Saturday After Ash Wednesday

Todays Lesson is from the Prophet Isaias 58. 9-14.

We must struggle by solemn fast and by works of charity against our passions, and "the Lord will give us rest, and will fill our souls with brightness."
The Roman Missal, 1962

The holy Gospel is St. Mark 6. 47-56, in which Jesus walks on the Sea of Galilee to reach his apostles in the ship on the stormy waters. He calms the winds. When they set foot on land, his apostles know Him, and the people of that area come to Jesus for healing.

The rough sea and the contrary winds are a figure of our passions. In this hard struggle Jesus will come to our help as He did to the Apostles and heal our bodies and our souls by fasting, as He healed all the sick in the land of Genesareth.
The Roman Missal, 1962

Today's Collect:
O Lord, hearken to our supplications: and grant that we may celebrate with devout service this solemn fast, which Thou hast ordained for the healing of both soul and of body. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and Thy Holy Spirit, one God, forever.
Amen

Monkey, Monkey, Monkey...Car!

Reece was here last night, so I planned to spend some time working on numbers with him. Yesterday afternoon I made a banana game, a monkey line, and a craft project for him to do when he got here.

But it was still warm and sunny outside when he arrived, so first we played in the yard.

We had dinner when we came inside, and then he just wanted to play with his toys and watch monster trucks and Pingu on You Tube.

He wasn't at all interested in the banana game (you match 2 banana halves, one half with a number on it, the other half with that number of dots).

He was mildly interested in the monkey line, and did point out some of the numbers when I asked, and replaced a couple of monkeys that I took out of order.

And it made him start saying, "Five little monkeys jumping on the bed..." as he made the line jump up and down. :o)

(He always puts his hands over his ears like that when he doesn't want to do something or hear what you say).
:o)



He really just wanted to go play with his cars and trucks. The child is obsessed with vehicles. I guess I should adapt our projects so that they are all about cars, trucks and trains.









Today he went with me to Mom's. It turned cold overnight, and he didn't have a jacket with him, so I dug through the closet and found one that had belonged to his daddy. It was too big, but we rolled the sleeves up and he looked adorable in it.

He was ready for a nap by the time I took him home this afternoon. And I think I could use one, too.

Friday After Ash Wednesday

The Lesson today is from the Prophet Isaias, 58. 1-9, in which God rejects hypocritical fasting and recommends works of mercy, and sincere godliness.

The 1962 Roman Missal says of this passage:
The external works of penance such as prayer, fasting, almsgiving, which should be practised during Lent, have no value in the sight of God unless they are accompanied by the spirit of interior sacrifice or self-denial.

The Gospel is from St. Matthew 5. 43-48; 6. 1-4. It is the passage where Jesus tells his disciples that they must love, pray for, and do good for their enemies, so that they can be the children of the Father who makes the sun rise on the good and bad, and the rain fall on the just and unjust. Later, He tells them to not to do their good deeds and almsgiving in public, hoping for praise, but to do them in secret and the Father who sees what they do will give them their reward.

From the Missal:
The spirit of interior sacrifice shows itself in works of mercy made out of consideration for our neighbor, without distinction of friend or enemy, and with the sole intention of pleasing God. Let us ask for the spirit of sacrifice or self-denial.

The Collect for today:
Further with Thy gracious favour, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the fasts which we have begun: that the bodily observance which we keep, we may be able also to practise with sincere intention. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and thy Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever.
Amen †

Thursday After Ash Wednesday

Psalm 54. 5-13
Cast thy care upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee. When I cried to the Lord, He heard my voice from them that draw near to me.

The Gospel reading for today is St. Matthew 8. 5-13, the story of the Roman centurion whose servant lies ill at home, grievously tormented. The centurion beseeches Jesus to heal his servant, and Jesus agrees, whereupon the centurion makes an answer very familiar to Catholics.

"Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldst enter under my roof: but only say the word and my servant shall be healed."

From my Navarre study Bible:
"Centurion": an officer of the Roman army in control of one hundred men. This man's faith is still an example to us. At the solemn moment when a Christian is about to receive Jesus in the Blessed Eucharist, the Church's liturgy places on his lips and in his heart these words of the centurion, to enliven his faith: "Lord, I am not worthy...".

The Jews of this time regarded any Jew who entered a Gentile's house as contracting legal impurity (cf. Jn 19:28; Acts 11: 2-3). This centurion has the deference not to place Jesus in an embarrassing position in the eyes of his fellow Israelites. He shows that he is convinced that Jesus has power over disease and illness; he suggests that if Jesus just says the word, he will do what is needed without having actually to visit the house; he is reasoning, in a simple, logical way, on the basis of his own professional experience. Jesus avails of this meeting with a Gentile believer to make a solemn prophecy to the effect that his Gospel is addressed to the world at large; all men, of every nation and race, of every age and condition, are called to follow Christ.

Collect for today:
O God, who by sin art offended and by penance appeased, mercifully regard the prayers of Thy suppliant people; and turn aside the scourges of Thine anger, which we deserve for our sins. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reignest with Thee and Thy Holy Spirit, now and forever.
Amen †

Did You Get Your Ashes?

Mom called me this afternoon to invite me to dinner at her place. She had put a chicken in the crock pot while Reece and I were there this morning. She said she would make mashed potatoes and gravy and a veggie. I had planned to go to Mass at our old church which is near my house, but I didn't want to disappoint her, so I told her that I would come. I asked her if she wanted to go to Mass after dinner, since it is Ash Wednesday, and she said yes.

My intention to fast from meat today went right out the window, because Mom rarely cooks a meal, and even more rarely invites anyone for dinner. I couldn't refuse the chicken after she went to so much trouble. Everything tasted good. I had to laugh because by the time the food was ready she said, "Well, I'm tired of this." (She meant cooking). :o) I plan to eat no meat for the rest of the week to make up for eating it today, but I didn't mention that to her.

We had been wondering what the regular Novus Ordo Mass is like at the church where we attend the TLM, so tonight was the chance to find out. We got there a little early, knowing that Ash Wednesday Mass is always crowded. The Mass was fine, but let's just say that we both agreed that we much prefer the Latin Mass. They had a TLM this morning, but it was at 6:30. I would never have made it, especially since I had Reece overnight.

I think the funniest thing that happened was that when I opened my mouth and stuck out my tongue to receive the Eucharist, the deacon almost tossed the Host into my mouth! :o) He is not one of the deacons at the TLM, obviously.

Of course we stuck out like sore thumbs, me in my mantilla and Mom in her hat, but that doesn't bother us. There were a couple of other ladies in mantillas, probably visitors from the TLM like us.

I think we startled one of Mom's neighbors with the crosses of ash on our foreheads when we took Chuy out, back at Mom's. He did a double take, then said that he forgot that it was Ash Wednesday, but that he was planning to fast for Lent.

Ron called as we were driving back to Mom's and said that he and one of his co-workers had been to Mass, too. Then they went shopping at Dillards, where they were having a huge sale. He bought some shirts for 70% off, then they took another 40% off at the register. Way to go, guys!

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday is from a liturgical point of view one of the most important days of the year. in the first place this day opens the liturgical season of Lent, which formerly began with the First Sunday and comprised only thirty-six days. The addition of Wednesday and the three following days brought the number to forty, which is that of our Lord's fast in the desert.

In the Old Law ashes were generally a symbolic expression of grief, mourning, or repentance. In the Early Church the use of ashes had a like signification and with sackcloth formed part of the public penances. The blessing of the ashes is one of the great liturgical rites of the year. It was originally instituted for public penitents, but is now intended for all Christians, as Lent should be a time of penance for all. The ashes used this day are obtained by burning palms of the previous year. Traditionally they are blessed by four ancient prayers, sprinkled with holy water and incensed, and then placed in the form of a cross on the foreheads of each of the faithful with the words, "Remember, man, that thou art dust, and unto dust thou shalt return." The ancient prayers of the blessing suggest suitable thoughts for the opening of Lent. They are summarised here:

"Almighty and everlasting God, spare the penitent...bless these ashes, that they may be a remedy to all who invoke Thy Name...O God, who desirest not the death but the conversion of sinners, look in kindness upon our human frailty...and bless those ashes, so that we, who know ourselves to be but ashes...and that we must return to dust, may deserve to obtain pardon and the rewards offered to the penitent."
The Roman Missal, 1962

May you have a blessed and holy Lent.

Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep...

Reece is here tonight. He is sleeping now, and I'm sure his guardian angel is here, too. :o)

We had a nice evening, playing with his toys, watching some videos, reading lots of books and talking. He had chicken gumbo, crackers and apple for dinner. We made a chocolate cake for dessert. He liked helping me frost the cake with vanilla frosting. We will take some to his great gran in the morning, and some to his mom and dad.

He's a wonderful little boy; even the way he moves his hands and the expressions on his face delight me. He says and does such cute things. The last time he spent the night, we had a can of mixed nuts and he was licking the salt off of them. He took out a roasted almond, studied it for a minute, then put it on his cheek under his eye. He looked at me with a sad face and said, "Cry." :o)

Ron is out of town until late next week. He called tonight to say he had arrived safely, and that it's cold where he is. It was in the 80s here today, and will be all week. He's going to miss our Texas weather!

Grand Ol' Gang

What a poker party! The painting is by Andy Thomas. You can purchase a print here. Pretty cool.

Spring Fever

Mom and I went to Adoration, had lunch at Quiznos, and then shopped for flowers today.

I bought these geraniums for the porch, and she got a really pretty dark pink Reiger begonia for her patio. I also got an Early Girl tomato plant and some Texas sweet onion sets. The warm weather has given us spring fever.

Ron says that when the mesquite trees bloom, there will be no more freezes. Well, they are blooming like crazy, and so are the redbuds and my sweet olive. So I think it is safe to plant.





Have you ever seen a mutabilis rose? There is one on the corner of a certain street in town, and I've wondered what it is for years. It's an old-fashioned rose bush that has blooms of three different colors at once--very pretty! Today at the garden center, I described it to the owner. He knew right away what I was talking about, and had sold the bush I noticed to the owner ten years ago. He said that he is getting some in at the end of the week, so guess where I'll be going? :o) From what I've read on-line about them, these roses are very tolerant of our poor soil and blazing temperatures in South Texas. I can't wait to have one in my yard!

Sounding Brass and Tinkling Cymbals

The TLM today was the Low Mass, celebrated by our dear Father Schorp, who is probably more intelligent that the whole congregation combined. I know a lot of his homilies go right over the heads of some of us. I have to really listen and concentrate; he makes me think.

Today Father's homily was on the Epistle, Corinthians 13. 1-13. Paul is telling the Corinthians what love (charity) is. Father concentrated on the fact that nothing that we experience is disconnected from God, so if we do not love, we disconnect ourselves from Him. Father's examples always include math and science, and nature and the family. :o) What he was saying, in essence, is that everything is a part of God's creation, and it all leads us back to God, so we should take joy in and love the things that make up our days and our lives, no matter how insignificant they seem.

I have trouble doing that sometimes. I don't see God in it when I'm doing the laundry or cleaning the house, cooking dinner or taking care of my mom or my grandkids. What I should be seeing is that everything I do with love is a gift to God. Through whatever I do for my family, I am loving God, and I need to be aware of that. Oh pooh, Father explains it so much better!

From The Roman Missal, 1962:
The faith of which St. Paul speaks is as nought without charity [love]: "If I should have faith capable of removing mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing." The merits of our works, as well as the light which illuminates our souls, are in proportion to our charity.

Psalm 99. 1,20
Sing joyfully to God, all the earth: serve ye the Lord with gladness. Come in before His presence with exceeding great joy: know ye that the Lord He is God. He made us, and not we ourselves: but we are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Amen †

Quinquagesima Sunday

It is Jesus who, by the merits of His Passion, is to open the eyes of man as He did those of the blind man of Jericho, and deliver him alike from the bondage of sin and error.
(The Roman Missal, 1962)

Today is the Sunday before Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. We have spent the last three Sundays (Septuagesima, Sexagesima and today, Quinquagesima) preparing for Lent.

During these three Sundays the Gospel readings have Jesus preparing his apostles for what is to come, teaching them what His Gospel is all about. We see them listening to His parable of the workers in the vineyard, the parable of the sower of seeds, and today, the story of the blind beggar. He is bringing them to Jerusalem, but they don't really understand what is going to happen.

Pope St. Gregory the Great says: 'The man born blind of whom the Gospel tells is surely the human race. Ever since man has been turned out of Paradise in the person of our first father, he has not known the light of heaven, and therefore has suffered through being plunged into the darkness of condemnation."

Luke 18. 40, 42, 43
And Jesus standing, commanded the blind man to be brought unto Him, and He said to him: What wilt thou that I do to thee? Lord, that I may see. And Jesus said to him: Receive thy sight, thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he saw, and followed Him glorifying God.

Collect:
We beseech Thee, O Lord, graciously hear our prayers: and releasing us from the bonds of our sins, guard us from all adversity. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with Thee and Thy Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen

Saturday Summary

It's been a quiet Saturday. Reece and I went to Gran's this morning, where he once again rode the "alligator" when we were out walking Chuy.

I took him home about 1 PM. He was going to a birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese this afternoon. In fact, the first thing he said to me when he woke up this morning was "Chuck E. Cheese," with a great big grin on his face.

I watched a couple of movies, talked to my sister on the phone, and did a quick clutter pick-up downstairs this afternoon. Too bad I didn't have a party to go to. :o)

Reece and Aubrey were here for awhile this evening while their mommy and daddy went to the grocery store. They're so much fun. :o)

Ron has been working on my cabinet in the garage. Here are a couple of in-progress pics.
The cabinet is made of red cedar (doors and frame) and plywood (back and sides). He has put it together without using any nails or screws. It's assembled with tongue and groove, sliding dove tail and dowel pins. He also made floating tenons pegged with hand carved square pegs, and used hand carved butterflies in a couple of places. (He had to tell me all those terms and what he did since I'm clueless about building things). It still needs a top and the glass in the doors, and he will put in 3 shelves and stain the whole thing.

You can see a little black walnut inset behind the handle. He likes to do little fancy things like that to make a piece really unique. I'll be sure to post more pics when it's finished.

I'm glad his hobby is woodworking. :o)

TGIF

What are you doing today? I went to Mom's this morning, made myself some bean with bacon soup for lunch when I got home, and now I'm on the computer. I'm off to the store in a few minutes. Want to see my grocery list?

hangers (for Aubrey's dresses)
biolage shampoo
chicken (on sale at HEB for $1 a pound)
ribs (also $1 a pound)
hamburger (3 lbs)
pork roast
steaks (2)
crystal light peach tea
cherry coke zero
health nut bread
butter
potatoes
milk
cottage cheese
cheddar cheese
progresso soups
frozen veggies (green beans, broccoli, peas, cauliflower)
chocolate chip ice cream
freestone peaches (can)
granola bars
fresh fruit
cat food

I'll stop on the way to pay a couple of bills.

Reece will be here tonight. Yay!

Have a great Friday.

Baby Face

I had Aubrey for a few hours this afternoon. She is such a sweet, good baby.

Here she was playing peekaboo, but you can see that she has sleepy eyes.







She loves to play on the floor. She can't crawl yet, but she manages to get to wherever she wants to go. I think she will be crawling soon.

She twists her little body all around, trying to get to where she's going.






Ah, here's the goal. Blocks and toys!













She is getting tired of Gramma's picture taking. She wants to play on the floor. I love that bottom lip.










C'mon Gramma, enough is enough!














Close-up of the cutest sad face ever. She looks like Reece, doesn't she? She hardly ever cries.




















Here's that happy face (with a little drool). She's so kissable. :o)

Wonderful Wednesday

After a cold, foggy, drizzly, gray day yesterday, today we have sunny, blue skies and temps in the 80s. I love beautiful days like this--they lift my heart.

Here's something else that lifts my heart. (We were at his Great Gran's this morning).

















First he takes a good look at Our Lady.

















Then he gives her a kiss. Oh. My. Heart. I love this child.

St. Bernadette Soubirous

Bernadette Soubirous, in religion Sister Mary Bernard, was born at Lourdes, 7th January 1844. Died at Nevers, in the odour of sanctity, 16th April 1879. She was declared venerable 13th August 1913 and canonised 8th December 1933. The eighteen apparitions of the Immaculate Virgin took place between the 11th February and 16th July 1858, when Bernadette was in her 15th year. (Roman Missal, 1962)

On December 8th 1933, Pope Pius XI declared Bernadette Soubirous a Saint of the Catholic Church. Her feast day was fixed for February 18th, the day her Lady promised to make her happy, not in this life, but in the next. The Faithful however give her two more feast-days—April 16th, the day of her death, and February 11th—the day her Lady stepped from Heaven into her heart.

The story of Saint Bernadette has always been one of my favorites, even before I was Catholic. It's the amazing story of a young girl who talked and prayed with Our Lady, who never gave in under intense pressure from her loved ones, her neighbors and the authorities to deny what had happened to her. When she was canonized, and her coffin was opened, the people in attendance smelled the beautiful fragrance of roses and her body was incorrupt, even after being buried for 30 years in the damp ground. Her incorrupt body lies in a glass coffin in the city of Nevers even now.

In Berndette's own words:
What my Lady meant by "I am the Immaculate Conception," I had no idea. I decided to ask Mademoiselle Estrade. She had a serene sense of the supernatural.

"Mademoiselle, what does it mean, Immaculate Conception?" Mademoiselle explained how Pope Pius IX had applied the words to Our Blessed Lady four years ago on December 8th.

It was then I realised I could speak what was unspoken in my soul for seven silent weeks—that Aquero was the Immaculate Virgin Mary. She was the Mother of God, and she had been stepping out of Heaven to share her soul with me. She had taught me prayers no soul on earth had prayed. She had promised me happiness, not in this world, but in the next.

Please read St. Bernadette story here.

St. Bernadette, please pray for us.
Amen †

Ruby Anniversary

Ron and I enjoyed dinner at The Melting Pot last night for our fortieth wedding anniversary. It was fun.

We had the 3 course meal, which is cheese fondue, salad, and the meat course. We chose the Pacific Rim meat course of teriyaki-marinated choice sirloin, shrimp, peppered pork tenderloin, marinated breast of duck, boneless breast of chicken and potstickers. Bits of meat and vegetables were cooked in a yummy broth with wine and mushrooms. It reminded me of shabu shabu, which is also cooked at the table. We had a delicious Riesling wine with dinner.

It's not the place to go if you're in a hurry, but was perfect for a leisurely anniversary dinner. :o)

It May Be President's Day...

But, okay, this is offensive.

A Simple Woman's Daybook

Monday, February 16, 2009

Outside my window...
it's a gray, cloudy day. After temperatures in the 70s and 80s the past couple of weeks, we're back to 50s. Praying for rain!

I am thinking...
about my children.

I am thankful...
for 40 years of marriage to a man I love.

From the kitchen...
fresh apricots, oranges and nectarines.

I am wearing...
black slacks, red sweater, black SAS shoes and black socks.

I am creating...
nothing at the moment. I've barely started my shrine to the Infant of Prague, and don't like the paint I used.

I am going...
to Mom's, to Adoration, maybe to the local farmer's market, to run my car through the car wash, out to dinner tonight with Ron.

I am hoping...
that Barack Obama becomes pro-life. (Don't laugh--pray!)

I am hearing...
the sound of the furnace running, Ron coming in from the garage (he's off work today for President's Day).

Around the house...
sheets and towels to wash, floors to mop, toilets to clean. And so it goes...

One of my favorite things...
music.

A few plans for the rest of the week...
new eyeglasses, grocery shopping, time with Reece.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...
















I'm missing them.

To read more daybooks, please visit Peggy at The Simple Woman's Daybook.

Sixth Sunday After The Epiphany

Our mother the Catholic and Roman Church is permeated with the word of Christ, and is admirably represented by the three measures of meal, which the energy of fermentation wholly leavened; and by the mustard tree, the greatest of its species, where the birds of heaven are glad to find shelter. May the "leaven" of the doctrine of Jesus penetrate and transform our souls!
(The Roman Missal, 1962)

Today's Gospel is from St. Matthew 13. 31-35, the parables of the mustard seed and the leaven.

Collect for today:
Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that thinking everything over in our minds, we may accomplish, both in words and works, that which is pleasing in Thy sight. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with Thee and Thy Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever.
Amen

My Funny Valentines

Aubrey has eight (8!) teeth now, and she likes to feel them with her fingers.
















And with her lips. :o)

She is such a sweet little dolly.
















Reece, taste-testing the valentine cookies we made. Here he is licking the frosting off the cookie.

















I think he likes them. :o)

Happy Valentine's Day!

I bought these vintage valentines at the antique store in Gruene yesterday, for 50 cents each. Aren't they cute?

They remind me of the kind we used to put into the valentine mailboxes of our classmates when we were kids.

The one on the left is for Reece (he loves hot dogs), and the cute little ice cream cone is Aubrey's.

















I attached them to their valentine gift bags. The valentine at the bottom was for Ron. It's a book of matches that says, "We are a perfect match."

















Reece and I made valentine sugar cookies today. We took a plateful to his mommy, daddy and Aubrey when I took him home this afternoon. He enjoyed making them. I'll take some to Mom tomorrow, too. She loves cookies.

Friday Fun

We are so lucky to have lots of get-away places nearby. Mom, Kelly and I were in Gruene for lunch at the Grist Mill on Friday, then we explored the antique store. The Grist Mill overlooks the Guadalupe River and is a wonderful place to have lunch. The food is good too.

We met at my house. Kelly brought Darcy and Banzai and Mom brought Chuy. They played in the backyard while we were gone. Ron had the day off and was doing some woodworking in the garage, so he kept an eye on them.

It was cloudy in the morning, but turned sunny and hot in the afternoon. There are lots of little shops and interesting things to see in Gruene, but since we've been so often and go whenever we like, we didn't try to do too much. Mom gets tired if we walk too much.

On our way home, we stopped at Dollar Tree to get a couple of gift bags, and then at Tuesday Morning. I got some things for the grands for Easter, some lavender soap, and a kit called Hooked On Spanish to teach kids to speak Spanish. It's regularly priced at $40, and I got it for $10. I thought that was a pretty good deal.

By the time we got home, it was after 5 PM, and Kelly and her dogs left for home. I drove Mom and Chuy home around 5:45. Traffic is a bear on Fridays!

We kept Reece and Aubrey this evening while Josh and Cyrise went out for dinner for Valentine's Day (They are wise to go the day before instead of the actual day since restaurants aren't quite as crowded). The kids picked Aubrey up after dinner, but Reece spent the night. :o)

I expect the long weekend will be busy. Reece and I still have to make our valentine cookies and we're going to try to go to story hour at the library Saturday afternoon. Sunday is our wedding anniversary. Ron has made reservations at The Melting Pot for dinner on Monday to celebrate. That should be fun. :o)

Riding the Alligator

Scene: Mom, Reece, me and Chuy out for a walk around Mom's apartment complex. We walk through one of the buildings to the middle of the complex, where the pool, garden and doggie paths are, and Reece wants to ride the elevator.

We ride to the third floor and look out over the grounds, while Reece sticks his leg through the railing--daredevil. :o)

He is ready to go in a few minutes, and we ride back down and continue our walk. Suddenly he turns around and heads back toward the elevator.

Me: Come on honey, we have to go to Gran's apartment.

Reece: No! (He continues hurrying away from us).

Me: Reece, no, no, come this way!

Reece: Wanna ride alligator!

Me and Mom: LOL LOL LOL

I had no idea there is a kid's book called Alligator In The Elevator. That's an illustration from it above, by Heidi Stetson Mario. I found it googling "alligator and elevator." :o)

Valentines

Want to see my valentines?

I have a craft room full of stuff, so didn't have to buy anything except some card stock.

Scrapbook or tissue paper glued to the front of the card with decoupage glue.

Random valentine hearts bought a few years ago at the Dollar Tree. There were lots of hearts in the package! I've been using them for at least 3 years now.

I used the scrapbook paper (also from the Dollar Tree) for girly valentines because it's pretty and pink. I used the tissue paper for boyish valentines, because even though it has flowers and French words on it, the colors make it look more masculine.

I had some gold heart-shaped doilies, so I used those behind the hearts on the girly ones because--well, they're girly. I left the boy hearts plain.

I wrote simple love messages inside for each recipient.

They were quick, easy and fun to do. And they're made with LOVE. :o)

February Day At The Park

We didn't get to go to story hour at the library today because I had the time wrong. :o\ So instead, Reece and I went to the playground. It was kind of hot, but he had fun.

It was really too bright to take pictures, but I gave it a shot.

Here he is going through a tunnel.



And not sure if he wants to go down the slide or not. (He didn't. He chose a smaller, open slide).










He's looking like he might cry in this one. I sat him on the high bench to take a picture, and he wanted down. But what a cute face! Love those eyebrows.

He was happier when another little boy (named Bubba) showed up. They kind of followed each other around. :o)


He enjoyed the swing. I think this one is probably for handicapped children, but the enclosed ones for his size were so high that I couldn't lift him into them. (Darn weak arm muscles)!

We will try to make it to story hour another time. He was pretty tired and sleepy by the time I took him home this afternoon. Ready for a nap. :o)