Pinewood Castle

For St. Valentine's

Love this. Do check it out: My Valentine to Home Schooling at The Home School Mom.

More Thoughts on St. Nicholas

Jamie at Lord Make Me a Saint has a great post up about St. Nicholas/Santa. Definitely worth a read and the comments are fascinating as well. I just added a comment that went something like:

There are only a few precious years of life when we are capable of such wonder and awe. It seems cruel to deny the children the experiences that bring this out, and frankly, I think we adults benefit from seeing the sparkle in their eyes and the fullness of their trusting hearts.

We do read "The Real Santa Claus" book and make sure they know about the very real saint and the miracles attributed to him. We don't use the term "Santa" even though he takes on some Santa-like attributes when he "visits" our home.  The kids realized somewhere along the way that this is a pretend game we play, but it doesn't make it any less fun! Couple these beloved family traditions with the opportunity to teach the little siblings about St. Nicholas and the older ones have more fun than ever.

Last night while I was resting on the sofa I overheard my eldest girl helping her 4yo sister write her letter to St. Nicholas. It was about the most precious thing I have ever heard in my mothering life. No one asked her to do this, the older ones took the initiative to "be in on the secret" and get their letters and shoes ready. Everyone had fun this morning finding the goodies in their shoes, but the sparkle in the 4yo's eyes was the best gift of all - to everyone!

If you don't already know about the St. Nicholas Center, click over to find a treasure trove of ideas for celebrating! This is where I gathered ideas for the letter from St. Nicholas (posted previously), printed it out onto parchment paper, rolled it up and tied it with a ribbon. Now I am off to put my cookie cutters to use!

Letter from St. Nicholas

Dear Children,

I am coming around to check in with all the good children on my list to see what amusing toys and things they might want for Christmas this year. The toy orders must be placed very soon so the elves in my workshop have time to finish everything before I return on Christmas Eve.

I see from your letters that you have tried to be good this year, but I know that is easier for some of you than for others. Try very hard now, these last weeks of advent or Black Peter will have to come in my place and leave a lump of coal in your stocking.

Now, a word about your gifts today:

The clementines and chocolate coins in your shoe are to remind you of the gold I threw through the window to the maidens to provide the dowry money that kept them from being sold into slavery.

The candy cane is one of my symbols. All bishops carry staffs, hooked at the top like a shepherd's crook, showing they are the shepherds who care for, or tend, their people.

Do you know why I come while you are sleeping? I do my gift giving secretly, under cover of darkness. I don't want to be seen and recognized because I want you to give thanks to God for all of your many blessings, and believe me, you are blessed. So be good now and I will be back in time to celebrate Christ's birth.

St. Nicholas

Exhale Friday

That's what I am doing anyway - exhaling between autumn/Thanksgiving and the Advent/Christmas season. I am not shopping black Friday sales, just relaxing, re-organizing, making pot pie with the turkey leftovers, and deciding on a paint color (finally). I really think my husband has had it with me even though he is being very patient. I really wanted a sophisticated blue for our bedroom, but with oak trim and dark furniture, a cheerier green really does look better. So green it is.

I am also in the midst of trying to figure why I have not lost any more weight after that first week eating the Wheat Belly way. I do feel better - daily headaches are gone and I am starting to wake up more refreshed (even though I still have a twitch in my eye) (and yes, I am taking magnesium) but one would expect a little more results after cutting out all grains and sugar for five whole weeks (Joe has lost the same amount in half the time). Extensive thyroid testing all came out normal. The only thing low is my vitamin D and googling tells me that might have something to do with it, that obese people typically have low vitamin D, but experts are unsure what the exact link is. Maybe it's just we don't get outside and walk enough.

Today I am also enjoying reading about everyone's Thanksgiving holiday - going home, seeing relatives, eating favorite foods, marveling at how many people really don't like mushy pumpkin pie. We went to my in-laws, and by the time the kids performed their annual play many of us youngsters with functioning blood circulation were in a food and heat induced coma. The basement wood stove seems to bring the temperature there up to 85 degrees even with several windows open. I am feeling mush more refreshed today back at home with the thermostat on 68.

Unlike most people these days, we do not get our Christmas tree the weekend after Thanksgiving. I have not given much thought to Christmas cards (other than ordering Madonna & Child stamps) and have not started shopping for anyone. I will let the kids make wish lists with the help of the 15" stack of catalogs that have arrived. I do know that I want a Pampered Chef nut chopper for Christmas and that we will read Bartholomew's Passage this year, but that's about it. I did order this advent calendar, these chocolate calendars, and these St. Nicholas coins. Tomorrow we will put away fall decor and bring out the Advent box with the star path, advent wreath, and Jesse Tree ornaments. I dearly hope to start some handcrafts this weekend too, after I finish the Larkrise book!

That's all for today. The baby just woke up from napping and I have lessons plans to type up for next week. The big kids are outside raking and playing. It's about time to think about dinner already and exhale a little more while I still have the chance. Since our bedroom is all taken apart Joe and I get to sleep in the kid's beds tonight and they are all excited about pitching a tent in the basement!

All Hallow's Fun

My husband's crafty carving.

She's a jellyfish. Creative, isn't it? This was all her idea. Too bad the red eye removal would not fix that left eye. Her right, our left.

Woody & Jesse.

Jack-o-lantern one.

Jack-o-lantern two.

 

From Draw Write Now.

 

From Little Saints.

 

From Jamie, most likely.

 

From Art Projects for Kids.

 

From Family Fun.

 

From Enchanted Learning, I think.

 

 

 

From Alphabet Path - the kids remembered to put these out!

 

Pumpkin Monday

My little pun'kins!

A Very Belated Happy St. Valentine's to You!

Yes, this is a holiday under fire for the mix of pagan and Christian traditions - but who can resist a holiday focused on love in all of it's many forms?

Originally we had planned to "do school" and not do too much to celebrate, but we couldn't help ourselves. There were just too many ideas garnered from magazines we just had to use!

School did get done, but with this for breakfast to start the day (except for Little Princess - she just got the cut-out heart toast with raspberry jam))

 

and this for lunch

and many Valentines exchanged -

 

 

We made them all on Saturday

 

and I finally used these cardboard heart cut-outs to make a garland

 

Joe brought home tulips, irises and daffodils for me

and I supplied him with some candy to take to work.

The Little Princess is wondering when all the decorations will come down. I think, probably not until Lent begins. Then it's back to purple.

Happy National Popcorn Day!

Thanking God For . . .

:: my loyal husband, our growing children, our comfortable home

:: reliable vehicles in Minnesota winters

:: accurate weather forecasts

:: my husband's job and his colleagues

:: family and friends, near and far

:: faith that endures

:: food on the table, pies in the oven

:: $5 turkeys (with coupon)

:: the calling and the freedom to homeschool

:: the grace to continue each day

:: opportunities to our children to discover and develop their talents

:: wool socks and down coats

:: hot cocoa and peppermint Oreos

:: picture books and sofas and blankets

:: crackling fires on snowy days

:: indoor plumbing, furnaces and refrigerators

:: my plump happy baby who giggles and gurgles

:: my nursing baby who melts to sleep in my arms

:: the periods of deep sleep I manage to get between night-time nursing sessions

:: being able to find any recipe I want by googling

:: for this blog; my own little place to focus my thoughts, to record our family life, and to share with like-minded friends

Happy Thanksgiving to you!

Masquarade

Because everyone likes dress-up day  ; )

A Grand Old 4th

Friday: Backyard camping

Saturday: The boys went to a Twins game at their new stadium (Father's Day/birthday gifts). The girls stayed home and we made cool knotted bracelets and clothespin dolls.

Sunday: A lakeside family reunion. 

Great Grandma's youngest Great-Grandbaby -

After almost eleven years of marriage I am still meeting members of my husband's family for the first time. This is his cousin, Sheri. We have emailed and talked on the phone so many times it was great to finally meet her in person. Come again, Sheri, and I promise we won't be doing school on July 5th next year so you can come over and hang out!

We all enjoyed our town's fireworks show that night. Little Princess like the "ello" ones best, of course. I totally forgot to take pictures. I was probably too worried about the kids being up so late and how many tantrums our 3yo would throw the next day from lack of sleep but there were just two big ones as usual.

I had better go catch up on sleep myself before I blow!

Thanksgiving Blessings

 . . . and lessons learned.

Such as, if you adjust a cranberry bread recipe to make six loaves instead of one, use six loaf pans, not five. Really. Even if it looks like the batter will fit.

Setting off smoke alarms after the kids' bedtime is not advisable!

At least my other baking projects redeemed me in the eyes of my husband -

Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow

The "I Wants"

Do your kids make Christmas lists? Mine have started early this year. We don't spring for many requests between birthdays and Christmas so everything they ask for after their birthday garners the response, "Put it on your Christmas list!"

Their tastes are getting more expensive. Here are some of this year's wishes:

• a hang glider (yeah, right)
• a trampoline (more likely, but not in winter!)
• an American Girl doll (do we have to start that?)
• a rock tumbler (more likely)

Then the Young Explorers catalog arrived and was promptly swiped. The cutting and pasting began. The "I Wants" are like a mosquito bite that itches the more it's scratched. I find myself feeling annoyed the more they talk about their wish lists. I remind them that they are loved, fed, clothed, educated and well cared for - isn't that all they really need? Aren't they grateful?

But - I find that the "I Wants" are also contagious. Their dreaming even gets me thinking about things that would be nice to have if we had thousands of extra dollars. List-maker that I am I do confess to keeping mental lists. Here are a few several  ~

Things for DH:

• a snow thrower (have you seen how much these cost?)
• a garage make-over
• a pressure washer
• a riding lawn mower (except we have no where to put it)
• a generator
• hire out window washing
• hire out some interior painting
• a new car to replace his '96 Accord

The home improvement wish list:

• a new sofa (daily reading time has reduced the life of ours)
• granite counter tops
• ceramic tile the bathrooms
• a deck
• finish the basement
• re-do the flagstone patio that is constantly dirty and weedy and uneven
• re-do some of the garden beds and add a tall white lattice fence behind the east garden to block the view of our neighbor's weeds

The SAHM self-care dream items:

• new maternity clothes (mine are almost all 10 years old!)
• a spa package of regular pedicures, facials, and massages
• quality facial care products now that 40 is coming (next year)
• a professional weight loss program next summer after baby #5
• some new jewelry
• a gym membership and time to exercise

Financial "I Wants" should really come first before all the material wants. Achieving these goals would even free up a chunk of the monthly budget for a few extras:

• pay off my grad school loan
• pay off the van

Nothing urgent, just things that would be nice. Hopefully this is a little sign of detachment, right? My happiness does not depend on getting any of these items. Only a few eat at me a little - like the sagging sofa, dirty windows and the dark den on the north side of the house that could use a brighter hue of paint before daylight savings ends. But mostly, thanks to an abundance of progesterone these days, I am way too tired to get worked up about it!

I also try to avoid voicing these "I Wants" around the children because I don't want to set a bad example. Hopefully I am not the contagious one infecting the children!

Other needs always seem to come first before all the extras anyway - music lessons, winter clothing needs, fireplace cleaning, firewood purchasing and annual piano tuning are the biggies we currently face. Oh, and cell phones. Our Quest service is ending for good and we have to find another phone and another plan or be charged a de-activation fee. Looks like a somewhat necessary splurge (but not really necessary) will be made for I-Phones. Last year's version.

Each of us will probably get at least one thing we want this Christmas, all the time knowing that gifts are not what the Holy Day is really about. Christmas is about Jesus and while gift giving is one way of showing our love for one another, it is certainly not the focus.

The kids like to dream and so do I. I just have to remember a wise adage my mother taught me: If your outgo is more than your income, your upkeep will be your downfall!

Happy Birthday America

April Shower of Photos - Easter

Yes, I'm a little late in joining the fun of this theme, but thought it would be a great way to catch up after this long blogging break.

Holy Thursday -

Friday we enjoyed a memorable Lenten Tea - hmm, no photos it seems

Because we were traveling on Sunday we did the Easter fun on Holy Saturday.

The Egg Hunt - blanket in tow

Checking the loot. Another basket with all the chocolate was hidden well.

And a gift for them all - Domino Race - it's their latest obsession.

Lamb, asparagus, potatoes and leftover Centurion tomatoes!

The Lamb Cake didn't quite turn out this year, but here's how it looked two years ago -

Happy Easter season to you all!

Thanks for the tip on this set, Jessica!

Valentine Recollections

Mom & Dad:
While grocery shopping Saturday morning I hated to admit my envy in seeing so many men purchasing flowers, balloons and chocolate - all items I told my husband he did not have to buy for me this year. Silly me. The green color in my face soon dissipated when I realized that these guys most likely were not taking their wives to a Victorian Poetry Slam like my husband!

In this 36,ooo square foot home

in a drawing room larger than the entire first floor of our little home

my husband and I nestled into our seats for a dramatic presentation of Victorian verse. Two ladies and one gentleman emerged in period dress to deliver twenty-seven well-loved poems under the softening light of a crystal chandelier. The hour that passed seemed as mere minutes as the words of poems both familiar and unfamiliar were delivered to our receptive ears.

The familiar verses I most enjoyed: Trees by Joyce Kilmer, Christina Rossetti selections and Elizabeth Barrett Browning's Portuguese Sonnet. All the other poems sped by entirely too fast for this music-not-English major. I need to see the words, to repeat them, to chew on them, to absorb the choices of words. The experience was much like our drive down Summit Avenue to and from the event - "Slow down, please dear! Pull over here! Look at the woodwork on that stairway! Did you see the leaded glass in that entry?" My poor husband was fearful of being run off the road. Such are the dangers of driving through historic neighborhoods with me after dusk!

Note to self: study up on poetry, take a walking tour of Summit Ave this summer!

The Children:
After the Doll's Tea Party we feasted on Shrimp Salsa Soup, heart-shaped pizza and fizzy drinks (adult and kid's versions) before the babysitter arrived to take over. I think the special treatment eased any envy over our date night. We were equally happy to hear that the baby toddler went to bed more easily for the babysitter than for us.

The sending of Valentines:
Do you send them? To whom? We made the usual kind for close relatives and for one another with animals and flowers and butterflies formed from punched-out hearts. We forgot, however, to make some for the girls at dance class.

My girls were not the only ones empty handed. Another Dancing for Jesus mom explained that her family does not like to give out Valentines because they are unrelated to the real meaning of the day. Ok - as a Catholic I totally get that. But still. I forgot to ask if she puts up a Christmas Tree.

So - the girls planned to give out Valentines a week late - today. Of course they forgot all about it until the half hour before we planned to leave for dance. With the evangelical mom in mind, I quickly printed out bio information on the life of St. Valentine, the girls taped on candy, wrote their names and rolled them up like a scroll. I finished them off with a red ribbon and presto we had evangelical Valentines. Proselytizers are we. (I often do the same thing for Halloween - print off the history of All Saints and All Souls Day, tape on candy and roll 'em up!) In all charity, I do hope they are read with an open mind and foster an appreciation of St. Valentine as a defender of the Sacrament of marriage. He's not so far removed from love as some might think.

One more thing:

Is there anyone besides me feel guilty for ignoring the feast of Saints Cyril and Methodius?

Doll's Tea Party Today

After getting the baby up this morning I was told by the other children to go back to bed. Something about a "Valentine's Day surprise". I obliged them and soon after the three of them came marching into the room singing "Happy Valentine's Day to you!" Each child held up a red paper heart - one with "I" the next with a heart and the last with "U". We then exchanged Valentines in mom & dad's bed. Dino wasn't prepared with one so he gave out hugs and kisses instead. Such a treat from a boy! Such a time to treasure in my heart!

After our traditional eggs-in-a-heart-shaped-nest and heart-shaped toast with red jam the children took off upstairs to begin the festivities. Mom and Dad were invited up for a viewing and here is what we found:

Have a great day everyone - off to do the grocery shopping!

Overheard . . .

"I can't decide what to eat first."

"My favorite food is the cranberry sauce!"

"How do I eat my mashed potatoes without the gravy spilling out of it's swimming pool?"

"Mmmmmmmmm!"

Happy Thanksgiving

From our Pilgrims and Indians to yours!