College Bound: Thomas Aquinas College Last December I shared our curriculum for the year, a little bit about how we have homeschooled for high school, and the current plans we had for our latest high school senior to graduate with enough credits to finish an AA in...
Small Things with Great Love
“Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love." -Mother Teresa Chai Cupcakes baked and decorated on Sunday by our 16 year old! She even found the printable cupcakes wrappers and toppers I made years ago to download, print and use...
A Masquerade Murder Mystery Sweet Sixteen Birthday Party
Our little "Chiquita" turned sixteen last week! Since I wasn't able to host a party for her last year (remember those sweet cards we woke up to from her last year?), and since I did host a sweet sixteen birthday party for her older sister, I was determined to throw a...
A Happy 15th Birthday
I have always loved trying to make our children’s birthdays extra special.It’s been much harder to do the last few years due to our last two babies (sleepless nights/babies in your late 30s and 40s is HARD), our big out-of-state move, and just way less energy than I...
Whatever God Wants
“It concerns us to know the purposes we seek in life, for then, like archers aiming at a definite mark, we shall be more likely to attain what we want.” - Aristotle "Whatever God wants." - St. Gianna The bow was a birthday gift from her...
Little House on the Prairie Birthday Party
Last week we celebrated Chiquita's 11th birthday! I mentioned the other day that our schedule has been pretty full lately, but we still managed to squeeze in a fun day for the birthday girl! The girls watched Little House on the Prairie (our favorite Disney...
Summer Fun :: Paint By Number
A few years ago the girls were each given a Paint-by-Number Craft Kit for Christmas from one of their uncles. They were a little young for them at the time, but inspired by our most recent Meet-the-Masters lesson on Claude Monet (a favorite from Tract A...
A Secret Garden Birthday on Easter Sunday
I am so pleased that my girls love reading The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett as much as I did as a child. It has always been one of my favorite books ever since my parents gave me a copy illustrated by Graham Rust for Christmas in 1988, when I was 10...
{pretty, happy, funny, real}
~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life. ~{pretty}Last weekend we spent most of Friday and Saturday deep cleaning the girls bedrooms. After we had finished, and after a bike-ride with the older boys, I took the girls out for dinner! It was...
Feliz Cumpleaños Chiquita :: A “Josefina” Birthday!
On Saturday we celebrated Chiquita's 8th Birthday! This year she requested a Josefina themed birthday party. I hadn't been feeling well all of last week, and was overwhelmed from way too much paperwork, other commitments, and a 12 year old boy who had been...
Prayer of Mothers
Father in heaven, grant me the grace to appreciate the dignity which you have conferred on me. Let me realize that not even the Angels have been blessed with such a privilege—to share in your creative miracle and bring new Saints to heaven. Make me a good mother to all my children after the example of Mary, the Mother of your Son. Through the intercession of Jesus and Mary I ask your continued blessings on my family. Let us all be dedicated to your service on earth and attain the eternal happiness of your kingdom in heaven. Amen.