![Getting Dressed All By Herself]()
by Catherine | Feb 24, 2014 | Family
Ever since her 4th birthday, Miss Jane is all about picking out her own outfits. If it’s a day when she has preschool, she insists on wearing her uniform all day. Otherwise, she wants to put the outfit together all by herself. Lately, she asks, “May I have privacy, please?” for the outfit selection process. When she emerges fully dressed and coiffed, she likes to ask me to take a picture of the finished product. Little brother Walt likes to join the photo shoot, too. Here are a few of the wardrobe choices from last week:
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| I love the poses. |
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| “It’s all blue, Mama!” I think the Sofia the First Halloween costume amulet and Hello Kitty socks pull the look together. |
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| Did you know this season is all about monochromatic looks? “It’s all black, Mama! Walt, I’m wearing your Thomas hat!” |
So, the rest of you parents, I have some questions for you just because I’m curious. I’d love to know what limits you place on your kiddos’ wardrobe choices at this age. Are your rules dependent on whether or not you’re leaving the house or have company that day? Do you try to correct fashion faux pas? When do you insist on a wardrobe change? Are the kids allowed to go to the grocery store dressed as a fairy?
We had a “leggings are not pants” lesson last week. This raising girls stuff is going to be tricky in the clothing department, huh? I loved school uniforms as a student, and I think I’ll love them even more as a parent.
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This is my 1st of 7 posts in Jen Fulwiler’s “7 Posts, 7 Days” challenge. Come on over, join in the fun link-up, and read some great blogs!
![7 Posts, 7 Days]()
by Catherine | Feb 22, 2014 | Everything Else, Family
Starting on Monday, I’m joining Jen Fulwiler’s “7 Posts, 7 Days” link-up. Just like it sounds, I’ll be writing 1 post everyday for 7 days from Monday, February 24 to Sunday, March 2. This link-up is exactly the motivation I need to write short, imperfect posts, but to keep posting on a regular basis.
I’m drawing up our Boucher Family Rule of Life this weekend. My goal is to have it completely squared away by Ash Wednesday (March 5). In the meantime, I’ll probably be writing about putting it together and anything else that comes to mind!
If you want to join in the fun, come on over to the link-up here. C’mon, you know you wanna join in! Do it!
![One way that I'm gearing up for Lent]()
by Catherine | Feb 21, 2014 | Faith, Family, Marriage, Uncategorized
Lent is nearly upon us, and I’m not ready–yet. It sneaks up on me every single year, but this year, I am doing some prep work so that I can enter into the season deliberately. I want to have a game plan, and I know that I’ll desperately need one this year. We’re listing the house March 3. Without a plan, I know I’ll let myself and our family get into a rut of being in survival mode, focusing on house stuff instead of the whole Jesus dying for our sins stuff.
Philip and I started our own Happiness Project last year, but we took a hiatus from it because of my post-partum depression, the Christmas season, and life in general. I’ve been wanting to revisit our Happiness Project, but I want to give it more focus. When I was thinking about revisiting our Happiness Project, I came across Jen Fulwiler’s post, “Admitting that I can’t do it all…or even half of it.”
Jen wrote about the overwhelming burden we place on ourselves when we create impossible do-it-all to-do lists. In the post, she mentions Holly Pierlot’s A Mother’s Rule of Life. Have you read the book? Do yourself and your family a favor, and read it!
The book centers around one Catholic mama’s desire to bring order and peace to her home. To do so, Holly created a mother’s rule of life modeled after the daily schedule of the Missionaries of Charity (Mother Teresa’s order). Holly wisely realized that the daily schedule for the Missionaries of Charity allows them to have peace, order, and ample time to accomplish only that which needs to be done for the day.
Daily Schedule for the Missionaries of Charity
4:30-5:00 Rise and get cleaned up
5:00-6:30 Prayers and Mass
6:30-8:00 Breakfast and cleanup
8:00-12:30 Work for the poor
12:30-2:30 Lunch and rest
2:30-3:00 Spiritual reading and meditation
3:00-3:15 Tea break
3:15-4:30 Adoration
4:30-7:30 Work for the poor
7:30-9:00 Dinner and clean up
9:00-9:45 Night prayers
9:45 Bedtime
The focus of the day is a healthy balance of prayer, work, and rest. The Missionaries of Charity keep this simple schedule without overburdening themselves with all of the extra stuff. By keeping their priorities in check, they are able to work with God to multiply their time doing what needs to be done and cutting the rest. The schedule clearly shows that the women trust that God will help them to accomplish all that needs to be accomplished.
I’m nearly finished with A Mother’s Rule of Life, and I am chomping at the bit to create my own Boucher Family Rule of Life. I’ve decided that creating our Family Rule and implementing it will be my big Lenten mission. Our family will need order and peace as we list the house and prepare to move. I want to have those habits in place before the chaos enters the scene, and I want to start living with order and peace now.
Philip and I will work together (with a whole lotta prayer!) to discuss our family mission and how best to accomplish that mission. I plan to finish the book this weekend and start drawing up our family rule of life. To create our family rule, I am going to examine the “5 Ps” from A Mother’s Rule of Life:
- Prayer
- Person
- Partner
- Parent
- Provider
I’m ready to abandon what the world says is best for our family and start deliberately living out what God is asking of our domestic church. Throughout Lent, I’ll be posting snippets and reflections on the various components of our Boucher Family Rule of Life. I look forward to hearing how you structure your days with your family and how you are bringing peace and order to your home. Now, I’m just praying for the graces to actually do what I think God is asking of our domestic church. It’s going to take a very healthy dose of humility to really hear what God is asking of me as the spiritual heart of our home.
St. Joseph, our 2014 patron saint for our family, pray for us!
![One way that I’m gearing up for Lent]()
by Catherine | Feb 21, 2014 | Faith, Family, Marriage, Uncategorized
Lent is nearly upon us, and I’m not ready–yet. It sneaks up on me every single year, but this year, I am doing some prep work so that I can enter into the season deliberately. I want to have a game plan, and I know that I’ll desperately need one this year. We’re listing the house March 3. Without a plan, I know I’ll let myself and our family get into a rut of being in survival mode, focusing on house stuff instead of the whole Jesus dying for our sins stuff.
Philip and I started our own Happiness Project last year, but we took a hiatus from it because of my post-partum depression, the Christmas season, and life in general. I’ve been wanting to revisit our Happiness Project, but I want to give it more focus. When I was thinking about revisiting our Happiness Project, I came across Jen Fulwiler’s post, “Admitting that I can’t do it all…or even half of it.”
Jen wrote about the overwhelming burden we place on ourselves when we create impossible do-it-all to-do lists. In the post, she mentions Holly Pierlot’s A Mother’s Rule of Life. Have you read the book? Do yourself and your family a favor, and read it!
The book centers around one Catholic mama’s desire to bring order and peace to her home. To do so, Holly created a mother’s rule of life modeled after the daily schedule of the Missionaries of Charity (Mother Teresa’s order). Holly wisely realized that the daily schedule for the Missionaries of Charity allows them to have peace, order, and ample time to accomplish only that which needs to be done for the day.
Daily Schedule for the Missionaries of Charity
4:30-5:00 Rise and get cleaned up
5:00-6:30 Prayers and Mass
6:30-8:00 Breakfast and cleanup
8:00-12:30 Work for the poor
12:30-2:30 Lunch and rest
2:30-3:00 Spiritual reading and meditation
3:00-3:15 Tea break
3:15-4:30 Adoration
4:30-7:30 Work for the poor
7:30-9:00 Dinner and clean up
9:00-9:45 Night prayers
9:45 Bedtime
The focus of the day is a healthy balance of prayer, work, and rest. The Missionaries of Charity keep this simple schedule without overburdening themselves with all of the extra stuff. By keeping their priorities in check, they are able to work with God to multiply their time doing what needs to be done and cutting the rest. The schedule clearly shows that the women trust that God will help them to accomplish all that needs to be accomplished.
I’m nearly finished with A Mother’s Rule of Life, and I am chomping at the bit to create my own Boucher Family Rule of Life. I’ve decided that creating our Family Rule and implementing it will be my big Lenten mission. Our family will need order and peace as we list the house and prepare to move. I want to have those habits in place before the chaos enters the scene, and I want to start living with order and peace now.
Philip and I will work together (with a whole lotta prayer!) to discuss our family mission and how best to accomplish that mission. I plan to finish the book this weekend and start drawing up our family rule of life. To create our family rule, I am going to examine the “5 Ps” from A Mother’s Rule of Life:
- Prayer
- Person
- Partner
- Parent
- Provider
I’m ready to abandon what the world says is best for our family and start deliberately living out what God is asking of our domestic church. Throughout Lent, I’ll be posting snippets and reflections on the various components of our Boucher Family Rule of Life. I look forward to hearing how you structure your days with your family and how you are bringing peace and order to your home. Now, I’m just praying for the graces to actually do what I think God is asking of our domestic church. It’s going to take a very healthy dose of humility to really hear what God is asking of me as the spiritual heart of our home.
St. Joseph, our 2014 patron saint for our family, pray for us!
![Small Success Thursday #8]()
by Catherine | Feb 20, 2014 | Family
Here are our small successes for this week:
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| Harry is 6 months old and more interested in playing peek-a-boo than packing boxes |
It’s been another wild week as we get ready to list the house. March 3 is the official day it goes on the market. Fortunately, that means having workers in the house is nearing an end. The bad news is that means showings are on the horizon!
Jane and Walt are both developing an appreciation for parenting. Yesterday, Jane sat in the nursery chair while I changed Harry’s diaper.
Jane: Oh, Harry has a poopy diaper, Mommy! When I am a kindergartener, can I change Harry’s diaper?
Me: Absolutely! Why do you want to help change Harry?
Jane: Because babies are so cute and tiny! I love babies!
When I ask Jane what she wants to be when she grows up, her answer varies. She has answered a doctor, a veterinarian, a nurse, a chef, a ballerina, etc. In addition to whatever her answer is, she always says, “and a mommy. I want to have a lot of babies!”
While Walt was admiring our painter working this morning, I asked Walt, “Do you want to be a painter when you grow up?” He said, “No, a DADDY!” He has such a sweet and loving disposition. He loves playing with Baby Harry.
My dear friend’s husband decided to get rid of some clothes that he wasn’t wearing anymore, and she asked if Philip would be interested. Philip is the lucky recipient of a few suits, dress shirts, a corduroy jacket, and several polos. Yay for a new wardrobe and generous friends!
We had a big weekend celebrating Jane and Philip’s birthdays with both sides of our family.
Sunday morning and early afternoon, we hung out with Philip’s parents, his brother, and his sister.
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| Walt loves Papa because he fueled him up with chocolate cupcakes |
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| Yay! Jane got a house for her new Critters! Thanks, Mimi and Papa! |
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| Uncle Connor generously gave Jane and Walt a ride. |
Sunday night, we went to my brother and sister-in-law’s to celebrate the February birthdays with my parents, siblings, and their kiddos.
![Small Success Thursday #7]()
by Catherine | Feb 14, 2014 | Family, The Homefront
Writing this as quickly as I can and going to bed, so this is going to be the lamest Small Success Thursday post ever:
- Jane turned 4, and I think she’d say that she had a great day. More on our fun day another time!
- I survived another week of subcontractors and household disasters in preparation for listing the house. Yes, there are two streams of water coming out of that faucet.
- I got the kids’ Valentine presents weeks ago, and I actually remembered to set them out. Books, a puzzle, stickers, and spinning tops. Harry didn’t get a card because he’s 6 months old. Does that make me a bad mom?
- Philip got to have a man date tonight with a buddy, and he said he had a great time. Yay for Philip taking time for himself!
- This guy loves green beans, but he mostly loves wearing them. This was his first food other than rice cereal. Let the love affair with food begin!
Your turn! What are your small successes from the week? Come over to CatholicMom to join the fun and share! If you’re using social media, use the hashtag #SmallSuccess. Happy Valentine’s Day!
