a gypsy caravan

All Saints Day Party

Each year our local homeschooling group has its annual All Saints Day party at a roller rink, which we rent for the afternoon.  (For those of you who can imagine many, many children dressed in costumes, you can imagine what the addition of wheels does to the mix.)  This year, we had 75 children in attendance!  The kids arrive in costume, skate for some time and then take a break for a sharing time where each child tells about his/her Saint.  The audience guesses the Saint by the clues given.   Then, there is time for more skating and each child receives a bag of candy upon leaving. 

Annie as a Guardian Angel

Mary Kathryn as Our Heavenly Mother with the baby Jesus (aka Baby Emmie in disguise)

Christopher as St. Martin of Tours

The funny thing about Chris is that each day he dresses in this knightly get-up anyhow.  :) Really.  If you stopped by any given day, this is probably what you would find him in!

Benjamin (right) and his good friend St. Hubert the Hunter (aka Nick) in a poorly focused photo taken while the boys were "listening intently" to the Saint clues, (lest you think my oldest looks bored)  In his defense, the saint "narrations" lasted over an hour but it was so sweet to see the little ones go up in their costumes. 

We had a wonderful afternoon hanging out with old friends and enjoying the children.  This was such a fun time for the kids and it gave the moms and dads a chance to put on skates again!  (Just like old times~~junior high Friday night skating, under the disco ball, wearing leg warmers,  and Shaun Cassidy t-shirts...Come on!  You know you did!  :) )

Have a wonderful Halloween and All Saints Day!

Me, Myself and I

Walking into the learning room, I found a huge mess on the floor.  Pastels, rhythm instuments (there they are again!) lacing cards and picture books were strewn about. I waved my arms above my head and cried, "Who made this big mess?!?"  Mary looked around and said, pointing, "Well, I did that part and the rest was me."

Woodworking Skills: The Tea Table

Both of my sons enjoy working with hand tools. Benjamin began when he was four, hammering nails in a piece of soft pine.  We supplied him with the real things although he was very young.  He had a great respect for the tools and used them correctly from the start.  At that time, we kept a small workbench in our basement that I had purchased from a Montessori school that had closed.  It was just the right height for a young child to work efficiently and safely.

I would like to tell you that the bench is neat and orderly but that is not the case.  It is now kept in our garage (among many other tools, bikes and toys) but it still gets quite a bit of use. Benjamin now does his work at his father's workbench or outside because he has grown too tall to use the small workbench. Christopher, on the other hand, is able to use it comfortably.

Last week the boys disappeared into the garage for quite some time.  When they came back in the house, they told me that they planned to build a tiny tea table for their sister, Mary, out of some scrap wood they had found. Mary just loves to play with her miniature tea set and sets up elaborate parties with her dolls and animals.  I told the boys that the table was a great idea.  They went back outside and set to work.

After building the table, they sanded it smooth.  Then, they consulted their sister as to what color she would like to have it painted.  She chose dark purple.  Since we did not have any dark purple paint in the house, we took a trip to the craft store to pick some up.  While we were there, they also chose some sparkly "jewels" that they used to decorate the top.

Here is the finished product:

It stands about 7 inches from the floor, just the right height for a little girl and her dolls to sit around and share a spot of tea.  :)

While this table is not "professional" quality, it was made from the heart. It serves a wonderful purpose for its recipient, who will never forget the little tea table her brothers made for her.  I also think the skills used and learned while making it are so valuable.  But most of all, I shiver with happiness that these boys chose to spend their afternoon doing something to bring joy to another person.  That, to me, is worth more than anything.

Note to Self

Before laying a sleeping baby down for the night, it is important to remember to first remove the various rhythm instuments like tambourines, maracas and cymbals (played with earlier in the day by a three and six year old) from the baby's bed. 

In case anyone was wondering, they make the exact same noise in the dark as they do in the light.  :)

The Christ Child and the Manger

In the upcoming weeks, I'd like to share some of our family's Advent and Christmas traditions.  One of my favorites centers around the Christ Child and His manger.

On the first day of Advent, an empty manger is set out in a prominent place in our living room.  Nearby is a basket containing soft bedding of hay, straw or paper Easter grass (in a natural color).  Throughout the Advent season, the children can place a piece of hay in the manger when they have done an act of kindness, made a sacrifice for others or said a prayer for someone in need. 

As the Advent season progresses, it is fun to see the children reminding one another to do kind things so they can make a soft bed for the Christ child's arrival.  The spirit is jovial and encouraging as they spur one another to be good. 

On Christmas Eve, the bed is made, filled with all their love and prayers for others in the form of hay.  They go to bed, awaiting His arrival (and OK, the presents too!).  On Christmas morning,  He has come!  We place his manger on our dining room table in the center of the feast.  Our statue of the Baby Jesus is almost life sized.  The little ones really take to Him, since He is the size of a real baby, kissing His little fingers and touching His head.   

This tradition is special to our family because it is a tangible way during Advent to show our love for others and, therefore, for Him.  The manger and Baby are on display until Epiphany, the day that we celebrate the Adoration of the Magi.  The statue remains, during the Christmas season, as a reminder of the real Christ child, born some 2000 years ago, who still fills our hearts and families with His love. 

10 Random Facts About Me

For Dawn, who tagged me.  :)

1.  I am an only child.

Which, frankly, was kind of dull.  I always hoped for siblings but got stuffed animals instead.  Not quite the same.  :)

2.  I have difficulty making friends and knowing how to be one.

See #1. I had older parents who were not especially social.  We did not have people over to visit or play very often, except my grandfather who came for Sunday dinner.  I still seem to fluctuate between overwhelming my friends or inadvently neglecting them.  I am not very good at finding the balance.  So for those of you reading this who are my friends, thank you for putting up with me :)

3.  I love rice pudding.

Don't bring the stuff near me! I will eat the whole container in one fell swoop!  Not only homemade but especially that Kozy Shack brand from the grocery store.  Keep it away!

4.  I was in the circus as a child.

Just once. :) In 1976, the Ringling Bros. came to town and I was chosen to perform in a bicentennial tribute.  Basically, I marched around the ring with several other children wearing  red, white and blue sequinned outfits and capes, waving Old Glory.  It was very fun!

5.  I was the homecoming queen of my graduating class.

But I must qualify that sentence and tell you that to this day, I am convinced it was a miscount. :)

6.  I make up ridiculous nicknames names for my babies.

Like Hunka Chunka Chocolate, Peanut Buttercup, Little Teeny Tatertot and other oddities.   They are so sweet and delicious that usually their invented names revolve around food.

7.  I am a water person.

I love to swim, sail and have been known to take far too long in the bathtub.   My parents always owned a sailboat.  We spent each summer sailing Lake Erie, visiting many small islands.  Another little known fact, I used to do synchronized swimming as a teenager and young woman. 

8.  I am afraid of ledges.

Not heights, just ledges.  You know those open staircases where you can see the ground as you crawl walk up?  Yikes! Hate 'em.  You know the glass railings in tall office buildings where you can see the people walking on the floors down below?  Nope, can't do those. 

9.  I love country music.

...though I don't get to listen much anymore (as I don't have much time alone in the car these days--not that I am complaining.  I'd rather have the kids with me than be able to play the radio anyday! ). I have seen many folks in concert such as George Strait, Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney, Martina McBride, and others.  My alterego wears boots. 

10.  I spend way too much time at library booksales.

Because who can resist bringing $10 and coming home with forty books?  Our library is having a sale next weekend. Yea!

  The reality is that libraries around here are getting rid of all the books I want in their booksales and buying, well, Elmo and Bob the Builder books with the profits.  Not that I have anything against Elmo, but he isn't exactly great literature now is he ?  Though, I can admit he is sort of endearing with that cute red fuzzy face and those gangly legs.  "Happy tapping with EL-mo!"  Why is it that he always speaks in the third person?  "Elmo wants to be Telly's friend."  or "Elmo so happy to see you!"   

11.  See #10--I talk too much. :)

Tagging:

Cheryl

Kim

Kathryn

Meredith

Sarah

The smile that makes my heart melt

Blog Tidying

I have decided to add my Heart of the Kitchen blog posts to the archives here.  I will be deleting that blog after the switcheroo is complete.  For now, I will be keeping Babylove where it is.  Those of you who subscribe through Bloglines may get quite a few recipe reposts during  the next couple of weeks.  Please bear with me while I get it all worked out.  Thanks :)!

A nice addition to your backyard

I get quite a lot of visitors who are looking to purchase or build a real gypsy caravan.  I have perused many of the websites that sell plans or caravans ready made but this one is my favorite.  Wouldn't this be great fun to have in your backyard for the kids?

A Book of Feasts and Seasons

One of the first books I was given when I reverted to Catholicism nine years ago was Joanna Bogle's A Book of Feasts and Seasons.   I devoured its contents with much enthusiasm.  My childhood had failed to teach me the beauty of the Catholic faith, my catechism had been weak and watered down at best.  I had no idea what a traditional Catholic home could hold within its walls, what kinds of celebrations could be had because I grew up in an era and a home that did not embrace the rhythm and seasons of the Church. 

When I reverted, I committed myself to bringing the Faith alive for my children, to instill in them memories and traditions that they would not want to forsake, as I had done,  for another faith.  We jumped into celebrating the Liturgical Year in our home, starting with Advent.  As the Church year progressed,  I spent much time with Bogle's book (as well as Mary Reed Newland's The Year and Our Children, which is now sadly out of print).   Feasts and Seasons is chock full of recipes, craft ideas, interesting bits of history, saint biographies and much more.   It painted a picture for me of how a home could be: putting on plays of the lives of the Saints, making pancakes together for Shrove Tuesday, searching the fields on Michaelmas for purple asters, having a party on Twelth Night.  I pictured it all in my mind's eye, the way a Catholic home might be, thanks to Joanna's vivid descriptions.   

I return to this book again and again to glean ideas, try out yet another recipe or just find support for the faith-filled lifestyle that I want to pass on to my children. 

Joanna Bogle has started a blog called Auntie Joanna Writes.  While I have only read a couple of her posts, I am sure she will be a wealth of information for those of us who long to bring the Feasts and Seasons into our homes. 

Way Back When…

Christopher :  "Mommy, were there horses and buggies when you were a little girl or had cars been invented by then?"  :)

Egyptian Pyramids

The kids and I have spent the past five years learning American history. This year we took a break from it and are studying  Ancient History.  We have been using Susan Wise Bauer's The Story of the World, Ancient Times as a spine, along with its accompanying activity guide.  While I think that SWB can be a bit of an overachiever, she certainly has some fun ideas packed into that activity book.  There are reproducible maps to highlight the geographical area of study, supplemental reading lists, games to play, coloring pages and arts and crafts activities. 

We decided to take her suggestion to build Egyptian pyramids out of sugar cubes.  To build each pyramid, you need 55 sugar cubes, white glue and craft sand.

In order to build a pyramid that can be displayed and handled, it must be glued together.  We began with a small piece of cardboard, which we covered with glue.   On it we placed the first layer of the pyramid which consisted of 25 sugar cubes.

Follwing the first layer, a coating of white glue is necessary.  The second layer of the pyramid is made of 16 blocks. 

Each  layer is coated with white glue and the correct number of blocks as follows: 25 for the base, 16 for the second level, 9 for the third, 4 for the fourth and lastly a single block on top.

The excess glue is fine because after building the pyramid, it will be covered in sand.

Next the layer of sand is added.
Voila! The finished pyramid...

When these are completely dried, I think we will use them in a diaorama of Egypt, just for fun. 

Interestingly enough, Cheop's Great Pyramid stands 481 feet high, contains 2.3 million blocks which weigh 2 1/2 tons each and was built completely by the hands of 100,000 slaves over the course of 20 years.  Quite amazing. 

The kids and I had a lot of fun making this project.  I have some books in the sidebar that we are working on for Ancient history.  I welcome any other recommendations you might have to supplement our study.  Thanks!

He’s so excited…

...to FINALLY be old enough to join the Cub Scouts.  Here is my little Christopher all dressed for his first Tiger Cub meeting.

   

Here's hoping you have many years of exciting Scouting adventures! 

That did the trick

Earlier today, Ben was taking the girls for a wagon ride.  Mary jumped out to run off and play.  But look who fell asleep!  Benjamin is very happy that he was able to help Annie to sleep.   I overheard him saying to his brother, "I am pretty good with little ones."  :)

She’s Bananas for Bananas!

Mary has been honing her practical life skills past few weeks by learning to cut, arrange and serve food.  She helps me at snacktime to assemble the snacks in a basket, put out the drink cups and fill the drink dispenser with ice water.  But her favorite thing to do is to slice bananas. Bananas are her specialty.  She cuts several each day because they are soft enough for her to slice with her small knife.  You might think it a great thing that she wants to spend her days cutting fruit instead of, say, scooping ice cream, but the truth of the matter is that she does not like to eat bananas, only to cut them.

(For some reason, she also likes to wear her sunglasses in the house ala Cory Hart.)

Baby Annie has become the lucky recipient of all of Mary's bananas.  Sometimes she eats two or three bananas a day thanks to her big sister.  Because her stomach is only the size of a walnut, the bananas pretty much cover breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

(Annie being cooperative with Mary's banana slices.) 

The baby sits and watches Mary slice her first banana with eager eyes at breakfast time.  When lunch rolls around, Annie looks a bit less enthused but will still comply.  By dinner, she pitches the banana slices on the floor within seconds but little Mary says, "Eat your good bananas Annie."

The funny thing is that it does not seem to phase Mary that her sister is not always very grateful for her third bananameal.  She just seems pleased with her work and sincerely dumbfounded as to why Annie might not be appreciative.  I have tried to break it to her gently, that perhaps Sister would like a bit more variety but Mary does not appear to be moving onto other fruits or vegetables anytime soon.  She did, however, go out into the herb garden yesterday and pick a large handful of fresh parsley and basil and attempt to feed it to Annie who stared at it but did not graze.  Here's hoping Mary moves on to cutting bread cubes or cheese for poor Annie very soon! 

Hang in there, baby!

Autumn is here!

Unfortunately, I did not compile a post in time for Michele's Loveliness of Autumn fair.  Please, do stop by to read  the wonderful posts and ideas that are shared there!   

There are so many ways that we can make our homes welcoming with each season change.  I really enjoy the change from Summer to Autumn, not only because the latter is my favorite season to be out of doors but because the changes within my home are the simplest for me as well. 

Our previous home, which was a rental, had gorgeous woodwork and leaded glass windows with built in china cabinets and window seats.  We now live in a 1940's bungalow which has small rooms that do not have a whole lot of character.   This home really relies on its decorating colors and furniture to make it interesting.   I have painted most of the rooms in warm tones so Autumn decorations really work well here. 

This is the view into our front door.  The wood burning fireplace gets a lot of use in the colder months.  I try to decorate the mantel and the area above it for the season at hand.  I purchased this wheat wreath from a small, family-owned company several years ago.  I hang it from the beginning of Autumn until Advent.   The mantel is decorated with some silk autumn leaves and small artificial pumpkins/gourds.  These, I purchased at a Dollar Tree store.  The entire mantel's decorations cost $5, excluding the candles which I bought many years ago.

Some other ways to highlight the seasons are by using interesting photo frames around the house.  I often purchase these after the season is over and they are much less expensive.  Added to a table with some other photos, it gives a little touch of Autumn for a small amount of money.  This one, of iron leaves, adds a little character to the table alongside the vase of fall flowers and foliage that I change each season.

Also in the living room is the piano which just asks to be decorated!  It is here that we place our Advent log during Advent, decorated with greens and berries.  During the fall, we use fall candles, seasonal photo frames and other decorations to bring it to life.   

The view from this room into the dining room...

My dining room is our only eating area in the house.  It is home to a table and six chairs.  There is no room for anything else.  I keep the decorations simple in there, just a runner (also used at Christmastime) and small basket of leaves and gourds.  Once again, the basket and gourds were less than $5 at the dollar store. 

Here is a shelf in my little sunroom, which is joined to my dining room.  My mother likes to bring fresh flowers for me now and then (which I really love! ) This time she brought mums to brighten my day.  They really add a nice fall flair to the room. 

On the outside of our home, we have a couple of these fellows hanging around the mums and pumpkins.  The littles really like them .  When it is dark in the evening and I have come back from being out, I have been known to jump pretty high, thinking they are a real person by my door! 

Thanks for letting me share these few, simple ways that I have tried to bring Autumn to my home.

Perhaps your home has a season that looks just right within its walls.  My mother-in-love's home is a wonderful, festive place in the winter with all of its decorations for Christmas.  For which season do you most enjoy decorating your home?

What we’re listening to these days

In the summer months, we attend quite a few local Irish festivals.  My husband's grandfather's family is from County Kerry.  While I, myself, do not seem to have an ounce of Irish blood in my veins, I am forever being mistaken as being of Irish descent due to my fair freckled skin and dark hair.

Anyhow, we are quite fond of traditional Irish music and have been listening to a fair share of Solas.   Have you heard this wonderful band as of yet?  We also have this CD of theirs as well.  If you scroll down the page, you can listen to some of the songs by clicking on the links.  Good stuff.

Add to it our current read alouds which include Red Hugh: Prince of Donegal and The Cottage at Bantry Bay series for my oldest, plus A Symphony for the Sheep for the littles, and we have a wee Irish unit study in the making.   

Forty Dreams of St. John Bosco

I have been reading this book about my favorite Saint and I really am having a hard time putting it down.  It is a compilation of St. John Bosco's biographical memoirs, published by Tan.  Don Bosco, founder of the Salesian order, had his first dream when he was nine years old.  In this dream, Our Lord called him to teach young boys that virtue is beautiful and sin is ugly.  He also promised to give John Bosco His Mother as a guide and helper. 

From the back cover:

"In the following 60 years, he experienced remarkable vision-like dreams, which were so lively and vivid that he would often awaken exhausted the next morning...Catholics who may not be inspired by abstract spiritual writings will be able to see in these dreams the evil of impurity, disobedience, gluttony, pride, bad Confessions, sacreligious Communions, etc.  as well as the reality of Hell and the danger of flirting with temptations.  They also will see the great power of good Confessions and devout Holy Communions, as well as the rewards in store for those who practice purity, obedience, temperance and humility, but especially for those who preserve their baptismal innocence--a precious gem far too little regarded by most Catholics. "

I am also stuck by a letter on education at the end of the book which I have read before but speaks volumes to me today.  Don Bosco dreamt that a pupil of his Oratory came to him and described the importance of spending time in recreation with the children.  He warned Don Bosco against only preaching to the boys and not spending time playing with them. 

"The teacher who is seen only in the classroom, and nowhere else, is a teacher and nothing more; but let him go with his boys to recreation and he becomes a brother."

How many days go by that I keep to my work, preparing meals, lessons and doing household tasks but do not take the time to joyfully play with the children, to get outside and run with them or play games with them?  Don Bosco was so good at becoming one of them that they trusted him implicitly and wanted to please him.   This will be my goal this week, to spend time each day in recreation with the children. 

I'll let you know how it goes. 

St. Michael Chaplets

While we were making the chaplets on Michalemas, Mary began to feel sick and eventually I had to stop the craftmaking and take her to bed.   So, the chaplets remain unfinished.  We will work some more on them early this week and post the photos when soon as they are complete. 

By the way, thank you all for your prayers.  She is feeling a bit better, still a little queasy without much appetite, but well enough to attend her pal Dominic's birthday party this evening! :)