I Week

This is the first week I had absolutely nothing for the grab bag... even after scouring Michael's (there were some super expensive "ice cream" buttons... but I wasn't going to spend a bunch of money for one week).  We asked St. Ignatius to pray for us and, of course, enjoyed ice cream, because it starts with I, right?

 

We did a fun little ice experiment where we mixed colors with ice (it would have been easier if we could have frozen the ice cubes and food coloring together, but we have an ice maker and no ice cube trays anymore).  It was a great chance to at least introduce Anni to the idea that mixing colors together makes other colors.

Unrelated to the letter "I",  Anni used some awesome fabric stickers (thank you, target dollar aisle) to make a card for a baby shower/ going away party we went to the following weekend).  If we ever need a pick-me-up, stickers are the way to go in this house (at least for those of the 3-year-old variety!)

We also started a new ordinary time unit.  Our previous one had been on the 12 apostles, and Anni loved it, but since she had my entire script as well as the song and the names of the 12 apostles memorized... I figured it was time to move on.  So, we started talking about the story of the 7 days of creation.  I got creative with our symbols (one for each day), since I'm all about not buying things when possible.

My favorite thing we did was our ice cream craft.  We made little ice cream "scoops" out of construction paper and put a letter of their name on each one and built some sweet little ice cream cones.  They were just adorable!

Ever wonder what Lettie does during school?  Either sleep or this: sneaking around trying to nab things she's not supposed to have.  Love her!

Intense glue concentration!

Happy I week!

8 months of Little Lettie

Oh, little Lettie.  This sweetie continues to steal our hearts.  She is moving, moving, moving.  She's still up on her hands and knees all the time, and her most recent move is to tuck one leg under her and attempt to move the other one so she can sit up.  She only makes it up to sitting by herself every once in awhile, but once in sitting (whether by her own power or with a little help), she is much sturdier than she used to be!  She's awfully proud of her skills.

She can find a crumb on the floor whether or not I just swept and mopped and once she spots something tiny to put in her mouth, woo, that girl can move!  She is a master scooter, that's for sure.  She's getting a little better with solids all the time.  In fact, her favorite is definitely pork carnitas.  She practically dives for that if I set it on her tray.  Her joy in solid foods does not diminish her nursing zeal in the least.  She starts to pat, pat, pat, to let me know she's hungry and then, if I don't comply quickly enough, she just starts banging her head into my chest and trying to figure out why she's not being fed yet.  Such a funny little darling! 

On the subject of mastering things, she has definitely not mastered sleeping through the night.  I don't run well on little sleep, but I also don't mind terribly.  She goes back to sleep quickly and usually just needs a little milk and a little snuggling.  I know well now how quickly these sweet little baby days pass, so, sleepiness or no, I'll take an extra little snuggle.  

H Week

H Week

Grab bag included: hippo, hamburger, hotdog & heart

I'm pretty sure we asked for St. Helena's intercession, but I didn't remember to find her story or a picture this week.

Singing the apostles song!  Our last week on this unit.

We did some fun counting sheets (they put cheerios in each little circle and then counted them to help recognition of the numbers).  Mostly, they were fun because they got to eat their "counters"!  You can see my husband having a business meeting in the background with our little friend's mommy (she does consulting work for FOCUS, so I did school while they worked through some projects).

Then, we made the cutest little crafts!  They are long-distance hugs (ours went to Anni's Great-Grandma Bessie) and they worked perfectly with the "H" theme (hug, hands and hearts!)

Choosing her hearts to glue on her little hands.

Measuring how long Anni's "hug" is with ribbon.

Seven Quick Takes: Volume X

--- 1 ---

Our (very competent) electrician was  here for six hours... he texted a photo of the wiring in my office to his boss just out of pure disbelief. I heard the words "I've never seen *that* before" several times today (knowing he has worked at this job for over 10 years).  Poor guy was visibly frustrated (not at us, just what previous owners had done quite badly to our wiring) and exhausted by the time he left.  I'm very grateful he figured all the craziness out, but more than a little nervous to see the bill.

--- 2 ---

  
I started watching Downton Abbey couple weeks ago.  Let's just say I've seen the first three seasons, now.  I'm a believer!

--- 3 ---

I've been working on these little St. Colette's for a wooden saint doll exchange I have coming up.  I was in a little bit of a panic earlier this week as many of other ladies were near done and I had barely begun.  I took some guidance and inspiration from a very helpful friend's blog.  My sticking point came in that there aren't many examples out there of the Saint I'm painting, only a very beautiful, elaborate one that I'm trying to simplify a bit down to my meager skills (art degree or no, I've never been much of a painter).  Another friend in the exchange (who is amazing and completing three whole sets by herself!) sat down and helped me get a head start.  I am oh, so, grateful!  I feel like I might actually pull something lovely off! 
 

--- 4 ---

I came out with my brand-spankin' new business website on Monday.  Every time I open the new page, it feels like a crisp breeze through the window... so lovely to have something fresh and new!  If you'd like to pay it a little visit, you can head here: voborilphotography.com

--- 5 ---

We had a lovely trip to the zoo this week.  It's so much nicer in the fall when we're much more likely to feel a little chilly rather than roasting in the hot, hot, hot sun!  Colette's happy place was sitting (for longer than I've ever seen her sit!) on the picnic blanket with a slice of apple to chow down on. 

These three were adorable!  Holding hands, pointing out the animals and just being generally darling.  There were no meltdowns until the very, very end... which is pretty wonderful for three toddlers and a baby!

--- 6 ---

This little one, oh, dear, she just melts my heart.  I watched her wake up from a very cozy nap the other day, so sweet!

--- 7 ---

And then there's this one.  Her preferred place right now is absolutely, exactly where I am (as in, sitting on me) and she's given up on naps.  Oh, my, three-year-olds.  I love mine!

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

G Week

 

This week was a very quiet one.  G week was the week Anni was so sick, so we really only fit in one solid day of school.  We kept it simple, but Miss Anni was quite happy to be doing something other than lying on the couch.  We also had our very own example of "G" with Grandma being with us most of the week.  

Signing "girl", since "girl" starts with "g"

She loves to run around the pillar in the basement anytime we sing during schooltime... it's a good way to shake some of the crazies out.

We read our St. Bernadette book (all about a grotto!)

There you have it.  Not anything too fascinating, but she learned the letter and the following week is much better planned.

Week F

This week was F week!  Our Saint of the week was St. Francis of Assisi (a favorite around here!)  We even got to hang out with some of our best buddies (whose last name also happens to start with an "F").  The girls painted sweet little flower frames and the grab bag had a flower and a flamingo in it.   

Feast of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary

Yesterday was the feast of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary. I was running on over a week of very little sleep, so there was a lot of dragging myself off the couch/floor and working with what we had. We spent most of the morning getting ready and then going to Mass up at the office with Daniel (it really does take us all morning... mostly because a shower or bath for me is a whole lot of unhappiness for Colette... it drives her crazy!) Mass and lunch with Daddy always feels like a celebration for all of us... we love it! Plus, we get to say hi to a few friends that work up there.

After Mass we attempted and failed nap time and rallied to make some pumpkin muffins.  Our reason was two-fold: 1. I love pumpkin muffins and I could make these with maple syrup instead of honey (or sugar) so Colette could happily partake.  2. We used them to make a little decade rosary around Mary when I decorated the table for dinner.

Luckily, St. Therese's flowers are still beautifully alive (look how wonderfully they bloomed!), so we happily carried them over into the celebration.

To end the day, we said a decade of the rosary for our evening prayers.  Anni really enjoyed trying to follow along on the big rosary, and we tried hard to pray nice and slow so she could pray with us.  A successful celebration, simple though it may be!

Cider Days

Anni was so excited to be out and about, doing fun things... yay for making it through the dreaded stomach bug!

 This weekend, in an effort to take advantage both of my very favorite season (Autumn!) and the little bit of time we have left before my mother-in-law is down for the count during her surgery and recovery.   We headed to Cider Days in town and reveled in fall-ey goodness (have you ever had fresh cider?  SO GOOD!)  Here's our little photo montage of a very happy day.