Monday, Monday..

I awoke this morning to SUCH a beautiful day.  Okay, so it's a little windy 'round these parts (35mph so), but still sunny.

And I'll take that.

Then I heard/read this news.  (sigh..)  I know our Prez has been changing things slowly.  Slowly taking away our babies' rights.. but now our tax dollars will be also funding human rights abuses in China.  Where will it stop and when will it end?

Silently screaming, 

Graced by her presence

We had a little visitor this morning....
A very special visitor..
She had everyone's attention from the get-go
I think we're all smitten.  How could we not be.. just loooook at her

Lady Day

Fish Eaters has some great information on the Solemnity of The Feast of the Annunciation, which we celebrate today.

Also, lots of good ideas over at the EWTN library to celebrate today with your children.

As for us, I think we'll make a flower centerpiece for the dinner table using red carnations (symbolize "incarnation"), baby's breath (innocence, spirit) and ivy (eternal fidelity). I'll explain how the symbolism of the flowers reminds us of the Annunciation, and the appropriateness of the gift of real flowers for the occasion. Then we'll sprinkle the flowers with Holy Water, watching carefully that my monkeys don't drown them, and explain that this consecrates, or sets apart, our gift to the worship of God. 

 Or maybe we'll just have waffles...  

And yeah, the flower activity is taken STRAIGHT from the EWTN link.  Originality can sometimes be a bit overrated, don'tcha think?

Fun Photo Collage

Here's a fun free application that I came across via Blissfully Domestic. It's Vincent Cheung's Shape Collage.  You can do a standard heart, circle or rectangle shape like this:
Or create your own custom shape like this:
I can certainly see HOURS of potential here.....

Friday art at Ft. Dix

At the beginning of the school year, we signed the monkeys up for art lessons. Who knew how much they would come to love it and have the strong desire to take their "pottery skillz" to the next level.  Now we've even got Toddle Monkey and the Princess involved....
Hands, hands, hands... for some reason I LOVE taking pictures of hands...  One day I'll have an entire post on all the hands pictures I've taken.. Hmm, is that weird?  Ah, well-- wouldn't be the first time-- certainly won't be the last.

O blessed Saint Joseph, tenderhearted father, faithful guardian of Jesus

HT:Totus Tuus Family and Homeschool

Today is the feast day of St. Joseph. As usual, I'm running around, last minute gathering materials to help our family celebrate this most beloved saint. Aaaand as usual, totally overwhelmed by so many, many wonderful ideas. Many of which, even when given months to prepare, would totally have my head spinning and nuthin' finished as an end result. But I was a bit tickled when reading Dawn's post this morning which highlighted what she's serving for dinner tonight.... YES! I can do that. So while we won't have the absolutely b-you-t-ful breads that are showcased over at Catholic Cuisine, my boys will be thrilled to have yummy sloppy joes and gelato-- and I'll be the grateful mommy once again for all those wonderful Catholic blogs that help me bring the liturgical year and our beloved saints to life in our home.

But, oh, if you do have the extra time--THIS craft is really neat and one that I have tucked away for next year, you know, provided I start the scrambling a bit earlier.

Wordless Wednesday

Éirinn go brách!

Happy St. Patrick's Day to you all!  We've got quite the busy day around here.  I'm warming up HUGE trays of corned beef and cabbage with a boat-load of pratties to go with to bring to dh's office.  The kids will get to work on these neat lapbooks.

Our reading time today will consist of some of the children's favorites: Jamie O'Rourke and the Big Potato, Jamie O'Rourke and the Pooka, Patrick Patron Saint of Ireland, and Fin M'Coul: The Giant of Knockmany Hill-- all by Tommie dePaola, and this fun story.  For dessert we'll have cookies the kids made with green M&M's (okay-not the most Irish dessert, but it's the best I could do at the present)  

Christ to shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me abundance of reward.
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

Your Shamrock Says You Are Loving

You are balanced, nurturing, and sympathetic. You understand people and love to help them. At times, you get too involved with what's going on in other people's lives. It's hard to remove yourself. You consider yourself a lucky person. Luck always seems to be on your side. You are stylish, in a classic sort of way. You are particular about how you like things.

The Shamrock Personality Test

Chick-Fil-A

We soooo feel his pain....

ht:Aggie Catholics

Fun with Animoto

Do you know what I would do if I were a GROWN-UP?

This was the contemplative question I overheard Four ask one of his friends the other day. It caught my attention, so I perked up my ears waiting for his response... Would he say, "I'd help solve the economic crisis!", or "I'd minister to the poor.", or even "I'd buy my mom and dad a new motorhome so they could travel ALL over the US visiting my brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews."?

After a pregnant pause to make sure his friend was paying attention, Four said in all seriousness..  "Um, I'd take this here ice cream (oh, forgot to mention we were in McD's eating soft serve ice cream at the time.  Hey! Nothin' but the best for my kids, you know...)  and then I'd take this here cup and go fill it with root beer, add the ice cream and then I'd have my very own ROOT BEER FLOAT!  That's what I'D do if I were a grown up!"    I shouldn't have been surprised, after all, it's certainly not the first time food was the topic of conversation.

Four is seven.

Happy Birthday big boy! We love you!!