How Sundays Are Meant To Be!

What could be better than spending a beautiful Summer Sunday afternoon at this lovely house on a pretty little lake?

Spending it with awesome friends! We had a fantastic time at my friend Becky's parents' home in Chillicothe. It was a relaxed afternoon of cooking out, swimming in the lake, roasting s'mores, making ice cream, relaxing, playing, visiting, and sort of fishing.

We are so blessed to have family friends. The kids love playing together and the adults really enjoy spending time together too! I can't imagine raising my family without the love, friendship, and support of good friends. I am looking forward to lots more fun adventures in the future!

Here are some shots from the day ----



Picnic on the porch



Adam's wild find... a teeny tiny toad

Ryan and Adam preparing to dive from a platform into the lake!

Ray striking a pose before a fancy dive.

Action shot!

Bathing beauties!

Getting ready to roast marshmallows

Making homemade ice cream!

The dads took the kids swimming and then enjoyed talking football, wrestling, and who knows what else!

Christian - so serious with his serious marshmallow roasting device!

Lovely ladies (and Noah) at the lake

We tried some fishing as we were winding down and preparing to leave... just basically threw some poles in, nothing serious and didn't catch anything.... but the boys loved it.

What a catch!

 I really believe that this is how Sundays are meant to be.... Mass in the morning, families relaxing and being together in the afternoon. When we were growing up, we went to Mass and then to my grandparents' home for a big breakfast. After breakfast we played cards or sat and visited in the yard. I don't remember tons of errands and chores on Sundays. (Then again, I was a kid.) I hope to create some real Sabbath time on Sundays with our family. It's important.

We survived - and thrived!

We really ENJOYED unplugged week around here. We found lots of fun things to do. Adam was the only one who even counted down the days. I was especially impressed with Ray, who thoroughly enjoyed getting into some projects and activities that I know he would not have picked up if he had the option of watching TV. We read lots of books, did some art and some cooking, went on some fun outings, and enjoyed the beautiful weather.

Now we are transitioning into a school schedule with dramatically cut-back and controlled TV/computer time. I don't think it will be a problem though. We have so many fun things to learn and do. Here are some glimpses of the fun we had during unplugged week ----

Jon taught both boys to play checkers and they are even beginning to learn chess. Later in the week they got into a Marathon Monopoly game. However, Ray informed me yesterday that Adam was out of the game because he got "bank-robbed" (meaning bankrupt).

We discovered that the new fountain park at Scioto Mile  in Downtown Columbus is AWESOME!

Ray got out his Lincoln Logs and built an entire town.

Both boys began Karate classes at Team Karate Center. Adam is demonstrating a move he learned.

Jon and the boys spent a fun evening at Holy Spirit Parish festival while I hosted a committee meeting here.

Have YOU ever petted a flamingo?
The boys and I had a really fun day at the zoo.

Can't watch TV?
Might as well brush a goat!

Dippin Dots!

I can't believe they are big enough to ride the carousel all by themselves now! We are definitely in a new phase of family life.

Spitting dinosaurs! These zoo creatures were mechanical and they were a huge hit with my boys. They got absolutely soaked.

The one exception to the unplugged week challenge was movie night at the pool, the last one of the summer. Ray tired out too early, but Jon and Adam watched Toy Story 3 on the big screen on Friday night.

Even though we're starting school tomorrow, we're still going to enjoy lots more summer fun in the next few weeks!

"Unplugged Week"

Don't bother checking in here for the next week.... We have declared this "unplugged week" around here. We started today. (I just snuck up here to do this post... hope I don't get caught!)  The boys (and I) have gotten way too lazy this summer about watching TV at all times of the day. AND the boys have begun to develop quite the video game habit. (That's in their genes from their dad!) So, we returned the old Nintendo game to my dad. (We don't have a Wii or anything --- that would be too tempting for all of the males in the house at this point.) We literally unplugged the TV's and we're shutting down the computers.

Needless to say, this has been a less than popular move. We sat down and had a family meeting and explained why we're doing this. We want to clear out all our brains... drink in the fun of summer... do some other games and activities as a family... get some chores done around here... and get ready for school. I've brainstormed a whole list of projects, chores, activities, and field trips that we can do this week.

The boys whined a bit this morning, but I think we'll get into a groove and not even miss our electronic distractions. Our plan after this week is to adopt the strategy my friend Becky uses with her family -- "No TV or computer until 3:00." That way we can complete school and chores before fighting the TV/computer battle each day. They can watch and play during that crazy time of day when I'm tired and fixing dinner. Then our evenings will be free for other things.

So, I'll let you know how it goes. I'll post some pictures and reports from the week next Sunday. Have a great week!

** I will be checking my email, but only once a day! So, if you need to get in touch with me, be a bit patient or pick up the phone. Thanks!

A Great Day at the State Fair

Yesterday Jon left work at 3:00 and we headed to the Ohio State Fair. We met my dad, sister, brother-in-law, niece, and nephew there. It was a sunny, not-too-hot day. We had a wonderful time! This year the kids were way more into the rides and games than in the past. So we didn't see very many animals or exhibits, but we did have lots of fun. Here are some pictures from our adventure at the fair.

Can you tell who's more scared on the sky ride?

Hint: He's older than 6! ;)

Carter aand Adam on the alligator ride. We have pictures of the boys on this ride from the past three years. They are growing so fast. They'll probably be too big for it by next year!







The petting zoo is always a big hit!



Have YOU ever fed a kangaroo?



Pappy and his posse!



Ray and Ava going down the gigantic slide! Ray loved this! He went about six times. It was his first year of doing it all by himself.



Seriously!?!? Talk about fair food... cheeseburgers with donuts as the "bun." I actually saw people eating these!



The annual "butter cow."





And of course we had to play some games!



All the boys (with help from Pappy and Nee Nee) won prizes!

I got to ride this giant ferris wheel with my dad!



Colleen and I holding all the "stuff" while Jon and the boys ran through a fun house about ten times. (Colleen had just blown powdered sugar from her funnel cake all over me!)



Jon running through the fun house... what a good sport!

Can you spot the "monkeys" in this fun house?

As we were riding the tram back to our car, we even got to see the fireworks!

Ideas!

I am an idea person. I enjoy collecting ideas for fun and interesting projects. I love planning lessons and activities and retreats. So many ideas, so little time!

In addition to a file cabinet full of "ideas"... I have this bulletin board in my "office." It's always full of inspirations, ideas, and things that are just plain pretty or uplifiting for me.

 For many years I have kept a special kind of journal. (Now I'm actually into my 3rd book.) It's a scrapbook of sorts, a place where I put pictures, prayers, quotes, etc. that I come across and I want to remember. Every so often, I pull out those journals and am so comforted, uplifted, and inspired.

Why am I telling you all this? Because I recently discovered an AWESOME new website that's all about ideas! It's called "Pinterest" and it's a "virtual pinboard." I am in love with this! Here's the link to my pinboards: http://pinterest.com/kryzenga/ so you can check it out. Basically, this site allows you to save and organize all of the great ideas that you come across anywhere on the web.You can sort the ideas into as many categories (boards) as you want. One of the best parts is browsing through the thousands of boards already created by other members. I have spent so many hours doing this over the past few weeks! (Yikes... still need to finish planning school, but this is so addictive!) There are ideas about EVERYTHING on pinterest. I have really enjoyed the homeschool ideas as well as the recipes and ideas for the house. I got my mom looking at sewing ideas as well. So cool!

So, check it out. I hope you'll enjoy it as much as me. :)

So Blessed

 Today I enjoyed a very nice, low-key birthday. It was much less traumatic (as well as less festive) than last year. I feel so blessed by the kind notes, phone calls, gifts, and good wishes I received from so many family members and dear friends. It's hard to complain about being 41 when I'm supported and surrounded by all of you! I am truly blessed.

Jon and I went out for a  lovely "birthday date" on Friday evening. Last night my mom made a delicious family dinner to celebrate my birthday. Today I was served breakfast in bed and received some beautiful earrings and a (copy of) an amazing painting of Mary (that I've been wanting to display in our home for a long time). The boys and I went to the playground and on some errands, but other than that it was a quiet day at home. We did a few science experiments. Jon brought home Chinese food (and roses!) after work. It was a calm, relaxing day. Yeah!

I hope the peace and happiness of today are indicative of what my 42nd year will be like! Thanks again for all of your love and prayers today and always.


Happy homemaker! My sister got me this lovely apron!

Roses from my love.

"Our Lady of Innocence" by  Bouguereau

Science Experiments
(Yeast, water, and sugar cause the balloon to inflate.)
(Oil, water, food coloring, and Alka Seltzer = "lava lamp")