new group for Catholic Homeschooling Moms

https://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/groups/147069142170062/ Hi All,
 I have started a new group on Facebook. It is for all Catholic Moms who homeschool who just want a place where they can go and chat and share and vent with other Moms. Feel free to join and invite your friends.

Finally I have found a presentation that I can let the girls watch to explain growing up

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLhld_PI2zg

VBS 2013

First day of VBS

Some campers having snack in the arcade

Skits and songs in the morning. We had a fun filled week. It was a western theme. Marissa was a helper this year instead of a camper. I think she would have rather been a camper. I lead the 3rd graders this year and Marissa was a helper with the first graders

                        Tarissa for the most part had fun. Larissa and Carissa said they had fun in their group which was the biggest. If your children get a chance to go to a vbs I would say grab the chance it is one reasonably price fun experience and they have lots of fun learning more about God. Ours was all day but I know other churches do it differently.
                                                   

Summer Mission with the Dominican Sisters

 This was the girls with Sister Marie Karol.

As the week of June 17th approached the girls were getting excited.

 They did have fun.

They also had their first exposure to being bullied. I was surprised when I went to pick them up on Wednesday and they were sitting with another little girl who was crying. They said that they were told by another child and the helper  that there was no room for them in the play and to go sit down they weren't needed. This was not supposed to be they were supposed to play Angels is what I was told when I question the lady in charge. I explained to them that sometimes children aren't always nice and unfortunately they will run into more children in their lives that may not be nice. So a life lesson learned. Somedays I want to shelter them but I know they have to learn to live in this world with all kinds of people.

On a happy note they finished out the week and want to go back next year. They love the Sisters and they did make some friends.

Sister Kate with Carissa

After they were picked up just relaxin on the Trampoline talking about their day.

Sister Kate and Marissa.

Tacoma camping trip

We camped at Olympia Campground.

Good Sam and Tarissa Jean

Carissa and Good Sam

Setting the table

Making a teepee to start a fire

Felicity and daddy

Larissa and Good Sam

Marissa and Good Sam

Good Sam going to investigate with the Magnifying glass

Looking at where we have traveled with our RV

Table set come and get it

ok trying to start the fire

and We have fire.

This was a good campground a little pricey for what was offered but it was quiet and there wasn't alot of campers near us.

May is over

As May came to a close. We visited Cali. seen my husbands family, had a large bbq. Then headed for the redwoods forest and the great Sequoia Trees. This was very educational and fun.
   We finished up another year of AHG. The girls had their ceremony on  June 2nd. So proud of them.
Marissa had come in 9th in the state of Washington in bowling. She also has earned her Silver presidential award for service hours in the community. She keeps growing socially and is enjoying so many activities with friends.
Carissa came in 18th in the western regionals in bowling. She also earn a Bronze presidential service award for service to her community. She has improve in spelling so much since the beginning of the year.
Larissa Is still working on her reading and sounds. She is on league this spring with her sister Tarissa and enjoys bowling with other children. She has crossed over in AHG and became an Explorer. She also earned her Bronze service presidential award.
Tarissa Jean is growing up so much. She isnt my baby anymore lol. She has an I dont care attitude which makes for an interesting day. She also earned her bronze presidential award for service.
    As summer months are here and it is getting warmer. We will be spending our days at the pool, summer reading programs, bowling and gardening. I will post pics up soon.

Off to California

So for Memorial weekend we are heading to California. Some of our girls haven't ever met their grandparents. So we will spend some time there and then we are off to do some sightseeing and visit a beach or 2. We have the rv all packed even brought some school books. We have many mini trips planned for the summer all have education involved in one way or another.
               I will post pics as soon as we get back. Hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday weekend.

free ranging

The past few days have been beautiful out (till today). So we have been letting the chickens free range and have they been having a hay day running around the yard and eating yummy bugs and clover. The girls were so excited when we got a double yolk egg the other day. Now they keep checking for an extra large egg hoping it is another. Here is a pic of some of our ladies.

It has been so nice to hang clothes out on the line, I have always enjoyed the smell of fresh from the clothesline clothes. We are moving around wood that has been drying out which make the perfect bug haven. Now it is time to start the seeds for our garden. well hope everyone is enjoying this lovely Spring weather.
                              Ciao for now.

Easter

We have had a busy Holy week. But an enlightening one. Marissa was chosen to Altar serve at the Good Friday mass.

  The girls haven't been taken to this Mass in previous years as ours is so late at night. But this year I decided they should go to not just Marissa and I. My youngest is not the quietest child sometimes at Mass so imagine my surprise when she was so quiet and well behaved.

Here is the girls after Mass waiting for Father Mike to say "Ready, set, Hunt" at our Church's Knights of Columbus annual egg hunt.

Here are the girls before Mass, Marissa and Carissa sang in the choir at our 11 am Mass.

Here is a pic of our Spumoni cake we made for Easter dessert.

looking back over our week.

As I sit here tonight sipping some tea. I think how our week has gone. We have continued on with our schoolwork and have thrown in some AHG badge work into the mix.
     The girls needed to design a new product or make a better design for a product that they think needs improvement. This goes along with the Women's inventor badge, Thought this was awesome for the girls to realize not all items were invented by men. Then they had to go find 5 bugs each and categorize them. This didn't go as easy because one kept saying I am not touching bugs"eww gross". But with the help of her little sisters she only has 1 requirement to go to get her zoology badge.This one I say eww too as I don't want to go to the bee farm but I will lol and hide in my van.
      Choir has been going well for the girls. They really enjoy this.
    The younger girls are working on daughters of the King and made a box with decoupage that says I am a Treasure from God.
     Then as we round the week out we went to bowling practice last night then to Pizza Hut for a treat of their book it Pizza certificates. Awesome time and they were so good.
      Today was league bowling last one of the Fall season before Spring starts. Next weekend is awards and the party so much fun ahead.
       Marissa and Carissa received bags and a bag tag for bowling 100 over their average and 125 over their average.

 We also had some visitors at our house or should I say rooftop. They were homing pigeons which the girls made the mistake of feeding and they don't want to leave. They are not afraid of our dogs either which doesn't help that every time the dogs go out they just bark which don't thrill our neighbors.
                     Well all ciao for now.
                         Michelle

our week in review:)

March has started out pretty busy. As Spring rolls around and I look around the outside of the house I think of all I want to do. So I will be making a list this year and prioritizing the chores.
     As March started Marissa, Carissa and Larissa had Tournaments for 3 weekends in a row. Marissa placed first in her doubles tournament with her friend. Carissa place first in singles and marissa placed second in singles. Larissa bowled her first tournament in the team division with her sisters and a friend and they placed fourth.
     Then it was time for the wsusbc pepsi challenge and Marissa and Carissa made it to the regional finals. Marissa has moved on to State. But had lots of fun. They bowled awesome that day even though it is the first time in tournament that they had to bowl 6 straight games.

Next exciting news was our chickens finally started laying so now in the morning the kiddos race to find the egg or 2 lol. If only all chores were this simple.

We have tilled the garden, trim the fruit trees have the grape vines left to do. I have started to sort seeds and we will bring the tank in to germinate them in and then when it is a bit warmer out we will transfer to our little greenhouse. It is just a portable one but it works. Someday, I would love to turn our patio into a glass green house but I know that is down the line.

Well, it is another nice day out so I should get off here and go do some work outside:)

The Cardinal we adopted

Name:	Juan Luis Cipriani Thorne
Country:	Peru
Day of birth:	1943-12-28
Cardinal since:	2001-2-21
Function:	Archbishop of Lima, Perus

We have also adopted a cardinal to pray for. We will keep him in our prayers. If anyone else is interested in praying for a Cardinal this is the website to go to:  http://adoptacardinal.org/

Valentines day

Today I want to express my gratittude to my husband. Who works tirelessly for us. He takes care of us and loves us without expecting anything in return. I know some say that is his job. But I just want to say how thankful I am to have him in our lives. I know we dont see a whole lot as he works 2 jobs and maybe we dont get to spend an evening together for Valentines day. But I know he is thinking about uson this special day and always. He takes time on the weekends to build with the girls or go bowling on a league. When March rolls around and our church hosts a  Daddy /Daughter dance he is there with all 5 girls as much as he dont like to dance lol. Lisa our oldest who is 24 always says how funny it is to watch Dad dance with each of the girls because they dance better than he does but he still tries:). So hunny maybe we dont say it enough but Thank you and we love you.

Mother Daughter Tea

Tonight, we enjoyed a Mother Daughter Tea put on by the AHG Explorer group. They learned about different countries for their world heritage badge. Then prepared us food from those countries. They also performed a play for us in different languages. Wonderful time had by all.

Our Week in review

The girls are beginning to do their lenten folders. Also this week they did a fun valentine craft with bible verses for each day. Tarissa jean has completed her math k book and was so proud of that fact she couldn't wait to tell everyone and anyone who would listen. Larissa read her first book with only a little help for the first time which is a big deal for her now she wants to try and read everything. I wish this came easier for her but with the speech problems it doesn't. But we will take it one step at a time. Carissa still is progressing with spelling and has almost finished her handwriting book. I love when she writes in cursive she has very nice handwriting. Marissa is almost done with her english, She has taken up downloading books onto her kindle and reading them to the girls. They have all done well in the subjects this week.
   Bowling this week for adult /junior league ends on Sunday for them. They will have a party and get some patches and each have earned a scholarship towards college. You never can start to young. They also have been working on recipe reading and preparing harder recipes. They will be making a dish to pass at their bowling party and we have a Mother daughter tea that they will need to prepare a dish for on Monday. They had to pick a country and then research for recipes, pick one and shop and prepare it to share with everyone.
    I have left Soda behind and this one little step has done wonders for me in less than 2 weeks I have lost 3 lbs. dropped my blood pressure and just feel good. I have also lower my intake of sodium which is really hard considering almost everything you buy has it in there.

He is a rooster:(

2 days ago we heard a funny noise outside.Taco Our 8 yr old daughters hen was a rooster. Although in the area we live in we can have roosters.We are close to neighbors that can complain about the noise and will. We are sad to see Taco go and I really am hoping we can find a home for him that just wants a friendly rooster to walk around and act cocky. I know our daughter is so going to miss him.

Scout Sunday 2013

Over the years we have attended many Scout Sundays. In all fairness with 8 children all being some kind of scout of course we would lol. But this Sunday I finally feel like they are included the group our daughters belong to, The American Heritage Girls. It is a wonderful program. The girls have always gone up with the boy and Girl Scouts but the priest has never mention them. We even have had his pictures done with them afterwards. Anyways this year when he announced the scouts he actually included A.H.G.. The girls processed in with Father along with the other scouts. Which perk up interest in our group. I had many parents afterwards come over with interest in getting their girls into this program. I am happy to say I will be speaking to Father this week to see if the church will be interested in having a group meet out from there. We travel a distance for our troop meetings but have found it to be such a great group for the girls it was worth it.
   
Our Lady Of Lourdes Scout Sunday 2013

Our Busy Saturday

So today after Bowling league. We decided to have the girls make an extension even longer for the chicks. In turn they will earn there carpenter badge. A little afaraid at first but got the hang of the power staple gun and of the drill. Was fun watching them as they learn new things and Dad was there teacher. Now there relaxing with a new Scooby Doo movie awaiting their turns for a hot bath. Then have dinner and make sure they know where their Scout uniform is for Scout Sunday tomorrow.

doc appt today

So, today was the big day lol. I went and seen the doc over my blood pressure which last week was very high. Today it was still high but only in the 160's. I am not one for meds so the appt was not a happy one. He took all salt , soda (which is my life line) caffeine and prescribe meds. I also need to loose 30 lbs. He thinks I am retaining water hmmm. So I am blogging this just to keep myself on track. I will blog in on this every week just to keep me on track. So wish me luck. I have 4 little girls who still need me at home so I didnt like the fact I could have a stroke so I need to do this.
                        chat soon

easy supper blue/greenish seashells with hotdog octopus

So Wednesday night is the Churchs childrens choir practice. So, I like to have an easy supper. The girls reminded me we haven't had hotdogs in a while. I decided I would make seashells with hotdogs. I make the pasta according to the box and add food coloring to change the color of the shells then cut the bottom half of the hotdogs into "legs" and boil the legs curl up and look like ocotpus legs. The girls just love this dish.
   

last week in review

Hi All,
    Another week has past in our new year. We have had a great week. School work is going smoothly as we finish up our school year. We have added a new schedule into our week of chores. We will see how this goes. Weather here has been unseasonally cold so getting the girls to go out isnt easy.They did go out and play on the trampoline a couple days and catch with the dogs. We had AHG on monday which was ceremony practice and it went well. Tarissa Jean will be doing the flag at the ceremony she is so excited. We bowled a couple extra days this week for practice as Marissa and Carissa have made it to the semi finals in the Pepsi Challenge for Washington state. Carissa had choir practice for the first time on Wednesday she did well and really enjoyed singing on Sunday at Mass. We have started a unit on the bermuda triangle the girls asked to study this so we will do this as a unit together.
   today is Monday and I had a dentist appt. to get a tooth pulled but when I went in they discovered my Blood pressure was 178/ 100 so they wouldn't pull it. gave me meds and told me to get into my doc right away. So we shall see what happens with this.
                Well its almost 11 so I need to go make dinner for my dh. Talk soon all.
                               

what a wonderful ending to a great week.

Hi all,
   We have had a great week. We started off with arts last monday and made some wonderful valentines decorations. The girls and I made some beef jerky and apple leather on the dehydrater and some pineapple fruit leather. They enjoyed all the wonderful treats that they helped make. School lessons this week went smoothly. We went bowling on Wednesday after bread delivery with Lisa and Seaira.
  Thursady we finished up our lessons for the week and then worked on some science. Friday was my birthday. So the girls made Father Mikes meal because they didn't think I should cook. Then they had bowling practice and we bought Blazin pizza for dinner.
  Saturday we had league in the morning, dropped off a salad to church for a funeral. The girls take turns making whatever is needed for the funerals as service time. The rest of the daywe finished packing up Christmas stuff. Now to just go organize it in the attic.
   Sunday, Marissa served at Mass and then I finally was able to catch the choir director. Carissa joined the childrens choir and starts on Wednesday. Bowling this afternoon for adult junior league and then home to a surprised birthday party.
     So now I sit with a cup of tea and start planning out this leeks lessons for any supplies I may need to pick up.
                             Enjoy the rest of the evening everyone.

ending our week

We have had a good start to the new year. Tonight was bowling practice and Pizza from Blazin Pizza yum.
I started taking down the tree all decorations are off. Now to get it out of the house without leaving a trail of needles. Hopeing for a good day outside tomorrow so we can get the outside stuff put away.

  I also need to start a new run for the chickens.
Hope all have a good weekend.

ST Basil Cake

Yesterday , We spent our afternoon doing math in the most fun way. We made our ST Basil Jewel cake. They all got to measure to make their jello and then the olders made different shape cutouts from the jello they layered it. Then we poured a mixture of condensed milk and 2 packages of knoxz gelatin and hot water. When chilled and thickened we took it out of the fridge and frosted it with cool whip. I make this in a 13x9 pan as we have a large family. I will try and find the camera later so I can post a pic of it. I also added food coloring to one of the jellos so when I poured over the mixture it tinted it a light blue the girls were thrilled. Gotta love tasty math:)

lemony cheese delight

We had a tasty dessert tonight that the girls made. walnut base then cheese and whip cream and then they made a fresh lemon curd for the top with a yummy hot chocolate truffle cocoa. Happy 1st day of 2013.

Happy New Year

Well It is finally here. We celebrated with family last night and rung in the New Year at 9 our time but midnight N.Y. time. We have done this since we came to Washington.
     We will start this Year off to a good start. I am hauling out some stuff that hasn't been used in years and has just been sitting in the garage. My resolutions are going month to month so maybe I can keep up with them this year. January resolutions are 1. cleaning out the garage. 2. losing 10 lbs. 3. cleaning out baby toys.
I know simple but I am hoping this works.
    The girls tomorrow will write theirs out for English. We will also later today vote on our patron Saint. I am so excited to see who it is. The girls picked different ones and will pitch why they think theirs should be picked. It has given them a chance to learn about different ones.
    Well sitting here isnt getting me started:)

                 So will chat later!!!!!!!!!!!