Pinewood Castle

Thankful Thursday

for affordable Young People's Concerts

for directors of orchestra education who wisely include choreographed dance to Debussy's La Mer

for children who used good enough manners in a restaurant after the concert (even though they don't always use the best table manners at home) to garner a compliment from a little old lady at a nearby table who happened to be the founder of ECFE in Minnesota (Early Childhood Family Education)

for my husband who recognized that I was turning into a zombie with just a teacup of coffee and reinstated my big queen mug

for another opportunity to give a recital at the assisted living center, this time with two other students from the violin studio and for the talented Suzuki mom who can play all the piano accompaniment

that I finally finished my husband's scarf, just in time for spring

and that he let me buy five skeins of merino wool to get it long enough

for maple syruping days at the nature center

for one last trip to the nature center before they tear it down and build a new one

time with grandma & grandpa

for learning that egg-free cakes fall apart, to make the big decorated birthday cake with eggs for everyone else and serve egg-free cupcakes to the egg-free girl

for birthday packages from Oklahoma

for the opportunity to nurture another baby through the first year of life

for the smiles and tears and belly laughs this little boy brings to our family

Poor Little Third Girl

After admiring a few new spring outfits recently purchased at Target for the eldest girl and eldest boy, the third girl asked where her new spring clothes were.

"Your new spring clothes are in the basement in a storage bin," we explained, trying to build her excitement.

This did not fly with her, "No! I want REAL new spring clothes!"

Too smart, and too cold for spring clothes here anyway -

Quote for the Weekend

"No doubt about it, solitude is improved by being voluntary."

― Barbara Holland

Thankful Thursday

hearing Katie McMahon live after years of listening to her amazing celtic voice on CDs

perfectly ripe pears

40% off at Christopher & Banks and a new outfit to wear to the wedding

just a teacup of coffee being enough

celebrating the feasts of Saints Patrick and Joseph with friends

headaches that go away

a day of cold rain (Tuesday) instead of a blizzard

another eight inch blanket of snow (Wednesday)

a whole day at home since piano was cancelled

just a few dates being sweet enough for dessert

a new and zippy computer custom assembled by my techie husband

confirmation that red #40 is another tantrum-inducing ingredient for our 3yo

getting an appointment scheduled with an allergist

my thoughtful sister

inquisitive children

children who are in an unusually cheerful mood on a rainy day

viewing a hilarious and helpful DVD by Carol Barnier about allowing wider margins in life

the promise of summer and a new school year

so many wonderful curriculum options from which to choose

feeling like I am finally figuring out what to use and the confidence that I will have things finally figured out for the 4th child

baby's first steps (he keeps falling before I can get to the camera)

Math & Science - What's a Mother to Use?

Are you thinking about next year's curriculum yet? I know I am, even though I am resolved not to order anything until August. The thing is, if I know what we won't be using, I can try to sell it off in June or July!

This will be our third year of using most of MODG and I am mostly comfortable with the subjects we have swapped for other options. Here are the subjects we have kept as is: religion, poetry, history (enhanced with History Pockets and Colonial Craft books), Latin, Latin songs, science,the literature list for each grade level, and Sound Beginnings for 2nd grade (though I might try this in 1st for the next child). We greatly enhance their basic plans for geography, art and music.

The subjects we swap for something else: spelling (Phonetic Zoo), handwriting (Memoria Press), grammar (CHC) and math (Math U See). We also added IEW Writing. I throw in books like the Christian Liberty Nature Readers, Mind Benders, and Sodoku to do during piano lessons. They are also doing Typing and Rosetta Stone French once a week.

While I am comfortable with most of these substitutions, it's the math and science options that are still keeping me up at night. I just can't decide what would be best.

Science: The kids tell me they are fine with the suggested ABeka. They like the variety of topics and color photos. I love that they can read the books independently and find the material interesting. They often pause in their reading with, "Did you know . . . ?" The quizzes and tests do not seem to bother them and I think that paying attention to terminology helps them be accountable for what they read. We usually skip the experiments if they can tell the outcome just by reading the description or if we don't have the right supplies.

So why do I have the itch to switch? I think because they adore doing science experiments and I feel guilty for not doing more of them. Another factor is that I see programs that look more thorough and/or more fun like Elemental Science, Apologia or The Young Scientists Club.

So what do you think? Should we switch to one of those? If we do, which one would be best for 3rd, 4th and 6th? Should they all do the same one? If not, which year-long topic is most appropriate for their grade level? Should I have them start at the beginning with biology? My mind is swimming with possibilities. I would like to take science off the back burner next year and do a little more with it.

Math: I think Math U See should be renamed "Math Without Tears". No tears this year (unlike Saxon 5/4)! But, we are still reviewing with the eldest (multiplication and division, planning to keep reviewing through fractions and decimals) and my 2nd grader is bored. Of course, he is the one who surprised all of us by scoring in the 5th grade level on the Peabody test in math, so this guy may need more of a challenge than his sisters. He liked my suggestion of going back to the ABeka book for the rest of this year. My 3rd grader is doing just fine with the methodical way Math U See approaches the times tables.

The itch to switch: I have a hunch they would love Teaching Textbooks. But does this program teach "enough"? Would I be out of touch with what they are learning? Would they be getting too much screen time? I also miss the hands-on aspect of Singapore, the metric measurements and the suggested games. I miss the challenge of Saxon and the inclusion of square roots, volume and elapsed time. But it's not about me - do the kids miss that? Probably not. Should my eldest repeat Saxon 5/4 and do it with her sister next year? Should they all switch to Teaching Textbooks? Or should we aim for some consistency and keep plugging away with Math U See through the Algebra level? I am torn between giving them a challenge with Saxon (even if they are not A+ math students), keeping math manageable with a slow but steady no-tears mastery program, and keeping them liking math. Would Teaching Textbooks accomplish all three?

I'll be up for the next hour chatting my husband's ear off about this as he tries to fall asleep in spite of me. If you have 2 cents to share, please do! I would really love to hear what works for you.

Quote for the Weekend

"A room without books is like a body without a soul." ― Marcus Tullius Cicero

Thankful Thursday

Clean van interiors.

New watch batteries.

An unexpected copy of Life: Beautiful. I am not sure if this is a promo copy or if someone gifted me with a subscription, but it is appreciated none the less.

My new GHD. Vanity, I know. But it smoothes the new hairs growing in after so much post-partum hair loss.

A beautiful wedding invitation from my SIL.

Finding a sweet and affordable flower girl dress for the wedding.

Friends who think of us when selling their Hanna dresses.

My teething baby who can now whine, "Ma ma ma ma ma!"

Witnessing my children make loving sacrifices for one another.

For the one child in particular who has a bigger heart than the rest of us. None of us deserve her but God gave her to us anyway.

An unexpected afternoon off from group violin. I forgot how long, productive, and yet relaxing a weekday afternoon at home can be.

Having daddy along on our IMAX Hubble field trip. Outings are always more fun (and less stressful) with his help.

Looking through spring catalogs without the desire to purchase a single thing except needed children's clothing (but it's still fun to look).

55 degrees. Yes, FIFTY FIVE DEGREES!!!

St. Patrick's Day!

 

Quote for the Weekend

 

"For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thankful Thursday

Is it Thursday again? Already?

Lord Jesus, this week I am thankful for:

~ Periods of preparation. Not that we can force our own conversion just because it is Lent, but we can make use of all the known ways to foster a closer relationship with God. We can do our part and invite God to send the grace to do the rest.

~ Donut Sunday. After two years the parish included the 11:30 Mass attendees. What a treat to spend some fellowship time with other families indoors after Mass!

~ One last mint mocha decaf for a long, long, while.

~ That you didn't send us another foot of snow on Ash Wednesday so we could meet daddy for noon Mass.

~ Friends who trade off driving to choir boys and the one day of the week I do not have to leave the house for anything.

~ Little illnesses that disappear after a nap or a good night's sleep.

~ New carseats that you don't have to remove and re-thread the straps to adjust the shoulder height.

~ Children old enough to make their own snowmen - whole family of them!

~ Handmade spinning tops made by my mother's cousin. They are perfectly shaped, balanced and are little wonders. I wish I could remain so perfectly balanced and steady while my world spins around me.

~ Standing babies!

It's a Mouse & Cookie Kind of Day

It's Cleaning & Reorganizing Day.

When you put away St. Valentine's decorations you realize you have collected too many for them to share a storage tub with St. Patrick's too. So you add "storage tub" to the Target list.

You bring up the Purple Box (advent and lent) and pull everything out. You realize that you never did get an "N" or a "T" to change your advent PREPARE to the lent REPENT like one of your favorite bloggers does. You add two letters and a little bottle of purple paint to the Michael's list.

You find the card stock crosses you painted and decorated last year but never made into a garland. Where did you put the hole punch?

Then your dear, dear husband takes all the car seats out of the van so he can take it to the fancy car wash that cleans floor mats and interior windows just because he know the state of the van is driving you nuts. He figures out our two car seats have expired, finds a YouTube video on the possible consequence of this in case of an accident, decides to err on the side of safety and orders two new Britax car seats. Good thing there is 20% code at diapers.com!

Now it's time for you to clean the glass on the back door to make it ready for the Lenten path that is faded but still usable. You already cleaned the floor and moved the chairs to the family room. Your kids turn this into a train, just like you did when you were young. This is the excitement of the day. You even eat lunch picnic style on the floor because the kids beg you to leave "the train" up longer.

There is at least one oasis of calm and order you can set your eyes on. And good thing you cleaned out those votives last year. It's the one thing all day that did not lead to another!

Thank you, all you bloggers, who have shared so many wonderful ideas over the years that have become beloved family traditions. We are looking forward to a cleansing, yet joyful Lent.

A Good Thaw

I made a mistake.

I had asked my husband to take the older three snow tubing last week on our week "off" but forgot to check the hours. Snow tubing did not open until 3:00 pm - the same time as the girls' ballet class. Oops.

Daddy took a precious day off work and now we had to get over the disappointment and make the best of it.

Quickly, we made a Plan B, C, and D.

B) Go ice skating. But rinks opened later in the day as well.

C) See the IMAX Hubble Telescope movie at the zoo.

D) Go to Como Park Conservatory.

You see, I had chickened out about driving to Como after dentist appointments on Tuesday. We received a foot of snow the day before and, well, they do plow in Minnesota but not that well. At least not on Twin Cities side streets.

The kids chose Plan D.

It was a wise choice.

Warm + sunny + humid = tropical. Rain forest Habitat, Fern Room, Palm Dome, Sunken Garden: each one provided a bit of unbelievable refreshment to our vitamin D deprived family.

It was a bitter cold day in the single digits. My husband is a native Minnesotan. That's why his coat is unzipped. The children and I were bundled up like sensible people.

 
I forgot the real camera - all of these were taken with an iPhone. Sorry.

My girls in braided pigtails.

My son and I.

That furry thing above our heads is indeed a sloth. Good thing he only poops once a week.

Every type of palm imaginable resides here.

Learned from a docent: an orchid does not have five petals. It has three sepals, two petals and a modified petal. Now we know.

We were feeling downright steamy at this point.

But not too sweaty to enjoy the bursts of color.

We have a few weeks yet to work in snow tubing. We will still go. But I am kind of glad we went to Como instead!

Thankful Thursday

Dearest readers, I apologize for appearing to recommend a book I have not read yet. I feel prey to the "but everybody's reading it" mentality when I ordered One Thousand Gifts and now that I have read the reviews more carefully I got cold feet and cancelled the order. I should have listened to my intuition. Maybe you will like it but I just had a few qualms. In the process some fellow moms have provided some wonderful recommendations. I Believe in Love: A Personal Retreat Based on the Teaching of St. Therese, Holiness for Housewives and Victory over Vice by Fulton Sheen are titles now on the way.

Still, I feel the need to focus on being grateful and appreciative this Lent and suspect this would be a little but powerful gift I could give the Lord and one that He would greatly appreciate from me. Instead of jumping on the 1,000 Gifts bandwagon I will just go back to the good old Thankful Thursdays, starting today.

Lord Jesus, I am so thankful . . .

~ that single digit temperatures might not return for another nine months

~ for wood burning fireplaces and enough firewood to see us through March

~ that this is the year our vision insurance pays for new frames

~ for my husband's job, bonus and tax return

~ for CDs with the songs Pa sang in the Little House books that make the scenes come to life

~ for Archer Farms pasta and the delicious recipes right there on the package

~ for labels listing common allergens

~ readers who bless me with their egg allergy knowledge and experience

~ our violin teacher who not only didn't mind that I stayed out in the van with sleeping little ones, but was also happy for us that they were getting a good nap

~ day 50 of the 100 day practice challenge

~ the opportunity to hear the goosebump-inducing Texas Boy's Choir (this is an amazing 5th-12th grade SATB choir)

~ our mantle clock that chimes loudly enough to double as a school bell

~ my husband's teamwork in raising and educating our children (and changing burned out lightbulbs - thank you honey, you light up my life!)

 

 

How the Egg-Free Girl is Doing

My little girl is a different child these days.

She talks more, she smiles more, she hugs more.

She says funny little things like, "Why is morning always the first thing?"

She has even gained three pounds since being off of eggs. This makes me wonder now if my skin and bones son has a food allergy.

We are still learning the ropes of the egg allergy world. We have a lot to learn about candy and fast food and packaging labels. Like Annie's bunny crackers that are made on shared equipment - are they safe for her? I am afraid to try, especially after our chicken nugget episode.

After quizzing the guy at the Wendy's drive-through about which products had egg and which did not, I was assured that the chicken nuggets did not have egg so I ordered them for her. By the time we reached our destination she was acting irritable. When we got home she threw an hour long tantrum before crashing on her floor. As soon as she woke up she resumed the tantrum for another hour. Somewhere in there I managed to check the Wendy's website only to discover that their chicken nuggets are fried in the same oil as food with egg ingredients.

I am incredibly grateful for the knowledgeable moms who have emailed me with tips and recipes. Keep it coming, please - I am a little overwhelmed but eventually it will all sink in.

In the meantime our budding girl has moved from drawing faces to adding arms and legs - M&M people.

One morning she colored one little red dot, held it up and announced, "This is a tiny, tiny baby in the womb!"

So precious. Such a joy. I cried tears of surprise and joy that day! I actually look forward to spending time with now instead of dreading what the day will bring with her. That's the way it should be. I am grateful for this little blog and the reader who prompted me to have her tested. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Spring May Not be Coming, but Lent is

Lent is coming and everyone seems to be posting links to past posts detailing their past and present plans. I won't bog you down with more of the same - but can tell you that we also do the usual things in our family: the crown with toothpicks and a sacrifice bowl in the center, stations of the cross votive candles, some sort of calendar to mark the days, and mostly meatless meals. If you really want to see photos and more info click here.

Otherwise, we are trying a few new things including Amon's Adventure: A Family Story for Easter (from the same author as Jotham's Journey) and a Catholic Faith Folder (lapbook) for Lent. We now have copies of the Alphonsus Ligouri Way of the Cross for each reading member of the family, and a little plastic pieta statue to place somewhere helpful for devotions.

I have to be honest and a little raw here - sometimes when it comes to making extra sacrifices my temptation is to whine, "Don't I sacrifice enough?" I mean, I stay home with my children instead of working as a musician or teacher, I homeschool them instead of using that time to go to the gym, run errands, cook, clean or volunteer. I sacrifice my sleep and my body and my health and sanity for my five children and don't always have enough left over to nurture my marriage. What more does God want of me? And don't I deserve a few indulgences in exchange for all this?

Of course the answer is He wants everything and He wants us to give it cheerfully and gratefully. We wants us to weed out our vices and to stretch and grow, even in painful ways and through trials and tears. And even though I personally (in spite of my prayer and spiritual efforts), feel like a number to Him most of the time, with only occasional evidence throughout the year that He thinks of me in particular, I am gathering that He is a much more personal God to others. The huge success of One Thousand Gifts is a testament to that. After resisting the urge to buy this book and hop on the bandwagon I am giving in and buying it today with my Amazon credit. This will be the spine of my Lenten journey of thankfulness praise and intentional effort to recognize God's touch in my little everyday life.

Where will blogging fit in? The past few weeks I have enjoyed more time away from the computer - it seems formidable challenge to sit here for an hour or more in this season of my life. Yet, without regular blogging I find that I do not take adequate time to reflect on our days, to post photos and to be deliberately thankful and appreciative for my life and my children and my husband and all the joys each day brings. One hard day of work blends into the next and pretty soon I feel like dried out clay resistant to being shaped and molded. I end up stiff and joyless.

I have a hunch that this is why blogging is so popular with homeschooling moms. When we are in the moment we can't or don't always think our circumstances are funny or feel the joy in our daily grind and constant interruptions and frustrations. We share with our husbands when they get home, but feel awkward that we have thousands of words to spill and he only has a hundred or so and our gushings are met with grunts, an occasional smile or a change of topic. Blogging helps us keep our passion alive - not selfish passions mind you, but our joy and gratitude and ability to experience the sacredness in the ordinary. This is what I what to keep revive in myself this Lent and what I intentionally want to make my focus, for my sake and my family's sake.

I will start by thanking you, whomever you are, for clicking my book links to Amazon. Because of you I am putting my most recent Amazon Associate credit to purchasing the Amon and Thousand Gifts books. Thank you so very much - every little bit counts and I will try to do better about sharing more good books and CDs in return.

May God bless you and your time online!