Branson Vacation

So last year we got a timeshare vacation to Branson, MO and ended up having four days left. Since it expired this Spring, we decided to go over Mother's Day. It's been so nice and we love watching Emma all excited with the new sights and things to do. We stayed at Paradise Point right on the lake in a beautiful 3 bedroom rustic style room. It's such a cool room with open wooden beams, sliding barn doors, stone fireplaces and rustic decor. Emma especially loves the huge playground/tree fort right across from our building. We've mostly just been relaxing at our place and enjoying the gorgeous 80 degree weather. 

Off to vacation! 

Table for one

Thomas made me a delicious Mother's Day dinner!

Daddy's girl!

We visited the original Bass Pro Shop headquarters in Springfield, MO. This place was MASSIVE. It had huge outdoor displays. Emma was not too thrilled with the life sized animals though.

Big sister kisses

Praying in her raincoat lol

Big sister duties ;)

Singing the Salve Regina

Happy Mother's Day to all you mothers!

Update

It's been such a long time since I posted anything! I figured now that Agnes is born, this would give me more incentive to take pictures and keep everyone updated.

Agnes was born March 9th at 2:12 in the afternoon. She weighed 7lbs and 6oz and came out with a shocking head of hair! My labor was another quicky taking only about 1 and a half hours to deliver. For those of you who didn't know, I was induced a week early because she was so low and they were worried (with how quick my first delivery was) that I wouldn't make it to the hospital. Looks like I have fast labors! Fast but intense. Thanks be to God though, everything went smoothly and we delivered a very healthy baby. I still can't believe she's here and that we are blessed with two beautiful children! As painful as delivering a baby is, it's also the most meaningful and special experience, one that touches Thomas and I deeply. I wouldn't want the experience to be any different, including the pain, for the pain reminds us of Our Lord's passion and that He had to suffer in order to give us life. There is no love without sacrifice.

We have been adjusting very well here and Emma is more than thrilled with a new sister! There have been a lot of hugs and kisses going around...including poking the eyes, nose and mouth to show off that she knows where they are located...."Eye?! Noose?! Mawlf?!" Meanwhile mommy clamors over the coffee table to save Agnes from being "overly loved". Emma loves helping mommy and daddy too. Her duties consist of pacifier patrol, diaper duty and cradle rocker. She's very good at it! In fact, I must admit, it has been a huge help to me, even those little things.

Nighttime has been....er, shall we say interesting? Rocking the swaddled baby, shushing and praying that she'll just give in and close her eyes! Then holding my breath as I ever so gently place her in the bassinet while praying again that she stays asleep! But no, the minute I place her down, her eyes pop wide open and the whole process repeats itself....until midnight. But ah! Finally....bedtime, even though it is midnight. Nothing like finally laying down, putting your feet up and closing your dark circled, baggy and sleep deprived eyes! But wait...it's not over yet because now you have the Barney song stuck in your head that your toddler listened to over and over that morning...fun times! Although I must say, ever since I got back on my gluten free, refined sugar free and dairy free lifestyle, she has been much better. We'll see if that lasts!

My dear husband has been incredible during this post partum period! I couldn't possibly be more spoiled by him and it has been so helpful while I transition into "mama of two" mode. He's brought me home goodies, flowers, written me sweet notes to wake up to in the morning, surprised me and took off a day of work and packed a picnic for our family to enjoy at the lake, and so many other thoughtful deeds. All this while he also isn't getting much sleep either and working very hard with his new job. I am incredibly blessed!

Here are some pictures for you to enjoy!

Someone is going through only child withdrawals lol

Preparation in Receiving Our Lord in Holy Communion

                                     

     I've been reading the book "The Mystical City of God" by Venerable Mary of Agreda. What an INCREDIBLE book filled to the brim with many mysteries and revelations of our divine faith. Each chapter I learn more and more of the bond between Our Lord and Mother, the things He revealed to her, and intimate details of His life. It's a very thick book with 794 pages, but me not being a reader at all, have finally made it to page 483....it's taken me a while to get there too. ;) I'm excited to read further and discover and learn more. Yesterday I read an especially touching chapter about the dealings between Our Lord and Mother right before The Last Supper. I was so touched that I had to share it on here. 

Jesus went to Our Lady and told her that His time has come. He then asks for her permission to enter into His sacrifice and to consent to deliver Himself over to His enemies in obedience to the will of God. It is relayed that Our Lady suffered more sorrow than all the martyrs combined during this time. She then asked Him in the most loving and humblest way to permit her to receive Holy Communion which was something He had revealed to her many years previously. Our Lady told Venerable Mary of Agreda that she had prepared herself for many years with fervent acts of love, humility and gratitude for the day that she might receive Our Lord. She then spoke about the importance of preparation for Communion...

"...what a horrible crime it is in the eyes of The Lord, in mine and in those of all the saints, that men should despise and neglect the frequent reception of holy Communion, and that they should approach it without preparation and fervent devotion..."

"...I have manifested to thee, what I did on that occasion and how I prepared myself so many years for receiving my most blessed Son in the holy Sacrament..." "For if I, who was innocent of any hindering sin and filled with all graces, sought to increase my fitness for this favor by such fervent acts of love, humility and gratitude, consider what efforts thou and the other children of the Church, who every day and hour incur new guilt and blame, must make in order to fit yourselves for the beauty of the Divinity and humanity of my most holy Son?"

This gave me much to think about in the way I receive Our Lord. Many times, if not most times, I am distracted and have not begun my preparation early enough to be befitting in receiving the most sacred Body and Blood. St. John Berchman would begin his preparation 3 days before Communion and then he made his thanksgiving for 3 days afterwards! And I do about 10 minutes of thanksgiving?? God forgive me for my negligences! If Our Lady, most perfect and sinless Mother, called herself a wormlet, what then should I consider myself who is infinitely more than that through my shameful sins and pride? May I always keep this in mind when preparing in receiving Our Lord, who is galaxies greater than I and who has given Himself to save my soul.

Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy!

Merry Christmas!

A very Merry Christmas to you all!

It came so quickly! This year however, I decided to smarten up a bit and buy most of my gifts online to avoid those vicious crowds. Despite my efforts, I still found myself wedged in between massive crowds of people while grocery shopping and running any sort of errand. Driving was a nightmare as I worked my way through stop and go traffic and dreaded the thought of trying to find a parking spot. Let's just say this right now, there is NEVER a good parking spot at Walmart. EVER. And that's probably because most of the parking spaces are taken up by 50 Handicap parking spots. This makes no sense because by the time you find the last handicap spot, it's halfway down the parking lot which defeats the purpose of a handicap parking spot in the first place and leaves us hopeless individuals stuck about a mile away from the door. I just had to get that out of my system. Walmart during the Christmas season = Worst Nightmare. Ever.

So, despite the headache of running Christmas errands and such, I had a wonderful Advent season and Christmas! Advent was especially meaningful this year. I'm proud to say, I did not listen to One. Single. Christmas. Song. NOT ONE until Christmas Eve. Of course that's aside from being forced to listen to the ones in stores and such. Instead I pretty much played O Come O Come Emmanuel from every single artist and version out there for all of Advent. Why don't they have more songs for this beautiful time of the Liturgical year?? We also didn't put any decorations up until Christmas Eve which is something we plan to do every year as our family grows. It definitely impressed upon me the meaning of Advent and the joyous day of Christmas. Despite our humble living situation, we did the best we could in the line of decorations and instead of a real Christmas tree....well...you'll see the picture on my shutterfly account. ;) We decided not to get a real tree because 1. We simply don't have the space and 2. We were going to be spending the week at the Kromms' house, so there wasn't really any point in getting a tree that we couldn't enjoy or take care of.

Speaking of the Kromms, we had such a lovely time with them over Christmas!! They generously offered us a room at their inn house and even let us share half their Christmas tree! ;) We had so much fun and enjoyed being in a beautiful house decorated very nicely! On Christmas Eve, we spent most of the day preparing food and desserts. I made a White Chocolate Peppermint Bark Cheesecake and Thomas made his famous Garlic Mashed Potatoes....Mmm mmm MMM!!! We went to Midnight Mass (which Emma slept for most of it!) and had a special Christmas morning opening our own gifts to eachother before heading off to the Schutzmans. The next day was Lovey's (Francesca's) 18th birthday, so all of us went to see the Hobbit with her at the movie theater. That Saturday, the younger Schutzman girls VERY GENEROSLY offered to watch ALL of the nieces and nephew so that the couples and older Schutzmans could all go out to dinner with eachother after a Christmas Lights Limo Tour at the Country Club Plaza. We had a blast!

New Years was such a relaxing and special time. Since Thomas worked VERY hard the few days beforehand finishing up the year and working on getting qualified for Million Dollar Round Table, we decided just to relax and have our own little celebration. For New Years Eve, I decorated the dining room table up fancy with our China and cloth napkins. We dressed up formally and had some scrumptious Indian food. :) New Years Day was a pajama day! We brought up our TV from the living room and put it in our bedroom so that we could just chill in our pajamas in bed and have a movie day. PERFECT day.

So that pretty much sums up our holiday festivities! :) Please enjoy some pictures on my shutterfly account!

https://morningstar257.shutterfly.com/pictures#n_5

Thanksgiving Surprise!

What a Thanksgiving to remember! Unbeknownst to my family (aside from Lindsay and Zenith), Thomas, Emma and I travelled to NH for Thanksgiving to surprise everybody! Lindsay braved the snowstorm and drove all the way to Boston to pick us up. Don't know how we would have done it without her! The Martello family generosly invited Thomas and I to stay at their apartment overnight to make the day even more successful. We had such a wonderful time, especially since it was the first time ever the WHOLE family was together (brother-in-laws, grandchildren, etc.). God is so good and what a blessing that everyone was truly thankful for this year! Here are some pictures of our visit.

Emma and Willy are best of cuz cuz!

"Emma, this is MY playmat!"

                                                               "You have my blessing."

                                                           Holding hands :)

Nana and Bumpa were so kind and babysat Willy and Emma so that we could go out on a double date!

There's no place like Bumpa's shoulder!

Movie time with more of her cuz cuz!

We even got to stop by some old stomping grounds.....where it all began. :)

       All snuggled up and warm on Nana's shoulder. :)

The Kansas evening sky

 

Time to say goodbye. :(

It was a blast!!

I'm A Big Girl!

Look at me! I'm a big girl now in my Bumbo seat!!

Thank you Rachel for such a nice gift!

Dating My Husband

Thomas and I have had a really fun few months! For his birthday I got him tickets to The Piano Guys concert. We had an absolute blast! The Schutzmans babysat Emma for us, and we spent the evening strolling around Zona Rosa, eating at a nice Italian restaurant, and going to the concert. The Piano Guys put on an awesome concert.... spouting out funny jokes and playing beautiful music in a gorgeous theater! I had a great time getting all dressed up and spending the evening one on one with my husband.

Another weekend, Thomas surprised me and took me to Country Club Plaza. He set up a massage appointment for me that day and then we strolled around the plaza and ate at a really fun Italian restaurant called Buca di Beppo. I don't think I've ever been so relaxed in my life! That massage was heaven and I actually found myself falling to sleep during it. The Italian restaurant was so fun set up family-style and underground with a lot of fun pictures and a cool atmosphere. And their calamari and sangria… To die for! While Ruth watched Emma overnight, we spent our night at the beautiful hotel right next to the plaza. It was such a wonderful break and very relaxing! I loved strolling around the plaza and stopping at Panera Bread for some tea since it was a bit nippy outside. We had a ton of fun! Although I must say, I really really missed Emma! She's my little pumpkin. I did appreciate the break though. LOL 

A couple of Sundays ago, Thomas and I decided to have a fall day and carve pumpkins! We got some apple cider ale and our pumpkins and went to town. It was a blast! Thomas had never carved a pumpkin before but nonetheless decided to carve a very challenging piece. He carved the face of Jesus. Unfortunately because this time of year is supposed to be a haunted and scary time, the piece may look a little ghostly, but it is in fact religious. LOL I think it came out pretty awesome! I carved a fleur-de-lis, which to my dismay didn't come out as good as I would've liked. I accidentally punched out the wrong pieces of the pumpkin. Lol It was a ton of fun though!

I think it's so important to continue on dating your spouse. It's been so special and wonderful for our relationship! It makes us better spouses to each other and parents to our children. I recently heard a talk on marriage and how it always should be kept a priority. The woman used the analogy that, just like on the plane they tell the adults to put on the oxygen mask first before assisting the children because otherwise you would be no help to them if you died, it is the same thing in marriage, that if your marriage gets ruined your children will be ruined by default. I want to always keep this in mind and keep my husband I priority. I want to always reserve time for him and make our relationship special!

Next week is the Christ the King Festival which we're really looking forward to! St. Mary's does an awesome job putting this thing together. They have booths set up themed all different types of countries with that type of food....which is infact FREE. *jaw drop* My favorite last year were the fried Oreos. Sounds disgusting I know, but they were actually delicious! I'm so glad I decided to try them.

Thomas has been working hard trying to qualify for the incentive trip with the Knights of Columbus. We are pretty sure that he's going to make it and only has a few more apps that he has to do in order to qualify. He's doing a fantastic job with the Knights of Columbus and will be the only guy besides one other person who qualifies for the trip this early on in his career. He's hoping to have everything done before Thanksgiving which would be great because that means he can take a break in December from his hard work. The incentive trip is March 2015 and it is to Spain and Portugal. I can't even imagine how awesome that would be! A completely free trip to Europe staying at five-star hotels! I was nervous about traveling with Emma, but Ruth assured me that so many wives bring their children and help each other out and that she would be there for me as well to help out with whatever we needed. Thomas' Aunt (her husband also works for the same agency and is trying to qualify) also assured me the same thing. We'll see how it goes! Might be the best trip of our lives or could be the worst! LOL but at least it's free and will probably never get this opportunity again!

Well that's all for now! I better take advantage of Emma napping and get some stuff done including fixing dinner before my husband gets home.