. It was so sweet of her and the note is now hanging on our fridge in the midst of the kids' artwork. What a great motivator when I find myself losing steam as the holidays approach quickly.

2. Gymsport Open Gym Play Time

About once or twice a month, I take the kids to Gymsport, a local gymnastics gym. They offer preschool open gym Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9-12. It is $5/child/hour. We usually go from about 10:30-11:30 and then stay around afterwards to eat our lunch at the tables provided there. The boys LOVE it. They can run, jump, bounce, climb, and do so many fun things without getting in trouble for it. As the winter approaches, it is great to have something so close to our house and so cheap to go and do get their energy out.

3. Philip Rivers

So, he's not a Steelers quarterback, but he is an AMAZING, devout Catholic who is an awesome witness to the faith. He and his wife has six children and they speak out about why couples should use NFP. I saw a video online recently of an interview he did speaking about NFP and why he and his wife use it. It is honest and sincere. My favorite quote from the whole thing is this:

 “For us it was a Church teaching, so you have to do it. As you obey...then you start to understand and see the fruits of it (NFP) in your marriage.”

Take five minutes and check out the video here. 

4. Sales

Last Thursday night, Brian just happened to be on Craigslist when an ad for a wooden train table with accessories popped up for only $40. And it was literally 15 minutes from our house. We jumped and were able to purchase this gem the next day! Now, we have an awesome, usually very pricey, Christmas gift for a fraction of the price! Also, this past Friday, the boys and I had a little extra time after we were done at the gym and between when we needed to be at our next activity, so we wandered around the shops at the shopping center where the gym is located. I found Brian a pair of really nice dress shoes that originally cost $100 on sale for only $40! They were the only pair in his size, and he loves them. He can't get over how comfortable they are. I was also able to pick up a Jingles the Dog DVD and book for Matthew at Hallmark. (Both are Christmas gifts.) The book was $10 and the DVD was $10. After coupons, I paid only $11 for both. Awesome! And I was able to buy them without Matthew knowing I did so. He loves Jingles and will be excited for his new book and DVD.

5. This picture from after the circus on Sunday night.

I mean, how can you  not smile?

Have a great night!

Five Faves

In no particular order...

1. Fall Crafts

 

My mom bought the supplies (thanks, Mom!), and Matthew and I put together a great Halloween wreath for our front door. Now, we don't celebrate Halloween all out in this house (All Saints Day is our day to party), but we are Catholics in the world, therefore, the kids dress up and go trick or treating and we buy pumpkins and carve them. I thought the pieces for this wreath were cute and not offensive, and it looks great on our door. They were super easy to put together, too. One day I'll learn how to make a nice bow and add it on. For now, we are happy with how it turned out.

2. Diet Pepsi

I am a Diet Pepsi addict. In fact, I knew I was pregnant with Noah before I took the test because I could no longer stand the taste of it! (And the same had happened with Matthew during the first trimester). Without it, I would certainly die of exhaustion. I know I'm probably killing myself slowly, but right now, this sleep deprived momma will keep on chugging.

3. Toddlerobics Class

The boys take a Toddlerobics Class each Wednesday morning. Miss Christi (the same Christi who trains me) teaches the class, and she is Matthew's favorite person. The class is fun and involved music, activities, and lots of movement for the little ones. My boys love going, and it's super cheap. I think I paid $45 for each kid and it's about 8 sessions in length. Each session is 45 minutes, just the right amount of time before you start losing toddlers' attentions. And Christi, as usual, is super high energy and just wonderful. It's a good time for all.

Sorry the pics are blurry. The class is constant movement. Christi's in the Nike shirt, if you couldn't tell. ;)

 4. Bethenny's Talk Show

Okay, so it's no secret that I am a HUGE Bethenny Frankel fan. (And, yes, Brian has watched every episode of the her reality show with me. He finds he relates to Jason a lot and I relate to Bethenny. Don't worry, we are soooo not headed for divorce like them!) Anyways, her new talk show that airs at 11am on WPXI each day is pretty hilarious. She just tells it like it is, and I have a feeling that had we met in real life before she was famous, we would be friends. She could just say everything I think but filter most days. Anyways, check out this video parody she did of the song, Thrift Shop. It's pretty hilarious.

5. Father Jim

Father Jim has daily Mass at St. Catherine's this week, and while the other priests we have at St. Catherine's are wonderful, there is just something special about Father Jim. He just truly celebrates the Mass with a great reverence and sense of humility. I was afraid I would never find that outside of the Oratory, and I am so blessed that we have. It is edifying. And Matthew is president of his unofficial fan club. It's a win-win for all!

Have a great Wednesday, everyone!

Five Faves: Why I Love Tutoring

For a while now, I haven't been a big fan of running my own business. It takes an incredible amount of time and energy, and I end up missing out on social activities (either with other moms or just within my own family) most nights because my work times are at the same time as other events. But at the end of the day, I really do love what I do. Sure, I miss the classroom a lot, but I know one day I'll be back in it for a while before becoming a principal, and eventually a professor and superintendent. Until then, it's nice to have a job I love doing. So, here are my five favorite things about tutoring.

1. It allows me to work while staying home with my boys at the same time.

In the words of Hannah Montana (Yes, I own the movie and might have taken Brian with me to see it in theaters when it came out), "You get the best of both worlds." I get to take care of my boys all day long and don't miss a minute of their milestones. Staying home also means I get the honor and pleasure of taking the boys to daily Mass almost every morning. Then in the evenings I can still use my degree and skills to work in the field I love.

2. I get a break from being a mom every evening.

Sure, I'm working. But I'm not filling sippy cups, breaking up arguments, or running around like a chicken with my head chopped off to try and keep two energetic boys happy and entertained. I get to have normal conversations in a very relaxed and quiet atmosphere (I sometimes love when kids are late. The library is so lovely to just sit in and enjoy). I don't have to worry about baths and bedtime routines. Don't get me wrong, I love my kids and miss them when I work, but I enjoy the break back to the real world each evening, too.

3. I make money....and a good amount of money at that!

Obviously, no one works out of the goodness of their heart. While I do love tutoring, I definitely do it because we need the money at this point in our lives. And let's face it. Tutors are paid well. Very well. So, if I play  my cards right and schedule enough kids each week, I am able to help make ends meet, save for a house, and still have some money left over to have fun with. Recently, we've been putting some of our extra money toward our five year anniversary getaway in October. It's nice to know that we won't be taking on debt to enjoy ourselves that weekend. 

4. I get to work with kids of all ages.

When you're a teacher, you pretty much see the same age of kids all day long. I had seventh graders my first year and fifth graders for the two years after that. That's great, but I have a lot of fun when I go out in the evenings and get to interact with a variety of age ranges. For instance, tomorrow night, I will begin by tutoring a second grader, then see an eighth grader, and finish the night by visiting two juniors in high school. It's a nice variety, and I really enjoy that. Seeing four different students in one night requires a lot of prep in advance, but it also makes the nights go very quickly because of all the different material I'm covering.

5. There is no better feeling than to hear a student say, "I get it," in regards to a mathematical concept.

Math is hard for some people. And although I found different levels of math challenging, I loved every second of math class. I love the concepts, and I absolutely love a good word problem. Most students that I tutor have some issue in math. Many come to me in the beginning of the year with a severe lack of confidence in math. There must be a lot of mean math teachers out there because some of these kids truly believe that they will never get math or understand it. By the end of the year, those same students are correcting me when I accidentally make a mistake in a problem. They are easily solving problems and acing tests. Just last night, when a student did a math problem right, I cheered. I love when it finally clicks in a student's head that they can do math and that they are actually pretty good at it. I get so proud of my students when that happens. That's my whole goal when I tutor. And seeing kids at that point is the greatest reward of all.

Five Faves: The Hubby Edition

I got to thinking today that my husband is pretty awesome. And I thought I'd share why. So here are my five favorite things about my hubby:

1. He is beyond patient and always is there to listen to me.

Yesterday, after a very long day at work and long evening with the kids, we were finally settled into our normal seats for the evening. Me on the couch and him in the recliner. Dance Moms was playing on the DVR and Leslie had just had the mother of all tantrums. And at that moment, I just felt like I had to unload every fear and worry and sadness that I was feeling at the current moment. Instead of rolling his eyes and brushing me off, Dance Moms got paused and Brian listened to me unload for a good half hour. And that's not out of the norm. I know I can always count on him whenever I need a friend or a shoulder to cry on.

2. He loves our kids to pieces and is an incredible, hands on Dad.

He is most happy playing with our boys and teaching them things. He LOVES spending time with them and cannot get to them fast enough once work is over for the day. He never even hesitates when I ask him to watch them solo because I need to work or just need some "me" time. He is more than happy to do his fair share and goes above and beyond. Seeing him with our kids is such a joy.

3. He loves me even though I'm not the life of the party.

I have a fairly melancholic personality. I tend to see the glass half empty most days, and although internally I usually feel some sort of being content, I'm not one to simply just run around smiling. In fact, super bubbly people usually annoy me. (If you are reading this and we are friends, clearly I do not consider you super bubbly. So no need to take offense. :) If we aren't friends and you feel you are super bubbly, I apologize, but in real life, I'd probably annoy you, too!) But Brian loves me anyway. He loves seeing me laugh and smile and enjoy life, too, but at the end of the day, he accepts me for the personality I have and doesn't wish me to be more outgoing or happier. He's okay with who I am and doesn't want me to be anything more.

4. He is holy and devout and strives daily to live his faith.

Brian calls me on to be a better Catholic. He takes the Church's teachings seriously and loves passing on those teachings to our children. We talk about the Church and faith openly in our house and enjoy discussing theological issues on our own level. And he prays. Lots. I don't where he finds the time, but he does. Every morning he tells the boys that he will, "pray for them" during the day. It is so wonderful to be married to such a strong man of God. His example calls me on to do better and pray more and become more faithful. We are both blessed to be able to put God at the center of marriage.

5. He works hard every single day to provide for our family.

Brian goes off to work every day so that the boys and I can stay home together. At one point he even worked two jobs so that we could make ends meet. And he doesn't complain about it. He works long hours most days, and then comes home and works some more being a husband and father. He is proud to be putting a roof over our heads and food on our table and feels that's his duty as the man of the house. His only regret is that he doesn't provide more for us. How amazing. 

I love my husband a lot, for many reasons. The above are just five of my favorites. I am beyond blessed that he chose me to share this journey of life with, and the boys and I am grateful to have him in our lives. I honestly don't know what we'd do without him. He's a pretty special guy, for sure. :)

Five Favorites: NFP Edition

Last week I wrote a post about the cross of NFP. Well, if there's one thing I have learned in life, it's that most crosses come with a few blessings, even if we don't recognize them right away. So for this week's edition of Five Favorites, I decided to list my five favorite things about using NFP. And if it comes off like I'm selling it as a good, I am! NFP is actually GOOD for a marriage. (It's not like it's evil or I'm walking around like Eeyore all day because we use NFP.) Why shouldn't it be sold that way? So, here we go....

1. I know my body like the back of my own hand.

Through charting, I have learned a lot about my body. I know that the stabbing, blinding ten second headaches I get just mean my cycle is getting ready to reset, not that I have a brain tumor. I know that for the last part of my cycle I should never step foot near a scale because I retain 3-5 pounds of water weight. I know that waking up feeling like my lower back is going to fall off just means ovulation is coming in the next few days. I have a thyroid disease, and I can tell after one messed up chart that I need to go get blood work done, and it saves me from getting super, super sick. I know exactly why my body does every single thing that it does. And that makes me more aware of my health all around. I am convinced that if something major was wrong, I would know early enough to be able to treat whatever it may be. 

2. Brian and I talk about our family size at least once a week. 

What does that mean? Why is it important? Basically, we are in a constant dialogue about when is the best time to expand our family. It's not like we made the decision to wait months ago (or the day after Noah was born and wouldn't stop screaming) and have yet to revisit it. We are continually reevaluating our situation in order to determine when the next baby should come. These dialogues are so wonderful for both us. We are truly honest and open with each other and are very vulnerable. They are intimate and connect us in ways we wouldn't otherwise be connected. We take the call to "responsible parenthood" very seriously.

3. I pray a lot more.

Using NFP successfully takes a ton of prayer. Whether you are trying to conceive or postpone a baby, you can't do either without prayer. I take my concerns or thanksgivings about NFP to God every day in prayer. I constantly seek His guidance and feel I rely on Him even more during the times we are postponing our next baby.

4. I relive my wedding night and honeymoon each month.

All those days of waiting and abstaining come to an end at some point every month. That's pretty cool. Enough said.

5. Using NFP successfully has made Brian and me the perfect candidates to give the NFP Talk at Engaged Encounter Weekends.

Many couples who go on these weekends, unfortunately, have never heard of NFP. They have been told the pill is the way to go. Because we use NFP, and it is so near and dear to our hearts, we are able to go every few months and talk to the engaged couples about why they should use NFP in their marriage. We get to meet them where they are in life, and show them the beauty of way of NFP. Sometimes we convert a few, and sometimes none. But we have at least planted the seed that: 1. The Catholic Church does not mandate that you should have a dozen children, and 2. There is a legitimate way to plan a family that leaves you open to life and allows you unity with your spouse. I think this last one is my favorite of the five favorites. :)

Happy Charting!

Five Faves

1. Spot Shot

This stuff is seriously AMAZING! I picked it up because it was cheap at Dollar General ($2.89), and about a week ago, I had to go out and get more because it's that good! I originally purchased it because both of our boys had severe reflux (like I'm talking Matthew and Noah could both hit walls 10 feet away with their puke and they cried and screamed almost constantly). The reflux lots of time left puke stains on my carpet. Grrr. So I thought I'd give this a try, and it took out every puke stain! Then we recently traded in our 1980's, I Survived a Frat House, plaid couch for a more modern chocolate brown one, and I realized within an hour that a solid colored couch with two little ones wasn't my brightest idea. Noah's favorite activity is rubbing his snot all over it. (On those occasions I like to refer to him as Brian's child, not my own.) And Matthew is found of crushing anything he's eating into it. But I need not fear, this stuff takes out everything! You can't even tell you used it because wherever you spray it dries a normal color. This stuff is a life saver!

2. Diaper Sales

I hunt the ads every week that most people refer to as Junk Mail for diaper sales. I always have a stack of diaper coupons just ready to go to town with. And let's face it. Noah is at least a year away from potty training. Oh my. This week was my lucky week. Rite Aid has boxes of Huggies on sale for $17.99. Then, I had $3.00 off coupons for Huggies on top of that! Yay me! So today I walked out of Rite Aid with diapers that retail for between $20 and $24 for $15 total. HUGE savings! I plan to go back tomorrow and use more of my lovely coupons on top of this great offer. Score!

3. Reasonably Priced Craft Kits

My mom recently bought Matthew a Sock Puppet Kit. This kid is the King of Crafts. Especially in the winter, he loved making new things each day. During the winter months, I'd cruise the clearance section of Walmart and could always find several kits (we painted wooden race cars one day) for less than $3.00....no lie. It was like a Gold Mine. This kit wasn't quite $3.00, but it was under $20 and it was a birthday gift from my mom. The cool thing is that we didn't need any glue at all and all of pieces have stayed stuck on for days. They are sturdy, easy, and Matthew had a blast making them. Plus, no mess for me to clean up when we are done! I know some people feel that crafts come from what's lying around at home. But I am pretty much super organized and clutter does not exist here. If my kids want crafts, we buy kits. And the kits really make life much easier.

4. Date Nights

Brian and I have one of these coming up on Friday. We always enjoy our time out together. It is nice to be able to sit and eat and drink without having to entertain the kids. When Matthew was born we decided that it was important that we make time for just the two of us once a month. Sometimes it happens more, but it's always at least once a month. It's good for our marriage and our sanity. It does help that my parents live just a few streets away and are always more than willing to babysit. But honestly, last weekend we used sitters who weren't my parents and the kids did great and the babysitters LOVED watching our boys. A win for all. I am definitely looking forward to a little one-on-one time with my hubby.

5. A Rumored *NSYNC Reunion

Oh how I miss them!

 I read an article yesterday that said they are rumored to be reuniting at the VMA's on Sunday. So for the first time since high school, I am actually planning on tuning in. I am sure I will be scandalized and appalled at what I see, but it will all be worth it if my boys do indeed take the stage. Growing up, I was super obsessed with them. You couldn't even see my bedroom walls because I had so many posters. And with all the other boy bands making comeback albums and tours, it's about darn time that the BEST boy band of all time (don't fight me on this one. I can name every musical record they hold. ;)) should reunite. I'm hopeful that this could lead to a reunion tour, and Brian looked super thrilled when I announced last night that if that happens, he will be taking me and we will have front row seats. Let's hope the rumor turns out to be true!