My Thoughtful Spot

Discipline

Let me begin with a confession.  I am skipping my daily nap, which has become a good habit, for some extra time online to write about discipline.  Does that make any sense?  I was gung ho about this Charlotte Mason Summer Study when it first started.  I wrote a big old post about atmosphere and then I got busy, I guess.  I've been wanting to write some thoughts on discipline, but you know, the strangest thing has happened. Ever since I started thinking about this little third of education, I've been struggling with it.  It's not just the typical noticing reality more, like when you're thinking about buying a Ford Windstar van and you start to see them all over the highway.  This is a serious decline in my ability to discipline my children and be disciplined myself.  It may even be declining in proportion to the rate that my pregnant belly is growing.  But that's impossible to measure.

I mentioned one day that I was working on first time obedience with Snuggler and a couple of people asked me to share about what I am doing.  Well here it is:  what I'm doing is failing miserably.  When it comes to first time obedience, here's a good idea  (if I kept highlighters in my home, I would have highlighted this sentence from Education Is in the brightest color possible.)

The main principle is to apply the consequences sooner. 

It sounds so simple.  But simple doesn't mean easy. And I keep on hearing myself say things like: "If you do that again, you're going to lose...."  "Do you hear me???"  "Look at me..."  "You're not listening to me..."  "This is your last chance...."  It's pitiful.

I have a book called Discipline That Lasts a Lifetime: The Best Gift You Can Give Your KIds by Dr. Ray Guarendi.  It's a riot.  It's full of parents with names like Consistently Inconsistent, Constantly Tired or Hoarse, who ask him for advice.  Unfortunately, I can identify with them.  It's probably time to read this whole book again.  I recently reread the chapter on Acting, Not Yakking.  There are some interesting points in it, like:  The more you talk, the less you're heard... and... The more space between your mouth and your kids' ears, the less you're heard, no matter how loud you get.

I think this explains why I've been so ineffective lately.  I'd much rather threaten from the big, comfy couch than get up and do something.  I'm continually waddling my 34 week pregnant body over to the bottom of the stairwell of our over 3500 square foot house and yelling up messages.  "Who's slamming that door?"  "What happened?"  "Why is so and so screaming?"  "Get down here right now!"  I really can't go up the stairs for nonsense.  I need to save my energy for when I need to go up there to check my emails, right?

Wrong.  I think that the importance of cultivating good habits in our children is the main message of Education is a Discipline.  Author Sonya Shafer lists some of Charlotte's thoughts:

• We should put intentional thought and effort into forming habits.
• It's not always easy to administer consequences, but our children's futures depend on our faithfulness and efforts to do so.
• Incessant watchfulness and work are required for forming and preserving habits.
• Cultivating good habits makes up one-third of our children's education.

If I agree with these thoughts, which I do, then shouldn't discipline be one of my top priorities?  Shouldn't the rest I need, the attention the kids need, the sticking with routines, the consistency, come before my desires to watch Tiger Woods or to finish education plans in one night or to post something on a online forum?  Well, yeah... but as Elizabeth stated in her discipline post, being vigilant and consistent requires grace.  Pray, pray, pray for the strength to be consistent.  I'll try.  And I'll keep reading things that inspire me.

Back to Charlotte Mason

I remember the first time that I heard of the Charlotte Mason Method.  It was in the summer of 2003, most likely on the day that Bobby said about homeschooling, "I think it's an option that we should look into."  Well that's all I needed to hear.  I went straight to Barnes and Noble and purchased one of the few homeschooling books I could find that day.  It was called So You're Thinking About Homeschooling and it was by Blair Warner, which I thought was quite funny.  I'm sure I read the whole book that night and I remember being most attracted to the chapter which described a family traveling in an RV.  The boys would narrate living books with their mom and spend hours playing outside.

A homeschooling friend of mine loaned me her copy of A Charlotte Mason Companion.  I remember her telling me that it was her ideal, but not really how they homeschooled.  Internet searches brought me to the old Catholic Charlotte Mason website and I eventually purchased Real Learning: Education in the Heart of the Home and many other resources on the Charlotte Mason Method.

We began homeschooling in September 2004, when Worker was to be in Kindergarten, and I started out with a Charlotte Mason inspired curriculum designed by me.  Our first year went very well, but many factors (boredom, fear, curiosity, busyness) have led me to try other avenues.  We've used Five in a Row, CHC workbooks, and schoolish unit studies.  We've made lapbooks, tried Montessori presentations and followed Sonlight instructor's guides.  This spring I felt the desire to go back to Charlotte Mason.  I reread most of my resources, except for the Original Homeschooling Series, which I have never read.  I focused on what I think is my ideal homeschool vision as I purged our schoolroom, trying to unearth the things that are most important, and getting rid of almost everything that didn't support that vision. At the end of April I discovered a neat series of planning posts at the Simply Charlotte Mason blog.  I immediately printed them out and did some planning work.  (Speaking of planning, this new e-book looks fun.)  I also printed out the free e-book called Education Is and I purchased and printed the e-book Laying Down the Rails: A Charlotte Mason Habits Handbook.

Today I was pleased to find that Elizabeth Foss (the author of Real Learning) has begun a discussion of these two e-books on her blog.  I'm not exactly sure how it will work, but I think other people will post on their blogs and use the Mr.Linky (what a cute name) to add their links.  I look forward to reading what Elizabeth and others have to say.

This is really turning into a ginormous post.  Shall I make it even longer by sharing some thoughts about Education Is, which was the original purpose of this post?  Chapter 1 is called "Education Is an Atmosphere, a Discipline, a Life."  How about this?  I'll start with just my thoughts on "Atmosphere."

I'll begin with the first sentence I underlined in Chapter 2: Education Is an Atmosphere.  It's easy to get caught up in the reading, writing, and arithmetic and forget that our children are watching us day in and day out.  Yep. I forget it.  I need to be reminded that much of what a child learns he picks up by watching and listening to those around him.  I would love for the atmosphere of my home to be consistently filled with my serene, serving, grateful, peaceful, loving attitudes and my positive ideas, but unfortunately, my other attitudes and ideas (those not so good ones) keep popping up daily.  More than daily.  I know that the better I am at taking care of myself, the better the atmosphere around here is going to be.  I have choices.

• I can choose to go to bed early and wake up well rested.  Or I can choose to enjoy a late night and then start the next day dragging, with less patience and more irritability, etc.
• I can choose to turn off the computer during the day and give my complete attention to my children and the tasks at hand.  Or I can throw off the schedule by checking my email or get engrossed in reading something online and ignore the little one who needs me or get annoyed by the "interruption".
• I can choose to start my day with spending time with God, asking Him to direct my thinking and asking Him for help in doing His will.  Or I can exhaust myself trying to run the show.
• I can choose to eat the right foods at the right times of the day.  Or I can give in to those cravings and pay the consequences.  Maybe I'll be too tired to clean that bathroom, or I'll whine about having to wipe that butt instead of cheerfully doing the next right thing.
• I can choose to stick with our routines, helping our days to flow peacefully.  Or I can let them go for days and then blame the kids.  "What happened to your room?  It's trashed!"

I think that's probably enough about how my behaviors affect the atmosphere.  What about my ideas?  In Chapter 3 of Education Is, the author states that our homes reflect our priorities, our personalities, our preferences --- the ideas that rule our lives.  Taking a look at our home I think that one might guess that I like space and order and books.  Bobby likes closed cabinets, technology and a tidy yard.  Our large dining room and kitchen tables might suggest that we hope to have a big family.  Our upstairs is full of things that are important to the children, such as toys, stuffed animals, books, art supplies, dolls, dress-up clothes and LEGOS. Our garage and backyard would tell a new aquaintance that children live here and play here.  Looking at our walls, one might guess that we haven't lived here long or that we decorate slowly.

The author takes this one step further by saying that if our homes reflect the ideas that rule our lives, then our homeschooling choices do too.  She asks: What does your choice of curriculum say about what is important to you?  What might your daily schedule express about your personal priorities?  I can look at my current curriculum and daily schedule and say that these things must be important to me right now.

• praying alone
• reading aloud to my children
• loads of time for the kids to draw
• working on math skills
• listening to my children practicing reading
• eating
• doing chores
• letting the kids watch Caillou so I can have quiet while I clean up after lunch
• having an hour of Quiet Time in the afternoon
• lots of time for the kids to play inside and outside

I can look at these things and ask myself if there are ideas that I'd like to rule my life that I just haven't made priorities yet.  There's a great Charlotte Mason quote: Do not let the endless succession of small things crowd great ideals out of sight and out of mind.  A couple of things that come to mind right away are daily prayer with the kids and nature study, or at least spending more time out of doors with them.  I know those things are important.  I can make them part of our daily schedule if I choose to. I just have to let some of the small things go.

Golly gosh, I certainly had a lot to say about atmosphere, didn't I?  Well, I think it's time to end this post.  Maybe I'll write some others sometime about discipline and life.  And in the meantime, I'll check out Mr. Linky.

Books, Habits, Movies

Not much to blog about lately.  I've been busy trying to keep up with our daily routines and weekly chores.  Oh yeah, and homeschooling.  Today I went to the OB/GYN.  I'm going every two weeks now.  Everything looks good.  For awhile I was reading these books at night.

I can't seem to decide if I want to work on habits, life skills or manners with the kids.  And if I choose one of those categories, then which habit or which group of life skills or what type of manners shall we work on first?  So I'm doing what I do when I am feeling uncertain or confused, which is nothing.  Of course, I will pray about it, but I mean I won't take any action other than that.

Saturday night I went to my father's house to borrow a movie.  He has a HUGE collection of DVD's, most of which I've never seen.  I came home with this pile.

So far, I've watched the top two.  That Italian Job is for Bobby.  I've been having lots of Braxton Hicks contractions, so I think it'll do me good to rest on the couch as much as I can this week.  Tonight I think I'll go to Rome.

Snippets of Today

• I finally brought Helper to the doctor's to find out about the phlemy sound in her throat.  It's probably allergies.  They gave her some medication.
• I did my kitchen chores: week one.  I have a four week rotation to get my whole kitchen cleaned in one month, but I haven't done any of the weeks in months.
• I also cleaned out the fridge, which should be done in week four, but I felt I just had to do it today.
• I talked on the phone with my sister throughout most of the fridge cleaning.
• Sweet Pea amazed me by running across our backyard in heels.

• I read the exciting grass burning chapter of Strawberry Girl over a giggling and sniggering Snuggler, who was in stitches over his drawings of a peeing hippo. 
• Worker interrupted the chapter to show me his fine drawings of a hard working dog who was pooping in between each task.
• We did the Children's Hour, which hasn't been done consistently lately.
• We read the Rita Skeeter broom closet scene in The Goblet of Fire.
• I'm trying to decide between a hot bath and journaling my Disney scrapbook.

Sonlight So Far

I began using portions of Sonlight Curriculum this year in January.  My experience with it so far has been good.  Even though I am a planner, I am enjoying having some of my planning done for me.  We are currently on week 11 in the instructor's guide.  Here are some thoughts on what we've read so far.  I'm using Core 1 + 2 for the boys' History & Geography and Read-Alouds.  The girls are sometimes listening in too.

Usborne World History & Child's History of the World - Worker and I like these.  I don't think Snuggler cares for them.  He seems to prefer fiction.

Windows on the World - I doubt we'll remember specifics from it, but it's very interesting finding out how people around the world live. 

Maps & Globes - The boys liked this short book.

Audio Memory Geography Songs -  We're getting a little behind on this because I keep it in the van and I don't always put it on.  The kids like the songs, but I haven't made them learn the locations of the countries.  So they'll know the countries in the Middle East, but not where they're located.

The Aesop for Children - Thumbs up from everyone.

A Child's Garden of Verses - I think Helper likes these better than the boys.  I bought the Tasha Tudor version, but I'm the only one who is in love with the illustrations.

Red Sails to Capri - Worker and I liked it.  Snuggler complained about it for the first half, but was asking for more towards the end.  The Blue Grotto would be a cool field trip, but it's just too expensive to go to Italy.

Ginger Pye - Everyone loved it.

Gladys Alyward - Worker and I really liked it.  Snuggler, once again, prefers fiction.  We even borrowed The Inn of the Sixth Happiness from the library.  This was a big disappointment (for me) as it was not very much like the book and was a corny old love story.

Little Pear - We read this in the fall when I did a China unit.  It wasn't very memorable IMO.

Strawberry Girl -  We've just started this one.  I think it's going to be a page turner.  I'm enjoying reading the poor English with a Southern drawl.

I'm also using the Core P 4/5 with Helper for Read-Alouds and Language Arts books.  I think this curriculum on its own would not be enough for her.  (She's almost 6.)  If I wasn't doing so many read-alouds with the boys, we'd probably finish this in way less than a year, but since we are, I'm following the IG.  Here are some thoughts on the books we're reading so far.

American Tall Tales (CD) - Enjoyable, but not requested.

Eric Carle's Animals Animals -  Helper says, "Booooring."

A Family Treasury of Little Golden Books - Surprisingly, this one is pretty good.  The kids really get into the strange stories.

The Lion Storyteller Bedtime Book -  The boys really like it.  Helper doesn't mind it.  I think it's kind of dull.

Mother Goose - I'm using a different copy that we had around the house.  Who doesn't like Mother Goose?

First Thousand Words - Cool book.

Things People Do - Good in small doses.

Milly-Molly-Mandy Story Book - We just started this one this week.  We'll probably finish it next week.  Everyone is asking for it, even Worker and Sweet Pea.

The Berenstain Bears' Big Book of Science and Nature - We read through it already, not following the IG.  Helper and the boys loved it.  It's pretty funny.  I'd read it again.

One of the cool things about using a curriculum is that we're reading books that I never would have chosen on my own.  I also like that we're spending so much time reading aloud, which is one of my favorite parts of homeschooling.  When I used to plan activities to go along with books, sometimes they would go over well and sometimes they wouldn't.  When they didn't, I felt disappointed that I wasted time planning and doing them.  (Not to mention acquiring supplies that I probably ended up purging later.)  I usually had a bunch of go along books that we wouldn't always get to also.  The downside of using this curriculum is that we don't have time to read all the other great books out there.  Of course, it's impossible to read all the great books out there.  So this is working for us now.  I'll see how I feel torwards the end of the 36 weeks, which should be around December.

Catching Up

Our happy little vacation ended last Sunday night.  I decided that on Monday I was going to make a fresh start.  I focused on following my mother's rule, being present, and I turned the computer off!  I told myself that I could go online only when the kids were in bed at night.  And so here I am with my first opportunity to blog in four whole days.

I was really looking forward to getting on Bobby's laptop tonight, but now that I'm here, I don't think I have much to say.  Let's see... I've been really tired lately.  I've eaten a couple of Klondike bars (on different nights) that didn't keep my blood sugar within the suggested range, but it was close to the maximum number.  I've read The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman.  It explained a few things.  I like the idea that love is a choice.  It is something that you do for someone else, not for yourself.  You probably need to read the book to know what I'm talking about.

Well, I think I'm going to try to load some pictures on this laptop.  If I don't post again tonight it'll be because:

a) I couldn't figure out how to load the pictures.

b) I decided to forget about blogging and go have a Klondike bar.

c) I decided to have a healthy snack and go to sleep early.

d) I decided to do something that I haven't thought of yet.

My Rule & CM (not Creative Memories)

I'm trying to get back to focusing on my rule again this week.  I've been a night owl and a morning lark lately, which is leaving me tired.  Go away owl, I just want to be the lark. The daily time frames chart for my rule (Download my_rule.xls) is still incomplete.  I hope to notice this week how much time things take and what I'm doing during those free blocks of time.

I've also been on a Charlotte Mason Method binge.  I keep bringing books from the school room closet down into my bedroom.  The only ones I haven't touched are the Original Homeschooling Series.  When I first joined the Catholic Charlotte Mason yahoo group, I had purchased a large package of used CM books from a woman who was getting rid of hers because she was more interested in Montessori at that time.  For some reason I still haven't felt the urge to read the original series.  But I'm pondering picture study, composer study, nature study....  rain rain go away, it's in the 40's today.  I'm wondering about retention of information when using language arts workbooks.  You know, that kind of thing.

But now I'm off to do my Kitchen Chores: Week 1 Edition.  You see, my kitchen chores have been divided into 4 manageable blocks.  Estimated time for each block is 30 minutes.  For some reason, they haven't been getting done at all.  I've just been too tired.  This weekend, after cleaning the house for hours straight (with the company-coming motivation), I admitted to myself that it's not really that I'm too tired to clean for 30 minutes on a Tuesday afternoon.  It's just that I'd rather be doing something else.  Like blogging, for instance.

I'm a Thinker

This was a very busy weekend.  I really enjoyed scrapbooking with my sister and my friend Kari on Friday and Saturday.  I got our Disney trip and our 2006 Family Album all mounted.  Now, they just need to be journaled.  Jodie and I had dinner out on Saturday night.  Last night we all went to Bobby's Superbowl Party.  I left with the three youngest after Tom Petty's half-time show. 

WARNING:  The rest of this post is rather dreamy, so if you're not in the mood, skip it.

I am still imagining the life I want to live.  In January, I was too sick and tired to feel like doing any planning.  But this month I'm feeling differently about it.  Bobby and I have been talking about our dreams and goals.  His are mostly related to his career.  Mine are mostly related to homeschooling and taking care of the household.  We agreed that mine seem easier to achieve because the outcome of his are more dependent on things outside of our control.  Mine seem more dependent upon discipline and choices.  But enough of this general talk, let me at least write specifically about what I've been thinking.

When I imagine how I want to live right now, in the present, I always think that I want my day to peacefully flow.  Busy is OK, as long as it's not impatient, stressful, hurrying busy.  There is a peacefully going about the next thing busy, that I enjoy.  I want to wake up feeling rested, not dragging from another late night.  I want to get up early enough to be alone with God for awhile each morning, before I'm needed by others.  I want to have a daily rhythm.  This means I need to stick with our morning routines, our chores for the day, our school routines and our Children's Hour at night.  Basically, it means sticking with the first draft of the mother's rule I've made for myself.  This is really hard for me.  I get distracted easily.  Speaking of distracted, notice how I've left my rule in it's beginning stages to work on decluttering my house and also decorating it.  I don't think I've written about it here on my blog, but Bobby and I are determined to get rugs on our floors, window treatments and stuff on our walls.  Bobby especially dislikes the echo in our home, and I'm all for making it homier.  Every decision and purchase we make takes up time though, and I can't wait until it's all finished. 

I guess these things are all related.  The decluttering will hopefully bring order and simplicity.  I want that order.  (A place for everything and everything in its place.)  I want the simplicity of having fewer possessions to take care of.  Speaking of simplicity..... I've also been thinking about my ideal homeschool.  If you've ever read Pocketful of Pinecones, you can probably imagine what I'd like my homeschooling days to be like.  Lots of read alouds, spending lots of time outdoors, taking strolls in a park, having discussions with each other on loads of different topics, living life at a slow pace, etc.  Of course, I realize that this will never happen.  For one thing, we aren't living in the thirties.  Also, I have more than two children, including one toddler.  We don't have a farm to visit, and we've chosen to commit to many outside activities.  But I do see that there are changes I can make to get a little closer to my ideal.  I see the gaps between what I'd like to be doing and what I'm actually doing.

Well, that's all I have to say on this for now.  I'm hoping that writing (along with praying) will bring me some clarity.  But for now, I really need to fold the clothes before dinner. 

We're Back!

We were in Portland, ME for three days.  Bobby had some classes to take there and we went along with him.  The trip went fairly smoothly except for two little meltdowns, by none other than me.  I don't think I ever want to have fast food again.  I am dying to know if Mr. Crawford is going to turn out to be good or if everyone will agree that Fanny was right about him all along.  And how is Edmund going to be attracted to Fanny if he isn't already?  And is Filch's cat named after (Aunt) Mrs. Norris? 

I will post trip pictures later, but for now, I'm doing loads of laundry and at 2:00 I'll be attending a tea party at my friend Kari's home.

I'm Reading Tonight

I'm starting Mansfield Park tonight even though I'm only on Chapter 5 of Northanger Abbey.  I can read the latter later because I already saw the movie.  I want to know at least the background info of Mansfield Park before I watch the movie this Sunday.  I'm especially curious to see what this Edmund Bertram character is like, since I took a quiz last year that said Bobby is like him.  I've taken a couple of different quizzes that say I am Elinor Dashwood.  She sounds OK to me, but I have yet to read or watch Sense & Sensibility, so I'll be waiting awhile to really know if I'm like her.

Bible Study Books and More Books

This morning the Mom's Bible study group that I belong to met at my house.  We don't meet during the week of First Friday, and we rotate between 3 houses on the other Thursdays of the month.  I like when it's at my house because then I don't have to drive anywhere.  Yes, I even get pooped out taking a 25 minute trip.   But I've been doing it because I really enjoy the company of these 4 women.  Believe it or not, I don't really know very many practicing Catholics IRL.  It's interesting to hear about their lives, their families and their experiences.  I also like that there are lots of homeschooled children for my children to play with.  Today we counted 21 kids here, including my own.

This has been my first experience with any kind of Bible study.  Last week we finished a book called Living as a Beloved Daughter of God.  We had only one copy of this book.  When we met, someone would read from it, we'd read passages from the Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church and then we'd answer the discussion questions.  Sometimes I'd get a little worried that I wouldn't be able to find the passages in the Bible.  (I wouldn't want anyone to think that I hadn't read it much.)  The passages in the CCC were even more intimidating, but I managed OK.  At first I didn't say too much.  I'd just sit there waiting for someone to talk.  But now I chime in every now and then.  Once the group asked me to say the closing prayer and I freaked.  I had never spontaneously prayed with anyone but Bobby and my kids.  I'm even afraid to say grace in front of my extended family.  Snuggler usually does it.  But the women were supportive and they affirmed my feeling that prayer is an intimate thing.

This week we picked a new book called Chosen and Cherished:  Biblical Wisdom for Your Marriage.  It looks very interesting.  This time we are all going to purchase copies so that we can read it at home if we wish.  I'm looking forward to starting it.  So as soon as I finish this post I'm going place my Amazon order.  I have a gift certificate so I may go for the two other items sitting in my cart:  It's All Too Much:  An Easy Plan for Living a Rich Life with Less Stuff (as I order more stuff) and Absolutely Organized:  A Mom's Guide to a No-Stress Schedule and Clutter Free Home.  Now isn't that a great title?  I'm obviously one who believes that you can never have too many books on organizing.  I write this as my old favorites sit in a pile near me to be perused once more.  But it's getting late, and those books can wait.  Have a good night.

My Nightstand

Jennifer, I'm a little late in posting a picture of it as you requested.  I don't usually keep things on it.  My 3 drawers are full of books though.  So I'm cheating here.  I'm showing you what I brought home from Barnes & Noble last night when I went shopping for Bobby's birthday.  A little pile for me, thanks to my brother Mark, who gave me a gift card for my birthday.

I also picked up this Art Gallery Calendar for my desk.  It's already adding beauty to my kitchen.

And I really don't care if I am still on chapter 3 of David Copperfield.  I shall read whatever I am in the mood for.  After today's 3 hour glucose tolerance test (I didn't pass the first one) I am now on chapter 5 of Persuasion.  Is anyone else in the mood for Jane Austen?

To Celebrate the World Series...

We ate hot dogs for dinner.  I read chapters 2 and 3 of HP 1 to the kids, while they all played with playdoh and clay.  As soon as Sweet Pea falls asleep, I will turn on the game.  I plan to make some theme park borders for my Disney Vacation scrapbook and sort through the 400+ photos while keeping an eye out for Bobby, who was fortunate enough to get a free ticket to tonight's game.  Go Red Sox!!!

Ten Things I've Done Lately

1. visited the Eric Carle Museum (today)
2. watched the Lord Of the Rings trilogy with Bobby (for the 2nd time)
3. spent a day out shopping with my sister, Dad and Cheryl
4. nightly reading in bed wearing glasses with a cracked frame and only one lens
5. went on a date with Helper, then one with Snuggler
6. spent a day with my friend, Manda, and her family
7. jello squishes (just kidding -abdominal crunches)
8. homeschooling, laundry and once in awhile some cooking
9. reread book 7
10. printed out the MROL printable workbook

Ooompa Loompa Day

That is what I'm going to call Thursdays if I keep Spaghetti-O's on our lunch menu.

Ooops.  She missed one.

There.  She got it. 

Today I put on a little lunch music.  I think I've listened to it one other time since it's first use at my 34th birthday party, which BTW, was almost 4 years ago.  Doesn't time fly?  Now I'm a mature adult, no longer testing out vomit or ear wax flavored jelly beans.  I do miss those days though, when my family, my friends and I had time to play loads of games wearing round glasses.

Today we also listened to another CD....one that I borrowed from the library, Carnival of the Animals by Saint-Saens.  I read the book along with the music.  It was great. 

And here's a book I found at the library last night.  It combines fine art with math, which I found very cool.  Of course, I just love the pictures.  I have yet to see if the kids like it.  I really got it for Snuggler, who likes both adding and works by famous artists.

Speaking of books, we used my new Usborne Complete Book of Art Ideas for the first time today.  The kids did wax resist reflections.  I thought they went along well with the yellow Yangtze River.  (We're rowing Ping this week.)  I love how Worker likes to make his artwork different, and how Snuggler likes to follow the instructions exactly.  I haven't yet figured out what Helper's preference is.  I just know she likes to keep on painting her own paintings long after her project is finished.  Here's a picture of their pictures.

And here's a photo of the girl who has learned how to open the house/garage door all by herself.

She wants out!   And one last photo from Oompa Loompa Day....

Happy Birthday Mary!!!

(Even though her feast day is really on Saturday.) We're going to celebrate special days in the liturgical year during our afternoon snack time as I have seen other bloggers do.  It was a dilemma for a chronological woman like me, but I think we'll end up celebrating more often this way. 

Early to Bed, Early to Rise & MROL

I've been working on implementing the 3/10 of my Rule that I've written so far.  Last night I went to sleep about a half hour past my bedtime.  Then, I spent some time in the middle of the night listening to Bobby talk about work and some more time nursing Sweet Pea.  So when the alarm went off at 6:00 am, my sticky little eyes didn't want to open and my body didn't want to move from it's cozy, little blanket nest.  I tried an idea I got from A Mother's Rule of Life.  I imagined that God asked me, "Are you going to get up and spend some time with Me?"  I answered Him with a mopey "OK."  I hope that someday I'll be saying "Yes!" with a smile on my face, but for now I am pleased with my getting out of the bed.

I'm really excited about this book, but I don't think I'm very good at writing book reviews.  I feel like I sound like one of the kids on Reading Rainbow.  You know, the ones who talk right after LeVar says, "but you don't have to take my word for it."  I'd say, "This book is really great.  If you're a Catholic Mom thinking a lot about your priorities and you're ready to make some changes, then I think you'll love this book!"  But you don't have to take my word for it.  Check out this review that I found on my local homeschool group's website.

The Long Week in Detail

Friday:  I picked up and cleaned the house in preparation for our house guests.  Bobby and I attended the annual PreCana Team picnic.  The food was great, but I missed the company while I took my turns chasing Sweet Pea.  When we were leaving, she konked out in her car seat and I spent a long while standing in a dark driveway while Bobby and Tom discussed networking in the insurance industry and various topics related to finances.

Saturday:  The Stan K Memorial golf tournament.  Bobby, my Dad, Jodie's husband Dan and me.  Six birdies and five bogies.  We were inconsistent, but we did better than I had expected and it was SO MUCH FUN!  Bobby's brother, Willis, arrived from WA after picking up his three kids in Vermont.  I finished rereading HP6 while HP7 lay on top of my dresser.

Sunday:  I went to Mass.  I read HP7 in between making meals for our house guests.  I watched a bit of Evita with the brothers while I ate my late night snack.

Monday:  I read HP7 in between making meals and cleaning up after our house guests.

Tuesday:  I finished HP7 at 2:30 am.  Everyone went to junior golf except for Snuggler, Sweet Pea, Phoebe and me.  I reread the King's Cross chapter because it didn't make sense to me at 2:30 am.  I think I might need to reread it again.  I napped.  Party at Bobby's parents' house for Willis' 40th birthday. When the kids were asleep I headed out to Blockbuster to rent Miss Potter.  I came home with previously viewed copies of Miss Potter and The Nativity Story.  We enjoyed Miss Potter.  In bed, I commented that I didn't feel nauseous.  Maybe it was the Friendly's sundae cup, I said.

Wednesday:  Packing for the trip to the rented Connecticut beach house.  Everyone was going (including Bobby's sister's family) except Sweet Pea and me.  I thought it would be too exhausting.  I hoped to organize the school room.  I also had plans Wednesday night to sort out the huge box of maternity clothes with my sister, who is due on March 19th.  She planned to help me organize all of my kids' clothing too.  It was almost lunch time before everyone left.  I napped after lunch.  Then I started to pick away at the mess in the school room.  I was surprised and scared when I discovered that I had some pregnancy bleeding.  I called my OB/GYN office right away.  The triage nurse basically told me that there was nothing wrong.  I called her back after I remembered that one of the midwives had told me that if I had any bleeding at all that I could come in for hormone level testing.  She said that yes, I could do that.  I went in for the blood test.  The results were due the following day around noon.  I wish I could say that I felt at peace, but I didn't.  I had lots of anxiety, which is unusual for me, and I hated it.   I made Pasta Primavera and Zucchini Bread for Sweet Pea and me.  I called my sister and canceled our plans.  When Sweet Pea finally fell asleep around 9:30, I rested.

Thursday:  Sweet Pea was super fussy.  She cried and wanted to nurse all morning except for the half hour when I said the rosary and she played with five sets of plastic rosary beads.  I talked on the phone a lot.  Just before Noon, I called to find out the results of my blood test.  I expected that I would need to have a second test on Friday to see if my hormone levels were dropping.  I was sent to the triage nurse's voice mail.  I really didn't want to wait to find out if the baby was OK, because I did that during 2 other pregnancies and I didn't want do it again.  I called the other office and spoke to a nurse who found out that my hormone levels were "up there".  I asked if I could talk to one of the midwives or if I could at least come in for a fetal heart check.  I thought that I should be able to hear a heartbeat because I heard one at 9 weeks during another pregnancy.   About an hour later, the nurse called me back to tell me that I could come in for the heart check as long as I understood that it may not tell me anything.  She said that I may not hear the heartbeat even if nothing is wrong because it was still so early.  She also said that if I didn't hear the heartbeat, that there was no way that they could get me into an ultrasound because they were so backed up.  I figured it was worth a try.  The midwife could not find a heartbeat.  She seemed very upset.  She said it's too early and that she shouldn't have had me come in... she only let me come in because she knew me... there were 2 people on vacation and the ultrasounds were completely booked up... it didn't make one bit of difference whether I found out today or next week...  That last one really bothered me.  I left and made some phone calls in the car.  I went to Michael's with my giant list.  Right away Sweet Pea started hollering a nice clear "Mama!" over and over again.  I think it was because she wanted to get out of the cart.  I left immediately, picked up some Chinese food and headed home.   I talked on the phone.  I posted on 4real, where people were praying for me.  They encouraged me to change OB/GYN offices.  I decided to do that as today was not the first time I was disappointed in how I was treated by some of their staff.  I had trouble falling asleep.  The anxiety wouldn't go away.

Friday:  I called our insurance company.  I called the new office that I chose to go to.  They said they would call me back to let me know if they would take me on.  They were concerned because I was pregnant and I was already being treated by someone else.  I was nervous all morning.  I talked on my cell phone.  Bobby had been calling me regularly each day.  He kept calling even though I didn't have too much to say.  He said he wanted to stay close to me through this.  I had an appointment for a history at 11:15 at my old office.  I wondered if I should go to it.  What if no other office will take me?  The new office called backed at 10:45.  They said they could see me the following Tuesday, but I needed to go to an ultrasound today.  What a relief!  Sweet Pea came with me to the ultrasound.  I drank too much water.  I was so uncomfortable.  The images on the screen looked really blurry.  The technology at the hospital in my hometown was not as sophisticated as the office's where I had had my 8 week ultrasound.  I asked the technician if she could tell me anything.  She said she was not allowed to.  She had me wait in the waiting room while she called my new doctor's office.  The midwife there told her to send me right over.  What did that mean?  There must be something wrong.  I called my sister and she agreed to watch Sweet Pea.  I dropped her off and went alone to the new office.  I waited a long time in the waiting room, then in the other room, then a fire alarm went off and the building was evacuated.  I waited in the parking lot while the employees joked and hoped that they would be sent home for the day.  I felt like yelling what's the deal? Tell me now!  But I didn't.  I called Bobby and told him I still didn't know anything.  We went back into the office and I waited again.  Then the midwife came in and said that I probably knew that her telling me to come in right away meant that it wasn't good news.  I agreed.  She said that our baby probably died at 9 weeks.  We discussed my options.  I made a follow up appointment two weeks out.  I called people.  I picked up Sweet Pea and went home.  Bobby and the kids came home.  We told the kids.  They didn't say too much.  Helper wondered why it happened.  Bobby told the kids to give me lots of hugs this week.  Snuggler's been giving me enough hugs for the entire family.  Conveniently, Willis and his kids had dinner plans with his parents and they were out late.  When all of the children were asleep, I came out of my room and talked with Bobby and Willis until we were all ready for bed.

Saturday:  I woke up to a big thunderstorm.  Very cozy for a Saturday morning.  Willis packed, then took his family to his sister's for awhile.  Bobby wanted to mow the lawn but it was pouring out.  We both felt really sad.  I much prefer sadness to anxiety.  I feel it's necessary, unlike anxiety.  I decided not to cancel my plans for a Scrap Night at Bobby's office.  Jodie and two of my closer friends would be there so I thought it would be good for me.  I was not in the mood to scrapbook though.  I packed up all of my homeschooling planning paraphan...whatever that word is.  I hoped to get organized.  Willis returned to say good-bye to us.  They must be home in WA by now.  I had a great time and I got really organized. (I'll post about that another time.)  My friends gave me some beautiful flowers that made me smile.  The bleeding started, but it was light.

Sunday:  I spent quite a bit of time nursing Sweet Pea and typing this post.  I wonder if it's my longest ever.  It's time to go be with my family now.  Snuggler just hugged me again and told me that I am the best Mom.  I don't always get what I want, but I always get what I need.

Summer Reading

High Hopes

I'm hesitant to write this post because as soon as I type the words 'blogging break' or 'limiting computer time' I am sure that I will have a burning desire to write a bunch of posts.  BUT... I'm writing this anyway to say that it is my hope that I will spend a bit less time facing this screen this week.  What I want to do is turn the computer off during the day, and turn it back on for a brief visit while I'm nursing Sweet Pea to sleep at night.  What will I do with all of my free time?  I plan to read The Holy Longing,   hang out with Bobby, watch American Idol, vote for Blake, go out with Kari and Jodie, visit my grandmother, do housework and spend quality time with my children.  Not in that order.

Building Our Home Library

sounds better than... Look what I bought at our library's used book sale!

Something for everyone.  Golf books for Bobby... butterfly books for Helper... Baby Einstein books for Snuggler... Titanic books for Worker... board books for Sweet Pea... and for me?  Well, I like them all!  I really wanted to take pictures of a few of my favorite finds, but either my camera is breaking or the USB cable is shot.  So all I can do right now is link to pictures.  Here we go...

• The Little House Books Box Set "mint in the box, never been opened" (what movie???) The ones I bought are not the ones I linked to.  They are actually the light blue 1971 First Harper Trophy edition box set.  I seriously think that whoever owned these never read them and I got them for $5.00!
• My Little House ABC - $1.00
• Usborne Tadpoles and Frogs and Eggs and Chicks for $0.50 each
• So Many Bunnies, Good Night Sweet Butterflies and The Icky Bug Alphabet for $1.00 each
• Box Turtle at Silver Pond Lane and Ladybug at Orchard Avenue for $1.00 each
• Family Under the Bridge, Five True Dog Stories, The Story of Dr. Doolittle and Strawberry Girl, all of which I have seen in the Sonlight catalog, for $0.50 each
• 1,001 Reasons to Love America which looked interesting and is full of beautiful photographs for $1.00
• Dragonology, which I don't know if I want for my children or not, but I thought for $1.00 was worth checking out

and lots and lots more... field guides, Dr. Seuss, Usborne, readers, etc.

I'm not someone who you'd find at a tag sale or a flea market or a bargain outlet.  I've found this way of shopping to be too time consuming and disappointing to me.  I prefer to buy things new.  But I've discovered that when it comes to books, the hunting is thoroughly enjoyable. With books I consider it time (and money) well spent.

What do you think?

Good Advice

Tonight when I was reading to Snuggler and Helper, Charlotte said to Wilbur, "Never hurry and never worry!"  I like that!

Baby Steps

Thirty minutes of riding and one chapter of David Copperfield...

A Christmas Carol

I have loved A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens since I was young.  My first exposures to the story were adaptations.  I remember I enjoyed watching the Mr. Magoo version at my father's apartment; but I think it was this version, that I read at my second cousins' house that inspired me to organize my first play.  It was rehearsed and performed in the basment of my mother's house.  I remember we hung a pink vinyl shower curtain for our stage curtain. My brother was Ebenezer Scrooge.  I played two characters - Nephew Fred and Bob Cratchit, and my cousins and my sister played everyone else.  I think my Mom and her cousin were the audience.

Since then, I've seen and read many versions of the story.  It's become an important part of the Christmas season in my home.  What is it exactly that I love?  Maybe it's the change of heart.  Scrooge is forced to take a look at himself, his eyes open and he's given the gift of a sincere desire to change his ways.  Maybe I can identify with his finding out that happiness is a by-product of helping others.  Maybe it's the loving Cratchit family.  Maybe it's the setting - Victorian England.  But enough already!  Let me get back to the facts.

Bobby and I went to the Yankee Candle on one of our early dates.  I discovered Dept. 56 villages, specifically the part of the Dickens Village collection called A Christmas Carol.  I bought The Cottage of Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim that day.  Isn't it adorable?

Then Bobby gave me The Flat of Ebenezer Scrooge as a gift on our first Christmas together.  It's not so adorable, but it was very thoughtful.

I have many wonderful memories of that time in my life and those feelings of happiness return instantly when I see the glow of these little houses. 

Since then, I have received pieces to add to my collection almost every year.  My father has given me most of them as birthday or Christmas presents.  Last year was the only year that I left them packed in their boxes because I thought that setting them up and taking them down would be too much work for me, being six months pregnant and building a house.  So this year, Worker and I were really looking forward to setting them up.  Let me give you a tour of this year's display.  (I think you'll enjoy it more if you read it with an English accent.)

We'll start at the Cratchits' home which is next door to the Browning cottage (not in the story).

As you can see, the Cratchits are doing some Christmas caroling.

Next stop is the street where Ebenezer Scrooge lives. 

To the left of his flat is the Melancholy Tavern where Scrooge took his melancholy dinner.  Did you notice the little guy on the right wearing a ponderous chain?  That is Jacob Marley.  When I see him, I hear... Mankind was my business.  The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance and benevolence, were, all, my business.  The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business.  Isn't Dicken's great? 

Speaking of business, here is the Scrooge & Marley Counting House, where Scrooge and his clerk Bob Cratchit spend many hours a day.

There's Bob outside, holding his son Tiny Tim.  The Leacock Poulterer's is on the right.  This is where Scrooge sends a boy on Christmas Day to go and buy the big prize Turkey that's twice the size of Tiny Tim.

Next is a mix of Scrooge's past and future.

You can see the Boarding and Lodging School where Scrooge was bred when he was a boy.  Having seen many shadows of things that have been, Scrooge is begging the Ghost of Christmas Past, "Spirit! show me no more!"  To the left is the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come in a churchyard, pointing down at the neglected grave, marked with the name EBENEZER SCROOGE. 

Let's move on to a happier scene.  Here's the East Indies Trading Company with Fezziwig's wagon passing by...

It's probably making some Christmas deliveries.

And ooh... this is a very nice street. On the left is Belle's house.  Do you remember Belle, Scrooge's old sweetheart?  Well, she married someone else, and has a lovely home.

On the right we have the home of Scrooge's nephew, Fred.  And who's the guy wearing green and carrying the torch?  I'll give you a clue. "Come in! Come in! and know me better, man!"  You guessed it.  It the Ghost of Christmas Present.

Now, it just wouldn't be A Christmas Carol without Fezziwig.  Here's his Warehouse and his Warehouse No. 2, where you can see the people making merry through the window.

This brings back memories for old Ebenezer.  He can't help but praise Fezziwig.  "The happiness he gives, is quite as great as if it cost a fortune."  In front you see him as a young man with Belle.  She is probably about to tell him, "I release you, with a full heart, for the love of him you once were."

Our last stop is in front of the Windham Parrot Seller's shop and the Norfolk Biffins Bakery.  They're not part of the story, but they are neat looking buildings.  I'd like to go up the steps of that bakery to buy us some Christmas sweets.

 

I love to snuggle on the couch by the light of our Christmas tree and the cozy glow of this village.  Here's how I display it so the little ones can look, but not touch.

Do you love A Christmas Carol too?  What is your favorite movie version?  I never get tired of this one starring George C. Scott.  I also like Patrick Stewart as Scrooge.  Although I love musicals, I thought A Christmas Carol: The Musical was kind of silly.  This year I'd like borrow my sister's copy of another musical version called Scrooge starring Albert Finney.  I have no desire to see Scrooged again, although Bobby would probably enjoy it.  (He loves Bill Murray, especially in Caddyshack.  Notice I don't even like it enough to link it.)  Last year my children enjoyed The Muppet Christmas Carol and I think that they would also like the Mickey Mouse version.

I'd love to hear what your favorites are.  I'll leave you with a great ending...

It was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge.  May that be truly said of us, and all of us!  And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us Everyone!   

Book Meme

Dawn tagged me, so here's mine:

1. ONE BOOK THAT CHANGED YOUR LIFE:

The Art of Natural Family Planning by John and Sheila Kippley

2. ONE BOOK THAT YOU'VE READ MORE THAN ONCE:

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling

3. ONE - O.K. TWO - BOOKS YOU'D WANT ON A DESERT ISLAND:

Practical: The Bible

Wonderful: A journal would be. ( I got the idea from Theresa.)

4. ONE BOOK THAT MADE YOU LAUGH:

Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late by Mo Willems  (I can barely remember the books I read more than a year ago.)

5. ONE BOOK THAT MADE YOU CRY:  I don't think I'm reading enough adult books.  Does getting choked up during Love You Forever by Robert Munsch count?

6. ONE BOOK THAT YOU WISH HAD BEEN WRITTEN

How to Maintain Perfect Physical, Mental, Emotional and Spiritual Balance

7. ONE BOOK THAT YOU WISH HAD NEVER BEEN WRITTEN

I have no idea.

8. ONE BOOK THAT YOU'RE CURRENTLY READING:

Basic Montessori by David Gettman

9. ONE BOOK TWO YOU'VE BEEN MEANING TO READ:

Wild Days: Creating Discovery Journals by Karen Skidmore Rackliffe

The Bible

10. TAG FIVE OTHERS:

Sorry, but I think most of the blogs that I read have been tagged.