Ear Splitting Entertainment

We have been told that our house is surprisingly quiet(for having 6 kids that is)

...but not today!

Here's Rylee(my niece) getting in on the action.

Words cannot express how LOUD it was and how my ears are still ringing...but they had a BLAST!

Fresher Family Room

Before: Family Room

After: Family Room(excuse the cluttered shelves..that's where we keep the children's books)

South wall(Door goes into the sunroom)

West wall

                                                              East wall
We have been working on the family room ever since we moved in...a little at a time.
First, we replaced the carpet.
Painted the walls "Butter Cookie."
Added new light fixtures.
Repainted the bricks on the fireplace.
Added moulding to the mantel and painted it.
Added moulding to the bookshelves and painted.
Finished the beadboard look complete with new trim above and below.
We finally finished it last night.

Gathered this morning before Mass.

Pottery Barn Kids Chairs Redo

After: Brown Chairs

Before: Blue and Red Chairs

 We bought this set from Pottery Barn Kids the year we decided to homeschool...10 years ago. It was the perfect addition to our perfect school room that we never used. We recently moved it into the dining room. It's been a great snack, meal, and preschool table for the little ones.

I love having it in the dining room, but I wanted it to 
match the big table and chair set...at least somewhat.
I'm happy with the simple spray paint solution. 
This project was inspired by Fresh Cut Flours.
Check it out!

< Little Table

                                                              Big Table>

In Loving Memory

Sofia Cavalletti, one of the foundresses of Catechises of the Good Shepherd passed away on Tuesday, August 23rd, she was 94 years old. What a wonderful legacy Sofia has left behind through the catechises.
One of her admirers said this of Sofia, "Sofia Cavaletti never wanted any of us, children or adults, to hear her voice, but only the voice of the Shepherd. She made me know the truth, that there is but One Teacher and I want to continue to sit at His feet with children and young & old adults and ask of Text and of hearer, "What could this mean?" Thank you God for our mentor and friend. Pray for us, Sofia".

Exciting News!

Most of the time, I try to focus this blog on my "home" life and I don't mention too many things I am involved in outside of these four walls, but since this impacts the occupants, I want to share!

I am in training to become a Catechist for the Good Shepherd program and I am getting ready to start Part II of Level I. Our mentors at training encouraged us to begin using our training as soon as we could.

Last month, another student, who is also a homeschool Mom, and I presented the "idea" of the program to our homeschool group.

During the presentation, we discovered 2 more trained catechists who were very excited to help.

Then, someone mentioned that the very parish we were having our meeting at, had a room with what they believed were Good Shepherd materials in it...and that we should check it out before we left.

We have around 40 kids on the "waiting list" to participate. The parents were all very excited and eager to help with the program.

In all my activities/ministries/volunteer work...etc... I have NEVER seen such enthusiasm!

We have checked the room out...it's perfect, they have almost everything we will need ,which is extensive, which makes it all the more amazing.

It's CRAZY how everything is falling into place...it's almost too perfect...but we all feel that this is the stirring of the Holy Spirit. This program is truth and light. I am blessed to be a part of it. I encourage anyone reading this post to discover this treasure HERE 

"Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.
Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created.
And You shall renew the face of the earth."

Cutting Fun!

  We started school last week and also began taking care of my niece. Sufficed to say, it's been busy around here! The busy bags have been a godsend, but I'm rationing them out a little at a time and we are in need of a few more activities. Today we cut up computer paper into thin strips, armed the littles with safety scissors and they set to work. Oh, and you'll notice I didn't take an "after" photo of the floor and surrounding area. Sometimes, it's the simplest of things that keep them occupied....for twenty minutes!!

Almost everyone joined in the cutting fun.



An Apology

My post about the Busy Bags was ranty and I am sorry, I learned that I offended someone. I really didn't mean to! I was trying to give an honest review. The Busy Bags swaps are awesome, and I still feel that arranging it locally is a great way to save on shipping. I also understand that some people may live in an area where that is not an option, and I do not mean to discourage anyone from participating in a swap.  I admit to having what my Mom refers to as "Goldilocks Syndrome"and  I need to make sure that I don't overly criticize. Taking part in any kind of swap is always going to be a surprise and not everyone has the same standards or expectations and I should have been more tactful in my review.

And so, I am sincerely sorry and I ask forgiveness from anyone I may have offended in my post.

Busy Bags 2!

Here is the second half of the busy bags.

 ^ Picture/Alphabet Match-up

Shape Hunt and Sort

Popsicle stick puzzle

I have who has card game

Memory Game 1

Measure It

Memory Game 2

Bug Counting Card Activity

Sew Much Fun

The Alphabet Game.

Alphabet Match-Up

Pom-Pom Patterns(Benny LOVED this today!!)

Pony Beads & Pipe Cleaners

Sneak Peek: For my in town swap..Snowflake Builder.

  Isn't it lovely??? My new Scotch Thermal Laminator!

                Thanks again, Michelle!

.

Busy Bags!

Guess what came in the mail today???

There were 29 activities inside, one is missing.

I was very excited and somewhat pleasantly surprised. I think it would be nice to laminate some of the cardstock activities because laminating makes things so much more durable.

I love this pizza felt game!

This is such a cute concept...but I felt it needed a few more pieces.

This is a winner...my boys will love it. It's a a matchup counting game.

This is a fabulous activity! On one side of the clothespins is a number and on the reverse the written form.

I'm guessing this is a color sorting game?? No instructions were included.

How cute is this???? This is a perfect bead spooning activity.

I really like the idea of this popsicle color match-up...

The boys will have fun fishing!

Play-doh and a mat...to form letters..or numbers.

Roll-a-cise...all my kids will love this one!

Aren't these simple puzzles adorable???

Double Shape Match game...the cards are even laminated!!

I love the pics on this rhyming game.

Yay!! It's laminated!!

So here are the first 15 and these are my favorites. There were some duplications which I didn't anticipate.

It cost $60 to participate...$30 for supplies to make the bags and $15 shipping each way.

Overall, I think it's probably better to try and arrange this locally to save the cost of shipping. 

A group of lovely ladies is having a busy bag swap here in town and I am participating.

 That will be great even with some duplications since I have 2 to preschool this year that will be a little less squabbling.

I love this swapping stuff!! It's great fun to be surprised.