{one}

February was a really short month this year! It's been a cold one here in Saskatchewan. Someone posted this little wind chill summary on Facebook yesterday.

If you're wondering where we are, Tisdale is NE of Saskatoon somewhere in that empty space between Saskatoon and Hudson Bay. Tonight we're supposed to be at a chilly -50. Now I know wind chill temps aren't true temps and all that. I also get a little annoyed by people complaining about the weather all the time. I like to take more of a "winter is here, accept it and dress for it" kind of attitude. I'm still not really expecting Spring for another 2 months. But even I have my limits! We've had such a ridiculously cold winter that we've gotten used to joyfully heading out for a nice little walk when it's -20. And that's a NICE walk!

But this is my favourite winter quote from our household:

It was -46 with the wind out. As I buckled Joseph into his carseat, he commented: "It's not even cold out." His Saskatchewan blood runs deep!

{two}

We (meaning my boys) did some considerable work on our fort this month. I don't have a picture of it with the most recent height of the walls, but you can check out our earlier picture. 

Sometimes a slip of the tongue from Joseph results in the fort being dubbed a "fart," but otherwise it's a pretty enjoyable little place to sit out of the wind. And we sure do have the biggest fort on the block. Did we ever mention that their aren't really kids on our block?

{three}

 We watched as much of the Olympics as we could justify TV time! As Dan has already said we really enjoyed the opening and closing ceremonies. The Olympics always bring out such a national pride and we were delighted each morning to wake up to new medal honours. Joseph loved cheering on our men's hockey team and his usual "I jump for the Riders!" changed to "I jump for Go Candada!"

Via

My favourite, however, was Joseph's line as we watched the closing ceremonies for the Olympics and the Norwegian cross-country women claim their victory flowers: "She's holding a big lettuce, Mommy!"

{four}

Joseph and Daddy have been playing a LOT of Legos. Being that Mommy is rather big, bulky, and can't easily play on the floor, that it's been pretty chilly, and that Dan had last week off school, hours upon hours of Lego building has ensued. Dan loves it because it's something he still likes to do, whereas "playing cars" tends to become a little boring. 

But it's funny to see how protective Dan gets of his new creations in the event that a little destructive boy decides it's time to wreak something. As Joseph sees things, if some new vehicle he's making needs lights or a steering wheel, it's a no brainer: you take them off another vehicle rather than searching through the box. This inevitably results in fight between the two. And as Dan isn't here all the time to protect his beautiful vehicles, he inevitably sits down at the next playtime to rebuild.

One of their battles ensuing

{five}

Which little hats will our baby being wearing in a couple shorts weeks?

That question has a lot of expectation attached to it: Boy or girl? Short 2 weeks or long past due date? I'm ridiculously excited for the baby to make his/her way (Haha! As if labour is anything like that) out of the confines of my belly. 2 weeks until that magical date that they call your "due" date! But dates mean nothing to babies, as we all know. So, we wait...

Joseph taking a picture along with me

{six}

While we wait, I've tried to expand our craftiness a little with some little activities. I'm not really crafty and often it's more exhausting to do anything with a toddler than seems worth it. But we did make Jello Playdough which Joseph loves and I highly recommend. Even weeks later it's still lovely and soft, doesn't smell like your typical playdough, and has a beautiful Jello smell to it. 

We've also been making and sending birthday cards for all our birthday people. This mostly involves me cutting, pasting, and writing, while Joseph tells me the card "needs" more stickers (and he's happy to oblige). Unfortunately, this affinity for stickers also resulted in the discovery of all my postage stamps stuck all over the drawers of our computer desk.

{seven}

Lastly, aren't my men handsome?

On Our Bookshelf

At the beginning of the year, I made a kind of resolution to read more books during 2014. "Resolution" in the sense that it was a good idea that I hope I can try out a little. No huge commitments here! We tend to have our favourite books going for us at any given time and our ever growing library is a testament to a family who loves books. Here, then, is a little peak at what we're enjoying now on our bookshelf:

Jeeves and Wooster books by P.G. Wodehouse - I can't even say "Jeeves and Wooster" without humming the theme song for the 90s TV show based on Wodehouse's incredible stories. We got started on Wodehouse by watching the entire series and, what with the spot-on casting, we haven't regretted not reading the stories first. Bertie Wooster is an English gentleman of the "idle rich" especially talented at getting himself into humorous and awkward situations; Jeeves, his all-knowing valet, never fails to find some way to get him out of them, even if it costs his master a humbling experience. 

In the words of Hugh Laurie, superb actor for the character Jeeves, Wodehouse is "the funniest writer ever to put words to paper." And I think he might just be right! We are slowly adding to our collection of books and enjoying them immensely. You can often find us, out of the blue, growling in our best Spode voices: "Wooster, I'm going to tear you limb from limb." Even Joseph gets in on the fun and offers a scary, "Mooster!"

Catholic Children's Treasure Box Series - Both Dan and I grew up with these. Does that not scream big Catholic (homeschooling) family? They were mostly around when our younger siblings were of the age to enjoy them, but that didn't stop either of us from pouring through the Wupsy guardian angel stories. I brought them out of hiding recently thinking we could start brainwashing Joseph with catechism (not!). He's at an age now where he not only enjoys them, but also does not completely destroy them. Dan has been reading them to Joseph each night for bedtime stories and afterwards I hear Joseph's retelling of St Therese and Wupsy stories. We have also started singing our Angel of God prayer every night, at Joseph's request, after he learned the tune from the books. 

Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset - Kristin Lavransdatter is a trilogy chronicling the life of a Norwegian woman during the 14th century. Undset is renowned for her incredible insight into fallen human nature and her historical tale has seen much success since it was first published in the 1920s. 

I began reading the novel on an airplane back in June of 2009 as I flew to Saskatchewan to visit my then-boyfriend (just days later fiance). This year, I figured it was high time I start again at the unfinished 1200 page book as my copy includes all three novels and weighs enough to crush the head of my newborn baby if I were to read and drop it while nursing. I wouldn't say it's my favourite novel (perhaps the praise from my mom and others was too high?), nor am I a die-hard Undset fan, but I'm glad to finally finish it. It's well worth a shot if you ever want to start a such a huge read!

Everyday Meditations by Bl John Henry Newman - This was the Millette kids' Christmas book for the year! It is a collection of 50 short meditations written in first person addressing God. With incredible simplicity, insight, and beauty Bl John Henry Newman takes the reader on a personal examination of sorts. You are challenged to see yourself as God sees you and search for ways to improve. 

Both Dan and I have been reading it on and off for the past couple months and really enjoying it. It would be perfect for upcoming Lenten reading for this year or another!

Curious George books by H.A. Rey - Can you believe this classic was published back in 1941? Perhaps that's why it's ok for George to smoke a pipe?! 

No fewer than 3 of our 7 library books yesterday were Curious George ones - and one of those was a collection of stories! Either pregnancy brain or enthusiastic toddler can be blamed. We've been on a Curious George kick for a little while now. Some of the original stories are a little long for Joseph, but the adaptations or shorter versions are just perfect! Joseph loves it when I start the predictable beginning, "This is George. He was a good little monkey and always very..." leaving him to fill in the "curious" blank. "I'm kur-yos! Just like Monkey George!" Joseph likes to tell us.

So there's a little idea of what we're reading! And we're always looking for new favourites, so maybe this post will become a regular as we add to our collection.

A Tale of Two Cities

I remember following the London Summer Olympics that many Catholic commentators (not the  people who read the announcements before Mass) described the opening and closing ceremonies as the secular world's version of liturgy. In this commentary it was pointed out that the secular world creates this liturgy because man has an underlying need to engage in ritual (and ultimately Divinely instituted praise of God). However, of course, the secular form of liturgy and rite fails to truly lift the human heart, and ultimately, or to use the phrase "at the end of the day," is meaningless.

Sorry, the above was a bit of a mouthful. Nevertheless, just for the sake of interest, I found it striking when comparing the London "liturgy" to the Sochi "liturgy." The London ceremonies, particularly the closing ones, were filled with rock and pop culture. They had vulgarity and even mocked Catholic tradition and beauty (immodest dancing nuns). They integrated the secular world into this liturgy. The result was, at least I found, very distasteful. And this comes from a guy who actually really enjoys British rock.

On the other hand, though I normally care little for Russian culture, I found both Sochi ceremonies to be incredibly stunning, beautiful, and even peaceful. Right from the start an emphasis was placed on the timeless classics of Russian culture. The great Russian composers were invoked. The literary classics of Dostoevsky and Tolstoy were narrated. The Red Army choir sang as only they can. The richness of costume and, gulp, even ballet was demonstrated. In effect, the Sochi ceremonies sought a timeless beauty. Secular in some respect, but still hinting at a permanence of beauty found ultimately in that one transcendent Beauty (identified through Aristolilean philosophy as God). To me, and I'm sure many others, the Sochi ceremonies were magnificent.




They made me think of the current state of Catholic liturgy. On one hand we have a large group of Catholics who desperately attempt to incorporate our modern culture into the Mass. Folk music, heck, even rock music, find their way into the Divinely instituted liturgy. The result, like the London closing ceremonies, is not beauty and inspiration but rather cheap gulps of excitement that neither raise the heart or leave peace to the soul. On the other hand, insofar as Catholic liturgy seeks the timeless art which speaks of the transcendent God (and yes, there are wonderful composers and artists in today's world who produce this beauty), all the more can we declare that we have lifted our hearts to the Lord.

vs.

or

vs.

So the Olympics were a poor-man's lesson (to the tune of 51 billion dollars) on the human heart's need to worship God not with mindless noise but rather with beauty, awe, and peace. Well done Sochi.

There you go Russia. I gave you a compliment.

You still suck at hockey though.

My February Break (Thus Far)

I will now attempt a Becca-blog. You know, throw a few pictures on here, add some comments, done. I make fun of her for her blogs, but every time I check our blog statistics she usually outdraws me by two, or even three, to one. Despite my research, opinion, and satire pieces, nothing beats pictures of Mose on the Mommy Blog. I tell Becca that the term "Mommy Blog" is just a code for "boring." Ah, it's probably just that people like her better than me. That smiling redhead. What's not to like? Oh but let me tell you, she has a mean side to her too. Why, I can't imagine what she'll do to me when she reads this.

Anyhow...

It's the February break here in Saskatchewan. A time to leave the books behind and head out somewhere warm like Jamaica. Our school staff is having a "selfie" contest during the break. Basically, we're supposed to take selfies of ourselves to highlight where we've been. To be sure, not all the teachers head south. There have been some selfies of teachers chopping up a pig, or of fixing a sewage problem at the farm. Most, however, have been coming from places like Jamaica, Disney World, Montreal, and Mexico. However, so far my selfie has proven to be the most popular:  

Throw Joseph Moseph into any picture and that's bound to happen!

Now obviously my break has involved some work. I wouldn't know what to do otherwise. I've spent a couple of mornings at the school doing lesson planning. Basically I've been planning emergency sub plans for when the baby comes. Normally this would be simple enough. However, because I teach so many classes, on such a crazy schedule, in so many different locations, I essentially had to create 6 different days of sub plans, with dozens of lesson plans, and each and every half hour carefully planned (all in different locations). Bleh.

But it's not all work! Yesterday was absolutely beautiful. The nicest day of winter by a country mile! We managed a nice walk outside to visit Mama Mary. Joseph cleaned the snow off of her. 

"I'm the good one!"

"Let's walk Mommy!"

We later did some building in our yard. Joseph and I dug a little tunnel/hole for him to crawl into. We also did some work on our snow fort. Despite there never being packing snow, I still proudly tell Becca that it's the best fort on the block. I made a point of saying this loudly yesterday so that our neighbours, who were busy shovelling snow, could hear. I think they thought it was funny. However, I wouldn't be surprised if I saw them attempt to build their own fort. Still though, ours is the best.

Perhaps another selfie to send in.

I also cut Joseph's hair last night. He's looking rather dapper wouldn't you say?

Becca's going to get her hair cut this afternoon, and I'll do mine later in the week. We'll be the best looking family on the block too!

Let's see, what else?

- Oh, I went to the dentist this morning. Sorry, no selfie of me on the dentist's chair. First time in, golly gee, 12 years or so? 8 cavities, 5 from not flossing (I floss everyday now, but not, say, 5 years ago), 3 from past fillings that the dentist here thought weren't done so well. Wisdom teeth are just fine, as is everything else. Could've been better. Could've been a lot worse. Thank you God. Now, though, I will have to make a few trips back to get the work done. The first trip back will be a 90 minute marathon of drilling. It will be the day after Ash Wednesday, with other visits to follow depending on when the baby comes. I may as well give up food for lent.

- We seem to get a lot of silver medals at the Olympics! As one grade three student of mine said: "my dad said that finishing second means you're just the first loser." Words to live by, hey.

- I will be signing up for a "free" online course from Holy Apostles College and Seminary on Sacred Music in the Liturgy. I put "free" in scare quotes because a) it's a reference to Corner Gas, and b) I still have to buy books for the course. The course sounds awesome, and will go from March 17th to May 3 (not like there will be any babies to worry about during that time...). The course should also help sharpen my mind up for my upcoming comprehensive exams. I can hardly wait to study more about the great workings of Dan Schutte and the St. Louis Jesuits! Oh wait, I said sacred music, not sappy music...  Oh I just crack myself up.

- We'll be heading to the Melfort pool tomorrow, and hopefully do a few other things for the rest of the week. Maybe I'll leave that stuff for Becca to blog about.

Who knows? People might even read it.

36 Weeks

This is, predictably, the countdown belly photo update of a blog post.

36 weeks today, folks! Or just 4 weeks until my due date. But who's counting, right?! Well, I sure am, although I have to remind myself almost daily that if he/she is anything like his/her older brother then I might be waddling around up to 10 days after that magic number date. Babies come when they have a mind to.

35.5 weeks, to be exact

What are we doing around here? Nesting, of course. I decided, having examined my kitchen and other rooms, that there would never be a better time to clean out cupboards and wash walls then at 8+ months pregnant. It is a slow process! And somewhat hazardous as I balanced on chairs to clean out my kitchen in the last few days.

When I asked Dan whether I should make a quilt or clean all our walls his response was, "neither." He's been suffering through my cleaning. As my brain seems to be floating in soapy water, our meals this week have been very last minute plans with little thought to making sure there would be leftovers for lunches; our kitchen has experienced a blow up of things left everywhere; and my joyous welcome of Dan for an unexpected early lunch yesterday sounded almost exactly like, "Oh darn, you're home early!" But he takes it all in stride. Yesterday, he walked in to me up to my elbows in bun dough and just set himself about making he and Joseph lunch, while washing dishes. I'm a lucky girl!

Talking to baby, or probably asking to be picked up

Joseph and I are also taking stock of baby things and getting prepared to wash clothes, carseat, and all that stuff for the baby. I have no idea what kind of timing typically goes along with all these preparations. With Joseph we were living on campus in married student housing and in my naivety I think we bought a very few things for him perhaps a week or two before he was born. He slept in a cardboard box for the first few weeks of his life. But, in our defense, we were moving across the country at the end of the school year and didn't want to collect a whole ton of baby things. Nor had we had a baby shower yet. I don't think he was scarred by the experience.

This time around, I console myself that we are a little more prepared and know a little bit what to expect. Our baby will have a bassinet. He/she will have a few gender neutral clothes, (a few girl clothes loaned by cousin Catherine) and boys clothes to choose from. And we even have some diapers all ready. What more does a baby want than to eat, sleep, and poop? We are surely ready, whenever the day comes!

Joseph and baby bear "sleeping" on the kitchen floor

The big brother has been preparing himself for months now, but I don't think he has any idea what he's in for. The other night, Joseph carried his teddy around, wrapped in a blanket, while he "sushed" it (and us!). "Shhh, the teddy's sleeping!" I'm sure he'll love to hear us telling him just that next month with a little baby sleeping in the background.

So we countdown the weeks! And if you have any love for pregnant mamas, as I hope you do, please pray this baby arrives in a timely manner!

Skeletons in the Cellar

I have been rereading sections of Michael O'Brien's excellent book Father at Night. The book is a compilation of stories and reflections by O'Brien, usually related to events in his own life. One such story involves O'Brien sharing tales from a friend he once had many years ago. This friend was an old Polish man who lived on his own, spoke broken English, and usually kept to himself. However, after a while he began to open up his life story to O'Brien.

The stories are simply stunning. The man was a Polish officer in WWII who was chased to Russia by the Germans. Once there the Russians captured him and led him (and 20,000 other Polish officers) to be executed. But wait! Weren't Poland and Russia on the same side? Well, the man explains that for the execution there were people dressed as German soldiers, but they all spoke Russian. In other words, it was actually the Russians who carried out this mass murder. The man escaped into the woods, thanks to some of the Russian soldiers being too drunk to shoot a gun properly, but he was later recaptured and sent to a couple of prisoner camps in northern Russia. One of the prisoner camps was actually an old monastery. O'Brien's friend recalled that he was once shown a cellar at this monastery where he was shocked to see skeletons wearing monk-clothes tied to a wall. Apparently the Russians had rounded up the monks at one point and simply tied them to the wall in the cellar to die. At another time the man was told that the entire earth underneath the monastery was filled with corpses of hundreds of priests and monks whom the Russians killed.

These were just some of the stories recounted by O'Brien's friend. Many of them have never made it into history textbooks. Many horrors of communist Russia are known only to God, and a few scarred and silent survivors. It is a scary thought thinking about monk skeletons chained to walls (probably still there) in northern Russia.

Then O'Brien shares this thought:

"An important insight that our friend often repeated was this: he believed that the people of the West have not been put to the test of faith as have the Christian people of the East, and that we in the West are unprepared for great suffering. He wondered if we understood that the spirit of evil, which had acted openly in the East, was also at work in the West, and that terrible evils always follow when men turn away from God" (p. 77).

Hmmm...

Ok, what is going on in the world today? The West is chiding Russia over human rights abuses. These abuses highlighted, though, usually have little to do with the communist era. Rather, they mainly concern the gay rights agenda.

Our increasingly Godless West is telling the East how to live. Perhaps instead the scarred East should be warning the West how to live.

I'm sure if they could speak, the dead monks tied to the wall in northern Russia would agree.

Olympic Pride

What have I enjoyed most about the Olympics thus far? I think it was that five minute stretch during the opening ceremonies when there was no mention of gay rights. Yep, for five whole minutes we, at least the viewers of CBC (I can't speak for NBC), did not have to listen to commentators trumpeting the gay rights movement.

Other than that, it really has been non-stop, hasn't it? Commercials with two guys kissing. Pride flags flown, well, proudly at city hall and legislative buildings. Countless athlete profiles discussing this topic. Male sport commentators dressed up in makeup and rainbow clothes (at least on NBC). Harsh condemnation of anything Russian (stemming from their words against the gay movement). It never ends. Society is, at the very least, being numbed into accepting what is going on.

I just want to watch some sports! Really, is that too much to ask!? What on earth does the gay rights movement have to do with watching Ryan Getzlaf fire a slapshot past Jonathan Quick?

Having said all of this, I do have a bad feeling about what is going on. Ultimately, my bad feeling is coming from the lack of response from our bishops in Canada. Maybe some of them are too busy saving water bottles to notice, but I think now would be a very important time to engage what is going on and speak out in favour of what is true. To defend true marriage. To promote the Gospel.

I mean, could they even take five minutes of their time?

3 Things My 2-year-old Needs

As I lay in bed with Joseph this afternoon, I held him close and kissed his forehead. I felt a little guilty because we'd spent the morning cleaning up around here and vacuuming and I spent the entire time trying to get him to pick up his toys. Again and again, he'd ignore me, say "no," or pick up something only to place it somewhere else all the while looking at me with a "now what are you going to do?" look. I am not a patient mother and I don't think my response to disobedience is always the best response.

As I lay there in bed, I realized I'd forgotten the things I forget all the time: most often Joseph's disobedience or bad moods or general upset has to do with something that's lacking, something that I should be giving him, but forget or ignore.

This post is a reminder to myself for when the inevitable days comes when I have another 2-year-old or a child of any age who needs just this. 

1. Feed him: A no brainier, you say? Do I have pregnancy brain? Joseph is happiest after he's had a good meal. When he's happy, he's content to play by himself and he's more likely to be obedient. I found out from Dan at lunch today that Joseph asked for more oatmeal at breakfast (and there wasn't anymore). I never gave him a snack and finally at lunch time I clued in that he was famished. Duh! And here I was expecting him to listen to me?! I guess it's a 2 year-old stage, but he doesn't always ask for food when he's hungry. And me, I need to clue in and read the signals. 

2. Play with him: I have a really hard time playing! I know, that sounds crazy, but I find it tedious to sit and play Legos or cars for very long. If I'm making something, great; if not, I get bored. But so often, all Joseph wants and needs is for me to put down whatever in life just can't wait (because, really, it can) and read to him, build him a Lego house, race around the living room chasing him, or make-believe we're making and eating food. Again, if he gets a little full-attention like this he's happier and more likely to play on his own and listen to me. Easy, right?

3. Hug him: This is what clued me in today to the fact that maybe I was partly to blame for Joseph's lack of listening. After reprimanding him and almost resorting to yelling, when everything was done, I picked him up and hugged him. He responded with a big hug and just lay on my shoulder as we sat on the couch. Of course, hugging isn't for every kid. But some kind of display of love is. Joseph needs me to show him love and he loves to be hugged and held. Discipline feels softer, I'm sure, when he knows I love him and when I can forget my anger later and cuddle him.

I'm learning, I guess. This parenting thing seems to take some practice. Not freaking out when it's not worth it, disciplining with love... by #7 or 8 I should be the perfect parent, right?

Tough love: gotta tie you in when you keep standing!

"Don't Get Discouraged"

I am an unofficial catechist. Unofficial in that I refuse to spend the hours it would take to fill out the mountains of paperwork for the diocesan officials. Anyway, I teach catechism. I hope Jesus doesn't mind the "unofficial" designation.

So far it's been an interesting experience. Note: "interesting experience" usually means that something is messed up. Recently I learned that none of my four students have ever heard of sin. Also, I learned that only one of them knew how to do the sign of the cross. None of them knew about Adam and Eve, or the Trinity, much less that Jesus is both God and man, and that He is in the Eucharist. Don't even ask me if they knew any prayers. In other words, things have started the way I envisioned they would.

The other day I took them up to the main church area and showed them a big beautiful statue of Mary. You know the kind, the big old beautiful ones that liberals are keen to remove from churches because they take us away from Jesus, or away from themselves, or something. I was telling the kids about Adam and Eve, and sin. I then pointed to Mary's feet. I looked over at the kids and noticed they were all mesmerized. Why was Mary stepping on that snake? So I told them why. In the end, they appeared deeply touched that they had a special other mother in heaven to watch over them and help fight the devil. You might even say this was a beautiful moment of grace.

So I took them back downstairs and soon enough they began packing to go home. A couple of mothers came at various times. Each of the moms complained about something. One was that catechism started at 4pm and not, say 3:40pm. That extra time was just so inconvenient she told me (never mind that if it was dance class it would be no problem). The other was asking how long her son had to go to catechism. I told her right until the end of June. She was not impressed. I told her that she could teach him herself if she wanted. She said no, because she wanted him to have "the social life." Anyway, the kids all left. I wandered up to the church and went and prayed next to that statue of Mary. Deep discouragement filled my soul. The kids don't know anything. The parents aren't going to raise them in the faith. In fact, the parents would probably rather not. All I hear is complaining. I'm taking this time to teach someone else's kids for what? Let someone else do it! Where's Father in all of this? It's just like I thought it would end up.

As I sat there and looked at the statue I thought of that serpent under the foot of Mary. Then I remembered some words I've heard many many times before. Back in Barry's Bay the parish priest would always tell me in confession, no matter what I confessed: "...but don't get discouraged, don't get discouraged." Each and every time I went to confession he insisted I avoid discouragement. It all seemed so obvious then. Of course, discouragement is the tool of the devil. That little serpent sitting under Our Lady's foot was probably madder than, well, hell, at having those four little kids mesmerized by the thought that staying close to Mary could defeat him and his lies. It's so predictable, how could I fall for it? Immediately following me showing the kids the statue of Mary, the devil orchestrated various parents to put on the air of annoyance. My subsequent thoughts of the kids not knowing or caring also was orchestrated by the evil one. That feeling of discouragement, then, could only be a sign that something good happened.

Now the feeling didn't disappear. But at least I knew to ignore it. "Don't get discouraged" I repeated to myself. Thank you Mary.

Apparently the devil doesn't care about the "unofficial" designation.

That's ok. Apparently neither does Mary.

A Visit to S'toon

Last weekend we took a long-overdue trip to Saskatoon. We hadn't been there since September, although we'd planned or tried to plan numerous other trips in the four months since. Our trips to Saskatoon involve 3 main things: shopping, visiting with relatives, and beautiful, holy Mass at Our Lady of Czestochowa, otherwise known as the Latin Mass.

For once, our shopping trip was more or less a huge success! I'm sure I've mentioned this before -- it's pretty difficult to do actual clothes and major items shopping in rural Saskatchewan. I'm slowly learning to do as much as possible online, but there are still times when that just doesn't cut it. Usually when we hit the big city we get frustrated pretty quickly with all the traffic, shoppers, and overpriced goods -- and we give up rather quickly. That, or Joseph becomes a complete mess because he's been sitting in the van for 2hrs and now we expect him to happily shop for 2-3hrs. Yeah, right!

This trip we decided to leave Friday night -- and what a difference maker! We did a bunch of our shopping on Friday before visiting with our dear Rogal relatives. Then we went out early the next morning to accomplish what was left. Despite a whiny toddler (we still don't know what was bugging him on the weekend, but he now has the beginning of a cold, so perhaps he was getting sick?), we managed to plow our way through. Dan got a lucky break at the Rider Store and scored a 50% off bunnyhug (yep, we're in Saskatchewan, folks) with his gift card from Christmas. Meanwhile, a few stores over I scored deals at The Children's Place for next years snowsuit and apparel. Let's just say I spent $30 and saved $150! I love me a good deal. Just goes to show you the mark-up on clothing. All in all, we left the city with a significant amount going onto our Visa, a van-load of stuff, and smiles from having actually accomplished our dreaded shopping.

Going in on Friday night also meant we got to spend a lot more time with some of our favourite people:

Michael is growing so quickly! He'll be 1 next month.

Catherine and Joseph were so happy to see each other again

They are total goofballs together

Elaine welcomed us with open arms, lots of delicious food (even our traditional Burger Saturday fare!), and smiling children. Brendan was gone most of the weekend and she said she was more than happy to have the company -- and she didn't even kick us out when our toddler had meltdowns and whined a lot ;)

The kids enjoyed running around like crazy nuts, colouring, drinking and snacking until they should have burst, and throwing snow at the snowman. Michael loved watching his older sister and cousin in all their antics and I'm sure scheming for when he can walk around a little better without support. 

Dan took off on Saturday night with his other sister Rheanne to watch their cousin Cory who plays for Saskatoon's WHL team, the Blades. Meanwhile, Elaine and I laughed at our skills as mothers and went through tons and tons of generously given kids clothes. Between Elaine and her nice neighbour, I'm all stocked up and ready for Baby Millette to arrive!

Michael wanted to jump right in too

These two have been bathing together and loving it since Joseph was 8 months old

On Sunday we took our regular trip to the Tridentine Mass, the most beautiful Mass in the province. It was Candlemass Sunday, the last Sunday of the Christmas season to mark the presentation of Jesus in the Temple and the purification of Mary. Marked by numerous prayers of blessing for the candles, a procession with lit candles, and 3 long periods when the candles are re-lit and held, it was a beautiful Mass to attend. The new Polish priest for the parish (since the summer), Fr Andrew, is an incredible homilist and confessor -- fearless, direct, and pertinent. He spoke to the importance of the feast of light (Candlemass) and the need for us to live this feast in our world that embraces darkness. Despite a longer than usual Mass, I commented to Dan how well-behaved the many, many children were (including Joseph). Suffice it to say, the candles were a huge bonus. More Masses should have candles!

We would dearly love to be parishioners at Our Lady of Czestochowa or at the very least live close enough to attend Mass there more regularly (since we don't really want to live in Saskatoon)! Not only does the parish feel like home, but we feel like our deepest spiritual hunger is fed when we go there. The beauty and real Catholicity that seems to be lacking pretty well everywhere else, is alive and flourishing at this little parish.

Although we came home tired out, we were so thrilled to get away for a few wonderful days! And just to leave on a laughing note, check out these two:

  

Apparently this is what I get for saying, "Smile! Say cheese!"

Get to Know Mose

So you think you know Mose? Here is an interview with the one and only Joseph Moseph.


1) What is your favourite food?
Fries. Muffins. Doughnuts. I want a little snack.

2) What are you doing right now?
Talking to Grandma *holds a calculator to his ear*

3) Where is your favourite place to travel?
Go see Grandpa.

4) What was the best Christmas present you ever received?
*Holds up lego trucks* Wanna play Mego?

5) What is your favourite animal?
Where's Emma? Emma gone?!

6) What is your favourite song?
I want I Will Wait!

7) What is your favourite story?
Love You Forever! Monkey George! Baby Talk. Thomas. Wanna read a book to Mose?

8) Who do you like best, Daddy or Mommy?
Mommy!

9) Who do you like best, Mommy or Daddy?
Daddy!

10) Are you the good one, or the bad one?
I'm the bad one! *evil grin*

11) Who are your cousins?
A bus! *bus drives by* Look at da bus! Whoa!

12) Where's the baby?
*pulls up shirt* Baby in there.

13) Is Mom having the baby?
*pulls up Mom's shirt* Baby in there.

14) What did you do this weekend?
I hold the candle.

15) What else did you do?
I blow out the candle.

16) Did you see Catherine?
I see Catherine. I hold the candle.

17) Did you go shopping this weekend?
I buy Mose gitch in Saks-a-toon! I buy Mose gitch!

18) What makes you cry?
I need Kleenex for the eyes! *sniff*

19) What makes you laugh?
Joke!

20) Tell me a joke?
Joke. Knock knock. Who's there? Don't cry!

21) What do you do all day?
I help Mommy.

22) What is your favourite chore to help Mommy with?
I vacuum the floor.

23) Is baby a boy or a girl?
Girl!

I24) Is baby a girl of a boy?
Boy!

25) What's the baby's name?
Luke!

26) Did Mommy make you say that?
Mommy's the boy. *evil grin*

27) Did you see Jesus at Mass?
I blow out the candle at Mass!

28) Did you see Father?
I help Father blow out the candle!

29) Do you love Jesus?
*sings sweetly* Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so...

30) Can you sing me another song?
*shouts out while stamping foot* I will wait for you!

31) Anything else you want to say?
Wanna go play cars? Let's go play cars!

*Joseph runs off to the living room*