Not sure if I'll get to Parts II and beyond. :)
Here are some of my favorite posts from my first year (really 8 1/2 months or so) of blogging:
My Children and the Papal Conclave
Helping Our Kids Stay Catholic
25 Ways to Inspire a Love of Learning in Your Children
The Other Stem Cells
Movies and Kids
Mr. Blue on the Importance of Conversation
Discerning God's Will
Me and My Ducklings
Finally Getting Back to Dubay's Authenticity
Fallen Nature vs. Let the Children Come to Me
Melancholy and Joy
National Geography Bee Prep
Kiddie Quotes
Disagreement, Misunderstanding and Deception
Saturday, December 31, 2005
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Merry Christmas!
Okay, I'm having a little fun here as might be explained by this article (hat tip Danielle Bean). But it really is true that we ought to still be saying Merry Christmas for a few more days if not weeks. A lot of people don't realize that the 12 days of Christmas take you from Christmas to Epiphany (January 6) rather than from December 14 to December 25.
Anyway, I'm really appreciating this season of celebration this year since we've had that round of colds, etc. that seems to be going around (our poor two year old was miserable over Christmas weekend - we got him into the doctor yesterday morning and discovered that he has double ear infections and pneumonia). Instead of needing to cram all our happiness and celebrating into Christmas morning, we're taking things a little more slowly. (This is a good thing too, since I haven't made all the Christmas phone calls I'd like to!) We've always tried to aim in this direction, but it seems this year that it's finally clicking. And so, despite the fact that we had to split up for Christmas Mass (Munchie Man was too sick to go) and that the house is a mess because I was sick last week and that we're just getting by in some areas, it's really turning out to be a wonderful Christmas.
One advantage to being sick the week before Christmas was that my husband and oldest daughter had to help out with a lot of the wrapping and last minute prep. I just didn't have the energy. But it turned out to be a lot more fun than getting everything done perfectly by myself.
Also, this year we managed to keep Christmas morning presents a little more simple. Each person got four presents (which ranged from a much-desired T-shirt to a fun art set to a gently used Erector set - one daughter had her doll repaired - she left it in her stocking on St. Nicholas Day - and was overjoyed to be reunited with the beloved doll who was attired in a very pretty new dress).
Now the fun (and slightly unique part for us - inspired by one of my tutors at TAC) is that we'll put other wrapped things under the tree throughout the 12 days of Christmas. These are fun because they're unexpected and can be simple partly because there aren't huge expectations. John and I do some of our shopping for each other at after-Christmas sales and include these things in our fun. Some years (I definitely like to encourage this) the children have made gifts for each during the 12 days of Christmas to give to each other on Epiphany (we call it 3 Kings Day around here).
I do have to remember to continue to play Christmas music and read our favorite Christmas stories as well.
Anyway, I'm really appreciating this season of celebration this year since we've had that round of colds, etc. that seems to be going around (our poor two year old was miserable over Christmas weekend - we got him into the doctor yesterday morning and discovered that he has double ear infections and pneumonia). Instead of needing to cram all our happiness and celebrating into Christmas morning, we're taking things a little more slowly. (This is a good thing too, since I haven't made all the Christmas phone calls I'd like to!) We've always tried to aim in this direction, but it seems this year that it's finally clicking. And so, despite the fact that we had to split up for Christmas Mass (Munchie Man was too sick to go) and that the house is a mess because I was sick last week and that we're just getting by in some areas, it's really turning out to be a wonderful Christmas.
One advantage to being sick the week before Christmas was that my husband and oldest daughter had to help out with a lot of the wrapping and last minute prep. I just didn't have the energy. But it turned out to be a lot more fun than getting everything done perfectly by myself.
Also, this year we managed to keep Christmas morning presents a little more simple. Each person got four presents (which ranged from a much-desired T-shirt to a fun art set to a gently used Erector set - one daughter had her doll repaired - she left it in her stocking on St. Nicholas Day - and was overjoyed to be reunited with the beloved doll who was attired in a very pretty new dress).
Now the fun (and slightly unique part for us - inspired by one of my tutors at TAC) is that we'll put other wrapped things under the tree throughout the 12 days of Christmas. These are fun because they're unexpected and can be simple partly because there aren't huge expectations. John and I do some of our shopping for each other at after-Christmas sales and include these things in our fun. Some years (I definitely like to encourage this) the children have made gifts for each during the 12 days of Christmas to give to each other on Epiphany (we call it 3 Kings Day around here).
I do have to remember to continue to play Christmas music and read our favorite Christmas stories as well.
Friday, December 23, 2005
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Math with the Beans
This had me laughing so hard my side hurt.
We haven't even been trying to accomplish anything around here as most of us are sick. It was a significant accomplishment to get to the store for soup, juice and cold medicine.
I actually got the good news yesterday that I had a cracked rib. This was good news because it might have been a lung infection. Please say a prayer that I will be well enough to sing for the overflow Mass on Christmas Eve. The choir director doesn't have a substitute available and, as Karen E. so beautifully pointed out here, there will be people coming back to Mass for Christmas Eve that we hope might be encouraged to come back again before next Christmas.
We haven't even been trying to accomplish anything around here as most of us are sick. It was a significant accomplishment to get to the store for soup, juice and cold medicine.
I actually got the good news yesterday that I had a cracked rib. This was good news because it might have been a lung infection. Please say a prayer that I will be well enough to sing for the overflow Mass on Christmas Eve. The choir director doesn't have a substitute available and, as Karen E. so beautifully pointed out here, there will be people coming back to Mass for Christmas Eve that we hope might be encouraged to come back again before next Christmas.
Friday, December 16, 2005
Thursday, December 15, 2005
Curt Jester is on a Roll
What else is new! I don't visit often enough, but I enjoyed his freshly-coined phrase - "the vanish Inquisition" and his latest product - "Dark Night Light of the Soul".
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Prayer Request
I'd like to ask again for prayers for my best friend from high school (read "homeschool") who I mentioned way back here. The doctors have dropped her original diagnosis of "Lou Gehrig's disease" to something less frightening and fatal, but she is suffering a great deal from testing, treaments, and (most recently) a broken leg. Raising small children can be challenging enough without debilitating illness and injury.
Muchas gracias!
Muchas gracias!
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
St. Lucy's Day
Here are a link about St. Lucy's Day and a favorite family story...
http://www.inmamaskitchen.com/SEASONS/saintlucday.html
My daughter had often heard stories about St. Lucy's Day, particularly from the American Girl stories about Kirsten. We talked about making St. Lucy's Day buns for several years before we finally got things together one year when Ria was six or seven. She was very excited about the big day and spent lots of time making a beautiful paper wreath with paper candles. We picked up some saffron at the grocery store and worked busily in the kitchen the night of December 12th. Since I had been a little disorganized about the timing, I had to stay up late finishing the baking but assured her that I would wake her up just before dawn so that she could bring Daddy the buns and some hot apple cider before he got up for work. We even "cheated" on the hot apple cider by picking up some powdered apple cider mix that dissolved into hot water. I finally went sleepily to bed at about midnight having filled a platter with charming pretzel shaped sweet breads with a nice glossy finish. She must have been pretty anxious about catching Daddy while he was still in bed, for we were gently awakened at about three in the morning by a nightgown clad little girl in a paper crown eagerly offering Daddy a St. Lucy's Day bun (with no plate) and a half cup of very lukewarm apple cider.
http://www.inmamaskitchen.com/SEASONS/saintlucday.html
My daughter had often heard stories about St. Lucy's Day, particularly from the American Girl stories about Kirsten. We talked about making St. Lucy's Day buns for several years before we finally got things together one year when Ria was six or seven. She was very excited about the big day and spent lots of time making a beautiful paper wreath with paper candles. We picked up some saffron at the grocery store and worked busily in the kitchen the night of December 12th. Since I had been a little disorganized about the timing, I had to stay up late finishing the baking but assured her that I would wake her up just before dawn so that she could bring Daddy the buns and some hot apple cider before he got up for work. We even "cheated" on the hot apple cider by picking up some powdered apple cider mix that dissolved into hot water. I finally went sleepily to bed at about midnight having filled a platter with charming pretzel shaped sweet breads with a nice glossy finish. She must have been pretty anxious about catching Daddy while he was still in bed, for we were gently awakened at about three in the morning by a nightgown clad little girl in a paper crown eagerly offering Daddy a St. Lucy's Day bun (with no plate) and a half cup of very lukewarm apple cider.
Sunday, December 11, 2005
The Wonders of Paint Shop Pro
This is pretty neat. 15 or 20 minutes with Paint Shop Pro did amazing things to my grandparents' wedding photo - before and after...
Saturday, December 10, 2005
Humility and Advent
Here is a great article on the virtue of humility and its relation to the season of Advent - from friend and fellow-blogger (and fellow TACer) Megan.
Friday, December 09, 2005
We Saw Narnia!
And we LOVED it. Faithful, beautiful, and very moving (and I can't tell you how often movies DON'T move me). There are some scary images (mostly creatures faces) and some battle scenes, although these are MUCH more subtle than Lord of the Rings (especially since the White Witch fights by turning creatures/people into stone). I wouldn't hesitate to bring children ages ten and older. Younger than ten will be okay for many, but they should definitely know the story first and perhaps even be warned about the scary-looking creatures. Treat yourself and your family this weekend and help give Narnia a great opening weekend. :)
Judging by Family Size
cross-posted from Love2learn Blog
When we live in a culture that shuns large families, it can be all-too easy to jump to conclusions about those who don't have large families and assume they are using birth control or don't want more kids or whatever. Here's an excellent article (by a Catholic homeschool mom) reminding us of the bigger picture and the children we can't see:
"A Good Catholic Family" by Karen Edmisten
When we live in a culture that shuns large families, it can be all-too easy to jump to conclusions about those who don't have large families and assume they are using birth control or don't want more kids or whatever. Here's an excellent article (by a Catholic homeschool mom) reminding us of the bigger picture and the children we can't see:
"A Good Catholic Family" by Karen Edmisten
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
St. Nicholas Day
St. Nicholas is such a wonderful saint and it's fun to discover that "Santa Claus" is just "Saint Nicholas" in a different language.
When I got married I discovered St. Nicholas in a new way. We settled near my husband's family in the Milwaukee area (I'm from California), where it is customary for the general population to celebrate St. Nicholas day. People (generally) hang their stockings on Dec. 5 instead of Dec. 24 and children wake up on Dec. 6 to a mini Christmas. Stores on Dec. 5 are extra-extra busy and people are chatting about St. Nicholas day and stockings and creative ways of getting them filled with things besides candy (Christmas socks and mittens are big hits around here).
Our children place a Christmas wish list and a letter to Baby Jesus in their stockings on St. Nicholas Eve.
Anyway, it's really neat to share this Christian tradition with the general population. Does anyone know of other places that St. Nicholas Day is still celebrated (I assume that it is celebrated in the Netherlands)?
When I got married I discovered St. Nicholas in a new way. We settled near my husband's family in the Milwaukee area (I'm from California), where it is customary for the general population to celebrate St. Nicholas day. People (generally) hang their stockings on Dec. 5 instead of Dec. 24 and children wake up on Dec. 6 to a mini Christmas. Stores on Dec. 5 are extra-extra busy and people are chatting about St. Nicholas day and stockings and creative ways of getting them filled with things besides candy (Christmas socks and mittens are big hits around here).
Our children place a Christmas wish list and a letter to Baby Jesus in their stockings on St. Nicholas Eve.
Anyway, it's really neat to share this Christian tradition with the general population. Does anyone know of other places that St. Nicholas Day is still celebrated (I assume that it is celebrated in the Netherlands)?
Monday, December 05, 2005
Weird World
Isn't it weird that...
if you tune in for the second half of CBS's very nice miniseries on Pope John Paul II on the wrong day, you might end up finding the Victoria Secret fashion show?
Target, which is being boycotted by some Christians for not using the word "Christmas" in their advertising, is selling Christmas cards with a picture of St. Peter's Basilica?
if you tune in for the second half of CBS's very nice miniseries on Pope John Paul II on the wrong day, you might end up finding the Victoria Secret fashion show?
Target, which is being boycotted by some Christians for not using the word "Christmas" in their advertising, is selling Christmas cards with a picture of St. Peter's Basilica?
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