Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving!

We want to wish you a very happy and blessed Thanksgiving today!  We are all very excited to be having a turkey and all the trimmings today.  Uncle Tom is off the road and able to come to our feast.  The pumpkin pies have been baked and the stuffing is waiting to go in the oven.  We will also be having mashed potatoes, kale, pressed salad, sweet potatoes and sweet potato biscuits as well as some other type of plain biscuits.  We’ll have corn, of course, and I’m hoping there are some green beans in the freezer for Uncle Tom.  (We didn’t know he would be coming until yesterday.)  We are so happy to be sharing the day with each other and we are thankful for another year of beautiful family life, among many other blessings.  This is our 5th Thanksgiving here in Bodenburg!  Time sure does fly.  Off to go prepare some more….  God bless you all.

A Genealogy Project

The children and I began a little genealogy project not too long ago.  The children wrote out questions, in their handwriting, geared for older relatives.  There were 4 pages with 3 questions on each sheet.  We had them photocopied and mailed them out to their great aunts and some other relatives.  The response is better than I had hoped.  My only regret is that I didn’t think of doing this years ago when more were still alive.   In each individual’s envelope, we also added personal questions such as, “Where did you and Uncle Fred meet?”  and “Please tell us the story of when you saw Einstein,” etc.  It seems some of the adults had just as much fun answering the questions as we had reading the responses.  Not only that, I have learned things about my grandparents that would have gone to the grave with these relatives.  So, do yourself a favor, and get busy with this little project before another relative dies!

One More Nightgown

Finally finished is one more nightgown, this time for Charlotte, and this time done in nice, sturdy flannel material.  I am very pleased with the results.  We took pictures the morning after Charlotte had worn it to bed.  The girls were both so excited that they now both have nightgowns made by Mom.  MaryEllen had to get into the pictures, of course!  After we were done with the pictures, Charlotte said, “Let’s take our nightgowns, fold them, and put them under our pillows so we can wear them tomorrow!”  If I had know that, I might have made them sooner.  All their other PJs end up on their bedroom floor!

   

On the same day (I think), I was getting a red plaid dress for Veronica to wear.  MaryEllen asked if she and Charlotte could wear the dresses that they had like Veronicas.  So, we had to take pictures in their dresses. 

  We went on that day to try and take a picture for the Christmas card.  If we do use any of them, they will be less than perfect.  Someone always seems to have eyes closed, be making faces, or have their heads cut off.  However, Christmas not being any farther away, we may just have to use one of those pictures for the cards.

Autumn Fun

We have passed Halloween, I know, but I still wanted to get some photos up.  One day in the mail a box arrived for the children.  It was from our good friends Aunt Marie and Uncle Homer.  It was full of Halloween cards, stickers and even dollar coins for the children.  What fun was had by all playing with the items and seeing what treasures were inside.

  

  

 

 (You may click on the pictures to enlarge them.)

On Halloween, we had a wonderful little All Saints party.  We had a nice turn out and everyone had a good time.  Some of the featured items were our St. Isadore the Farmer pumpkin pinata and our St. Lucy cupcakes.  (Thanks to the Catholic Cuisine blog!)     (St. Isadore artwork by Kevin)

We attend the extra-ordinary form of the Mass every week, so we celebrated the Feast of Chirst the King in October.  We had Benediction and a Eucharistic procession.   

One day the girls and I took some time to shuck some pop-corn.  We had a good time.  Boy was it delicious when we popped it!  We bought it at an Amish produce auction in September.    We also carved pumpkins with friends, but didn’t take any pictures.   We were just too busy scraping out pumpkin guts and having fun!

November 2 is the Feast of All Souls day.  We remember and pray for our dearly departed loved ones and even those souls who have been forgotten.  Holy Mother Church reminds us that some souls need to be purified before entering into God’s glory.  Let me take this opportunity to clear a common misconception up right here.  Catholics do NOT believe that you end up in either Heaven, Hell, OR Purgatory.  You end up in Heaven or Hell.  In order to get to Heaven, to be one with God, you must be perfect.  If you died this instant, would that description fit you?  It certainly doesn’t me!  God has given us a great gift in Purgatory.  If we make it there, we will get to Heaven, as we are already there.   Is Purgatory in the Bible?  The word is not, however the concept is.  (The words Trinity and Incarnation are not in Scripture, either.)    In Matthew 12:32, Jesus implies that some sins can be forgiven in the next world.   1 Corinthians 3:12 says, “If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.”  This can’t refer to Hell because there is no saving once you are there.  Other Bible passages to look at are 1 Peter 3:18-20 and 1 Peter 4:6.  I could go on and on, but you get the point.  If you want to look into this farther, goto the  Bible Christian Society and get the free download entitled Mary and the Bible. 

After all that, what I wanted to mention was that our priest wore the traditional black.  Even the altar cards were a little subdued in their coloring for this great feast of the Church. 

On November 2nd, after Mass, we went to our homeschool group’s All Saints party.  That is one of the biggest events of the whole year.  Unfortunately, I didn’t get pictures of my little saints this year.   We love this time of the year.  The weather is usually just right, temperature wise, the beautiful leaves are changing and Holy Mother Church gives us so much to think about, pray about, and celebrate.

A Finished Sewing Project

Originally this night gown was being made for Charlotte.  When I tried it on her to hem it, it was really too big.  I made it a “Size 5″ according to the pattern, but I don’t think it is true to size.  I suppose this post could become a rant about sewing patterns.  I am learning as I go.  About 10 years ago I made 2 dresses and a blouse.  Clothes sewing is not like quilting and these clothes patterns can be very difficult to follow.  I measured the girls and their measurements were not even on the  pattern envelope!  Some people have told me that I need to measure the pattern itself.  Perhaps I should be going to the thrift store or antique stores looking for patterns from the good ole’ days. 

Recently the boys have asked me to teach them to sew.  John is working on a doll dress for Charlotte’s doll.  Kevin and I are starting work on dresses in identical patterns.  His dress will be for MaryEllen and mine will before Charlotte.  I am also working on a night gown for Charlotte and a dress pattern that I started years ago for MaryEllen, but Charlotte will end up with that, too, since they have both grown.  Poor MaryEllen.  In a way, I am so glad she finally got something made by me.  She loves the night gown, but I still feel a little guilty because I used cheap, $1 a yard fabric from Wal-Mart for it.  At least it looks pretty!  When I am finished with Charlotte’s, I’ll make MaryEllen another using some nice flannel Angelina Ballerina fabric.  Charlotte’s will be nice flannel Raggety Ann & Andy fabric.  It is cute, not cheap (but I did get it on sale) and should last longer than that $1 a yard fabric.  It certainly feels better.  Perhaps I should be sewing instead of writing this scattered post!

Now, here are the pictures…

 

Marshmallow Science

We have had a little bit of fun with school this year.  For our science we used marshmallows and toothpicks to help understand atoms and molecules.  The first thing the children were instructed to do was to make any kind of shapes they wanted.  After a little while of that, they were instructed to make models of molecules.  They really enjoyed this activity.   It was not an original idea, we have been using Real Science 4 Kids, and this was one of their planned activities.

 

 

 

Kevin Had a Birthday

My Dad, when he was alive, was always around when I had babies.  As he got older he lived to see his grandchildren.  When Kevin was born he said, “Kevin from Heaven.”  Not wanting to hurt John’s feelings he added, “John and Kevin from Heaven.”  Why am I thinking of that?   Kevin from Heaven is now eleven!  (I feel a poem coming on!)

As usual, Aunt Mary Lou sends the coolest gifts.  (Thank you, Aunt Mary Lou.)  We have some pictures of Kevin opening them.  I won’t put too many other pictures up, but we had a playdate here for his birthday with a LOT of children, and two cakes even!  Kevin enjoyed his birthday this year.  Thank you to all who were there!

   

   

Hand-Me-Downs

We are always grateful for the clothes people give us.  Not too long ago, I passed on all the boy clothes from size 18 months to size 7.  Some of those clothes were hard to give up.  Not only did all three of my boys wear them, but I remember my 20-something nephew wearing them as well.  Trusting in the Lord, Joe reminded me to “let the Lord provide” if we ever have any more boys.  Typing that last sentence seems strange to me because I remember a time, not too long ago, when I wondered if we would have any girls.  Here are some pictures of an outfit that Aunt Mary Lou bought for Mary Ellen about 6 years ago.  We have pictures of MaryEllen wearing it.  The neat thing about this is that I got Veronica dressed and put the hat on.  She let me take one picture and promptly took that hat off.  Then she had fun playing with it and putting it back on herself.  Enjoy the pictures!

  

Yes, this is the old picture of MaryEllen!  I just had to throw that in.

Interesting Flower

I am so far behind in blogging, in case you hadn’t noticed.  I was going to try and take care of it this weekend, but here it is Monday already. 

 In September James found a very interesting flower.  I don’t know what it is, and have not even had time to look it up.  We did, however, take pictures.  (You may click on the pictures for a larger view.)

Edited to ad:  Thanks, Misty, for letting me know that this is a purple passion flower.  We’ll have to go and find out more about it.  

   

   

Of course, if there is a camera, flowers, and a girl around, that girl must get into the action! 

 Just so you know, she is in costume.

Beautiful Homeschooling

If you need a little freshness and beauty in your homeschool, go check out Jen’s blog Wildflowers & Marbles.  She has done a very inspiring post that should not be missed!  My kids all want to go there for school.  Have a great day!