B is for busy!

Alphabet Garden "Bb" week ideas:

B is for...

Saint Bernadette:

Saint Bernadette Biography

Tour of Lourdes

Saint Bernadette Coloring Page

Immaculate Conception Coloring Page from Waltzing Matilda (If you haven't joined scribed, I would highly recommend it.)

Blueberries:

Blueberry activities from Homeschool Share (This is an amazing resource!)

and...

Jan Brett (This is her official site and it is unbelievable:)

Update on Willow

Life with Willow has its hazards.  She is a mess.  Literally.  So, that being said, lets go back to the beginning (lets' go back to the very beginning...a very good place to start. Sorry.  ADD.  It happens sometimes.  All the time...anyway). Several weeks ago Willow took the bulb out of her ceiling fan (that's another blog).  We don't know the specifics but the end result was she shattered the bulb on the wood floor in her bedroom.  We walked in the room and she was sitting on her bed covered in blood.  I think she was as confused as we were.  We finally saw the glass and realized that she must have cut her foot.  This is where it gets complicated.  The cut looked really clean and there wasn't anymore glass that was visible.  So we put steri-strips on it and began the daunting task of keeping her out of it.  Good luck.  After the first week we noticed she still wasn't putting weight on it.  She also started telling us "fix it."  Looking back on it, there were other signs too: outbursts, crying, and aggression.  Willow has a very sweet disposition and that is the one thing her Autism has not affected.  We were stumped.  This is a common problem in the Autism community but never with Willow.  By the second week, no progress AND the foot started bleeding again.  So I took her to the ER and we finally figured out what was wrong.   We had missed 4-5 more pieces of glass in her foot.  She had been walking around like that for two weeks and couldn't tell us!  I wanted to crawl out of the ER.  There was no way to remove it but surgically:(  We had our pre-op the next day and surgery on Wednesday.   I was there at 5:30am and I was joined by my fiercely loyal mother and a devoted OT of Willows.  I couldn't have had better company.  Her surgery was at St. Francis South and they were AMAZING.  Willow did well going into the surgery but had a very difficult time in recovery.  They got us out of the hospital ASAP and we were able to get her home and comfortable.  There were two complicating factors; she threw up every time we gave her pain medicine and she wouldn't leave the surgical site alone.  By two o'clock I had three red barf stains on my carpet and Willow had ripped out her stitches.  We went to her Dr's office in the am and they put steri-strips on the incision and CASTED HER FOOT!  She hates it but it is the biggest relief for us.  It limits her mobility and she can't rip her stitches out again.  Anyway, I have to go...I think I hear her cast thumping on her wood floor!

St. Joseph...pray for us!

Oh...how quickly things change.  It looks like we are staying.  I am relieved.  We have been here for fours years.  It has provided us with some much needed stability.  We are getting excited and we hope you pray for us.  If you are not too busy, you can come and plant a Saint Joseph in our yard!

Alphabet Garden

Oh...how quickly things change.  We just found out we are moving end of May.  It is a huge blessing for our family.  The end result is we have decided to bring everyone home, including our daughter with Autism.  So, that being said, I am working on lesson plans that will suit our entire family.  A very exciting prospect, indeed:)  There is not much out there for kids on the spectrum.  I feel like this is a calling.  I hope it helps others...

"Aa" week ideas

This week we will be starting on "Aa."  I have tons of lesson plans and craft ideas I will be posting for each letter.  I am very excited.  I can't wait to get started with Landon.  I am embracing educating him at home this year.  Again, I want to thank Elizabeth Foss for her prolific contributions to Catholic home education.       

A is for...
Apple-(Museum ABC, Eating the Alphabet, and A Picture of God 3in 1)
I am going to be cooking like crazy and I am planning on posting links to popular food blogs and sharing from my own cooking library.  There are obviously millions of craft ideas for this beloved fruit.  I found some really cute ideas on this web page about using an apple cut in half to show the Trinity.

Also a scripture verse from Proverbs:
Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.
Proverbs 7:2
and
Like apples of gold in settings of silver Is a word spoken in right circumstances.
Proverbs 25:11

Ant-(The Icky Bug Alphabet Book)
The ants are not a strong people, But they prepare their food in the summer
Proverbs 30:25

Amaryllis (The Flower Alphabet Book)
Want to buy bulbs and decorate pots with A!  Also want to visit some local nurseries!  I am planning on planting most of these flowers in my garden:)

Anne, Anthony, Angels (An Alphabet of Catholic Saints and old favorites)-
We ordered the Teach Me To Discover Saints CD from Catholic Artworks.  I also saw a cute idea of having a St. Anthony treasure hunt.  I am going to make a list of "A" items and have Tiana help him find them.  I am also starting to teach Landon the Guardian Angel prayer.

Angel of God,

my guardian dear,

To whom God's love commits me here,

Ever this day,

be at my side,

To light and guard,

Rule and guide.

Amen.

and Alter (A is for Alter, B is for Bible)
This book is based on the Catechises of the Good Shepard.  Wanting to learn more.

You can also visit Waltzing Matilda for coloring pages!

Our author for the week will be Rev. W. Awdry.  The creator of Thomas the Tank Engine.  Landon is crazy about him.  I suggest A. A. Milne (Winnie-the-Pooh) for an alternative author.  Start gathering your "Aa" books and I will see you here!

The Alphabet Garden: Where Faith and Learning Bloom

Painting by Monica Arrache

I will start "A" week next week.  I am starting earlier than most (many start in August) because I obviously am going to need to show you the craft ideas and lesson plans:)  Each week in the Alphabet Garden I will have a letter, fruit or vegetable, flower, and a strong emphasis on Catholic religious formation. The main reason I am developing this is to give my young son a simple but thorough Catechism and to foster a love of learning. I will eventually have a tutorial and recommended book list for each week.  Please be patient while I build the curriculum.  I have four young children and a daughter with special needs.  Elizabeth Foss' Alphabet Path is brilliant and inspired. I am not interested in reinventing the wheel. At all.  She divides her books into three categories: faith stories, childhood favorites, and storybook science. Why mess with perfection?  There will also be a scripture memory verse and recommended prayers.  Here it is.  Be blessed...



Alphabet Garden Essentials:
Eating the Alphabet: Fruits and Vegetables from A-Z by Lois Ehlert-I am planning on cooking from every letter!  I have some really great recipes and ideas!
The Flower Alphabet Book by Jerry Pallotta-I am going to plant a Marian Garden this year using most of these:)
A is for Alter, B is for Bible by Judith Lang Main (based on the Catechises of the Good Shepard)
An Alphabet of Catholic Saints by Brenda and George Nippert
I also bought their Teach Me to Discover The Saints CD and the An Alphabet of Catholic Saints Poster
Museum ABC by the Metropolitan Museam of Art
An Alphabet of Saints by Robert Hugh Benson (optional but helpful)
A Picture of God (a great book on the Trinity!)

Also recommended:
Handwriting without tears
Guiding your Catholic Preschooler by Cathy Pierce and Lori Rowland
Catholic Children's Treasurebox
Catholic Mosaic: Living the Liturgical Year with Literature by Cay Gibson
The Big Book of Catholic Customs and Traditions
Holy Days and Holidays: Prayer Celebrations with Children by Gaynell Bordes Cronin

The Simple Woman's Daybook



This amazing idea is from the blog The Simple Woman.  Please join us if you can...

 FOR TODAY January 31, 2011...

Outside My Window...
The sky is cloudy and we are waiting for snow.  Praying for "snow days" for my little ones. 


I am thinking...
about how my life has been transformed over the last several months.  I am so very, very grateful.

I am thankful for...
my incredible husband and the gift of my children.


From the learning rooms...
We are behind on our lessons but I am really happy with the learning enviornment here.  Krystiana got the Harry Potter series for Christmas.  She finished all seven in a month and still got her lessons done.  Amazing...


From the kitchen...
I have accepted the fact that our family really doesn't like fancy, complicated meals.  That's okay.  It's saving me time and money.  I have lost 27 pounds so lean protein, fruits, and vegetables work for me too.


I am wearing...
Jeans and a grey ribbed turtleneck from Coldwater Creek.  They were a gift from Chris on my birthday:)


I am trying to create creating...
a relaxed, clean enviornment in the home.


I am going...
to get rid of the clutter and all of this extra "stuff."  It is driving me (and my type A husband) crazy. Simplify, simplify, simplify.


I am reading...
about Clean Eating, working out, and the transforming power of self-discipline.


I am hoping...
to inspire others with my life.  I will be posting before and after pictures in a few months.


I am listening to...
Joel Osteen's Podcasts and upbeat music for my workouts.


Around the house...
Bags to give away and constant discernment about what we really need.  How did we accumulate all of this?


One of my favorite things...
The sound of my children running to the door and my husband yelling "Daddy's home!"  A close second are the words: "I can work from home today if you need me to."


A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:
Hunkering down at home.  It is supposed to snow and Willow still isn't feeling well.  It will be good for everyone to have some family time.  Chris and I grew up in the Northern part of the country.  We both love being snowed in:)


Here is picture thought I am sharing...



Why I love snow days.  Landon was stck in the swing.  It took Chris, my Mom, and I to get him out...