{pretty, happy, funny, real}

Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life. 

{pretty}

Our new beautiful Nesting Dolls and Scarf from Russia.  Thank you Megan!

The Ipps also have some exciting news.

Click on over and tell them Congratulations!!!

{happy}

Rose loves the swing!

{funny}

Here is my "temporary" solution to our headband storage issue. . .
I keep them under the sink. How do you all store your daughter's headbands?  

{real}

Hubby took this picture on Sunday afternoon. . .
 We were all very tired after our fun weekend!  
Apparently I looked pretty much the same on the other couch.  
*He was sleeping on TOP of the pillows, level with the couch arm!  :)

Visit Like Mother, Like Daughter for more pictures of contentment!

Saintly Summer Fun :: St. Anthony of Padua

With our summer break beginning this week, my children have been asking if we could invite some of their friends over to Celebrate the Saints this summer with crafts, snacks and games!   We've attended something similar in the past, and I've planned/hosted many feast day celebrations and Little Flowers Meetings over the years, so I agreed that this would be a great year to host some Saintly Summer Fun at our home as well!  

We started out with just inviting one family, at the last minute no less, since I waited until this morning to make any plans.   It was a super busy weekend after all!   But, it all came together quite nicely and everyone had a great time!  

~ Saint Story & Coloring Pages ~

While listening to Seeker of the Lost: The Story of St. Anthony, the children had their choice of coloring St. Anthony illustrations from either Catholic Artworks or Fenestrae Fidei. 

 

  

~ Craft Time ~

St. Anthony of Padua Basil Pots

Inspired by Mary's post at Catholic Cuisine, we painted Basil Pots!

"According to the Saint Anthony of Padua website, it is customary to decorate with pots of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) on St. Anthony's feast day and to give some away to friends with prayers invoking this Saint."

  

The kids all really enjoyed painting their pots... 

Now to try and grow that basil! 

~ Game ~

St. Anthony's Outdoor Scavenger Hunt 

Since St. Anthony is the patron of Lost Articles, and since we just finished up our Botany book for the year, I decided to create an Outdoor Scavenger Hunt for the children.   I created a table in Word and then drew little illustrations (don't laugh!) in each box.

I did scan a copy of my St. Anthony's Outdoor Scavenger Hunt document and uploaded it to Scribd to share.   I also uploaded a picture-less version as well.   I thought it might be fun for older children to actually illustrate their own pictures as they find the items listed!

Update: You can also download these documents from Dropbox here and here.

~ Snack Time ~

"A Multitude of Fish" Cupcakes

For an afternoon snack I served "A Multitude of Fish."  These fun cupcakes were so easy to make and I posted the details over at Catholic Cuisine.  They were a hit!

I only had enough M&M's for six, but Amy picked up another bag at the store, along with some Basil seeds, on her way out to our house.  Thank you Amy!

~ Group Photo ~

~ Extra Credit ~

At the end of the day I pulled out our various books about St. Anthony for my children to read this month, in order to earn extra tickets for Summer Bingo:

Saint Anthony and the Christ Child
Saint Anthony of Padua: Proclaimer of the Good News
Saint Anthony of Padua Fire and Light
St. Anthony of Padua Coloring Book
Saint Anthony of Padua

It was such a fun afternoon and we look forward to having more like them throughout the summer! 

Saint Anthony of Padua, pray for us!

Celebrating Pentecost, the Birthday of the Church!

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.

~ White treats after Mass on "Whitsunday" ~

White Powdered Sugar Donuts

White Chocolate Covered Pretzels, representing the Trinity

~ Pentecost Side Dishes ~

Twelve Fruit Salad in honor of the twelve fruits of the Holy Spirit

This year our salad included:  Kiwi, Red Raspberries, Black Raspberries, Strawberries, Watermelon, Red Grapes, Green Grapes, Cantaloupe, Pineapple, Peaches, Nectarines, and Apricots.

7 Layer Dip in honor of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit

Beans, Salsa, Sour Cream, Guacamole, Cheese, Green Onions & Olives

These both were perfect for with our BBQ'd Hamburgers and Hot Dogs. 

~ Our Cake for Pentecost ~

Our annual Pentecost Cake is always topped with 13 candles, representing Christ our Light and the 12 Apostles and their tongues of fire, and Seven Red Hearts, representing the 7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit.   It is also surrounded by 12 strawberries, representing the 12 Fruits of the Holy Spirit.

After singing Happy Birthday to the Church, the kids blew out the candles with a "mighty wind."

Unlike last year, our little Rose was very interested in creating the mighty wind herself this year! 

HAPPY PENTECOST SUNDAY!

The Good Shepherd's Garden Party :: Week Seven

The Heavenly Zoo

"The care the eagle gives her young,  safe in her lofty nest,

is like the tender love of God for us made manifest.  

As when the time to venture comes, she stirs them out to flight,

so we are pressed to boldly try, to strive for daring height.

And if we flutter helplessly, as fledgling eagles fall, 

beneath us lift God's mighty wings to bear us one and all."

~ The Garden of the Good Shepherd: A Sticker Calendar to Count the Fifty Days of Easter

Tonight we had the last of our weekly Good Shepherd Garden Parties.  This one was based on the theme "The Heavenly Zoo."   Here are a few pictures from our Garden Party :

~ The Water ~

Ice Water 

I had planned on using flavored water, but changed my mind at the last minute and just had the kids fill up the glasses with ice water, after they finished setting the table.

~ The Deer ~

ReinDEER Trail Mix

This "trail mix" is really just a combination of a whole bunch of almost empty bags in my pantry:  mini-marshmallows, pretzel sticks, chow mein noodles, sixlets, alphabet cookies, and raisinets.   I then printed some labels that I found online.   I thought they were cute, even if they are "a little out of season."

~ The Lion ~

Lion Cheese and Crackers Snack

This little guy was inspired by a Bear Cheese and Crackers Snack, to which I made a couple tiny modifications.   He didn't turn out as well as I hoped, but our Flower Silicone Cups worked great for his mane and the kids loved the addition of cheese, crackers and olives to the party.   

~ The Beehive ~

Beehive Buns 

This morning while I was trying to come up with a substitution for the Baked Beehive Pears, I ran across a recipe for Beehive Buns.   They were pretty simple to make and everyone LOVED them!   They were Hubby's favorite part of the meal, and hopefully I won't wait a year to make them again.   

I also made Honey-Curry Chicken as a main dish, along with a pot of rice, but I never did get a picture. 

~ The Peacock ~

Peacock Cupcakes

Once again we made our little Peacock Cupcake!  This year I didn't have (or feel up to making any light blue frosting) so I just used some green spray for her face, and some yellow gel frosting along with green and dark blue gel frostings.  

~ The Pelican ~

Pelican Toasties

Our Pelican's turned out much better this year, since I was able to find a loaf of flat bottomed french bread.

~ The Phoenix ~

Phoenix-Tail Shrimp Cocktail

Once again we had a shrimp cocktail, which I don't touch do to allergies.  I had to include it though since it is one of my oldest son's favorite foods! 

~ The Dove ~

The funniest part of the party was listening to everyone's little "Promises" message, found on the inside of their Dove Chocolate wrapper.  

Hubby and I started cracking up when one of our children read:

"Happiness is found in your heart, not in the circumstances circus."

My wrapper said "Buy yourself flowers."  Which was totally ironic since, when I was out to lunch with a bunch of my neighbors this afternoon, one of my neighbors (who sells beautiful bouquets of fresh flowers at the local Grower's Market) was just telling us all about her new promotion (a weekly delivery of flowers for 15 weeks, until frost) and I took a brochure, wanting so badly to sign up, but couldn't quite justify buying myself flowers.   ;) 

Well, the dishes are washing and the kitchen is clean.  I am headed outside to enjoy the last little bit of daylight, a cup Peacock of Hot Cocoa (I passed on the cupcakes), and play Words With Friends on my iTouch!

Tomorrow is already the very last day of the Easter season, and we will be Celebrating Pentecost!   I hope you all have a very blessed Pentecost Sunday!!