For his 8th birthday Erik chose a spider web cake from a Halloween cookbook. He has been looking forward to this cake almost since his last birthday. I accidentally purchased Special Dark Hershey's Cocoa which I didn't know they made. The dark cocoa made a rich, delicious cake and frosting. The spider is a Keebler Grasshopper cookie with licorice legs. A nice pre-Halloween treat!
Our oldest son made his First Holy Communion on Mother's Day. He looked very handsome and was so well behaved during the long Mass and photo sessions afterwards.
His best friend, Matthew, made his First Holy Communion also so we combined efforts to have a big party for both boys. We planned on having an outdoor affair with a large tent set up in the freshly mown backyard with enough seating for the 50 attendees. Of course it rained hard all day so the party was moved indoors but everyone had a nice, albeit crowded, time in the house.
My talented and organized sister-in-law took photographs at the Communion, raced home, printed them out, framed them and got to my house BEFORE the party to put them on the cake table. She has a way of adding just the right touch to everything. Thank you, Sheri!
We officially don't have a baby anymore. Sniff. She is a full-blown toddler, temper fits and all, but she is also absolutely adorable and smart! I share my daughter's birthday and her birth made it so very special. I also have the occassional temper fit but get away with it, not because I am adorable and smart but because I am so very loved.
My husband made the Saunder's Bumpy Cake from scratch. It was delicious!
Our family's favorite teenage friend helped open presents.
I have been crazy busy this year with my Montessori training. Writing and taking pictures for my albums is no small feat. But I thought the friends and family who regularly check in to see what's new would appreciate a little photo update of life since Christmas.
Our sweet 20 month old was a holiday scene-stealer:
My husband and his sister had Christmas season birthdays. Look at all that smoke!
We celebrated the fourth birthday of my oldest daughter on Jan. 27. It wasn't a big production - just a few friends in attendance and a store bought cake - because mommy arrived from her out-of-town Montessori training just in time for the party. Good job on the decorations, Daddy!
Frosting fingers:
Thanks for looking! I will try my hardest to keep the blog up to date. Check back for Montessori activities for your home or classroom. I know there are a plethora of them on the internet but hopefully mine will be new to you.
not just a single day. And if you're Catholic you know that the Christmas season BEGINS on Christmas Eve at Midnight and goes until the feast of the Baptism of Christ on January 13. Which is why I can say "Merry Christmas!" on December 30th. Hope you all enjoy this selection of pics from this past week.
The boy loves his drumsticks:
Christmas morning must include orange rolls from a can:
Finding a friend on the wall of Christmas cards:
What happens when you get a bicycle in winter:
And while the girls stayed home and merely read tales of snow and ice:
the boys headed north to enjoy the serenity of a hunting cabin in the middle of nowhere sans electricity and running water (Mom says a polite "no thank you" to any invitations):
where they enjoyed nightly walks in the woods, great sledding, and lego building indoors:
They came home in desperate need of baths and dying to play their new video games!
I know, I know. I am woefully behind on blog posts. I will not even attempt to catch up on what I have neglected to post for the past two months. Starting with Thanksgiving I will will simply begin again. Needless to say i have been BUSY. Busy with family and home and Montessori training. We had a couple of weeks there with lots of sick little ones which isn't any fun at all. Enough excuses. We had a wonderful, peaceful Thanksgiving. Here are my lovelies mesmorized by the fireplace at my aunt and uncles house:
My 7 year old was in a really lovely "Gratitude Gathering." He dressed as a pilgrim and had several lines to recite. He also sang and danced! He said that he was nervous the morning of the event but when his time came he stood tall and spoke clearly and didn't seem a bit nervous. We were very proud of him! Afterwards I used the stage with all of its seasonal decorations as a backdrop for a photograph of all of the kids:
I came across this sentimental bit from my childhood the other day in Seven Times the Sun: Guiding Your Child Through the Rhythms of the Day:
Oh, God is good to us
And so we thank thee God
For giving us the things we need
The sun, the rain and the appleseed.
God is good to us.
These lines could be sung as a rousing, folk style table blessing. Watch the Disney cartoon for the melody. I discovered it just when I had been considering changing our prayers a bit so they don't get stale.
I can't believe how fast September came and went. I can't believe I'm the mother of a seven and a five year old (not to mention the younger two)! The oldest celebrated his birthday mid-month. His entrance into the traditional "age of reason" was marked by watching Star Wars for the first time and receiving the first Harry Potter book. The irony of that just occurred to me: the age of reason celebrated by an immersion in fantasy worlds? And immerse ourselves we did. I think it will be a long time before I can get the Star Wars theme music out of my head. He is our avid reader and deep thinker with a passion for pasta. Here he is this summer on his first excursion on my uncle's boat:
Today we celebrated birthday number five for a sweet little boy who is filled with joie de vivre. And while he enjoys playing with his Star Wars figures his feet are planted firmly on this planet. He is hard-working, tireless and sensitive. This may be one of my favorite pictures from this summer. Love those blue, blue eyes:
What a blessing boys are!
The Most Important Person on earth is a mother.
She cannot claim the honor of having built Notre Dame Cathedral.
She need not.
She has built something more magnificent than any cathedral
-a dwelling for an immortal soul, the tiny perfection of her baby's body. . .
The angels have not been blessed with such a grace.
They cannot share in God's creative miracle to bring new saints to Heaven.
Only a human mother can.
Mothers are closer to God the Creator than any other creature;
God joins forces with mothers in performing this act of creation. ..
What on God's good earth is more glorious than this: to be a mother?
Joseph Cardinal Mindszenty
There are some very cool giveaways at 5 Minutes for Mom. I personally am hoping for the iPod Nano : ) Check it out -- you only have until midnight tonight.
The baby's first birthday party WAS better late than never. Here are mom and the girls full of pre-party excitement:
On the menu were sloppy joes, hot dogs, baked beans, cold veggie squares, reeeally good fresh strawberries with marshmallow dip, homemade lemonade, and an ice cream cake. The cake was a Duggar Family recipe (an amazing family with 16 children who have been featured on the Discovery channel). It was very easy to make and tasted great.
Just look at this rave review:
It always amazes me how fast that first year goes! Happy Birthday, Eva Marie! I thank God for you every day.
