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Caroline’s Bonnet :: A 10th Birthday Cake

Sep 17, 2013 | , , , | 14 Comments


This year Twinkle Toes asked for a “Caroline” themed birthday party!  While I was looking through the books for ideas and inspiration I decided that “Caroline’s Bonnet” might make a fun cake for my new “ten-ager!”  I really didn’t know how I was going to pull if off when I got started… and at one point it looked more like a “frosted Kidney Bean” instead of a cake… but in the end I thought it turned out pretty and the birthday girl loved her cake when she saw it in the morning!  


Caroline’s Bonnet Cake

Supplies:
Round & Oval Cake Pans
Cake Batter (I used one yellow cake mix)
White Frosting mixed with a little Chocolate Frosting to create a “straw” color
White, Pink and Green Marshmallow Fondant
Large Marshmallow
Pink Sprinkles


I just used a one box of Yellow Cake Mix for the cakes, dividing the batter between my two pans.  I cut a rounded corner out of the cake to fit the two cakes together in a (somewhat) bean bonnet shape and put a layer of frosting over the whole cake.  


While the frosting was setting in the freezer I started looking for decorating supplies.   I had picked up a box of white fondant (which is going back to JoAnns), but just couldn’t bring myself to use it.  We don’t like the taste, and I hate spending the money on something that is going to just be peeled off and thrown away.  At swimming lessons this summer a friend of mine suggested trying out homemade marshmallow fondant. She said I would be surprised at how easy it was and told me that everyone will love it!  She was right!!!  (Just look at those kids scrapping the sides of the bowl for any scraps… Even my husband loved it!) 

I used this recipe as a guide.  I only had a 10 oz bag of marshmallows in the cupboard, so I modified the recipe accordingly. After melting the marshmallows in the microwave I mixed in some powdered sugar to form a sticky dough and transfered it to my kitchenaid.  I lost track of how much powdered sugar I used, but I basically just kept adding one cup at a time, kneading it with a hook attachment, until it was no longer sticky.   I seperated it into three balls before kneading in some gel food coloring in pink and green. 


The recipe said to wrap the fondant tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate over night, but I didn’t have time for that.  It probably would have been much easier to work with, but I was just going for “pretty” not “perfect” and it all worked out.  🙂   I created my “ribbon” by rolling a slice of green and two slices of pink fondant onto a wide strip of white fondant.  


After pulling the cake out of the freezer for the final layer of frosting, I mixed a little chocolate frosting into my can of white frosting to create a “straw” color and added lines using the end of the butter knife to resemble a straw bonnet.   I then began adding the “ribbon” of marshmallow fondant…


… and a fondant “bow” as well.  I would have preferred using mini-marshmallows to create flowers on the side of the bonnet, but using what I had in the cupboard, opted for one “stacker” marshmallow cut into small triangles and dipped in pink sprinkles. 


Lydia straightened and tugged on the brim of her bonnet.  “It is a very bright today,” she complained.
“I like it.” Caroline tipped her head back so that she could feel the June sunshine on her face.  The winters in northern New York were long and cold.  Caroline didn’t see what harm it did to enjoy the sunshine while they had it.
“Young ladies must protect their skin from the sun,” Lydia said.

Celebrating the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and the Anniversary of the Implementation of Summorum Pontificum

Sep 14, 2013 | , , | 20 Comments

Recently my mom gave our family a beautiful old out-of-print book (originally published in 1940) which my Grandmother had given my family when we were children!   (I wasn’t able to find the hardcover available and the two paperback copies are very expensive.)  Today is not only the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, but also the 6th anniversary of Summorum Pontificum going into effect.  As Father Z mentioned earlier today,  “We have a lot to be thankful for, both in the way of the Holy Cross and in how we renew the Sacrifice of the Cross during celebrations of Mass with the traditional Roman Rite.” We plan to read this book to our children after dinner…

… and then celebrate with cake!  

We are so very thankful for the extra blessing of our occasional Latin Masses
and continue to pray that they will become more frequently available in our area. 

Happy Feast Day! 

Privileged

Sep 13, 2013 | , , | 17 Comments

“Homeschooling is one of our responses to preserve all things Catholic.  This is our cross. Let us not come down from such a privileged place.  Yes it’s hard! But it’s a privileged place.  And when you are privileged, it’s gonna be hard….” 

This is just one of the many inspiring quotes from a sermon/talk I have been listening to multiple times this past week. It is long (about 45 minutes), but I can’t tell you how much I needed to hear these words of encouragement as we begin our new school year.  It has been a challenging week for sure, including moments of frustration and tears (It is hard work home educating a large family, especially with the added challenge of learning challenges and toddlers), but I’m trying my best to love my cross while thanking God for the privileges He has given me… And I am so thankful it is FRIDAY and we all survived our first official week!

Don’t drag the Cross…Carry it squarely on your shoulder, because your Cross, if you carry it so, will not be just any Cross: it will be… the Holy Cross. Don’t bear your Cross with resignation: resignation is not a generous word. Love the Cross. When you really love it, your Cross will be… a Cross, without a Cross. And surely you, like Him, will find Mary on the way.  
~ Saint Josemaria Escrivá

Back-to-School :: 2013-2014

Sep 12, 2013 | , , , , | 20 Comments

O my God, I know too well that whatever I may do for the education of my children will remain fruitless without the blessing of Thy grace.  “Unless our Lord build the house,” says the psalmist, “they have labored in vain that build it. Unless our Lord keep the city, he watcheth in vain that keepeth it.” (Ps. 126.) I pray to Thee, therefore, O Lord, to give success to what I do for my children.  Grant that they may remain preserved from all evil of body and soul; help me build so that the edifice of virtue and perfection may have in them a firm, solid foundation and rise higher and higher; graciously accompany all my words and actions with Thy grace, so that whatever I say and do may tend to their true welfare. 
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.
~ Prayer of the Mother to obtain God’s Blessing on the labors she undergoes for her Children

 
Captain :: 7th Grade   ~ Rascal :: 6th Grade

 
Twinkle Toes :: 4th Grade ~ Chiquita :: 3rd Grade
 
Snuggles :: 1st Grade  ~  Rose :: Pre-School 
Bud :: Pre-Pre-School 
Back-to-School Schultutes
Playmobil Child’s First Day of School 
The boys were surprised by a little extra treat in the bottom of their cones… 
… Series 11 Minifigures! 
Pretty Pink and Pink Princess Crayons for my little pink lovin’ princess! 
Patron of Students Back-to-School Treat

“The goal of all our undertakings should be not so much a task perfectly completed as the accomplishment of the will of God.” 
St. Therese of Lisieux 

Back-to-School Schultütes {Simplified}

Sep 12, 2013 | , , , | 2 Comments

Back in 2009 I was inspired by Barbara to start making Schultütes to give to our children at the beginning of the school year and have continued this tradition ever since.  Each year they have looked a little different, but have always been made from poster board and filled with lots of goodies and new school supplies.  That first year I only made them for our four oldest, but as the years have passed, and we’ve had more children, that number has increased.  My “pre-schoolers” don’t like to be left out of all the fun, so this year I had SEVEN Schultütes to assemble.  A couple weeks ago when I was at the store, I just couldn’t bring myself to spend the money on all that poster board (I have too many other projects I’m trying to work on around the house and have been cutting back on craft supplies in the meantime) so I nearly skipped making them this year.  Instead I decided to try and use some of my excessive stash of 12×12 scrapbooking paper to make smaller simplified versions!  They were so quick and easy to make.  I filled them with a few treats and our children loved them just as much as always!   

Supplies:
Paper – I used 12×12 scrapbook paper for this year’s cones
(poster board works great for larger cones)
Glue Stick and Scissors
Stapler & Decorative Tape (optional) 
Tissue Paper and Ribbon
Variety of Treats and School Supplies

Directions: 

  1. Apply glue to one end of the paper. I used a glue stick (instead of a hot glue gun) since my cones were smaller this year.
  2. Roll the paper into a cone shape and trim the point off the top of the cone to make it flat. 
  3. Secure the top with a couple staples.  
  4. Cover the seam with a strip of decorative tape if desired.   (I cut a piece of patterned duck tape for the boys cones and some pretty nesting doll tape for the girls similar to this!) 


I had a few fun school themed supplies and snacks (they haven’t had before) for each of the children (you can see Twinkle Toes’ pictured above) but the notebooks and color pencils ended up not fitting.   I kept them out and gave those to each of the children separately.   I didn’t use them this year, but you can find my printable Schultütes treat tags in this post.


I wrapped the treats in some white tissue paper, tying the top with some curly ribbon, and then slipped them into each cone.  


I gave each of the older children a Holy Card from Saints Galore with A Student’s Prayer in Honor of St. Anthony.  
Playmobil Child’s First Day of School 

Oh!  And check out these little playmobil figures!   I had to order a set as soon as I saw them to give to our little ones.  (Thank you Alison! They were a hit!)

I also quickly assembled some Back-to-School Treats with my printable and everything was ready for Tuesday morning, our “official” first day of school this year.   I’ll be back with the rest of our back-to-school photos soon!

Back-to-School Daybook :: September 10, 2013

Sep 10, 2013 | , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Outside my window… 
we must be having the annual “Fall Needle Drop.” There are pine needles everywhere!  Sean just showed the boys how to operate his Stihl Gas Blower and it only takes them a few minutes to clear the deck and driveway.  Yay! Now that the smoke has cleared from all the wildfires we are hoping to spend lots of time reading outside on the porch this fall and enjoying our beautiful weather!

I am thinking…        
about our school plans and the best way to fit everything into our schedule, yet still leave plenty of free-time for play and exploration.  That’s important too!

I am thankful… 
that our busy summer has come to an end!  It was so exhausting much fun but I am looking forward to more time at home, reading lots of great books with the children, and working on re-establishing good habits and routines.

Learning all the time… 
Have I mentioned lately how much I love IEW’s Student Writing Intensive courses? They have been perfect for our children!  Last week Chiquita wrote her paper on Desert Tarantulas.  This week I think I will substitute the “Pillbug” assignment for a paragraph on Crater Lake.  I love that it can easily be modified to incorporate whatever it is we are studying.

Celebrating the liturgical year… 
We headed back to the coast for another Latin Mass the Sunday before last.   All the traveling has been difficult (especially since we still don’t have a vehicle with enough seat belts for everyone – at this point I’m tempted to skip the big van and just go with a small motorhome!) but it has definitely been worth the extra effort.

From the kitchen… 
Apple Puff Pancakes, our absolute favorite breakfast this time of year!  I need to make sure and pick up some more apples the next time I am in town.

I am working on… 
responding to emails and comments.  It is going to take a long time to catch back up, since so many other obligations come before my time on the internet.  I’m doing my best.  Thank you all for your patience and understanding!

I am creating… 
back-to-school treats and a simple (much smaller) version of our usual Schultütes to give the children today, to celebrate the beginning of our new school year.  I’ll try and post a few more pictures later today or tomorrow.

I am going… 
to try and post some pictures from Twinkle Toes’ birthday this week.  We’ll see if I can squeeze it in…

I am hoping… 
to find an alternative to Scribd for document hosting, since so many of you have been having difficulty downloading my Little Flowers Documents.

I am praying… 
for Rascal’s godparents who are expecting another baby next spring, after an 11 year gap following their 5 boys.  We are all so excited for them!

I am reading… 
more about Crater Lake in B is for Beaver and M is for Majestic: A National Parks Alphabet!  

Pondering these words…
from the second reading at Mass a couple weeks ago:

“Endure your trials as “discipline”; God treats you as sons.  For what “son” is there whom his father does not discipline?  At the time, all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righeousness to those who are trained by it.” 

I am listening…  
to The King of the Golden City with the children. Next we will move on to The Magician’s Nephew. Oh, how I love good audiobooks!

Around the house… 

trying to find homes for everything that had to be taken out of the old school room to make room for the little boys… sigh… oh, how I miss that room already!

One of my favorite things…  
sweet moments with my littlest ones. 
This week’s plans…

lots of studying, reading, and time spent at HOME, though I am hoping to make it to town for Mass on Friday.

A little peek at my day…
Snuggles has been starting each morning coloring pages in his Great Adventure Kids Bible Story Coloring Book, while waiting for me to work with him on Math and Language Arts.  Our older children used it as well, when we studied Ancient History years ago, and it is such a fun addition to Connecting with History for the little ones.  

Back-to-School Blessings

Sep 9, 2013 | , , , | 10 Comments

Panoramic Picture of Crater Lake taken from the Observation Station with my iPhone

The first week of our 2013-2014 school year may not have included our usual “back-to-school traditions,” (perhaps we will get to those this week) but it sure was nice to spend Tuesday-Sunday with dear friends who happened to be visiting from the midwest!

We may not have celebrated Our Blessed Mother’s birthday this past weekend with our usual birthday cake, but we did visit the breathtakingly beautiful Crater Lake (the cleanest and bluest lake in the world) and pray the rosary for peace!

With a little planning ahead last Saturday and Monday (Labor Day), after hearing that our friends might be visiting, our older children got a jump start on their studies and they were still able to write their first papers for the year and checked nearly all the little boxes on last week’s checklists!  It might not have looked anything exactly like I usually would have planned, but it ended up being the perfect start to our school year!

Today we have been enjoying some much needed downtime and tomorrow will be our “official” first day of school for the new school year, even though the children are really learning all the time… One of the many benefits of homeschooling!


What a blessing it is to be able to home educate our children!  
I hope your school year is off to a wonderful and blessed start as well.
Prayer to Our Lady for Homeschooling Parents


Blessed Mother, as you so humbly and graciously accepted God’s will to bear and raise His only son, and to guide him in wisdom and virtue, help me in the instruction and education of my children. Pray to your Heavenly Son to grant me the grace and strength to assist in their learning, overcoming tiredness and discouragement. Assist me in the management of my home, so that I may be able to keep order and peace, despite the challenges of schooling within it. Intercede for me, imploring Our Heavenly Father to bestow upon me wisdom, not for my own sake, but so that I may form my children’s minds and hearts, so that they may grow into strong adults, helping to shape the world for His glory, and ultimately inheriting the kingdom of heaven. Call upon your heavenly angels to stand by my side, with their great intelligence, to help me understand that which I am instructing, and assist my children in learning of same. We humbly ask this through your beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

A Quick Hello and a Giveaway!

Sep 4, 2013 | , , , | 158 Comments

I just wanted to pop in real quick to say hello and let you all know that I will try and answer comments/blog questions and emails (there are currently over 250 in my inbox waiting for responses from this past year… Even though I had it “caught up” to 60 at the beginning of summer.) as soon as I have a chance.  It’s just been a little busier than usual around here!  Thursday we had an Ice Cream Social at the park with friends, Friday we celebrated a 10th birthday (pictures coming soon!), Saturday included a visit with out-of-state cousins, Sunday we headed to the coast for a parish picnic, Latin Mass and dinner with friends (before a late night drive home), Monday (yesterday) I watched my little brother win the final round of a golf tournament (and setting a new record!), and today we have dear friends arriving for another visit and staying until Sunday!  I guess I really should have used pencil when I wrote “First Day of School” in my planner! 😉 

Dressed up and coloring pictures from Caroline’s Color and Craft on Twinkle Toes’ 10th Birthday

Anyways, while we are busy having fun with friends, it’s time for another giveaway here at Shower of Roses.  Over the past couple years I have purchased a few beautiful dresses for my girls from Cheri at Ashley’s Attic and she has offered to give an Apron and Bonnet set to one of my visitors!  You can see my girls wearing the Josefina and Kirsten dresses in the Josefina Birthday and An Early American Pioneer Birthday posts.  Twinkle Toes also received the Caroline Abbott dress last Christmas which she wore again last week on her 10th birthday!  I have been so impressed with the quality and durability of these dresses and look forward to purchasing more (perhaps a dress for Rose!) from Ashley’s Attic in the future!

The winner of this giveaway will receive a handmade Bonnet and Apron in their choice of either Regular (fits best 5 to 9 year old) or Large (fits best 10 and over).  The color will be chosen by Cheri, since this is an extra busy time of year for her as well.

If you would like to be entered in this giveaway, just leave a comment on this post, and make sure your email address is either linked on your profile or included in the comment so that I am able to contact you if you win.

For an extra entry visit Ashley’s Attic and then come back and tell me which dress/item is your favorite, or help me decide which dress I should purchase for Rose!  The “Wendy” dress is one of my own favorites… Isn’t it just darling!?! 🙂  (Ooh!  I love this one too, and it’s pink! So many beautiful choices, it is so hard to pick a favorite!)

Comments will be closed Saturday night and I will update this post and contact the winner next Sunday, which happens to be our Blessed Mother’s Birthday!  God bless you all! 

UPDATE: Thank you all for participating! Congratulations to texasgal!  I’ll be contacting you soon for your size preference and mailing information.  I hope your daughter enjoys her new bonnet and apron! 

Our 2013-2014 Curriculum Plans and Checklists

Aug 29, 2013 | , , , , , , | 45 Comments

Our new school year begins next week!   This coming year our oldest boys will be going into 7th and 6th grade, the older girls will be 4th and 3rd, and Snuggles will be in 1st grade.  Rose (3) and Bud (1) will have lots of fun with all sorts of “school time toys” and perhaps some of the Little Saints Pre-School themes.  The following is a list of our curriculum plans for 2013-2014:

Captain :: 7th Grade

Math:
Saxon Math 7/6
Various Math Games for Reinforcement including: Math-It, Equate, and Speed!

Language Arts:
Student Writing Intensive Continuation Course: A
Supplementing with: Ancient History-Based Writing Lessons
Phonetic Zoo, continue Level B
Fix It! (applied grammar – finish Tom Sawyer)
Editor in Chief B-1 (applied grammar)
The Book of Roots 
Novel Inquiries: Ancient Civilizations (The Golden Goblet, Tirzah, Hittite Warrior and The Children’s Homer)

History & Geography:
Connecting with History Volume 1: A Guide to Salvation History
Old Testament and Ancient Cultures

Maps Charts and Graphs Level G: The World
Continue/Complete State-by-State Scrapbook
Asia and Australia Continent Study (CCM Alpha)

Science:
Concepts and Challenges in Science Book 1 (Physics & Earth Science)
 and Concepts and Challenges in Science Book 2 (Metric System, Biology & Chemistry)
TOPS Learning Systems: Electricity 32 and Perfect Balance 31
Snap Circuits
Science Activities and Nature Sketching (CCM Alpha)

Latin:
Latina Christiana 1
Ludere Latin 1

Music & Art:
Lingua Angelica 1
Continue Composer Study
Meet the Masters Track A

Memory Work: 

Rascal :: 6th Grade

Math:
Saxon Math 7/6
Various Math Games for Reinforcement including: Math-It, Equate, and Speed!

Language Arts:
Student Writing Intensive Continuation Course: A
Supplementing with: Ancient History-Based Writing Lessons
Phonetic Zoo, continue Level B
Fix It! (applied grammar – Finish Tom Sawyer)
Editor in Chief B-1 (applied grammar)
The Book of Roots
Novel Inquiries: Ancient Civilizations (The Golden Goblet, Tirzah, Hittite Warrior and The Children’s Homer)

History & Geography:
Connecting with History Volume 1: A Guide to Salvation History
Old Testament and Ancient Cultures

Maps Charts and Graphs Level F: Eastern Hemisphere
Continue/Complete State-by-State Scrapbook
Asia and Australia Continent Study (CCM Alpha)

Science:
Concepts and Challenges in Science Book 1 (Physics & Earth Science)
 and Concepts and Challenges in Science Book 2 (Metric System, Biology & Chemistry)
TOPS Learning Systems: Electricity 32 and Perfect Balance 31
Snap Circuits
Science Activities and Nature Sketching (CCM Alpha)

Latin:
Latina Christiana 1
Ludere Latin 1

Music & Art:
Lingua Angelica 1
Continue Composer Study
Meet the Masters Track A

Memory Work: 

Classically Catholic Memory: Alpha

Physical Education & Other Activities:
Scouts of St. George

Download Rascal’s Color-Coded Checklist

Some of our Reading Selections for Ancient History:  Mystery of the Roman Ransom, Detectives in Togas, The Golden Goblet, The Cat of Bubastes, King David and His Songs, The Children’s Homer, The Riddle of the Rosetta Stone, Alexander the Great, Famous Men of Rome, Famous Men of Greece, Aesop’s Fables for Children, D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths, Ancient Egyptians and their Neighbors, Ox, House, Stick: The History of Our Alphabet, Pyramid, Gilgamesh, The 5,000-Year-Old Puzzle, Archaeology, A Street Through Time, Shadow Hawk, Hittite Warrior, Victory on the Walls, God King, Herodotus and the Road to History, Archimedes and the Door of Science

Twinkle Toes :: 4th Grade

Math:
Saxon Math 5/4
Various Math Games for Reinforcement including: Math-It, Equate, and Speed!

Language Arts:
Student Writing Intensive Continuation Course: A
Supplementing with: Ancient History-Based Writing Lessons
Phonetic Zoo Level A
Fix It! (applied grammar – continue Tom Sawyer)
Handwriting
Roots of English
Additional Literature:

History & Geography:
Connecting with History Volume 1: A Guide to Salvation History
Old Testament and Ancient Cultures

Maps Charts and Graphs Level D: States & Regions
Continue 50 State-by-State Study with Baking and Notebook Pages
Continue American Girl Unit Studies (as time allows)
Asia and Australia Continent Study (CCM Alpha)

Science:
Focus on Middle School Chemistry with Laboratory Workbook and Teacher’s Manual
Focus on Middle School Biology with Laboratory Workbook and Teacher’s Manual
Behold and See 4: Human Anatomy and Health
Science Activities and Nature Sketching (CCM Alpha)

Latin:
Latina Christiana 1
Ludere Latin 1

Music & Art:
Lingua Angelica 1
Continue Composer Study
Meet the Masters Track A

Memory Work: 

Classically Catholic Memory: Alpha

Physical Education & Other Activities:
Piano Lessons
Irish Dancing
Sewing Classes and Sewing With Saint Anne

Little Women Hospitality Program – Year 1 with Student Companion (we didn’t have time for this last year, hoping to have the time this year… but not making any promises!) 

Download Twinkle Toes’ Color-Coded Checklist

Chiquita :: 3rd Grade

Language Arts:
Student Writing Intensive, Level A
All About Spelling  – Level 3 and Level 4
Wordly Wise Book C
Handwriting
Additional Literature Including:


 Latin:

History & Geography:
Connecting with History Volume 1: A Guide to Salvation History
Old Testament and Ancient Cultures

Maps Charts and Graphs Level C: Communities
Continue 50 State-by-State Study with Baking and Notebook Pages
Continue American Girl Unit Studies (as time allows)
Asia and Australia Continent Study (CCM Alpha)

Science:
Focus on Elementary Chemistry with Laboratory Workbook and Teacher’s Manual
Focus on Elementary Biology with Laboratory Workbook and Teacher’s Manual
Science Activities and Nature Sketching (CCM Alpha)

Religion:
The New Baltimore Catechism No. 1
Faith & Life 3 – Our Life With Jesus
Catholic Tales for Boys and Girls
More Catholic Tales for Boys and Girls

Music & Art:
Lingua Angelica 1
Continue Composer Study
Meet the Masters Track A

Memory Work: 

Classically Catholic Memory: Alpha

Physical Education & Other Activities:
Irish Dancing
Sewing Classes and Sewing With Saint Anne

Little Women Hospitality Program – Year 1 with Student Companion (we didn’t have time for this last year, hoping to have the time this year…) 

Download Chiquita’s Color-Coded Checklist 
Our Historical American Girl Lap Books – many are still in progress

Snuggles :: 1st Grade 

Math:
Saxon 1

Language Arts:
Primary Arts of Language: Writing and Reading
All About Spelling Level 1 and Reading Level 1
Supplementing with Explode the Code

History & Geography:
Connecting with History Volume 1: A Guide to Salvation History
Old Testament and Ancient Cultures

Maps Charts and Graphs Level A: The Places Around Me
Asia and Australia Continent Study (CCM Alpha)

Science:
Focus on Elementary Chemistry with Laboratory Workbook and Teacher’s Manual
Focus on Elementary Biology with Laboratory Workbook and Teacher’s Manual
Science Activities and Nature Sketching (CCM Alpha)
Apples, Bubbles and Crystals: Your Science ABCs  (with our Alphabet Path)

Religion:
First Communion Preparation
St. Joseph First Communion Catechism

Memory Work:
Classically Catholic Memory: Alpha

Arts & Crafts and other Fun Activities: 
Meet the Masters Track A
Continue Along the Alphabet Path   *If time allows – We only completed Aa, Bb, Cc and part of Dd last year.  As the other children get older, and their school work is more demanding, it is definitely more challenging for me to find the time for all the fun activities for my younger ones!  Apparently there is just only so many things I can add before some things have to go…  😉 I am really hoping we can at least continue this year.  We’ll see!  In the meantime, Snuggles loves loves LOVES PAL (Primary Arts of Language).  It is such an excellent program, very solid and yet complete with lots of fun and games too! 

My crate of file folder games for with PAL – Yes, I used black file folders.  I think they look so much prettier than regular manilla file folders, plus I have a whole case of them! 😉 

Family Work 
Z is for Zeus: A Greek Mythology Alphabet and Greek Blocks

As you can see from our plans, I do try and combine as many children for various subjects as possible.  We will all be studying Ancient History this year, using Connecting with History, and Chemistry and Biology using the materials from Real Science for Kids. I’ve also decided to try out Meet the Masters Track A (also available for a discount from Rainbow Resource and Home-School Buyers Co-Op).  Another new addition to our plans is Classically Catholic Memory!  I purchased my set from Sacred Heart Books and Gifts and have been so impressed with the organization and quality of the material.  I’m so excited to begin this program!

You can download just my Classically Catholic Memory Checklist here. 

For those who don’t want to spend the money on the complete set (though I do think it is worth the cost!), the Teacher Text would be a great place to start and a large portion of the program (minus the Geography and Timeline – though I suppose one could make their own set of timeline cards) can be completed with just this text. 

I have my Catholic Daily Planners all ready to go as well as my current Saints Calendar and Planner (you can purchase the new 2013-2014 version here).  I also have a few binders filled with all my lesson plans and checklists.  I use the actual lessons plans that come along with the Student Writing Intensive and Continuation Courses.  (I keep all the handouts with the lesson plans and give them to the children as they need them.)  Another binder has all the new daily lesson plans for Connecting with History!  (I am so excited about these!  The hardest part when we last used this program was trying to figure out what to do each day.  These will be so helpful to use as a guide.) And my third binder (my pretty Black Damask Martha Stewart binder) contains all the color-coded checklists!

Now I just need to assemble this year’s Back-to-School Schultütes and we’ll be ready to get started!

Our Little Saints Preschool

Aug 29, 2013 | , | 2 Comments

I’ve used Little Saints Preschool with all of our children.  

When our oldest was in Preschool (back in 2003-2004) I nearly burned myself out on homeschooling that very first year, trying to “do it all!”  I remember spending most of the summer in 2003 collecting all the books (all of our local libraries were closed down at that time due to budget restraints), art supplies, and cutting out countless pieces of felt and paper for all the activities in the program, combining Little Saints with Mother of Divine Grace from 2003-2005.

The following year (2005-2006) seemed like a breeze when I decided to just enroll Captain in Seton for Kindergarten, even though Seton (as a whole) ended up not being the right fit for our family… Since then I’ve continued to use bits and pieces of the Little Saints Preschool program with the rest of the children.  Of course, like everything we do, I love to modify and expand on the themes with some of our own ideas, books, snacks, and recipes.  The themes are a great place to start though, and the book is filled with all sorts of suggestions.  

Below you will find links to a few of the weekly themes that have made it on to the blog.  I will continue to add to this post as time goes on…. Perhaps by the time all our children my grandchildren have made it through preschool there will be links to all the themes.  However, I’m not making any promises! 😉

2008-2009 (Twinkle Toes and Chiquita)

I Belong to God (Theme #1)

Having Fun with the Alphabet  (Theme #2)

My Five Senses (Theme #3)

Number Fun (Theme #4)

Winter Fun (Theme #22)

2011-2012 (Snuggles)

I Belong to God (Theme #1)

Alphabet Fun (Theme #2)

Colors/Guardian Angels (Theme #9)

2016-2017 (Rose and Bud)

Alphabet Fun (Theme #2)

Fall Is Here! (Theme #10)

2022-2023 (Grace and Joy)

I Belong to God (Theme #1)

Alphabet Fun (Theme #2)

My Five Senses (Theme #3) 

Number Fun (Theme #4) 

Colors/Guardian Angels (Theme #9)

Fall is Here! (Theme #10) 

Other Links for Preschool:

School Time Toys

An Alphabet of Saints: B is for Blocks


Our Family

Sean & Jessica, Captain-25, Ranger-23, Twinkle Toes-22, Chiquita-20, Snuggles-18, Rose-15, Bud-13, Grace-8 and Joy-6 (blog nicknames)

A Little About Me

Hi! I'm Jessica, a Roman Catholic wife and home educating mother to our nine children. I was home educated myself, along with my eleven younger siblings. I have a special devotion to St. Therese, through whom I have been given much help and many blessings--the beautiful "Shower of Roses" that she has sent my way! Here I will record a few of the blessings I treasure. Please remember that what you see here is just a little glimpse at our lives, so please say a prayer for us, as we continue to strive for holiness.

My Other Blog: Catholic Cuisine

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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.


Our Family

Sean & Jessica, Captain-25, Ranger-23, Twinkle Toes-22, Chiquita-20, Snuggles-18, Rose-15, Bud-13, Grace-8 and Joy-6 (blog nicknames)

A Little About Me

Hi! I'm Jessica, a Roman Catholic wife and home educating mother to our nine children. I was home educated myself, along with my eleven younger siblings. I have a special devotion to St. Therese, through whom I have been given much help and many blessings--the beautiful "Shower of Roses" that she has sent my way! Here I will record a few of the blessings I treasure. Please remember that what you see here is just a little glimpse at our lives, so please say a prayer for us, as we continue to strive for holiness.

My Other Blog: Catholic Cuisine

Please Visit My Sponsors…

This Week's Popular Posts

Shower of Roses Affiliate Links

All About Spelling
All About Reading
All About Reading Giveaways
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Our Advent & Christmas Books

Shower of Roses Gift Guides

Looking for Something?

looking-back

  • ▼2026 (3)
  • ►2025 (31)
  • ►2024 (41)
  • ►2023 (30)
  • ►2022 (48)
  • ►2021 (48)
  • ►2020 (57)
  • ►2019 (61)
  • ►2018 (90)
  • ►2017 (128)
  • ►2016 (148)
  • ►2015 (172)
  • ►2014 (227)
  • ►2013 (238)
  • ►2012 (308)
  • ►2011 (297)
  • ►2010 (313)
  • ►2009 (486)
  • ►2008 (564)
  • ►2007 (148)

Posts About:

Shower of Roses Alphabet of Saints

A Papal Unit Study & Lap Book

Shower of Roses Easter Gift Guides



All Saints Party Printables

All original photographs and written material are ©2007-2025 Shower of Roses. I'd love for you to link back to me, but please do not copy or take content from this blog without permission. Click here for my Copyright Terms & Conditions. Thank you for visiting!