New Tennis Uniform

We started tennis last fall. So we've been playing for over a year now! It has been so very wonderful for our family to learn this sport. It is so great when daddy can share a love & talent of his with his children!

However, I had been in a slight dilema for a while trying to figure out what to have my girls, mainly Olivia, wear for practice (& planning ahead for tournaments in the future). I brainstormed many ideas for months. I ordered an outfit from tennisworld.com to see if I liked it enough imitate sewing it. I did not like it at all, at least the skirt. Although she still wears it, my first impression was that it was way too short for my little girl. So, I started praying about it....which is where I should have started. The Holy Spirit & our Precious Lady told me to go ask my husband. *PING!* The light went on......yeah! I'll ask my husband, DUH! So I asked him what is the traditional womens/girls dress for tennis. He quickly answered, a white polo shirt, with a white pleated skirt. I said oh yeah...duh, I should have recalled that! Tennis trends have changed so much over the years that I figured I could use the polo shirt/pleated skirt idea, but make them fun colors! Thus began my search for a skirt pattern & I found this: Perfectly Preppy Skirts & Skorts by the Scientific Seamstress.

WOW! It's such an EXCELLENT pattern...AND it has the option for built in shorts! DOUBLE YAY! When I finished making the skirt a couple weeks ago I was SO elated I could burst! It was EXACTLY what I wanted! My dear husband John was excited as well & so inspired that we immediately all got dressed & went out to the courts that Sunday afternoon!

The polo shirt I found at Target for $7.00 (can you believe it's a women's size xs??) I don't think I'm going to purchase a pattern for polos....they are available everywhere & for fair prices. For now I'll concentrate on the skirts. I made one for Vianne as well & have 7 more in the works right now with some fabric I found on clearance at Hancock, so each of the girls will have 3 for now.

Olivia looks adorable in this outfit & she's even more adorable because she matched her earrings, and sunglasses with her outfit....she wore her pink pig earrings, and her cute white rimmed sunglasses! I told her I think tennis is a fun sport because you can 'dress up' for it....& she smiled :)

opened blinds Sunday morning to this......

A neighbor family & friends of ours had a house fire. Her husband was out of town & she & her 4 children, ranging ages 3 yrs to 9 yrs got out in time. It started outside, so no smoke alarm went off. She said she saw her neighbor running toward their house yelling & waving hands as she was walking down the stair with 3 of her children. She had to run back in for her second daughter who was dead asleep. Praise God they are all safe. What a tradgedy. It was very very sad to watch. By the Grace of God, her wedding album, and all her baby's pictures were salvaged. They are still investigating the cause. May God Bless them all.

Must Post Again: "Blood Money"...a film documentary

3,500 Americans aborted every day........

http://www.bloodmoneyfilm.com/trailer.php

F.I.N.A.L.L.Y. finished....

My dad made this absolutely beautiful bed for her American Girl doll "Molly" last summer. My mom & Olivia & I went out to purchase fabric to make the bedding last summer. I JUST NOW finished it. Finally! Olivia & I LOVE it!

These Happy Golden Years

J.M.J.

My days are so full. I don't think I have ever been as busy in my life as I am right now. However, I truly am enjoying these times. I know what people are talking about when they say these are the golden years. My days are full of..... joy. My favorite days are home school days when we do not have to go anywhere for the day. We have gotten in to a bit of a routine.... even if it's not perfect, and needs to be tweaked a bit....it suits us well. But it is FULL. My children do so well almost all of the time, getting their lessons done, helping with chores during chore time, and entertaining/playing with each other. I am SO thankful they have each other to play with too. I will remember these times always as the happy golden years, when innocence and wonder abound. The following is a schedule I try to keep on my favorite days:

School Days:

6am: alarm goes off

6:30am: out of bed, get dressed, go downstairs for morning prayers with husband

7am: start a load of laundry (on laundry days)/start breakfast

7:30am: eat breakfast. Kids have to be downstairs dressed. After breakfast put away dishes.

8:15am: in family room for quick prayers: Morning Offering, Prayer to release 1000 souls from Purgatory, and our home made Family Mission Statement. We end with a team cheer "Holy Family....Pray for US!"

8:20am - 11am: school time

11am: big snack and recess

11:45am: back to home school room for more school time

12:30pm-1:30pm: REST time in bedrooms. Kids listen to books on MP3 while I lay with Levin to put him for a nap. I usually fall asleep myself for a 1/2 hour at least.

1:30-2pm or 3pm. Finish school.

2pm or 3pm: LUNCH & clean kitchen.

4pm - 5:30pm: Pool time (last week pool is open) or Tennis practice.

5:30pm: take showers after pool to rinse off

6pm-6:30pm: start dinner (if John is not home). If John is not on travel (as he was all last week (Sunday - Saturday) then he cooks dinner. If he cooks dinner, I put my feet up on the couch, check email, or go through mail, or tidy the house, or read to the little ones) Kids help daddy or have free time to play.

7 - 7:30pm: dinner & clean up kitchen

8-8:30pm: Family Rosary

9pm - 9:30pm: brush teeth & in bed. If dad is home, he lays with boys & I sometimes lay with Gabrielle, or I start correcting school work from the day. If dad is not home I usually lay with boys (who now share a room & full size bed together) & usually end up falling asleep myself! (That part I don't like, because if I do end up falling asleep, I usually don't get my work finished for the day (correcting papers, or finishing laundry, or sometimes dishes). I easily fall behind on many things when John is on travel for work. It really does take 2 adults to efficiently run a family! At least in our family! A motto of mine is that if it takes 2 (really 3, but you know what I mean) to make a baby it takes 2 to raise a family.

Since we started school this year I have not been checking email everyday. Once every 2-3 days at best. I have an account on facebook, but I DO NOT check it or use it, but once every 4-5 months. I really don't have time to be on FB, and I'm completely content with that. These are the happy golden years that pass by all to quickly. I want to be fully present, here and NOW, for my children, my husband, and God.