Multitude Monday

"Because I am so weak, you have been pleased to grant my childish desires, and now you will grant the rest, other desires far greater than the Universe." ~~ St. Therese of Lisieux (from today's Think from Small Steps for Catholic Moms)

Today I am joining in with Ann over at A Holy Experience and hundreds of others who have also began their own 1000 Gift Lists. And today, more than ever, I need to count my blessings, regroup, and get on with my day. Care to join me? These are in no particular order...

41. Getting to Mass Monday morning... 42. the opportunity to hear a wonderful priest give an Advent reflection... 43. the opportunity to gather my thoughts and type up my blessings... 44. my good health... 45. my husband's good health... 46. my children's good health... 47. the realization to make changes around our home... 48. friends who understand what you are going through...49. the realization that things don't go as planned so I have to make a new plan...50. that it is early enough in the day that hopefully I can make things right for the rest of the day...

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same,visit SouleMama to leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

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Wordless Wednesday

One Thousand Gifts

Open my eyes, Lord. I take so many things for granted that others must do without. Help me to see my many blessings and rejoice in your goodness. (from today's Pray from Small Steps for Catholic Moms)

Today I am joining in with Ann over at A Holy Experience and hundreds of others who have also began their own 1000 Gift Lists. Care to join me? These are in no particular order...

32. my friend E...33. our home...34. our first time "hosting" Thanksgiving this year!...35. spending the past several days with my Dad laughing...36. we will see him again at Christmas...37. my Dad's new nickname for Baby MC is "Monkey-Bird"!!!...38. Mass with my family on Sunday (grandmother, aunts, uncle, cousins, daughter)...39. "No means yes"!!! (Benny)...40. my Aunt M...

G is for Gorse Fairy and St. George

We are traveling along the Alphabet Path with Seany (5) and Ev (3) and anyone else who wants to join in! G is for Gorse Fairy and St. George!

Art: G is for the child and his "game" in the painting Boy with a House of Cards by Drouais.

We read Gorse Fairy Tag while listening to this CD! We read about St. George in An Alphabet of Catholic Saints while coloring this page. Here is another St. George page the boys colored from Jessica over at Shower of Roses!

G is for Gardens

Miss Rumphius

Jack's Garden

Growing Vegetable Soup

Waiting for Wings

Sunflower House

Author Study: G is for Paul Galdone

Three Little Kittens

Henny Penny

Rumpelstiltskin

Childhood Favorites

Grandfather's Journey

Follow the Drinking Gourd

Goodnight Moon

The Grouchy Ladybug

G is for Gingerbread!

Wordless Wednesday

Multitude Monday

"Here ends another day, during which I have had eyes, ears, hands and the great world around me. Tomorrow begins another day. Why am I allowed two?"~~G.K. Chesterton (from today's Think from Small Steps for Catholic Moms)

Today I am joining in with Ann over at A Holy Experience and hundreds of others who have also began their own 1000 Gift Lists. Care to join me? These are in no particular order...

22. Baby MC's beautiful smile first thing in the (early) morning...23. Winning the battle of the alarm clock...24. My husband's playful side...25. Being able to listen to an inspiring Homily by a wonderful Priest...26. A few nice changes around the home...27. B-Rad beautifully singing hymns as she's putting away clean dishes...28. Chorepacks...29. Benny's "Hi, hi, hi" to Baby MC...30. An early and impromptu pumpkin pie from the grocery store...31. B-Rad's new nickname "Nanny McB"...

Hondo

Ryan and I were very excited and proud that Rayzor's photo of Hondo (my Aunt M's horse) got picked in the Four Legged Photos contest happening over at The Pioneer Woman! There were 6 groups and Rayzor's photo was in Group 2. (Scroll down to the 3rd picture). Unfortunately, it was not picked as a finalist, but the competition was fierce! There was so much talent and the photos were all so beautiful. Make sure you scroll through to see the ones she picked. I'm looking forward to see who wins! Congratulations Rayzor!!

Here are a few other pictures he took of Hondo that day:

Here is the winning shot, after I edited it using the "Antique" setting in iphoto. Then I sent it to my iphone and used the "Pic Grunger" app to make it look old and scratched. Well done, Rayzor!

Thanks to Maurisa over at Half a Dozen Productions for being Rayzor's photography teacher and for assigning the task of taking a picture of a pet!

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same,visit SouleMama to leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

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F is for Fuschia and St. Francis

We are traveling along the Alphabet Path with Seany (5) and Ev (3) and anyone else who would like to join in! F is for Fuschia and St. Francis!

Art: F is for Roman Girl at a Fountain painted by Leon Bonnat. Using Museum ABC, we studied the Roman Girl's Feet and used water colors to paint our own versions.

We read At the Fairy Ball while listening to this CD! We read about St. Francis in An Alphabet of Catholic Saints and Saint Francis of the Seven Seas. We colored this St. Francis Coloring Page.

F is for Flowers

Miss Rumphius

Jack's Garden

Sunflower House

Waiting for Wings

National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers

The Legend of the Bluebonnet

The Sun Seed

Read-Alouds

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish

Fletcher and the Falling Leaves

The Fire Engine Book

The Flag Maker

The Foot Book

A Bargain for Frances

Fossils Tell of Long Ago

The Friendly Beasts

My Favorite Tree

Follow the Drinking Gourd

F is for Fish!

F Coloring Page

F is for Friendly

'Tis the Season

As you already know, the holiday season is fast approaching. Ryan and I will be busy getting our home ready for Thanksgiving in 16 days. Today I e-mailed him a "Thanksgiving prep" list that only had to do with the home. We will be starting on the list this week. A lot of it is boring stuff like cleaning, but I wanted to post it here because it's a handy way to keep track of our traditions.

These look like an easy way to spruce up a room.

Get frames for our new photos.

couch?

Get more silverware, kids dishes and silverware from Ikea?

10 Easy ways to decorate for fall

clean walls

dust

tidy back yard (firepit)

de-clutter sunroom; window panes?

clean school room and pantry

clean laundry room

fix shade

clean bathrooms

vacuum upstairs and downstairs

clean our bedroom

The Sunday after Thanksgiving, November 28, marks the beginning of Advent. I would like to re-visit some past traditions.

Jumping Back in with some wise Words:

Order Advent crafts from this website. The kids have loved doing these the past 2 years.

This and That

To Advent

To Prepare

Countdown to Christmas

On Dec. 6 St. Nicholas will be here! We will have to prepare for that very soon. Don't forget the chocolate coins!

St. Nicholas!

To Celebrate

Our Lady of Guadalupe

O Christmas Tree

A buncha' thespians, ain't We?

Remember to Breathe...

I can't forget about Teacher's Gifts!

The Thousand Gifts

Remind me, Lord, that your will for me is not in opposition to my own happiness, but is actually the path to my own happiness. Make me grateful for the crosses you send my way.

~~from today's "Pray" from Small Steps for Catholic Moms

Today I am joining in with Ann over at A Holy Experience and hundreds of others who have also began their own 1000 Gift Lists. Care to join me? These are in no particular order...

11. Seany's maturity...12. Snuggling in bed with all of my littles on a cold morning realizing these days are fleeting so I'd better not rush...13. Ev's shyness...14. my morning cup of Joe...15. Benny's cute face...16. enjoying and priding in my 2 oldests independence...17. the freedom I have to snuggle in bed with all of my littles...18. my husband's career...19. being able to stay at home with my kids...20. homeschooling...21. Rayzor's phenomenal photography skills. He took this picture last year that is now being featured on our favorite blog

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same,visit SouleMama to leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

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Halloween 2010

Wordless Wednesday

The Thousand Gifts

Today in Small Steps for Catholic Moms, the ACT is to "Begin a gratitude journal. Each day, record in your own handwriting those things for which you are grateful. Buy a nicely bound book or a spiral sketchbook and some beautiful colored pencils. Take the time to become truly appreciative of God's gifts and aware of your calling in this life. Did you make a list of your hopes back in May? Thank God for his answers."

What better way to start then by joining in with Ann over at A Holy Experience and her list of a thousand gifts. Ann writes

"The Gift List is about gratitude… but it is more. It is about what defines me and my own personal identity. Reflecting on The Thousand Gifts List… “…cracking open a new book… pushing children on the swing…. old men looking at cards in the stationery aisle…” I am thankful for the things on it, yes, but I am also thankful that He has given the gift of me; that God made me who I am and I am one who sees and experiences the world in a way uniquely her own. The Thousand Gifts list is about the gifts Abba gives this child every day… and, ultimately, about the very gift of self, life as I know it."

Care to join me in beginning a list of a Thousand Gifts? These are in no particular order...

1. God...2. Greeting sleepy children in the morning...3. my husband...4. the relationships between older and younger siblings...5. Teenage Rayzor...6. the smell of cheerios on baby MC...7. responsible Joz...8. squeals from the baby when she sees her brothers and sisters...9. B-Rad's smile...10. early morning jog...

I will add to the list every Monday with Ann and hundreds of others who have also began their own 1000 Gift Lists.

E is for Eyebright and Elizabeth Ann Seton

We are traveling along the Alphabet Path with Seany (5) and Ev (3) and anyone else who would like to join in! E is for Eyebright and Elizabeth Ann Seton!

Art: E is for Brian Connelly's Brown and White Eggs! Using Museum ABC, we studied the painting and then tried to draw our own brown and white eggs with markers.

I've been having fun "grunging" my pictures using an app called Pic Grunger.

We read Please, this is me! while listening to this CD! We read about St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in An Alphabet of Catholic Saints.

E is for Electricity

Electricity

I is for Idea: An Inventions Alphabet

The Magic School Bus and the Electric Field Trip

Switch On, Switch Off

Charged Up: The Story of Electricity

The Shocking Story of Electricity: Internet Referenced

The Ben Franklin Book of Easy & Incredible Experiments: A Franklin Institute Science Museum Book

Author Study: E is for Elsa Beskow

Pelle's New Suit

Childhood Favorites

Green Eggs and Ham

Rechenka's Eggs

An Extraordinary Egg

The Easter Egg

E is for Elephant!

Some ideas from Shower of Roses:

E is for Endangered Species and Bald Eagle (p. 24)

E is for Endangered Elephant