food prices on the rise

I have noticed while pushing my cart through the grocery two times a week that costs for food have risen in the past year, eggs have shot up in price from $1 to $2.60 a dozen, making me long for the day when I can raise my own Chanticleer chickens.

Luckily for our family's pocketbook, I have actually spent less money on groceries due to implementing the pantry system of shopping, originally found in Amy Dacyczyn's Tightwad Gazette book. By combining sale items with coupons and building up to a 12 week supply of shelf items bought cheaply, you can save 40% or more on your bill. Some folks think that it is too much work, or the sale items are things they don't need, but even make-everything-from-scratch folks use yeast and flour, and who doesn't use shampoo and toothpaste? (if you don't, please don't come too close) Now we are getting official word from the government and the food industry that prices will continue to rise, making cost-cutting efforts at home all the more worthwhile.

“I think we need to tell the American consumer that [prices] are going up. We’re seeing cost increases that we’ve never seen in our business.”
The comments highlighted ...that rising agricultural prices have reached a stage at which the impact will be felt not only on fresh food but will also filter through the supply chain and raise the cost of processed food.
US agriculture officials forecast that food inflation will rise this year at an annual rate of 3-4 per cent, warning that the risks were skewed to the upside. Last year, food inflation rose 4 per cent, the highest annual rate since 1990.
... wheat prices had previously moved from $3 to $5 a bushel without significant pain for consumers. “But now the wheat price has jumped to nearly $20 a bushel. These large increases will show up [in consumer prices].”

Some links to sites I utilize:

My sorority sister Genna's site specializing in saving at Harris Teeter and Lowes: grocery deals and meals. Since her first day of marriage she has kept all her shopping on spreadsheets so she can honestly say that she has saved $20,000 in groceries over the past 9 years.

coupon mom is a free site that gives breakdowns of each store and combining sale items with coupons. I tried the $1 for a month deal at the grocery game site, but found that the lists didn't come out until a few days after the sale fliers, resulting in finding empty shelves when I started shopping. Often items that were supposedly "on sale" were not, leaving me frustrated. Using a fee service encouraged me to shop at lots of stores "to get my money's worth" resulting in long shopping days and cranky kids. Quickly I realized my error and have since settled on Kroger and Harris Teeter as my weekly stops on Monday and Wednesday. I especially like to pick up a pretty bouquet of flowers at Kroger from the discount bin and HT is known as "the balloon store" to my younger ones for good reason. Most grocery stores have savings friendly sites so you can click on items from the flyer and print out a list from home.

The thrill of seeing "You saved 45%" on the bottom of your receipt, or hearing from the cashier, "Wow! You really know how to work those coupons girl!" is enough for me and the little effort I put into it is so worth it to our bottom line.

Try it, and I promise you will get hooked.

race results

This morning it was 45 degrees with a dense fog that made me think I had been transported to London. Why was I awake and driving downtown at 7am on a Saturday? To run 4 almost perfect 7:30 min miles and come in 2nd place in my age group. Did I stick around for the award presentation and the free beer at 9:30? I don't think so, since I had to redeem my Valentine's Day gift from my dear husband: a manicure, my first in over 15 years. Boy, my dry, flaky hands feel good and look so pretty.

Thank you sweetie!

tuberculous ward

Maggie whining, "Charlie is going to cough on me."

Will muttering under his breath, "Why does it matter? We're all sick already."

I have had eager takers for Dimetapp Elixir so Sunday morning we will assess who is well enough to attend Mass and who is staying in the bed.

St. Blaise, pray for us.

teaching the facts of life

I have always been of the "tell kids the minimum" school when asked questions such as, "Where do babies come from? and How does the baby get out of your tummy?" Will and Mary don't know anything about s*x at this point, which does make teaching the 6th and 9th Commandments a bit difficult. I knew there will come a day when I would have to address the issue, but both Tim and I feel strongly about keeping children innocent and safe while they are still children. One of the myriad of reasons I was in favor of homeschooling was allowing my kids to not be exposed to a s*x saturated culture while still in kindergarten.

Well, it seems that even as homeschoolers we can't be left alone to decide what is appropriate for our children. A month ago I was approached by a neighbor, a retired psychologist who offered me a book for the kids. Assuming it was an old picture book, we waited outside his house and then proceeded to sell him a box of girl scout cookies. He handed the paperback directly to Mary and I waited until we were out of sight before I flipped through it. "Oh my!" It was a 1970's manual on s*xual education that had pictures and at least one paragraph that condoned a practice that is against Catholic teaching. I tossed it directly into the trash can without a second thought. I was flabbergasted with the nerve of this man who thought he was being helpful by giving my child information that is my job as a parent to teach. When we delivered the box of cookies he asked what I thought of the book. "It goes against our religion's teaching and wasn't appropriate." A few days later I found that he offered a similar book to our 15 year old babysitter as she was walking home. She mentioned that perhaps he had written the books and that is why he felt free to pass them out.

I thought the whole thing was very strange. After all, do you go offering books on homeschooling to your neighbors? But I was polite. However, as a result of this exchange, I have this nagging feeling that I need to have a plan to teach them about puberty, change, where babies come from... but don't know if I should get a good Catholic book on the subject, or just keep being honest but minimal in my information.

Any been there, done that from you moms with older children??

The battle over sex education in the United States continues, with some parents of students at a New Jersey high school challenging a programme that uses peer instructors. School district administrators say that New Jersey law requires them to teach a comprehensive class that addresses abstinence, safe sex, dating violence, HIV-AIDS, and how alcohol and drugs affect sexual decision-making. But one of the objectors says her 14-year-old son was uncomfortable with a session in which a student taught the class how to put on a condom, using a banana.

Last year there 244 disputes over sex education across the country, up from 204 in 2006, according to the lobby group the Sex Information and Education Council of the US. Programmes limited to teaching abstinence until marriage and not promoting contraception have been popular in many states, which receive federal funding for them. Chicago Tribune, February 20

appreciating dressmakers

Introducing Nikki, the American Girl doll Mary received from her fabulous Auntie Cheryl for Christmas. Last week Nikki was given several new pairs of shoes and a new nightie in honor of Mary's birthday, but still the girls were clamoring for more clothes for their dolls. So... despite the fact that I have only sewn clothes for myself that didn't involve zippers or buttons (leaving elastic waistband skirts and jumpers) I decided to attempt a dress. The fabric store had Simplicity patterns on sale this week for $1 and I bought several as well as elastic and lace. Why I began with this hard a pattern is beyond me, but after completing it I recovered enough to pull out some of the other envelopes to see what our next project will be.

"Perhaps a lovely and simple pair of pants?" I enquired.

"No, a tutu for Samantha," Maggie cried, "it is my turn!"

I'm going to need a LOT more practice runs before I can attempt sewing a leotard in stretch fabric for a 18" doll.

St. Anne, pray for me.

Carnival of Homeschooling

This week's Carnival of Homeschooling is up at Homeschool Blog Awards.

Maggieisms

Our 5 year old is always surprising me with gems like these:

On the switch from sleeping in pull-ups to underpants, "I know God helped me stay dry last night."

"You know Mommy, I bet God loves people talking about him."

"If you commit a mortal sin, you go to Hell when you die... Don't do bad stuff Will."

As a mother knows her children better than anyone else, save God, I think Maggie might be the most likely of my brood to have a religious vocation. She is sweet tempered, always looking out for other folks, and thoughts of God seem to be forefront in her mind. Just as I have tried to nurture Will's gift for all things mechanical, I will do my best to guide and nurture Maggie toward what could be her calling.

knowing and teaching grammar

I am so grateful that there are on-line communities of homeschooling moms to give one another encouragement and support as well as spread the message about this superior method of education. However, one thing really frustrates me and that is horrible writing and grammar from these same moms. After all, if they can't differentiate between accept and except, advice and advise, there, their, and they're - what are they teaching their kids? I cringe when I see blatant misspellings in people's posts, especially when they describe how they have put together their own homeschool program because others are too difficult. "After all," they claim, "I ended up just fine not knowing all that grammar and diagramming stuff." Yes, public school teachers are little better, with many who can't write well, have to take the NTE several times in order to pass, and in at least one case, have taught for years without knowing how to read or spell. But as I was reading the Seton Yahoo group lists, I came across this from a mom and just had to laugh:

I am using the xyz sixth grade syllabus, depending on the option that one chooses it does do formal sentence diagramming. What I mean by formal it the lines with the words on it some slanted underneath etc. The other option for grammar through xyz does a more modern way of sentence diagramming. xyz does stress that one learns there grammar.

Let me just say I am grateful we start 1st grade with homophones and teach diagramming beginning in 2nd grade. Please, please check your grammar and spelling before posting on the internet, poor wording reflects badly on the rest of us homeschoolers.

(this said with my spell check busted from overuse. If you find errors, please let me know!)

reading circle

Reading God's Harvard, A Christian College On A Mission To Save America was a strange experience. I knew a tiny bit about Patrick Henry College from weekly missives in my email box urging me to send my homeschooler to debate camp, summer classes, and goverment classes on-line, but not much more. I have great respect for Mike Farris and the other lawyers and administrators of HSLDA and the college, but have always been a bit put off by their evangelical zeal that rejects those of other religious viewpoints.

The author of this year and a half long study of the college is Hanna Rosin, a religion writer for the Washington Post. While I can understand Mrs. Rosin's outsider-looking-in writing style as she is a cultural Jew and I am Catholic (neither one of us would be admitted to PHC), her contempt and condescension throughout this book is uncalled for. Her unprofessional sneering at the school rules, the student's political aspirations and dissapointments, any weakness in the character of anyone at the college is so blatant it makes a reader question if anything in this book is true or is it just a liberal hit job. Every page is peppered with her incredulity that these Christians actually believe the Bible and attempt to live up to a moral code.

I think this book illustrates the most to me is not the collision of the administration's and faculty's ideas of what a liberal arts education should look like, but the utter contempt of today's media toward all Christians who want to influence society. If we want to retain sexual purity then we are called Puritans or Jane Austen era wanna-bes. If we want to homeschool for any reason then we are lampooned as narrow-minded dictators in our homes. The liberals don't want us to choose our own paths through this life, they want us all to be like them: free from moral constraints and free from God.

Happy Valentine's Day!

A week or so ago our schoolroom looked like a tornado had touched down, leaving pink and red shredded bits all over the floor. As usual it was my fault, since I had signed up our family to make Valentine's for 18 other Catholic homeschooling families on the Ora Et Labora board. My suggestion that we make 1 big card for each family was firmly voted down because then Mary couldn't make cards for the girls by herself. She threw herself into the project with an organizing zeal never before seen in a 7 year old. She assigned cards to her siblings, "Will, make a card for John, he is 9 too. Charlie, stamp these horses on this card for Ben, he is 3." I was instructed to write out phrases they might use such as "God bless you" and "May love fill your home, your heart, and your life," so she wouldn't make spelling errors. She methodically added to her pile of "girl cards" and announced at 3pm that she had finished all 24 cards. Well, the rest of the crew had given up hours before, leaving me with 19 cards unfinished. But we worked together to finish them up and mailed out all the manilla envelopes in time to arrive in far off Hawaii and Oregon tomorrow. I warned the other moms, "They might not be of Hallmark quality, but they are from the heart."

So, if you get a handmade card from a small person in your life, thank them for all their work and love and thank their parent who bought the supplies, spelled Valentine correctly, and stood in line at the Post Office. We loved the opportunity to show you how much we love and cherish you.

overwhelmed

There are periods in every mom's life where she just is completely buried by responsibility such as at the birth of a child, illness, or a big move. However, there are also times when everything should be going smoothly with school, lessons, and housekeeping routines melding together but the slightest change sends everything careening off into chaos.

In the past two weeks we have added several activities to our weekly routine and it has sent me into utter exhaustion. A priest in a nearby town started offering the Traditional Latin Mass on Tuesday mornings, which involves getting everyone up, dressed, and out the door by 7:45 and not returning home until 11:45, leaving no time for school. Will and Mary's Friday enrichment classes started last week, also eliminating school that day. While I want to support the priest's efforts (as well as offer our sacrifice to God) and want the older children to attend some fun classes with new friends, I have been collapsing into bed at 8pm most nights and still tired the next morning. I really feel like I just had a baby or moved overseas or something equally dramatic.

Likely I will get in the groove just as as we get ready to move. That is the way of the military spouse, but I'm certain there will be other obligations and activities to overwhelm me at the next base as well.

Carnival of Homeschooling

Is up at About Homeschooling. I think this was last week's edition, this week's is up at The Voice of Experience.

happy birthday Mary!

Saturday night, right when Will came in to kiss me goodnight he said, "I forgot the banner." It has been his job for several years now to hang a huge sign from the mantelpiece wishing happy birthday greetings. It amazes me that he always remembers, mostly because this is a child who still can't remember to get dressed and brush his teeth without 9 reminders and a threat of no breakfast if he doesn't comply. I shouldn't talk because while I remember to get 6 people's teeth brushed every morning, I have forgotten about the tooth fairy's obligation to put money under the pillow so many times that the children started leaving reminder notes on my bedside table.

Mary had a lovely gift opening extravaganza with clothes for Nikki, her American Girl doll as well as a cowgirl hat with pink leather cords. After supper we lit the candles and all sang the Happy Birthday song with Will's piano accompaniment. All in all, it was a good birthday.

As she gets more mature Mary reminds me of the best and worst of myself, helpful, caring, but apt to be bossy and display a hot temper. While I struggle every day with my faults, I hope and pray that if carefully nurtured and encouraged she can become much more good and holy than her mother. She will certainly need it, declaring her life's ambition to be a mommy of 8.

great Scouts!

This morning is the Cub Scout pinewood derby as well as Girl Scout cookie pickup. Tomorrow is Mary's birthday, Mass, and more Cub Scouts. I thought walking around selling these cookies was difficult with the 3 little ones, but add in a wagon overflowing with boxes of yummy cookies they are going to want to eat...

I'll surface in a day or so...

my little gentleman

Today Will and Mary went to school for the first time. While they have been to programs like storytime and CCD, today they had to change classes. Mary seemed a little shy when I dropped her off at Fun with Drawing while Will sauntered into his Strategy Games class and immediately started playing chess with a little girl.

I worried the most about Mary on the drive home, would she find the right room # that I scribbled on a scrap of paper in purple crayon? I was immensely pleased when at pick-up Molly's mother told me that she watched Will walk Mary to her room for Ballet before he went upstairs to Essentials of Physics. They are both learning things, including increased independence and looking out for their siblings.

clothes storage

Over at Danielle Bean's blog there was a discussion last week as to how to store and pass down clothes with many children. I figured out that I needed to organize the clothes after I started bringing home clothes for the kids to grow into from the base thrift shop. As a manager I was "paid" in discount bags of clothes and since there were more stuff than room, I felt free to help myself. Rubbermaid bins with gender and size marked on the side have helped tremendously over the years. When a child goes through a growth spurt in the middle of a season I can rumage through his/her bin and find something right away. A seasonal sorting day helps me to determine what is needed to fill in each child's wardrobe.

While folks with few or widely spaced children may wish to give away most of their clothes each year, I have found it useful to hold onto possible sentimental items. I guess I got it from my mother. A few months back we found this dress, the only smocking project she ever finished. As a child I was unimpressed by my mother's talent and hard work. Mary, however, is making up for it, she has worn it every Sunday for 3 months straight. When I asked her to please wear a different dress she started crying.

"Why are you upset? Do you like it because Mommy used to wear it?"
"Yes, but..."
"Is is because the dress reminds you of Grammie?"
"Yes."
"I miss her too sweetie. Why don't you wear it to help us to remember to pray for her at Mass today."

I guess it doesn't matter if everyone at church thinks the child only owns 1 dress and the rest hang in the closet unworn. Mother made it to show her love for me and Mary wears it to show her love for both her Mommy and her Grammie.

recipe for bruises

Maggie, "I have lots of boo-boos."

Charlie, "I do too. (poking around to count) I have 3."

Maggie, "I have 16!"

Mommy, "Boo-boos heal and then you are all better."

Charlie, "I don't want them to go away."

Maggie, " You can always get more.... Just run into something."

a bit of a letdown

Yesterday afternoon our family got dolled up and drove to Sacred Heart Cathedral in Raleigh for the second schelduled High Masses after the Pope's letter Summorum Pontificum, freeing the Traditional Latin Mass. The crowd was a little sparse due to the conflict with the Super Bowl, but I was relieved that we would not be so smushed in the pews. However, when the priest, Father Betti came to the lectern and stated that he had recently been trained at the FSSP Seminary in Denton, Nebraska and this was his first public Mass, I began to get a little antsy. The bishop extinguished all but two of the candles on the altar and when I turned around at the start of the Processional I realized there were no servers. No responses at the Foot of the Altar, no bells at the Sanctus, or even at the Consecration, and when the time came for the Communion of the Faithful there was no one to hold the paten. (an elderly gentleman who is in the choir at Sacred Heart in Dunn filled in) Mass was transformed from a spiritual high the month before to a confusing 90 minutes of pure silence. No one could hear much of the Mass, and if I didn't know exactly what was supposed to happen when, I would have been in complete agreement that the Novus Ordo Mass was the norm for good reason.

Afterwards I told the priest that if he had said that he needed a server, likely 40+ men and boys would have gladly volunteered. But he said that he trained to offer Mass with no servers. I might have put my foot in it when I told him that we were coming Tuesday to his parish when he will offer the TLM and my son Will would gladly serve. It dawned on me (with a little assistance) that in his 1 1/2 years as an altar boy, Will has only served a few times alone and those times with an experienced and gentle priest.

What have I done to my poor little boy?

Well, we will practice the responses and cues for the bell today and get to the church early so he can decide if he wants to try. He is not yet 10 and hasn't worn a cassock in 6 months. Perhaps I was too hasty in my offer, but if he decides to try and messes up we can offer it up to God just as well as if he did it perfectly. Please pray for Will as well as Father on Tuesday.

quilting update

I have just finished a scrappy pinwheel baby quilt that used quirky scraps like balloon and crayon fabric. I recall pinning the blocks to the wall in our house in Italy, so it must have been started a year before Mary was born. I always find conversation prints irresistible in the store, but find it very hard to put them in an actual quilt. Of course the scrap basket is now overflowing again with these cute fabrics, but want to start a more adult project this time.

The new quilt I have in mind is a Union Star arrangement I have made two times for friends and have always wanted for our own home. This one will be larger and will have 4 stars across and down. My busy bee helpers, Mary and Will and I have pressed and sewed all 24 alternate blocks in just a few days.

My goal is to make the entire top only using fabric from my existing stash. You can see that the shelves are stuffed, so much that I could likely make 100 quilts from them. Since it was such a good experience sending out my last big project to a long-arm quilter I will take it up to the local shop in Maine to have Miss Nancy put it together.

my kid is smarter than I am

And he is only 9.

Yesterday while reading a science lesson about force, the diagram showed a water wheel in a stream. I pointed out how the water turns the wheel and turns the shaft to power whatever machine is hooked up to it. Will said, "No, Mommy, the water turns it the opposite direction, see?" He then drew me a blow-up diagram of a water wheel so I could understand it better.

On the same day he studied the LEGO Technic book and constructed a candy dispenser even though we still have not gotten the extra parts bag in the mail. (due tomorrow)

At this rate, I think that my future will include hours of driving my child to college classes when he's 12. I'm sure I'll do better in teaching him biology than physics, after all, I know lots about child development!

city quiz

Found this over at rosetta stone. I guess it is a good thing that we are moving to Maine, I'll be pretty close to my "ideal city."

You Are Boston

Both modern and old school, you never forget your roots. Well educated and a little snobby, you demand the best. And quite frankly, you think you are the best. Famous people from the Boston area: Conan O'Brien, Ben Affleck, New Kids on the Block

What American City Are You?

red vader?

We have been immersed in Star Wars mania due to the fact that Will received the 3 original movies on DVD for Christmas. Every afternoon, after school and piano practice are complete and the babysitter arrives, the children can usually watch a movie. I feel sorry for the teenage girl who watches them, after all, I feel overwhelmed by them most days. If they are staring at the screen for an hour or so, at least I know it is something I picked out.

But I had to cut off Star Wars after Charlie started throwing homemade LEGO bombs down the stairs and Maggie asked for the tenth time, "Can we watch the baby bears?" Will came up with this outfit after discovering we own no black dress up clothes. He made the light saber from red cellophane and a wrapping paper tube.

Celebration

We recently honored St. Timothy on his feast day since two members of our house are named after the Saint. My main contribution was to make a cake in honor of the event. Meanwhile, Will constructed an enormous sign and Mary wrote a letter, complete with envelope addressed to, "Mr. Daddy and Timmy C., room first, from Miss Mary C, room 3." The children had the lovely idea of writing "pray for us" on the cake. Well, since I used most of the minuscule tube of white frosting gel on spelling out St. Timothy, I didn't think I had enough left to write it all, but I managed to squeeze out just enough to finish the last letter. It was delicious and baby Timmy ate his piece all up.

Carnival of Homeschooling

Last week's carnival is at Alasandra and Her Cats. Here is this week's carnival at Tiffany's.

I can't do it

Quit blogging that is.

After a year of writing every day about our trials and joys as a largish Catholic homeschooling family, it seems to have become a part of my life. Perhaps I won't write every day, but I can promise more color since Tim bought me a digital camera and I can post pictures much more easily now.

ta-da!

Yesterday I realized that one of Tim's work colleagues was expecting a baby any day and I hadn't yet made her a baby quilt. Mary, my big sewing helper, and I selected a pattern, picked out a dozen pink fabrics and cut out and sewed the quilt top. Mary did a great deal of the sewing, though I did have to take out a few wonkily pieced seams. Today I basted, quilted it in a big meandering stipple pattern, and sewed on the binding. The back features a quote I found in a book about motherhood, "The most important handshake of your life will happen when your newborn infant's tiny hand grabs hold of your index finger."

Not bad for 2 afternoon's worth of work.

sometimes it doesn't pay

Earlier this week I hit the local thrift shop for a bit of fashion rejuvenation. While they don't have a good selection of children's clothes, they do have cheap and good quality women's wear. I found some sweaters and a pretty red knit dress from Talbots, as well as 2 skirts, 10 pieces in all for about $40. While waiting in line I picked up a few magazines for the children and a LEGO Technic Klutz book to build simple machines. Since the bag seemed full of various bits I figured Will would find in interesting and purchased it for $2. However, when I got home and presented it to him, he found that almost 1/2 of the parts were missing. His distress at not being able to make a single machine led us to search LEGO's website and attempt to email to a local mom who's son is immersed in building Technic creations. Finally, Will found a Klutz website address and we found the exact bag of replacement parts we needed for $10. So my bargain turned out to cost $13, still less than the new price, but not quite the steal I had originally thought.

let's eat some doughnuts!

This Saturday I am running in the Krispy Kreme Challenge 4 mile run. It sounds like more of a fun event than what I am used to, basically you are to run 2 miles to the KK store, eat as many or as few doughnuts as you would like, then run the 2 miles back. There is a competitor class where you are required to eat a dozen hot, glazed confections before you start back and the rules state that you should try not to upchuck on the course. I passed on that, since while I can easily eat 12 of the little fat balls, I didn't know if you were allowed milk or water alongside.

It will be an interesting race to say the least, and I promised the children I would bring home some doughnuts for them. I have a feeling I won't be interested in chowing down with them afterwards.

12 Original Glazed Krispy Kreme Doughnuts

2400 calories
1200 fat calories
144g of fat
36g of saturated fat
60mg of Cholesterol
1140mg of sodium
120g of sugar
24g of protein

furiously writing

Not me, Will.

For the past 3 years I have coaxed this child to dictate book reports or write short paragraphs about his likes, activities, and adventures, only to hear agonizing groans every single time. This year has been especially disheartening because Seton lesson plans contain weekly writing assignments in English as well as a 4 paragraph book report in Reading. I did see glimmers of encouragement when Will wrote several letters to his auntie, even addressing the envelope correctly. But today! Today I was presented with a scrapbook, complete with a homemade cover, in which he is journaling his activities.

"I woke up early and played with timmy. I went into mary's room and got her flashlight and gave it to timmy and then saw daddy turn out the lights. So I did horse rides with them and then got out of bed. And I remebered my "days story" so I started righting."

Does this mean that the next writing assignment will be met with joyous accolades? I doubt it, but now I know he is capable of writing much more than I previously thought and I won't let his excuses wear me down quite so much.

found this under Mary's bed:

DAYS CHART

1 Brush teeth in morning and eveing.

2 Make bed before going down stairs.

3 get dressed.

4 take laundury down stairs and do it.

5. Say prayers,

6. Eat breakfast.

7. Do more laundury.

8. Go play.

9. Pracktcs the Multapacachin tables.

10. Make lunch.

11. Eat Lunch.

12. Do more laurndury.

13. Go play.

14. Do more laundury , if is anay more.

15. Go play.

16. Take shower.

17. Put Charile to bed.

18. Read a little.

19. Say prayers.

20. Go to bed.

NOTICE

this chart is Mon-Fri only.

(notice that #7: Do school is nowhere on the list.) If she actually did 1/2 of the actual work on this chart I would be able to lie on the sofa and eat bon-bons much of the day. Unfortunately, I am the one who does most of the laundry, though Will does some days and both kids carry the basket up the stairs and dump it on my bed. I recall making these kinds of lists when I was little, but she is much more ambitious than I ever planned on being.

I needed a conk on the head?

This morning our little scholars finished up the 2nd quarter by 9:30am so I decided to first clean up the house a bit and then head over to the library. I had ordered a few CDs from The Teaching Company and then was advised to see if the local library had others on the shelf. Well, they do, so we pulled up in the parking lot to discover (for the 3rd time) that the library does not open until 2pm on Fridays. Since 10 other cars pulled up while we were there, I realize that I was not the only citizen to forget these new cost-saving, yet aggravating measures.

After I stepped out of the car to at least put our stacks of books in the book drop, I jumped over a puddle and hit my head on the side view mirror. The smacking sound could be heard all over the parking lot, "Are you okay?" "Yeah, okay," I mumbled and then went around the other side to hold my head and cry. It hurt so badly that both Will and Mary got out of the car to give me a hug and put the books away for me. A few hours later I am feeling a better, but still a little sore. As I am pretty casual about the kid's pains and boo-boos, "It's not bleeding, you will be fine. Now go play," I think this will remind me to be more kind to my children when they are injured, as they were to me today.

Of course

this is the weather when we are paying for two properties to be snowplowed. The driveway to the farm has to be kept clear for the builder and we agreed to include yard work in the lease for the house in town because the tenant is a little old lady.

New England's first major winter storm of 2008 snarled the Monday morning commute with heavy snow and closed hundreds of schools.
Following the snowiest December on record in some parts of the region, and a spell of spring-like warmth, meteorologists said as much as 14 inches of snow was possible in southern New Hampshire and areas west and north of Boston.
Hundreds of public and private schools canceled classes for the day in anticipation of the snow in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, Connecticut, Rhode Island and parts of eastern New York.

A High Mass that lifted hearts and inspired souls

This afternoon I packed the girls into the Jeep and took off west to the town of Greensboro following the latest sighting of a Traditional Latin Mass in central North Carolina. Motu Proprio fever has taken off here with a monthly High Mass in Raleigh and several training sessions for priests set up by FSSP, as well as other Tridentine Masses scattered across the state.

Father Robert Ferguson filled in several times at St. Benedict's in Chesapeake, Virginia and the parishioners were very grateful for his enthusiasm and love for the Catholic faith. Currently, I understand, he is teaching at Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary and also training groups of diocesan priests who want to learn the Extraordinary Form. This evening's Mass at Our Lady Of Grace was to show priests and faithful alike what a wonder and inspiration the Mass can be and it proved to be so. From the first note sung by the talented choir and the separate men's schola, the music lifted all our hearts to Heaven. The majesty of Mozart's Coronation Mass Gloria, the depth of Haydn's St John of God Mass Credo, the loft of HJ Steward's Sanctus was certainly some of the most beautiful music ever created for the glory of God. This was not just a Gregorian chant dialogue High Mass (which is extraordinarily beautiful); this brought to mind the singing of the angels.

There were some rough spots like when a few dozen folks didn't understand the rubrics and insisted on standing throughout the Gloria and Credo, even after Father sat down, and when many people started leaving during the final hymn. Also, most of the women did not cover their heads in imitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in both her maternity and modesty. But the chatter I overheard as we headed back to the car, "Wasn't that the most beautiful thing you have ever experienced?" pushed the little irritants aside. I am so grateful to be coming out of the desert of the past 40 years and personally experiencing the re-birth of the Church.

Thanks must be given to Father Parkerson as well, who assisted in distributing Holy Communion to the full, but not uncomfortably packed crowd, and to the bishop of Charlotte, who I think was in attendance. May our hearts and minds focus on Our Lord and his sacrifice for us. May many souls be brought to Heaven from this Mass and the others like it to follow. Let us all pray for Our Holy Father, good priests like Father Ferguson, and seminarians who want to learn the Mass of the Ages.

a good story and a goodbye

Once upon a time there was this girl who had four friends.

She loved the 4th friend the most and adored him with rich robes and treated him to the finest of delicacies. She gave him nothing but the best.

She also loved the 3rd friend very much and was always showing him off to neighboring kingdoms. However, she feared that one day he would leave her for another.

She also loved her 2nd friend. He was her confidant and was always kind, considerate and patient with her. Whenever this girl faced a problem, she could confide in him, and he would help her get through the difficult times.

The girls 1st friend was a very loyal partner and had made great contributions in maintaining her wealth and kingdom. However, she did not love the first friend. Although he loved her deeply, she hardly took notice of him!

One day, the girl fell ill and she knew her time was short. She thought of her luxurious life and wondered, "I now have four friends with me, but when I die, I'll be all alone." Thus, she asked the 4th friend, "I loved you the most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?"

"No way!", replied the 4th friend, and he walked away without another word. His answer cut like a sharp knife right into her heart.

The sad girl then asked the 3rd friend, "I loved you all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?"

"No!", replied the 3rd friend. "Life is too good! When you die, I'm going to marry someone else!" Her heart sank and turned cold.

She asked the 2nd friend, "I have always turned to you for help and you've always been there for me. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?"

"I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!", he replied. "At the very most, I can only walk with you to your grave." His answer struck her like a bolt of lightning, and the girl was devastated.

Then a voice called out: "I'll go with you. I'll follow you no matter where you go." The girl looked up, and there was her first friend. He was very skinny as he suffered from malnutrition and neglect.

Greatly grieved, the girl said, "I should have taken much better care of you when I had the chance!"

In truth, you have 4 friends in your lives: Your 4th friend is your body. No matter how much time and effort you lavish in making it look good, it will leave you when you die. Your 3rd friend is your possessions, status and wealth. When you die, it will all go to others. Your 2nd friend is your family and friends. No matter how much they have been there for you, the furthest they can stay by you is up to the grave.

Your 1st friend is your Soul. Often neglected in pursuit of wealth, power and pleasures of the world. However, your Soul is the only thing that will follow you where ever you go. Cultivate, strengthen and cherish it now, for it is he only part of you that will follow you to the throne of God and continue with you throughout Eternity.

I have been thinking a great deal about time and what I choose to do with it. Right now I choose to homeschool my older children, care for and nurture my younger children, run, read, and work on a writing class. In the past 6 months I have neglected my other great love of quilting. I can't both blog and quilt as both take up the precious daily hour I carve out for myself.

It has been said many times after someone found a quilt of Jane Austin's making, "The world would be better off if she had written another book rather than spent her time making a quilt." I think it would be better if I make more quilts than write. So, I will continue to read up on other's homeschooling exploits, and may occasionally post, but I need to get back to my passion for color and design, for crafting something that will warm the body as well as the soul.

homeschooling doesn't have to be hard

From the beginning, I didn't find homeschooling to be a difficult thing. I do however, find managing many little children, and organizing a household while homeschooling a more challenging task. It helps to start with a good attitude, realistic expectations, and good resources.

There is such a thing as thinking and analyzing too much when it comes to picking resources to use in schooling. On-line forums are full of moms asking, "What is the best spelling program? What math series do you use?" The responses offer dozens of different solutions, "We use XYZ series and it works! Jainey now loves to spell." The poor new homeschooler is left in the same place she was before with no clear-cut solution to her selection process. Usually it is better to not get on the do-it-yourself merry-go-round and just dive in head-first with using an in-the-box program. It seems that it is already enough work to sit down and cover the material with all the children than to add in finding the "perfect" books for each subject, making up lesson plans, and determining grades. Sure, some people are super-organized and use guides such as Designing Your Own Classical Curriculum, but I have found it easier to stick with a good program like Seton and supplement with extras when needed.

So, to respond the statement below, "Its not an easy thing to do," I would say the ease or difficulty of homeschooling depends on how hard you make it.

The state's number of home-schoolers has grown about 6 percent to 9 percent annually during the last decade, according to Raleigh-based North Carolinians for Home Education, a volunteer organization that supports home schools.
Parents say reasons for home schooling their kids vary as much as the dozens of teaching programs available to them. Of the estimated 68,707 home-schoolers enrolled statewide, 67 percent are in home schools with religious themes, according to the state's 2006-07 report.
Others, like Lockard, are dissatisfied with public and private education options.

Starting a home school is easy, but parents caution newbies to do some research.

While getting started is simple, running a home school is time consuming and costly due to lost income, says Waxhaw's Keith Holmes.
"It's not an easy thing to do," he says. "You have to educate your child, and you have no one else to blame."

Frankly my dear, I don't give a ...

A quick scan of the new books at the library and I found another good story, Rhett Butler's People, by Donald McCaig. The author was selected by the Margaret Mitchell Foundation to write this 500 page novel, showing one of the most famous literary romances of all time from other character's perspectives. The book aligns with Gone With The Wind, but giving us the thoughts and backgrounds of Ashley, Melanie, Belle Watling, and of course Rhett Butler.

This is one of those books you shouldn't start right before you go to bed, because you might end up like I did, creeping downstairs at 11pm to find out what happens next. One chapter follows the next and so before you know it, the clock strikes 2am when you close the cover. Even though a bleary eyed day awaited me the next morning, I didn't regret it because it was such a delightful read.

what are you doing here?

This is what happens when two people who don't follow God's Laws #6, #8, #9, and #10:

WARSAW (Reuters) - A Polish man got the shock of his life when he visited a brothel and spotted his wife among the establishment's employees. Polish tabloid Super Express said the woman had been making some extra money on the side while telling her husband she worked at a store in a nearby town.
"I was dumfounded. I thought I was dreaming," the husband told the newspaper Wednesday.
The couple, married for 14 years, are now divorcing, the newspaper reported.


God didn't give us the Ten Commandments to be mean, he gave them to us so we could be happy. It is said that a married couple who practices NFP cuts their risk of divorce by over 50% and it is said that married couples with many children are less likely to divorce as well. This is perhaps because both the husband and wife are striving to follow God's law and not be selfish. People who give of themselves to God and their neighbor are happier and assured they will never find their spouse working in or patronizing a brothel.

Carnival of Homeschooling

Is up at Red Sea School.

a boy and his cars

There is nothing more sweet yet anxiety provoking than tucking in a 3 year old who insists on sleeping with a red Jeep under one arm and a VHS operating video with a cover shot of a Jeep flying over a dirt pile under the other.

Why do I have this feeling that one day, not too many years from now, I will have to hide the keys so the boys will not take off 4-wheeling in the woods? My placid sheep and cows might not like that too much. I did read an article in the Jeep magazine (it comes for free, we don't subscribe or anything) of a guy who bought 100 acres of Maine woods for trails and jumps for his Jeep. Maybe he could share?

are you letting your kid wear that?

This past weekend I made my usual weekly run to the local library, where we are very grateful there are plenty of new and exciting books on the shelves. The town in Maine where our farm is located has a tiny, century old, stone structure that only seems to house dusty tomes from the 1950's. I don't think they have bought a new book in 20 years, so it seems that I will have to either make updating the library my new volunteer project, or I will have to travel 30 minutes to the big city and peruse the thousands of new volumes donated by author Steven King.

One of my finds this past trip was Girls Gone Mild, Young Women Reclaim Self-Respect and Find It's Not Bad to Be Good. While I thought it was well researched and well written, I think the author went a bit over the top in her assessment of how skanky our culture has become. Either that or having no TV, no newspaper, and no child in the public school system has insulated me from the general culture.

Wendy Shalit covers the gamut from preschoolers playing with Bratz dolls and wearing clothes fit for a lady of the evening, to the college scene of drunken hook-ups replacing old-fashioned dating. While I know that many parents let their children dress in hooker clothes and many sorority chicks do bounce from one sleepover to another, there are alternatives for the rest of us. We don't have to buy clothes at stores that cater to that element, we don't have to send our children to colleges that have dual gender dorms and unisex bathrooms. We can purchase clothes at thrift stores (my favorite) and children's consignment stores (they have high end stuff cheap), from catalogues like Lands End and Hanna Anderson, and on ebay. We can send our teens to colleges that strive to retain some semblance of excellence in the academic and social realms, and we can refuse to donate money to an alma mater that has gone completely over the edge. We must vote with our feet and our pocketbooks, otherwise what Mrs. Shalit describes might come to pass for the majority of our youth.

Tridentine High Mass at the Cathedral

This afternoon we piled everyone in the van and headed to Raleigh to Sacred Heart Cathedral for the first High Mass held there in likely 40 years. I heard about it on the Internet at the blog Summorum Pontificum, which links to all things related. Weighted down with 5 missals, a sippy cup, a baggie of Cheerios, several rosaries, and a tiny photo album chock-full of holy cards we slipped in the door 30 minutes before Mass was to begin. We have found it prudent over the years to get to any Mass early if we want to all sit together. By 4:20 there wasn't a single seat left and people filled the vestibule and lined the outer walls. It seems a great many came out of curiosity since less than 1/3 of the women wore a veil and many folks didn't seem to be able to follow the order of the Mass. I tried to help one older lady in front of me find her place in a missal she obviously had been given for the occasion, but after 20 minutes she and her friend seemed to give up in frustration and left.

The beauty of the Cathedral seemed made for this evening. The stars on the ceiling seemed to sparkle extra brightly as the choir, brought in from Sacred Heart parish, sang the Kyrie and Credo in harmonious chant. The organ seemed to belt out with extra vigor the Sanctus, and the parishioners sang with gusto the Processional, We Three Kings. The bishop gave a short homily, mentioning that starting tomorrow 15 diocesan priests will be training to say the Extraordinary Form. He said that he thinks the Pope would be pleased at the generosity of these priests to provide the TLM throughout the diocese of Raleigh. While next month's High Mass likely will not be quite so grand, with 5 priests and the bishop in attendance, or so crowded, it will continue to be the most perfect offering that man has ever given to God. I am grateful to have participated in this historic occasion, but more pleased at the possibility that the Mass of the Ages will spread and touch many more hearts than just those tonight.

talking or not talking

I recall when my first child was in utero I read every pregnancy book available cover to cover. It didn't matter that I had an ultrasound showing 1 little sac, I even read the book on twins, "just in case". So, when he finally arrived I naturally started reading What to Expect The First Year. As Will grew I became more concerned about the little boxes each month stating what an infant that age was supposed to be accomplishing. While my baby was a cheerful boy who slept through the night, sat up, and eventually crawled and walked, he didn't say any real words. In fact, I have in his baby book a list of 10 words he had said at the age of 2. Some of the words he had only said once, but since he followed directions, "Go get the ball," "Bring Mommy the block," "Clean your room," (just kidding on that last one) Tim was not at all concerned. But I was convinced that something was wrong and it didn't help that the Italian day care he went to once a week thought there was something wrong too. So, I signed him up for testing and speech therapy and finally before we came back to the states, at almost 3 years old, Will started jabbering and really hasn't stopped since. There wasn't anything wrong with him, he just talked late.

Now, I am afraid we are about to start the same emotional roller coaster again with baby Timmy, but this time I likely know more about child development (expressly the development of my brood) than the pediatrician. Timmy has a well-baby check on Monday, his first in a great many months since it fell through the cracks in the move, trip to Maine, and Mother's death. According to What to Expect The Toddler Years, he should be using 3 words, point to a desired object, build a tower of 4 blocks, walk up steps, take off his clothes, feed a doll, and identify items in a book by pointing. Well, he can't do any of those things and I know the pediatrician will ask about these or similar skills. While there is that remnant of fear that something could be wrong with him, I know that my happy, expressive boy is normal indeed. Normal in this house where his every need is anticipated by 4 children eager to make him comfortable. I remind myself not to compare his skills to other babies and to enjoy the peace, such as it is, because before I know it, he too will be whooping and hollering with the rest of them.

creativity day

A few months ago, I heard about a store, called The Scrap Exchange where you could find recycled and overstock art supplies really cheap. Then a few days ago, Will complained about the lack of stiff paper after his little brother and sister had destroyed his construction paper mailbox he had made the day before. He had put a lot of time into it, complete with a latch to shut the door and I felt badly, since this sort of thing happens more frequently than I would like. We drew some diagrams of ways to keep a new mailbox out of reach, using a pulley. I figured I could satisfy my curiosity and promised him that we would go shopping on Wednesday.

The store was easy to find, even with a couple of missed turns, but I was disappointed at what we found inside. It was basically thrift store bits all in bins and barrels you could pick through to fill your $7.50 bag. With a little scrounging we did find some treasures: upholstery scraps for bedspreads and curtains for the dollhouse, some glittery sticker paper, yarn for our knitting frames, but there was a lot of junk that I had to be firm about not making it into the van.

When we got home the schoolroom turned into a colorful madhouse with Will sawing away on a cardboard tube to make a pulley, Mary cutting holes in pink fuzzy fabric to make a front pack baby carrier for her American Girl doll, and Maggie and Charlie waltzing around in dress up clothes complete with their new gold tone broken watches. "Jewels!" they pronounced grandly.

When Tim came home he was inundated with little voices calling, "Daddy, come look at my room!" The girl's room was decorated with a new Manet poster, a hammock for a doll, and a primitive elevator. In the boy's room was displayed a poster of a Greek statue and the finished 3 sided mailbox. He was very impressed, except for the holes in the wall.

This morning I am sitting in the schoolroom, preparing for another day of math and reading, science and spelling, surrounded by paper bits and fabric scraps. I have decided that Creativity Day is going to be followed by Clean Up Day so we can get back to some order and peace.

Carnival of Homeschooling

The second anniversary edition is up at Why Homeschool. In the past year there have been over 2000 posts by over 300 bloggers in the carnival, really giving good ideas, encouragement, and laughs about this wonderful educational method. Please post a thank you to Henry and all the other Cate family members for starting the carnival and keeping it so well organized.

resolution run

This morning I got up early and headed out for yet another 5K. It was a gently sloping road race, with a long downhill the last 1/2 mile. With several u-turns it was easy to count the number of women in front of me, but I kicked hard at the end and blew by 2 of them for a 23:14 finish. I came in 3rd for my age group, but I really did well in the estimating my time contest. I guessed 23:15 and came in 2nd with a $10 gift certificate to the New Balance store as the prize. Since my footwear is over a year old, I know what I am getting for Valentine's Day: baby needs a new pair of shoes!

Happy New Year!

last day of the year

I think 2006 needs to be crammed in a jar with a tight fitting lid, put up high on a shelf and never be opened again. Today seemed to sum up my past year. I cleaned up cat vomit off the carpet early this morning, since even Iams Digestive Care does not seem to eliminate the kitty's tummy issues. While we were doing school, the middle kids broke Mary's new dollhouse rocking chair (fixed now with a little wood glue), wrote on the door, and emptied several boxes of puzzle pieces on the floor. Later, when I went to the store I lost Charlie within minutes of walking in the door. I frantically flagged down an employee, "My 3 year old is missing!" He apparently decided to stroll to the other end of the store while I was distracted by the grapefruit display. Luckily, a nice cashier followed him on his trek and brought him back.

"Hey, don't forget all the good things that happened this year!" a little voice sings. Mary did make her First Holy Communion, Timmy did learn to walk, Charlie sort of learned to use the potty (we are back to bribing with chocolate chips, but it seems to be working), we had a great time up in Maine, and our house sold right before the housing market fell flat. We moved to a new place, free of ghosts of the past and we have settled into a routine of sorts. But in general, it has been a pretty tough year and I am glad it ends today.

May 2008 be a better year for all of us!

its raining, its pouring!

North Carolina has been suffering from a 100 year drought, in fact, I think I can count the number of times it has rained since we moved here on one hand. The cities and counties in our neck of the woods have been counting down the number of days before the taps would go dry, on Christmas it was down to 90 days.

Yes, I know we use a lot of water, I run the dishwasher and wash 2 loads of laundry every day, plus daily bathing for 7. We are not the most conservative folks on the planet when it comes to water, but we try not to waste it either. We have been trying not to flush the potty quite so often, but Timmy has just discovered how much fun it is to flush and watch the water swirl down. I have been trying to remind the children not to let the water run when they are brushing their teeth, but now every time Tim runs the faucet for more than 1 minute the children holler, "Turn that off, don't you know we are having a drought?"

"But dear, isn't it nice to know the children are listening?"

Yesterday it rained all day, a steady patter than likely put us back over the 100 day mark. We took the opportunity to watch movies, my selections this time, since I have already had to suffer through all 3 original Star Wars movies that Will unwrapped on Christmas morning. Pride and Prejudice is not quite so romantic when every scene is interrupted by "that's a big horse," "who is that again?," "Charlie stop playing with the xylophone!," and seeing a toddler's head bouncing in front of the screen every 10 minutes. But I enjoyed my film and I think the rest of them, except Will, liked seeing something that was light saber, star ship, and alien free.

recession? inflation? deflation?

Tim has been reading a lot in the last 6 months or so about the financial health of our country and our dinner conversations have used a lot of words like bullion, hyper-inflation, sub-prime lenders, the gold standard (thought up by Sir Isaac Newton), and debt. Fewer economists are thinking that the economy will remain the same as it has been. Likely something bad is going to happen, but we don't really know what that entails. More frequently are news articles popping up stating the same, including this one:

New-Home Sales Plunge to Lowest Level in More Than 12 Years, Heighten Recession Fears

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The housing market plunged deeper into despair last month, with sales of new homes plummeting to their lowest level in more than 12 years.

"I think you can classify what we are seeing in the housing market as a crash," said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Economy.com. "Sales and home prices are in a free fall. The downturn is intensifying."


Would-be home buyers have found it more difficult to secure financing, especially for "jumbo" mortgages -- those exceeding $417,000. The tighter credit situation is deepening the housing slump. Unsold homes have piled up, which will force builders to cut back even more on construction and look for ways to sweeten the pot to lure prospective buyers.


Foreclosures have soared to record highs and probably will keep rising. A drop in home prices left some people stuck with balances on their home mortgages that eclipsed the worth of their home. Other home buyers were clobbered as low introductory rates on their mortgages jumped to much higher rates, which they couldn't afford.


Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan recently warned that the economy is "getting close to stall speed." The big worry is that the housing and credit troubles will force individuals to cut back on spending and businesses to cut back on hiring and capital investment, throwing the economy into a tailspin.


The most important thing you can do to prepare is reduce the amount of debt you owe. If money becomes worth less than it is today than large debt will become insurmountable, and if jobs become scarce than it is better to be as unencumbered as possible. Just like a smart coastal homeowner buys extra batteries and has an evacuation plan ready during hurricane season, the smart citizen of today will batten down the hatches of his finances for the likely on-coming storm.

self teaching

On a recent trip to the library Will found a book entitled How to Be the Best in Everything, which seems to be another version of several "how to be a boy" books which are very popular right now. Of course, if more boys were allowed to be rambunctious and daring, doing dangerous stuff with their friends and dads, instead of being surrounded by women and abandoned by their Peter Pan fathers, these books wouldn't be so needed. However, Will did learn in 2 tries how to knot a tie after following the simple instructions and graphics given. Since I have no knowledge of tie tying, being a girl, I am glad that I escaped the fate of having to teach this subject. Luckily I don't now have to go out and purchase said tie, because we found one when we went to Mother's a few weeks back. In the same box was an old pleated skirt in the same MacKenzie plaid and Mary wore it to Christmas Day Mass. The two of them looked so cute in my brother's and my old clothes that I had an emotional moment.

I think it is great that he can now do this and will likely teach his brothers many years in the future. I do have a funny feeling though that our slowpoke Will just got a new excuse to be the last one out the door on the way to Mass. After all, it takes a couple more tries to get a tie to look just right than just clipping one on. I really am impressed by his new ability, I guess that is the next phase of parenting: having your child know something you don't, I just didn't expect it at 9.

Carnival of Homeschooling

The 104th edition is being hosted by po moyemu.

gifts and learning

When you homeschool, it is easy to put educational gifts under the tree. There are no comparisons around the lunch table, "Hey, I got a new Wii and 800 music downloads for my Ipod. What'd you get?"
"Uhhh, I got some books and a science kit."
"Boy, you are such a loser!"

No, in homeschooling circles a see-through model of a car engine and a handful of Mad-Libs is enough to earn rave reviews in the 10 year old boy crowd. An American Girl doll is something to ooooh and aaah over, rather than a condescending, "I got makeup and new clothes. When are you going to grow up and stop playing with baby toys?"

Our top play with right-away gifts this year:

Will: architect kit, halogen bulb nightlight for reading (doubles as a pretend cell phone), wooden kit of a dinosaur skeleton (I found this several years ago at the thrift shop for .45)
Mary: American Girl Nikki doll, horse plaster mold and painting kit
Maggie: American Girl Samantha doll, horse painting kit
Charlie: 4 John Deere tractors, Usborne Puzzle books
Timmy: new wagon in John Deere colors with huge rubber wheels

The children were given lovely things by their aunties and granpa, it was truly the year of the horse and tractor. I think all of us wish we were celebrating Christmas on the farm in Maine with real horses in the fields and a tractor in the machinery shed, but the toys are a good substitute for the time being.

singing carols

I have always carried around in my head a nostalgic scene of Christmas, a family standing around a piano singing Christmas carols. Everyone is well dressed, cheerful, and participating. Well, after 3 years of piano lessons we have achieved a semblance of my vision, but just missing a few things, such as everyone being well dressed and cheerful. Will and Mary can each play about 5 carols so they are holding games with their friends, "Hey, guess what Christmas song this is!" Out comes a garbled variation of Jingle Bells, Good King Wenceslas, or Away in a Manger played so fast Alvin and the Chipmunks couldn't keep up.

Today we are baking ginger cookies and reading stories, playing the piano (slow down!), and anticipating opening our gifts. However, I have tried this year, as I have in the past to slow down our activity and anticipate the Lord's coming. Join with me this day and week in welcoming friends and family into our midst, and joyfully praising the coming of our precious newborn King.

God Bless and Merry Christmas to you all!

school is out!

Today was our last school day, but the poor little children will only get 1 week off before it is back to the grindstone. Even with a bit of time off we will still have piano practice and be working on Will's book report. I feel that school needs to be finished before we move, otherwise it will never get done.

Currently we are on week 15, but we might soon slow the pace down a bit. Last week, the local homeschool group's Christmas party was hosted by one of the moms and as she showed off her son's ultra-organized Lego Technic studio, I thought, "Will would just love this." Well, she is teaching a class Exploring Simple Machines, one of a multitude of Friday enrichment classes offered by the group. Mary, the little artist, got all excited when I told her about the Drawing for Fun class. The other two classes I am looking into are Essentials of Physics 1 for Will and Mad Science for Mary.

I have never signed up for co-op classes before so I am looking forward to hanging out with other homeschool moms as well as have the kids learn some science.

but I brush!

Yesterday Will, Mary, and I headed over to the dentist's office for our bi-annual checkup. While the little kid's visit was uneventful, I knew that this trip was going to involve a big $$ referral. Every 6 months we would go to our family friendly dentist who would say, "Will is going to need to see an orthodontist and soon." Well, now Mary has developed the same severe crossbite from her Daddy (not me!) and they recommended them seeing someone now, rather than waiting 6 months until we move. Then the big boom hit,

I have a cavity.

Me, who brushes more than everyone else put together, who buys 5 different toothpastes, who coaches the children how to brush, and lines up the brushes on the sink so I know who has brushed their teeth. I got the cavity.

On the bright side, I would rather it be me than one of the kids undergoing the dreadful dentist drill.

Now, go brush your teeth.

women don't need more clothes

I don't know the state of other women's closets, but from watching several episodes of Home and Garden shows where they TV staff purges mountains of stuff from people's homes, I think we might have finally realized that we have enough stuff in our dresser drawers.

I have never understood the fascination with being "in fashion" after spending my hard-earned money in high school for a yellow neon sweatshirt so I could be like everyone else, only to find 2 months later that the exact same item was passe and had to be thrown away. I learned my lesson and have since stuck with classic dress clothes such as wool skirts and sweaters, cotton Liberty of London type summer skirts, and jeans and t shirts for casual wear. I buy almost all my clothes at thrift stores and can't recall the last time I went to the mall.

From high-end dresses to bargain coats, spending on women’s apparel dropped nearly 6 percent during the first half of the Christmas season, compared with the same period last year...
Analysts blamed a rough economy, which has discouraged women — and mothers, in particular — from splurging on clothing for themselves and a lack of compelling fashions this winter.

Even high-end women’s apparel companies like Coach have warned of a slowdown because of higher energy costs, a tight credit market and slipping home prices.
John D. Morris, senior retail analyst at Wachovia Securities, said that with less money to spend on gifts for their families, mothers “pull back on spending for themselves first.” New York Times.

It is refreshing to see an article mention sacrifice, especially for one's own children. After all, gifts for others is much more important than splurging on yourself, unless you are giving up buying yourself new undies so you can by Junior the latest Wii component.

Carnival of Homeschooling

The 103rd edition is up at The Common Room.

a phonics lesson

Yesterday, while I was instructing Will on the rules of -y endings, Maggie was coloring Joseph's coat many colors, and Mary was making many cursive Xs. There are 3 rules: if a word ends in 1 -l, then double the -l before adding -y, if a word ends in silent -e, drop the -e before adding -y, otherwise just add -y. After changing a list of words, he had to use those words to fill in the blanks in sentences. He was having a hard time because some of the words were not commonly used in our home, eyes getting misty, stuff like that, so I was reading them aloud to help a bit. Then we got to this sentence, "Catholic families should be ______ when they shop for clothes."

Maggie hollered out, "Quiet!"

I started laughing so hard my eyes got misty. She does listen to my instructions when we go into stores!

The answer was supposed to be thrifty. Catholic families should be thrifty when they shop for clothes. That topic is on deck for tomorrow's post.

How homeschool friendly is Mike Huckabee?

While so far I am an undecided voter, I am following the 2008 presidential contests very closely. This past week Mike Huckabee has come out saying he should be the favorite among homeschoolers. I have read some quotes from homeschoolers saying, "We can trust him to do what is right."

Well...

I am very leery of this candidate, he doesn't seem to understand American feelings on immigration and another reason frankly, is his religion. He seems to think that as a Southern Baptist minister that he speaks for all Christians. Likely he thinks that all homeschoolers are evangelical types as well, not taking into account our wide diversity. I also question his support of homeschooling with his 1999 signing of a bill limiting freedom for parents in Arkansas.

The enactment of House Bill 1724 on April 5, 1999, gives Arkansas the unique distinction of becoming the first state in the nation to add restrictions to its existing home school law. ...the new law, among other things, establishes notification deadlines and imposes a 14-day waiting period before parents are allowed to withdraw their children from public school to begin home schooling mid-semester.

While I understand the legislators were up against the big bad public school union lobby, there is no excuse for the governor signing any legislation that restricts homeschooling to appease its foes. We have learned well over the past 40 years that liberals will use any means to further destroy the institutions that are pro-family and pro-morality in our country. They want to recreate our nation in their image and giving any ground only emboldens them. The liberals are like terrorists, any sign of weakness or capitulation gives them more strength and resolve. Huckabee should know this and if he is this weak on a simple issue like homeschooling, then what will he be like in international politics?

edited to add:
Here is a very well written and researched essay on the presidential candidates and their ideas about homeschooling.
Here is another article about Huckabee and reasons why I don't trust him one little bit.
Here is another article about Huckabee's endorsement by the NEA.

Carnival of Homeschooling

Seeking Rests in the Ancient Paths is hosting the Carnival of Homeschooling this week.

lowering standards

I like to think of our school as an affordable college prep school. Will and Mary both diagram sentences, write book reports, memorize their math facts, learn about chemistry and astronomy, and read much of the day. Practical skills are covered as well, this morning Will is making Christmas cookies all by himself. While they don't enthusiastically rush to their schoolbooks each morning, they will do extra work for fun and help the younger children learn their letters and colors. The curriculum reminds Tim of his elementary school years at good old St. Paul's. In addition, I have high standards because I am responsible for teaching them and they are responsible for learning. There is little room for blaming someone when the teacher is also the parent. Failure is not an option.

After teaching for a few years in the public school system I refused to put our children in that atmosphere of apathy and general stupidity. (and that was among the staff) Few children are encouraged to do their best and many otherwise smart kids are told to suppress their talents to fit in with their peers. This article gives us a hint of the racist and economic prejudices of the administration that wants to dumb down the material so more children will pass the tests while not expecting them to work any harder. The attitude of blaming someone else, usually parents, is very common in the public schools.

"If you are not passing more than 65 percent of your students in a class, then you are not designing your expectations to meet their abilities, and you are setting your students up for failure, which, in turn, limits your success as a professional. Most of our students come from the lowest third percentile in academic achievement, have difficult home lives, and struggle with life in general. They DO NOT have a similar upbringing nor a similar school experience to our experiences growing up."

If you read between the lines it says: Our little minority students are too stupid to get good grades. They have parents who just don't care and so that lets us off the hook in terms of educating them. They are doomed to a miserable life.

Excuse me? Many studies have shown that parochial schools, given the exact same students, can turn out educated children. Many children who were deemed hopeless and in need of special services have been pulled out of the schools by their parents and excelled in homeschooling.

Public school creates its own failure by its existence: low expectations combined with an environment which stifles excellence leads to 65%+ failure rates. If I could say something to these parents it would be, "Pull your kids out of these schools that are failing your children. Pull them away from evil and destructive influences and fill their minds with good things." This may be difficult or almost impossible for many parents to do, but I find it hard to believe that a loving parent could do a worse job than the schools which assumes so little responsibility.

its beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Not outside though, the forecast is for a high of 75 and sunny, but inside we are baking, making the Lionel trains go around the track, and listening to Christmas music. Today is the second day of Christmas cookie baking for gifts with a few doled out to children who beg so sweetly, like Will yesterday evening, "My mouth is just watering looking at the lemon bars Mommy. Pleeeease may I have just one teeny-tiny piece?"

Only a few snags, I have already once run out of sugar, and this morning I must return to the store for eggs to make more chocolate crinkles. My deadline is this afternoon to get them all in the mail to the aunties. Good thing Harris Teeter is only a mile down the road.

Delicate lemon squares

bottom layer:
1 stick butter
1 cup flour
1/4 cup confectioners sugar

mix together and pat into 9x13 pan. bake at 350 for about 10 minutes.

top layer:
1 cup sugar
2 T flour
1/4 t baking powder
2 eggs
4 T lemon juice

combine and pour over baked bottom layer. bake another 20 minutes. while warm sprinkle with confectioners sugar. cool and cut into 2" squares.

Carnival of Homeschooling

Is up at Dewey's Treehouse.

paying for excess children

I knew that it was only a matter of time before those in the global warming crowd clamored for the elimination of people from the planet, because we are destroying it. But it didn't surprise me that one of the proponents of this is an obsterician. It is exactly like the push for abortion rights from the National Education Association, there is a mental inbalance present of wanting to kill your patients or students.

First there has been the gradual acceptance of artificial birth control and abortion, now some professors are calling for fining parents who have more than the acceptable 2 children. What next? Making those 3rd and 4th children illegal, like in the children's novel Among the Hidden?

"Professor Walters, clinical associate professor of obstetric medicine at the University of Western Australia and the King Edward Memorial Hospital in Perth, called for condoms and "greenhouse-friendly" services such as sterilisation procedures to earn carbon credits.
And he implied the Federal Government should ditch the $4133 baby bonus and consider population controls like those in China and India.
"Every newborn baby in Australia represents a potent source of greenhouse gas emissions for an average of 80 years, not simply by breathing but by the profligate consumption of resources typical of our society," he wrote.

I do like the response of this sensible lady:

Australian Family Association spokeswoman Angela Conway said it was ridiculous to blame babies for global warming.
"I think self-important professors with silly ideas should have to pay carbon tax for all the hot air they create," she said. "There's masses of evidence to say that child-rich families have much lower resource consumption per head than other styles of households."

drippy drawers

Supposedly Charlie was potty trained this past summer up in Maine, right after he turned 3. However, a great deal of the training was on my part, remembering every 20 minutes throughout the day to bark, "Charlie-go potty!" and swing him up onto the toilet. Despite all this he has been wetting his pants at least once a day, usually only seconds after he squeaks, "I gotta go." He has wet in stores, outside, and this past Friday wet his pants a record 7 times before bedtime. With all of Saturday's activities I decided to put him in a Pull-Up and found that he only dampened them once the whole day. Sunday Mass I tried the diapers again and was surprised again at his dry state most of the day.

It is such a relief to not be in hyper-vigilant mode about urinary issues that I am considering sticking him back in diapers for a few weeks or months. None of the older children had accident after accident, in fact Will was trained in 3 days. The girls were both about 3 as well, and while I recall some nasty scenes out with Maggie, within a few months they were both good to go. I worry about Mary on the other scale, she can go 5 hours without needing to go potty, maybe she got the lifeboat size bladder while Charlie got the teacup size.

All this goes to show me that I learned the perfect way to raise children before I gave birth, learned that each child is different after the 3rd kid, and realize that I know nothing about rearing children now that I have 5. Perhaps I will be reinstated with expert status if/when we have a 6th child, but somehow I feel that that baby would throw me for a loop too!

whew! what a day!

A few weeks back I filled in our social calender with a Christmas parade on Saturday morning and Will and Mary's piano recital on Sunday afternoon. However, 1 week ago I found out that the recital was changed to Saturday as well. I learned early in this parenting gig that I can usually only handle one event per day, especially with toddlers in tow.

I waffled for days, until 8 am this morning whether we were going to let Will ride on the Cub Scout float and let Mary walk with the Brownies in the parade or we were going to skip the whole traffic, filling diaper bags, finding bathrooms in strange towns thing. Well, I'm glad we all went 'cause the kids were good and the parade was pretty impressive with 3 bands, antique cars, more scouts than you can shake a stick at, and loads of candy.

We had just enough time for lunch and to change into nice clothes before we piled back into the van to head out to the recital. Tim had to hold Timmy in the hallway most of the 90 minutes, Charlie and Maggie quietly munched on cookies for the last 30 minutes, but it was a beautiful recital. The children ranged from a Kindergartner to high school seniors, and while there were mistakes, parts forgotten, and shy performers, it was lovely to hear both the perfect and the errors. It showed the children that if they practice enough and have the drive they can play Moonlight Sonata, and that they are doing well compared to children their age. We are going to continue the increased practice times we have been insisting on and perhaps one day we will hear our children play beautiful classical pieces by Mozart and Beethoven.

Timmy is napping soundly and the celebratory Mexican restaurant dinner might have to be postponed, but I sure hope not because I need a bottle of Corona brought to me along with a dinner I don't have to cook or clean up after.

Better make that 2 Coronas.

grocery savings?

For the past 2 months I have been combining coupons with sale items at the grocery store to make up for the higher food prices we have been seeing this year. Every trip I manage to save between 25-65% off my bill, but Tim questioned whether the time spent checking ads, clipping coupons... was doing us any good.

I got out a sharp pencil and my trusty orange solar calculator and calculated how much we averaged per week shopping 6 months ago and how much we are spending now. The results were startling to both of us. Comparing our current spending with our former usage of the military commissary, which doesn't have any profit markups, we are still saving about $200 a month. Our pantry is bulging with food and I am now to the point that I can selectively shop for just the best deals.

It is so easy to give it a try, most weekly ads are now on-line and even have point and click shopping lists to print out. Several grocery stores have additional coupons you can load on-line and combine with manufacturer coupons and sales to purchase items for pennies. Several good websites I reference are couponmom and hotcouponworld.

its snowing, its blowing

Not here, but on the farm up in Maine. Whenever I think about future winters I envision a scene reminiscent of Little House on the Prairie with the family sitting around the wood stove reading and quilting. I also see myself trudging out through the snow to feed and water the sheep and cows, but I have always wanted a farm and am certainly not going to let a little cold weather deter me from my goal.

Carnival of Homeschooling

The 100th Carnival is hosted by Mom Is Teaching.

where the water comes from, where it goes

Last week we drove out to our city's water treatment plant and took a walking tour of the facility where they clean and purify our drinking water. The little kids liked seeing the water fall from one tank to the next but I had to carry Charlie since he kept trying to stand dangerously close to the edge of the tanks. The older children were grossed out by the grey foam created by the chemicals that attach to dirt particles, but liked the models of the sand, charcoal, and pebbles that help trap dirt.

Part two of our field trip was driving this morning to the city's wastewater treatment plant and getting to see how dirty and smelly the water becomes after it is used and flushed by the thousands of residents. It was a chilly morning, but with mittens and a hat on baby Timmy we walked outside for 45 minutes looking at tank after tank of murky mixes of sewage, water, and sludge. Charlie, our fearless adventurer yet again had to be carried to keep him from falling in. The water became cleaner and smelled better as we followed the water and finally we saw the clean effluent spill onto rocks in a stream bed headed for a local creek.

Both field trips helped us tie together the concept of the water cycle we have been studying in science, our conservation efforts during the drought, and a curiosity about where the water in the tap comes from and where it goes after it gurgles down the drain. The tours were easy to set up for just our family and I think the director and operators who walked us around liked the interest and enthusiasm of the children. If you need a fascinating, but slightly smelly science field trip call your local water department!

over the river and through the woods

The girls and I went to my Grandmother's house this past weekend to pick up some of Mother's furniture and stuff. It was not the most relaxing trip, as my grandmother thinks children should been seen and not heard. However, I brought homemade chicken pot pie and we shared supper with my 97 year old Uncle Henry, the most cheerful soul I have met.

Saturday morning I went through many pictures and handwritten cookbooks and cried while reading Mother's recipes for Grandma's Orange Cookies in her elegant script. A mystery that I will pursue on the internet was the finding of a fraternity pin I never knew she had. I too dated a Pi Lambda Phi in college, but was never pinned, an old Southern tradition symbolizing a pre-engagement commitment.

The highlight of the trip for me was going to Mass at St. Benedict's and immersing myself in the worship of God. The Gregorian chant made my heart soar and the Host was like nectar on my tongue. Afterwards there was much hugging and greetings from old friends and I almost wished we hadn't left. We needed to break away from the area, because if we had stayed much longer I don't think I could have left even to go to Maine. Tim often shared stories of co-workers who never got to pursue their dreams of living in the country because their wives insisted on staying where the kids were enrolled in school and because of the shopping opportunities. I do miss our parish and wish we could have found its equivalent in North Carolina. Overall the trip cemented my desire and hope that when I become a grandmother that I will only be a blessing to my children.