Kids Crafts: Making Something Out Of Anything

Sometimes, I like to plan arts and crafts for my kids.  I’ll have an idea, or see some great crafts project in a magazine or online, and we’ll do it.   But whether I plan arts and crafts or not,  it still happens in this house, and all over this house, every day.  The kids sure don’t need me, to come up with creative ideas.  In fact, I’d go so far as to say, that their wild imagination tends to venture further than mine does.

I try to keep the school room stocked with art supplies at all times, so that the kids can get creating any time it strikes their fancy to.  But to tell you the truth, they often end up using lots of materials I didn’t supply, or would have even thought of.  Every time I turn around in this house, there is some new creation sitting there, or they are playing with one, or someone is suddenly at my side saying, “Mama, look what I made!”.… Read More

About The Big Picture Section of the Blog

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The Big Picture section of the blog will just be about LIFE!  It’ll be random posts that cover a wide range of who-knows-what topics, that don’t seem to fit in any others sections of the blog.  The posts may be about our family sometimes, but not always.  They could be about a place we went, something we did, saw, became aware of, experienced, or something entirely different that we just feel like blogging about.  Generally speaking, you’ll never know WHAT the post will be about in this section! It’ll be a mixed bag of miscellaneous life! But one thing you can count on:  they’ll always be more photos than you can shake a stick at!… Read More

A Simple Pentecost Sunday

Our Pentecost Sunday this year was really quite simple. Not quite the more elaborate occasion we made it last year.  But it was nice anyway.    Acknowledging it was the most important thing to us, starting with mass.  But the kids spent the morning, before leaving for mass, trying to remember and name all 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit, the 12 Fruits of the Holy Spirit, and the 12 apostles.

But when we got home, we did decide to make some Holy Spirit cupcakes.

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I saw the idea somewhere or other, and I knew the kids would love it.   We added almost a whole bottle  of red food coloring to the chocolate cake batter, but once we baked the cupcakes, it wasn’t that noticeable.  But the fire frosting you couldn’t miss, by the time the kids were done!  We added orange and yellow food coloring and attempted to make the frosting into peaks, to resemble the fire of the Holy Spirit that descended upon the apostles, of course.   But I think our technique was lacking, a little.… Read More

Question:

Disgusting?

Or just part of God’s beautiful creation?

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I’m telling you….I am all about marveling in God’s wondrous works.

And I’ve grown to have great appreciation for A LOT.

But this one?  Well…this one just gives me……pause.

The way it moves….those antenna eye things….the way it always leaves behind that suspicious wet trail.

What’s up with THAT?

Here. Have a closer look:

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What do YOU think?

Creepy?  Or Cute?

*  Ok, Paula makes a good point in the comments below. So everyone, please feel free to leave your own ‘one word adjective’!… Read More

They Just-Can't-Wait…

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Our three 6 year olds have just flat out had it. They have been waiting to make their Holy First Communion, fully aware of all it means and how very special it is, for at least a couple of years now.  At every mass, they have watched us parents and their big sister go up to receive Jesus in the Eucharist. When we get back to the pew, and kneel down in prayer, one or the other often wants to whisper about how much longer it will be, before they can go up too.

First Holy Communion seasons are especially torturous for them.  For every Sunday mass we have attended throughout the month of May, and sometimes the end of April and beginning of June too, for years now, they have watched child, after child,..… Read More

Sacraments, Chickens and Randomness.

This past weekend was a crazy and bitter-sweet one.  We traveled out to western MA, where I am from, about 2.5 hours away, because my God-Daughter was making her First Holy Communion, at the same time as our niece>my brother’s and his wife’s daughter! Same morning, separate churches, separate towns.  Don’t you love it when 2 all-important events are to happen simultaneously, and you have to choose which one to miss?  We are so joyful for both of these beautiful little girls who we love so much, but I knew I would be where I was obligated to be, with my God-Daughter, and I was honored to be present as well.  I cried too much, from sheer joy.  Seeing her make this beautiful and fulfilling sacrament really moved me.  But it was still sad to miss our niece receive her sacrament as well.… Read More

My Mother's Day in Photos

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We hope you had a lovely Mother’s Day too!

Please share with us a little about your special day!

Edited to Add:  I have had a realization, from a forum that I visit, that not all husbands /children/families, can be thoughtful on such days as these.  Not every family does things the same way, either. So with that being said, I would just like to say that I hope & pray every one of you mothers felt the love and honor from your loved ones, on this Mother’s Day.  If your day was less than you hoped, know that you truly are worthy of all you wished it was, in your heart.Read More

For All Mothers…

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~A MOTHER’S LOVE~

A Mother’s love is something
that no one can explain,
It is made of deep devotion
and of sacrifice and pain,
It is endless and unselfish
and enduring come what may
For nothing can destroy it
or take that love away . . .
It is patient and forgiving
when all others are forsaking,
And it never fails or falters
even though the heart is breaking . . .
It believes beyond believing
when the world around condemns,
And it glows with all the beauty
of the rarest, brightest gems . . .
It is far beyond defining,
it defies all explanation,
And it still remains a secret
like the mysteries of creation .
Read More

May Basket Deliveries! – SO FUN!

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There was no schooling on our agenda today – just delivering our May Day Baskets, and the kids could not have been more excited!  But, first, I had to have some of my own fun, taking just a few more photos, as detailed memories.

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Ok, now I was ready. So next the kids loudly debated about which basket was ‘theirs’, based on the tag they made, and who was going to who’s door, ringing the doorbell, and running for their life.   Once that was settled, they were very eagerly ready to go!  But you know I’m getting a photo of them first, and they know it too.… Read More

Preparing May Day Baskets

Last year we spontaneously decided to throw some May Day Baskets together, secretly deliver them, and hope they make someone feel thought of, and smile.  The kids had fun putting them together, and even MORE fun delivering them. We only did 2 baskets last year, but this year we thought of 4 recipients that would be more than delighted with such an unexpected surprise, on a seemingly ordinary Friday. Now that the kids learned last year what fun it is,9<click underlined to see last year) they’ve been VERY excited this year/week to do it again.

So all week we’ve been picking up the little things we needed, and today we got it all together and made our May Day Baskets.… Read More

Earth Day-Taking care of His Creation

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Last year on Earth Day, our family started the tradition of going out and cleaning up our neighborhood roadsides and beach, to help care for God’s Creation in our own teeny tiny corner of the world.  We actually do this other times of the year as well, but it’s a plan on Earth Day, if the weather permits. Thankfully, today it did.  So instead of our formal school work, we headed out and got to work!

I HONESTLY helped clean up trash too, but I was also very busy taking photos, as usual.  Last year, Michael made all of our kids trash poker sticks, so they won’t ever be using their hands.… Read More

Winner of Our 1st Give-Away Received…

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For those of you who have been itching to know what the winner of Our First Give-Away received, this is the post you’ve been waiting for!  For those of you who are new to our blog, and have no clue what we’re talking about here, these links may help:

Announcement for our blog’s First Give-Away!

Winner Announcement

Now that we’re all on the same page, here we go…….

The first thing the winner received, was the box itself, that we put all of our hand-made gifts in! I’m telling you, I just loved this box.  We did not make it, we bought it.  It was just the perfect size, sturdy, and simply lovely.… Read More