What made them smile...

It doesn't take much to make a child smile.  These are the 'things' that are making their days brighter...

This was right before Christmas and the kids were treated to lollipops that were bigger than their mouths.  It was their Papi's idea to give it to them but, I am cringing at the tought of all those sweets and a near dentist appointment they have.....

He was so excited over this new toy.  Since Christmas day it has been a favorite around here.  The girls turn it into a cathedral with all their wooden saints and I've heard said, at least a few times that, "Dragons can't eat the saints...that would be a sin". 

There is a story here.  Many months ago for her birthday she recieved a qpon for horse back riding lessons.  Unfortunately we were unable to get her lessons back then.  There seemed to be one issue or another and she finally gave in to the idea that she just wasn't going to get to ride anytime soon.   She took it like a champ.

But we knew we had to get the lessona for her.  This was/is such a dream for her.  So, hubby and I searched around and finally picked a trainer close to our home and resonably priced.  If you know anything about horses, nothing about them is "resonably priced".  Anyhow, on Christmas day; tucked inside her stocking was a flyer announcing her lessons.  She was besides herself!  Honestly the picture doesn't do the moment justice. 

It was a bit sad though, hubby was busy building a motorized bike for the youngest one...see that pink thing towards the side in the picture above?  So, he didn't see eldest girl opening her gift.  It was worth every penny. 

Christmas Pictures

What we hold on too...

Our children...a blessing

Siblings being together, though one is missing...where was she?

grandparents love & a godmother's smooch

Uncles being around & a papi's love!

Our Christmas

How do you answer the question "How was your Christmas"?  Do you suck it up and smile saying it was good, nice...interesting.  While in your heart you want to smile and say how beautiful it was...just as I imagined...it was awesome; you can't say it because there was pain, tears, and anger.  Instead of waiting and rejoycing together; as a family we tried to hold on to a sense of falling.  We saw, that evening and then the Christmas Day, become a time of trying to understand what probably isn't ours to understand.  The "why" factor came into play several times...but mostly there was such fear in the air.  Really, this is what it all came down to.  It was fear.  Fear of what is to come, not knowing how to handle it, what to do with it, the changes that all the coming months will bring to a family that is so united; so intertwined.  We are a strong bunch but there is no shame in feeling weak and needing help.  There is no wrong in feeling unprepared for change.  How then, do we move on?
love & mercy
Seeking Him out in the Eucharist, in the Mass.  Remembering that we have all fallen and that none of us is without some wrong.  We stay connected to that same baby that later died on the cross.  We forgive one another but most importantly seek forgiveness of ourselves.  We say we are sorry and truly move on.  We remember that Christmas is more than one night...

Merry Christmas Eve

~ Merry Christmas Eve ~

It is a blue and cloudless day in Southern California.  I normally love the winter scenes and miss them during the winter months.  But today I am glad for the warm weather and the deep blue of the sky.  It looks so pretty....so promising. 

Today is Christmas eve.  The tree is up and the kitchen is busy with baking, cooking, and finishing up the last of the home made gifts.  Earlier, during our morning prayers, we read about Joseph and Mary's travels.  The cold brisk day and the promise of LIFE. 

I hold on to that promise brought by a new born babe.  A helpless little being born under a cold, clear night in a stable.  How humble is our God to have chosen to come in such a meek and  vulnerable way.  We are so blessed to have such a God.  I am thankful for his love of me.  I am thankful for the new life that will come soon to our own family...no not me.  Life brings hope, reminding us of that one special night so long ago...

A little baby...born to be a King!

Oh Joyful Sunday~

~Rejoice the Lord is nigh~

"As Christmas draws near, the Church emphasizes the joy which should be in our hearts over all that the birth of our Savior means to us."

It was a day of Rose colored vestments, truthful homilies, and this one, and time spent in joy with family, it was Gaudete Sunday.  My SIL had her very first Joyful Sunday celebration at her home.  We were treated to a nice roaring fire, Christmas carols, yummy food, crafts, reading by the fire, and an overall great time.  I heard it mentioned several times how nice the day was without the fuss...without the gifts.  My kids, like most, like their gifts but today they were free of it.   Free to enjoy eachother's company and that was all we needed.

Little ones had a chance to hug dear 'grandma's and be silly with love. 

A brother, sister and mother spend 'time' with one another.

There was lots and lots of books to read from the basket and houses to be built and carols to be sung. 

We were busy being together!  A joyful Sunday indeed.

My baby's fear

I don't normally take joy in the fears of my kids or make fun of what might make them afraid.  But when your 3 year old is afraid of bubble wrap one must find the humor in that, right?  Well this momma did.

Carolina was enjoying the fun of popping the bubbles. 

Side thought:  Isn't it funny how a young one can be preoccupied for hours with some of those bubbles.  I know I use to be a bit OCD about them too...so I can relate. 

Anyway, Carolina was trying to get Sophia to pop one but, she was not having it.  She squealed out in terror "Oh no, it'll blow up my finger"!  Carolina was such the realist here too.  She responded "Sophia, really it won't blow up anything just try it"...Sophia was not to be pressured, she clutched her fingers safely on her chest and walk right out of the room saying, "No, no, no"....

Now, later on...perhaps minutes.  I hear a joyful Sophia exclaim, "Yes, I did it and my fingers are not blown".

In the privacy of the living room Sophia sat with a sheet of bubble wrap carefully popping every bubble she could.  Yelling out "yes I did it" each and every time. 

Kids....

The Days Before Christmas...

Well this is how our days are going.  Using this stuff as nourishment!  Yes, laugh if you will.  I can't get over it.  We has such plans but, if you know anything about me you'll know that it would take more than several bouts of this nasty little bug to shoot down my plans for the last week of Advent.  No sir, I was not about to throw in the towel.  It was a simple matter of adjusting ones plans.  Gotta check the sickos but I'll be back to post pictures from our Advent Tea.

Christmas for Little Flowers/Blue Knights ~ Hope

We had our Mom's Cookie Exchange this past Friday and the kids exchanged gifts.  It was so much fun!  Unfortunately the weather wasn't on our side.  Because of the rains most of the activity had to be kept inside.  Our hostess, Katherine, was amazing as always.    Luckily all the 4 groups were able to find spots clear of the rain to review the virtue (HOPE) and complete a small craft.  Such amazing group of people here! 

Reading: We used this coloring book that has Bl. Imelda's story in it
Craft:  The girls were given photo books and decorated the covers for their holy cards project.  Each month the girls will be given an opportunity to do an extra activity for a holy card.  By the end of the year they can display their earned cards in their own photo album.

Virtue: We are deep in the season of Advent.  Lots of waiting going on and we are filled each day witht he hope that Jesus will bring upon his birth.

We started in our groups and then had the children exchange their presents with one another.  There must have been close to 40 kids here.  It did get hectic there for a bit but, the kids were smiling and eating lots of cookies.  So I heard no compliants from them.

Then the moms had our own exchange...in cookies!  Such the bakers these ladies are..especially Sarah.  Her Chocolate Lacey's were awesome!!  It was a big, loud, but lovely evening for our Little Flowers and the Blue Knights.

The Littlest Flowers

My Carolina with her Christmas friend.  Carolina was so happy to receive a pretty magnet of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Carolina with her new friend and 'her Christmas friend'

My goddaughter chose my older girl for the gift exchange.  They were really happy about it too.

Don't these look good?  There were so many cookies!

My sister-in-law, Katherine, just awesome!  And of course trying to stay ahead of the mess I mean joyful overflow of paper

Sweet Gemma Marie, the newest member of our group.  Darling isn't she?  I think almost everyone had a chance to hold her...except me...how did that happen?

Well those are the pictures to share.  Again, many thanks to Katherine for hosting and giving up of her house to so many.  Thanks to Sarah, Veronique, Kristi, and Rusdi for leading the groups.  Finally, thanks to Paula and Kim for taking care of the young ones, holding the babies, and changing diapers!  You are all dear....

Along the Alphabet Path

Along the Alphabet Path
Bb Week

Bb is for blue, birds, birdhouses, and boats
and for St. Bernadette

Though we went through the letter Bb weeks (and weeks) ago.  But, alas I am slow to post.  We had such a good time with this letter though; and spent some time on it since we started birdwatching for fun over the summer.  It does look I still need to post the picture of our St. Bernadette wooden doll. 

Books...lots of books

Bb is for Bugle Boy

(while we listen to a song)

Bb is for birds

We began to look a lots of Bb related worksheets and poems.  There was a good amount of botany lessons to choose from and the kids had fun with it.  The illustration pictured here was Caro's best work.  She has an eye for drawing that one.

Like I said....lots of work sheets

See, look at that masterpiece!

Bb is for boats don't ya know

Birdhouses

Our Virgen de Guadalupe ~

Perhaps there is no other image more known and cherished in most Latino homes then that of Our Virgen de Guadalupe.  I grew up knowing her as a companion, my trusted Mother.

'Our Virgensita' is there for us and she has comforted the toughest men, brought hope to the hopeless and faith to the faithless.  She has brought many to her Son,  Jesus.  And is the glue to Mexico.  We are not bonded by ethnic backgrounds or by a shared dialect.  We are bonded by the strength of our faith; because of our devotion to our mother and our desire for Heaven.

 On December the 12th a national holiday for many parts of Latin America there are massive celebrations with food, music, prayers, processions...the colors are vivid and the devotion is grand.  Thousands will gather at her basilica, there will be food to spare and great songs sung by grateful hearts.  Tears will fall down many cheeks as they say thanks for answered prayers while for others it'll be because of continued hope.  But they are bonded and I do believe Our Mother is looking down upon each soul crying with us and embracing us only like a true mother can.

Our plans, then, to remember her today are simple (because of the rain and need of a peaceful day) but heart felt.

• Star and moon shaped chocolate chip pancakes
• Mexican hot chocolate later in the afternoon w/ a story
• Paper doll crafts from Paper Dali
• Our Lady of Guadalupe cut 'n' color for big girl from illuminated ink
• This story and this one The Lady of Guadalupe by Tomie de Paola to read
• A few of these pages to color
• Pozole or Tortilla soup for dinner
• And ending with the rosary before bed

Our plans for Advent~

So yes, after that last "depressing" post we still have a few things planned for Advent

I picked up on the idea given by Jessica and Elizabeth for a mantle memo of what it is we are doing during Advent:

PREPARE

So I picked up the wooden pieces painted them purple and placed them nicely on...no, not our mantle since we don't have a fireplace...gggrrrr...but used the piano as a nice replacement.  I did goof a bit and bought the wrong type of letters.  My letters don't have a lip on the bottom so that the P's stand by themselves.  Luckily, a lit up garland placed behind the letters hold those wobbly P's upright and straight enough.  I'll post a picture soon.

Our list of books for Advent are coming in fast so our basket  has been put out for little girls to skim through, Older Girl to read, and Only Boy to gaze at.  Again, I'll post the list of what we're reading soon.

I also purchased a beautiful pelegrinos statue from the sweet Poor Clare Sister's.  They sit nicely surrounded by an evergreen wreath in the middle of the kitchen island.  I just love looking at Momma Mary and thinking of sweet baby Jesus within her womb.  It is an awesome piece.  Princess proudly announces to anyone willing to listen that Baby Jesus is inside Momma Mary's belly and "that's St. Joseph there next to her and the donkey that took them to where Baby Jesus was born"...then she coos over the faces of each figure...mainly the donkey's but it's still so darn cute!!

Again, thanks to some really creative moms out there; we will be hosting our own version of an Advent Tea during the last week of Advent.  SIL will be here with all the kids as well as my MIL.  Very excited to see how this turns out.  We don't have a lot of space for 11 bodies but I think I will use the serving table for all the food and the island (our dining table) to be just that...the dining table.  Once I post the pictures my wording will be clearer of what I'm envisioning (hee hee).

SIL will be hosting a Posada this year.  It has been years since we had a traditional Posada....I think we stopped hosting them b4 Rose was born.  So, that's like 6 years ago.  Wow!  SIL wants to do it though and I think that's awesome.  She has some great ideas for baking and singing carols so I don't know if the plan is to make this all traditional (with the procession and all) or is bit smaller so as to be more relaxed.  Either way I'm happy to have this as part of our "celebrations".

St. Nicholas feast day is all set up, thanks to last year.  So we'll have some St. Nicholas coco, shoes waiting outside the door, books to read, books to be given as gifts, and a yummy candy cane shaped treat to eat.

I am attempting to get creative in order to stitch up our own Jesse Tree ornaments like the ones I did for my SIL and her family.  I have all the supplies but am lacking the drive.  Our old paper ornaments will do fine though...we just need to get them out of storage.

Other than a cookie exchange between the moms, a handmade gift exchange among the kids' friends, a visit to a Navitity exhibit yikes..I was about to write "that's all that is on the calendar" but boy that sounds like a lot.  It really is only two dates though so it isn't that bad.

Yes, I am looking forward to cherishing each moment.  Each moment indeed!!

Advent

The season of Advent has started and I am feeling lost and ill prepared for this time of....preparing.  Our wreath is still in storage and I am still compiling reading list and activities to do or not do.  This isn't the way I had envisioned our cozy nights of reading and sipping hot chocolate.  Alas this IS how is has been and I shouldn't dwell on the imperfections of our house.  We have been delt an added worry this season and this new element in our family needs our attention.

The good things that are occuring are pretty fabulous.  I'm at my 3rd session of spiritual direction and thank you dear God for carring me to this place.  I am so very grateful for your wisdom and love shown over me in the last few months.  My marriage is fuller and I feel strengthen to withstand our current situation.

I do wish to get a handle on the little ones increased level of naughtiness activity.  They are all over the place!  Poor babies, I don't really belame them.  Our life is a bit different lately...isn't it?  I need more patience now.  I need to call on St. Monica for her prayers.  Oh dear St. Monica who never stopped being patient.  Help me to persevere now.  Show me how to pray.  Help me to stay hopeful.

Overheard

Carolina, Victor Mario, and I listen to a lot of History CD's while in the car.  A few days ago we listen to the story of a young boy from China who wanted to work "like a man".  This is what Carlina said this evening while folding her clothes:

Caro:  "I want to work like a lady"...
Me:  "A what"?
Caro:  "A lady...remember the story of the boy who wanted to work like a man for his father...well I want to work like a lady"

she then gestures at her work (the folded jeans and her sweet attempt to folding her sweater".  To some this may seem like a "horrible" comment.  I can hear the gasp of women rights groups already.  But frankly, there isn't ANYTHING wrong for her or any young girl to want to work "like a lady" and believe that keeping house is what ladies do.   This is Caro we are talking about so let's remember how fisty she is and quick to tell you what is on her mind. 

No, Caro is no ones fool.  She knows at a very young age that she can fold her clothes, tend to her children, work outside/inside the home... and be "a lady".

R is for Rhyme

B is for Ballad

Concepts to be presented

1. poetry type:  Ballads
2. poetry concept:  stanzas, rhythm, meter, foot
3. Our poet:  Henry Wadworth Longfellow

5.  Our books:  R is for Rhyme and Poetry-Young-People-Wadsworth-Longfellow

It was a lovely first part to the lesson.  C wasn't involved with it this time since the lesson occured during her science class.  SIL took the little ones to class that morning to meet w/ her ES so I took the opportunity to begin the next poetry lesson.

I have to admit this is an area that all the kids are doing very well in.  I wish our ES, or rather our school, would allow this to count for all language arts.  They get so much out of it; writing, grammar, copy work, art, critical thinking...

But at last we are a part of a state run program so until that changes we have to abide by the "rules".

Anyhow, we began the lesson with a bit of Mr. Longfellow's bio and read his poem "Ballad of Butterfly and Rose".  What a great start...love, joy, tragedy!  Isa loved it while V.M thought it was a odd choice for a poem.   Such a guy.  We continued on to introduce the concepts; stanzas, rhythm within the ballad, meter, and foot.  The kids each got a copy of the poem to label each line and stanza...then found the rhymes and ended with hearing the meter (beat) to each line.  Both kids copied the definition with examples of each concept and read the ballad a few times.

Along the Alphabet Path

Along The Alphabet Path

Letter Aa

We are following little Micheal along his grassy path picking up flowers and letters along the way.  It is a sweet way for young learners to learn their letters.  There are so many "rabbit trails" one can take with the Alphabet Path that it's hard to keep to a letter a week.  So we haven't really stayed tried to stay on track. 

There are many books we get from the library and if the book proves to be a keeper then it gets put on a wish list until the funds allow for it's purchase. 

Here then is our first stop...

Aa is for apples, St. Anne, apple pie, and ants

Our books to read:

Apple Picking Time

Brother Bartholomew and The Apple Grove

Johnny Appleseed

Life Time of an Apple

Angelina Ballerina
How many apples to make an apple pie
Reading Rainbows Apples DVD

In addition to reading about apples C and V.M made a Johnny Appleseed lapbook using homeschool share free lapbooks templates. 

A is for Apples

A is for Apple Blossom

(and a lovely song)

A is for      

          alligators, ants, & astronants!!