Merry Christmas!

Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord. (Lk 2:11)

Christmas Kitchen

Roses in Winter to celebrate Juan Diego and Our Lady of Guadelupe-Yummy!

A fun, easy and favorite treat!

Come, Come Emmanuel!

Happy 4th Week of Advent! What an exciting week. This month of preparing has sure gone way too fast for me. Now, it's time to really prepare with our whole heart. The other day, I was in panic mode. I needed to run to several stores to get some last minute things, bake several dishes for upcoming potlucks, and to top it off, the house is a mess. A real mess. There is a fort in the middle of the school room, mounds of laundry and dog hair in every nook and cranny. I mean, WHAT HAVE I BEEN DOING????

While in panic mode at this specific moment with my husband, I realized that this was not Christmas. This is what we want to avoid durin

g Advent. And it's hard. For me, really. Hard. I want everything perfect. Perfect tree. Perfect decorations. Perfect presents. Perfect delicacies. But then, at what cost? This would be no fun for my children, and clearly is not fun for me. Soooo, if you are losing it. Don't. Take a deep breath. Remember the Christ child. Hold your little ones tight. Help them see what Advent is. It is waiting and preparing-Joyfully. What does not get done. Doesn't. Laundry can wait, baking can be done together (albeit, maybe won't be how you would do it-but your kids will love the experience), and your tree is beautiful because you didn't fret about the small stuff and make your kids feel like they couldn't do anything right.

So Rejoice! Salvation is drawing near! Let your children see YOU Rejoice. Smile more. Let them have an extra cup of hot chocolate today and pile the whipped cream high. With sprinkles. You'll feel better, and so will your children. I promise.

Third Week of Advent-JOYful Giving

Hello Friends!

Busy weekend! Everyone had productions this weekend. My assistant had her dance production and it was FANTASTIC! Her group danced a jazz number to "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause". The rest was out of this world! Clever and Gymnast sang at our parish's Christmas concert. WOW. The songs were perfect and totally lifted you out of your seat!

Can you believe this is the last week before Christmas week? Lots of things to do, lots to bake and lots to make! So lets do this thang!!!

First, this week is all about giving. We're goin

g to kick off the week with learning the verse from John 3:16

Copy Work: For God so loved the world, that he GAVE his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish, but might have eternal life.

Books we'll be reading:

That's all I'm able to post right now. As we get into our baking and celebrations (Feast of St. Lucy) , I'll post more.

Have a wonderful Monday!

Second Week of Advent-Humility

German artist Albrecht Durer in the 16th century.

I'm so sorry for this late post! It has been a very hectic week and the littles seemed to need a bit more attention than usual. I guess with all the business and excitement, everyone is need of some extra nurturing. Here is what we worked on this week. I hope you find it useful!

Written Work: Paragraph about the Visitation-how does Mary show humility, in action and in words?

Copywork: The Magnificat

Meditation: What does Mary mean by "My soul magnifies the Lord.."

Discuss: Bethlehem-what does it mean? How does God show His humility?

Art Study: The Visitation by Geman artist Albrecht Durer in the 16th Century

Menu Planning For Next Week

One thing that helps me immensely is keeping order in the kitchen. By that I mean that meals are planned and the shopping list is prepared. Here's my menu for the next week.

Monday-Chili Cornbread Bake w/ corn

Tuesday-Pork Chops with apples/green beans and bread. Maybe some rice too.

Wednesday-Tuna Casserole with greens/bread

Thursday-Chicken Noodle Soup/Homemade Crusty Bread

Friday-Salmon/Mixed Veggies/Bread

Hope this gives you some ideas for the upcoming busy week!

Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening

Whose woods these are I think I know.

His house is in the village though;

He will not see me stopping here

To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer

To stop without a farmhouse near

Between the woods and frozen lake

The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake

To ask if there is some mistake.

The only other sound's the sweep

Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep.

~Robert Frost

Simplicity For the First Week of Advent

There are two ways of spreading Light~to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.~Edith Wharton

A Simple Breakfast Casserole

Need a quick, yummy bake for breakfast? This is simply fabulous!

Tater Tot Egg Bake

1 Layer of Tater Tots

1 layer of crumbled, cooked sausage

1 layer of chopped onions

Beat about 5-6 eggs-Pour over top of layers

Last layer, top with shredded cheese

Viola! Bake covered at 350 until egg is cooked.

Perfect for Christmas morning! This is also good made ahead and re-heated. Enjoy!

Copywork

Happy First Week of Advent!

I spent all of yesterday (Monday) sorting our Christmas books and reading lists and I'm almost to the point of being organized. yay!

We started off reading "Country Angel Christmas" by Tomie DePaola and our copywork was:

"Just be yourself and you will make a fine Christmas."

We will also be reading "The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey" and taking copywork from that as well. Netflix has the movie too. Very delightful and a wonderful treat after studying the book. Don't forget the molasses cookies!

Here it is:

"He unpacked Mary wearing a rough woolen shawl, looking down, loving her precious baby son. Jesus was smiling and reaching up to touch his mother's face.~From " The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey"

Here's my favorite recipe from Cooks.com. Yummy, suppppaaaa easy and delish. Enjoy!

Molasses Cookies:

• QUICK AND EASY MOLASSES COOKIES

  12 tbsp. sweet butter 1 c. sugar 1/4 c. molasses 1 egg 1 3/4 c. unbleached all purpose flour 1/2 tsp. ground cloves 1/2 tsp. ground ginger 1 tsp. ground cinnamon 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. baking soda Melt butter. Add sugar and molasses, mixing thoroughly. Lightly beat egg and add to butter mixture. Sift dry ingredients and add to first mixture mix well; batter will be set. Put a sheet of aluminum foil on cookie sheet. Drop tablespoons of batter on foil, leaving 3 inches between the cookies. Bake 8 to 10 minutes at 350 degrees or until cookies start to darken. Remove from oven while soft. Let cool on foil. These are very large and very soft. Yield 24 cookies.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours! Many Blessings!

So What Is "Epiclesis"?

Do you know what it means? Do you know how to say it? Have you ever heard of it before?

I am finding that the Mass is being taught less and less. Oh sure. There is "Sunday School" and there is "CCD". But if you notice in these classes, hardly anything is taught on or about the Mass. This is a tragedy. Shouldn't we be in love with the Mass? Now, I know many will say-"well, I'm in love with Christ." This is good. We are all in love with Christ. But if the Mass is a "re-creation"; if the Mass is a celebration and if we are in love with Christ-then how is it that none of these things in the Mass should be important? They cannot be separate. That is, Christ and the Mass.

I have watched children in Mass. I have watched my own children in Mass. Are we teaching them the names of the articles used at Mass? Some of us may be, but surely not all. I wonder what a difference it would make if we engaged our children just by naming some of the items. "See the beautiful chalice?" Or, "Look how the altar looks!" Or, "I wonder why Father is wearing red today?" We need to educate our kids!

So what does epiclesis mean? Have you googled it? The word itself is a Greek word meaning "to call upon". Many time in the Mass, Father calls upon God. One time in particular though, he uses the words "Let your spirit come..." and as he does this, he brings his hands over the bread and wine. This is a moment in which no one should even move!! Parents, this is the time to pray for your children! This is a time of thanksgiving! Do not miss this marvelous moment of the Holy Spirit coming down on the bread and wine. Do not allow your children to miss it. What happens if you do? Well. You've missed it.

Learn your faith. Really learn it. Fall in love with it. Then, you will also fall in love with Christ.

Thanksgiving Week

Hello friends! Here is the list for this week of all our things to do to prepare for the big day. We will be having all of the family over~what fun! There is so much excitement in the air!
Although we are taking a break from our formal bookwork, we will still be reading, practicing writing with copywork and playing lots of logic games! Have you seen this?

This is a great single player game to stretch the brain. Takes some patience and it's been a great addition to our day.

*Here is our copywork for the week from Psalm 100:

Shout joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;

worship the LORD with cries of gladness; come before him with joyful song.

Know that the LORD is God, our maker to whom we belong, whosepeople we are, God's well-tended flock.

Enter the temple gates with praise, its courts with thanksgiving. Give thanks to God, bless his name;

good indeed is the LORD, Whose love endures forever, whose faithfulness lasts through every age.

*Math-Sudoko games. We are working towards doing a 9x9 puzzle

*Reading-Three chapters of assigned reading/Free Reading

*Cooking Fun-Lots to get ready for Thanksgiving Day. We are trying to get ahead and make a few things to freeze. We'll see if we can get to that!

*Old friends are going to come visit on Monday. Pizza, friends and lots of outdoor time-Yippeee!

I hope your week is lovely and that time spent with family will be joyous. Many blessings to you and yours!