My Daybook :: June 29, 2012

Outside my window...
we have been enjoying watching these little twins.  Aren't they just the cutest?!?



I am thankful...        
for fun summer activities, and multiple child discounts!

I am thinking... 
about ways to simplify.  So much for the "lazy days" of summer!   I've still been feeling overwhelmed lately, but it's getting a little better and I (thankfully) haven't had another panic attack.

Learning all the time... 
This week has been all about golf, but the big kids have all managed to complete a few math, spelling, and writing lessons as well.   My IEW order arrived and we couldn't wait to dig in and watch the first lesson of the Student Writing Intensive.   The kids LOVED it and I am confident that this will be a perfect fit for our family this coming year!

* Rascal was awarded a Golden Putter for being the "Overall Camp Champion!"

Celebrating the liturgical year... 
with today's feast of Sts. Peter and Paul!  Since it's Friday, I think I'll have Hubby grill some fish in honor of these great "Fishers of Men." I might also whip up some sort of fish themed treat or cupcakes for the kids to enjoy while we play The Journeys of Paul Board Game after dinner!



From the kitchen... 
My new fave... Chipotle Black Bean Burgers topped with a slice of pepper jack cheese, guacamole, red onion, tomato and lettuce.  Oh. My. Goodness. are they DELICIOUS!  (Oh, and they are on sale/coupon at Costco right now... I stocked up!)   

I am creating... 
a unit study for this summer based on the Olympics!  I just ordered a copy of G is for Gold Medal: An Olympic Alphabet and downloaded this lapbook to start.

I am working on... 
making a few changes to our curriculum and ordering our schoolbooks for this coming school year.

I am going... 
through the piles that have accumulated in our schoolroom and filling a box with the books we no longer need or use for this year's Online Curriculum Sale Blog Hop.  I'm planning on hosting the link-up here at Shower of Roses from July 16th-31st this year for all of you that are interested in participating.

I am hoping... 
that we will have some warm and sunny days over the next two weeks, especially since we begin swimming lessons on Monday.   It is raining again today and it just doesn't feel like summer if our corner of the country.

I am reading... 
lots of books to the little ones for the library Summer Reading Program!  I also just received these two new-to-us books in the mail...  I just LOVE Paperback Swap!  Now I just need to find some summer reading for myself, especially for during our time at the pool these next couple weeks... Any suggestions?

I am praying... 
that the Lyme infested tick that bit my Hubby didn't pass along the disease.  Not the best news to receive this past Monday, on his first day back at work after a week of vacation.  He has already started a round of antibiotics, and we are waiting on the results from his blood test.

Pondering these words...
from Through the Year with Fulton Sheen.  Doesn't it make you so happy to hear that he was just declared venerable!  He has so many wonderful quotes, but this is my one of my favorites:

"Sometimes the only way the good Lord can get into some hearts is to break them."

I am listening...  
to The Four Language Arts by Andrew Pudewa.  Love it!

Around the house... 
lots of golf tees.  I keep finding them everywhere!

One of my favorite things...  
themed birthday parties!  We have a couple more birthdays coming up in July and August that I need to start planning.  Oh, speaking of which, I never did show you all the awesome little cars that Rascal made out of modeling wax for his little brother's 5th birthday.  Didn't he do such a great job?!?  I was impressed!

A few plans for the week... {and next}

• 2nd week of Golf Camp for the 5 oldest
• A 20th Anniversary Party {It was so much fun, and everyone brought International themed main dishes and appetizers to share! Yum}
• Parade on Saturday morning, followed by BBQ
• Mass on Sunday 
• Swimming lessons begin Monday morning
• 4th of July party and fireworks
• Try and respond to at least a few emails...  I'm so behind and just haven't had much time to spend online, as usual!  

A little peek at my day...

Bud is trying so hard to crawl.   It won't be long!  In the meantime he keeps frustrating himself, by just backing up off of his soft blankets and away from his toys...

Wildlife Images

Our family recently attended a field trip to an Animal Rehabilitation & Information Center which cares for over 1,000 wild animals every year at no charge to individuals or organizations.  When we arrived they asked everyone to break up into 4 groups of 15-20.   Since Amy and her family were there as well, we joined up with them and immediately had a group of 19, with just our two families!

Our children have been studying Zoology this year, particularly Flying Creatures, so this field trip tied in perfectly.  We learned all sorts of "Fascinating Facts" that we are adding to our science journals (or lapbook for TT), especially about some of the various "Birds of Prey" that we were able to meet!  We'd like to introduce you to some of them:

Beauty the Harlan Hawk

This is Beauty.   She is a Harlan Hawk, a sub-species of Red Tailed Hawks, and is considered one in a million because of her unusual color phase!

This crazy bird arrived after she hurt herself flying into a building.   After she was rehabilitated and released, she flew into the very same building again!  I guess they later found out that she was blind in one eye and has limited vision in the other, making her unable to survive in the wild.

Petri the Barn Owl 

This cute little Barn Owl got her name from the "Petri" brand cigar box that her egg (and 3 others) arrived in, after her nest traveled in a haystack by truck to our area.  She was the only one that hatched.

Fascinating Facts:  The Barn Owl has acute hearing, with ears placed asymmetrically for improved detection of sound position and distance, and it does not require sight to hunt.

Barn Owls are referred to as Nature's Mousetrap because of their efficiency at catching mice and rats.  They weigh less than 1 pound, but will eat up to their own body weight in mice each night!

Chase the Peregrine Falcon

Despite her damaged wing, which prevents her from being released, I thought Chase was gorgeous!  And we learned so much about Peregrine Falcons... What an amazing bird!

Fascinating Facts:  Peregrine Falcons have been called nature's finest flying machine.  They are nature's fastest fliers.  Peregrines have been clocked diving at speeds up to or a little over 220 miles per hour!

The peregrine falcon is probably best known for its spectacular method of capturing prey in mid-air. It flies faster than other birds and, when hunting, it increases its speed by making aerial dives with the wings partially or fully pulled in, to attack its prey, which is killed instantly.

Peregrine falcons have adapted to living in cities. Cities offer tall buildings with ledges for nesting, water sources, large populations of pigeons and starlings for food, and have few natural predators.  In some places, where pigeons are especially a problem, Peregrine falcons have been introduced.

Cazadero the Red-Tailed Hawk

Cazadero has a permanent eye injury, and since hawks depend on both eyes for hunting, he isn't able to be released.

Fascintating Facts:  Red-tailed hawks, like all raptors, (usually) have excellent vision. They can see colors, like most humans can, as well as the ultraviolet range. This means that the hawks can perceive colors that humans cannot see. Red-tailed hawks are diurnal hunters but see black and white well enough to also hunt at dusk, the time when nocturnal animals, especially rodents, begin to awaken and move around. 

Augi and Beruti the African Augur Buzzards

Fascinating Facts: Augur buzzards are one of the most numerous types of hawks in Africa. In the Americas, the term “buzzard” generally refers to vultures, but in the Old World, the word’s original meaning was “hawk”.

Some of the other birds we were able to see inside their cages included:   Golden Eagles, Great Horned Owl, Turkey Vultures, an Western Screech Owl, American Kestrels, a Ferruginous Hawk, and more!

Bald Eagles

We saw four Bald Eagles - two in the first cages and these two in a bigger cage with an open window.  I wish I could remember their names...  I'm pretty sure one of these two is "Miss Jefferson" but I could be wrong.

Fascinating Facts:   Bald Eagles don't actually acquire their white feathers and yellow beaks until they are 3-5 years old.  They are usually around 7 years old before their heads are completely white.

In addition to all of the birds, we also saw Wolves, Grizzly Bears, Black Bears, a Cougar, Badger, Bobcats, Coatis, a Gray Fox, and more!

I didn't get a good picture, but I was the most, ummm, freaked out, by "Clark" the Cougar, as he paced back in forth in his cage.   I guess he is larger than the cougars that have been spotted in our neck of the woods by some of my neighbors, but I'd rather not see another cougar again. Ever!   Let's move on...

Oh, this cute little River Otter, Nestle, is a retired movie star!   Her last movie was Evan Almighty.  We all had fun watching her play in "Critter Creek."  

Overall it was an excellent field trip and we learned all sorts of interesting things about wildlife.  

My Daybook :: On the Traditional Feast of St. Thérèse

*I started this Daybook post this morning and worked on it a few minutes here and there throughout the day.

Outside my window... it is a rainy day.  Perfect for curling up on the couches with blankets and books!

I am thinking... about baby names.  We really don't even have a list started for this little guy.  Of course we had a name picked out for a girl, but naming boys has always been so hard for us!

I am thankful... for the sweet woman that was standing next to me in the video section at the grocery store last night, as my husband and I were trying to choose a movie after our dinner date.  She totally made my day when she turned to me and said "You have the perfect pregnant tummy!"

From the kitchen... For breakfast this morning I got up extra early and made my Mom and Grandma's simple "crepe" recipe to serve, along with maple syrup and strawberry roses, for this traditional feast of St. Therese!  I was even able to get the first couple off the grill quick enough so that Hubby could have some before having to leave for work... They are one of his favorites!

Learning all the time... Only two more weeks and the four oldest will be finished with the first of six "units" for the year!   They have really been enjoying their study of the Early American Explorers, with the addition of the Kaya books for the girls.   Yesterday the girls made and served lunch, as their State-by-State Baking project (though it didn't include any actual baking this week) for New Jersey and Georgia and Snuggles LOVED his Little Saints Alphabet Fun!  I've been too busy posting about Little Flowers and Feast Days, but perhaps I will find the time to post a few pictures soon.

Living the Liturgical Year at Home... The past few days have been filled with celebrations!  St. Therese, the Holy Guardian Angels, and our Anniversary.  Tomorrow is the feast of St. Francis and then later this week we will celebrate the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.   I was asked to bring treats for after Mass next Sunday, so I am leaning towards the cupcake rosary.   We'll see.

I am creating... a list for tomorrow.  I have my monthly OB check-up in the afternoon, and plan to stay in town afterwards to run errands and maybe pick up some groceries.

I am (or rather have been) wearing... this long sleeve maternity t-shirt.  I originally just bought it in Evergreen, but when they went on sale for buy-one-get-one 50% off, I went back for the White and Ruby Red.   It is so comfortable!  I have a dress to return, so I may just exchange it for a couple more, maybe the Black and Eggplant (perfect for Advent!), or maybe this 3/4 sleeve shirt in Antique Mauve that I almost bought the last time I was at the mall.  I know I only have a few months left, but I'm bigger than ever all my old maternity clothes must have shrunk!

Speaking of maternity clothes, if any of you are looking for some comfy skirts, I have also been wearing this one and this brown one and love them!

I am reading... tons of emails, and all the lovely comments over at Catholic Cuisine.  If you haven't entered the giveaway for the gorgeous St. Therese Apron, click on over and leave a comment!

Pondering these words... from the 2nd reading at Mass yesterday:

"Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, 

with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.

Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding 

will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

Noticing that... I probably should book a hair cut appointment soon, since my gift certificate will expire in a couple months.   I am trying to decide what I would like to have done, and I am just not sure...

Towards personal care... The Babybelly Band seems to be helping, but I still haven't been sleeping much lately.  For some reason lying down has been the most painful, and I am not able to stay in bed for more than a 4-5 hours at night.  I am really hoping that my midwife has some great advice for me tomorrow!

I am listening... to my boys investigating and discussing "Biomes" as they work on their Zoology 1 Notebooking Journals.

Around the house... we have been spotting all sorts of wildlife.

Our kids went crazy last night when they saw this guy walking past our dining room sliding door.   I posted a picture on Facebook asking if anyone was missing a ram, and my sister Julianna had me cracking up with her comment:

"Hahaha this made my day. But how random....or should I say ramdom :P"

And here is a picture of this morning's excitement.  The kids were still all reading on the couch, when these two bucks started fighting right outside the window!  

This picture is a little blurry, since I was on the other side of the glass when I snapped it...

Next we had this little one, outside the window as well.   Twinkle Toes said,"Wow!  All the animals are coming out with this Water Weather!"  lol!

I am hoping... that I never again find a baby lizard in my bedroom!   Actually the kids spotted him first, and with that discovery, I have officially had enough "excitement" for today!

I am praying... for a safe, natural, delivery and healthy baby.

One of my favorite things...  Don't you just love this PlanToys Plan Preschool Alphabet A-Z?!? Snuggles has been having so much fun with it!  I think I might have to save and get him the Number Set as well. Maybe for when we get to "Number Fun" with Little Saints!

A few plans for the rest of the week:

• Monthly check-up with my Midwife
• Tutor for 4 hours on Wednesday
• First Friday Mass
• Bring treats to Mass next Sunday

A Picture thought I am sharing:

Taken yesterday, on our 12th Anniversary ~ October 2, 2011

In the Woods Today. . .

The past few weeks I have been receiving afternoon emails from my husband with more pictures of what he has been seeing while working.

Some days I just love the pictures he sends. . . 

Taken on June 20th

I just love seeing pictures of baby deer!

... other days, not so much! 

Taken on June 27th

Yep... He was only 2 feet away from this guy before hearing the rattle.  Scary! 

Wordless Wednesday

The Oregon Coast ~ Whale Watching

Whale Watching Center ~ Depoe Bay, Oregon

California Sea Lion • Harbor Seal • Harbor Porpoise

While at the whale center we heard that a couple whales had just been spotted near Rocky Creek State Park, 2 miles south, so we headed that direction. We were able to see two Gray Whales, who were feeding just off shore. I was even able to get a few tail shots!

"A deep dive, also known as sounding or fluking, happens when a whale lifts its tail flukes out of the water. This helps propel the whale downward at a steep angle to the bottom, where they feed on small crustaceans. After the flukes disappear under the water, the turbulence of the dive will cause a circle of smooth water, known as a fluke-print."