Sacred Heart Devotion

All right, I am starting to get a little creative with the art projects.  The book called for a simple line drawing of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  I quickly prepared construction paper templates and let the kids practice their cutting and gluing skills.  I recall doing a lot of cutting and gluing in kindergarten and first grade.  Not only does it improve hand eye coordination, but it is also fun.  

Alex and Kristiana did surprisingly well.  Annie had lots of help.  But, she always has fun when glue is involved.  They were all pretty proud and hung them on the refrigerator. 

My God, I offer You all my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings in union with the Sacred Heart of Jesus, for the intentions for which He pleads and offers Himself in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, in thanksgiving for Your favors, in reparation for my sins, and in humble supplication for my temporal and eternal welfare, for the needs of our holy Mother the Church, for the conversion of sinners, and for the relief of the poor souls in purgatory.

Oddities

This guy was an impulse buy at the grocery store this week.  I had not planned on buying an eggplant this week, but I saw this guy and I just had to have him.  So I brought him home and made baba ganouj.  

As my daughter and I were walking around the produce section, she saw some peaches with noses.  She thought since we picked an eggplant with a nose, that we had have the peaches with noses too. 

--Fun at the grocery store with my daughter.  She topped off the trip with a dish of sushi from the deli, which she ate up all herself (spoiled, girl).

Mno Hiya Lita!

"Be of good cheer.  Do not think of today's failures, but of the success that may come tomorrow.  You have set yourselves a difficult task, but you will succeed if you preserver; and you will find a joy in overcoming obstacles.  Remember, no effort that we make to attain something beautiful is ever lost.  What I am looking for is not out there.  It is in me."  -Helen Keller

I needed to hear this today.  Someone little did not want to be obedient today--a real independent spirit.  The children all bickered a little too much.  Truly it drove me to the brink.  I really was not in the mood to deal with it either.  Halfway through the day, I decided we should sit down and have some ice cream and watch a little T.V. to calm everything down.  My ice cream party did not make life any better.  

Later we all went to the gym so mommy could blow off a little steam.  I felt 100% better about everything.  Then we went out to the parking lot and we were right at the car loading in, when previously mentioned someone little took off on an exploratory expedition of the parking lot.  Someone little is in a lot of trouble.  Let's just say I am putting this person on probation.

This bad behavior and how I felt about it (stressed) made me second guess our decision the home school.  Sometimes I feel like we must be a little too cooped up, because of the bickering and disobedience.  However, I know we would face the same problems whether the children went away to school or stayed home.  I know this is true because my siblings and I constantly bickered even though we went to good schools.  We never had good relationships.  For the most part, my children are friends and have fun. 

Part of their behavior is normal for kids growing up.  Part of it is the kind of environment one fosters.  I hope I can figure this all out, and help my family be holy. 

Mno Hiya Lita!

 

Poor Kitty

A kitten is not a toy.  Tell that to a 17 month old.  I told my husband that I think our kitten is not very smart, because he keeps letting himself be caught be the children.  Although, he already has a favorite hideout--under the TV armoire.  Someday he will learn to run away.

Mno Hiya Lita!

Art Class

Sometimes I feel I should be doing better things in art class.  I remember childhood art projects so fondly.  However with all the little ones it's hard to do anything special.  

Part of me feels that our curriculum is not very good in certain areas.  While it teaches line drawings appropriate for the age, it lacks the kind of creativity that I feel little ones need at this age.  Then again if it required more than basic supplies I would not do it anyway.

Indeed, I should be able to come up with some creative projects.  There are a few reasons I do not do more creative complex projects.  Firstly, when I sit down to lesson plan on Sunday or Saturday night I am usually pretty tired and not feeling creative.  I just want to slap together the lessons and launch head first into it on Monday.  Secondly, it's pretty difficult to conduct a proper art class with so many little ones around.  Lastly, owning lots of different art supplies is expensive.  

As they all grow more mature, I am sure that we will do more elaborate art lessons.  However, I worry for the older children that they did not get to experience it when they minds are most creatively fertile.  C'est la vie. I am sure they will turn out all right. ;-)

Here were are working on painting a Chalice

Lucy was getting in the way of the older siblings, so she was banished to eat pretzels.

Mno Hiya Lita!

Playground

We play in our Cul de Sac a lot in the Fall.

Sometimes other neighbor children join us.

But at the end of the Cul de Sac...

  …we have bulls and a white mule.

I love the way dead tree branches stretch to the heavens so poetically.

Mno Hiya Lita!

Why I Do Not Wear a Chapel Veil

It really bothers me when devout Catholic women write opinion pieces about wearing chapel veils in the sanctuary as though they were attaining some special  humility before Christ; as though their holiness were greater than those who do not wear veils.  Women practice the tradition of wearing veils in the Byzantine Catholic Church, the Orthodox church, Orthodox Judaism and Islam (to name a few).  Perhaps the arguments they make are true for them, but not for me.  

As an Eastern Catholic Christian I pray everyday the invocation of the Holy Spirit which goes as follows: 

          "O Heavenly King Comforter, Spirit of Truth, You are everywhere present and fill all things.  Treasury of Blessings, and Giver of Life, come and dwell within us, cleanse us of all stain, and save our souls, O Gracious God."

God's presence everywhere is a truth for every Christian.  Therefore, I do not believe one should only show this degree of humility and modesty in the sanctuary.  It should be practiced everywhere as a sign of humility and modesty.  Until women are prepared to do so in the public eye, I see it as hypocrisy and vanity.  You might as well be a pharisee advertising your holiness for all to see.  I prefer the publican's route, come to Christ with humility in your heart not on top of your head.  "O, God, have mercy on me a sinner" (Lk 18:13).

When I go to the gym I might wear a tank top and shorts.  When I go to swim, I wear a modern one piece bathing suit (personally, I could not afford a much more expensive swim dress).  I wear skirts that go to my knees!  All of these practices are considered immodest by historical tradition.  Until I am ready to wear a burka everywhere, which in truth is the only acceptable modest attire by tradition, then I also do not feel it a necessity to wear a veil to church.  All women of the one true faith should consider this question, "Am I as modest and humble in every aspect of my life as I am before the Blessed Sacrament?"  If not, then "Am I a hypocrite if I only do this where other people can see (people who are praying)?"  

Another reason I do not wish to follow this practice are simple ones.  First, I see it as a vanity: the delicate lace, the beautiful patterns, the expensive fabrics.  To own a chapel veil is a luxury for me simply because it is not an essential piece of attire for everyday use.  For me it's a vanity because I would fuss with it all during church making sure it was positioned properly.  One reason I would fuss with it's position is because I have four small children who would tug at it and play with it.  Then if it fell off, or was taken off my head, I would worry about the immodesty of it.  This is not a disruption I need in my worship time.

As far as I understand this is a mere expression of faith and is a more of a tradition of culture rather than a mandate.  If the tradition is rightly intentioned, then we may desire to practice it to do the proper thing amongst our Christian brothers.  As in, we do it because everyone else is doing it as a sign of modesty.  However, in our culture, a veil is not a sign of modesty, but an archaic symbol of oppression.  

Before we start writing devotional editorials on the virtues of veils, I think our time would be better spent teaching young men and women the virtues of modesty in attire in their daily lives.  Before we run out and buy a veil, let's run out and go to confession.   Let's come the Lord with humble hearts and not just humble heads. 

Mno Hiya Lita!

I bet you are wondering how the next day of homeschool went.  Well, I did not allow T.V. until the end of the day and everything went as planned.

On another note, I now need to go on more errands with the children so they can practice good behavior in public.  They are always running off to play or look at things.  They are either going to do something bad, get hurt or kidnapped.  It's just childish play and curiosity, but it's really bad manners.  It does not seem to matter how I discipline, they are always losing their heads and behaving badly.  So my answer is that they need more practice until they get it right. ;-) Wish me luck on more frequent outings with little ones.

Now, I am going to have some chocolate cocktails with some girlfriends.  We get together every once in a while; loosen up with a drink or two and then speak our minds. ;-)  It sure is nice to have good friends.

Mno Hiya Lita!

We're All Laughing...

…and crying.

You know, words cannot express what it is to be a home schooling parent.  Just in the same way that no one can prepare you for parenthood, no one can exactly prepare you for what it will be like to be a home schooling family.  I read all sorts of books before my first child was born on how to prepare for parenthood.  When the moment finally came, I was flabbergasted.  Every moment to the next I dealt with the facts of life for which no one could have prepared me.  That is what home schooling is like.

To this date I have read probably six books that explain home schooling methodology.  The great consensus seem to be building up the confidence of the parents.  They also lay out arguments for home schooling to be the greatest good.  These tenants of home schooling are true.  The rest of the methodology is merely finding a plan that works well within your family dynamic.  Or as I have found, it is about finding something that works for now, because the children are busy growing in and out of developmental phases.  My job is to maximize the childrens' learning potential within their particular developmental phase.  As soon as I have mastered one phase someone is moving into another, or getting left behind...

Today, was one of those days in which I was doing everything right, yet everything was going wrong.  I made one critical mistake this morning.  I allowed the children to watch T.V. before school today.  This never turns out well.  For some reason if they watch T.V. in the morning they are a mess for school.  I knew this, but I was having a slow start this morning, so I let it go.  The rest of the day was war.  School took extra long.  It was painfully drawn out.  Everything would be going fine and then someone would get sidetracked.  I could not keep up with Annie's mischief.  I would blink and something bad would be going down.  

Paint came out when I blinked.  However, I succumbed.  What could go wrong?  I was there to aid and monitor.  Everything went fine, until Annie decided she finished her picture and then she dumped her paint water all over everything.  That's about the time Mommy lost her cool.  School was dragging out and there was paint on the carpet.  I was done with all the mischief and the crying and the what have you.

School finished late in the afternoon after having begun at 9:20 a.m.  The children were free to play.  I began dinner preparations.  The children were in the open living room.  I could hear them playing.  It sounded benign.  I finished dinner prep.  I asked Alex to come to the kitchen to have a long-needed haircut.  He said he couldn't because he was cutting Kristiana's hair.  I said, you mean you are cutting with the play scissors, not real scissors.  He announced, no it was real scissors.  Aaaagggh! Noooooo! I spoke loudly and firmly, not yelling.  I explained that he knew better, because he had done this before.  He was punished and sent to sit on his bed.  He was crying.  

I came to him a little later and asked why he had done that.  He said he was trying to help her, because her bangs were so long she couldn't see.  They are long and she can't see unless I pull her hair back, but we were growing them out.  It's not even a fixable haircut.  Someday her hair will recover from brother haircuts.  My hair recovered from sister haircuts when we were little.  He still should have known not to cut her hair.  It was sweet of him to be thinking of her.

It was just icing on the cake of a mischievous day.  We had laughing, crying, pudding and haircuts.  Then I burned off some steam at the gym…then an after workout cocktail.  Tomorrow is another day.  It will be better.  I'm not going to allow T.V. ;-)

Recess! Alex has learned how to fly while swinging.

I should have known she was up to no good.  This is how home school began. (Notice something?)

Kitty in a purse

Close Call

Our new kitten went missing today.  We were starting to think he was gone for good.  Annie left our backyard gate open this afternoon.  I only discovered it when we were heading to ballet and I asked the kids where the kitten was.  They did not know, but they had thought he was in the backyard.  As I went into the yard I found the gate open.  I walked around the house and found my daughters pulling their bikes into the street instead of getting buckled in the car. Alas, no kitten.  I buckled everyone into their seats, locked up the house and texted the neighbor to keep an eye out for the kitten.  

A couple hours later, we returned and no one had seen him.  My husband had looked for him when he came home from work.  Of course Kristiana chimed in that we would have to go back and get another kitten.  I sneered that they did not show responsibility with this one.  Honestly, all weekend long they have been dragging the poor kitten this way and that. 

Happily, shortly before bedtime we heard a mew.  My husband found him sleeping in the office, hidden away.  Lucky kitty snuck a peaceful nap away from his tormentors.  He seemed to be in much better spirits for snuggling with Annie after the long nap.

We're not sure about this whole kitten thing.  We hope Annie learns to treat her kitten right.  Annie sat on the cat a couple times.  He is all she thinks about right now.  She dragged him into Lucy's crib this morning.  I am not sure if she scared him, but he peed in Lucy's bed.  Then no one bothered to tell mommy until I was trying to put Lucy for a nap.  

Was it a good idea to get a three year old a cat?  No, definitely not.  We're not going to take it back though unless something really goes wrong.  Here's hoping it all works out.  He is a really nice cat.

On a side note, Annie still looks like a sweet peaceful baby when she sleeps.  Here she is taking a Sunday afternoon nap.

Mno Hiya Lita

Birthday Present - Meow

Annie received a toy kitty for her birthday last year.  This year she received a real kitty.  I had no plans to get a kitty.  But, whilst looking for a missing child, I ran into my neighbor who said I should come see her kittens. "No thanks," I thought.  Our home has no place for a cat, as much as everyone would like to have one.  But, since seeing kittens is always fun, I foolishly sauntered to her backyard holding the hand of my missing child.  We saw the kittens.  They were cute, but nothing special.  Then she said that the kittens had lived outside ever since they were born and she thinks they have been catching mice.  

An outdoor kitty piqued my interest, because even though we have no room for a cat, my husband really wanted a cat.  He finds them very relaxing.  Our dog needs an animal companion as well.  Annie definitely took a liking to my in-laws cats over the summer.  She was scratched countless times and still went back for more kitty petting.  So darn' it, I picked my favorite kitten and brought him home for my husband to see.  

The neighbor said that there is no pressure.  If it didn't work out, we could just bring him back.  Of course, the kids are in love and they named him, Titan.  Everyone said it was Annie's kitty for her birthday.  Daddy said he was Daddy's kitty.  Mommy doesn't mind as long as we all understand that the kitty needs to live outside most of the time.  We cannot have a litter box, because there is no place for one.  Now we have a cat.  We're doing our part for God's creatures, right?

For the rest of Annie's birthday, I had hoped to have another family over for a little party.  But, Annie ended up coming shopping with me this morning and she picked out a small cake and presents.  Then of course being three, she picked up the cake and hugged it.  It was ruined.  I helped her fix it later.  As soon as we were home she wanted to eat it.  So we decorated it and began celebrating.  It was a good little celebration.  Good thing she is still young and the third child.  She doesn't expect much.  ;-) May it always be that way.  Life is better when it's the little things that make you happy.

Mno Hiya Lita

I Can't Do Anything Right Either

"We're all still learning."  That's what I told a little girl at our home school co-op this week.  She was upset and crying, because her poster, "The Classifications of a Lion and a Dog," was not right and not getting done and time was up.  She was very angry with herself because she could not do anything right.  I really did not want to her to feel badly, because there would be time on another day to work on it.  There was nothing wrong with her poster.  She just needed more time.  I know that feeling that I couldn't do anything right.  Honestly, if I think about, there is not much I do perfectly on a daily basis.  Truly, I cannot do anything right either.  But, the important thing is to not give up and to not defeat oneself.  

I have never been good at anything at the start.  I have never been what folks call, "a natural," at anything.  Some may claim that I was a natural at art.  But, it's not true.  I can be quite terrible at it.  I simply have patience to make things beautiful.  However, I know I lack the craftsmanship abilities to be great at it. I digress.  I have always had to work at anything I have achieved.  When I feel that defeat at the beginning of something new, I always say to myself, "I will not give up.  I will be good at this."  Then I work at it until I feel at least at par. 

Tomorrow is another day.  I will be better tomorrow.  All will be better tomorrow.  I will make tomorrow better.  It is never too late to start anew tomorrow.  It is one of the graces God gives us, so long as we are willing.  Better yet, I will choose to be better now.

Aside, I have been trying to take pictures of the kids in their cute little uniforms they wear to co-op each week.  The first week they all looked so precious.  Even Lucy had a uniform.  I thought I had taken a couple sweet pictures.  However, when I returned home and looked for the pictures on my camera, there weren't any.  I do not know what happened.  It's time for a new camera, I think.  The second week, the batteries were dead.  It's definitely time for a new camera.  The third week, I managed to take a couple pictures.  But, it's not all the kids and I don't know where Lucy's uniform went.  Oi vey.  Here's a taste of co-op cuteness.

"We like our school."

Mno Hiya Lita

Learning that Recess is Essential for Homeschoolers

Recently, I noticed that home school goes better if the kids get to play outside first thing in the day.  When I planned out our home school schedule over the summer, I planned that we would have P.E. right after morning prayers and our religion lesson.  The first week of school trying to execute this plan was a disaster.  The kids were soo squirrely, giggly, silly and playful.  I essentially live with the biggest giggle monsters on the planet.  The sillier and more giggly they got, the more I would try to "discipline" them into behaving appropriately/respectfully.  My authoritative commands never worked and my temper boiled until I was yelling at them trying to gain order.  Clearly I was losing the battle for good behavior.

As a result I would cut out P.E. because we had wasted so much time trying to sustain decorum during prayers in religion.  We would immediately go to our classroom to continue the day's lessons. I would make the children muscle their brains through half of their lessons and then I would let them break for recess.  They would get a snack and play for a while.  After recess, things always went more smoothly.

For the next few weeks I tested different scenarios.  The next week I brought in chairs for prayer and religion.  I thought that if they sit apart, not touching,  this would cause less silliness and would help them focus.  Another reason I needed chairs was because Lucy and Annie fought daily for sole possession of mommy's lap.  If they all sat in chairs, then no one could have mommy.

Alas, with the chairs came just as much silliness and interruption.  Not a single one of them could sit still.  They were so wiggly those chairs went toppling over countless times.  I thought I was going to go mad.  But, I was going to figure out how to get their attention for prayers and religion.  The next day I used my husband's belts to belt them into their chairs.  They thought it was so much fun to have seat belts.  Kristiana and Annie stood right up and went walking around the room with chairs belted to their bottoms, giggling, racing and bumping into each other.  So I gave up the belts after a couple days.  I liked the idea of the chairs though.  Believe it or not, it did keep them somewhat contained and kept their attention a tad longer than being free to sit anywhere.

However, one morning, they wandered out to the backyard right after breakfast and played outside before prayer and religion.  It was late in the morning before we started to school, but it went quickly and without discipline issues.  Another day, we decided to shake up the routine and went to the gym first thing in the morning instead of the afternoon.  I could not make a regular habit of this, because in general, if I wait too long into the day, they get tired and unfocused and do nothing or do it very slowly.  The day we went to the gym first, school went very well.  I did not yell or have trouble with discipline at all.  The next day we did the same thing and it also went well.  I decided they needed to get the wiggles out first thing in the day.  Perhaps, this is why schools always have time to play outside first thing in the morning.  

This week I have decided to force the kids outside to play before school each day.  So far, so good.  I think the physical activity gets their brains going.  It gets the neurons firing.  

One thing I have learned is that not only is routine important, but also keeping it fresh, light and fun is also important.

Morning Prayers with Decorum (sort of) - For those unaware, Byzantine Christians pray with arms folded across their chests to lift their prayers to God on angel's wings.  See how the hands crossed look like wings.  Or another popular posture is hands open to Heaven/Icons to show total submission and openness to the Almighty Creator.

Sometimes Lucy crosses her arms and sings too.  But in this picture she wanted to see of what mommy was taking a picture.

School When Everything Works out Right

Mno hya Lyta!

The Ten Minute Blog

I have just given myself ten minutes to write a blog in ten minutes.  This is an attempt to keep this blog alive and rolling and prove to myself that I do have the time and mental fortitude to continue chronicling our lives. 

I had a triumph today.  But first some background.  Annie broke her collar bone over the summer.  We had to get a second opinion because the first guy said nothing was wrong.  But, her shoulder was hanging lower than normal.  Not knowing whether this was permanent condition, and after getting advice from a nurse, we went to see a second doctor.  The second doctor confirmed the break immediately.  I sought the advice of the insurance company before going to see the doctor, but I was misinformed/misunderstood and the insurance did not cover the visit.  After speaking to a lot of nice people and writing a letter of appeal, I received a letter in the mail saying that the insurance company would cover the expenses.  It was such a relief.  We do not have to come up with an additional $275.  Now if all insurance issues were resolved so easily and quickly.  

Next up I have a letter into the hospital that misdiagnosed her.  Her records are under review.  I understand things are missed sometimes.  But, I do not think a proper exam, or x-ray was performed.  So perhaps we will get a small break on that bill as well. 

Over the weekend I made time to work on an icon.  It is a little under half done.  But hopefully, I will resurrect icon writing as well as blogging amidst homeschooling, co-op teaching, Tupperware selling, cooking, cleaning, and my regular exercise routine.  

Finally, Andrew discovered this wonderful whiskey.  I am not usually one for whiskey, but I could drink this one all day long.  It is so good!  Andrew often fixes and builds computers.  Over the weekend he worked on some computers and received our favorite whiskey as payment.  I like this plan.  He needs to hang out his shingle and start taking expensive booze as payment. ;-) 

That's all for now.  This blog actually took 30 minutes, including picture taking.  I'm back in the game.  Mno hya lyta! (May God grant you many years)

7 Quick Takes - Almost Blogs

1. My four year old woke up this morning and made up a song called, "Man, Jesus, Dino."  #specialmoment
    
2. She followed that little diddy up with, "Mom, one day I am going to fart like you." #likemotherlikedaughter
    
3. She can't wait to grow up and have all the grownup lady parts and have a baby of her own as she tells me frequently. #notsofast
    
4. I waited all week, used everything in my pantry, made a menu plan and grocery list. Finally the day came, I showered put on make-up (gasp!) and dressed myself and my girls nicely.  Then I went to the grand opening of a grocery store, which is a lot closer to home.  It was crowded, but I got everything I needed. #shoppinginstyle
    
5. My husband bought me a new washing machine. This is how he shows his love among other things.  He must love me a lot considering all the stuff he does.  #mendostuff=love
    
6. It may seem a small thing, but I think it is huge.  After weeks of having many outbursts about the children's behavior, I felt very discouraged.  All I could see was that my house was a wreck, I feel totally mad, I'm broke and everyone is at each other's throats.  Things always seem darker in the heat of the moment.  That night I said, "Tomorrow will be different.  I can do this."   I prayed for God's grace.  The next day was different.  We changed our routine a little.  The day went very smoothly.  It was miraculous. #Godanswersprayers
    
7. These were little snippets from blog entries I have started and never finished.  I start all sorts of wonderful blogs in my head and then never get a chance to write them down.  Then they escape me completely.  I need to start jotting blog notes again.  Hopefully, I can get this blog going again.  But, who knows.  Those baskets of laundry don't fold themselves.  #becausesomedaywewillwanttoremember

Homeschool 2013

We've started our home school year.  Actually we're four weeks into the school year.  Alex and Annie have been star pupils.  Kristiana has been a challenge.  I have struggled with silliness.  I have struggled with disobedience.  I have seen lots of Annie made floods.  (She has been liking to wash her hands a lot and holding tea parties on the home school table.)  It's not a bad start, but it's not picture perfect.  Today, I decided to work with Alex alone and then work with Kristiana.  This tactic worked well for Kristiana and Alex, but it left Annie to her own devices, which never works out well for mommy.  One of these days I will get it all right and I will wonder why I ever fretted.  Here's praying for those days. 

My Students:

 

Summer at Grandmom and Granddad’s

 

Thank you, grandparents for the place to stay,
For the quiet, cool out of Texas hideaway.
Thank you for endless hours of T.V., and movies galore,
And not being too mad when we left messes on the floor.
Thank you for all the fun shopping trips
And for giving Daddy mowing tips ($$).
Thank you for being so kind when we had lice in our hair.
Thank you for supporting our Mommy through Tupperware. 
Thank you for Cheetos, hot dogs and pop tarts. 
Thank you for opening your home and your hearts. 
We love our Grandmom and Granddad, 
We appreciate all the fun times we had. 
Summer only comes once a year. 
We will come again. Don’t you fear.