May 10, 2010 Daybook

Outside My Window...Sun and warmth.  Well, 60 degrees to be exact, but I'll take it.  Usually it's rainy and cold this time of the year with only a few warmer sunny days.

I am thankful for...My children.  As we recently celebrated Mother's Day, it reminds me of the many years DH and I waited anxiously for our arms to be filled with babies.  Even three kids later, the pain of infertility is still fresh and I pray for all women experiencing this cross.

Currently we're reading...about Dinosaurs.  An especially cute book is How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight by Jane Yolen.  Big Boy has been having issues with going to sleep at night and this book has helped him indirectly to go to bed the first time.

I am wearing...jeans and a short sleeved shirt.  Again, so happy to shed the fleeces of winter.

From the kitchen...I'm trying to get a good working schedule of meal planning.  This is so hard for me as I really do hate cooking.  My mil says people view food two different ways--either people live to eat or people eat to live.  We fall into the second category in this house thus my lack of motivation to try anything new.

From the schoolroom...It is just about organized.  Yippee!  And speaking of organization, I just figured out how to add tabs or pages to this blog.  I'm organizing my posts in all one place.  I just finished the Alphabet Path tab and realized I need to publish several weeks worth of work. 

I am creating...lesson plans for next year.  I hope to finalize certain curriculum choices soon and get the information  up on the appropriate tabs on this blog.

What's new with Baby Bear...Still no crawling, but she has perfected the sit and scoot.  She flaps her arms like a bird to move faster.  It is the cutest thing to see.  If I can figure out how to load a video to this blog, I will have to share.  This past week she's signing more.  I like that she can communicate when she wants more of something to me. 

A picture worth sharing... 
How BIG is Baby Bear????

Soooooo BIG!!!!

Happy Mother's Day!

For sometime I've been planning in my head a Mary Garden.  However, I was having trouble finding one of the key components to the garden--A Mary statue--Until yesterday when DH and the kiddos got me this for mother's day....

Mama Mary, mother to us all, pray for us...

The Windy Day

One windy day, we decided to fly a kite...

Big Boy was such a good helper...helping to throw it in the air and encouraging daddy along the way.

No matter how fast he'd run...

the plane went up and flew just as fast back down.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Instead of calling the whole day a wash, we decided to go to the park.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May 3rd, 2010 Daybook

Outside my window...Sun, sun, and more sun.  The kids are enjoying this weather so much.  In retrospect, I think it's been a long winter in more ways then I could even begin to write.

I am thankful for...Laundry.  Crazy, eh?  My husband was out of town last week and the laundry was much less.  I'm glad to have him back home safe and sound--even if it means more laundry!

I am wearing...jeans and a short sleeved shirt.  So happy to shed the excess baggage of winter clothes!

Currently we're reading...Anything and everything DINOSAURS.  Princess and Big Boy will be taking a Digging for Dino's class offered at the local museum next week.  Both are excited.

From the kitchen...Lots of different types of salads.  With the warm weather, we're trading the meat and potatoes mode of winter in for a lighter, seasonal meals.

Around the schoolroom...Still trying to organize in there.  It's not that I don't have the ability to organize, it's stringing together the time.

I am creating...plans for a new garden.  It will be our official Mary Garden.  It will be a fairly large sized plot that will encompass our side yard.  From there I'll be able to see the garden from my kitchen window.

What's new with Baby Bear...She's 10 months old!  She's eating small cut up pieces of food.  She is an expert at gumming up her food.  Still no teeth in sight, too.  Mobility is just around the corner for her, too.  She can get in a crawling stance, but is still content with the sit and scoot method.  I'm always amazed at how fast time is going.  I'm proud of myself that I refuse to let the first year of her life go by in a blink.

A picture worth sharing...

 

Easter Table

Our Easter Table 2010

I like to get the kiddos either Tulips or Daffodils for the Easter Table.  After the bulbs are spent we plant them in the backyard to enjoy the following Spring.

Our Sacrifice Beans turned into Jelly Beans.

Princess's Easter basket with something more then yummy goodies.

Big Boy's Basket, if you couldn't guess!

And Baby Bear's basket.

Coloring Easter Eggs

Resurrection Rolls

I've always wanted to do something like this with the kiddos, but due to milk protein allergies, I could not find a dairy free recipe that would work.  However, due to Princess and Big Boy growing out of this allergy we can use the Crescent Rolls without a problem.  I was excited to see Catholic Cuisine had a simple recipe for the Resurrection Rolls.  I copied it here so I would have it for future reference.  The kids really enjoyed it. 

What you will need:

1 package Crescent Rolls, divided into triangles

Butter, melted

8 large Marshmallows

Cinnamon/Sugar mixture

8 squares of foil (with child's name written on it if desired), sprayed with cooking spray

Cookie Sheet


Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Give each child a triangle of crescent rolls. The crescent roll represents the cloth that Jesus was wrapped in.

Give each child a marshmallow. This represents Jesus.

Have the child dip the marshmallow in melted butter. This represents the oils of embalming.

Next, have the child dip the buttered marshmallow in the cinnamon and sugar. This represents the spices used to anoint the body.

Demonstrate how to wrap up the coated marshmallow tightly in the crescent roll (not like a typical crescent roll up...but bring the sides up and seal the marshmallow inside). This represents the wrapping of Jesus' body after His death. (Optional: Have each child work on a square of foil with their name written in permanent marker on the foil to easily identify after baking.)

Place on a cookie sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes. The oven represents the tomb--pretend that it has been three days!

While waiting for the rolls to bake, use Resurrection Eggs or a child's Picture Bible and tell the story of Christ's Passion and Resurrection.

When the rolls have cooled slightly, the children can open their rolls (cloth) and discover that Jesus is no longer there, HE IS RISEN!

The rolls will be hollow because the marshmallow melted. While the children enjoy the rolls, explain that knowing Jesus is alive and He loves us feels so good, like the rolls taste good and sweet.

May Crowining

At church the Princess participated in the May Crowning.  She sang her heart out and recited the Hail Mary.  Here's a few pictures...and yes, that is Big Boy playing on the floor with a train.

Spring 2010

The First Signs of Spring