I'm baaaaack!

This might be a weird post. I am trying to nurse a baby at the same time. It is what it is, and I have the time right now.


Let's see what is new around here. Well, I am getting ready for an All Saint's day Party. Today, I went out to buy some supplies, trying to be as frugal as possible.

Mr. Nature boy decided he is too big to go dressed up (Yes, I am crying right now).

I continue the quest for organization. I bought a bin for the top of the coat closet for things that I need to return or donate...actually I need to go back and buy another bin for the donate one (that is what I forgot). This week's zone (FLY lady) is the kitchen. I organized a few bins baking bins and I need to figure out a better way to store  all the vitamins. I straightened out the pantry and cleaned a few shelves in the refrigerator.

Schooled the kids, and they are loving their oral narration. We are reading Willy Wonka. We will watch the movie and eat chocolate when we finish this one.

I wish you could of been here for our garden party when we finished "the Secret Garden". So far have done, "Holes", "Wizard of Oz", "The Secret Garden", "The Hobbit",  and I can't remember the rest. I read a lot to them.




Went to benediction tonight. I wanted to make sure two of the kids got to confession, but I tell you...it was a feat. The three youngest were with me in the cry room and they were just squirrelly.

We came home and ate cereal for dinner, because by this time...I was done, yes put a fork in me DONE. The kids are sliding down the hall way....yes, they put on their socks (that is a miracle in this house...my kids seem to have an allergy to wearing shoes and socks around here.) and have perfected the run slide method.

just a quick post.

Well, let's see, I haven't posted since March.

SO, maybe later I can post some pictures of my new couch.

And my new art above the piano.

I would post pictures of my organization, but it comes undone so fast, I can't seem to catch it in the "good stage" ha!

Just been busy homeschooling, keeping up with piano, and now the boys are going to altar boy practice.

I have already ordered my flower seeds and hopefully will plant them in late October, which reminds me I need to start working on some All Saint Day costumes. I think I just need to make two, the other kids have swapped or are wearing last years.

Little Miss M wants to be St. Maria Goretti, that doesn't look too hard to make. Something like peasant blouse and skirt, and maybe a shawl.

Sunshine, has offered to be St. John the Baptist, which is exciting to me, because I have some cook ideas for this one.

I think Nature Boy is outgrowing getting dressed up *sniff sniff* but he says he will wear the costume I made for him last yr (St. Francis) because, "you worked so hard on it". I sure did, and it ended up being a bit of a investment. Thank goodness I invested it in his ( being first born and all), so it can be passed down and used for other saints.

I am making a list or schedule for myself for after the kids have gone to bed and I have my " alone time". Usually, after I put them to bed, I  veg out, but I really need to keep a timer on things because that time is very precious. Since, I will be making several Christmas gifts I need to utilized what little time alone I have.

So, here is my schedule;

20 minutes computer time
15 to 20 minutes exercise
10 minutes prayers
15 minutes reading
15 minutes shower
40 minutes task of the day*

* my tasks are;

laundry (get an extra load in)
iron 
sew
mail
another laundry day

what does your evening schedule look like?

The last thing on my mind is, I really want to stay focused this Christmas, and I hope to help my kids stay unselfish. So, I am already giving a lot thought to Christmas gifts, what we can do as a family, using our time wisely,what good books to read as a family this Advent.

Last year I ran out of time and several of our god-children were sent checks, but I  have to tell you, that really helped with my stress level.

I try to have masses offered for the god-children and parents, but it doesn't always work out. I figure most of American has enough "stuff," and I know they are kids, but I am sure they get enough fun stuff from their parents and grandparents.

That's all for now. I will try to post pictures soon, and if I don't pester me until I do.

My backyard

In October I ordered lots of wildflower seeds. I was trying to save money on landscaping. Well, guess what? My backyard is gone crazy with flowers. I love LOVE it. I will definitely do this again. Different kinds of flowers are coming up at different times, it's so cool to go out and see what has bloomed. I take the kids outside and we try to figure out the name of the flower based on some wildflower guides. My husband is working on the vegetable garden and so far, we have tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots and some lovely herbs growing in our makeshift hothouse (or cool house). I will have to take pictures of his cucumbers he is is pretty proud and some other people must of liked the look of them too, two big pots of cucumber plants were stolen from our front yard. Pretty sad huh? Well, I must be off. I need to make lunch and second shift in homeschooling begins.

Some things I made this Christmas

This Christmas I made two waldorf dolls. My girls had seen some American girl dolls, but I know they like soft dolls to cuddle with(American girl dolls are expensive!). I showed them some Waldorf dolls and they loved them. Ahem...I do too, but my pocket book doesn't. So....after watching some tutorials, reading up a bit and finally buying a kit, I did it. They came out pretty darn nice. Sure there are some flaws, but...the girls have (okay mostly Little Miss M) have played with her doll everyday. I really enjoyed making these dolls and I hope to make more in the future. Nowadays we are keeping busy with school, ballet, and hopefully piano lessons soon.

Pumpkins, All Saint's Day, and the month of All Souls

Howdy! Well, All Saint's Day went off really well. I did finish all the costumes (despite not having a car for a couple of weeks ....and running out of material for a monk's outfit!). The children really had fun at the parish party. I let the older boys go off on their own, and since most of the activities, were in the parish hall I could see them. The hardest one to watch was Little Mr. Yummy he was so excited about the balloons and the candy that he could not keep to one place very long, but I stayed in the back of the hall, grabbed a balloon, some treats, and he was good to go!

Miss M and Miss L.L kept together and could g around the hall as long as they could see me. So, I thought it would be too much to handle without my husband but it really worked out.

Then, guess what? My sister had another party on Sunday....with a bouncer and everything ha!
Dad was even there! I would post pictures of the costumes, but that will have to wait until an email.

This month we are trying to visit the cemetery every day. We are very close to a cemetery and it really is very peaceful to pray the family rosary there.

As St. Thomas Aquinas says, "it is more profitable to help the poor souls than poor people, because the poor souls are totally helpless".

Of course, we should help the poor too!!

I did something smart this year. I went ahead and ordered holy day crafts and saint crafts for the whole year. I won't have to worry about that at the last minute it's it my liturgical box and ready to go. I bought this All Soul's day craft from Oriental Trading Co. , and it really came out nice.

 

St. Francis's feast day, and Our New Church updates

Hello there!

Well of course, we must celebrate St. Francis's feast day. After all, we have some nature lovers in this household.

Of course, we are praying on this day for Pope Francis too. I especially pray that he consecrates Russia as Our Lady asked. The church is in such a mess that only through Our Lady will these problems be solved.

Here are some pictures of Our St. Francis's feast day. This is a traditionally a day when you can get animals blessed. I am sure that it is mostly for farm animals (because it involves livelihood), but perhaps your parish priest would bless your home critters too?

This picture was included with a book about St. Francis written by Robert F. Kennedy. I framed it and it will go in Nature Boy's room.

Here are some other good books about St. Francis (for kids).

 

The  book on the right is written by Tomie de Paola (he has quite a collection of good books).

 

This book was written by Josephine Nobisso. The illustrations are lovely.

We did have a craft today. I have  been doing this sort of craft for St. Francis's feast day for a few years now. We make pine cone bird feeders. .

Some peanut butter, a pinecone, a pipe cleaner, and some bird seed.

Take some pipe cleaner and tie it around the pinecone. Then smear peanut butter  all over the pine cone and roll it around in the seeds. Voila! Hang up and there you go.

 

 

 

 I was privileged to be at Our New Church beam signing and also the corner stone blessing. How awesome it will be! It will be a beautiful church, for God. A beautiful church to offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. One day my children's children will be in this church. I am excited! I felt like I was part of history!

Here is the beam signed by many parishioners. Ready to go up into the church.

way

way....up

and finally into the church.

 

Wow! So many pictures in the post. Hope you enjoyed seeing all of them.

 

 

Hummingbird Rescue

Found this little injured guy in our yard. We thought he was dead , but he was just in a a tapor (I think that is the word)  for when  hummingbird sleeps. Their heart beat slows way down, and they are in a coma like state. I fed it some nectar and it perked up. But....one of the wings was not working properly. So, I placed him in our Butterfly pavilion (because the sides are a soft mesh).  ( I kept him in the washroom away from the craziness in our home ;)

I found a local rescue that specialized in hummingbirds, and we dropped him off. Yes, it was a him,  a juvenile one, and a Anna's Hummingbird at that.

By the way, doing my research I found out that it is illegal to keep, or even hold a hummingbird, it's eggs, or even it's nest.

I have to say, caring for this little guy for a short time, will always be memorable. He actually would come forward to drink from the tube!

I love love hummingbirds, but it was a relief to hand him over to the experts to heal, and to feed him properly ( I know they also need insects in their diets)


To reconcile myself,  I treated myself to some new hair clips....(hey, my birthday just just......passed)

 

These are from Lilla Rose

 

School, has been going well over here. Of course, it is busy and I never do seem to catch up on my housework. I have a million things on my to-do list...I am actually thinking of hiring a girl from the parish, just to come in weekly, to mop my floors on and iron for me. I just can't seem to find time for these two.

 

I am starting my three year with letter recognition. If she takes to it I will continue, if not, I will wait a bit.

These letters and letter cards from Plan Toys are awesome.

 

Here is a certain kiddo's birthday cake. Last yr, the castle cake I made was a dismal disaster. I am getting a bit lazy with my cakes, I mostly buy toppers for them...but the kids seem to love it all the same.

that's all for now.