I just love listening to the chirping of birds when spring rolls around, especially when the windows are open and a soft, fresh breeze flows through the Catholic Homestead making it smell all nice again. Only, this year the chirping is a little louder than usual, mostly due to Momma Robin’s decision to take up residence in a light fixture right outside the bathroom window. Which is fine by me, but not to a certain furry gray cat who has taken an interest in the chirpy little robin family. That would be Smokie, of course. And the whole watching-out-the-window-meowing-and-pacing business is encroaching on Smokie’s all-day sleep pattern. There goes that beauty sleep, Smokie.

Anyway, so I’ve been watching Smokie as she drives herself mad watching Momma Robin and her 2 (I think?) new babies in the light fixture nest. The best part? When the little robins aim their beaks up in the air and Momma sweeps down to feed them, as they chirp like crazy. That’s when Smokie just about loses her breakfast, a good indicator that watching the feeding ordeal is extremely exciting to her. But then I feel all bad and back away, because Momma sees us and decides to stop feeding her little ones.

No good mom in her right mind would keep a parent from feeding her babies, now would she?

As the saga continues… I’m wondering just how long Momma Robin can stand living under the watchful eye of Smokie, the ever so curious cat. We’ll just have to sit back and see what transpires. I’m sensing a standoff here.

This week has me entertaining Catholic Spring Break’ers, so please excuse the break in blog action. Between shuffling kiddos around town, I’m actually enjoying Book #8 of the Chicken Lit Bookclub selection. So what I’m saying is that basically, things are slightly busy around the Catholic Homestead for a few days. Funny how a Mom (or Dad) doesn’t really get a break until school goes back in session, isn’t it? Who would’ve thought?

Back soon, bloggerville.

Battle of the Supers

Originally uploaded by itchick

You just never know what kind of battle you’ll find down there on the carpet in the middle of a pile of Legos, exactly why I felt the need to capture/blog this one. Just outside this photo stands a mini-Lego basketball hoop where Shaquille attempted to slam dunk a plastic football. Mr. Incredible blocked the shot with full-body brute force, as you can see here. Not a good match for Shaq - better luck next time.

The Catholic Girlie turned 11 years old today, and I’m finding myself in a state of, well, I’m not quite sure what state I’m finding myself in right now. Our little family ‘home’ party went better than planned, mostly because I was able to shop for a few party necessities early this morning, and then pre-cook dinner, bake cookies, decorate and bring treats to her classroom all before the school bell rang for the day. All this left me thinking, “Now that’s why being an independent consultant is so incredible!” Amazing.

So CG returned home from school to find the house all decorated in her honor, along with party goodies like cake, presents, music and more. We took pictures, pigged out and enjoyed her presents - it was total fun for all. In fact, the smile on CG’s face indicated that she was on top of the world about the whole 11th birthday thing, the best present of all. Woohoo!

But all the partying is not quite over yet. Oh no, it’s not. Why? you ask? Because turning 11 years old just wouldn’t be quite right without a sleepover with all of your closest 5th grader friends, now would it? Which is exactly why I’ve planned the party of the century to be held right here in the Catholic Homestead, so that exactly 9 people will get absolutely no sleep whatsoever over the weekend and will return completely bleary-eyed to work/school on Monday. That’s exactly what turning 11 is all about.

Party on.