tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65279809924873987572012-01-04T14:25:53.158-06:00The ramblings of my life as a wife, mother, and Catholic womanCathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.comBlogger1371100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-81528674775560777582011-09-29T10:00:00.000-05:002011-09-29T10:00:00.439-05:00

After dinner last night, Natalie decided to sit the family down for a "lesson" on the Solar System.  Did you know, for instance, that the earth is the closest planet to the sun?  Or, that Pluto doesn't exist anymore?  Me neither!  During her little mini-course I sat in my recliner, and just took in the scene that was taking place.  Natalie was rattling on about shooting starts, the different

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-38508383215383595502011-09-27T08:31:00.001-05:002011-09-27T08:32:58.480-05:00

Because no one's morning is complete without Army Men in their oatmeal.... And of course, monkey-see, monkey-do... No worries, though, those men held their own, and started to fight back... And, for the record, I in no way encouraged or instigated this behavior.  Note to self:  never walk away from the breakfast table when young children are involved....  

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-53673960981489563932011-09-26T22:00:00.004-05:002011-09-28T09:07:04.457-05:00

I walked into my laundry room a while back, and the first thing that met my eyes was this: That's right....strange things growing in jars of water.  Some of them even looked like this: ...with long, tentacle-like growths on  the bottom.  They were supposed to be sweet potato plants, but Phil chopped them up when we were getting ready to plant our fall garden.  Oh well....maybe next year I'll

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-9956878533320538762011-09-26T15:39:00.002-05:002011-09-26T15:42:17.331-05:00

Hi!  Remember me?  Anyway...lately I've been giving a lot of thought to the whole 'real food' movement that seems to be sweeping the nation.  Or I guess it's sweeping the nation...it seems to be all over the place from where I'm sitting.  People blog about it, they put articles on Facebook about it, it's in the media.  Either way, it is being brought to my attention from various sources quite a

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-87219764536597147512011-07-14T23:34:00.000-05:002011-07-14T23:34:46.919-05:00

If you weren't born and raised as a Country Girl, then you had better earn the title.  And, while I'm not 100% there, as of this past weekend, I am definitely one step closer. Phil and the kids put up a very lovely, bona fide, 3-wire clothesline for me!  I guess the fact that I am giddy like a kid in a candy store over it makes me even closer to earning the title of Country Girl ;) Here are my

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-70873896403505687732011-07-09T08:06:00.001-05:002011-07-09T08:06:01.112-05:00

I am not sure how many of you have been following the Father Corapi scandal, but I really haven't.  I mean, I know enough about it to carry on a discussion if someone asks me about it, but I really don't know all the sordid details and such.  I also know that it saddens me to see this type of scandal, yet again, smear the beauty of our Catholic Faith.  However, what saddens me more is some

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-2774985183295391432011-07-07T07:57:00.001-05:002011-07-07T09:22:37.163-05:00

....that I am not interested in having a pet live indoors in addition to children: Eventually, those will be finished projects that I can share here =)  In the meantime, that little Luke sure does keep us on our toes!  He's quite a change from Rachel, who is the next oldest.  She was always (and still is) so quiet and cautious.  She didn't start walking until 18 months old!  This little guy is 6

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-38075306073632911032011-07-06T19:35:00.000-05:002011-07-06T19:35:07.375-05:00

Ok, I have a confession to make.  The nerd in me has been looking forward to the Star Wars phase of our kids' lives probably since our first son was born!  Well, at the library last week, Andrew happened to pick up one of those 'easy reader' books, and it was a Star Wars one.  He.was.hooked!  And, I promise, there was no encouragement or prompting from me!  It has a been a week full of Jedi

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-58105980083794173142011-06-18T14:43:00.000-05:002011-06-18T14:43:38.619-05:00

There's been a project in my sewing queue that I've been really wanting to work on, and I finally got the chance to start on it yesterday!  Here's a little preview: I can't wait to see the finished result!  Oh, and for the record, that costume material is a beast to work with!  I mean, just sewing two pieces together is fine, but finishing the edges is darn near impossible without a serger.  So,

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-1431337464427691252011-06-06T23:30:00.017-05:002011-06-06T23:59:24.034-05:00

Been awhile since I've done one of these (or, any blog post, for that matter ;)  While bathing the kids:Rachel:  "Can I have one?"  (referring to some liquid shampoo)Andrew:  "Can I have some, too?"Me:  "Sure."I give a little bit to each of them, and Rachel proceeds to wash her hair, but Andrew says "Now what??"Me:  "Wash your belly."Andrew:  "Do I put my hands in the water first?"Me:  "Yeah, you

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-83035624340421671402011-05-17T17:53:00.001-05:002011-05-17T18:20:29.043-05:00

A continuation of the silly antics that go on in my house hold =) She's either going to be a very popular trend-setter, or have no friends at all, except for me: she was cold....the main outfit was really cute, but once she stared adding the warming elements, things started to go downhill, and she turned us into "that weird homeschooling family"! Rachel was tiptoeing around the house, so I

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-3851616504767227532011-05-14T07:39:00.001-05:002011-05-14T07:43:43.136-05:00

When I first started this blog a little over a year ago, I did it with the intention of it being a kind of online scrapbook.  A way to remember the fun little memories that happen in our daily lives.  Sure, sometimes I go a little deeper and write about my lofty ponderings (hah!), but really, I just want to come back one day, years down the road, and read these posts and smile about the silly

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-47263625400524112192011-04-08T12:52:00.000-05:002011-04-08T12:52:23.860-05:00

I remember the moment I realized that my mother is way smarter than I had ever given her credit for.  The memory is so clear in my mind, it's like it happened yesterday.  I was in third grade.  We were learning how to correctly address an envelope.  I remember being excited about this, because I was the only student who had a sister who was married, and didn't live at home...I even had a baby

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-25783235917754587312011-03-31T17:22:00.000-05:002011-03-31T17:22:30.827-05:00

~~~~~Andrew:  "There was a farmer who had a dog, and Andrew was his name-O.  E-I-N-G-O, E-I-N-G-O, E-I-N-G-O, and Andrew was his name-O!" =) ~~~~~  Me:  "Hey Rach, are you ready for a nap?"Rachel:  "No, ma'am....Natalie needs a nap!"~~~~~The other night Natalie was finishing up her schoolwork while I was fixing dinner.  She decided, while she was on a roll, she would do her math page for the next

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-48157424372297628112011-03-28T21:51:00.001-05:002011-03-28T21:57:29.290-05:00

I've been really wanting to try my hand at making a fifty's style soda fountain dress for awhile now.  So, while spending time in Lafayette a week or so ago, I did some therapeutic shopping at Joann's.  I found this fabric to go with the Simplicity 6587 pattern (all on sale, plus a coupon, of course!): My sister says this fabric will look really good for this pattern...we'll see!  She does have

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-13351294857799425662011-03-28T21:14:00.001-05:002011-03-28T21:18:13.053-05:00

It's funny how God works.  A few years ago if you had asked me what my favorite time of day was, I would most definitely would NOT have said "oh, right after dinner when I am cleaning the kitchen."  Tonight, however, I found myself at the kitchen sink, elbow deep in warm, sudsy water.  I finished up the dishes, and had just moved on to wiping down the table, counters, and stove top when I stopped

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-52975558700356846792011-03-21T19:19:00.000-05:002011-03-21T19:19:33.877-05:00

Seriously, though, I have been on a stock making kick lately!  It's the best =)  I loosely follow the method I found here at the Fabulous Foods Blog.  She suggests saving vegetable scraps and meat bones in the freezer until you are ready to make a batch of stock, which I just LOVE, because I don't really have time to make stock at the drop of a hat.  So, I can keep my ingredients in the freezer

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-82853737016481853522011-03-20T20:13:00.000-05:002011-03-20T20:13:56.317-05:00

...and I mean besides the toy pirate ship cannons and plastic screwdriver, of course ;) The sad part is that after I found them in there, I just put the lid back on and walked away =).  It is Sunday, after all...it's supposed to be a day of rest!!! ;)

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-70563445637917894472011-03-15T17:33:00.008-05:002011-03-15T18:12:26.875-05:00

We were in the car the other day, and I was explaining to the kids what our alms giving project for the poor was going to be.  I was telling them the items we would put in the bags, how they could help pick them out, and that they could help assemble the bags.  Then I went on to explain how we would distribute them, and that we should pray for all those people that we give one to during Lent.  I

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-85933378857528204032011-02-28T07:53:00.000-06:002011-02-28T07:53:16.585-06:00

In the last couple of months, Andrew has really been enjoying his Lego toys.  I am very excited by this, because it is really fun to watch him play with them, and I would MUCH rather him spend hours building all kinds of Lego creations (complete with sound effects!), than playing video games or sitting in front of the TV.  Legos are great for the imagination, and I'm sure they help with all kinds

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-25013590538152815082011-02-24T10:44:00.001-06:002011-02-24T10:45:19.012-06:00

Last Sunday was Septuagesima Sunday, which means Lent will be here in about 2 weeks or so, and that we should start preparing for Lent.  I'm actually glad that this past Sunday reminded me that I should be getting my spiritual life ready for whatever Lenten devotions I decide upon, because things like Lent and Advent always seem to creep up on me, and I usually find myself scrounging around the

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-61958812273261174422011-02-21T11:36:00.000-06:002011-02-21T11:36:56.931-06:00

I've been meaning to do this post for a couple of weeks now, but we've been caught up with the busyness that is life, so I'm only just getting around to it now.  Andrew made 4 years old on February 9th this year!  And as always, I just can't believe how fast they grow!   They say that the bond between Mother and son is something very special. I don't think I ever realized just how true that was

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-59476731884198002302011-02-15T13:17:00.000-06:002011-02-15T13:17:40.278-06:00

Sancte Valentinus, Ora Pro Nobis! Every year, our homeschool group has a Valentine's party at the park where the kids all bring decorated bags/boxes, and share Valentine's cards and candy with each other.  Now, normally I don't do the whole 'decorate a bag or box' thing, because I just can't seem to get everything together for that kind of craft project, so I usually just bring a Target bag, or

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-79096051979131297232011-02-14T16:11:00.001-06:002011-02-14T16:12:31.348-06:00

Andrew just came to me dressed as a pirate (as if he'd be dressed as anything else!) Andrew:  "Mom, do pirates watch movies?"Me: "Sure, I guess so."Andrew: "They do?!?!"Me:  "Yeah, but we aren't watching a movie right now"Andrew:  "Awww"  then he walks sadly away  that kid is getting pretty clever ;)  Maybe I should try the "pirates eat veggies" thing with him!

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-91027798681782226272011-02-14T12:40:00.000-06:002011-02-14T12:40:48.237-06:00

   Here's my journal for this week!  Enjoy, and click on over to The Homeschool Chick's blog to see what other Mother's are doing in their homeschool journey =) In my life this week... Let's see....this week we have Valentine's Day, and so we'll be having a homeschool Valentine's party at PE.  The weather has been so cold that the homeschool group has postponed the party twice now, but we should

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-77156916533289779822011-02-08T16:13:00.001-06:002011-02-08T16:14:30.478-06:00

Yesterday Natalie had her very first sewing lesson.  I was cutting out material for an apron I've been wanting to make for myself, so she used the scraps to make an apron for one of her dolls.  She did most of the cutting out and designing herself, but I did have to give her a brief lesson about making the components match, so they could be sewn together.  She cut the apron pieces so that they

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-28028245177511740822011-02-06T13:12:00.000-06:002011-02-06T13:12:57.636-06:00

A new link up I discovered at The Homeschool Chick's blog via Be Not Afraid's blog...I may try to stick with this one!    ***not sure if the questions are supposed to be for the previous week, or the upcoming one, so I did a mix of both =) In my life this week...The beginning of our week was nice and quiet for a change!  We had no doctor's appointments, no errands, and we just stayed home and

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-65575320716968929202011-02-05T23:05:00.001-06:002011-02-06T00:15:04.447-06:00

I once read a book on exorcisms, and the priest mentioned that the prayers for doing the exorcism were more powerful and effective when prayed in Latin.  Our priest, who baptized Luke, said the same thing.  Ever since then, I've felt a desire to learn the basic Catholic prayers in Latin.  One night, after praying our family Rosary, Phil and I both agreed that we should try out saying the Rosary

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-7411536086305464532011-01-25T14:39:00.000-06:002011-01-25T14:39:47.807-06:00

About, oh, I don't know, 4 months ago, I planted various vegetables in 2 of my garden boxes.  Then, I nurtured them for a couple of weeks.  Then, I forgot about them....completely.  During the last 2 weeks, we had a few days here and there of sunny, warmer, somewhat spring-like weather.  So, I got the garden bug.  I walked around my garden bed to think about the spring planting season, and to see

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-81189725074931209422011-01-23T20:01:00.001-06:002011-01-23T20:02:35.513-06:00

Over the summer, I knit up a few of these wool diaper covers for Luke (it's the Very Chunky Diaper pattern link).  They came out very cute, and they work really well, too!  And, apparently, you only have to wash wool covers once every few weeks.  All you have to do is air them out between diaper changes, and they are good to go.  The really don't smell...it's amazing!  And, I've had NO leaks

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-52586505563160331512011-01-17T16:30:00.001-06:002011-01-17T16:31:58.036-06:00

So, I've been thinking.  I've been thinking about the vocation to family life and Motherhood.  With the March for Life right around the corner, most people in the Catholic world are vamping up their ever-present support for unborn life, so I, too, have been thinking about what kind of witness I am to the sanctity of life...am I a good witness?...do people look at me and think "wow...that mother

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-47281787527262682832011-01-10T14:52:00.000-06:002011-01-10T14:52:10.169-06:00

Well, we are barely one week into the new year, and our family has already has so many new memories to share!  First off, we kicked off New Year's with a bang by doing a few sparklers, watching a movie, and going to bed at 10:26 p.m.  That's right, ladies and gentlemen, we know how to party over here!  No, seriously, it was a really nice Christmas and New Year's holiday this year.  Besides having

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-69820378327479238692010-12-20T16:13:00.000-06:002010-12-20T16:13:59.937-06:00

One of the perks of living out in the country and having lots of land is that you get to share it with family and friends without being crowded.  And, you can get away with doing things like roasting a whole pig in your backyard without your neighbors looking at you like you're weird...especially if you invite them over for dinner =)  So, a couple of weeks ago, we invited over a handful of

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-36135980546818280942010-12-20T13:39:00.000-06:002010-12-20T13:39:49.505-06:00

I haven't done a Little Thoughts post in awhile, and I have a bunch saved up to post, but this one was WAY too good to pass up... ~~~~~  At the dinner table:Natalie:  "wait...Mom, your water broke at the hospital?"Me:  "uh...yes"Natalie:  "but, I thought water bottles were plastic...how did it break?" ~~~~~

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-33905409226872610342010-12-17T08:59:00.003-06:002010-12-17T09:56:12.224-06:00

Our new baby has finally arrived!  We had a beautiful, healthy baby boy on Tuesday, December 14, at 9:52 p.m.  We named him Luke Anthony LeBlanc, he was 6 lbs. 14 oz, and 19.5 inches long (**I originally put that he was 16 lbs...SO not correct!  sorry...I just had a baby, please forgive the typo =).  And, he is just perfect!  I think we are all in love =)  The labor and delivery went very well,

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-25246740270038175002010-12-14T14:16:00.001-06:002010-12-14T14:23:51.697-06:00

Did you know that "According to the Apostolic Constitutions, a document dating back well over 15 centuries, the use of Holy Water is attributed to a recommendation issued by St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist."*?  I once saw a friend of mine dip her hand into the Holy Water font at Mass, and then cross herself twice.  I asked her later why she did that, and she said it was because a drop of

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-89270254274634659922010-12-06T07:53:00.000-06:002010-12-06T07:53:55.469-06:00

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-41741469859235395452010-12-01T14:27:00.000-06:002010-12-01T14:27:54.174-06:00

(complete with fun quotes from Divine Intimacy!) Advent and Christmas are probably by far my favorite Liturgical Season in the Church calendar.  I LOVE the music we sing at Mass, the beautiful decorations, teaching the kids the importance of waiting and preparing for the birth of Our Lord, and doing the Jesse Tree and Advent Wreath with the kids.  It always brings me back to a more consistent

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-90266895404839843952010-11-28T16:02:00.001-06:002010-11-28T16:05:23.237-06:00

A couple of  Sundays ago, after Mass, we went out to lunch with a few other families from our parish.  Our priest came along, as well.  I think there were something like 20+ people, and the adults were far outnumbered here!  We went to an Indian buffet, which is really indifferent to this story, but it was SO good!  If you've never had authentic Indian food, you should...kind of spicy for the

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-60071621903764020972010-11-21T23:10:00.000-06:002010-11-21T23:10:08.919-06:00

Lately, I've been on a bit of a project rampage.  Sewing, knitting, painting, and yes, even putting ear tags on our cows!   I finally found some time this weekend to continue working on our curtains for the house.  We've been here almost a year, and the only ones that are 100% complete are the living room shades.  But, that's OK....instant gratification is over-rated ;)  Saturday, I managed to

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-69914625144279901132010-11-15T14:56:00.000-06:002010-11-15T14:56:11.879-06:00

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I am still alive.  I haven't been blogging as regularly as I'd like to be, but we have been incredibly busy.  I have literally had a birthday party every weekend for the last 4 weekends, and one this coming weekend as well...and, one of those weekends had 2 birthday parties (including one for my Natalie) and our home school All Saints Party.  That combined with

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-86044086550762572592010-10-29T13:11:00.000-05:002010-10-29T13:11:30.992-05:00

It always intrigues me that there are people out there who don't want to impose gender stereotypes onto their children....like this guy.  There's this whole attitude in the media and secular society that people should be free to be whoever they want to be...even if that violates their actual person and their personal DNA.  I guess they are afraid of inequality among the sexes, but who ever said

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-51833987486921756462010-10-28T12:44:00.000-05:002010-10-28T12:44:21.513-05:00

Our oldest child and daughter turned six years old yesterday!  It's kind of hard to believe.  It seems like just yesterday we were coming home from the hospital, and settling into our new roles as parents. Her first day home.  Naturally, we thought she was the prettiest little thing ever!   Proud Daddy: Our first picture as a family, after the beating and torture beauty that is natural

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-14326066149213435862010-10-18T14:34:00.000-05:002010-10-18T14:34:37.148-05:00

So, I am not a morning person.  I am a night owl.  I enjoy the peace and quiet of nighttime.  Everyone else is sleeping, so there is no one there to ask me to wipe them, or feed them, or change their diaper, or be the judge in a dispute over who gets the orange slinky (even though there are enough slinkies to go around for all, they are apparently not all created equal!!), and nor is there the

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-49076364648799566032010-10-01T17:46:00.000-05:002010-10-01T17:46:05.806-05:00

I remember the first time I asked St. Anthony for intercession.  I was around 5 or 6 years old.  I can't remember what I lost, but I remember EXACTLY where I found it in my backyard.  He has been faithful to my desperate please ever since that moment, including the 3 times I've lost my engagement ring (sorry, Phil!).  But, this story really exceeds them all!  About 2 weeks ago, the kids and I

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-73403116211561224602010-09-13T18:31:00.001-05:002010-09-13T18:40:52.547-05:00

 A week or so ago, I was tagged in a meme by my friend Suzanne, from Classically Catholic.  What is a meme, you might ask?  Well, I have no idea.  So, I looked it up.  According to Merriam-Webster, a meme is "an idea, behavior, style, or usage that spreads from person to person within a culture."  Kind of vague, but whatever.  Now that we have that cleared up, the directions for this particular

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-18920353145068939482010-09-09T17:50:00.000-05:002010-09-09T17:50:13.807-05:00

I just discovered this new blog today.  It's called Will You Mantilla With Me?.  I haven't had too much time to peruse the sight, but it looks like a really great place to be.  They are having a giveaway for 4 beautiful mantillas from Veils by Lily, so head on over there and put your name in the comment box for an entry!  The veils are really pretty.

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-48749807092816416332010-09-09T00:39:00.002-05:002010-09-09T00:48:38.685-05:00

About a year ago, my husband convinced me that we needed more property.  We just didn't have enough grass to keep the 4 cows we had at the time!  What we needed was more land!  Well, we now definitely have just that...a whopping 18 acres of it.  So, naturally when we got here with our 4 cows, there was more than enough grass to go around for everyone.  Actually, there was no grass...the previous

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-2625447357334067892010-09-08T22:58:00.000-05:002010-09-08T22:58:58.786-05:00

Last week, I spent 4 days in my home town at my Mom's house, who lives 2 1/2 hours away.  My two sisters, one brother, their spouses, and children all live in my home town, as well.  It was really nice to get to see everyone.  I am actually the youngest of the four kids, and I have 9 nieces and nephews, ranging in age from 21 all the way down to 18 months.  So, with all that access to babysitting

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-41413412466206020822010-09-04T11:20:00.000-05:002010-09-04T11:20:33.305-05:00

Just a few words of wisdom for parents... When it's bedtime, and your 5 year old tells you that your 18 month old put a wash rag in the toilet, be sure to go and take it out immediately.  That way, when your 5 year old uses the bathroom in the morning, she won't flush the towel down the toilet because everyone forgot it was in there in the first place.   I really hope this does not cause clogging

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-56541870845425593022010-08-24T12:56:00.001-05:002010-08-24T13:09:57.302-05:00

Well, we've given up on the lazy days of summer, and moved on to life in First Grade.  Today is Natalie's first day of First Grade =)  Which is WAY less emotional since we homeschool.  As much as my kids can drive me crazy, just the thought of sending them away to school makes my heart hurt.  I've mentioned before that this particular pregnancy has turned me into an organization junkie,

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-43003157675373296112010-08-21T09:43:00.002-05:002010-08-21T09:45:43.413-05:00

I sat down this morning read the daily Gospel passage (please note, while this *should* be a regular, daily occurrence for me, it's not, and I am most certainly a work in progress when it comes to being a good Catholic).  The older two kids were outside with their Daddy, and Rachel was playing quietly, so it was nice and quiet for a change.  About halfway through the passage, I look over at

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-79850604199300241942010-08-16T15:21:00.000-05:002010-08-16T15:21:59.608-05:00

Today is my husband and my's seventh wedding anniversary =)  In so many ways, it feels like we've known each other forever, but then in others, it feels like we just got married yesterday.  Being married has been better than anything I could have ever expected, and it has truly been the best years of my life.  We've had our share of annoyances and arguments, as any couple does, but for the most

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-13001693641673399892010-08-16T10:34:00.000-05:002010-08-16T10:34:16.789-05:00

 I can't meet the needs of all abandoned, starving children in this world, but I can serve and take care of the ones I've been given.I can't show love and affection to every adult out there who is broken in spirit, but I can give unconditional love and understanding to the man I married before God and His Church. I can't stop every woman who walks into an abortion clinic from choosing evil, but

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-20871031773466450412010-08-12T01:17:00.000-05:002010-08-12T01:17:34.855-05:00

So, a few weeks ago I did a post about some cloth diaper soap that I wanted to try out.  I ordered some samples, and promised to come back and do a product review.  So, here is my review of Rockin Green Soap.  I tried samples of the soap that is specially formulated for hard water, which we have, in four different scents:  watermelon, green tea, clean, and lavender mint.  First of all, let me

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-65414980473525613832010-08-06T15:37:00.000-05:002010-08-06T15:37:56.210-05:00

Humility comes in so many different shapes and sizes.  I know this from personal experience.  Just this morning, in fact, we had a load of dirt delivered to fill in a low spot in our yard.  The problem began when I completely forgot they were coming early to deliver the dirt today - like before 8 a.m.  So, the kids and I were all cozy in my room, still sleeping....heavily (no judgment!  we're on

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-74239131555484476342010-07-30T16:28:00.000-05:002010-07-30T16:28:12.691-05:00

I haven't really been hanging around the blogosphere lately.  I think I have writer's block, which is ironic, because I'm not a writer...hah!  This blog is just for fun =).  Anyway, I just don't have much to post about these days.  We've been enjoying the extremely lazy days of summer, because it's just too darn hot to do anything else!  Even the cows just lay around in the shade and do nothing (

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-69479868538560572052010-07-24T00:21:00.000-05:002010-07-24T00:21:27.329-05:00

How come no one ever warns you about the 'real joys' of pregnancy?  Like, pregnancy insomnia, for example.  It hits right around the second trimester, and lasts pretty much throughout the entire second trimester.  I guess it comes from sleeping so much the first trimester, because of the unbearable exhaustion!  Wow, does that always hit me like a ton of bricks.  I literally can.not.stay.awake

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-30392339289370405702010-07-21T17:09:00.000-05:002010-07-21T17:09:56.306-05:00

At lunch today, Andrew was upset because he got the bumble bee cup instead of the dragon fly cup (don't even ask...it's an ongoing battle over here about who gets the dragon fly cup/plate/fork/spoon!).  Anyway, Natalie got the dragon fly cup, to which Andrew responded with a huge pout and said "that's not fair!"   So, I said: Me:  Andrew, that's not polite...you can offer it up, instead.Natalie:

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-43143399909331881122010-07-20T19:42:00.000-05:002010-07-20T19:42:07.582-05:00

For today's Tasty Tuesday, I'm posting my recipe for homemade English Muffins.  This one is for the City Wife, Country Life gal, because she was craving English Muffins yesterday, and when I saw that she was disappointed that she didn't get to post about them today, I just had to share my recipe!  They are so very good, but not like anything you buy at the store.  They aren't the sour dough

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-17638840729322111052010-07-16T23:04:00.000-05:002010-07-16T23:04:21.990-05:00

In case you were ever curious about how much beef you can get from raising a Dexter beef cow/steer...(I'm sure most people are losing tons of sleep wondering about this exact thing!)  If not, feel free to skip this post all together, and come back and visit again soon. We actually brought our first ever, farm-raised, grass-fed (and partially grain-fed at the end), home-grown beef cow to the

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-6476145160916206212010-07-14T13:56:00.001-05:002010-07-14T14:01:35.213-05:00

Well, I've still been working on Rachel's baby sweater, but seeing as that is a longer, more-extensive project, I don't really have any updates.  But, I have been making some wool diaper covers for the new baby!  In the midst of such a long project like a sweater, I wanted something that I could work up quickly, like in a day, so I could feel at least a little gratification at completing

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-51002327410551664402010-07-14T13:17:00.000-05:002010-07-14T13:17:26.356-05:00

Philip spent the better part (or, I guess that would be the worst part, as the better part of Sunday was Mass...or something like that...he spent the majority of the day, Sunday...how's that??) loading up our barn with hay for the cows, so they will have food this winter.  The kids were very excited, because they LOVE playing in the hay.  Although, much to their dismay, they were banned from any

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-43657431109149960842010-07-11T23:30:00.002-05:002010-07-11T23:33:48.519-05:00

I'm not real sure what it is about summer time and prayer that just don't mix with me!  Maybe it's the heat down here in the south, or the fact that my schedule is out the window, or because I allow myself to be so lazy in the summer because the kids are done with school....ok, it's probably a combination of all three.  Whatever the case, I have such a difficult time keeping up with my regular

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-71581177945970179372010-07-09T10:05:00.001-05:002010-07-09T10:07:11.932-05:00

And love like crazy! My prayer today is that the Lord grant me the heart of a faithful woman.

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-32766061988707123612010-07-06T16:23:00.000-05:002010-07-06T16:23:21.720-05:00

A cousin of mine recommended this recipe on Facebook, and, due to pregnancy cravings, I just had to try it immediately!  She also thought it was funny that only a pregnant woman could crave something that she'd never even eaten before...I'm sure some of you can relate =)  Anyway, it's very simple, but it was sooo good!  So good, I actually want one right now... Taco Bell Mexican Pizzas a la

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-60168824286211500642010-07-01T18:11:00.000-05:002010-07-01T18:11:15.038-05:00

And, because we're cool like that, we actually passed by Booth's Grocery last summer when we went crabbing in Rockefeller: "B-O-O-T-H comma to da top S"  And, here are a few of us actually catching some crabs (or at least trying), Louisiana style =)   Natalie and her cousin Me and Andrew My Handsome Husband One of my most treasured photos! - My Mom, Me, and my girls, Natalie &

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-5013836508796839242010-06-30T14:01:00.000-05:002010-06-30T14:01:46.079-05:00

My last post about Andrew in the diaper pail reminded me that I am starting to run low on soap for my cloth diapers.  To make a long story short, we have hard well-water, so I have to be very choosy about detergent for my diapers if I want to avoid build-up problems that can cause leakage, or worse, ruin my diapers.  You pretty much can't use any detergent that contains scents, dyes, bleaches, or

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-88644815479151863692010-06-30T12:52:00.000-05:002010-06-30T12:52:03.106-05:00

We are a cloth diapering family.  Well, I am into cloth diapering...my husband has already told me that if I die, he's throwing them away.  Not that he doesn't appreciate the money it saves us, and he doesn't mind me using them, but I am pretty sure he has no interest whatsoever in cleaning the things.  I mean, let's face it, it's not exactly roses and lovely fragrances we're dealing with here. 

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-61264065043908667052010-06-25T16:12:00.000-05:002010-06-25T16:12:26.974-05:00

Natalie asked me a question today, and I gave her an answer.  After that, she proceeded to argue, so I told her: Me:  "Natalie, I gave you my answer...I didn't ask you to argue about it."Natalie:  "Next time, if you ask me to, then can I argue about it?"Me (with a wry smile):  "Yes, of course."Natalie: "Okay!" (and then she runs off) As if I'll ever ask her to argue with a decision I make...

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-48147720965782462962010-06-25T00:12:00.000-05:002010-06-25T00:12:54.735-05:00

In my last garden post, I didn't have any pictures of our vegetables, and I promised to come back and put some, so here are just a few pics of what we've been getting from the garden:   This was my first real, serious garden, and so far I'm very pleased with the results.  Not everything came out perfectly, and that's ok.  Like the corn...I did something really wrong with the corn!  That stuff

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-86753545123143281432010-06-24T23:15:00.000-05:002010-06-24T23:15:43.036-05:00

Well, we finally got to see the new baby!  My husband met me at the doctor's office yesterday morning, and we all got to see little Baby #4 kicking around on the ultrasound machine.  Technology can be scary at times, but so amazing nonetheless.  Anyway, everything checked out great, and Natalie was beyond giddy with excitement.  I'm not sure if Andrew really gets what is going on, but I think

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-55556297606779578172010-06-19T14:28:00.000-05:002010-06-19T14:28:47.474-05:00

There's this Christian song by John Waller & Mark Hall, called 'The Blessing', that I really love.  The song is about choosing to be a blessing in life, and that the way we choose to live our life is how we will influence people and how we will be remembered - especially as Christians.  I heard it in the car the other day, and it reminded me of a homily I heard in Holy Mass several weeks ago. 

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-85772524787010865652010-06-16T22:27:00.001-05:002010-06-16T22:42:19.858-05:00

Ok, I just can't keep it a secret any longer!  We are having another baby!!!  This will be number four for us, and I had my first check up today.  And, first check up means that I got to hear the baby's heart beat!  I don't know what it is about hearing your child's heart beat for the first time, but it's an experience and a sound that stays in a mother's heart forever!  It's almost surreal...any

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-52233956198950082262010-06-16T21:33:00.000-05:002010-06-16T21:33:24.739-05:00

My husband does this thing with the kids where he pretends to be mad at them, even though he really isn't.  He says it has something to do with building character, but as they walk away, dejected and sulking, and he's cracking up laughing, I just don't get it.  Maybe it's oldest child syndrome, and he just feels the need to pick on someone smaller than he is.  I still don't get it...I'm the

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-90667515985172762972010-06-07T11:51:00.000-05:002010-06-07T11:51:44.386-05:00

Wow...it's been forever since I've posted on my blog, it seems.  I miss it!  But, we've just been so busy lately.  Summer is here, and we've spent a very nice week at the beach - including a week long internet fast - a week at my Mom's, and then we've been getting ready for Vacation Bible School, Natalie's end of the year Little Flower's Party, and a Catholic Girls' Summer Camp that I help

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-88055808373671746002010-05-26T09:17:00.000-05:002010-05-26T09:17:36.666-05:00

Seeing that dirt is a major part of me and my family's life, especially my children, I thought I would share this article:  Playing in the Dirt Could Make you Smarter, Researchers Say May 25, 2010 12:52 PM EDT Go ahead, let your kids play in the dirt, it could make them smarter. After conducting a

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-20976480769139423612010-05-13T18:02:00.000-05:002010-05-13T18:02:15.211-05:00

"Our right to Heaven has been given us, our place is ready; it is for us to live in such a way that we may occupy it some day."~Divine Intimacy, pg. 535 Today is Ascension THURSDAY!  I'm not a big fan of transferring this Feast Day to Sunday, so we are celebrating today.  Unfortunately, Natalie has a sore throat and fever, so Mass is not on the menu, but I did make homemade cream puffs (aka

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-40313277378114020172010-05-13T08:41:00.000-05:002010-05-13T08:41:11.353-05:00

Early on Monday morning, around 3 a.m., Natalie comes running to our bedroom.  "Mommy!  There's a mouse in the bed by Andrew's foot!!"  Well, I'm guessing it wasn't a restaurant grade mouse like Little Chef from Ratatouille.  They never are!  Why do movies like to portray mice as some kind of cute, little creatures that are oppressed by humans??  Don't get me wrong, I love Little Chef...but, in

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-34489670756877426562010-05-12T08:56:00.001-05:002010-05-12T14:55:52.444-05:00

I've been plugging along on the baby sweater I'm making for Rachel.  Now that summer is here, and we are done with school, I should have a little (note: very little) extra time to work on it.  We are going on a week long beach vacation, leaving this Saturday, so I will at least have the 4 hour car ride (there and back) to make some real progress.  The yarn isn't as soft as I'd expected, but

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-20468608388410012452010-05-10T19:46:00.000-05:002010-05-10T19:46:33.342-05:00

Aside from the very cool, sleek, new digital camera that I got from Phil, of course.  Really, the best Mother's Day present ever is just being a Mom and experiencing the things that children are made of.  Yesterday, on Mother's Day, Rachel stood up for the first time all by herself!  She just stood there...for about 5 minutes smiling, and holding on to *nothing*!  I was very excited.  It was so

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-55166422701130011812010-05-06T23:14:00.001-05:002010-05-06T23:27:47.530-05:00

Back in the early stages of my marriage, before we had children, I used to envision what family Rosary would be like.  It went something like this:  The whole slew of kids would gather around Phil and I, the older ones kneeling piously next to their Dad, in front of a beautifully ornate, yet tasteful, picture of Our Lady.  The littlest ones would snuggle up with me on the recliner, each playing

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-3794157859212485932010-05-06T12:06:00.000-05:002010-05-06T12:06:55.619-05:00

Andrew came to me in full Pirate regalia and said: Andrew:  Mom, can you put my pirate hat on so I can get married?Me:  You're getting married?Andrew:  Yes, I need my pirate hat on.Me:  Ok, come see...I'll help you.  Who are you marrying?Andrew:  NatalieMe:  Natalie?Andrew:  yes, NatalieMe:  okAndrew (without skipping a beat):  I was in the castle, and there was a witch, and I shoot her, and I

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-77986188109482596512010-05-05T14:31:00.000-05:002010-05-05T14:31:42.155-05:00

I remember when I first made the personal decision to never wear pants into a Catholic Church again - whether for Mass, or just for prayer.  Obviously there are instances where I don't necessarily have a choice...I mean, if it's go to Mass in pants, or don't go at all, I would definitely just wear the pants.  But, as a general rule, I make the effort to wear a skirt or dress - even if I don't

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-43624809965123263152010-05-04T12:05:00.001-05:002010-05-04T12:10:31.875-05:00

Motherhood is stopping to smell even the smallest of flowers.  It's being there for your children even when you don't feel like it.  It's loving them unconditionally, and letting them love you unconditionally.  It's spending an hour filling up an ice chest full of water balloons just to see the happiness on their faces in the two minutes it takes for them to pop all those balloons.  It's

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-24817531581788848372010-05-03T11:41:00.001-05:002010-05-04T12:22:38.042-05:00

**just a clarification:  technically, the fence in these photos are not technically 100% finished...the pictures were taken *before* the face boards were put on there to cover up the seams...my camera has a mind of it's own, and works when it wills...I've yet to get pics of the fence completely finished...** It's been awhile since I've sat down and written a blog post.  We've just been so busy

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-64228142158481136262010-04-26T11:25:00.000-05:002010-04-26T11:25:58.734-05:00

What we do for fun in lieu of watching TV (yes, we are one of those crazy families that only catches snow on the TV when you turn it on =): it was fun until it made her so dizzy she couldn't sit up without falling over =) Even though we do not have cable, we do still enjoy movies and such...especially on Saturday mornings:

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-33581116305685449222010-04-26T10:55:00.000-05:002010-04-26T10:55:09.589-05:00

Last night, I managed to sneak in some one-on-one time with Andrew.  I was getting him ready for bed, and we were chatting.  I asked him what he wanted to do tomorrow, and he said, "ummm, we can do some morning chores, and then do school..."  Hahaha.  I guess our routine is pretty ingrained by now. During school this morning, part of Natalie's assignment was to draw a picture of her family. 

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-74838116082078225782010-04-21T13:15:00.000-05:002010-04-21T13:15:43.030-05:00

...always a potentially scary phrase from children Not really sure what it is, but Natalie has me on a mission to find out...

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-20900445894839946152010-04-21T11:38:00.000-05:002010-04-21T11:38:40.567-05:00

 Sometime during the last year or so, I discovered the lost art of knitting.  Wow is it addicting!  And really fun, too =)  You can make so many cute things.  This past weekend, I finished my first project - a yellow, boucle baby blanket. you have to be careful with knitted objects around here, so they don't get pirated: she likes it: Peek-a-boo!: I still have to weave in the ends, but other

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-16138567615165218522010-04-20T16:54:00.000-05:002010-04-20T16:54:56.441-05:00

I thought I might do a post on my our garden progress.  It's looking really nice these days!  So far, I've we've got cucumbers, corn, okra, English peas, tomatoes, bell peppers (green and carnival colors), spinach (which we have eaten 2 salads from!), and carrots (which I'm pretty sure will NOT be producing anything).  I've also got a raised bed purely for strawberries, which I am very excited

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-13650322256496410252010-04-18T19:13:00.000-05:002010-04-18T19:13:19.901-05:00

My five year old, Natalie, is addicted to gum.  She's like that kid, Violet, from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.  She would chew the same piece of gum for days if I let her.  A couple weeks of go, my in-laws were visiting and helping my husband work on our fencing, and Natalie put her gum on a plate to "save for later".  She told my father-in-law to make sure no one threw it away.  He

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-65627215598743656262010-04-13T12:42:00.000-05:002010-04-13T12:42:26.433-05:00

We have a new baby calf!  It's our second one this spring (and our last one....we have no more preggo cows =).  We *think* she is a girl, thus the name Clarabelle - courtesy of Natalie, as usual.  But, we are not 100% on that...hopefully we can get a definite on the gender soon.  She was born sometime yesterday, April 13, and she is so cute!  I didn't realize how much our other heifer calf,

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-9077333455149871432010-04-12T12:21:00.001-05:002010-04-12T12:26:45.396-05:00

We purchased our 18 acre 'mini-farm' with the intention of raising farm animals.  Mostly cattle, and a few chickens, pigs, and possibly goats as well.  Naturally, you must have fencing to keep said animals within the confines of home - at least if you want your neighbors to like you, or at best not call the cops on you.  So, my handy-man husband has been diligently working on fencing our

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-11461946538255957192010-04-11T21:08:00.000-05:002010-04-11T21:08:39.717-05:00

Could she be any lazier??? ***please ignore all the crazy colors and patterns on the blog right now...I'm exploring the world of blog design, so I'm testing out a few things.  It will all match again soon =)

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-70555491054783635262010-04-07T09:05:00.000-05:002010-04-07T09:05:43.306-05:00

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-34830366919904728832010-04-06T16:59:00.001-05:002010-04-06T16:59:32.614-05:00

Is anyone else having problems commenting on their own blogs?  I use blogger.com, and every time I try to comment on one of my own posts, it doesn't post it.  There's no error message or anything; just when I click post, it reloads as if it were going to post, but the post is not there.  Too weird!

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-32036288954624189412010-04-06T14:18:00.001-05:002010-04-07T09:35:56.283-05:00

**this is a very long post with beau-coup pictures, so please read at your own risk... I think one of my favorite things about having kids (because the list is never-ending) is the way that they challenge me to learn more about my Catholic Faith.  I'm not exactly the most catechized Catholic you'll ever meet, so ever since we started both homeschooling and attending the Traditional Latin Mass,

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-27858436602850421002010-04-01T14:57:00.001-05:002010-04-01T14:58:04.686-05:00

Nothing says warmer weather like wearing eating your first slice of watermelon of the season!  

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6527980992487398757.post-84605702546476410162010-03-31T13:57:00.001-05:002010-03-31T14:04:08.063-05:00

One of my favorite blogs to read is Knit Together.  Every Wednesday, she hosts 'Craft Basket Wednesday', and I've been itching to participate.  Today, I am finally getting around to it!  When we purchased our home 3 months ago, just about all the windows were bare, except for blinds in the kitchen and kids' room.  So, I decided to be adventurous (and Susie home-maker-ish) and make my own

Cathy LeBlanchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09404613381960617286noreply@blogger.com3