Mystery Solved
As you know, each day during lent we read a bible story about the life of Jesus and then add a symbol to our Jesus Tree. Well this year, with my school room changed around, I hung the Jesus Tree between my boys desks, right under the window.
Well, each morning I would wake up to find most of the symbols missing. I couldn’t find the missing ones at first which was frustrating! Well, one day I decided to look in the vent which is on the floor right below the window. Sure enough I found 4 of our symbols. I placed them back on the tree.
The next morning they were missing again. I looked in the vent to find 3 more symbols. I thought it strange that they would fall into the vent, and not on the floor, but thought perhaps that the draft from the heater might have had something to do with it since it was only on at night?? But the size of the symbols had me stumped… How on EARTH could they just randomly fall in the vent each night without some of them ending up on the floor or getting stuck in the slots of the vent? After the fourth day I shut the slots on this particular vent. Still, the next morning there were a couple symbols inside.
Well, after five days in a row of pulling symbols out of the vent, I was in the school room on the computer just before bedtime. I noticed Snuggles quietly come into the room and walk over to the tree and take a symbol off.
Ahh ha!!! I grabbed my camera. 😉
Shower of Photos 2009 :: Day 1
Hummm… What to post for April’s Shower of Photos? I still haven’t been able to come up with a theme… I’m thinking that maybe I’ll focus on things that make make me smile.
There is just one small problem with that… The one and only picture I took today makes me cry instead of smile… Yep, my favorite statue of St. Therese, a gift from hubby, was accidentally knocked over by an obnoxious big blue exercise ball that my children are NOT suppose to play with a couple of my children (who then felt awful). The statue fell over, breaking off her finger and part of the flowers, and even left a dent in the wall… It could have been worse, but I cried just the same. It has been one of those days!
I just couldn’t post the picture. So, I searched through my photos to find one that would make me smile.
It didn’t take long! This picture was taken on Monday, and is of Chiquita and her little friend. Aren’t they precious!?! There is nothing better than good friends and nice big hugs! ☺
April’s Shower of Photos ~ 2009
Last year I really enjoyed participating in April’s Shower of Photos. If you’d like, you can see last years pictures here. (My favorite was this one!) Jen has decided to host it once again and I am really looking forward to participating! Last year I didn’t choose a theme, and I can’t think of one this year either… Any suggestions??
My camera is a Canon Digital Rebel XTi
If you’d like to join in, head on over to S/V Mari Hal-O-Jen and leave a comment. I’ll be back later tonight with a picture for today.
Gotcha!
As you can see, I wasn’t the only one taking tons of pictures while we were checking out the wildlife! Be sure to head over to Elm’s and Amy’s blogs to see even more pictures including some embarrassing random pictures of me and my monkeys little ones.
Wild Life!
Yesterday we went on another field trip SAFARI!!!
More specifically, we visited a drive-through zoo, located on 600 acres, containing over 500 animals in their natural habitat, that roam freely (for the most part) as they do in the wild!
There were four of us moms (Marci, Amy, Elm, and I) with 15 of our children. We all piled into two of our vehicles to drive-through the park. The girls (and baby Ben) all went with Amy and Elm, and Marci and I had the boys. Yep… we got to experience the wildlife INSIDE the van, as well as OUTSIDE! 😉
I uploaded my pictures to the computer and was shocked to find that I took TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY SEVEN pictures!! Yikes!!!! Lots of them are duplicates of the same animals — trying to get that hard to capture “perfect picture”… Nevertheless, even though I promise not to post ALL of them, I have a feeling this post may end up having quite a few pictures… =)
The 4.5 mile trek through the park begins with animals from Africa.
African Lion
Did you know that a lion’s roar can be heard from 5 miles away?
Giraffes ~ That last guy was sticking his tongue out at us!
Check out the teeth on the Hippopotamus!
While we were trying to watch a couple of the bears fighting, we had a little bear fight break out in the car… Well, not exactly, though one of the boys did have the window shut on his little head! Poor guy! For a minute there they got a bit crazier… I was starting to wonder if we would survive the drive, but then, listening to their commentary about the animals was hilarious!
Last stop was Asia.
Tons to see here as well including: Tibetan Yaks, nilgai, Sarus Cranes, Silka Deer, Gibbons, Bactrian Camels, Rhea, and lots more…
Check out this cool looking Camel lying on the side of the road.
Here are some White Fallow Deer.
Before we left the kids even got to pet a turtle and a ferret, even though we didn’t have time to head to the petting zoo.
I also have a few cute pictures from the playground. I am out of time right now, but I’ll end with a couple group photos!
It was a FULL day, and I was am still exhausted, but I am pretty sure everyone had a wonderful time!
In like a Lion, Out like a Lamb
Can you believe it is already the last day of March?? I find it absolutely amazing that my children remember so perfectly what we did last year!! So, it looks like we’ll be making some Lamb Cupcakes today… What are your plans?
Resurrection Eggs
This year, in addition to our Lenten Calendar and Jesus Tree, I’ve decided to add one more activity as we countdown the days to Easter: Resurrection Eggs.
Resurrection eggs are yet another great way to tell our children the story of the passion and resurrection of Jesus, using 12 colorful eggs filled, symbolic objects, and passages from the Bible.
I am still trying to decide whether or not I want to use the eggs to countdown the 12 days leading up to Easter (beginning Wednesday), or if I just want to pull them all out on Good Friday… Decisions, decisions… =)
Anyhow, I purchased these eggs (and this book
Sure enough, I ran across these directions online, but decided to modify them to match our eggs and the book, Benjamin’s Box: The Story of the Resurrection Eggs, which we will be reading, and possibly make a few more sets so each of my children can have their own. (If not this year, maybe next?!)
You will need 12 plastic eggs that can be opened and filled. The eggs can either be kept in an Egg Carton, or you could use a basket labeling each egg with a number. You can also include the corresponding Bible verse/verses in each egg, which adds to the significance of the symbolism.
Egg 1: Place a small toy donkey inside the first egg which represents the donkey on which Jesus rode into Jerusalem just before His death and resurrection. Suggested Reading: Matthew 21:1-9
Egg 2: Place three dimes to symbolize the “30 pieces of silver” that Judas received to betray Jesus. Suggested Reading: Matthew 26:14-16
Egg 3: Place a small cup or goblet to symbolize the Last Supper. Another option would be to use a small piece if cracker. Suggested Reading: Matthew 26:17-19
Egg 4: Place praying hands inside this egg reminding us of Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. You could make these out of Sculpey clay, cut them out of foam or felt, or even print out an picture. Suggested Reading: Mark 14:32-42
Egg 5: Place a strip of leather to represent the scourging at the pillar. Suggested Reading: John 19:1-15
Egg 6: Place a thorn to symbolize the “crown of thorns” that Jesus wore. A rose bush may be a good source. Suggested Reading: Matthew 27:29-31
Egg 7: Nail, to represent the nails used to crucify Our Lord. Suggested Reading: John 19:16-22
Egg 8: Place a die or a couple of dice to symbolize the “lots that were cast” for Jesus’ clothing. Suggested Reading: John 19:23-25
Egg 9: Place a spear (Playmobil would be perfect!) to represent the spear which the Roman soldiers used to pierce Jesus’ side.”lots that were cast” for Jesus’ clothing. Suggested Reading: John 19:31-37
Egg 10: Place a small piece of white/linen cloth to symbolize the cloth with which Joseph of Arimathea wrapped the body of Jesus after He died on the cross. Suggested Reading: Matthew 27:57-61
Egg 11: Place a rock to symbolize the stone that was rolled away from the tomb. Suggested Reading: Matthew 28:1-3
Egg 12: EASTER MORNING! This egg will be empty to symbolize the tomb that was empty, that Jesus was risen from the dead! Suggested Reading: Matthew 28:5-8
A Beautiful Sermon on Veiling
I just finished listening to the following sermon from Audio Sancto on veiling images and the veiling of women:
Visiting the Airport
This past Friday we went on a field trip to the airport with our local Catholic Home-School group.
The first stop was a visit to one of the helicopter hangers. The pilots told the children all about helicopters, answered questions, and were even kind enough to let the children climb inside!
Hah! After looking through the photos, I just noticed that Chiquita was in *both* helicopters! She was having so much fun! Snuggles on the other hand wanted off as quickly as possible.
Next we visited another hanger, where a kind older gentleman showed the children some planes he has built, or is in the process of building, as well as the tools he uses, among other things. He too answered lots of questions and let the children hop into the pilot seat of one of his neat little airplanes. (I can’t remember the name of it, and the boys are sleeping!)
My boys were in heaven!
Nevertheless, it was an awesome field trip and everyone had a great time!
Our Little Flowers Girls’ Club
As many of you know, I’ve really been enjoying leading a “Little Flowers” group for my daughters and a number of other girls. I opened my group to girls ages 5-8, though I do have a couple girls that are 9, and a couple that are almost 4 (that way I could include my youngest daughter).
Over the past few months I have been receiving quite a few emails asking for more information (how I lead my group of girls, the notebook pages we are making at our meetings, and tips on which supplies to order, etc…). I thought I would try to answer the questions in one post, as well as link our past meetings for reference, and then add it to the new tab list at the top of my blog. I will continue to update the links as I add new posts after our upcoming meetings.
I just want to remind you all that I am a brand new Little Flowers leader myself, and by NO MEANS an expert on how to lead a group. ☺ What you will find here is my imperfect attempt to make the group a fun filled learning experience for my own girls, in which, by the grace of God, they can learn more about our faith and grow in virtue. That said, I am more than happy to share our meetings with you all, after they take place, and when time permits. ☺
Resources I Use:
- Behold Publications, LLC
- The Little Flowers Girls’ Club Blog
- Charlotte’s Coloring Pages
- Fenestrae Fidei: A Coloring Companion for Catholic Mosaic
- Catholic Cuisine (occasional snack ideas)
- Chat With God’s Little Ones
(I’ve found this book very helpful in planning lessons for the younger girls.)
- Glory Stories – CD’s
Our Group’s Supplies:
To keep the costs to a minimum, I purchased all of our supplies from Sacred Heart Books and Gifts (update: retired). Not only do they offer a wonderful discount, they offer free shipping on orders of $25.00. For myself I ordered the Craft Companion (which I have used minimally), the Wreath One Leader’s Guide, and the Tea and Luncheon Guide. I also ordered the Memory Cards and the Little Flowers Virtues CD as well, both of which I highly recommend each mother to purchase for her girls too! They are great!
In addition to our annual dues, which coverer the group/leader supplies and all the craft materials for the year, each girl was required to purchase a Member’s Guide, a Sash, and a Wreath 1 Badge. Next year I am planning on having the girls also purchase the Art and Activity Book for Wreath’s 1 and 2. I am sure this would vary greatly for each group depending on the number of girls that you have participating and the types of craft projects you decide to make.
Finding a Location:
Though my home would be convenient for me (when it is clean!), it is not for most of the other families, due to distance. Ideally I would love to hold our meetings in my local parish hall, but I wasn’t able to get approval from the pastor. (We will be getting a new pastor in the summer, so maybe that will change for next year!) In the meantime, the owner of the local Catholic Bookstore agreed to let us use her backroom, which has been working out wonderfully. I also looked into using a meeting room at the Library, which could have worked out as well. Our group only meets once per month, but next year I would like to change it to twice per month: one meeting for the lesson and notebook page; another for a review, craft, and playtime.
Update: Our monthly meetings are now held at my home, which has been working out wonderfully!
Snacks and Assignments:
For our group, I have assigned each family a month in which they are to provide the snacks and the drinks. (The extra month was divided up between the moms that have more than one daughter attending.) I’ve asked each mother to try and follow the theme for the month, if possible. So far they have all been more than willing to cooperate, and the snacks have been so much fun!
Update: For Wreaths III & IV I have provided the snacks (cupcakes and drinks) for each meeting, adding the supply cost to our yearly dues.
I decided to have my group create Notebook Pages at each meeting based on the Saint, Virtue, and Memory Verse. If you would like to do the same, the documents I created can be downloaded here, or directly from any of the posts below. (NOTE: These can be downloaded for your personal/group use, but please do not repost these pages, or any of the pictures from this blog. Thank you!)
- St. Catherine of Siena ~ Faith ~ Sunflower
- St. Monica ~ Hope ~ Ivy
- St. Agnes ~ Love of God ~ Peony
- St. Jane Frances de Chantal ~ Love of Neighbor ~ Rose
- St. Joan of Arc ~ Obedience ~ Carnation
- St. Cecilia ~ Piety ~ Forget-Me-Not
- St. Catherine Laboure ~ Humility ~ Violet
- St. Francis Xavier Cabrini ~ Industry ~ Daffodil
- St. Bridget of Sweden ~ Truthfulness ~ Narcissus
- The Decorations
- Attendees
- A Game of Croquet
- The Menu
- Games: Setting the Table for Tea; The Tea Tray Memory Game; She Loves It, She Loves It Not
- St. Faustina ~ Mercy ~ Lily
- Blessed Margaret Pole ~ Courage ~ Yucca
- St. Clare of Assisi ~ Joy/Mirthfulness ~ Tulip
- St. Katharine Drexel ~ Generosity ~ Daisy
- St. Angela Merici ~ Prudence ~ African Violet
- St. Teresa Benedicta (Edith Stein) ~ Wisdom ~ Iris
- Bl. Mary of the Incarnation ~ Justice ~ Aster
- St. Lucy ~ Loyalty ~ Poppy
- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton ~ Perseverance ~ Lotus
- Mary & Martha ~ Eutrapelia ~ Dandelion
- Ruth & Naomi ~ Friendliness ~ Morning Glory
- St. Margaret of Scotland ~ Initiative ~ Black Eyed Susan
- St. Zita or Proverbs 31 Woman ~ Orderliness ~ Cranberry
- St. Felicity and Her Seven Sons ~ Self-Control ~ Amaryllis
- St. Anne, Mother of the Blessed Mother ~ Responsibility ~ Mum
- St. Bathildis ~ Patience ~ Lily of the Valley
- Mary Mother of God ~ Cheerfulness ~ Blue Phlox
- St. Julie Billiart ~ Fortitude ~ Hyacinth
- Wreath IV Notebook Pages and Additional Resources
- Little Flowers Girls’ Club Wreath IV Lap Book
- Craft Plans and Ideas for Little Flowers Wreath IV
- Saintly Symbols :: Cupcakes for Wreath IV
- Wisdom ~ St. Teresa of Avila ~ Jasper
- Understanding ~ St. Catherine of Alexandria ~ Emerald
- Knowledge ~ St. Gertrude ~ Topaz
- Counsel ~ St. Catherine of Sienna ~ Aquamarine
- Fortitude ~ St. Joan of Arc ~ Opal
- Piety ~ St. Therese of Lisieux ~ Amethyst
- Fear of the Lord ~ St. Maria Goretti ~ Sapphire
Little Flowers Tea Party 2013:
- Little Flowers Girls’ Club Tea Party Games (round up post from past years)
- Little Flowers “Maypole” Tea Party Favors and Prizes
- Beginning with Bocce Ball {and a few Group Photos!}
- The Game of Graces
- The Maypole and our Beautiful Catholic Faith
- Indoor Tea Party Games
- Our Annual Little Flowers Mother-Daughter Tea Party – 2013
Little Flowers Girls’ and Blue Knights Boys’ Clubs
(Link-Ups for all those participating in our “Online” groups and any other groups that would like to share pictures from their meetings)
- Shower of Roses Online Little Flowers Girls’ Club
- Little Flowers and Blue Knights Registration Forms & Link-up Schedule
*Please do not repost my pictures. You are, of course, welcome to link directly to any of my posts, and print out the images of my notebook pages for reference. Thank you!
0 Comments