The Jesus Tree ~ Week Three

As we continue our Jesus Tree, here are the Symbols, Readings and Activities for Week Three of Lent:

Day 13 ~ Jesus Quiets a Storm

Symbol: Cloud with Lightning
Readings: Mt 8:23-27, Mk 4:35-40, Lk 8:22-25
NCPB: Jesus Calms the Storm Pages 146-147
Coloring: Jesus Calms the Storm
Just For Fun: Jesus Calms the Storm Decoder Puzzle,



Day 14 ~ The Good Samaritan

Symbol: Horse
Readings: Lk 10:25-37
NCPB: The Good Samaritan Pages 170-171
Coloring: The Good Samaritan or this The Good Samaritan
Just For Fun: Good Samaritan Crossword, Maze, and Word Search



Day 15 ~ Jesus Walks on Water

Symbol: Footprints on Water
Readings: Mt 14:22-33, Mk 6:45-52, Jn6:16-21
NCPB: Jesus Walks on the Water Page 154
Coloring: Jesus Walks on Water or this one (for younger children)
Just For Fun: Jesus Walks on Water Maze, Crossword, or Word Search



Day 16 ~ Promise of the Eucharist

Symbol: Chalice with Host
Readings: Jn 6:22-59
NCPB: Promise of the Holy Eucharist Pages 156-157
Coloring: I am planning on using pages from our Eucharistic Adoration Coloring Book. If you don't have it you should get it you could use this or this! ;)
Just For Fun: We will be doing the Crossword, and Word Jumble from our Eucharistic Adoration Coloring Book as well. Online you can find a Bread of Life Word Search, Word Shape, or Crossword. And here is another (bigger) Word Search.



Day 17 ~ The Lost Sheep and The Good Shepherd

Symbol: Sheep
Readings: Lk 15:1-7
NCPB: The Good Shepherd Page 183
Coloring: The Good Shepherd
Just For Fun: The Good Shepherd Crossword, Word Jumble, or Word Search



Day 18 ~ Jesus Feeds 5000

Symbol: Loaf of Bread and Fish
Readings: Mt 14:13-21, Mk 6:31-44, Jn 6:1-15
NCPB: The Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes Pages 152-153
Coloring: Jesus Feeds 5000
Just For Fun: Jesus Feeds 5000 Spiral, and Maze



Day 19 ~ Samaritan Woman at the Well

Symbol: Well
Readings: Jn 4:4-42
NCPB: The Samaritan Woman Pages 122-123
Coloring: Woman Meets Jesus at the Well
Just For Fun: Woman at the Well Maze



I especially liked the well! Didn't it turn out cute? I love felt, it is so much fun, although, at this point, my hands are a bit sore from all the cutting... It is worth it though! The kids are loving our Jesus Tree!

Bunco Highlights

What a fun night!!! Our "Couples Bunco" was a BLAST! I think everyone had a great time, including all our husbands whom we begged to attend... In fact, when my dad found out that my mom was hosting next month, he said, "Do I get to play?" We will definitely need to include the guys again! Although, none of them were all that thrilled about me snapping pictures of them holding the pink "Bunco" die! Our hostess had a fun twist at the end of the night... She had each couple combine their scores to determine the winners. The most Buncos went to Art & Stasia with FIVE between them, four belonging to Stasia!!! (Stasia is the Bunco queen--However, Snuggles is now totally traumatized from the screaming excitement!)

I'm SO excited!!!!

It's BUNCO time!!!! If you have ever played Bunco before, you know what fun it is! If you have never played before...ohhhh, what fun you are you missing out on!

Last May I started a Bunco group for myself and 11 other Catholic women! I hosted the first Bunco night, and since then, each of the other women has taken a month to host. I know, for me, it is so nice to get out and get together with my friends once a month. Getting 12 women together is a blast! I come home refreshed and full of new insights into my friends' lives.

We have such a fun group too! Each month the theme seems to be slightly different from the month before... In fact, one month, right after Snuggles was born, I thought I was going to Bunco, and walked in to find a Surprise Baby Shower! I couldn't believe it!!! This month, since it is so close to Valentine's Day, the hostess has decided to have a COUPLES Bunco!!! Hubby is not too sure, but I know he will love it! She is having us all come early for dinner too! (We usually just have appetizers and drinks.) I am really looking forward to a fun night out!

Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes

We had a lovely day today, celebrating the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes! In addition to our regular schedule we had a few extra activities planned, as well as a special menu--geared around a white and blue theme. The table was decorated nicely with our white china dishes, candles, our little statue of Mary, and lots of yummy food. When Rascal sat down to eat he said, "Wow!! This looks like a restaurant! A CATHOLIC restaurant!"

The girls were especially excited about the cake I purchased at a bake sale after Mass yesterday! It was perfect... White cake with white frosting and pink and white roses.

I also have been very impressed with the art projects in Seton's Art 1 for Young Catholics! We did the "Grotto" craft today and all the children loved it! Even Chiquita wanted to "do it MYSELF!" And she did a great job at that!

(From top to bottom: Captain, Rascal, Twinkle Toes and Chiquita)

This afternoon, we were even able to watch The Song of Bernadette!! After I unhooked everything, and tossed our TV outside, hubby decided to give it one last shot, and drug it back in, and believe it or not, it decided to come back to life!! Maybe it just needed that little time out, on the porch? Anyhow, I had mixed feelings... In a way I was ready to get rid of it, but at the same time, I was excited that it started working againl!!!

We ended the day with our family rosary by candlelight, and then tucked the kids into bed...

...Now, if I could just get Snuggles to go to sleep!! He has been crying for hours on end each night, the doctor says it's teething, and he just won't sleep, the poor baby... Oh!!! he just stopped, or did for a second anyways... Any suggestions? I miss sleeping :)

"Embrace Mary, for she is the very Gate of Heaven
who brings to you the Glorious King of the New Light."

Our Lady of Lourdes ~ Pray for Us!!

Creative Cabins

Tomorrow is Abraham Lincoln's Birthday and next Monday is Presidents' Day. If you are looking for a fun craft idea to do with your kids, check out Martha Stewart's Presidents' Day Log Cabin! I think it looks like such fun to make. It is made out of pretzels, and will make a perfect Lenten snack! I am sure my boys will enjoy making a cabin out of something other than Lincoln Logs for a change--although, I have a feeling, they will probably want to do BOTH!

**UPDATE: Dawn has an AMAZING list of ideas to do for Lincoln's Birthday! I am saving it out to use in a couple months when we will be studing Abraham Lincoln in History. Thank you Dawn!

Whew... I passed!

You are a 100% traditional Catholic!

Congratulations! You are more knowlegeable than most modern theologians! You have achieved mastery over the most important doctrines of the Catholic Faith! You should share your incredible understanding with others!

Do You Know Your Baltimore Catechism?
Make Your Own Quiz

Thanks, Mom, for teaching me well!

HT: A Thorn in the Pew

I MISS my Mac!

OK... So, I am a bit frustrated with both my computer and blogger. I have been for awhile, but have finally decided to vent about it! ;)

One of my favorite things about blogging has been keeping in closer contact with friends and family, as well as making new friends. It is so fun to receive comments from everyone as well as leave comments for others. HOWEVER, it frustrates me to no end when I go to leave a comment on a blogger blog and they have the comments set to a pop-up window. This is what my PC does:



The only difference is my computer shuts down for a minimum of 10 minutes. It is pointless to wait, and so I get up, go do something else and check back every few minutes to see if my computer has decided to come back to life.

Very, very, VERY frustrating. Unfortunately I can't chuck this computer and get a new MAC which I would really really REALLY LOVE to do... So, if you have a blogger blog, here is how you can make my life a bit less frustrating:

• Make sure your signed in
  
• Click on Customize
• Click on the Settings Tab
• Click on Comments
• Scroll down till you see "Show comments in a popup window?"
• Click NO

I will LOVE YOU FOREVER!!!

Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes ~ plans and ideas

This coming Monday, February 11th, is the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes! This year, we will be commemorating the 150th Anniversary of this special feast, when the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to a 14 year old peasant girl named Bernadette Soubrious, in Lourdes, France.

Today I was talking with a couple friends, and we were brainstorming a few ways in which to celebrate the feast in our homes, and I thought I would share them here...

We were mainly discussing food options, and so far the ideas that have been suggested revolve around using foods in the Marian colors of blue and white. For breakfast this could include: Blueberry Muffins, Blueberry Pancakes, or Blueberry Cobbler and Oatmeal. For a snack, mini blue jello molds representing the spring would be fun! Another snack idea that I ran across online, and my kids would absolutely love, would be a grotto made from Rice Krispy Treats!! Doesn't that sound interesting! I also love the idea of having an ALL WHITE dinner, like Ruth made for her family in December for the feast of the Immaculate Conception, symbolizing the Immaculate Conception and the purity of Mary's soul. She included White Cheez-Its for an appetizer, a main course of rice, chicken breasts, potatoes and cauliflower, and White cake with white icing and vanilla ice cream for dessert. A few other options could include Pasta Alfredo, or White Cheddar Tuna (or Chicken) Casserole. And a few drink ideas could include White Wine, White Grape Juice or even Milk! Christy also suggested decorating the White Cake with blue Blessed Mother flowers, which would look lovely!

The kids and I will read the story of Our Lady of Lourdes and, like usual, do a bit of coloring. If you don't happen to have the coloring book, there is a coloring page available online if you go here and then click on "Saints by Feast Day" and then "Our Lady of Lourdes" under February.

As for crafts, we will probably be making the simple Grotto Craft that is in Seton's Art 1 for Young Catholics. But, if you are feeling extra creative, you could try to make one of these!!!

There are a some WONDERFUL videos worth watching on this feast day! One of our all time favorites is The Song of Bernadette, it is SO good!! The kids also really love Bernadette - The Princess of Lourdes. A couple other great movies about this apparition are Bernadette and The Passion of Bernadette by Ignatius Press.

In the meantime, don't forget the special novena, and I would LOVE to hear any other ideas you all have!!! Please leave them in the comments below!

What Kind of Mother Hen Are You?

What type of Mother Hen Are You?
by Montessorimom.com: Educational Resource

H/T to A Catholic Mom in Hawaii

Lovin' my "Muffins"

I always get such a kick out of the comments I receive when I am out and about with all my kids!

No matter where we are, we tend to stand out. Especially at Costco. At least it seems like it. Maybe that is just because I shop there the most... I don't know. It just seems that every time we are there, the comments come from all directions, both bad and good.

I remember one particular time last summer, right before Snuggles was born. The kids and I were at Costco, and a woman walks by and said, "WOW! You have your hands full, don't you?" This is by far the most frequent comment we hear and I usually just smile. This particular time, however, Rascal looked up at me, with a confused look, and said, "Mom, why does everyone always tell you that you have your hands full, when your not holding anything?" I chuckled and Captain replied, "I think it's because we have 2 boys and 2 girls and one more baby coming." Yes... that would be the reason. No sooner had Captain said this, when another woman walked by and said, "Oh MY! You have YOUR hands FULL!" I'm sure she was confused when my children and I all started giggling!

Anyhow, a funny thing happened during our most recent Costco trip, this past Wednesday. After Mass, my two youngest brothers (ages 13 and 12) offered to come with me to help with the kids while I ran a few errands. I was so excited and thankful! This allows me to be able to run in and out while they watch the kids in the car. Errands can be exhausting when you are dealing with five car seats in between each stop! I was able to quickly run into Staples, Target and Michaels. Last on my list was Costco, and since I had a big list, we ALL went in! It was too funny to see everyones faces as they tried to determine if all 7 kids were mine or not... "They all look like family... Could they really ALL be hers!" I heard various people whispering around us.

When we were leaving the store, the women who checked our receipt asked, "Are these ALL your MUFFINS!?"

I responded, "Oh no, only the five little ones. These two are actually my brothers."

She said, "Oh. OK." and handed me back my receipt.

As soon as we were outside, my 13 (almost 14) year old brother leaned over and whispered, "Did she just call me a MUFFIN?!?"

I guess he is now too old to be called a muffin!