Dear St. Anthony
St. Anthony’s Sermon to the Fishes
Saint Anthony at church
Was left in the lurch,
So he went to the ditches
And preached to the fishes.
They wriggled their tails,
In the sun glanced their scales.
The carps, with their spawn,
Are all thither drawn;
Have opened their jaws,
Eager for each clause.
No sermon beside
Had the carps so edified.
Sharp-snouted pikes,
Who keep fighting like tikes,
Now swam up harmonious
To hear Saint Antonius.
No sermon beside
Had the pikes so edified.
And that very odd fish,
Who loves fast-days, the cod-fish,
The stock-fish, I mean,
At the sermon was seen.
No sermon beside
Had the cods so edified.
Good eels and sturgeon,
Which aldermen gorge on,
Went out of their way
To hear preaching that day.
No sermon beside
Had the eels so edified.
Crabs and turtles also,
Who always move low,
Made haste from the bottom
As if the devil had got ’em.
No sermon beside
The crabs so edified.
Fish great and fish small,
Lords, lackeys, and all,
Each looked at the preacher
Like a reasonable creature.
At God’s word,
They Anthony heard.
The sermon now ended,
Each turned and descended;
The pikes went on stealing,
The eels went on eeling.
Much delighted were they,
But preferred the old way.
The crabs are backsliders,
The stock-fish thick-siders,
The carps are sharp-set,
All the sermon forget.
Much delighted were they,
But preferred the old way.
.: ST. ANTHONY’S SERMON TO THE FISHES :.
by Abraham a Sancta-Clara (Augustinian monk, 1607–1680)
Source: Public Domain Poetry
I’m planning to read this poem to the children this afternoon… and serve cupcakes!
Wild One Birthday Cake
We are celebrating our little one’s first birthday today! I only have a few minutes before our guests begin to arrive, but I wanted to share her birthday cake real quick. It turned out so cute!
Here’s what I used:
- Trader Joe’s Party Cake (I also picked up a Strawberry Cheesecake and baked GF cupcakes.)
- Ostheimer’s Baby Forest Animals (So many options! I used the Roe Fawn Head High, Fox Small Sitting, Rabbit Small Classic, Bear Small Sitting, Wolf Small Playing, Hedgehog Small. You can find a set of most of them over at Nova Natural or individually at The Wooden Wagon. Watch for coupon codes and sales.)
- Scrapbook Paper, Scissors, Glue Stick (to make tiny little party hats for the baby animals)
- Pearl Beads and Tiny Pompoms (I used a dab of hot glue to add these to a few of the hats.)
- Wild One Cupcake Topper
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| Crafting tiny little party hats for all the forest babies… |
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| I ended up making a little crown for the baby bear. |
It’s been a long time since I’ve used my Cricut but I pulled it out to make a highchair banner and food labels. I’m sure I’ll be back with the rest of the pictures soon. First birthdays are so much fun!
{this moment}
Our baby girl… Oh, how I love her! When she wakes up (probably in an hour or so, since that’s about as long as she will sleep at a time) she will be a year old… What a year it has been!
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| She still smiles when she sleeps ❤ |
Front Porch Bird Watching :: House Finch Nest
- Clutch Size: 2-6 eggs
- Number of Broods: 1-6 broods
- Egg Length: 0.6-0.8 in
- Egg Width: 0.5-0.6 in
- Incubation Period: 13-14 days
- Nestling Period: 12-19 days
- Egg Description: Pale blue to white, speckled with fine black and pale purple.
- Condition at Hatching: Naked except for sparse white down along feather tracts, eyes closed, clumsy.
You can’t see the fourth fledgling in this picture either, but at this point all four were still in the nest.
9:27 AM: We quietly cracked open the front door to get a better look as the first baby house finch got ready to try out his wings! I looked down for two seconds to switch my camera to video… and he took off!
10:03 AM: Bird #2 is ready to leave the nest.
11:29 AM – Baby #4 didn’t like being left behind all by himself and quickly followed!
Our 2017-2018 Curriculum
This year I’ve been home educating seven of our eight children. We have two 11th graders, a 9th grader, 7th grader, 5th grader, 2nd grader and a Kindergartner … plus a new baby!
Last year I started the school year thinking that it would most likely be our last year with a pre-schooler… Despite our plans (we had actually been charting to avoid pregnancy due to all my health issues and prior miscarriages) God had a surprise in store for us. After making it through the challenging pregnancy, thanks to all the extra prayers and graces, we started this school year with another beautiful little addition to our family. God is good!
This year has been all about survival and focusing on the necessities.
I just keep praying for grace and perseverance.
I’ve had quite a few requests to share our school plans for this year and I apologize for taking so long to finish writing this post which I started last fall. Some weeks it’s all I can do to get just get to math and reading with my little ones. It’s been nearly impossible to find “extra” time for blogging, but I’m starting to see a faint light at the end of the tunnel and I’m finally getting an opportunity to type up this year’s curriculum!
What homeschooling looks like for us has changed over the years, depending on the children’s interests, academic needs, and our family dynamics. What we are doing in our family now is not at all what it looked like years ago when all of our children were younger. I’m sure it will continue to change as some of the older children move on to college and the baby lets a little older and lets me get a little more sleep at night.
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| This year’s Back-to-School Schultütes were filled with one or two t-shirts for the new school year. |
Before listing out what each of my students has been studying, I want to share a number of things that I have been so very grateful to have for our homeschool this year:
#1 – Kolbe Academy
Our highschoolers are all working towards the Magna Cum Laude Diploma. I love the flexibility offered by Kolbe and that we can continue tailoring our curriculum to our family’s preferences and our children’s needs.
#2 – The Lukeion Project
Charlotte was the one to introduce us to Lukeion and the live classes my high schoolers have taken have all been excellent. After just completing Wheelock Latin, one of the boys will be going on to take Latin 3 Transition next year and our eldest daughter will begin Latin I after taking (and loving!) Barbarian Diagrammarian this year.
To quote Lukeion: “There are many programs now available for younger students. In our experience, however, these programs demand a lot of busy work but deliver very little in the way of learning the functional nuts-and-bolts of Classical languages. Students are not generally prepared to master these languages until they have reached the logic stage. You will accomplish much more in a fraction of the time if you wait until your student is 12 to 15 before you start formal instruction in Latin and Greek. Better still, waiting to start these logic based languages may mean your student will enjoy them more.”
I’m paying the $30 per month for access to all of their recorded classes which the kids can take at their own pace. Some favorites have been science classes with MacBeth Derham, history classes with Philip Campbell, theology and history classes with Christopher Zehnder (he’s the author of the history books we use), and some of Joseph Pearce’s literature classes. My high schoolers can’t get the “Kolbe designation” on the non-Kolbe courses, but they still qualify for high school credit (the high school level courses do anyway, with pre-approval from Kolbe) and they have worked well for us!
#4 – Taylor Science
We opted out of the (semi)local co-op this year for a number of reasons. We started the year using Prentice Hall Biology along with a recorded class from Homeschool Connections, but it wasn’t a good fit for us. We switched to Mrs. Taylor’s recorded online class and it has been awesome!
For this hard working student of ours we worked with a specialist to put together a 504 for accommodations including extra time on tests, audio books when available, and Vision Therapy sessions each week due to his auditory processing challenges. He has been working very hard with specialists and has made incredible progress this past year!
Theology:
Introduction to Catholicism
with Introduction to Catholicism – My Catholic Faith Delivered
The Ignatius Bible: Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition (leather bound)
English:
Student Writing Intensive Continuation Course: Level C (Year 2 of 2)
Fix It! Grammar: Little Mermaid (Book 4) with Teacher’s Manual (we split this over two years, along with their writing course, so they are completing the second half of it this year)
Phonetic Zoo, Level C (spelling is a struggle with his auditory processing challenges)
Weekly Therapy Sessions to work on and correct Vision Tracking
- Benjamin Franklin, Autobiography (audio)
- Washington Irving, Rip Van Winkle and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (audio)
- James Fenimore Cooper, The Last of the Mohicans (audio)
- Mark Twain, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (audio)
- Mark Twain, Tom Sawyer
- Nathaniel Hawthorn, The House of Seven Gables (audio)
- Herman, Melville, Moby Dick (audio)
- Earnest Hemingway, The Old Man and the Sea (audio)
Lands of Hope and Promise: A History of North America and Teacher’s Manual
with Kolbe Academy’s Course Plans & Tests
along with recorded class at Homeschool Connections
Mathematics:
Saxon Algebra 2 with Mastering Algebra John Saxon’s Way: Algebra 2 DVD Set
Saxon Algebra 2 Solutions Manual and Homeschool Testing Book
1/2 – 1 hour of tutoring each week as needed
Fine Arts:
Meet the Masters: Track F
Physical Education:
High School Soccer (Fall)
High School Golf (Spring)
**He has one year of high school latin, but still needs two more years of foreign language for the diploma he’s hoping to earn from Kolbe Academy. We’ve decided that ASL will be the best fit for him. He will either be taking two terms at the community college this upcoming school year or get started this summer on working his way through ASL Level 1 and 2 by the end of his senior year.
Theology:
Introduction to Catholicism
with Introduction to Catholicism Student Workbook
The Ignatius Bible: Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition (leather bound)
English 11:
Student Writing Intensive Continuation Course: Level C
Fix It! Grammar: Little Mermaid (Book 4) with Teacher’s Manual (we split this over two years, along with their writing course, so they are completing the second half of it this year)
- C.S. Lewis, Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, and That Hideous Strength
- C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters
- William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice
- William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet
- J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit with Joseph Pearce
- J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings with Joseph Pearce
History – American History:
Lands of Hope and Promise: A History of North America and Teacher’s Manual
with Kolbe Academy’s Course Plans & Tests
along with recorded class at Homeschool Connections
Mathematics:
Algebra III with Geometry
Saxon Advanced Math with Mastering Algebra John Saxon’s Way: Advanced Math DVD Set
Saxon Advanced Math Solutions Manual and Homeschool Testing Book
1/2 – 1 hour of tutoring each week as needed
Foreign Language:
Lukeion Latin II (live online class for the second half of Wheelock Latin)
Fine Arts:
Meet the Masters: Track F
Physical Education:
High School Basketball (Winter)
High School Golf (Spring)
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| March 12th – He’s had a busy few days! Saturday he took the SAT for the first time, yesterday he had his Latin 2b Midterm, and today it’s the National Latin Exam! #teststeststests #nationallatinexam |
Theology:
Understanding the Scriptures: A Complete Course On Bible Study
Understanding the Scriptures Student Workbook
Compact Bible
Mathematics:
Saxon Algebra 1 with Mastering Algebra John Saxon’s Way: Algebra 1 DVDs
Solutions Manual and Saxon Algebra 1 Tests and Worksheets
1/2 hour of tutoring each week as needed
Student Writing Intensive Continuation Course: Level C
Fix It! Grammar: Frog Prince, or Just Deserts (Book 3) with Teacher’s Manual (continued from last year)
Phonetic Zoo, Level C
Additional Literature for Independent Reading
English (Additional 1/2 Credit):
Barbarian Diagrammarian: Visual Grammar for the Bold and Daring (online class – second semester)
**next year she will begin Lukeion’s Latin I
Literature – Austen/Shakespeare:
First Semester:
Second Semester: (using the recorded courses at Homeschool Connections taught by Joseph Pearce)
History:
A Light to the Nations, Part I: Development of Christian Civilization
Tests from A Light to the Nations Student Workbook and Teachers Manual
She struggled with this last year so she reviewed it this year and finished the course as a Freshman, before getting a jump start on Biology for her Sophomore year.
Foreign Language:
ASL I
recorded classes at Homeschool Connections taught by Dr. Kerrie Berends
Fine Arts:
Meet the Masters: Track F
Physical Education:
High School Soccer (Fall)
High School Golf (Spring)
Chiquita :: 7th Grade
Religion:
Saint Joseph Baltimore Catechism No. 2 (with Dad)
Living For Triumph (Living My Religion Series) Book 7
Additional Reading Assignments/Saint Stories
Bible History:
(Units 1-4 this year and will continue on to units 5-8 next year)
Mathematics:
Solutions Manual and Saxon 8/7 Tests and Worksheets
Chronicles of Narnia:
Prince Caspian, Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Silver Chair, and The Last Battle
Narnia for Young Adults with Joseph Pearce
recorded class at Homeschool Connections
Course Material: The Chronicles of Narnia
Even though it’s intended for high schoolers, she LOVED this course! I plan to buy her a copy of Further Up & Further In: Understanding Narnia for Christmas.
Continuing from last year:
Fix It! Grammar: Frog Prince, or Just Deserts (Book 3) with Teacher’s Manual
Phonetic Zoo, Level B
History & Geography:
The Story of Civilization: Volume 1 The Ancient World
with Text Book, Audio, Activity Book, Test Book, Teachers Manual and Video Lectures
Maps Charts and Graphs Level G: The World
Additional Literature for Independent Reading
The Planets with MacBeth Derham (fall)
Course Material: The Planets
Introduction to Ornithology with MacBeth Derham (spring)
Course Material: Peterson Field Guide to Birds of North America
These recorded courses taught by MacBeth Derham and available through Homeschool Connections are excellent! There are up at the top of our 7th graders favorites for this school year and really ignited in her a love of science.
Meet the Masters: Track F
Snuggles :: 5th Grade
Saint Joseph Baltimore Catechism (with Dad on Sundays)
The Vine and the Branches (Highway to Heaven Series Book 5)
Supplemental Religion Books and Saint Stories from Our Monthly Book Baskets
Mathematics:
Saxon 6/5 with Saxon Teacher 6/5 CDs
Solutions Manual and Saxon 6/5 Tests and Worksheets
Language Arts:
Student Writing Intensive, Level A (continued)
Phonetic Zoo, completed Level A and started Level B
Fix It! Grammar: The Nose Tree (Book 1) and Teacher’s Manual (completing over two years)
Handwriting for Young Catholics
History:
The Story of Civilization: Volume 1 The Ancient World
Additional Literature for Independent Reading, various Audio Books, and Family Read-Alouds.
Physical Education:
*like the older boys, we had to take a break from Hockey due to the cost
Rose :: 2nd Grade
St. Joseph First Communion Catechism (with Dad on Sundays)
The Life of My Savior (Highway to Heaven Series Book 2)
Saint Stories from Our Monthly Book Baskets
Additional Supplemental Religion & First Sacraments Books
(see last year’s post for some of the catechism resources we use in our home)
Mathematics:
Math Mammoth- Little Blue Series 1-3
Language Arts:
Primary Arts of Language: Writing and Reading
All About Spelling
Handwriting 2 for Young Catholics
Supplemental Readers and Additional Literature
Bud :: Kindergarten
St. Joseph First Communion Catechism (with Dad on Sundays)
The Book of the Holy Child (Highway to Heaven Series Book 1)
Saint Stories from Our Monthly Book Baskets
Additional Supplemental Religion & First Sacraments Books
(the following pictures show some of the catechism resources we use in our home)
Mathematics:
Math Mammoth- Little Blue Series 1-3
Language Arts:
Primary Arts of Language: Writing and Reading
All About Spelling Level 1
Handwriting K for Young Catholics
Supplemental Readers and Additional Literature
plus additional Arts & Crafts projects throughout the year
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| May 26, 2018: Bribing myself with a mug of Slightly Sweet Chai Tea and slowly making progress on pulling together all the graded samples and end of year reports for my three high school students. #kolbeacademyhomeschool #endoftheschoolyear #soreadyforsummer #trustinGod #dothenextthing |
10th Anniversary of Ordination & First Mass
Happy 10th Anniversary to Father Dennis Gordon, FSSP!
It’s hard to believe it has been ten years today since we made that last long road trip to attend his ordination on May 30, 2008.
Tomorrow it will have been ten years since our oldest son received his First Holy Communion from his Uncle/Godfather at his Godfather’s very first Mass and Sean and I were *Almost* Excommunicated… Time sure is passing quickly!
We had hoped to travel up to Father’s parish (St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church!) up in Idaho this week but it didn’t work out. Instead we are praying extra for him today and one of the girls baked another French Vanilla Fleur De Lis Cake for dessert.
Would you please take a moment to offer a prayer for Father Gordon and for all priests? The following prayer for priests was written by St. Therese:
O Jesus, eternal Priest, keep your priests within the shelter of Your Sacred Heart, where none may touch them. Keep unstained their anointed hands, which daily touch Your Sacred Body. Keep unsullied their lips, daily purpled with your Precious Blood. Keep pure and unearthly their hearts, sealed with the sublime mark of the priesthood. Let Your holy love surround them and shield them from the world’s contagion. Bless their labors with abundant fruit and may the souls to whom they minister be their joy and consolation here and in heaven their beautiful and everlasting crown. Amen.
Paper Dolls on the Feast of Saint Joan of Arc
Another Quick and Easy Golf Cake
We invited the golf team, coaches, and their families over for a post-season BBQ this past weekend so naturally we had to make another golf cake and cupcakes and served them with mint chocolate chip ice cream. ⛳️
2018 State High School Golf Championships
I finally had a chance to share pictures from both the girls’ regional championship and the boys’ regional championship where they qualified for state. For Mother’s Day our family ended up getting to go on a last minute road trip to watch the boys complete in the State Championship for the first time! The last (and only times) our local high school made it to state was back when my youngest brothers were on the team. I actually took the boys to watch their uncles last high school state championship in 2013.
Sean and I were standing right there, along with our boys’ coach, and overheard the marshall tell the boys to move to the red tees from where they were setting up at the blue. I still can’t believe he flat out lied about it when asked…
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