{Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real} September

We have a late, late, end-of-summer birthday to bring a final burst of fun before the beginning of the school year, courtesy of Galadriel.

This year a certain almost-9-year-old-girl requested that she get to decorate her own birthday cake!

{Pretty}

I might feel a little awkward about blogging my feet.  But this is my first professional pedicure, ever! My sweet sister met me and a couple of my girls at the mall. We wanted to take a moment to be together and "restore" a bit after a difficult week before.  We sat and chatted and it was so special.  With a dozen children between us--and she has one on the way!--it is a rare occasion to steal away for any reason at all, much less for such a luxary!:)  You know what? My nails still look awesome and I'm happy to show off my toes before the fall weather makes me pull on socks!  

 My new St. Philomena statue.  I was totally surprised to discover that the religious goods store that I purchased this statue at had a real relic of St. Philomena in the prayer room.  They also had one of St. Therese.  I felt very personally graced after the morning visit and I am so happy to have a tangible reminder of the baby who was with us for such a brief moment.

{happy}

For those who have been following the renovation with baited breath...

we're siding!!!

{Funny/Real}

It's not funny that Pip's cage was discovered with the swinging door unhinged and down and the hutch empty.  (That's the "Real").  We are still hoping that he will emerge from under a thick hedge after a long afternoon nap.  Sadly, as the hours pass by, my hopes are lowering.

What is a little funny, and very cute and sweet, is the way the neighborhood girls begged to make "Lost Bunny" signs.  Can't say I've ever come across one before.  I admit, I'm a touch sheepish about posting these about the neighborhood.  And yet, how does one dash the hopeful hearts of a flock of children who have spent the spring and summer watching Pip grow from a tiny bunny to a fluffy buck?

***Update: Pip found!
Story to follow...

I think we just started our school year

Amid the walls vibrating with electric saws and hammering...

my children begged me to let them begin their school year.  I pulled out the Bibles; my plan was to begin with Scripture study each day, but in my new, "unschooly" way, using our "commonplace book" method.  I told them they could read, copy out passages, illumine the passages like the monks of old...and they had a 30 minute block for this.

Aragorn - age 12

I did make some suggestions to the middle aged ones.  Galadriel asked me to help her find a nice psalm.  If you look closely, you will notice there are mistakes in some of the copying efforts, but that's part of the lesson--I'll gently point out those little errors and help them correct them.

Galadriel - 4th grade

Legolas- "3K"

 We can sneak an "o" in there--right? ;)  ("Copy carefully!")

Bilbo - age 7

I'm going to admit--the builder's radio set to the Country Rock station didn't assist the ambiance of the morning.  I'm actively praying for the interior work to be finished this week!  But oh with what joyous anticipation we are all awaiting our new space for learning and working!

dry wall!

panorama

St. Joseph the builder, pray for us!  St. Philomena, patron of students, pray for us!

Progress in the Schoolroom

 In case anyone is wondering how our addition is coming along...

They've started to drywall.  Here is the framed out opening from our dining room area--the doorway will be the space on the far right, and the two wooden posts will be wall.  It's nice because it extends our dining "room" wall where there used to be a sliding door out to the porch.

The doorway will not have a door, and will be slightly more gracious than a usual (32-inch?) doorway.  It's about 40 inches and will just be framed out.  I thought long and hard about this, and I think I'll like the open flow with the house, and the space to be able to carry armfulls of school "stuff" in and out with more ease.

 Same wall from the flip side:  Sadly, the brick will all be coverd, but I want to be able to hang things on that inside wall (white board, maps), which will be the "front" of the classroom.

So, here it is all insulated--and the door is on now!  Mmmm...that's it for now...stay tuned!

{Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real} Not-Back-to-School!

{Pretty}

With early-this-week's cool weather (it was in the 60's!) the deer were out eating the crabapples from our neighbor's yard!  

{Happy}

Can you see all three bunnies? Zorro's black, but you can see a piece of her.

 School starts for the local Catholic schools tonight, with supplies drop-off and social.  It starts in earnest on Monday.  We are going to wait to start until Labor Day.  I love seeing my children enjoy the last days of summer in the yard with their friends.

No nap today, and we've switched our our choice of weapon.

{Funny}

Do you see the bunny going up into the tree house?

{Real}

Have you all discovered the wonder of kinetic sand?! It's a must.  Why is this "real"? Well, Legolas is playing with his sand during the family rosary, on his beanbag, in our living room.  Anything to get in a family rosary with the littles!

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I love this Mary in our woods.   I see her from the house and she consoles me.  I'm sad.  I know that hormones are playing their role, and I'm not quite a week from the miscarriage.  But sometimes, I just think of what was supposed to be, and what is now.  I know that God has it all in His loving plan.

"The Lord gives and the Lord taketh away, blessed be the Name of the Lord!"

"He was created and lived a short time so the image of his parents imprinted on his face may stand before Me as their personal intercessor. He knows secrets of heaven unknown to men on earth. He laughs with a special joy that only the innocent possess. My ways are not the ways of man. I create for My Kingdom and each creature fills a place in that Kingdom that could not be filled by another."

                                                       (taken from "a miscarriage prayer"--Mother Angelica)

                                                           (read the rest here).

{This Moment}

Another nap, another gun.

Funny (Overheard)

Gimli:  "So why did the baby miscarry? Could he just not breathe in there or something?"

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It's so good to find little moments of humor during otherwise sad days.  Thank God for my children!