A 6th Birthday for Rosie!

"When I was One, I had just begun.

When I was Two, I was nearly new.

When I was Three, I was hardly me.

When I was Four, I was not much more.

When I was Five, I was just alive.

But now I'm Six, 

And clever as clever,

So I think I'll be Six now 

For ever and ever!"

                                                                             --A.A. Milne, "Now we are Six"

Happy Birthday Rosie!!

Rain Day

Eight years ago I set up an aquarium at my mother-in-law's "spare house" that she lets us stay in when we visit.   I think I set it up in the Spring and I'd replenish the fish whenever we visited.  We used to visit more frequently than we are able to now, and she has a housekeeper who loved to feed the fish and add water to the aquarium as needed in between our visits.

I just never had one at "our" house!

For a long while I wasn't sure where I'd like to put an aquarium.  I was also deterred by the cost and the general effort it takes to buy one, set it up, and stabilize the water before adding fish.

This year I decided I knew I wanted one: in our schoolroom.   And the schoolroom was up and running in October.  Then it was the holidays.  Then our vacation to the Southwest was on the horizon, so I waited (one less "pet" for my dad to take care of while we were away).

And the school year is rapidly winding down!  So I was at Petsmart with Gimli last Friday and I (foolishly) decided that it would be the perfect time and chance to "pick up" that 40-gallon aquarium I had set my heart on.  My husband had ok'd the overall decision, but I knew he wouldn't want to be troubled with details.  However, I am seven-months-pregnant (remember?), and of course I didn't ask for help out to our van!  Gimli worked very hard to help me lift that tank into our van--I love Gimli!  He is always willing to try (even if it was a really desperate attempt by the two of us!)  We managed to get it into the van and bring it home.

I filled it, and ran the filter, we put in the gravel, and stabilized the temperature.  Of course, we were all waiting for one final detail: the fish!

Today was a very rainy day, all day!  After Mass the younger kids were listening to a "book on tape" (ipod these days) and I snuck out with Aragorn.  Ten neon tetras, 8 "glo fish" (platys), one ciclid (I think!) and two spotted fish (I am forgetting what type, but they're all good community fish (aka non-aggressive) later, we headed home.

We added some shells and decor, floated the fish in their bags in the aquarium to acclimate them to the temperature, and then added them--at long last--to the tank!

 We finally have realized a very long awaited hope of mine.  I'm pretty excited about it in case you missed that;)!  And it gives us a little extra incentive to finish out our school year strong by spending a bit more time in our school room enjoying our new friends.

Mother's Day 2016

Happy Mother's Day!

"No; a woman's function is laborious, but because it is gigantic, not because it is minute.  I will pity 

Mrs. Jones for the hugeness of her task; I will never pity her for its smallness."

 --G.K. Chesterton

Field Trip Day :: The Zoo!!

Today we had a field trip day!

Arwen loves it when we get to the zoo because she gets to practice her photography skills.  She was quite proud of this shot:

Since I put Arwen in charge of the photos, I am actually in some of these pictures, and, since I'm growing ever so well in the virtue of humility (yes, I jest), you might actually get to see a glimpse of that not-as-cute-as-some "baby bump" I'm sporting (I mean, I would never say my baby is not-as-cute-as-some, but I'm not my ideal image of pregnant beauty)

On to the zoo!  We totally lucked out this visit with amazingly good weather so all of the animals were out, plus, there had been some new births!

A baby gorilla was recently born (here he is on his mama's back) and was very fun to watch!  At this point Eowyn was pretty much loving the zoo.

Then we saw...the orangutan!!  It was a 34-year-old adult male and I'm not going to lie...he was a little scary.  Eowyn was seriously, um, concerned. 

I couldn't hold her forever (due to the belly), but I got help:

(still clinging tightly)

As we moved on she started perking up again.

Even he's no longer officially the baby boy in the family, at 4-years-old he'll still hitch a ride:

All 8 lined up to see the bears:

In an amazingly foolish act of teen-age imprudence, Arwen at this point suggested to Eowyn that she would "throw her in with the bear"...at which point Eowyn came crying and screaming back to yours truly, and then to her father because, yes, I can't really carry my toddlers for long over "the belly".

Must love peacocks (actually, pea fowl, according to the sign).

Luckily by the time we saw the promised "baby giraffe" (and the elephants) Eowyn was feeling less traumatized by the trip.  Because this was a sort of "end-of-the-school-year" celebration, we let the kids ride on the carousel and the train (I know, spoil, spoil).

So yes, at the end of this beautiful morning at the zoo, and after seeing all of the amazing animals, Eowyn's favorite part?  Riding the "horsey" on the carousel with her Daddy.

Next week? Back to work! We've got to wrap up this school year so I can focus on more important things like getting my baby's clothes washed and folded in a dresser!  Newborn diapers!  I tell you: a mother of 8 has so little time to nest!

Spring Homeschool :: Taking it Outdoors!

When the skies are bright and blue after too many chilly and drizzly Spring days, our bodies and I think even our souls yearn for the outdoors!

 

Dandelion leaves and maple leaf buds are gourmet treats for a rabbit: even these creatures seem to bask in the fresh air and sunshine (and more varied diet) after the long winter in our garage!

finding clover in our neighbors lawn

I sat with Rosie and tried not to be distracted by the littles and the rabbits so we could work through some easy readers from CHC.  We had quite the coincidence! 

Rosie had already found a "baby rolly polly" bug after church and made a pet of it, giving it a slice of apple and placing it on her desk in the schoolroom.  She ran in and added her ladybug to the bug jar:

"young entomologist in the making"

 Despite appearances, we made it through two readers and went in for a snack!  It was a successful morning of homeschooling at its best!

Monday Morning in May::Daybook

Outside my (boys') window:

Surprise!  The egg count is up to 3 as of this morning!  I love how robins will do that--get you all excited by laying just one egg and then add another every day for a while.  I'm wondering if we'll get four before the laying is through.

(photo credit: Arwen)

Last week was so painfully grey and cold and full of rain.  I honestly really really have a hard time without seeing the sun.  A couple of those cloudy days the sun did break through for a couple of hours, so I was able to make it through.  God is merciful even in little ways.

(photo credit: Arwen)

This morning the sun is shining clear and bright!  Good weather is predicted for this week.  I intend to bask in every ray--outdoors as much as possible!

(photo credit: Arwen)

May is the month of Mary:  I was so very delighted to discover that the new statue of Our Lady placed outside of our neighborhood parish is "Our Lady Seat of Wisdom"--the title of Mary that our Galadriel is named for.  The priest is going to consecrate the statue after the May Crowning next week and we intend to be there!  (I'll try to get a picture of Galadriel with her "patron statue").  

Funny: last night I told Galadriel the title of the statue of Mary and she said, "A statue, in my honor!"  We laughed and said, "no, you were named in her honor!" 

May is for priestly ordinations and travel:  I have a brother who is going to be ordained this May.  In Europe!  (prayers welcome)  I cannot really go 7 months pregnant with 8 children in tow...financially or physically (or psychologically) so I will wait for him to visit in June and say his "first Mass" with us here.  My husband and I, however, have decided to send a "representative": Arwen!

While I recognize that this is a huge and exciting opportunity for her (one I certainly have never had!), the Mom in me is trying to keep my anxiety at bay as I anticipate sending my daughter to the other side of the world!!!!!  Keep in mind that I'm a home-schooling mom.  I'm probably more attached than most moms to their kids.  This one is stretching me.  (Even if she is going with my parents!)

A few plans for the month:

Baseball.  Practices start tonight.  My husband is head coach for Gimli this year.  I get to take Aragorn to his practice now that he's moved up to another league and not on Gimli's team this year.  Tomorrow is Galadriel's first softball practice (and first time on a team sport!)  She couldn't be more excited (or cuter in her softball uniform!).   

My husband did have to beg for an assistant coach to sign on:  come late June there's a "little someone" who is due to arrive.  He trumps a baseball game--and there's no way I'm doing this alone!! Happily, a kind uncle offered to assist, so we've got a back up if hubby needs to make a fast get-away to the birthing center!:)  

Track.  Arwen is excited because she's got field events at her next meet (the last one was indoors and just had the running.)  Long jump, shot put and discus ahead!  I'll let you know how it goes:).

Prayerfully pondering:  high school.  Are you sick of hearing about this?  I'm still waiting for the new "classical curriculum" high school opening in our area to announce location and headmaster.

...I am also honing in on my favorite home schooling for high school options.  I'm praying so hard (and probably making my husband crazy by talking his ear off) about what is best for my oldest daughter next year.

I have a pretty strong "philosophy of education" that I apply to no one but my own family, and it flexes for each child's temperment and learning style.  I'm opinionated and picky when it comes to giving what is good, true, and beautiful to my children.  I want them to learn how to work hard and have discipline in their education, but I don't want to "kill" their love of learning by driving them through tedious and dry material just because it's part of some set curriculum.  It's all a balance, and I don't think I have it all figured out!

The thing about Arwen in particular is that she is a girl who is always up for a challenge and new experiences.  I think that school would be a thrill for her.  However, she is also very detail-oriented and self-motivated.  She would thrive with a demanding and set curriculum (she loves lesson plans and checklists!)  But she also has needs for a healthy social life.

I have more thoughts to add on that point, but I have a little boy who wants to read Dr. Suess right now--so I'll post and write more on that later!

Happy Monday!  Happy May!!