Feast of St. Brigid

Anois teacht an Earraigh beidh an la dul chun sineadh
Is tar ets na Feil Brighde ardoidh me mo shel.
O chuir me I mo cheann e ni stopfaidh me chotiche
Go seasfaidh me sios t Ias Chontae Mhutgheo.

Now with the coming of spring, the day is beginning to stretch
And after the feast of St. Brigid I'll rise up and go.
Since the notion came into my head I'll not even stop for a second,
Till I set my foot down in the middle of County Mayo.
Antoine ÓReachtabhra (Raifteiri) 1784-1835

Here are some yummy St. Brigid Day recipes. We're planning on making Barm Brack for tea, when our lovely friends from down the street will be joining us. I'd love to make the St. Brigid's Cross bread here, but I have little faith in my baking skills. I'm hoping that Brigid's Cloak is among my on-hold books that they have available for me at the library.

We don't generally "do" a lot of school on Fridays, but this little poem would make a beautiful recitation or piece of copywork:

The dandelion lights its spark
Lest Brigid find the wayside dark.
And Brother Wind comes rollicking
For joy that she has brought the spring.
Young lambs and little furry folk
Seek shelter underneath her cloak.
W. M. Letts

And this is a lovely prayer:

Dear Saint Bridget of the Kine
Bless these little fields of mine,
The pastures and the shady trees,
Bless the butter and the cheese,
Bless the cows with coats of silk
And the brimming pails of milk,
Bless the hedgerows, and I pray
Bless the seed beneath the clay,
Bless the hay and bless the grass,
Bless the seasons as they pass,
And heaven's blessings will prevail,
Brigid - Mary of the Gael.

And so, we celebrate St. Brigid, who, according to legend, shared what little food she had in time of famine and, like the widow and Elijah, found herself with a full jug of water and complete bannock cake when there should have been none.

Oh come to the water all who are thirsty:
Though you have nothing, I bid you come
And be filled with the goodness I have to offer you.
Come, listen, live. (Is. 55)

About a half-hour into the school day, this was the scene:




Katie Grace was working on a math assessment, Michael was working out some multiplication with regrouping, Nicholas was working out a puzzle, and Daniel was working on some cheerios.

There was a lot of creativity floating around the house today. Michael wrote a great paragraph from the point of view of a brand new puppy describing his first day earthside:

Where am I? I looked around. I didn't know where I was. I looked around for more clues. I was in a dark room. There was a fire blazing in the grate. I started to relax. Wherever I was I seemed to be welcome. I heard voices. "Let's name him Shotdose. Shatzy Two." Who are these people? I was scared. I started to whimper. "It's okay Shotdose, Mother's got you." My mother had come. "Mother who are those people?" I asked. Those are Mr. and Mrs. Parfeisa. They are our guardians. They're nice people. You must not be afraid of them.

Tomorrow we'll do some editing. I'll also try to get him to add some more "5 senses" descriptive detail, since that was actually the point of the exercise.

We also made pictograms to go along with our Ancient China chapter in Story of the World.


Katie Grace and Nicholas got in some good play. They're such great buddies. Sometimes I think Michael is a little jealous of their relationship.

And then there was Daniel!


The video is dark, and I'm absolutely disgusting gushing over Daniel, but he's just so sweet! I never in a million years knew I would fall this in love with a fourth baby. I knew that sounds silly, but I just figured I'd be pretty prosaic about the whole thing by now. But nope, I'm a big dope!

No two days are alike

This morning we had popcorn for snack. This air popper is one of the best thrift store finds ever. We don't have a microwave, but even if we did, I think I would prefer our old-fashioned-ish popcorn.




Nicholas is still not feeling great, and he fell asleep in the chair. Poor little guy.


Today we had our own "Tea and a Craft," inspired by Dawn. We read Snowflake Bentley and then just had to make our own snowflakes.






Daniel, who is crawling like crazy, enjoyed hiding out under the table.


The snowflakes were beautiful in our window.




And Daniel, just because he is so stinking sweet.

Do all things with love...

Our day began with devotions. The theme verse of the week is "Love never fails." Today we read from 1 John 3:11, 16-19. They're beautiful words:

This is how we know what love is, that Jesus Christ laid down His life for us.

We sang the same song from "Hide 'Em in Your Heart." It's arranged as an echo song. I told them I would be the leader again tomorrow, and the we would see who knew the verse well enough to lead the song Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

After a quick journal entry and Daily Geography we had math lessons--multiplication with three digits and regrouping for Michael, and adding and subtracting two digit numbers with regrouping for Katie Grace.

This is where I hit my first snag of the day. I must, must, must plan stuff for Nicholas to do while the other two are having lessons. I just have to make the time to do it.

After math, we take a little break. I switched the laundry, tidied the kitchen, and made Aunt Mary's Squares from The Parenting Cookbook.

CRUST:
1 stick butter, softened
1 large egg yolk
2 teaspoons water
1 1/4 C unbleached flout
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
12 oz chocolate chips

TOPPING
2 large eggs
1 C finely chopped nuts (we used pecans)
3/4 C sugar
Pinch salt
6 Tbsp butter, melted
1 tsp vanilla

Preheat the oven to 350. In a large bowl, mix all the crust ingredients except the chocolate chips. Press into the bottom of a rectangular pan and bake for 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the size of your pan.

Meanwhile, make the topping by combining all the topping ingredients.

Removed the pan from the oven and scatter the chips evenly over the crust. Bake another minute or two, until melted, and then spread the chocolate evenly over the crust with a spatula.

Spread the topping on the chocolate and bake for another 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool and cut into squares.

Yummy.

We're still working on our study of the names of Jesus in honor of the Holy Name this January. Today we talked about Jesus as "Prince of Peace".

Then it was Language Arts Happy Fun Hour. Things get crazy here, and again, I would really benefit from having something planned for Nick. First, I read the next part of Writing Magic to Michael while Katie Grace finished her drawing for Christian Ed. Then while Michael wrote, Katie Grace and I did a reading and grammar lesson. Then we all sat down and listened to this week's poem, Robert Frost's Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening. Katie Grace worked on copywork--The woods are lovely, dark and deep.--while Michael and I talked about the mechanics of writing a business letter. He wrote a business letter requesting info from the Hershey Chamber of Commerce while Katie Grace did copywork and I nursed the baby. Then we read Susan Jeffers's version of Stopping by Woods... and called it a morning.

Today was Daddy's last day of vacation, so while I made lunch he read the next chapter from The Long Winter. After lunch, Michael did a little more writing and Katie Grace played with Nicholas and Daniel. Then Michael went to orchestra and the speech therapist came for Nicholas. While Nicholas had speech, Katie Grace (and then Michael when he got home) got caught up in Meet Kirsten, An American Girl. We then read about the Ancient Chinese and how the Empress discovered silk in Story of the World. Nicholas fell asleep, but Katie Grace was fascinated by the idea that our play silks were made of caterpillar spit.


Since both Nicholas and Daniel and Daddy were all asleep, I took the older two to the library. When we came home, it was time for our very first tea! Monday is "Tea and Art" day, and on the table (besides our yummy chocolate squares and tea!) was Albrecht Durer's A Young Hare.

After this, it all gets blurry. Katie Grace had basketball and a friend of Michael's showed up and ended up staying for three hours.

And then there's What Didn't Get Done:
-my general tidy area, living room
-my deep cleaning area, the bathroom
-the downstairs vacuuming

Still, all in all it was a good day. If I can just get a handle on where to fit in the cleaning (because it's about to happen now, and cleaning at 9:45 PM is not my idea of a good time) and plan stuff for Nicholas, I'll be in great shape.

Meal Plan Monday

This is my first week with meal plan Monday, so I hope I do it right!

Monday: Corn Chowder and One-Hour Baguettes
Tuesday: Potato Pie with Ham and Peas
Wednesday: Broiled Scallops, Rice, and Peas
Thursday: Ham, Potatoes, and Green Beans in the crock pot
Friday: Pizza Night!
Saturday: Our Story of the World African Feast-- Chicken with figs, papaya rice, and fried plantains
Sunday: Superbowl Chili

We rallied!

It was civics, PA history, geography, health, and science!

The sign


and the naked people who greeted us.


Naked statues and eight-year-old boys are always good value.

The rally-ers on the steps


Michael, looking like he wants to be anywhere but here


Darker pictures




Sweetest little nursling in PA


The rotunda (hint--when you bring an eight-year-old boy to a homebirth rally and there are no more naked statues to snicker at and he keeps threatening to run away, give him your camera. He might take some lovely pictures!)


Daniel and "my" midwife. I couldn't get them both to look at the camera at the same time.




Leaving Harrisburg and looking out over the mighty Susquehanna:




It was fun. And interesting. We got there late because I have no sense of direction and then couldn't figure out parking. But it was nice to see some familiar faces. Our representative wasn't in the capitol, but we got to see his office anyway and take home some literature.

But I do agree with Emily. Would it be so hard to schedule one of these things when it's warmer?!?!

Lutherans Rock

The theme of the Quake was "The Amazing Race".


The theme verse was Hebrews 12:1-2
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.


They're gonna dance for the Lord. The band here is 100 White Flags. See the lead singer/guitarist? She's five months pregnant! Crazy.






The other band was Captive Free. This is the group that came to our church this fall.


Here are Daniel and I with Kelly, the other girls' chaperone


And here's our little youth group baby:

Big Push for Midwives Rally!

Big Push for Midwives Rally

Jan. 24, 2008 11 am

Rotunda of Capitol in Harrisburg

Featuring Dr. Marsden Wagner, Author of "Born in the USA " and other
special guests!

Celebrate the Birth of Pennsylvania Families for Safe Birth…

…a consumer-driven coalition of families and professionals to
promote legislation and policies grounded in the Midwives Model of
Care and to support families' access to safe, appropriate, evidence-
based care during pregnancy, labor, birth and the postpartum
period. PFSB

Supports legislation that licenses Certified Professional Midwives
(CPMs) in Pennsylvania
Raises awareness and support for families choosing an out-of-
hospital birth as a safe, appropriate option
Supports safe family and baby initiatives in all birth settings.
You can join the group and/or get more information at the rally!

Be a Part of The Big Push for Midwives!

The Big Push is a nationally coordinated campaign to advocate for
regulation and licensure of Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs)
in all 50 states and the District of Columbia . This effort is led
by the National Birth Policy Coalition.

Get more info at the rally!

Bring your babies, signs( no sticks, please), friends and family!

Cheer and wave and help us kick off this important movement in our
state!

Please feel free to forward this email, and please use the attached
poster to help raise awareness of this important event in your
community!

Go to our sponsor's web sites for more information!

www.pasafebirth.org

www.birthwithoutboundaries.com

www.savehomebirth.com

Vacation?

Yep, Pastor is taking a vacation. This means we are screening our calls and seriously thinking of leaving towns. This means my home learning plans for the week are seriously messed up.

Chip is painting the kitchen. I won't tske a before picture, because the room us u-g-l-y. And things are a mess. I don't do mess well.

Today Michael had a boy scout trip to the landfill and the armory. Katie Grace and I had a math lesson (addition with regrouping) and then we took a trip out to the mall. We got materials to make some math manipulatives and supplies for Valentine's Day cards and the cutest little brown and pink play shoes for Katie Grace.

Back home, we read Story of the World and The Long Winter and called it a day.

On Thursday, we may be going to the capitol for a rally supporting homebirth. Maybe we'll also go to the Grossology exhibit at the science center.

Is there ever such thing as a typical week of homeschooling?

Youth Quake

I am blogging from the Harrisburg Hilton. I'm chaperoning 7 middle-school girls here at the Youth Quake. We have 15 kids here in all. Everyone is having a great time and is being reasonably well behaved. Tomorrow we go home, and they're facing up to the reality that, while here it's easy to put God first, they'll be back to their real lives tomorrow.

The baby is sleeping here on the bed next to me. He didn't care for the music. Every time we went into the ballroom, he would snuggle up against me in the sling. I was hoping he would like the music and dance to it, but it just overwhelmed him. Mostly we hang out in the lobby and he explored the crazy obnoxious hotel carpet.

He's a very blessed little baby. The youth group--girls and boys--love him. He was giving Kyle big sloppy kisses, and he smiles every time Erin comes into view, and he reaches for Mariah. The other night, when he was hugging me and patting me on the back, I realized that he was learning one of the most important lessons of all-how to love.

Seriously... you can't make this stuff up

I was thinking, seeing as I've been blogging more diligently and (hopefully) people are reading my blog, I would take some time and introduce my children.

Nicholas is my third child. He is a love and a complete nut.

NICHOLAS: Can I touch my butt, Mama?
ME: Um... no?
NICHOLAS: Yes, I can! Because it is my own butt! And I can do this.
ME: *is afraid to look, but does when she hears a loud THUD*
NICHOLAS: *has run into wall and is now flat on his back, looking stunned*

My BFF Teresa, who just had her fifth? sixth? wait, yes, sixth, child tells me that some kids are always your baby, even after you have other babies. That's Nicholas.

He's my only kid who ever liked puzzles.

He's like Operaman on SNL. He sings about everything, and when he's in trouble, he sings the blues.

He kisses everyone, but is sure to always let me know that he saved his best kisses for me.

He's never drank a glass of milk, and will only eat green vegetables when bribed or threatened.

He had his first haircut at five months, and is the only four-year-old I know with backhair and a tiny baby mustache.

When he grows up, he wants to be a racecar driver pastor.

He's Katie Grace's best friend and Daniel's personal clown and (at times) Michael's worst nightmare.

He's our little bear, and we love him very much.

I'm a lemming.

I'm succombing to internet peer pressure,

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE ? St. Anne

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? I don't remember, but I'm sure it's been in the last week.

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Mostly. Sometimes I get ahead of myself and it gets messy.

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Corned beef.

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? Four of them (so far!)

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? I hope so!

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Um, yeah, just a bit.

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes.

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? No way.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? I love cocoa krispies when I need a sugar fix, but for actual breakfast I like chex.

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? No.

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Physically? Not terribly. But I'm an emotional Atlas.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Chocolate chip cookie dough.

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Their smile.

15. RED OR PINK? Pink.

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING YOU LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF? My temper.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My step-mother who was killed by a drunk driver when I was in college.

18. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? I don't wear pants. I'm wearing a khaki skirt and blue Maggie's socks.

19. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Beef lo mein. On LLL days, I bribe my children with lunch out in exchange for being gracious hosts and hostesses.

20. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? A really annoying song on Noggin. "Everywhere I go..."

21. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Fuschia.

22. FAVORITE SMELLS? Vanilla. Maybe lavender.

23. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My hubby.

24. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? Blech.

25. HAIR COLOR? Brown

26. EYE COLOR? Hazel.

27. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? No. I used to, but it always feels like I am sticking a piece of plastic in my eyes.

28. FAVORITE FOOD? Coconut chicken. Yum.

29. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy Endings.

30. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Because of Winn Dixie.

31. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Blue.

32. SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer.

33. HUGS OR KISSES? Hugs with a side of backrub.

34. FAVORITE DESSERT? Pretzel salad.

35. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? Home Education by Charlotte Mason (among others)

36. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Clouds.

37. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V. LAST NIGHT? Law and Order and Project Runway.

38. FAVORITE SOUNDS? Baby giggles.

39. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Beatles.

40. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Florida.

41. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? Singing, I suppose.

42. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Columbia, PA.

Evolution of a School Day

Ew.

OK, I'm trying not to be creeped out by this.

Michael has orchestra today and my husband had this ecumenical bishop synodical thingie, which left me (and the other three children) to get him there. It only lasts a half-hour, and since my New Year Resolution to no longer eat fast food (which I haven't blogged about because that means I have no back way out of the resolution, LOL!)rules out my usual time-killer of McDonald's cookies, I decided we'd pop over to the deli/butcher to get something for dinner tonight instead.

An older lady recognized my children. This wasn't a big deal. With DH being a pastor, people are forever recognizing us even when I don't have a clue who they are. She introduced herself, and then she teased Nicholas about his shoes being on the wrong feet. Again, no huge deal. He often puts them on the wrong feet--sometimes I catch it, sometimes I don't, but it doesn't seem to bother him much so I admit I am fairly lackadaisical about the whole thing. Then she asked why Katie Grace wasn't in school. By now, my smile was getting a little fixed--my meat was in the bag, the kids were itching to open the lollies "Aunt Mary" gave them, and I forgot the sling for the 50 pound baby. But I said, "She's homeschooled."

To which she replied, "What about Michael?"

"He's homeschooled too."

"But he's not here."

*is getting uncomfortable*

"He's over at the school. He takes cello and goes to orchestra."

"Oh, I wondered. My daughter B. told me you pulled him out."

And it clicked. B. F. = school psychologist who tested Michael and told me how off-the-chart brilliant he was and how it was a good thing I put him in school where they could give him what he needed to excel. B. F. the school psychologist who told me Katie Grace was showing signs of being profoundly gifted as well, and that I should put her in school, too. B. F. the school psychologist who has no business discussing my children or my educational choices with anyone, especially her mother who is a church member.

The whole thing is leaving me feeling a little violated and I don't really know why.

Sometimes it's hard to focus on homeschooling when this is giggling at you from the end of the table.



But we manage!

Things are still a bit in flux. None of us quite have our groove going.

The highlights of the day:
Cuddling up under a blanket and reading a chapter of The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I could tell the little ones were so engaged in the story, it took their breath away when Laura and her friends were almost lost on the prairie.

Katie Grace really, truly understands adding tens and ones. And I taught her! Tomorrow we'll see if she can subtract them as well...

As part of our Holy Name of Jesus study, we made a collage of images that represented the word MIGHTY. They gave suggestions, and we ended up with a lion, a volcano, an Olympic high jumper, a redwood tree. The Katie Grace chose Jesus suffering on the cross, and I almost cried.

Michael is working on a story. He is so funny and creative, and he constantly surprises me.

The downside of our day:
Katie Grace is a dawdler. We were writing in journals--and I don't expect much from her, she's even allowed to draw if she wants--and in a half-hour she had written the word the. That was it! And she grumbles and complains and generally brings us all down.

Michael keeps failing the math tests. I don't get it. I know he understands the material, but he can't pass a book test to save his life. Maybe when he was in school they didn't do tests like this? Maybe it's unrealistic to send him away with a test and tell him to bring it back when he's done? But I have to find some way to assess his comprehension for the stupid portfolio, and I'm a bit stymied.

Nicholas is very very loud and disruptive. Even when I come up with stuff for him to do, he does it very loudly

But mostly, I think I'm the problem. I have a temper and I am crabby and impatient. I need to do better.

The Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord

Today, both the Lutherans and the Catholics celebrated the Baptism of Our Lord. I woke up with a strong, strong need to go to Mass. Someday, if anyone is interested, I will post about my constant struggle in which everyone's needs get met except my own when it comes to church. As a Catholic married to a Lutheran pastor and raising Little Lutherans, it gets difficult. But this morning, I needed the grace of Mass, so after I taught Lutheran Sunday School, I put Nicholas in the nursery, found someone for Katie Grace and Michael to sit with, and went to Mass with the baby. And it was lovely.

This week was Nicholas's baptismal anniversary. He was baptized on the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord four years ago. We celebrated by singing the Baptism song with him:

I was baptized, shout hooray!
It's my very special day.
God looked down on me and smiled.
I became His own dear child.

The sanctity of the moment was only slightly mitigated by the fact that he sang this buck-naked. He also got to pick what type of pizza we made (cheese), what movie we watched for family movie night (Because of Winn-Dixie) and what we had for desert (root beer floats). We ended the day with a reading of Walt Wangerin's "Water Come Down: The day you were baptized" and it was a perfect day.

Nicholas is currently in a state of disequilibrium, however. He can't understand why animals in stories, movies, and television programs can talk, but he isn't running into any in real life. So today after church, we had this conversation:

NICHOLAS: Told you so, Mama.
ME: Told me so what?
NICHOLAS: That animals can talk.
ME: Really?
NICHOLAS: Uh huh. When Jesus was baptisted by John the Baptist, God split the sky open and sended the dove down and he TALKED!
ME: Daddy! You've got to hear this!

LOL! We're having no luck convincing him that talking animals don't exist outside of fairy stories. I love this kid.

Saturday is the day for confessions, right?

Actually, I didn't make it to Confession today. But I do have one to make here.

I love everything I've read about Charlotte Mason. But every time I try to read something Charlotte Mason herself has written, I find myself drifting off into a glassy-eyed stupor. Am I reading the wrong things? Right now I'm trying to read her Home Education: Training and Educating Children Under Nine. And it's really, really not moving me. It's a lot about the evilness of nurses and pudding and stuffy rooms. It gets better, right? Should I skip ahead to a certain chapter? Look around for another edition? I'm wanting to love this, but so far I'm not feeling it.

The Three Gifts Challenge

I read about this over on down-to-earth: Choose three actions you can take in your life to reduce consumption, not harm the earth, etc.

I chose:

~ to make a more concentrated effort to use my cloth bags. Always. Even at thrift stores and other places where I might not think about it

~ to make a more concentrated effort to use our SIGG bottles and to refuse to buy individual water bottles

~ to do better at recycling, and to "reduce" as a first line of defense.

So, what three gifts will you give to help heal the earth?

Is there anything nicer than

A half-naked baby who falls asleep on your lap after nursing? I don't think so. *happy sigh*

That was quick!

The new camera arrived today, and I'm so glad!

Not because it was time to say goodbye to our Epiphany nature table


and hello to our winter animal/"The Mitten" nature table


or so I could finally show you our cool IHS/Holy Name craft that needs to be hung up in a window


but because of this!




Crawling baby! Squee!