Author: Stacie

Daybook

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Outside my window…it’s sunny and beautiful.  I think Mother Nature forgot to send winter our way.  Yesterday was in the mid-80s.  We were wearing shorts and sweating out in the sun.  Today it’s supposed to be low 70s…a beautiful spring day.

I am admiring…Joseph’s attention to detail.  He has been saving his commission to buy Henry the green train.  He finally earned enough and bought the train.  After playing with it for awhile, he brought it out to me and told me that there must be some mistake.  Henry wasn’t the right size.  After further explanation, I learned that he read in Henry the Green Train (by Rev. W Audry) that Henry was bigger than James, but smaller than Gordon.  He showed me his toy trains Henry and Gordon and sure enough, they were the same size.  I told him he had two choices.  He could either write to the company and explain their mistake or he could just play with them as they are.  He said he wanted to write a letter so I told him to start it with “Dear Sir.”  Off he went.  A little while later, he brought this letter to me:

He proudly mailed the letter yesterday and is waiting for their response.  Let’s hope they send one.

From the learning rooms…finishing up S week (we spent two weeks on this splendid letter!) and hoping to post one big blog to catch up on our Alphabet Path.

In the kitchen…homemade baking powder biscuits with sausage and smoothies.  A special Saturday morning treat.

I am wearing…gray shorts and a blue t-shirt.  Proper workout attire.

I am creating…a blog about our Lenten plans…hoping to get it posted before Lent is over!

I am going…to adoration this afternoon and looking forward to a few moments of peace with the Prince of Peace.

I am reading…Abandonment to Divine Providence by Jean-Pierre de Caussade.

I am listening…to the dishwasher running, the rhythmic click of Andrew’s swing as he naps, William asking me to get him some tape, and Joseph reading his “shopping list” to me as he runs around the playroom trying to find all the things on his list.  I am amazed that I can listen to so many things at once.

I am looking forward to…visiting this quaint little quilt shop in Austin again.  Mom discovered Kim’s shop, Hennig House Quilt Shop, this past December and took the boys and me out to visit while were were there last month.  Kim’s shop is awesome!  It’s filled with beautiful quilts, delightful fabrics, and lots of patterns to spark your creativity.  Kim just recently published her first book Story Time: Picture Books to Stir a Child’s Imagination.  It is filled with incredible applique patterns for making children’s quilts.  I enjoyed the opportunity to visit with Kim, while the boys enjoyed the opportunity to feed Kim’s goats.  If you’re in the Austin area, add Kim’s shop to your list as a must-visit.

Around the house…tried soaking the shower curtain liner (one of those fabric microfiber ones) in Oxy-Clean.  Didn’t get it clean.  Put it out in the sun to bleach it.  Still didn’t get it clean.  Already tried Nature Bright.  I guess I may have to finally give in and use a little Clorox.  Or just buy a new liner.

I am remembering…a tiny little blessing born three years ago.

It’s hard to believe that we just celebrated his 3rd birthday.  Happy Birthday Alex!  (Thanks for letting us help blow out your candles!)

One of my favorite things…little babies…here’s Stephanie with little Harrison, who just recently turned 2 months old.

Here are some pictures for thought I am sharing…

{this moment}

/ Stacie / Leave a comment

{this moment} – A Friday ritual.   A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week.  A simple, special, extraordinary moment.  A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.  If you’re inspired to do the same, visit Soulemama to leave a link to your ‘moment’ in the comments for all to find and see.

The Squirrel

/ Stacie / 1 Comment

Sometimes I repeat myself.  Again and again and again.  Even I get tired of listening to myself.  It’s especially common for me to repeat myself when it comes to reminding the kids to pick up their toys.  I remind them over and over again that when they’re done playing with something, they need to put it away…where it belongs, not where it’s convenient.  It’s not that they’re opposed to cleaning up.  They just don’t think to do it on their own. 

Last week the kids were playing outside and I was planting some vegetables in the garden.  I had the box with the gardening gloves and the garden tools out.  William came by to see what I was doing and decided to put on his gloves.  “Don’t forget to put them back in this box when you’re done, William.”  “Okay, Mommy.”  Off he went and the gardening gloves were out of my sight and out of my mind.  I finished the planting, put back all the tools and put the box up on the shelf in the garage. 

Early the next morning, I was standing by the open kitchen window, preparing breakfast when Daxson came out of his office.  “Do you see what that squirrel has?”  Daxson asked through the window.  I looked but I only caught a glimpse of something white as the squirrel took off up the tree.  “What was it?”  I asked.  Daxson and I both watched as the squirrel scampered up the tree to the very top branches and into her nest.  “A garden glove.” 

The squirrel’s nest is the nest on the left.

William overheard us and ran to the window.  “My glove!” he exclaimed, “I need it!”  

 

For once I didn’t have to say anything.  I didn’t have to lecture.  I didn’t have to explain.  He saw the consequence of leaving toys out.  Actions really do speak louder than words.

As I sat there thinking about it, I thought it strange that all the other toys were picked up.  Everything except the gloves.  Daxson walked over to the tree where the squirrel had taken the glove and found the other glove hanging on a branch.  Suddenly it dawned on me.  Grandma Nury had been over here the day before and I vaguely remembered she and Joseph had been playing a game of hot and cold.  I wondered if maybe the gloves were the items for the game.  I called and asked if she had seen the garden gloves and she said, “Oh yes, Joseph and I were playing hot and cold with them.  I hung both gloves on a branch toward the bottom of the big tree.  They should still be there.”  I laughed and told her the story of the squirrel.  It turns out maybe even Grandma Nury learned a lesson from the squirrel! 

It’s been a week now and the glove is still in the squirrel’s nest.  I imagine she found it to be quite comfy.  We all laugh about it now (even William).  While I’d like to say that this made such an imprint in my children’s minds that I never have to remind them to put their toys away, sadly that is not the case.  But at least now instead of repeating myself over and over and over again, I just have to remind them of the squirrel and the glove and they quickly put things away…where they belong. 

Spilled Glitter

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Joseph and I attempted to make our own recycled paper yesterday.  We completed the process together, him reading the directions and both of us following each step.  We cut up newspaper, soaked it in water, added cornstarch, drained it, pressed it, sprinkled glitter on top, and left it to dry.  When we were done, he joyfully announced that he was going to go and make some more recycled paper in his kitchen and off he went.  I cleaned up our mess and carried on with my day.

Soon he brought me a small container that was filled with cut-up paper.  He was so proud.  He had gotten his scissors and cut the paper all by himself.  I praised him gently, telling him how straight his lines were.  I told him he must be so proud of himself.  He was.  He carried on with the paper making process.  I carted Andrew off to bathe him. 

Joseph kept me informed of his progress.  “Mommy, I added water to the paper.”  “Mommy, I pretended this was the cornstarch and I mixed it.”  “Oh, Mommy, I’ve got a great idea.  I’m going to pretend that another piece of paper is the foil with holes in it so I can drain my paper.”  His voice was filled with joy.

Then, while I leaned down to rinse the soap off of Roo, Joseph appeared at my side, eyes downcast and a look of pure shame on his face.  “I didn’t mean to do it, Mommy.  I was just trying to get some of it off.”  “What happened?” I asked.  “I spilled the glitter.”  If you could have seen his face, it would have broken your heart.  It broke mine.  All over a little spilled glitter.  I brushed it off.  “So the glitter spilled.  We’ll clean it up.”  Hope filled his eyes.  “Yea, we just have to clean it up.  It’s not a big deal, right?”  “Nope, not a big deal at all.” 

I have done this to him.  I have made him afraid of spilling a little glitter.  How has this happened?  I know.

As adults we are quick to respond.  Quick to overreact.  Quick to make a comment.  I am guilty of all those things.  Juice spills and rather than handling it matter-of-factly, I feel justified to throw in a comment like, “That’s why we don’t carry our juice around the house.  You need to be careful.  Now I have to clean that up.”  Their self-esteem dips just a little (and their confidence in drinking from a cup plummets).  Or in a rush to come inside, the kids take off their shoes in the laundry room and dump out a pile of sand on the floor.  Rather than just sweeping the sand out the door, I feel justified in exaggerating a deep breath and saying, “Great.  Now I have to clean up the sand you just brought in.”  And their self-esteem dips just a little more (and in creeps a little doubt…”what did I do wrong?” they ask themselves).  And there lies the problem.  It’s not what they’ve done wrong.  It’s my reaction.  I have forgotten how little they are.  How they are learning to do things.  They try their best to do a good job (“Mommy will be so proud that I’m still drinking my juice…see, I remembered to bring it with me to the playroom so I could finish it.”  “Mommy will be so happy that I remembered to take my shoes off before coming in.”) but instead they’re met with negative responses.  No wonder Joseph was afraid to tell me about the spilled glitter. 

It’s really not about the spilled glitter or the spilled juice or the sand on the floor.  It’s about the fact that I am the adult here and they are the children.  My reaction will settle deep into their growing souls and someday (perhaps even tomorrow when William accidentally spills water on Joseph’s artwork or when Andrew knocks over Joseph’s train tracks) they will mimic my response.  What response would I like to see reflected in them? 

This isn’t about teaching Joseph to be more careful.  Yes, that needs to be taught.  But with patience and love.  Kindness and gentleness.  There is no place for harsh criticism in raising children.  I have only been teaching patience and love with my words (“Joseph, be patient…Andrew is just a baby and he doesn’t understand that you don’t need his help”) and not with my actions.  Thank God for the glitter spill yesterday, so my eyes could be opened.

Daybook

/ Stacie / 1 Comment

Outside my window…it’s cloudy and windy.  The high today is supposed to be 71.  Seems as though winter never really arrived here.

I am noticing…Joseph has been reading for a long time, but he has just recently found himself enamored with reading aloud to anyone who will listen.  William curls up on the couch beside him and Joseph is happy to read whatever is available.  It doesn’t replace our reading time together, but it certainly adds a new dimension to our day.

I am thankful…that I have Daxson.  I just can’t imagine taking this parenting journey alone.  I am so grateful for all the little gestures of love. 

From the learning rooms…we spent this week on the letter R.  I know I owe you many weeks of our Alphabet Journey.  I’m still looking for a way to add hours to my days.

In the kitchen…I couldn’t help myself.  We made those yummy chocolate chip cookies again.  And with Ash Wednesday coming up this week, I imagine we’ll be making some homemade soft pretzels very soon.

I am wearing…black yoga pants, a navy blue t-shirt and an eggplant colored hoodie.  As usual, I don’t match, but I am comfy.

I am creating…Lenten plans. 

I am going…to make it to Confession.  I am inspired by my sister’s idea to cleanse my soul before this upcoming 40 day Lenten journey.  I cannot think of a better prelude to Lent.

I am reading…Abandonment to Divine Providence by Jean-Pierre de Caussade as preparation for Lent (this will probably take me through Lent as well). 

I am listening…to silence.  Daxson is feeding the kids lunch and I am writing this in complete silence, out in Daxson’s office.  Amazing how a little bit of silence can be so incredibly uplifting.

I am looking forward to…celebrating Alex’s 3rd birthday.

Around the house…I need to pull out the 18 month clothes for little Roo.  I noticed that his 12-18 month pajama bottoms are a little too snug. 

I am remembering…the pride in Joseph’s smile yesterday when he brought out a container of squares that he had cut from a piece of paper…all by himself.  Jagged little lines, perfect in his eyes…and mine, too.

I am pondering…”To achieve the height of holiness, people must realize that all they count as trivial and worthless is what can make them holy…consider your life and you will see it consists of countless trifling actions.  Yet God is quite satisfied with them, for doing them as they should be done is the part we have to play in our striving for perfection.”  Jean-Pierre de Caussade

One of my favorite things…snuggling first thing in the morning with well-rested, happy little children!

Here is a picture for thought I am sharing…

{this moment}

/ Stacie / 1 Comment

{this moment} – A Friday ritual.   A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week.  A simple, special, extraordinary moment.  A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.  If you’re inspired to do the same, visit Soulemama to leave a link to your ‘moment’ in the comments for all to find and see.

Daybook

/ Stacie / 2 Comments

Outside my window…it’s raining.  The perfect excuse to stay inside and paint.

I am thinking…tax time is not my favorite time of the year.  To think that I once thought I might want to do this for a living.  Give me diapers to wash, babies to nurse, sticky fingers to clean any day over taxes. 

I am thankful…for hearing Mom repeatedly say throughout my childhood, “This too shall pass.”  Positive thinking at its best.  And it’s almost always true. 

From the learning rooms…we’re still traveling along the Alphabet Path, visiting letter Q this week.  Quicksand and quilt patterns, queens and quiet…we’re making the best of an odd letter.

In the kitchen…homemade, gooey chocolate chip cookies.  Egg free.  Dairy free.  Soy free.  Nut free.  It seems impossible for them to taste so good, but trust me…they do.

I am wearing…jeans and a thick striped short sleeve polo shirt.

I am creating…a list.  Aren’t I always? 

I am reading…Falling Home by Karen White, crying my eyes out (yes, I just said that). 

I am wishing…I had time to sew.  I want the boys to have custom made blankets for their move to their “big” bed and I wish so badly I had time to make the blankets myself.  By the time I thread my bobbin, though, they will have outgrown the blankets I’m imagining, so instead I’ve found the perfect solution on etsy.  Need baby blankets, taggies, or burp cloths?  Check out Aimee’s etsy shop.    

I am listening…to Joseph as he tries to make the biggest number ever on his calculator. 

I am looking forward to…Alex’s birthday.  3 years old already.  Where does the time go? 

Around the house…sprucing up the kids room so they can actually start sleeping in it.  Imagine that. 

I am remembering…a few weeks ago when I turned around and Joseph said, “I just did it because it’s his favorite color.”  Uh-oh.  “You did what?”  “That.”  And with that simple reply he pointed to William, whose arms had been colored black.  William proudly held out his arms and exclaimed, “Now I’m just like Martin Luther King, Jr.”   At least I know he was paying attention for our history lesson.

I am praying…The Memorare, finding comfort in the repitition. 

Here is a picture for thought I am sharing…

L is for…

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L is for…Lily of the Valley fairy and St. Lucy.  After reading Serendipity’s Flower Fairy story, Joseph and William colored pictures of the fairy.  Joseph also did some copywork from the poem that is in the Flower Fairy book (which he did while listening to the Flower Fairy CD).  Then we looked up the actual wildflower in our field guide.  We read about Saint Ignatius in our Alphabet of Catholic Saints.  Joseph did some copywork.  We also used the picture from the book to practice the letter formation. 

L is for…the letter L.  We practiced letter formation using the Cuisenaire Rods Alphabet Book, Do A Dot, Gray Block paper, and Pin Punch letters.

 

L is for…St. Lucy and light, so we made lanterns!  We used clear glass jars, painted them with decoupage glue, and covered them with tissue paper squares.  Then we put a flameless, flickering light in each.  Now Joseph and William fall asleep to lantern light. 

   

L is for…letter writing.  We spent a good part of the week (and counted this as most of our copywork) writing thank you letters for all the Christmas gifts received.  Joseph wrote all of his by himself and drew an illustration for each.  William dictated and I wrote for him.  He also illustrated each letter.  I love that this is already ingrained into their heads…it’s not a dreaded task; it’s just what we do to show our thanks.   

L is for…laundry.  For practical life, Joseph and William helped sort and fold what laundry they could.  It’s nice to have helpers for the diapers and sock sorting.

L is for…leaves.  We read about leaves and then went leaf hunting.  I was impressed (and relieved to know that all that reading is paying off) when Joseph was able to identify both maple and oak leaves!  We brought our leaves home and did some leaf rubbings, tracings, and colorings. 

L is for…Listening.  We’re still using these great coloring pages and we’re including one each week along with a virtue story.  We’ve been doing quite a bit of reading from Little Stories for Little Folks, which both kids really enjoy.  Also, to practice the virtue of listening, we’ve been reading chapter books.  We just finished Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne and are now reading the 2nd book, The House at Pooh Corner.  There are a few illustrations to accompany the text, but not many.  I am amazed at Joseph and William’s listening abilities…they recall many, many details and their comprehension is impressive.  Who would’ve known that even a 2 1/2 year old could be so enthralled by a chapter book? 

L is for….listening walks.  L week would not have been complete without reading Paul Showers’ A Listening Walk.  After reading it, the kids were eager to just listen (ahh, silence was golden around here!)  We also took a listening walk and Joseph documented all the sounds we heard.

     

L is for…ladybugs.  After doing some ladybug reading, we made ladybugs from painted red lima beans and then did some ladybug math.  I would have loved to do a ladybug lapbook, but we ran out of time!

In our book baskets this week (I’m choosing one book from each basket to have Joseph do a narration and illustration of):

Science (ladybugs and leaves):  We’re Going on a Leaf Hunt;  Ladybug, Ladybug; The Grouchy Ladybug; Are You a Ladybug?; Ten Little Ladybugs; Why Do Leaves Change Color?

Favorite L Books:  The Little Engine that Could; Llama Llama Red Pajama books; The Listening Walk; Let’s Count it Out Jesse Bear; The Letters are Lost; Let Me Hold You a Little Longer; Little Critter Books; The Little Island; The Little Rabbit; The Little Duck; Lyle, Lyle Crocodile; A Letter for Amy; Little Bear books; Love Is…; The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry and the Big Hungry Bear; Love From Woolly; The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge

{this moment}

/ Stacie / 1 Comment

{this moment} – A Friday ritual.   A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week.  A simple, special, extraordinary moment.  A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.  If you’re inspired to do the same, visit Soulemama to leave a link to your ‘moment’ in the comments for all to find and see.

J and K…

/ Stacie / 1 Comment

Our J and K weeks were lacking.  They occurred between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  I had actually planned to pause in our Alphabet Journey until after the New Year, but Joseph kept begging to keep going.  So we did.  Pathetically.  We carried on with our Flower Fairy and Saint work.  We read lots of books that started with “J” and “K” and we continued with our phonics and math work.  We lightly skimmed history and science because we had lots of Advent related things to do.  Here’s J and K weeks summarized, incredibly briefly, with hardly a picture to show for it.

J and K are for…Jasmine and Kingcup fairies and St. Joseph and St. Kateri.  After reading Serendipity’s Flower Fairy story, Joseph and William colored pictures of the fairies.  We read about Saint Joseph and Kateri in our Alphabet of Catholic Saints. 

J and K are for…the letters J and K.  We practiced letter formation using the Cuisenaire Rods Alphabet Book, Do A Dot, and Pin Punch letters. 

J is for…Jackie Robinson.

J is for…Jungle.  We learned all about rainforests!  We read The Rainforest Grew All Around and The Umbrella and used our Safari Ltd rainforest animals and Gears set for some imaginative play.

J and K are for…Joyful and Kindness.  We’re still using these great coloring pages and we’re including one each week along with a virtue story.

J is for…Jesse Tree.  I had great, great plans for this.  We have a beautiful felt Jesse Tree that we have used for the past couple of years, but I did all the work in making it.  I wanted to involve Joseph and William this year by making some ornaments for an actual small tree, but my plans were waylaid.  Ahh, maybe next year.  In the meantime, we used our felt set. 

In our book baskets this week:

History (Jackie Robinson): Teammates

Science (jungle): The Rainforest Grew All Around; The Umbrella

Favorite J and K Books:  Jamberry; Jambo Means Hello; Jump!; Just the Way You Are; The Jolly Postman; Just Me and My Little Brother; J is for Jump Shot; Just Critters Who Care; The Junkyard Wonders; Jesse Bear What Will You Wear; Julius, The Baby of the World; Katie Meets the Impressionists; Katy No Pocket; Kali and the Rat Snake; The Kissing Hand; The Knight and the Dragon; Katy and the Big Snow