Love and support.....and FOOD

One of the many reasons we decided to stay in the area we are and buy a house was because of a really great network of friends we have. After Little Z was born we were overwhelmed, in a good way, love and support. Gifts and congratulations were abundant.

One of the things that helped the most is when one of our good friends coordinated meals for us. This was a real God sent because Mallu was really laid up due to the C-section and Crucian had his hands full trying to keep the house from becoming a disaster.

The web site she used was really cool

http://takethemameal.com/

It allows you to create a list of who is bringing what and when(this is also great so everyone doesn't bring the same type of casserole)
The website even emails you reminders.

We would really like to thank everyone who was so kind and generous. We are truly blessed!

Our visit with Mallu Mom's cousin

Make a slideshow

Mothers Day Blessings

Happy Mothers day to all of my family and friends who are moms. My mom and mom-in-law are not longer on Earth; I am very blessed to have had them for as long as I did. I miss them both, especially today. It's still has been a wonderful day, my oldest 3 woke me up to this!

"U"'s homemade waffles topped with homemade whipped cream, omelet with sausage, and bacon!

Crucian Dad left me a sweet card before he left on his trip early this morning, and Mysical Rose placed the flowers on the night stand.

The house was absolutely nice and clean, the kids all worked together for such a nice morning. GMAC did her part by sleeping in!

Happy Mothers Day!
-Mallu Mom

"I La Loo"

Tonight, towards the end of our daily rosary GMAC came around and hugged each of us and told us "I la loo" and signed I love you. Truly an unforgettable moment!
--Mallu Mom

I asked her to say I love you one more time and she did; Rose was reading to her ( the big hand is Roses')

We are back!

We got back home safely on Sunday late evening, I must say prayers carried us home. The drive was great until we were an hour away form home, from that point, it took over 3hrs to get home. It was about a 13 hr drive! There was lots of ice and traffic. We were very blessed to have some good friends, who came out and dug us in; THANK YOU!

a homeschooling family of six does not travel light

The highways were crowded and there were large stretches of 2"-3" of ice

This is one of the major roads in our neighborhood... it was interesting controlling the van

Our New Year Resolutions

Crucian Dad
- Continue to work out at least 3X a week
- Start Masters program (or at least select a program)
- Have more patience
- Talk less (those that know me...this will be the hardest one!)

Mallu Mom
- lose 10 lbs
- Get back to praying the daily office
-Stay on top of Laundry
- have more fun

Inch
- Exercise consistently... Staring with P-90 for the 90 days
-Study for the SAT

"U"
- Go to Adoration more often( at least twice a month)
-Wake up to an alarm

Mystical Rose
-learn to cook
-be less hyper!

GMAC
- wean! (she may need a little help with this one)

Feast of the Holy Family

Today is the feast of the Holy Family, read more about it here.

Big Snow 2009

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Pass the pigs

our very good friends came over for pizza and board games. We played Pictionary, Gestures and they introduced us to what is becoming one of our favorite games Pass the Pigs
The game is so simple yet so much fun, with the differences in our kids ages it is hard for us to find games that the whole family can enjoy.

Thanksgiving weekend 2009 (just a bit late)

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

A visit from Papa

The week of Thanksgiving my Dad came to see our new house for the first time. It was great having him here and the kidfs especially loved cooking and chatting with him.

Kids with Papa

Papa reading to G-MAC

My dad also cooked for us. Growing up, my Mom did the cooking so I never realized what a good cook my dad was.

-- Crucian Dad

Riz Djon-Djon (ice and Hatian Mushrooms) -- on the right
Grio (Fried Pork) -- on the Left

Fire

Our boys love fire! They are experts at starting fires!! Well, they are experts at making a proper fire( from all of the Boys Scout training.) Inch built a fire pit out of things he found around the back yard/woods. He gathers the rocks all the way at the bottom of the hill. He did a great job and we've enjoyed it quite a bit.

Our niece & nephew

Field Trip with our cousins

We are still here, yes, we haven't blogged in a while, but we've been having fun. Week before last we were able to spend some time with Cruzan Dad's sis and kids. We went on a field trip to the American History Museum.

The kids had fun on the subway...they were trying to maintain their balance

The girls enjoyed some of the hands on exibits

GMAC let her cousin hold her up to see an exibit

Aunt L. treated the girls to some ice cream...yum, yum

-Mallu Mom

Koratty Muthy

Today is the feast of Koratty Muthy. The church in India where Mallu grew up is a sight of many miracle and every year people from all over the world make a pilgrimage there

-- Crucian Dad

What I found in the Living Room

While I was creating the last post about our Ravens game I asked Inch to take care of G-MAC. Mallu Mom was at a confirmation parent meeting with "U". Rose called me into the living room and this is what I saw.


All of the kids do such a great job taking care of G-MAC

Humility

At Mass this morning the priest shared something he was meditating on from FURROW by Josemaria Escriva.
I was asking him about the book and he said I can borrow it since he has an extra copy. It was a wonderful lesson in humility, so I thought of sharing.


"Allow me to remind you that among other evident signs of a lack of humility are:

—Thinking that what you do or say is better than what others do or say;

—Always wanting to get your own way;

—Arguing when you are not right or — when you are — insisting stubbornly or with bad manners;

—Giving your opinion without being asked for it, when charity does not demand you to do so;

—Despising the point of view of others;

—Not being aware that all the gifts and qualities you have are on loan;

—Not acknowledging that you are unworthy of all honour or esteem, even the ground you are treading on or the things you own;

—Mentioning yourself as an example in conversation;

—Speaking badly about yourself, so that they may form a good opinion of you, or contradict you;

—Making excuses when rebuked;

—Hiding some humiliating faults from your director, so that he may not lose the good opinion he has of you;

—Hearing praise with satisfaction, or being glad that others have spoken well of you;

—Being hurt that others are held in greater esteem than you;

—Refusing to carry out menial tasks;

—Seeking or wanting to be singled out;

—Letting drop words of self-praise in conversation, or words that might show your honesty, your wit or skill, your professional prestige...;

—Being ashamed of not having certain possessions..."


I think I will print this out and put it on my fridge as a reminder.... it's so easy forget. It's so difficult to live it out.
--Mallu Mom

A tale of two sisters

Here is a funny observation

Both Mallu Mom and I have sisters with the same first name.

But the similarities don't end there.

Both sisters

• work with young children in classrooms
  
• are very artistic
• have gotten into photography
• have turned their photography into side businesses
• Look and act younger than they are
• are very funny
• they are both very helpful
• are very loved by their Nieces and Nephews