Road Trip Daybook

Outside my window:  Well, not the above Rocky Mountains...but they do loom in the distance.
I'm in the High Desert, and...it's dry!  I think a humidifier would be a good idea, especially at night!
During the day it's been sunny, which I do not take for granted ever...but I also have allergies here that I do not get in the northern midwest.  I'm trying to focus on the plusses.

Celebrating the Liturgical Year: Happy St. Patrick's Day!! My husband has said that our family should hold off to celebrate St. Joseph's Solemnity on Saturday...meaning, no sugar today for those who are giving up such things for Lent.  We'll see if my poor husband doesn't get overruled by his wife...we both have Irish roots and I intend to celebrate.  It may just be corned beef, cabbage, and soda bread this year.  All I'd like to add is a Shamrock Shake from McDonalds!:)

True Confessions: The road trip was a blessed journey.  I think there were so many prayers said for us that the Blessed Mother truly paved our way with perfect weather, sunshine, and clear roads.  We traveled 6 hours on Day 1, twelve on Day 2, and 8 hours for the final day.  Day 2 was the best.  We flew!  And stopped to walk Reina and eat lunch outside of a Wendy's or hit a gas station.  Each night we were totally exhausted, but ready to hit the road again the next morning.

Learning Lessons in:  Letting go.  You know how when you are sick/have a baby/are unable to "keep house" how good it feels to get back into the swing of things?  Well, it's sort of like that when I visit my in-laws.  I try to remember to be thankful for the break from cooking/cleaning/housework...but it's also a little weird having your house/home "taken" from you for an extended period.  I suppose most people are only lucky enough to get away for a weekend or ten days at best.  Most people probably will never have to be away for over a month at a time.  Again, I try to see this as the blessing it is (mostly, because my children get to develop such close relationships with their family on this side of the country), but there is something, for me, of an adjustment, and I would even say a sense of loss, as I learn to make a home in a home that isn't mine, for an extended-yet-temporary time.  Detachment.  I am sure this is very good for me.:)

not-so-much-at-home-Schooling:  We brought some workbooks.  Mostly Math.  So each afternoon we hit our math (and maybe a little spelling/English/Religion, depending on the child (Arwen brought more)).  There also has been a lot of water coloring at the kitchen table and chalk drawing outside.  I don't mind the looser schedule.  I really don't mind the Easter break coming soon!  It hasn't been hard, but there is always the knowing that you have to "get to it" each day, and I think we all enjoy our breaks when they come!  I'm excited about some new books I ordered, under the pretext of Easter, but really just to have more literature around for our visit, and hopefully for the ride home as well (depends on how fast they are read).

That's my update for now--I'll be back with more glorious pictures of where I'm at (not just through my car window en route)...just as soon as my allergies allow me to leave the indoors!!

A Day in the Life: Homeschooling 14, 12, 11, 9, 7, 5, 3, 2, and pregnant!

Today I am joining up with sharing "a day in our life" with the linkup over at Simple Homeschool.  

Welcome!!  This blog is very much an old school "mom blog", so nothing too fancy, and nothing is sold, here.  

It's funny, I think I'm in the running for "most kids home schooled" on the link-up. . . but I know I'm not alone.  And as I always say, it's having those three little ones that makes super heroes out of us moms.  Honestly, two little ones is enough.  So, if you are a mom with less than, say, 5 kids, and you're wondering  "how do you do it??"…just remember--I'm not dressing my 14 year old! (Even if I still braid her hair for her in a pinch:)).  Actually, my 9 year old will dress my toddler half the time, so--there's encouragement for you!  On to the homeschool!

We used to do school in the basement.  Then, after a good decade of homeschooling, we were able to put on an addition.  I blogged all about it last summer and fall.   

 

I really really love being on the main floor and having the natural light and windows to lift the spirits as we tackle our work every day.  Truth: we still use our dining room table and couches, but at least at the end of the day the books and clutter all end up in here (mostly).

Newcomers may not know that we have rabbits.  Lots of really cute mini-holland lops (well, just four), and we let them visit us in the schoolroom to add to the chaosmess fun.

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and of course Miss Reina, our ten month old labradoodle who tries to come in and steal fallen crayons

On to the brass tacks:

This is a curriculum overview (and I'm never very precise about these things).  Skip it if you just want to see what our day looks like:

I use Catholic Heritage Curriculum materials heavily.  I like their pre-K and primary grade workbooks because the lessons are short and to the point.  I use MCP math for primary grades because I really struggle with mom-intensive and manipulative-dependent math.  At 4th grade we switch to Saxon.  Not a program with a lot of bells and whistles, but solid.

I've gone "down the history trail", "alphabet path", and "science" with Elizabeth Foss over at Serendipity.  I love picture books for science and history for younger children.  When my big kids were little I'd read to everyone at once and group everyone together.  Then I discovered the excellent, glossy-paged, history texts over at CHC and let my, now, big kids do those for history on their own.  Occasionally, I have to get involved and read to the big kids out of a more serious history text.  I'm a Christendom College grad, so I'll pull out Warren Carroll on them (yes I will!).  They love history, so it's easy.

I've used Apologia science books, which are explicitly creationist in viewpoint (I've heard others get tired of this strong mantra throughout their books).  I'd rather have creationism than evolution, and I love the glossy pages and pictures.  Science texts can be so dry.  I think these are very appealing.

Did I forget much?? Those are the big subjects, right?

And now it's time for… "A DAY IN THE LIFE":

(I'll try to be honest)

6:00 alarm goes off.  I might be up before this because I'm a morning person and I can never get enough of a jumpstart on my day.  (On the other hand, I might sleep through it and not come down until 7.  Keep in mind that I am pregnant.)

Make coffee, turn heat up, grab prayer books  (I try to say the Morning Office, read the Bible, and journal.  Then I try to check my e-mail and blog.  Given that the kids trickle down about 6:15, I might be reading Dr. Suess at any given point instead).

I wish I could say that at 7:00 I exercise.  Reality is that on a good day I hop on an exercise bike at 7:30 and pedal for ten or fifteen or maybe 20 minutes while yelling at the kids to get ready for Mass.  If the weather is beautiful, I might not be able to resist a quick walk with our dog.  I'm such a morning person, and I cannot ever get over the fresh morning air and sunshine.  However, it's late winter 'round here…and sunshine doesn't always happen.

At 7:50 (more on my awesome timing below) I'll hop into the shower for three glorious minutes (if I haven't exercised, I might just skip the shower--sorry, trying to be real here) and slick my wet hair into a bun.  Throw clothing on myself and whatever toddlers are ambling around in pj's and in need of dry diapers and shove everyone into the van.

8:15: leave for Mass.  Mass starts at 8:15.  We go daily.  We are hopelessly, always late. (Huge sigh).  Someday we will do better.  We know this is not ok.  We try.  We fail.  But we do always go!

Going to daily Mass gives us the obvious spiritual strength for the task of our day ahead, but also ensures that our big family is up, dressed, and out the door at an early hour.  School kids have to be at school at 7:30.  Some people like being in pj's at noon.  For me, in a family this size with a lot of work to do, it's just chaos.  Did I mention I'm a morning person?

9:00 head home.  Pray "Anima Christi" and "Seven Sorrows of Mary" on way home.  If it's not Lent, I often make my husband get me coffee on the way home.  The kids might get to split cookies if I get coffee.  Not a great habit, but it is a nice reward for the huge effort to get to Mass, and it gives me the courage born of coffee and sugar to face the morning ahead.

Sometimes we'll hit Target or Trader Joe's on the way home.  The stores are so wonderfully empty on a Monday morning at 9!  And I can stock up on important things we need for the day without having to load everyone up again later on in the day.  I do NOT bring all of the kids in with me.  I make my daughter (or husband if he's just letting me run in) tell the kids a story.  Yep.  I'll tell a story if he's running in for me.  We tell all kinds of ridiculous tales.  The kids love it.

I need to mention that my husband is with me for all of this.  Yes, I loose all superhero status by admitting that.  I am happy to admit that everyone who does anything remotely close to the above on their own is WAY better than I am.

9:15 (or 10 if we've done errands) home.

Breakfast:  I make a huge breakfast every day.  Eggs.  Pancakes.  Oatmeal.  Smoothies.  Buttered toast. Some combination of the above.  I have the kids do chores and get started on school while I cook (dog out, etc).  I do not make lunch!  By the time we've eaten a huge, hearty, and late breakfast, we are ready to work.  My kids are free to make pbj's or throw together a ham sandwich in the afternoon, but as far as I'm concerned, I'm done in the kitchen until dinner.  (I might make a snack, like popcorn, in the afternoon.)

9:30-11:00 School!  (11 is too late, but in reality, if we do lots of errands, it happens from time to time.  We might have morning dentist/doctor/orthodontist appointments).

All kids in desks (big kids might move out for more quiet).  I float between desks and get kids started on lessons.  I check little kids' math work, I praise 3-year-old handwriting, I praise 2-year-olds' scribbling.  I work through spelling and english workbooks.  I do reading lessons with my 5 year old on the couch.  Usually I start loosing the little kids around 12:30 (think whining and crying).

At this point I will read storybooks to my 2-and 3-year old (or turn on Curious George if we're really desperate) while I set the kids over 4th grade to finish math with their dad.  I am going to admit right here that I'm good on math through 3rd grade.  Yes, I am a college grad.  An English major.  Judge as you will. ;)  (My husband's really good at math).

If I'm really lucky, my dad will fit us in on his lunch hour and come read a classic work of literature to my kids from 12:30-1.  Over the years they have read Adventure Isle, Treasure Island, Robinson Crusoe, Where the Red Fern Grows, Robin Hood and on and on.  "Poppy" is our "classics program"!:)
Before my dad started to come we did more books on tape in the afternoon to give me a break.

1:00 Big kids finish reading history, science, writing projects, scripture copy work, religion (Faith and Life series), on their own.  They typically finish by about 2-3 pm, other than maybe my 14-year-old who has the biggest work load (and maybe gets side-tracked by her artistic instincts aka doodling in the margins!:)).

Galadriel- age 9- scripture copy work

By the time the neighborhood school kids are home from school, we're done.  If the weather is good, my kids will run outside and play with their friends.  Winters are long, though, and we're all pretty cooped up by March. Basketball season brought lots of practices in the late afternoon and evenings.

2 or 3:00 I start vacuuming, doing dishes, getting started on dinner.  I might have a sister drop by to have coffee and let the kids play.  Once in a while we have co-op from 2-4.  When the weather is good we meet friends at the park once a week from 2-4.  When weather is bad I have a friend who hosts an "open house" from 2-4 once a week.  We try to make what we can.  However, I'm going to say that if I'm out or entertaining during the afternoon, the house suffers.  I have to find a balance as best I can.

I'll run to the grocery store for last minute items needed for dinner.  Have coffee, check e-mail/blogs/shop on-line.  I like to take my dog on a walk if I can get out.  I might have a few along in a stroller or walking with me.

3:00 hour we pray the Divine Mercy chaplet. (Unless I'm at co-op or a friend's house).

4:45/5:00 I usually have a pre-dinner clean up session for the family.  We take out trash and sweep and pick up the main floor.  If the kids have been outside they get called in to clean up the yard (bikes and balls in, etc).  I'm just finishing dinner and probably getting it served too.

5:30/6 dinner

any evening practices or games

7:00 read aloud with Dad.  We're currently going through the Narnia series (third time through, and it just keeps getting better!)  We've done Lord of the Rings, Little House books, and lots of historical fiction from the Bethlehem book list.

8:00 family rosary

8:15/30 bed!

My older kids have a "lights out" time so my 14-year-old can read/draw/journal in bed until 9:30 (or  ten, because, well, she's 14).  I'd usually stay up until ten-ish myself, but as I mentioned, I'm pregnant.  So, lately…I'm in bed before my kids are asleep.

That's it! A pretty realistic "day in the life".

Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real::March Comes in like a Lion

{real}

It's March!  And yes, it came in like a lion.

You all have seen the epic film "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers,"correct?  If not, you will watch it tonight.  With your entire family.  Then you will be singing with me the "winter is oh-so-long" song of the kidnapped brides-to-be: "March comes in like a lion, what else? Still the snow never melts!"  I cannot tell you how much I love that movie.  

{happy}

If it just had to snow, it sure was a nice surprise when the neighborhood girls rang our doorbell and asked to play!  I had five out back making snow igloo homes yesterday.  I will absolutely never ever ever take for granted having neighborhood friends that are sweet and the same ages as my kids.  It's a home schooling mother's boon.  A boon, I say!:)

{Pretty}

After almost surviving February, we got a bout of stomach flu on the 29th.  Now we've got some coughs and body aches and a few warm foreheads.  Please, Spring, come quickly!

I think I had the chills, or else it was actually just cold in our house, but I had the kids build a couple of fires for us this week.  They never complain about that fun task!

I am 100% crazy about pure beeswax candles.  The flames are so much brighter than other candles!

I got a bunch blessed on Candlemas, but I know they'll never last the year.  

The pink and red of Valentine's Day and February has given way to the green of St. Patrick and his Shamrocks.

{Real}

Ouch!  Little Cricket got a broken leg!! This is why we must never own any such dainty breed.  Cricket is getting pampered over at her home with her very devoted owners, who are keeping that cast dry and Cricket as sedentary as a little puppy can possibly be kept.

With as many times as Cricket has been mentioned in our family rosary, I have no doubt that this little friend will be all healed up in no time!

Life is Crayzee :: A Daybook

I've had so little time for blogging lately!!  Lots of home schooling, basketball, and housework these mid-February days.  

Outside my window:  Friday was a ridiculous weather day with gusts of wind around 50 mph.  It blew ALL day.

The morning sky was glorious.  There was lots and lots of "melt".

Saturday left us in pools of mud.  My kids had the best day ever.  Our basketball hoop broke free of the mound of ice and snow it was locked into after the plowing and was finally rotated towards the driveway.  Muddy muddy hands, and fresh rosy faces.  Leave shoes outside, happy Mom inside. :)

Saturday night babysitting:  Arwen babysat my niece last night.  My niece is 4 years old, so Arwen spent her evening in the company of this little friend.

Am I getting carried away with all of the pictures?  Too many?

And she got paid for this!?!!

"Cute and Cuddly things" revisited:  Remember that it wasn't just puppies I was excited about last week!  Someone made her entrance into this world!!  It's a girl!! I'm an Aunt like 20-times over, and it's eversy bit as amazing, wonderful, joyful and love-filled with this new precious!

I didn't obtain permission to blog this one, so I'm taking liberties and just sharing a couple that I am personally fond of.  My hubs:

He's so cute with babies! You have to know that he's secretly terrified.  Yes, father of ten (or 8, count how you like).  

 And this one of me.  I barely got to hold my newest niece.  Eowyn was having NONE of it.  She screamed and cried, and made my niece cry, and I had to pass the baby back to my sister.  But I got this one moment of love--can you see I'm in heaven?! (Ok, maybe I just blinked, but I read heaven!!)

So now it's Sunday: We were slow on the uptake this morning and had to head to our neighborhood church instead of to the parish we belong to.  Eowyn is into wearing "a pretty dress" every day, which is not possible.  A "pretty" dress is not just a cute play dress.  Nope.  It's full-on Easter Sunday.  Think crinoline.  (I store our girls' old fanciest dresses in Eowyn's closet, which is where this all began).  Well, today being Sunday, Eowyn "talked" me into wearing her Easter dress.  It's sleeveless, as fancy dresses often are, and I couldn't find a sweater.  Then we couldn't find tights.  She needed a diaper and her hair combed too, and we were minutes away from the time Mass starts.

 My husband managed a diaper and the hot-pink flashing-light tennis shoes I bought for her yesterday.  No sweater, tights, or hair combing.

I might have died a thousand deaths on the way back from communion.  I tried to grow in humility.

The thing is, my other kids looked pretty good!  I even curled Arwen's hair!  --sigh--

I try.

Plans for the week:  Gimli has his final tournament game today.  They're in contention for first place.  Poor Aragorn was in contention for last, and they lost.  We're just games away from wrapping up this season.

I've got to do a serious Lenten purge!  "40 bags for 40 days" style.  I'm determined to clear this home out.  Some people can organize.  I have no abilities in this area.  All I can do is get rid of our possessions.  Then I clean, and we live in relative order.

Relative, that is, to the number of people who live in this home.  And relative to the fact that we all NEVER leave!!! Homeschooling does have that added aspect: it's at home.  A good place to be, but the  mom doesn't really get the family out from 7:30 am till 3 pm (plus sports practice).  But of course, that's one argument FOR homeschooling, too.  Perspective, right?

Ignore the buddhist references, and this book is my philosophy in a nutshell!  Highly recommend…but not if you're awesome at storing things.  In that case, pack-rat away!:)

Enough deep thoughts out of me--hope you are enjoying your Second Sunday in Lent!
Have a good week!

Catching Up Daybook

Outside my window:  Sunny, and absolutely freezing!  Wind-chill advisories are out for 25 below between midnight and tomorrow morning.

From the kitchen:  lots and lots of tea.  I'm lamenting the loss of my favorite tea ever!! It was a Trader Joe's seasonal vanilla and cinnamon tea that my sister gave me as a gift last fall.  I'm almost through a tin of holiday tea from my other sister, and after that…I have to go shopping!  Next year I'm stocking up!

…and meatless meals.  Lent inspired: tonight I'm making eggplant parmesan.  Last night I made spaghetti squash.  I usually make that with regular spaghetti noodles for the kids, but was surprised to discover I am completely out of noodles!  So, yes, shopping.

Living the Liturgy: Lent is here!  We got our ashes on Wednesday.  I won't complain about not having sugary drinks…like hot chocolate or honey in my tea…because that's what I gave up.  I'm not complaining.  I will say that having sub-zero-freezing-cold days to start this season off is very appropriate for my particular little sacrifice. ;)

I'm gearing up for next week's co-op.  I've got exciting craft plans that I hope will turn out to be fun for the kids.  With the ages ranging from 14 down to toddlers, I'm going to try to have something for everyone.  The theme is Lent!  So, jelly jars for "sacrifice beans".  And if I'm lucky, we'll make our own little pocket oratories!

Cute and Cuddly things:  This world needs more openness to LIFE.  Now, life causes messes and demands things of us.  Life is hard work.  But, I think we need to agree, life is also worth it!  What in the world am I talking about?

Puppies.  And newborn babies.  I wouldn't place them in that order except that in my extended family, they are coming in that order.  This afternoon I met "Cricket": my sister's brand new Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.  If anyone is feeling depressed, can I just recommend a puppy?!  Sooooo cute!  Cuddly! Warm, soft, 8 weeks old.  I might have left a piece of my heart in my sister's living room.

Luckily, I get to bring one of these beauties home with me!  I'll take her!

And babies: my other sister is OVER due.  C'mon little bambini--come out!! Prayers for a safe delivery welcome!  My sisters are all champion birthers--none of them have had an epidural.  I'm pretty sure none of them ever screamed profanities either.  So wish I were part of their club.  Well, I guess I've got quantity over quality on my side. lol

If you aren't won over by the pictures, you may not be an animal person.  Or maybe just not dogs?  I get it.  But I'd still recommend houseplants and flowers.  Must infuse winter--February in particular--with LIFE!!  (Unless you're an avid bird watcher and backyard wildlife observer.  Then you don't have to bring anything in and I give you a pass.  Here's looking at one of my favorite sisters, who is very bursting with life--inside and out!  But not so much on pets.)

I am reading: Too many books on my nightstand!! Sally and Sarah Clarkson's "The Life Giving Home".  Recommended by Elizabeth Foss.  Gleaning for inspiration…my eldest daughter might be terrible about mocking Sally's sweet tone.  It might be a little cheesy, but she's right (Sally, not my daughter) about what makes a home and why creating one is so important.  That and an amazing little classic "Searching For and Maintaining Peace" by Father Jacques Philippe.  Got worries and anxieties? Read.

Baby Reveal (yes, I'm just sneaking this in here):  How to say this?  I had my 20-week ultrasound on Monday.  I know I was confident, yes, some might even say smug, about "knowing" what I am having.  Just to brag give a little background on that confidence: I had no ultrasounds with my last two home births.  I got out the pink for Rosie and blue for Legolas.  No gender neutrals.  I went all in, including buying rose bedding for Rosie and Peter Rabbit for Legolas.  And I was RIGHT!  Both times, with SUCH CONFIDENCE.  I can't tell you how I just KNEW, but they felt 100% "girl" or "boy".

I thought it was the same this time.

I mentioned before that I had prayed for the intercession of St. Maria Goretti when her relics toured the US for the first time in history and landed at the parish church less than a mile from my home.  I prayed there twice and included prayers to her murderer, Alessandro.  When I discovered I had conceived a new baby within the week, I immediately began to think of my baby as "Maria".

Maria Grace, Maria Felicity…but always Maria.  Sometimes I'd play around with other names I love and put Maria in as a middle name.

For 20 weeks.

You know where this is heading.

The ultrasound!  With such confidence I told the ultrasound tech (who knows me pretty well by now) that it's a girl.  I actually mentioned that at least two or three times before she went for the "reveal".

And oh-my-baby-BOY!! It was NOT "Maria" in there!!!

I humbly, and really very joyfully relinquish my smug and confident role of baby predictor.  I was dead wrong!   This is me, eating my hat!

Truth?  It's been an adjustment to my brain to wrap my mind around "boy" when I was soooo sure "Maria" was my little one on the way.   But not an unhappy adjustment.  From the moment we saw, my husband and I burst out in laughter and tears of joy.  And the picture on our fridge looks JUST like Legolas!!  Too too cute!

So…I've got 20 weeks to work on boy names!

Have a great weekend!!

February Blues

I began blogging (again) a couple of years back when I encountered a "30 Day Challenge" (was it 31 days?) to write on the same topic for that many days.

Amazingly, I thought it would be a good idea to address my challenges with postpartum depression.  I think I might have lasted a week.  It wasn't the most cheerful start to a blog.  But the posts are still up in the archives if you wanna track 'em down.

Luckily, I'm not postpartum at the moment.  I do know that depression can strike during pregnancy is a rather high percentage of women.  But, thankfully again, I'm not suffering at this precise moment.

I think it's really hard to write about.  I think it's harder to admit that it's something you struggle with.  Somehow there's a sense of shame that seems to be attendant to admitting emotional struggles.  And I think that those who have not had to suffer these issues have a really hard time compassionating those who do.

I also know that depression tends to come seasonally.   Solstaces can be hard my chiropractor tells me.   The darkening days of fall, and, I would argue, that lengthy stretch of winter that is post-holiday-cheer and not really anywhere near Spring.

I have a simple strategy that does not stop the emotions from coming (I'm not sure we are capable of that).  But to help cope when the waves surge (and they do ebb and flow).

I think the best advice I have is to try to find a balance between pampering yourself and pushing yourself.

Vigorous exercise gets endorphins a-flowing, and it does lift the spirits.  The more strenuous the exercise the more beneficial.  But of course, if you feel like curling up and dying…maybe you don't start with that.

Maybe you start by creating a little corner of peace.

Light a candle near a cozy armchair.  For me, silence is healing.  If you are a stay-at-home mom, the shouts and cries and whines of many children can be painful to frayed nerves (cue Mrs. Bennet).

Read the Bible, write in a journal, or simply sip tea slowly.

Then, maybe, dust a mantle or clear off one surface that has built up clutter.   If this doesn't apply to your life, great, but I think all of the mess of being at home with lots of children really grates upon ones sense of calm.  A quick pick-up and maybe a vacuum.

Simple, concrete steps towards "being a good mom"…making something simple for dinner, but serving it with peace and spending that time of loving presence to your family.  Even if you retire to the couch after you eat.  But maybe you rally for a quick storybook to the little ones before bedtime.

Just small, simple steps.  With frequent rests.

Little treats: tea with honey (I'd really recommend avoiding coffee and chocolate if depression is bad, but I would always make an exception for coffee in the morning), a nap, flowers from the grocery store.

And then, when you can, a session of exercise.

Finally, if you can find a project of some sort: Spring cleaning, quilting, scrapbooking.  Something that you can chip away at a little each day, but something that you enjoy and look forward to each day.  It helps you want to get out of bed in the morning, you know?

Until the season passes, and it's not that hard.

Just some coping strategies that have helped me.

[And I'm no doctor, so I'm excluding clinical cases that require medical attention.  There's my disclaimer:).]

Candy before Lent

Yesterday our homeschool group met in a big room beneath our local library to celebrate St. Valentine's day early--so we could eat candy without worrying about breaking Lenten resolutions!  (Lent starts on February 10th this year, so the 14th is a hard day for a Valentine celebration).

Score!!  I'm a total homeschool mom nerd, but I get a HUGE thrill out of a new stash of pencils!  Thank you Valentine take-home treat bags!! (times 8 kids)

I took the opportunity to lead the kids through the free Pro-life lesson plan Jessica posted about in January.  I didn't own Eric Carle's "The Grouchy Ladybug", so my husband obliged me and picked it up just for this occasion.

I embellished with the extra "ladybug" books I found on buy shelves.  

After learning about the legend of how the ladybug got it's name, and talking about praying to Our Lady to protect unborn babies, we headed off to do some ladybug crafts!  (Thank you Michael's craft store!)

These were a little tricky for our youngest crafters, but with a little help they did great!  Decorating them with stickers was easy!  Plus, the heart stickers tied in the Valentine's Day theme in perfectly! yay!

(bookmarks)

 We finished up by reading about St. Valentine.  Last year one of the moms read this one:

 So I skipped it this year and read this one instead:

We came home to eat our candy and read our Valentine's!

Bilbo told me that one of the Valentine's he received (a Disney princess one) said "You're a snow queen, Valentine!"…I told him that a) the little girl who gave it to him cannot read yet and b) people don't really read the Valentines as they fill out the names.  Haha!