I can't help but smile...

...and then notice that Snuggles is wearing the same shirt that Captain was wearing 6 years ago today!

My Daybook ~ July 20th

FOR TODAY: July 20th, 2009

Outside my Window... it's sunny and HOT!! I haven't checked the temperature, but last night when I came home from town it was still 100 degrees at 7pm. We are spending the day inside today!

I am thinking... about everything I would love to blog about: my schedule for this coming year, Q&A's on our curriculum plans (sorry to all of you who are still waiting for emails from me...), my plans and notebook pages for Wreath II of Little Flowers, last weeks Summer with the Saints, the boys 5 mile hike with their dad, miniature golfing for Captain's birthday, pictures of the new school room, etc... I just haven't had the time or energy...

I am thankful... for relatives that love and care about me. This morning one of my Aunt's emailed and then called, just before boarding a cruise ship, because she was worried about me and just wanted to check in since I "hadn't blogged since Thursday or posted on Facebook since Friday." I am fine Aunt B., it has just been BUSY here lately... ☺ I LOVE YOU and can't wait to hear all about your trip!

From the kitchen... A golf themed birthday cake for Captain's 9th Birthday today. We'll also be barbecuing for dinner. Yum!!

From the school room... Even though it is much smaller I am LOVING our new school room. It has so much more natural light.

Living the Liturgical year at Home... I am planning on making cookies for the feast of St. Mary Magdalen this coming Wednesday, and then Nacho Stuffed Shells and Tarta de Santiago on the feast of St. James. We will also be reading a couple couple about St. Christopher. What are your plans this week?

I am creating...a Madeline Lap book with my girls. They are anxious to get started with school, and since Madeline is one of their favorite books I thought it would be a fun summer project.

I am wearing... a brown skirt, green short sleeve maternity top, and a bright pink splint on my finger, still...

I am reading... Tracy's plans for Circle Time and wishing I had more of the books so I could implement this with my children. How fun!!

I am hoping... to finish my plans for this coming year of Little Flowers (Wreath II) this week. It will be so nice to have it all planned out ahead of time this year!

I am hearing...Chiquita saying, "Mother, Mother!!" to Twinkle Toes as they are playing house in their bedroom. Too cute!

I am praying... for Emily and for her precious baby, Matthew.

Around the house...still lots to do... I have decided to wait to move the girls into the boys old room until I know whether this baby is a boy or a girl (we find out next month), since that will help determine whether we even move them or not, as well as paint the rooms. I also purchased Closet Organizers for the old school room/ new boys room closet which I am hoping hubby will have the time to put together this week. Once that is done, the boys will be able to finish moving completely into their room.

One of my favorite things... Looking back at pictures of my sweet baby boy who is ALREADY NINE!! Where has the time gone??

A Few Plans For This Week...

• Celebrate Captain's Birthday
• Take the children to a $1.00 movie at the theater or bowling
• Summer with the Saints
• Celebrate the feasts of St. Mary Magdalen, St. James, and St. Christopher
  

A picture thought I am sharing:

My boys were so excited to receive a package from Grandpa & Grandma today containing some great books: The Lark on the Wing, John Treegate's Musket, First Farm in the Valley: Anna's Story, and Year of the Black Pony.

Thank you Grandpa and Grandma for the books!!!!

To see more Daybook's visit Peggy!

9 Years Old Today!!

~ Our Baby Boy ~

~ 1st Birthday ~

~ 2nd Birthday ~

~ 3rd Birthday ~

~ 4th Birthday ~

~ 5th Birthday ~

~ 6th Birthday ~

~ 7th Birthday ~

~ 8th Birthday ~

(more pictures here)

~ 9th Birthday ~

I took this picture this morning at breakfast...
Now I need to go and start baking his cake!
*You can see pictures here.

HAPPY 9th BIRTHDAY
CAPTAIN!!!!!

Celebrating the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Here are a few pictures from today...

Steamed Caramel Milk which we named Mount Carmel Steamers

We are loving our new Cocoa-Latte Maker!

Our Brown Scapular Cake

I served the cake with more Mount Caramel steamers since my children were saying that "Daddy needs to try them too!" -- this time topped with a "Mount" of whipped cream -- and homemade coconut milk ice cream with caramel sauce.)


We read this story and talked about the Brown Scapular.
(Here is a link to one of my old posts with more information on the scapular: The Brown Scapular - Garment of Grace.)

Coloring pictures from here and from Fenestrae Fidei

They mounted their pictures onto colored paper and the boys plan to copy the following prayer to add to their notebooks:

Flos Carmeli

This is the prayer of St. Simon Stock, to whom the Scapular devotion with its promise was given. It has for seven centuries been called a prayer to the Blessed Mother which has never been known to fail in obtaining her powerful help.

O beautiful Flower of Carmel, most fruitful Vine,

Splendor of Heaven, holy and singular, who

brought forth the Son of God, still ever remaining

a Pure Virgin, assist me in this necessity.

O Star of the Sea, help and protect me!

Show me that thou art my Mother.

O Mary, Conceived without sin,

Pray for us who have recourse to thee!

Mother and Ornament of Carmel, Pray for us!

Virgin, Flower of Carmel, Pray for us!

Patroness of all who wear the Scapular, Pray for us!

Hope of all who die wearing the Scapular, Pray for us!

St. Joseph, Friend of the Sacred Heart, Pray for us!

St. Joseph, Chaste Spouse of Mary, Pray for us!

St. Joseph, Our Patron, Pray for us!

O sweet Heart of Mary, be my Salvation!

Here are a few of the finished coloring pages:

Our Lady of Mount Carmel by Captain (age 8)

Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Souls in Purgatory
by Rascal (age 7)

Our Lady of Mount Carmel by Twinkle Toes (age 5)

I hope you all had a very blessed feast
of Our Lady of Mount Carmel!


Our Lady of Mount Carmel ~ Pray for Us!

Small Successes: July 16, 2009

"It’s important for moms to recognize that all the small successes in our days can add up to one big triumph. So on Thursday of each week, we do exactly that."

~ 1 ~

I took all of my children on another day of errands this past Tuesday. While we were out we recycled a van full of cardboard; returned books & videos to the library; purchased Closet Organizers for the old school room closet which is now the boys room; purchased supplies for our State-to-State Notebooks and other crafts this coming school year; had lunch with hubby on the grass outside his office; redeemed the children's Summer Reading Programs at both Barnes & Noble and the library; purchased a BBQ Chicken Pizza for dinner as well as fresh produce at a local farm including: sweet corn, zucchini, squash, tomatoes, and the most delicious blackberries ever.

~ 2 ~

Last Friday we filled the back of our van (with all the seats down!) 4 times with things to donate. The first trip was with all the clothes, toys, etc that I had decluttered over the past couple weeks inside our home. (I even found a place which would TAKE the toys, a huge success in itself!) The following 3 trips were of furniture and other items that have been outside in our "garage" for over a year. I guess we could have tried having a yard sale, but being so busy and living out of town would have made that difficult. It is so nice to have it all out of here!!!

~ 3 ~

Despite the fact that I injured my finger Tuesday, carrying that bag of corn pictured above, I was stubborn enough still able to make another Brown Scapular Cake (at the request of my children) to celebrate today's feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (our chosen patron for our homeschool).

I also saw the doctor about my finger today. (Huge success surviving a LONG waiting period at the doctor's office this morning with a hurt finger and all five children. At least everyone in the office kept saying that I have the best kids ever... Oh and of course the one person that just HAD to ask "Don't you know what causes that?" ughhhh...) Apparently I did damage the nerves in my finger and am now sporting a bright pink finger brace. The good news is that it is my left hand and I can still use my other hand as well as take pictures!! ;) The bad news is that it could take a few days, a few weeks, or forever to get better. However, if it is not better in 10 days the doctor will refer me to a Neurologist, in the meantime she wants me to avoid using it and keep it in the brace as much as possible. (What is it with me and hurting my fingers in the summer??) I had to laugh when she pulled out pink gauze to wrap the brace... She said it needed to match my pink shirt. I think it sticks out like a sore thumb! ;)

Oh and one last small success... I have not eaten all of that chocolate in my purse!

What are your Small Successes this week?

Stop by Faith and Family Live to read more of this week's Small Successes.

In My Purse

I've had a rather rough couple days... On Tuesday, while on our way home from an afternoon full of errands, I was picking up some produce from the farm and seemed to have damaged a nerve in my pointer finger/hand from carrying too many plastic bags at once.  (The numbness/tingling sensation has still not gone away, and is proving to be quite challenging at times.)  I do have an appointment with my doctor in a couple hours.  Anyhow, yesterday I was craving CHOCOLATE.  I thought, perhaps, it would distract from my hand. ;)  And not just any chocolate.  It had to be really good!!  When I saw the new Lindt chocolates, I couldn't resist.  Oh and look!! There are my Gymbucks peeking out from behind -- those won't be there long!! Life is good!

State-by-State Scrapbook

As I mentioned yesterday, in my Our Plan 2009-2010: Overview post, we are planning on making State-by-State Scrapbooks as part of our Geography course this year.

This idea came from Beth after I posted about my frustration with our local library. Beth had taken the time to gather various free worksheets online to use for a geography scrapbook with her children, adding each State in the order in which it joined the union, and kindly offered to email me copies of her documents. The worksheets reminded me of the Trip Journals I had made for my children last year, in fact some of the worksheets/coloring pages were the same, so I knew my children would LOVE making one!

I was able to find all the links to the various worksheets that Beth shared with me and I'll post them here for those of you who are interested:

From KidZone Geography:

• State Flag
  
• State Bird Activity Worksheets
• State Flower Activity Worksheets

State Map (Print just the image, not the quiz.)

State Facts (Beginning with which state it is and when it became a state and ending with the State Song.)
USA Map (This is used to locate and color the State being studied.)

I have also decided to include a coloring page for the quarter of each state, since this is suggested in the Along the American History Trail and since Rascal has been collecting the various State Quarters.

Here are a few supplies I picked up:

• A couple 12x12 Scrapbooks (I had planned on purchasing Red or Blue Scrapbooks, but when I found these 2 on clearance for only $5.00 each, I couldn't pass them up. I also need to go back to the store and buy one for Twinkle Toes since I've decided to have her make one as well.)
• A few packets of 12x12 colored card stock (I thought about getting various prints, but I didn't want it to distract from the children's art/coloring.)
• Various patriotic or state themed stickers to use for embellishments

I printed out the worksheets ("4 per Page" from Word -- except for the State Facts which are printed 2 to a page) for Delaware and Pennsylvania, the first two states we will be studying. The boys and I looked to see if there are any special colors for Delaware, and since the official state colors are Colonial Blue and Buff we choose card stock in those colors.

(I had forgotten to print the facts larger in this first picture and didn't have a chance to take another...)

Here is a rough draft of how it will be laid out:

Well, that is all I have time to share right now. We are headed out again today, this time to Summer with the Saints and a couple appointments. I hope you all have a great day!