7 Quick Takes: Volume 14

Well, tomorrow is the real 7 Quick Takes Friday, but since it's Veteran's Day and a holiday, I am doing my work today.  You're welcome.

1) We have company coming!  Phil's brother, his lovely wife, Larisa,  and their 5 adorable children (plus one on the way!) are driving up to visit us for the weekend. 

Larisa had just given birth to baby #5 in this picture, and I know she hates it...sorry! Sooooo, if you do the math, that means there will be 10 children aged 9 and under at our house (plus one in utero) for the next couple of days.  My kids can.not.wait!

2) What is up with my Patriots lately?  I think Tom is spending too much time in the sun with Giselle.

3) Prayer Request: for a sweet friend of mine who's 12 weeks pregnant and having complications.

4) Have you all discovered these:

They are so easy, so clean, and so tasty!  Plus you don't have to deal with giblets...whatever those are.

5) And I also must praise this brownie mix I just discovered:

I don't normally like mixes when I bake, but these are delicious!

6) This past weekend, I had to work at Open House for the high school, and there were balloons all around as decorations.  I brought home four for the kids, and you would have thought I'd brought them the moon.  They were so happy that I'm thinking of just getting them balloons for Christmas! ;)

7) Has anyone rented any good movies recently?  I feel out of the loop, and want to watch a good movie.

Have a great loooooong weekend!

Wordfull Wednesday

Those lists from last week's pictures are finished (for now anyways!).

Maggie's Desires:

 (Baby, Princess, Dollhouse)

Eamon's Wishes:

 Scooter (already got it for his bday), Cape, DSi Game (he doesn't even have a DSi), watch, pillow pet

Andrew's Wants:

I think you can read his pretty clearly.  Except I have no idea what the last one is. 

And finally, my oldest and most materialistic boy:

Everything from marbles to a puppy.  That kid will be a great help to our economy one day.  In fact, he could run for President since he LOVES to spend other people's money!

Convicted

Today I am convicted.

Convicted...

 that while I spend so much time obsessing over my rolls of baby fat, I don't spend half that amount of time worrying about my eternal soul.

Convicted...

that when I worry about what little time I have to exercise, I overlook how healthy and strong my body is, and how grateful I should be for it.

Convicted...

that when I complain about how money is tight and we may not have the nicest things, we have more than plenty compared to so many others in our world.

Convicted...

that I sometimes view pregnancy and breastfeeding as a chore, and ignore the sad fact that infertility affects so many women who long for a baby.

Convicted...

that I always have so much to do for my children, and forget how blessed I am to have these children to care for.

Convicted...

that while wishing I was a stay-at-home mom, I don't thank God enough for giving me a wonderful job in a wonderful school.

Convicted...

that when I told my pastor that I don't like to go to priests I know for Confession, he told me that it's because I care more about myself than the sacrament.

Convicted...

that while making a honey-do list for my hubby, I don't write down how much I appreciate everything he does for us.

Convicted...

that when I see troubled kids, I tend to blame the parents, and then I read this.

Convicted to be more grateful, more forgiving, more patient, and more loving.  With God's grace.

Giveaway Winners!!!

And the winners to my Giveaway for the 25 Shutterfly Cards are:True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: 

Result:

7andTrue Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: Result:25

So...

#7 is Maggie

and 

#25 is Mindy

Congrats you two!  I will contact you with your codes :)

All Saints Day 2011

(Yes, they are wearing the same costumes as last year...so sue me!)

7 Quick Takes: The Fitness and Fatness Edition

1) Confession Time: I tried to give up sugar this week - but I didn't succeed.  I'm an addict, and the gigantuous bowl of Halloween candy sitting in my dining room didn't help.  I'm ashamed of my lack of discipline.

2) How long can you get by with saying "Yeah, but I just had a baby" to your reflection in the mirror?  When's the cutoff age?  Three months?  Nine months?  17 years?

3) Me and my bangs have a love/hate relationship.  I cut bangs in the beginning of October, and now I am constantly pinning them back or wearing them off to the side because they drive me crazy.  I have a huge forehead so I always think bangs will help hide it, but after they are cut, I find them so annoying.

4) My exercise routine is suffering.  Most weeks, I only have time to workout 4 days (I used to do 6 or 7 days a week before Xander's arrival).  It's mostly because I am too tired to work out early in the morning, too tired to work out at night, and our lives are so busy on the weekend and after school that I can't seem to find enough time.  I know I'll be better once the baby is sleeping through the night.  And I may need to add some exercise videos to my routine for those days I can't get to the gym.

5) And let's talk about breastfeeding, shall we?  I'm still hanging in there, eating a limited (and sadly, a low vegetable) diet, and feeling like I can't cut calories too much or my milk supply decreases.  Some days I am resigned to the fact that I will just not lose weight and be back to normal until I'm done breastfeeding, and other days I can't button my pants and tell myself I need to stop making excuses.

6) I just packed up all my size 6 pants because I got sick of looking at all those pants that won't fit.  I know that's a pretty unrealistic size for a mother of five but I want them to fit one day.  And I want to stop buying shirts on the sole basis that they can hide the muffin top!!

7) Ok, I'm done whining.  It's hard being a girl ;)