My little Snuggle Bug…
and actually WALKING in them!
(These pictures were taken New Year’e Eve, just before heading to Rascal’s Godparents home for our annual New Year’s Eve Party.)
Seven Quick Takes: Last Sunday 12-28-2008
Twinkle Toes learned how to bowl this past Sunday! She was so fun to watch.
Bowling was fun, but I tell ya, Bowling Buddies on Facebook is so much easier! Even my kids beat my score the first game… I did better the second time, but boy was I sore for a few days!
After bowling we headed “over the river and through the woods” to celebrate Christmas once again with my family. Mom baked a ham and we exchanged gifts.
My parents gave me each of the children darling Gymboree sweaters. (You can’t beat their awesome sale right now:$15 sweaters! The kids were given this, this, this, this, and this one.) Thank you Grandpa & Grandma!
I love watching my daddy read to my kiddos.
And watching him dance with Twinkle Toes is even sweeter.
My brother David (pictured on the left) is awesome at The Settlers of Catan
Thanks Jen for making it easy to share our day with “Seven Quick Takes“! Be sure to head over to her blog to see others!
12 Days of Christmas Lap Book
This past week, Twinkle Toes has been singing The Twelve Days of Christmas ever since she was given a bookmark on our way out of Mass on Christmas Day. She was thrilled when I asked her if she wanted to make a 12 Days of Christmas Lapbook and learn the symbolism behind the words of this song.
Catholics in England during the period 1558 to 1829 were prohibited by law to practice their faith either in public or private. It was illegal to be Catholic until Parliament finally emancipated Catholics in England in 1829.
“The Twelve Days of Christmas” was written in England as one of the “catechism songs” to help young Catholics learn the basics of their faith. In short, it was a coded-message, a memory aid. Since the song sounded like rhyming nonsense, young Catholics could sing the song without fear of imprisonment. The authorities would not know that it was a religious song.
“The 12 Days of Christmas” is in a sense an allegory. Each of the items in the song represents something significant to the teachings of the Catholic faith. The hidden meaning of each gift was designed to help Catholic children learn their faith. The better acquainted one is with the Bible, the more these interpretations have significance. Source
Whether or not the above is true, I love anything that helps teach my children their catechism! 🙂
I wanted to point out, that although I got the directions and mini-books for this lapbook from Homeschool Share, they DID NEED TO BE MODIFIED. I’ll include the links to all the pdf files in this post, as well as any modifications needed to correct the errors, in case any of you plan to make one as well. Next year I will probably purchase this Catholic version for the boys.
We read The Twelve Days of Christmas by Jan Brett
Next, we started with all the information about the song, and placed it inside our first file folder.
On the left is the Song Layer book which includes all the words to the song. In the middle there are 12 Matchbooks. Each Matchbook shows an item from the song and inside what Biblical item it represents. On the left there is a simple fold book with the origins of the song.
The partridge in a pear tree is Christ Jesus upon the Cross In the song, Christ is symbolically presented as a mother partridge because she would feign injury to decoy a predator away from her nestlings. She was even willing to die for them. The tree is the symbol of the fall of the human race through the sin of Adam and Eve. It is also the symbol of its redemption by Jesus Christ on the tree of the Cross.
The two Turtle Doves refer to the 2 parts of the Bible, the Old and New Testaments. (For this we have a God’s Word Three Circle book, a Bible Flap Book (this needs to be corrected to: 46 Books in the Old Testament), and Old and New Testament Pockets with Old Testament and New Testament Flash cards printed on cardstock.) NOTE: I added flashcards for the seven books of the bible that the Protestants erroneously reject: Wisdom, Tobit, Sirach, Judith, 1st Maccabees, 2nd Maccabees, and Baruch.
The “three French hens” stand for faith, hope and love—the three gifts of the Spirit that abide (1 Corinthians 13). It can also remind us of the three gifts that the Christ Child received from the Magi as well.
The “four calling birds” refers to the four evangelists who wrote the Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke and John—which sing the song of salvation through Jesus Christ. We used this simple petal book, but you could also use this tab book.
The “five golden rings” represents the first five books of the Bible, also called the Jewish Torah: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.
The “six geese a laying” represent the Six days of creation. This was our first time making a flag book. It was a bit tricky, but these instructions really helped. What didn’t help is when we took a break and came back to find it cut to pieces by a little sister who “wanted to help!” After the book was made, we drew in pictures for each day: Day 1) “Let there be light.” Day 2) God created the firmament, the sky and the clouds. Day 3) God separated the waters of the earth from the land. He also made the grasses, flowers, trees, and fruit. Day 4) God made the sun and the moon and the stars. Day 5) God created the fishes and the birds. Day 6) God created animals and man.
The “seven swans a-swimming” refers to the Seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. NOTE: Instead of using the names provided at the previous link, we used: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord. The “seven swans a-swimming” can also refer to the Seven Sacraments!! I think we may go back and a mini book of these to the lap book too!
On the left flap Twinkle Toes wanted to glue in a couple of her bookmarks. This would have been a great spot to add the Seven Sacraments.
The “eight maids a milking” reminded children of the eight beatitudes listed in the Sermon on the Mount.
The “nine ladies dancing” were the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. We used the accordion book, but you can also use this Sentence Strip Book. Also, it is hard to keep accordion books closed, so we glued in a ribbon behind it so we could tie it shut.
The “ten lords a-leaping” represents the Ten Commandments. NOTE: YIKES!!! I did use this template for Ten Commandments, however, I JUST used the first page, and wrote in the CORRECT 10 Commandments.
The “eleven pipers piping” refer to the eleven faithful apostles. For this we used this pocketbook, and printed out the Apostle Cards: Set 1, 2, and 3 (removing Judas Iscariot).
The ‘twelve drummers drumming” are the twelve points of belief expressed in the Apostles’ Creed.
Didn’t she do a great job?!?
There is SO much information in this lapbook!! I love it!! I am sure we will be referring back to it often as she works on memorizing some of these things.
Best wishes for a…
…Blessed and
Happy New Year!
Look not mournfully into the past. It comes not back again. Wisely improve the present. It is thine. Go forth to meet the shadowy future, without fear, and with a manly heart.
~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
O sacred and adorable Trinity, hear our prayers on behalf of our holy Father the Pope, our Bishops, our clergy, and for all that are in authority over us. Bless, we beseech Thee, during the coming year, the whole Catholic Church; convert heretics and unbelievers; soften the hearts of sinners so that they may return to Thy friendship; give prosperity to our country and peace among the nations of the world; pour down Thy blessings upon our friends, relatives, and acquaintances, and upon our enemies, if we have any; assist the poor and the sick; have pity on the souls of those whom this year has taken from us; and do Thou be merciful to those who during the coming year will be summoned before Thy judgment seat. May all our actions be preceded by Thy inspirations and carried on by Thy assistance, so that all our prayers and works, having been begun in Thee, may likewise be ended through Thee. Amen.
I just failed…
Our Christmas 2008: Home Tour
This post is for Faith & Family’s Christmas Home Tour.
We don’t have a ton of decorations, but those we do have are meaningful and special to us. So, here are a few pictures of what you would find if you happened to visit our home during the Advent and Christmas season.
“The candle in the window, still a favorite traditional Irish Christmas decoration, it harkens back to that ancient Christmas Eve, when Mary and Joseph could find no shelter. It is a symbol of Irish hospitality, their way of welcoming Mary and Joseph…and any travelers who might happen to pass by looking for a warm place to stay.
In the days when it was illegal (and dangerous) to practice the Catholic faith in Ireland because of the oppressive Penal Laws, the candle in the window of Irish homes at Christmas also signaled traveling priests that this was a home where they would be welcome and where they could safely conduct the traditional Irish Catholic Christmas Mass.” Source
(I was so excited to have a few new additions this year from new blogger friends!!)
I just added a few more cards this morning, and the door is just about full!
Last year I also had some pretty Angle Candle holders that spelled out the word “JOY” on the mantle. I loved them! ! Anyhow, one day I was sitting on the couch reading and looked up and saw “YO”… WHAT?!?! I couldn’t help but laugh!! I guess the J fell and was shattered by the bricks. {sigh} Oh well! Next year I am going to try and paint some wooden letters, like lots of other Catholic families have done, for our mantle: PREPARE for Advent and REJOICE for Christmas.
The beginnings of our Christmas Morning Brunch!
(Included Mimosa’s and Cherry Cheese Coffee Cake! Yum!!)
I’m going to stop there, I’ve been on the computer long enough! I have some more fudge for tonight’s New Year’s Eve Party (at Rascal’s Godparents) and a few other things to get done.
For more of this years Christmas photos, see my Christmas Eve and Christmas Day posts.
Our Christmas 2008: Christmas Day
“Just look, till after Mass!”
Right before Mass Twinkle Toes leaned over and asked, “Momma, how can Baby Jesus be born again every Christmas?!” Too cute!
Chiquita loved her new handmade hat, and SO did Snuggles. He kept trying to take it from her!!
After brunch, it was time for presents!
Rascal was thrilled with his GI’s from Captain.
The boys were both excited to give daddy a game
Snuggles loved his new balls, but what he hasn’t put down is the little toy phone the boys picked out for him!
(Hum… starting to look like I should just let Captain do the shopping from now on!!)
Look at that smile!! He has been wanting this game
The boys were thrilled with all their new Playmobil.
(Oh, and in the left photo, you can see the girls in their new dress up!)
Moving on to the girls, they really liked the new felt food that I made them: Chocolate Bars, Goldfish, Sugar Cookies, and Bow Tie Pasta with sauce. My favorite was the Bow Tie Pasta, but Twinkle Toes loved the heart shaped cookie!
Speaking of homemade, the girls were thrilled with their new wooden dollies. Twinkle Toes said, “oooohhhhh!! They are SO CUTE!!” And you should have heard their squeals when they opened their dollhouse!
Can you tell that the dollhouse/castle
this year ever? I had to run and grab a couple of our Wooden Saints to see how they liked it too!
They fit perfectly!!!!!!! I’ve already added the matching furniture
So, what was your favorite gift this year?
Thank you…
On the 5th day of Christmas…
(I am pretty sure that most of them were partially used already, but still! We haven’t even finished it yet!!)
Hope you are all enjoying your 12 days of Christmas!!
St. John’s Day
Today was the feast of St. John the Apostle. St. John was one of the sons of Zebedee, or “sons of thunder,” and the apostle “whom Jesus loved.”
Since St. John is often symbolized with an eagle, we made an Eagle Cake for dessert. It was super easy and so much fun to make. My children loved it!
God our Father, you have revealed the mysteries of your Word through John the apostle. By prayer and reflection may we come to understand the wisdom he taught. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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