Last night's yummy dinner

was:

California Pizza Kitchen's Broccoli, Sun-Dried Tomato Fusilli

		1 lb dry fusilli pasta
		(or 2 lbs fresh fusilli)
		1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
		1 tsp kosher salt
		1/4 cup chopped fresh garlic
		2 tbl chopped fresh thyme leaves
		12 oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes drained, and sliced into thin strips
		1 quart bite-size broccoli florets blanched, drained
		1 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese 1/4 cup reserved for garnish

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente, 8 to 10 minutes for dry or 3 minutes for fresh. Pasta may be cooked slightly ahead of time, rinsed and oiled and then "flashed" (reheated) in boiling water to coincide with the finishing of the sauce/topping.
• Heat olive oil in a large non-stick frying pan over high heat. Add salt and garlic; when the garlic just begins to brown, add thyme and sun-dried tomatoes. Toss and add broccoli. When broccoli is heated through, add drained pasta (if pan is not large enough to accommodate this large load, proceed quickly in a large mixing bowl, while ingredients are still quite hot). Add 1 cup parmesan to the pan, sprinkling and tossing/stirring to mix.
• Remove from heat; serve the pasta in warm bowls with a fresh dusting of parmesan cheese.
• Fresh diced tomatoes can be added along with the broccoli if so desired.

We enjoy this about once each month. It is Julian's favorite. I often ordered this as a lunch treat when I was working (pre-kids). We found this recipe in the California Pizza Kitchen Cookbook. I was surprised the first time we made this because it tasted exactly like the restaurant's version. The fresh thyme really makes this dish and it works for Friday's in Lent, too. It usually works out that we eat meat-free several nights each week anyway and with this recipe no one misses meat. It does not comply with my wishes to be dairy free, though. Dairy is so harsh on our bodies, but I cave and prep it anyway.. Daddy does the cooking. I am sort of like "the hand" on Good Eats.

Tonight we are firing up the grill. Finally some warmer weather...Yippee!

From today's Gospel..

From the ninth chapter of John - Fourth Sunday of Lent (for use when celebrating the Scrutinies)

As he passed by, he saw a man blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be made manifest in him.

Lord, May my sufferings make Your Works visible.

I think we would also have laughed

if you told us we would home educate our children. I always thought homeschooling was for the anti-social, elitist, granola-eating, jumper-wearing wierdos. Well, was I ever full of misconceptions! The thing that changed my narrow-minded misconceptions was to spend time with homeschooling families who were thriving in all aspects of their lives. It was authentic and so evident by the contentment and intelligence of their children. There are those who thrived and will thrive in institutional schools, but that is obviously not for our children. Not right now, at least. Sometime during the pregancy for our second son, I began to think about school. Where would they go? The idea of sending my babies anywhere was beyond abhorrent to me -- that should not have surprised me because I would not let the baby leave my hospital room without me, the idea going back to work and sending baby Julian to a sitter went right out the window! I suppose I was most surprised when I mentioned the idea of homeschooling to my husband, he was open to the idea. At the time, it was long ways off anyhow.

Well, now I guess I am a card-carrying wierdo-homeschooling-freak, yet I don't wear jumpers, humility does not allow for elitism, we are just too active to be anti-social and sure, granola's okay. Our children are typical boys and girls in so many ways, yet unique and special in only the way God made them.

Julian is our fiercely independent leader (that is until anyone older comes along, then he acquiesces until it is his turn to take over). He learns like he eats.. to get dessert. He will complete his core subjects to receive his reward of free time. Fortunately, he is a voracious reader... to the point that we sometimes find him reading with a flashlight after bedtime.

Timothy is in a great place for his education. His older brother has blazed the trail from being the first out of the womb (making for four much easier deliveries!) to being the first to learn lessons. Timothy learned to read completely through osmosis. I cannot remember teaching him much at all compared those 4year old daily phonics lessons that Julian enjoyed (yes, enjoyed, he was a very eager early learner). Timothy taught himself sight reading and phonics were nicely integrated. He just turned seven on Monday. He knows how to carry, but not borrow, (I know, it's called regrouping these days..) yet, he has memorized nearly all of the multiplication tables simply from being in the same room while Julian does his math lessons.Timothy is an authentic child-led learner. Just yesteday I found him drawing the food pyramid with nice details. That was not in our recent lessons.. I asked him why he was drawing the food pyramid and he replied that it was on the box of cereal. (Maybe it will encourage him to try harder to eat his five fruits and veggies each day.. one can only hope.)

Our third son, Maximilian , has not had the advantage (or disadvantage) of his mother being the anxious first time homeschooling mom who needs to have the perfect curriculum and all that goes with it. He has been busy playing trucks and playing in the dirt with his buddy, Pier-Jerome. Like a "normal" kid. He has been spending his kindergarten year learning to read at his own pace. He is motivated by his sense of accomplishment when he puts his letter sounds together. It is such a thrill to watch his "lightbulbs" go off. I am honored just to be a part of it.

Three-and-a-half-year-old Pier-Jerome was interviewed for a home video in January. He was asked "Do you do lessons, too?" To which he replied. "No..." "Really? Why not?" Pier-Jerome answered "I just scribble." Well, scribble away, Pier-Jerome! You are on your way to reading and writing, learning in a gentle and loving way. For now, enjoy your scribbles, days in the dirt with Maximilian (and Elaina!), your favorite tricycle and all of the fun things that boys who are going to be four do.

Our pretty, pretty princess is Elaina Corrine. She is the delight of her brothers, the apple of her Daddy's eye and Mommy's sweet angel girlie. She is "such a girl!" Daddy says. Yet, her brother's trucks are the perfect chariot for her dollies.

These are our Sweet Treasures.. so far. When I am asked whether or not we are "done," I reply that I never asked for a single one of our Amazing Blessings, they were 100% God's idea. His ideas are unfathomably Perfect. Just Perfect! I can only say that I don't know if we are all here yet.

I think we would have laughed

if we were told that we would have five childen before our seventh wedding anniversary. We are often approached by the curious when we are all out and about together. They ask "Are they all yours?" (to which I respond "there are only five?) "Are they twins?" (doesn't help when I dress the boys alike for Sunday Mass). They comment "Wow, you have your hands full! (to which I cheerfully reply - "Yes, and so are our hearts") or a favorite "Your cart is already full!" as I enter the mega-mart with the older two in the add on seats, the youngest in the top of the cart and the younger boys in the cart.

Each child is an incredible gift! However.. it required actually becoming a parent to truly recognize this. When I was expecting our first child, (whom I was certain was a girl..wrong ) I decided it would be best to have boy and girl twins. Then I could be all done in one fell swoop. This pregnancy business was for the birds. I got fat (I gained 40+ lbs for a 7 1/2 lb child.) My ankles looked like an elephant's because I was on my feet all day at work (I managed a cosmetics counter at a department store). Yes, once would be enough for me - thankyouverymuch. However, one look into those big eyes and the pains of pregancy were forgotton. Our hearts and minds were opened. I am so thankful that God's ways are greater than our ways. Four boys and a girl later (and two who have gone Home before we met them), we would be delighted to welcome each and every Treasure whom the Lord desires to bless us with!

Let's give this another go..

Let's try this again...
I created this blog in July of last year, but never ran with it. I think I am ready to document the details of day to day, lest I forget them when the children are grown and memories faded.

My wonderful husband and I were married in the autumn nearly ten years ago. Since our wedding we have been blessed to welcome four darling boys, Julian, Timothy, Maxmillian and Pier-Jerome and their delightful little sister, Elaina. These are their tales and escapades, journeys and adventures.

We homeschool because it was on our hearts. It is sometimes challenging, yet always rewarding!

Our catholic faith is central to our lives. It is just how we live.

more to come..