End-of-School Interviews for 2013-2014
Summer Daybook :: August 12, 2014
Outside my window…
I ignored my never ending to-do list yesterday, took the children to the library to turn in their summer reading check lists, and then headed out to my parents home for the day!
My mom made lunch for all of us and the kids had so much fun visiting with their Uncle David and Uncle Kevin, who will both be headed back to college soon.
I am thinking…
about blog nicknames, and how necessary it is to keep using them here at Shower of Roses. When I first started blogging over seven years ago, back in 2007, I was pregnant with our fifth child and our oldest was still only six years old! There weren’t very many other Catholic bloggers and using nicknames was common. At the time using nicknames made my husband and I more comfortable with sharing our family online even though I’ve dropped little hints over the years. It doesn’t seem nearly as necessary any longer and my husband has given me permission to use their names… but I’m still thinking about it. 🙂
I am thankful…
that my husband arrived home safely last Tuesday night! However, even though he is back in town, we haven’t gotten to see him very much. He worked at the office on Wednesday and Thursday and then, following some meetings on Friday morning, has been working on an engine since. Last night he didn’t get home until after 11pm and was gone again around 6:30am this morning. Despite the extra challenges, we are thankful for the overtime too! It is always such a blessing each fire season.
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| August 5, 2014: “Daddy’s Home!” |
Our little “Rose” ran and jumped into his arms when he walked in last Tuesday night, after being at fire camp for the previous 10 days. The kids were also excited to see what sort of lunch leftovers he had for them this time!
Learning all the time…
The children are all enjoying their summer break and we won’t be starting our new school year until after Labor Day! Nevertheless, we have been working on some math lessons to get a jump start on the year and hopefully give us some flexibility to go on a family vacation in the fall. Our summer days have also been filled with great books and art projects. I love how they truly are “learning all the time.”
With Sean still working on fires (currently on an engine locally) and fighting this head cold, I COMPLETELY forgot that the boys were suppose to serve Mass on Sunday morning. (It probably would have been a good idea to write it down in my planner.) I woke up thinking we’d go to an afternoon Mass but remembered at 10:20 that it was the annual St. Anthony Festa! Oh, NO!!! I sent a friend a text msg to see if it was at 10:30 or 11:00, grabbed some Mass clothes for myself and the little ones plus the boys’ cassocks and surplices, and loaded the car with all seven kids. We left the house at 10:35 to drive to the fairgrounds (we usually allow 30 minutes) and the boys miraculously arrived at 10:55, five minutes before Mass, to find to rosary just ending and Father waiting… Whew, that was way too close! (And thank you Guardian Angles!) On another note, I realized during Mass that the last time we saw Father Carmelo was when he met us at the cemetery in June to bury our little Anthony, who I miscarried on the feast of St. Anthony this year. What a morning… I think it might take me all week to recover!
From the kitchen…
On Saturday morning my mom picked me up and we headed to the local Growers Market. I came home with lots of freshly picked produce to help us get over the colds we have been fighting since last week. I think I’m actually getting over this one without it turning into secondary infections, for the first time in over a year!
I am working on…
stopping what I’m doing to play with the children. After watching The Perfect Game recently they have all started playing baseball together each afternoon and I’ve been joining the fun!
(I actually ordered the Blu-Ray version of The Perfect Game, but it’s also currently available for Free Streaming with Prime!)
I am creating…
a list of the books that are on the girls’ bookshelf for those who have asked. I’ll try and post it soon!
I am going…
to the dentist this afternoon for a filling… no fun.
I am hoping…
to come up with some plans for our oldest daughter’s birthday at the end of the month! Where has the summer gone?! I really need to find the reset button… With our miscarriage at the beginning of summer, and everything that has followed, it has gone by so quickly and I’m just not ready for school to start again in a couple weeks.
I am praying…
for my husband’s safety, and for the safety of all our firefighters. We are also praying for a special intention for our family, and that God will make His will clear to us. (And for so many other intentions including all the Christians in Iraq…)
I am reading…
lots of picture books to the little ones. Yesterday was the last day to turn in the summer reading lists and book reports at our local library, and I woke up to find the boys sitting outside working on their reports on The Hobbit (Audiobook with Tolkien Dictionary) and Shadow in the Dark.
Pondering these words…
from St. Jane Frances de Chantal:
I am listening…
to this little guy pretending to be Johnny Cash with his sister’s “Sound of Music” guitar.
Around the house…
LEGO! I couldn’t resist grabbing my camera the other day after walking by the boys’ bedroom and seeing an ent hanging from the side of one of the houses in their LEGO town! I really need to share pictures of some of the boys’ creations.
One of my favorite things…
the wi-fi function on my camera! I finally figured out how to enable the wifi and transfer a photo from my camera directly to my iPhone using the EOS Remote app. I ❤ this feature!
This week’s plans…
We have a camping trip with friends coming up and I am praying that I can still pull it off without Sean’s help. Please say a little prayer for me!
A little peek at my day…
My youngest brothers pulled out there Slow Stick Airplanes yesterday to show their nieces and nephews, then played a game of Frisbee Golf before the smoky skies started getting worse and it was time for us to go home. It was such a fun day!
Gail Girón Design {Sponsored Giveaway}
I have another giveaway for you all today! In addition to creating beautiful rosaries and jewelry, Gail Girón Design recently started designing magnets as well! Every item in Gail’s Etsy Shop is handmade and ready to ship. You can also contact her directly to request a custom order.
Gail is offering to give away three of her inspiring magnets featuring St. Michael, Pope St. John Paul II, and St. Therese of Lisieux! Three winners will be chosen, one for each magnet. The giveaway will be open through August 14th, and the winners will be chosen, contacted by email, and announced here in this post on August 15th, the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary!
The Big Girls’ Bedroom {and How We Organize Their American Girl Dolls and Clothes}
“Buttercream is a soft yellow with just enough pink to give it a rosy glow without turning peach. It is a mental, intellectual color promoting creativity, logic and organization. Reminiscent of sunshine, it also encourages hope and optimism.”
The girls dresser is one that I was given. I had it painted and the knobs replaced by the same lady who painted my dining room hutch. The “Thank Heaven for Little Girls” sign reminds me of my Grandmother, who would always sing that song to me as a child, and was purchased from a local boutique when the girls were younger.
Twinkle Toes keeps her American Girl Dolls on top of the dresser along with her doll cradle.
Chiquita keeps her dolls, along with Kaya’s Animals and Josefina’s bed, on top of the short bookcase in between the foot of their bunk bed and the bedroom door.
When I had to give up our little school room to the younger boys last summer (sniff, sniff . . . I’m still recovering from the loss and struggling to find new homes for everything), I moved two of the newer white bookcases to the big girls’ bedroom. The taller bookshelf is filled with quite a few books from my childhood, as well as some of the girls own favorites. The bottom shelf has Magazine Files for all of their Lap Books (both completed and in-progress) as well as three-ring binders that contain their individual Holy Card Collections.
We usually hang a crucifix above each bed, but the girls’ crucifixes are still hanging above the beds in their old room. Using a couple holes that were already in the wall, I “temporarily” hung a crucifix and our Our Lady of Mount Carmel picture (also from the school room) last summer.
The smaller bookshelf was transformed into their American Girl Clothes Closet and Bookshelf!
Last year I ordered some tiny wooden hangers at the suggestion of a friend (Thank you, Aimee!) and they are just darling!
I ordered a mix of the standard Doll Clothes Hangers and some Doll Clothes Hangers with Clips.
Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this little tour of their bedroom. Now I have proof that it was actually clean for a couple days! Time to move on and see if we can tackle another room or two in this house before our school year begins. . .
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 which I still need to blog about!) they asked if they could try painting the pictures. After a couple late nights and extra early mornings, the girls were able to complete their paintings before their Daddy and older brothers arrived home from summer camp on July 19th. I had no idea that a paint-by-number could turn out so nicely, or that our little artists would enjoy them so much!
Looking Down…
… 110 feet, from the top of a lookout tower. Apparently it doesn’t look like there is much work left to do (at least at the fire complex where my husband has been working – we have smoky skies here at home) and he will be heading home tomorrow!
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| Fire Lookout Tower – Built in 1944 |
St. Michael Cap {Sponsored Giveaway}
Defend us in battle! It’s a prayer and devotion to a very special saint that invigorates souls with that holy fervor for defending the Truth and choosing the Light. Catholic Embroidery’s newest design and ball cap brings the fervor to the field! The St. Michael Sword symbol contains the sword and flames of St. Michael, scales of justice in the hilt, and the Angelic saint’s famous ejaculation, “Quis ut Deus” (Who is like unto God?) in bright white lettering. Available in adult and child sizes.
Adult Cap: High quality 6 panel structured black cap with red sandwich bill and buckle closure. 100% brushed cotton
Child Cap: 6 panel unstructured cap with buckle closure. 100% cotton
Catholic Embroidery is pleased to offer 1 cap to a lucky reader of Shower of Roses in their choice of adult or child size.
And to make sure that everyone has a chance to be a winner and bring St. Michael’s symbol into their home, we’re giving away a FREE St. Michael Handkerchief with every St. Michael Cap order. Just mention “Quis ut Deus” in the note box at checkout to claim this FREE handkerchief!
4th Annual Online Curriculum Sale Blog Hop {August 1-7, 2014}
- Create a blog post with your gently used curriculum (and any other books/items) that you’d like to sell or pass on to another family, with pictures if possible.
- Add a link to your post, referring back to this post, so that others can find the link up.
- Using the linky below, enter the direct link to your post.
- Out of consideration for everyone participating in the Curriculum Sale Blog Hop, please only request items that you intend to purchase and are able to submit payment for promptly, preferably within 24 hours, unless prior arrangements have been made with the person selling the books.
- Sellers please update your posts with “sale pending” or “sold” when possible.
- Purchasers, if you request books from a seller, please don’t leave them hanging and respond to their confirmation email within a reasonable amount of time. If the seller doesn’t hear back from you within 24 hours they may decide to remove the “sale pending” and make the books you requested available to others.
- The linky will remain open from August 1-7, 2014, so be sure to check back for new links! I’ve added a button to the right sidebar of the blog so this post can be found easily.
Our 2014 Used Book Sale {August 1-7, 2014}
It’s time for the 4th Annual Online Curriculum Sale Blog Hop! You can find all the details, browse books for sale on other blogs, or add a link to your own post here.
Most of the books in this post were left over from the last book sale in May. I’ve reduced the prices and added some new books as well. I really don’t have that much to sell this time, but I may be back later to add some more if I get a chance to go through the bookshelves in the bedrooms.
If you are interested in purchasing any of the items in this post, please leave a comment listing the books you would like, along with your email address. (The email address box is now part of the comment form here at Shower of Roses and it won’t be displayed publicly.) I will send you a private email with your total, including shipping, along with my Paypal address.
Shipping will be a flat rate of $4.00 for 1-3 items (if they will fit in a padded envelope) and $7.00 for a box of any size, to help cover the cost of packaging and media rate postage in the United States.
Out of consideration for myself and everyone else participating in the Curriculum Sale Blog Hop, please only request items that you intend to purchase and are able to submit payment for promptly, preferably within 24 hours, unless other arrangements have been made.
Thank you! Note: Most links are affiliate links.
Saxon Math 7/6 ISBN 1565775074, $10.00 (Previous school textbooks, with wear to covers, fourth edition and nearly identical to the Saxon 7/6: Homeschool Edition. Last year my two oldest boys used 7/6 together with tutors, one the hardcover and one the softcover.)
Asking $10 each (3 1 available at $10)
We Follow Jesus: Image of God Series 4, very good, some wear to cover $1.00 (sold)
Jesus our Guide Activity Book (not pictured) ISBN 9780898708974 Revised Edition, $4.00 (sold)
Alpha-Phonics: A Primer for Beginning Readers (Very Good Condition) and Alpha-Phonics Companion Workbook (Like New) – Purchase the set for $15.00 (sold)
To Grow By Storybook Readers Series A, Books 1-9 plus Activity Book, $20.00 for set OBO(for use with Play n’ Talk or as reinforcement of any reading program) (sold)
To Grow By Storybook Readers Series B, Books 10-18 plus Activity Book, $20.00 for set OBO(for use with Play n’ Talk or as reinforcement of any reading program) (sold)
The Universe in my Hands with Dividers, Asking $20.00 OBO
Humility of Heart, older version of this, binding loose on one end, FREE for postage
Purgatory Explained, $1.00 (sold)
Christs Appeal for Love, $1.00
The Saints Show Us Christ, paperback, shelf wear, $2.50
The Last Things, paperback, $2.50
A Man for All Seasons: A Play in Two Acts, $2.50
St. Margaret Clitherow – “The Pearl of York”, $2.00 (sold)
The Divine Life of the Most Holy Virgin, $5.00
Mom to Mom, Day to Day, like new, $3.00 (sold)
All About the Angels, $2.00 (sold)
A Pilgrim’s Journey: The Autobiography of St. Ignatius of Loyola, $4.00 (sold)
Dollfuss: An Austrian Patriot, $5.00
Secrets of the Eucharist, $1.00 (sld)
How Christ Changed the World, highlighting throughout, FREE for postage
Angels (and Demons): What do we really know about them? $2.00 (sold)
The Angels: The Catholic Teaching on the Angels, $2.00 (sold)
Christ and His Sacraments, 1958, ex-library, binding cracking, wear to cover with age, $2.00 (sold)
A Short Life of Christ, 1952, $5.00
The Black Arrow, $2.00
The West Point Story, copyright 1956, ex-library, $2.00 (sold)
Pampered Chef Cookbooks/Recipes: Classics; Light & Simple; Great Grilling; Soups, Stews & Chilis – $3.00 for all four (sold)
Christmas Drinks, $1.00 (sold)
Sponsor Love: Quarterly Update & Current Specials
Today I have the pleasure of introducing you to all of my new (and returning!) sponsors here at Shower of Roses. The new school year is right around the corner and many of my sponsors are offering some great back to school specials! You can find the links and coupon codes listed below.
Please welcome my new sponsors by visiting their websites:
Ave Maria University
About one-third of students at Ave Maria University were homeschooled all the way through high school. In fact, many of our most successful students come from a home education background. Homeschool students love Ave Maria because they find the rigor of academics challenging, engaging, and truly useful. Parents appreciate that the moral climate on our campus respects and supports the values which they have instilled at home. Our pro-family culture is welcoming, and it’s not uncommon for siblings to attend university side by side or one after another. We are proudly Catholic, rooted in our faith, and open to engagement with the world. We believe very strongly that students must grow virtue in freedom and our job is to create an environment that encourages the flourishing of faith and a spiritual, emotional and social maturity that will last a lifetime.
Christ 101
The Christ 101 program is the first complete, full-blown, semester long, multimedia course specifically made to address the problem of using reason and evidence to establish the truth of Christianity. Made by a homeschooler with other homeschoolers in mind, Christ 101 helps teens and adults intelligently articulate a reasonable defense of Christianity in opposition to skeptics and atheists. The course comes with 28 video lessons and a manual, and teaches students things like why religion is important, what faith really is, how there can be a true religion, why the Gospels should be taken as historically reliable, why there are good reasons to think Jesus was in fact the divine being he claimed to be, and why an act of Christian faith is, at the end of the day, more rational than to not believe. Combining entertaining video lessons and helpful graphics with academically solid information, Christ 101 is the perfect choice for parents who want to make sure the faith of their children is as solid as it can be.
Harvey House Publishing
The mission of Harvey House Publishing is to provide exceptional reading for children that celebrates the Catholic Faith, modesty, the gift of life, and a wholesome childhood. All reading material is faithful to the teachings of the Catholic Church.The pre-teen/early teen novel, The Gate, won first place for Best Novel at the Catholic Press Association Book Awards in June. The Gate is Nancy Carabio Belanger’s latest and third award-winning novel for Catholic ‘tweens. The Gate tells the story of a struggling thirteen-year-old boy who discovers God’s calling for him and his life as a young Catholic. The novel also celebrates the dignity of the priesthood. The Gate has been endorsed by Fr. Brett Brannen of the Archdiocese of Savannah, GA, author of To Save a Thousand Souls: A Guide to Discerning a Vocation to Diocesan Priesthood.
Nancy is also the author of Olivia and the Little Way and its pro-life sequel, Olivia’s Gift. Since 2008, she has been visiting Catholic schools, homeschooling groups, and book clubs to talk about writing, the lives of the saints, and to encourage children not only to live their Catholic faith to the fullest, but to love and cherish it, too. Free discussion guides are available for all three books.
Behold Publications, LLC
Behold Publications, LLC is more than just a publisher! Family owned and operated since its founding in 1999, we have developed great Catholic clubs like the Little Flowers Girls’ Club and Blue Knights Catholic Boys’ Clubs for Catholic girls and boys ages 5 and up. What makes these clubs unique is that they are at their core faithfully Catholic. We don’t “tack on” Catholic identity as other clubs might, but begin and end with a Catholic world view. We also believe that local clubs best operate the way they see fit, so there is no national organization, policies, registration or dues. Groups can easily adjust the program to fit their local needs. Behold Publications also produce a line of historical fiction based on American history and American saints for ages 7-15.
Please visit my returning sponsors:
Holy Heroes offers great back-to-school resources, such as our Life of Jesus (Rosary) Coloring books, Glory Stories, and DIY VBS!
Prayer Pillowcases offers such beautiful products! Our children love all their Prayer Pillowcases and you can see our teenage son heading home from summer camp with his here.
Catholic Embroidery is now offering a new line of rosaries handmade by a Benedictine Monk! They are pleased to carry three styles and are offering them as sets too, with our embroidered rosary cases including the beautiful Divine Mercy Rosary/Chaplet with the matching Divine Mercy Tapestry Pouch. Coupon Code: MONK in the checkout coupon box will give FREE SHIPPING to all orders $25 or more until August 2nd.
Mama’s Notebooks is offering 10% OFF ALL PRODUCTS for the Month of August!
Jesse Tree Treasures creates beautiful handcrafted gifts for the liturgical seasons. Now is a perfect time to order a Custom Set of Jesse Tree Ornaments to use with your family this upcoming Advent!
Gail Giron Designs is currently away at a trade show until August 3rd, but she’ll be open again soon and will be listing many lovely new items in her shop!
Catholic Child is the perfect place to find inspiring gifts for Catholic youth – from toddlers to teens!
Holy Heroes is currently offering a free copy of Glory Stories CD vol 1: The Story of Blessed Imelda Lambertini & The Story of St. Juan Diego. You can order the FREE CD here.
Sacred Heart Books & Gifts is offering one more round of FREE SHIPPING before the school year starts! All orders totaling $40.00 or more placed between Friday, August 1st, and Monday, August 4th, will not be charged a shipping fee with coupon code JMJ595.
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Holy Learning knows that August and the back to school time is costly for most families. For the month of August Lindy is offering 50% off all orders with the code “backtoschool“. All products qualify. This is the perfect opportunity to stock up on curriculum supplements or try just one item if you’ve never created a lapbook before!
Sew Sweet by Shannon offers a wide variety of handmade accessories and clothing for children.
Catholic Cuisine offers beautiful embroidered aprons for sale, shipped directly from Catholic Embroidery. You can find all the Catholic Aprons available here, including my favorite “Living the Little Way” apron in honor of St. Therese!
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