Family | Catherine Boucher

I’m Gonna Miss This

by Catherine | Nov 11, 2013 | Faith, Family

While doing the dinner dishes last night, I realized I had a choice: I could empty the clean dishes out of the dishwasher and load the dinner dishes, OR I could join Philip and the kids in the family room for some play time before bed. Before our Happiness Project, I probably would have opted for doing the dishes so that I could have a clean kitchen before bed. Last night, the new and improved me chose to leave the rinsed dishes in the sink and the clean dishes waiting to be unloaded until morning so that we could hang out as a family.

I brought the camera over and started capturing the moment. I said to Philip, “I’m gonna miss this.”

“What?” he asked.

“This. Before we know it, we’ll have kids in evening activities, kids staying up until 9 working on homework, and we won’t have this time anymore. We won’t get to just hang out as a family after dinner, and we won’t have our hour of couple time before bed every night.”

So, the dishes waited. And, you know what? It’s mid-afternoon the next day, and the dishes are still waiting. It turned out the kids wanted to learn about numbers today.

There was great music, lots of dancing, sunglasses, headbands, a tutu, and some trains.

Harry slept through most of it, but he woke up happy and giggling to the show in front of him. (Those sweet little baby giggles are the best!)

In the midst of the dance party, I noticed that dust was collecting on the entertainment center, the sliding glass door was covered in our pup’s nose prints, and the walls could use a good scrubbing. I know this sounds silly, but I was so proud of myself for allowing these things to accumulate. It meant I was learning to let a few things go in exchange for more quality time as a family. Things are still fairly tidy, but more often than not, I’m picking family over housework. The balance is increasing everyone’s happiness. If I’m gonna miss this, I better keep choosing this.

To transition to sleepy time, Philip read Jane and Walt a few of their current favorites from the library.

Then, it was off to the dinner table for sharing what we are thankful for, our family decade of the rosary, and prayer time. My favorite part of this time is hearing what the kids have to say as we gather around the table. They don’t know it, but the things that they say make Philip and I have to cover our faces in laughter or raise our eyebrows in surprise. The emotional pendulum swings from sentimental and sweet to absolutely hilarious every single night.

One of our November Happiness Project Resolutions is to share what we are thankful for each day. I record these items on looseleaf and store them in our family prayer binder. When Philip asked Jane what she was thankful for last night, Jane said, “Being loved by God.” Hearing my little one say something like that in her sweetest, most sincere little voice instantly brought tears to my eyes.

Right on cue, the emotional pendulum swung from sentimental and sweet to hilarious. After everyone shared what they were thankful for, Philip announced that we were praying the 4th Sorrowful Mystery – The Carrying of the Cross, and he displayed our laminated image of the mystery. Jane looked at the picture of Jesus carrying the Cross, and she said, “Aw, poor Jesus. That looks like it is too hard. I think he needs more practice! Where is his friend, Simon?”

I’m gonna miss this.

The days are long, but the years are short.

If I’m gonna miss this, I need to keep choosing this.

I’m gonna miss this if I don’t keep choosing this.

November Happiness Project Resolutions (and a quick October Resolutions Recap)

by Catherine | Nov 4, 2013 | Faith, Family, Marriage, The Homefront

Wow! Where did October go? I don’t know how it’s already November, but a new month means new resolutions to add to our Happiness Project. (If you’re wondering what in the world I’m talking about, read this post where I explain what our Happiness Project is all about!)

Like last month, it’s our hope that sharing the monthly resolutions via my blog will help hold us accountable. We are adding to the October resolutions, so that means we will continue working on the October resolutions.

In case you forgot, our October Happiness Project Resolutions were:

Exercise

Catherine: Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred Level 1 (Tuesday & Thursday after preschool drop-off, Saturday)
Philip: Running/elliptical 3x per week before leaving for work (This will need to change for the month of November since Philip will be leaving EARLY in the morning to get to the hospital)

Sleep

Harry’s last feeding at 9:00 p.m. In bed by 9:45, lights out by 10:30.

Faith

1 decade of the Rosary followed by nighttime prayers at the dinner table

Overall, I’d say October was a great month for our start to our Happiness Project. We need to make a few adjustments to our exercise resolution because of the kiddos’ schedules and Philip’s work schedule. Getting to bed earlier is wonderful! Being a night owl is for the birds–especially when the kiddos wake up at 5:30 a.m….and the newborn has a 4:00 a.m. feeding…and daylight savings times ends or starts or whatever causes us to have “fallen back” an hour. The nightly decade of the Rosary and nighttime prayers at the dinner table continues to be a regular thing around here. We even got to have our friend, Fr. Craig, join us for prayers one night when he came for dinner!

Having these resolutions gave me the energy to tackle a few nagging tasks. With a move to Lincoln on the horizon, I’m starting to purge and organize areas of the house.

I cleaned out, reorganized, and labeled the kitchen pantry. Oh, how I love looking at the alphabetically ordered spices!
I finally tackled the headache of going through my clothes and unburdening myself of all of the clothes I don’t fit into. Ironically, freeing myself of the clothes that don’t fit made me feel like I lost 10 pounds. Now, when I open my closet door, I can and will actually wear every item in there.

We also tried to incorporate more fun:

Impromptu picnic lunch in the family room
Date night jar

Onto a new month! Here we come, November!

November Happiness Project Resolutions

Couple prayer time right when we get to bed–no dozing!
“You can do anything for 15 minutes.” Work for 15 minutes daily on these 4 things:

1 Shutterfly album (To be completed & ordered 11/30)
Add & edit recipes to Paprika (recipe organizing app)
Return/draft e-mails
Decide on & prepare activity to do with the kids for the next day

Do at least 1 of the following activities daily with the kids, and do each at least once a week:

craft
baking
library
outing
play date
enrichment/homeschool-esque activity
write letters

Family thankfulness

Share & record favorite moment of the day/what we are thankful for over dinner

Budget

Streamline
Agree on limits
Organize all passwords/account information
Transition job to me

Will

Complete & make it official

Philip’s Resolutions

Eat four salads a week for lunch
Do 10 pediatrics boards questions a day
Put away all electronics from dinnertime to kids’ bedtime (for both of us)
Read 1-2-3 Discipline book

I am working on a resolutions chart to post on the fridge that will help hold us accountable. I’ll share it as soon as it’s made. Please keep our Happiness Project in your prayers!

Do you have any Happiness Project Resolutions? Share away!

Picnic Lunch in the Family Room

by Catherine | Oct 26, 2013 | Family

Last week, I decided to switch things up a bit. The kids had been playing really well together, and I wanted to reward them for being so sweet to each other. Ever since Harry had his 2-month well-visit and our pediatrician said I needed to fatten him up, it seems as though I’ve been spending our entire days “just” nursing Harry on the couch. I wanted to do something special for Jane and Walt to let them know how much I appreciated their patience with me as I nursed their baby brother.

After I finished making lunch, I surprised them and announced, “Okay! Lunch is ready! Today, we are going to have a PICNIC IN THE FAMILY ROOM!”

Oh my goodness, you would have thought it was Christmas morning around here. Immediately, they started jumping up and down and saying, “YAY!!!” I laid out one of our blankets and set out our food. I decided to make their favorite–PB&J, sour cream and onion chips, and applesauce. It was all very, uh, organic and very nutritious….wink, wink. At least they had their milk!

Before we sat down to eat, Walt observed the food on the ground of the family room. He looked at me and said, “Mommy, we make a mess!”

This was his way of saying he was worried we were going to spill and make a mess in the family room. I told him, “It’s okay! We are going to eat on the blanket today. It’s fun!”

When he heard me absolve him of any fear of making a mess, an ear-to-ear grin came on his face. It simultaneously thrilled me and broke my heart. I was tickled he was so excited about the picnic, but it struck me that his first thought was, “Oh, no. What if we make a mess?” The family room picnic was my small attempt to let them know that it’s important to Mommy that we have impromptu fun together.

One minute into the meal, Walt dropped a glob of grape jelly on his jeans. A look of panic crossed his little face. “Oh, no! I spill!”

I smiled and said, “Accidents happen! It’s okay.”

He returned my smile and said, “Okay, Mommy.” Note to self: Reinforce to the kiddos that accidents happen and that’s okay–especially on the days when we’ve had 5 potty training wardrobe changes or spilled milk 3 times in one sitting. It’s good to learn how to be careful, but it’s more important to learn that Mommy will help you when you have an accident.

Jane and Walt did a great job eating, so they got to have their favorite treat–a Double-Stuf Oreo.

Ever since that day, they regularly ask for “more picnic time.” I hope when they look back on their childhood, they’ll think of moments like this. I want them to remember Mom joining them on the floor, doing “Criss-Cross Applesauce” on their backs as many times as they ask, reading all of the books from the library twice in one sitting just because, and telling them that I love being their mommy. If all they remember is me scrubbing toilets, telling them to pick up, or “Hurry!” it will have been a squandered opportunity.

I want them to know that they (and their dad) are my vocation; they’re not an obstacle to it. I hope they know that I chose to stay at home because they are my vocation–not cleaning the house, making meals, or any other secondary goods. They are my heaven-sent eternal gifts that give me everyday opportunities to help me on my own path to sainthood. Hopefully they’ll think of Mommy as helping them on their path, too. That is why I’m home.

“She opens her mouth with wisdom,

and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

She looks well to the ways of her household,

and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children rise up and call her blessed;

her husband also, and he praises her.”

(Proverbs 31:26-28)

Happiness Project: October Resolutions Progress Report

by Catherine | Oct 21, 2013 | Everything Else, Faith, Family, Uncategorized

Philip and I decided to get serious about changing a few things around here with our version of Gretchen Rubin’s Happiness Project. I wrote about it here. Basically, we’re doing small things to improve our own happiness to in turn increase the happiness of those around us. Philip and I decided to touch base last night before bed to see where we thought we were with our October Happiness Project Resolutions. To help hold us accountable, I thought I’d share our thoughts here.

In case you forgot, our October Happiness Project Resolutions were:

Exercise

Catherine, 6:00 a.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred level 1
Philip, running or elliptical 3x per week before leaving for work

Sleep

9:00 p.m. get ready for bed
Lights out at 10:00 p.m.

Faith

Weeknight family prayer time after bathtime before bed
1 decade of the Rosary followed by bedtime prayers at the dinner table

Let’s tackle these one by one…

1. Exercise

Catherine: The 6:00 a.m. routine worked a few times, but my exhaustion got the best of me most mornings. The combination of the “big kids” waking up at 5:30 most mornings and Harry needing at least one feeding in the middle of the night made for one tired mama. I’m switching my routine to gain some snooze time. My new routine: Tuesdays and Thursdays once I get home from dropping Jane off at preschool and Saturday mornings, Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred, level 1.
Philip: My sweet hubby was so supportive trying to get everyone dressed and fed in the mornings that he put himself last most days. Unfortunately, he has a tough rotation on the docket for November, so we’re still brainstorming ways that he can get his exercise in daily. For now, Philip’s goal is to run or do the elliptical 2x per week.

2. Sleep

Harry has changed his feeding routine since his last pediatric visit. (Translation: He’s low on the percentile chart and my pediatrician would like him to fatten up before his next weigh-in. This means he’s eating longer and more frequently.) He’s having his last feeding around 9/9:30. We start getting ready for bed immediately afterward, but we should get ready for bed before I start that feeding. We’ve been in bed most weeknights before 10, but we can work harder to reach that goal. Perhaps we could try to make Harry’s feeding closer to 9, make it a goal to be in bed by 9:45, and lights out by 10:30.

3. Faith

We have said 1 decade of the Rosary followed by bedtime prayers at the dinner table *almost* every night since making this resolution. We missed a few times because of Philip’s work schedule, date nights, events with extended family that kept the kids up too late, etc., but the family Rosary is definitely a habit. On the rare nights that we missed it, the kids asked about it. Hooray for a regular family prayer routine that is sticking!
Things that helped our family Rosary time be successful:

Routine
Low lighting and candles (with the promise that each child can blow out a candle at the end if they do a good job praying)
Rosaries with cord and plastic beads for the kiddos

Picking battles and accepting baby steps toward reverence
Family Prayer Binder (stored on top of the fridge) with all necessary materials
Laminating & displaying an image of the mystery of the Rosary that we are praying on a stand (flanked by the lit candles)

Our family prayer binder that holds our materials

Our prayer binder tabs & pockets with prayer materials

One of our laminated images we display while praying the Rosary

Here are few photos from our family Rosary time:

Baby steps toward reverence… Saints in the making, right?

So, overall, I’d say we’re doing well. We can improve each area, but we are making strides in the right direction. Our Happiness Project is off to a great start, and we already have ideas for our November resolutions.

Do you have any suggestions for a future resolution? What’s something you’re doing to boost your own happiness & the happiness of others?

Neighborhood Nature Scavenger Hunt

by Catherine | Oct 10, 2013 | Family

Philip was post-call today. That means that he worked a 24-hour shift at the hospital, and he had the day off once he got home this morning. Fortunately, it was a relatively slow night at the hospital, so he was able to get a good amount of sleep.

Philip is always so good at coming up with fun activities to do as a family. Jane came home from preschool on Tuesday with tales of a class nature walk. This inspired Philip to plan a family nature scavenger hunt around the neighborhood.

He created a picture checklist for Jane and Walt of things to find. Here’s Jane with her list. See anything strange on it?

It all seems pretty standard for a neighborhood nature walk, right? Tree, leaf, grass, acorn, sun, monkey… Wait, monkey? That husband of mine loves to make the kids laugh!

“Daddy! We’re not going to find a MONKEY!”
“Why not?” Philip loooooooves playing dumb so that they feel smart.
“Because! There aren’t any monkeys in our neighborhood!”
“Okay, we’ll see.”

Don’t mind us, neighbors. We’re on a mission!

Checking things off — in purple crayon, of course

I just love how rosy his cheeks get

Still looking for that monkey!

Monty’s glad we didn’t bring along any strollers

Showing off some leaves she found

Hooray for strong and tall Daddy!

Whoops. Didn’t realize the view the neighbors were getting until I started walking behind them!

“Look at our collection!” Proudly displaying everything they found.

Karate chopping each other so that they can hold their favorite items.

As much as I gripe about residency, I know I’ll miss these random post-call days when Philip is home in the middle of the week. After we came home from our nature scavenger hunt, we read stories and took a family nap. Oh, so glorious! After naptime, Philip made us breakfast for dinner. We had eggs, pancakes, sausage, and apples. Deeeeeeeeee-lish! Philip played with the kids while I cleaned up the kitchen. Jane and Harry even had some “tummy time” together.

Neither one seemed to enjoy it.

After that was bath time, dance time, story time, family prayer time, and bedtime. Now, it’s Mommy and Daddy (and Harry) time. Off to hang out with my boyfriend before our bedtime!

Practicing for Preschool Picture Day

by Catherine | Oct 8, 2013 | Family

Us preschool parents found out that picture day is on Thursday. I’m sure a lot of the other parents didn’t give this a second thought. If they did, they’re probably focused on things like what their child will wear or how they will style their hair. I’m concerned about other things. You see, Jane likes to give it her all when it comes to taking pictures.

She’ll do one of two moves:

Evade the camera with all her might
Give the goofiest face she can think of

Philip called today to check in over lunch. I gave him the usual report on what was going on around the home front, how preschool went for Jane, what I had been up to with the boys, etc. I mentioned I had been trying to “practice” Jane’s picture day smile with her.

“What do you mean?” Philip asked.

“Well, I’ll say, ‘OK, Jane. Pretend I’m the photographer. When I say ‘Cheese!’ what are you going to do?’ Then I ask her to smile.”

“Oh,” Philip said.

“I’m afraid it’s making the problem worse. Now she thinks it’s funnier than ever to be silly for the camera.”

After recovering from laughing, Philip said, “Well, maybe you could make it look like a real photo shoot with a backdrop on the wall, ask her to stand in front of it, and take real pictures.”

So, guess what we did this afternoon after lunch. Bingo! Preschool picture day practice photo shoot!

Wanna see how it went?