August Went Where?!

I had this tremendous privlege (why does that word never look correct?!) to join a lovely group of ladies for lunch. Unfortunately the "new" batteries my son put in my camera were old batteries... I can see how easily that could happen.......... so this is the one and only picture.

Way back in April a friend of mine gave me this balloon for my birthday... I told the children *not* to take the ribbons off so off came the ribbons and up went my balloon (no I did not cry) So up stayed that balloon in the beams for 4 months!! It finally came down.

Yes, can you believe it?! The Good Year Blimp actually flew over our property.

Ok, so we are easily entertained.

Picnic at the park.

Eleanor and another young lady.

It's not the heat it's the humidity.

Sooooooooo.... why exactly do we buy toys for our children when pebbles are just as fun or funner.

Why howdy!

Same said friend who had given me the balloon had a nice little brunch... I might add... delicious.... brunch in honor of a 10th baby. It was such an enjoyable morning... and afternoon... at least until my dear husband called wondering how a brunch could last 5 hours.....

Boys.... and big boys.... like toys too......

Up...up...up

What started out as a plan to fix our main windmill ended up a plan to work on something else. No sooner Aragorn got this almost up to the windmill the wind began to blow.... I don't think I need to explain that one cannot fix a windmill when the wind is blowing? haha

It is true that we had a rather unseasonably chilly summer.......... that is to those who are not in their 8 and 9th month.... but this is a bit absurd. (I might add that I thought it was plenty warm)

The boys lost their privlege for the time being to tending to the chickens, due to a bit of *ahem* irresponsibility. So the girls have taken over the hen house, as a little added incentive Aragorn took the too big girls to pick out a couple bunnies to tend to. They are so cute... but BIG. Good grief, they are going to be the size of large watermelons some day. The tan one is a girl named Flopsy (we are very original) and the boy has not yet been named.

Admiring the bunnies.

This plant grows up the side of the house behind our Mary Statue and this is the 3rd year it has been growing and we finally have a flower!!

Where did summer go?!

These pictures are from back in July.... this is a picture from our favorite swimming spot to which I am able to spy on my friend M clear across the lake :)

Note that Merry has grown a tail.

A better picture of Merry with is tail.

Bilbo isn't much impressed with the water.

But I don't mind those irresistable curls for company.

He's not heavy, he's my brother. Obviously Bilbo isn't enjoying this over-much.

There used to be a short cut home but that road is entirely impassible... except by canoe and you may be surprised to learn that a 15 passenger van doesn't fit in a canoe.

I do delight in a rainbow.

Our Tuesday Girls' and Boys' groups lasted for 3 months through the summer.

This was another baking day. Here is the pizza making crew.

I went into this pizza day thinking normal pizzas and toppings. I forgot we had craft-loving girls who could even make a craft out of pizza decorating. Here's the heart pizza.

This pizza is getting a face-lift.

Here's the Puppy Chow crew. Now what was that other new-fangled name I learned for Puppy Chow. It was something like dingle dangle or something equally as cute (not that that was cute but with a little creativity you might imagine it was)

Bag diggers.... I'm really not sure what these ladies were up to but they were caught none-the-less.

The patiently-waiting-for-the-cookies crew.

The face lift complete.

This modern version of pla-doh is always a hit.

Your guess is as good as mine but I would venture to guess I was having a better day getting out of bed than this fellow!

Check out these curls!

And check out the hair on this little guy. No, it isn't a wig, it's for real. He's the cutest little wee man!

I'm not sure many can resist the irresistable Calico Critters.

Good thing there is a new baby coming along, Bilbo is getting too big. I wonder what a household does without a baby in the house?

You can bet if there is a baby to be held that Eleanor is nearly by to hold her!

Finally those cookies are out. Notice also those fine loaves of bread! :)

This Blue Heron was just walking on by our window.

A friend of mine sent this picture from her trip "ground buffalo chip used as baby powder". I finally have a one-of-a-kind gift for new mothers. :)

My Life Novel Meme

If you have a blog you are tagged..........

1. If my life were fiction it would be set in...Middle Earth, most likely Rohan, let's not get picky that Aragorn's wife is not from Rohan........ she is visiting (is Middle Earth fictitious???).

2. Right now I would be wearing...a long flowing dress with long flowing sleeves and a red sash (in fiction an almost 9 month pregnant woman can wear a sash that drapes beautifully).

3. The biggest crisis I would be facing would be...dealing with Grima Wormtongue... and anxiously waiting for Eomir to be found and returned.

4. My biggest joy would come from...seeing Gandalf rid my good friend King Theodan of the demons and casting out Grima followed by my beloved Aragorn gallantly arriving to make alliance with the friends his wife is visiting.

5. The most frustrating daily challenge would be...making sure the children make their beds and put their swords and bow 'n arrows away.... there is no worry about keeping the bathroom (walls) clean as there isn't any indoor plumbing (yay!)

6. Looking out my window, I would see... a beautiful expanse of green grass peppered with wild flowers and beautiful brilliant birds with hills and lots of trees in the background. Off in the distance Gandalf is returning with mischievious Pippin to liven up the place.

7. The other characters in the story would be... too numerous to name... but it is all written up in my all-time favorite book..............

8. An essential element of a happy ending would be... my husband, children and dearest friends riding off to the Gray Havens.

I'm not very original but such is my life :)

Lesson Plans

We started back to school on August 17th, only 2 weeks after I had hoped to start school. This year we went back to uniforms right down to the shoes as it greatly helps us in our self-discipline. (pictures coming soon) We are just that kind of family.


This year I knew we needed even more self-discipline and order as we would have 7 children in grades Kindergarten through 8th plus 2 toddlers and a newborn to come soon. Our school is not entirely organized but our lessons are... the school to follow... I hope! After much consultation with other large families we decided to follow Sue Patrick's Workbox System. And let me tell you, I was scared to death I'd be the first and biggest workbox failure. I watched rigorously and tediously as my on-line friends, also desiring order, put together their workboxes through the summer and got a jumpstart. It will be much easier to explain our day-to-day system once I get pictures together so all that will follow. For now I will just share what we are studying:


Sam, grade 8
Religion: Neumann Press Grade 8, OLVS Mass
Dyslexia: Finish LDCoach and begin Ron Davis
Reading: Two Towers, Return of the King, Door in the Wall, MacBeth, St. Philip Neri, Merchant of Venice
Math: Teaching Textbooks 6 and Mad Dog Math to brush up on the Math Facts
English: Easy Grammar Plus, Daily Grams, Diagramming
Spelling: All About Spelling
Typing: Just the old fashioned way jjj fff.... (we've done Mavis Beacon but I found it distracting)
Science: Apologia Astronomy and Nature Journal, Mr. Wizard
History and Geography: A series of tapes (name escapes me), Time Line and Map Skills
Language: Rosetta Stone Latin
Art and Music: Seton 8 Art through Faith, Classical Music and Composers, Painting


Galadriel, Grade 7
Religion: Neumann Press 7, OLVS Mass
Math: Teaching Textbooks 7 & Mad Dog Math (facts)
English: Easy Grammar, Daily Grams and Diagramming
Reading: FF Our Freedoms, Fortitude, Booklist (The Singing Tree, Men of Iron, Saint Book Per Month, Two Towers, Return of the King, Henry V, Julius Caesar) Thinking YC, Free Reading
Spelling: All About Spelling
Typing: Just good old fashioned typing
Science & Health: Apologia Land Creatures and Health, Nature Journal, Mr. Wizard
History & Geography: Voyages 7, Maps G, Time Line Book
Hospitality & Manners: Little Women Hospitality, PACE
Spanish: Rosetta Stone
Art & Music: Seton 7, Draw Real People, Composers, Music Kit



Eowyn, Grade 6:
Religion: Neuman Press 6, OLVS Mass
Math: Teaching Textbooks 5 & Mad Dog Math (Facts)
English: Easy Grammar, Daily Grams and Diagramming
Reading: FF Heritage, Valor, Booklist (Beorn the Proud, Winged Watchman, Swiss Family Robinson, Adam of the Road, Saint Story Per Month), Free Reading
Spelling & Vocabulary: All About Spelling
Typing: Good old fashioned typing
Science & Health: Apologia Swimming Creatures and Health, Nature Journal and Mr. Wizard
History & Geography: Voyages 6, Maps F, Time Line Book
Hospitality & Manners: Little Women Hospitality, PACE
Spanish: Rosetta Stone
Art & Music: Seton 6, Calligraphy, Composers, Music Kit


Frodo, Grade 4:
Religion: Neumann Press 4, OLVS Mass
Math: Teaching Textbooks 4 & Mad Dog Math Facts
English: Easy Grammar, Daily Grams, Diagramming
Reading: Little House in the Prairie Series, St. John Bosco, St. Catherine of Laboure, St. Anthony of Paua, St. Vincent DePaul, St. Colette, St. Angela Merici
Spelling & Vocabulary: All About Spelling
Typing: Good old fashioned typing
Science & Health: Apologia Flying Creatures and Health, Nature Journal, Mr. Wizard
History & Geography: Seton 4, Maps D
Manners: PACE
Spanish: Rosetta Stone
Art & Music:


Rosie, Grade 3
Religion: Neumann Press 3, OLVS Mass
Math: Saxon 3 & Mad Dog Math Facts
English: Easy Grammar, Daily Grams, Diagramming
Reading: Little House in the Prairie Series, St. John Bosco, St. Catherine of Laboure, St. Anthony of Paua, St. Vincent DePaul, St. Colette, St. Angela Merici
Phonics: Little Angels
Spelling & Vocabulary: All About Spelling
Typing: Good old fashioned typing
Science & Health: Apologia Flying Creatures and Health, Nature Journal and Mr. Wizard
History & Geography: Seton 4, Maps D
Manners: PACE
Spanish: Rosetta Stone
Art & Music: Seton 3

Eleanor, Grade 1:
Religion: Neumann Press 1, First Communion Catechism, Bible
Math: Saxon 1 & Mad Dog Math Facts
English: Voyages in English 1
Phonics & Reading: Little Angels, Seton 1
Spelling: All About Spelling
Handwriting: Handwriting Without Tears 1
Science & Health: OLVS Science 1, Nature Journal and Mr. Wizard
History & Geography: Seton YC 1, Maps A
Manners: PACE
Spanish: Rosetta Stone
Art & Music: Draw Write Now

Merry, Grade Kindergarten:
Religion: First Communion Catechism, Chats with God's Little Ones, YC Catechism, My Jesus & I
Math: Saxon K & Mad Dog Math Facts
Phonics: Letters, Sounds and Seton K
Handwriting: Handwriting Without Tears K
Science: OLVS K, Mr. Wizard, Nature Journal
Health & Manners: PACE
Activity Books
Art & Music
Spanish: Rosetta Stone

Pippin and Bilbo have various puzzles, games, blocks, coloring pages, math manipulatives and so on... and of course Bilbo has his "bankie" :)

Ordination and First Mass

Picture Snitched from Fr. Alfonso's Website

On July 31st I had the incredible honor to attend the Ordination to the Sacred Priesthood of 3 young men from the Society of Jesus Christ the Priest: Fr. John B., Fr. Oswaldo and Fr. Alex.

You may view more pictures here The above picture is one of my favorites, where the newly ordained priest blesses the Bishop and the Bishop in return kisses the newly consecrated hands.

Picture snitched from Fr. Alfonso's Website

On August 2nd one of the newly ordained priests celebrated his first public Mass as a Solemn High Mass in the Traditional Latin Rite. You can view the Mass on YouTube here.

Please spare a prayer for these newly ordained priests and may God continue to bless us with more saintly priests.

Urgent Prayers

UPDATE:

Please pray for the repose of the soul of 14 year old Ryan Barrett who drowned. My God have mercy on this dear boy and his family as they suffer this tremendous loss. (News Release Here)

Eternal Rest Grand unto him O Lord
and let Perpetual Light shine upon him.
May his soul and the souls of all the Faithfully Departed.
Rest in Peace.
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Have Mercy.

Poem to Ryan during Autism Awareness Month



Copied from Mary Ellen's Blog

URGENT PRAYERS
This is Mary Ellen's friend, Chris posting. We are asking for urgent prayers for her son, Ryan. He left on a father /son campout on Thurs. morning and as of Thursday evening at 5:00 PM he has been missing. An extensive search is being conducted and Mary Ellen was driven to the site three hours away by a dear friend. PLEASE, anyone reading this, join your prayers with all who love Mary Ellen for the safe and speedy return of Ryan. Mary Ellen is hoping for Ryan to be covered in a massive prayer chain. Please post this request on any blogs or online groups you can. Updates have been sporadic, but I will post news as I hear. Thank you for your prayers.
Posted at 05:56 AM