Getting a Head Start on Curriculum.

We are moving along with school lessons and the kids are doing well, although there are a few places we are struggling with. But I don't let that keep me from planning ahead. With a major homeschool conference coming up in May here in my city and another Catholic conference in June, I want to be fully prepared for what I will be needing to purchase for each child.

Of course, being the kind of person that I am, I am constantly curious as to what others are doing. I love being able to call a friend and ask questions about history or math, knowing that they are using the same curriculum. But we can't all be doing the same stuff, as all our children's personalities vary. In effort to share with others and trade ideas, however, I am trying to host a small curriculum and idea "swap." Pretty much this will just be an opportunity for friends to come over and see what books I've got and for me to see what books they've got (with drinks and desserts all mixed in!). Sounds like fun to me!

If you've ever hosted something like this, please leave a comment!!! I'd love to know how others have done this. As I come closer to my planning stages and decisions on curriculum, I'll make sure to post.

School Supply Shortage.

So you will probably keep reading my complaints on how I'm missing so much of our stuff...school stuff in particular. Today is pattern blocks. I accidentally packed our math manipulative's away and I'm at a loss as to what to do when our lessons call for them. But I guess I'm not too worried. Isabella's work is what is requiring them and she is a whiz at using pattern blocks. Since the tender age of 2, she's been working with books such as Patternables and she can pretty much match pattern blocks to shapes in record time.

Now my dilemma is skipping ahead lessons and trying to adjust our lessons to the materials we actually have. Moving time can't come soon enough!!

Missing Our Crafts.

This whole buying and selling a home has recently gotten me in the dumps. Of course, you have all the usual stresses that come with these events...keeping your house spotless for last minute showings, worrying about competition, stressing about your upcoming closing, packing, moving, etc. etc. But what has really sent me overboard is not being able to craft and learn with my kids.

This time of year is a big one with Lent and Easter. It's as big as Christmas time in regards to how much we usually do with crafting! But with all my supplies neatly packed away and the need for our current home to stay completely clean and clutter free, I feel like we are missing out on all our usual fun learning. No completed crafts to hang, no decorations to go on the walls, and no messy supplies spread across the table. I'm in craft withdrawal!!! And as I read about all the neat stuff others are doing, I'm feeling a bit envious.

Luckily, I know that what matters most is that we celebrate this time with our families with sharing what we have in our hearts. Our Lord will not mind if we don't dress our homes with colorful decorations, but he will mind if we don't prepare our hearts for his coming. In all, this has been a difficult lesson for me and not my children. But I suppose the timing is all right. We have gone without the excess in every sense this Lent, and the emptiness that it created was filled with what should always be there....the love of Jesus!!!!

So it's been hard to live with just the basic homeschool books and nothing more. But Easter is on the horizon and things will change. We will be able to celebrate our Lord's resurrection and we will have come away from Lent having learned so much more than we thought when this all started!!

Morning Offering.

As a child, my parents would always tell me to compare myself to the "smart" kids, to aim high, and to not be afraid to ask for help. As I've journeyed through life, it is something I've kept in my mind always. Being all grown-up hasn't stopped me from taking this advice either, especially on matters of faith. I still try to compare myself to the "smart" kids (the saints), I aim high (with heaven as my goal), and I'm never afraid to ask for help (with prayer as direct connection to the One who can help with anything!).

With that, I leave you with a morning offering prayer. If you are "smart," then you probably already know this prayer and say it every day as you wake up or with your family. If you are like me, you still need reminders now and then. ***And by the way...it was a very smart lady who inspired me to do this every morning with my kids before our rosary (Thanks, Ellen!!).

Fatima Morning Offering

O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You my prayers, works, joys and sufferings, all that this day may bring, be they good or bad: for the love of God, for the conversion of sinners, and in reparation for all the sins committed against the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

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And here is a very cute image I found suitable for kids. You can order the Morning Offering Cards from Little Shepherds of Fatima for a super reasonable $5 for 25.

A Little Sunshine!

Thanks for the award, Allie!! And it's so fitting since we are having such a wonderful, sunshine-filled week!! Now to pass the torch...


Rules:

1. Post the award on your blog.
2. Pass the award to 12 bloggers (I only did 6, however!!!). Link the nominees within your post.
3. Let the nominees know by commenting on their blog.
4. Share the love and link to the person who gave it to you.

1. Wildflowers and Marbles
2. Waltzing Matilda
3. Shower of Roses
4. The Polka Dot Chair
5. Catholic Icing
6. In The Heart of My Home
   

American Girl Club.

We just recently started an American Girl Club with all our ARCH friends. Isabella had been wanting to be a part of a girls only club for a while, so this little group is a perfect fit for her. A huge fan of American Girl, Isabella loves the dolls, accessories, stories, and shopping at their stores! I must admit, I love it too and feel wonderful that it is something we can share as mother and daughter.

The meetings started with the Josefina books. This Thursday, the girls read book 1 and got together for crafts and snacks. At the end of it all, they made a rebozo and tortillas. She had a wonderful time!! The meetings will continue on a weekly basis until all the Josefina books have been read...then it's on to the next American Girl!

I will have to take a picture of her completed project, which she loves wearing and is using to carry her Bitty Baby doll. Also, please note the new haircut on Isabella. She was very excited to look like her latest American Girl doll, Chrissa. Of course, she now wants to add Josefina to her collection!

Paperwork.

I feel exactly like this guy looks. Tired and overwhelmed. I must say that buying a home nowadays is not as easy as it used to be. There are loads of paperwork!!! With a fastly approaching deadline, I've been up late copying, faxing, emailing, etc. Not my idea of fun.

So bear with me as this time in my life sloooowllly passes! I'm anxious for this period to be over and for us to be in our new home. Now if only I didn't have the sale of our current home hanging over my head and knowing that I must have it constantly ready in case of a showing, maybe I wouldn't be this stressed out!!!

Blessings to all and hope you had a happy St. Patrick's Day!