Junior Livestock Show

Last Thursday afternoon we met Steven at the Jr. Livestock Show in a neighboring town.  We watched children showing pigs and then walked through the areas of other animals being shown that day...cows, sheep, goats, rabbits, turkeys, and chickens.  I didn't get any photos of those areas; I was chasing and strolling the toddler.

After seeing the animals, we went to the exhibit hall to see all the 4-H projects made by children in the area.  There was quite a variety!  Photographs, dresses, flower arrangements, baked goods, canned goods, quilts, purses, and more.  It was fun to walk around and see the different items, look at the ones which won awards, and brainstorm projects that Mary Clare could do next year.  4-H is for ages 8 and up, so Ellie still has a bit longer before she can participate, but MC looks forward to joining in the fun!  Maybe next year we'll plan ahead to see more of the show, dress more "for the part" (we were some of the few not in jeans and books!), and take the children to the carnival area.

Mary Clare's 9th Birthday

From the time we first started talking about moving, Mary Clare was insistent that she would have her 9th birthday party with her friends back home.  She had been planning to have a board game party at my parents' house with a few girl friends. 

But since my mom was very sick all week, we ended up having the party at our favorite park in "the woods," still bringing some games as well as scooters and skates to enjoy at the park.  When they won a game, they got some pennies to get candy out of Ellie's new gumball machine...all the kids loved that!

Since it no longer had to be a drop-off indoor party, we had some siblings join along.  The night before, we stayed with the K family, who were so generous in helping us pull everything together, offering their serving platters and even putting together party bags about a half hour before it started! 

Party was at 10am, and Mary Clare and I rushed out to the store at 8am to buy all the goods.  We were really able to pull things together quickly!  She had a fun morning; it was a totally gorgeous day, and we were grateful for her sweet friends who were able to come and celebrate! 

Even though she'd been sick, NeNe still was able to have a candy stick bouquet with personalized tags for Mary Clare.  There were lots of colorful candies, fruit, and presents!

The kids had some races in the tennis courts and played Guesstures (charades). 

 The littlest ones seemed to enjoy the candy the most!

 

SJ really wanted to help put on the candles, but big sis wanted to do this all herself!

Happy Friends!

It was so windy, it was hard to keep the candles lit!

SJ enjoyed going off on his own and continually scaring Mommy when I couldn't find him!  Over and over again, "You MUST stay with people you know!"

The skate park is a fun place to hang out!

 

Hmmm, I always seem to have a photo of Baby with a slice of pizza.

Checking out the checkers game...

And a sweet big sister to help with little Thomas!  She even babysat the kids the night before while we went to a very late dinner date with her parents!  Thanks, Johanna!

The birthday girl opening all her fun gifts...everything from craft and bead kits to bath soaps, to inline skates!  What a special day!

Mary Clare, you are a bright girl with some very big aspirations.  Right now you are really hoping to go to medical school and be a pediatrician.  Today while in Target, you were commenting on how fun it will be when you're a mom and get to decorate a nursery for your baby (only a baby girl, that is, but I say that God will give what you need!).  I look forward to walking along the journey with you.  Whatever you become, I know you will do some great things for God.  May He guide your steps and lead you to his perfect will.

{pretty, funny, happy, real} Aquarium Edition

~Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life~

Every Thursday at Like Mother, Like Daughter

(again please excuse the poor photo quality!)

{pretty}

 

The girls had science classes today, so I took the boys to the Aquarium while their sisters were in class.

Beautiful boys, beautiful fish, beautiful day.

 {happy}

This was the lone "success" from the plaster molding kit we worked on earlier this week (the consistency was not right and the others were all ruined).  He is very proud of his painted fire hydrant and thanks the K family for his birthday gift! 

 {funny}

 Steven Joseph was really fascinated by the underwater diver presentation.  He kept standing in front of the diver while others were watching and trying to take pictures, so I had to keep reminding him to kneel down!

{real}

Wouldn't it be really great if all public restrooms had step stools like this?  And water fountains too.  They're mostly all built for adults, so we are always having to lift the kids up to wash their hands or drink from a fountain.  Maybe I can start a campaign to include children into the accessibility requirements of public places!  It's so hard to deal with multiple small children in public restrooms, and this would make it one bit easier!  I know I once posted a photo on the blog of the kids and me in a Kohl's restroom where they had a mini-potty!  Genius!  Our pediatric dentist has one of those, too!

Grateful for a fun morning with my boys, educational enrichment for my girls, new friends for us all, and feeling that we're finally settling into our new city.  It's still not quite "home" yet, but we're getting closer.

Monday Daybook

On a late Monday night,

I find myself:
::Noticing God's glory
Sitting in a quiet house, after a fulfilling day.  We had amazing weather today, breezy and sunny, and our homeschooling day went fairly well.  I breathed in the ocean air and spend some time just sitting outdoors.  The kids, too, found it a great day to work and play outside.  It was nice and relaxing to be home after a full 5 days of traveling and dentist, doctor, birthday and friend visits. 
 


::Listening to
The wind chime outside and my ticking clock on the shelf.  It's rare I have a moment to hear these things.  Tonight the noise at the dinner table was almost too much to handle.  That's why I love being up late at night!  Many times I've had a fussy, teething baby on my lap so I couldn't blog.  But tonight I am alone.

::Clothing myself in

A t-shirt filled with memories.  My LaVida shirt which I believe dates back to early high school.  On the back it says, "One love celebration*Feelin' free throughout every united nation*ONE BRIGHT DAY."  There are many memories tied to this shirt...Galveston beach youth group trips, college computer lab and getting my first email account...LaVida...TheLife.

::Giving thanks for
Two lovely phone calls with local homeschooling moms.  Connections are starting to happen and I trust that we are going to find our little niche with fun activities and some good friends here soon.  Also giving thanks that the dental work for the girls is done, and that Steven Joseph got a great report from the cardiologist, so we don't have to go back for a year!  Praise God!

::Pondering prayerfully

Enjoying my children and our homeschooling days.  I've been in a rut for a long while, and I need to change things up.  I need to set a positive tone.  I need to let them paint and create and give them opportunities at home to do things that are exciting and meaningful.  I need to remember our Alphabet Path year and the excitement those days held.  Can you tell I've been with Charlotte Mason friends recently?

::Turning the pages of this book
Oh, when will I get back to reading?  I read a dyslexia book recently, but haven't read a for-fun book in awhile.  By next Monday, I'll find something on one of these shelves!


::Creating by hand
The girls started making adorable felt dolls like this at their homemaking club "back home" on Friday.  They have a lot to finish, and I am going to make it a point to help them, and to finish some of my own sewing projects.  I'd like to: applique the stockings, embroider the stockings, make a tree skirt, and make a bed skirt for our master bedroom.






















::Learning lessons in
Patience.  Aren't we always?  I was such a patient person before having children, and even with one and two children.  From the moment the kids get up, there are messes and fighting and whining, and I need to take a deep breath and realize that a spilled breakfast, a broken glass, or an elaborate craft. 


::Encouraging learning
They painted today, and we tried to complete a plaster mold craft kit this morning, which didn't go as planned, but we tried.  We're working on spelling and grammar and handwriting and enjoying these new workbooks right now.  I'll be re-working our curriculum for next year over the coming months.  This week the girls have a science class through the aquarium, and they've been doing a lot of bird watching.  Lots of science and nature opportunities here!























::Carefully creating rhythm
Trying to get back into an earlier bedtime and earlier wake-up.  Adjusting nap times for baby who had switched to one, but today took two, naps.  Starting our schoolwork after breakfast before crafting and games and play around the house can happen.  But making sure there is time to create, both art and music.  Today, a moment of sweet guitar songs.  Working on music plans, maybe violin.  They are enjoying the handbells they got from their godparents, and still playing silent night on the piano.  It makes me smile.
 

::Begging prayers
For Leroy, our friend Gordon's father, who passed away today after a battle with cancer.  For Hans, our sweet little friend who had a radioactive treatment for his cancer last week and is waiting to be released from the hospital.  What suffering that kind of isolation must be for a child!  For my parents, who have had some health issues.  And for the family of little Aimee, friends from our old dance school whose 3yr old daughter was hit by a car and killed in front of their home two weeks ago.  Please offer a prayer for their family, friends, and also the young driver of the car.


::Keeping house
Our new home is easier to keep.  We have lots of tile floors, more storage, and less stuff.  We've kept the playroom clean for a few days, and I've gotten a new Rubbermaid Reveal spray mop that has a duster/sweeper attachment.  I'm really liking it!

::Crafting in the kitchen
I pinned a bunch of recipes on Pinterest today.  Hoping to try some new recipes this week after being gone for 5 days and eating out or at others' homes.  I believe tomorrow will be "No Peek" (stew meat over mashed potatoes), a recipe of Steven's family.  Then I'll be trying some new ideas after that!  Looking forward to using the feta cheese and sundried tomatoes :-)

::Living the moments
Making a point to read books more with the little ones.  I love those moments.   This was a moment with a new board game last week.

::Living the liturgy
We prayed tonight with the boys, it's been awhile since we've prayed with the kids at night.  Maybe a family rosary decade after dinner?  Sunday Mass back home yesterday was beautiful.  I love the Latin Novus Ordo Mass.  I feel the universality of the church so much there.  I miss Annunciation.  But our new church home here is beautiful too.  It is a very small and close-knit community, and offers many opportunities for growth.  Really, this whole city offers so much Catholic culture and opportunities for the sacraments and spiritual growth.  There are about 5 Catholic churches within 10 minutes of us, a spiritual center, and 2 convents.  And within 20 minutes, at least double that!  It's a gift that we have yet to fully take in, but I pray we will.

::Planning for the week ahead
Tomorrow will start our new school week, since today was catch-up.  Wednesday is science class.  Thursday the 4-H Fair to attend with Daddy.  Maybe we'll attend daily mass on Friday, and maybe a walk on the beach this weekend?  I've got to call our priest to set up our house blessing, and hope to invite some friends over soon.

pretty, funny, happy, real

~Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life.~

Every Thursday at Like Mother, Like Daughter. 

(Posting from phone so not sure how the photos will load!)

Pretty

Pretty girls working on new workbooks at the school table I just moved to the dining room (where the Christmas tree had been).

 Also pretty new workbooks from Seton for language arts. I am loving them so far.

Happy

Happy boy eating in his new booster we bought to eat at NeNe's house!

Funny

Funny Tommy playing with the iPod while the girls were doing their schoolwork.

Real

My real laundry piles. Each kid has a basket but I never get the clothes folded or put away. Maybe twice a month. Really need to get the kids to take over this chore!

Pinning it Down Tuesday, 2 Christmas Crafts!

 Tonight I'm slipping in at the last minute to the Pinning it Down Tuesday blog hop at 

Amongst Lovely Things.

Since these are a bit old, I'll go ahead and post two Christmas project ideas I had on my Pinterest boards.  (And I must also warn any new readers that my dSLR camera is broken so my blog photos right now are horrible, so sorry!)

The first is a wreath for the front door I found here!  I used a few old sheer curtains and cut them into strips about 3-4 inches wide.  I took a wire coat hanger and bent it into a circle.

Then I took the strips of sheer fabric and pushed them onto the hanger.  The first time I just went back and forth, but it was too symmetrical.  So I took all the strips off and twisted them back and forth as I was poking them onto the hanger.  Hard to explain!

Here's the finished project.  Cost = $0!  I did put some red ribbons on it (that I already had), but took those off when I took down the Christmas decorations last weekend.

My next project was one I'd been planning to do for years.  When we found out on Christmas Eve that we'd have to stay home for Christmas, I quickly got busy cutting and sewing!  These were the links I used for inspiration, but I ended up figuring out the whole quilting part on my own.  Now I'd really love to sew a quilt!  I cut them out of lightweight denim I already had from an old jumper.

I used an old fleece blanket inside for stuffing, and some fabric for the inner lining that came from an old prayer blanket from when Mary Clare was little.

I did make a quick run to the fabric store to buy some coordinating fabric for the tops.  Aren't they cute?  Next project will be adding some fabric to embroider their names at the top!

Here's how they looked all filled up on Christmas morning, with little cardstock circles with their initials taped on for now!

Thanks for hosting, Sarah!  I hope this will inspire me to try some more creative things this year!