Sonlight Garden

Growing in Virtue

If you want to grow in the virtue of patience cook in the kitchen with your children. I was reminded of this just this past Christmas. One afternoon when we had started baking some cookies, my little ones had gathered around. They were adding ingredients, all complaining about whose turn it was. "She got to crack the eggs." one of them said in a whiny voice. There was flour flying everywhere. It was crazy. I had dropped the spatula while using the hand mixer. I turned the hand mixer off, put it on the counter and bent down to pick up the spatula. As I was bent down the mixer comes crashing down on my head. "That's it!" I yell, "everyone out!" the two little ones run away crying. I stay bent low. I start crying. I failed again.

Every moment we have a choice. Acting patiently is a choice. I have to choose to smile. I have to choose to soften my heart. Not always, but sometimes being patient isn't easy and natural. When people find out how many children I have, and that I homeschool, I always here the comment, "you must be so patient?" Well, I'm not. I pray for it constantly. I want to be a wonderful example for my children. They also must know I am human, that I fail, that I struggle, and that I am humbled; for someday they will have their own babies to raise.

 I went and found those crying little ones, and hugged them and kissed them and apologized. I don't want their memories of baking with their Mama to be not so happy. It was humbling. Another virtue.

You know, I think about how as parents we are to teach our children to be virtuous, to know right from wrong. I then think about all they teach me.  God puts us together as a family to teach each other, to help us grow virtuous.  These 9 beautiful souls God blessed me with are helping me grow. I look around, the opportunities are bountiful, I am blessed. Lord, help me to make it so. 

 

Go ahead, sing along...

Our church choir played this song today with the organ and harp and trumpet. It was just beautiful. I have been humming it all day long. I think Alison Krauss did a lovely job with this version. I hope you are having a restful Sunday. Someone in my house is. Oh, to still be able to crash like that.
Be well and rest in Him. That is the only rest we need.

A good...no, great day

Somebody took his gnome.

We had such a great day yesterday. We kept to our key subjects. The little ones played with math using the gnomes and gems. The gnomes led to the bigger kids finding the box that the gnomes tree fort was packed away in. We finger painted. That was great fun. The conversations in my kitchen were priceless. We made caramel apples. We first tried to make homemade caramel, but without a candy thermometer it went from awesome to burnt in a matter of seconds. That led to a trip to the grocery store for packaged caramel and a candy thermometer. We will conquer homemade caramel one of these days!!

We are in the sixth week of our school year. I am evaluating what is working and what isn't.

Of course all of Amelia's items we pretty much ditched. It just wasn't working for her. She was willing to do the work but I could see it just wasn't clicking with her. We are now just reading more and "playing" with math. She is working on a phonics workbook and we are following the Alphabet Path. And of course crafts.

For the most part I am happy with the choices for Catherine. Math is an everyday occurrence, I have also added the manipulatives. I have lightened up on the workload for her as far as how often she is doing each particular subject. We ditched the phonics workbook, she didn't need it anymore and it was just busy work. She has turned into an incredible reader. At the age of six the words she can pronounce and her comprehension is amazing. I really want to encourage this so I want to make more time for reading for her. 

For Patrick and Mary Jane math, science, and history are keepers. The science and history are great spines. I am not happy with the Language Arts aspect of their curriculum. The workbooks are overkill and just silly busy work. So I am researching and thinking about the best approach for them. Again I am so drawn to Charlotte Mason's methods. I am not sure why I fight it. Maybe it is because I don't feel sure of how to implement it or if I am doing it correctly. 

Julia is enrolled in the cottage school and is doing great! I compare her education to Joe's and the difference is amazing. The difference is between a child who loves to read EVERYTHING and a child who will only read when he has to. There is a huge difference in how these children express themselves on paper, from their spelling to their grammar. 

Anyway, I have much more to say about this but the natives are restless so it is time to hit "publish". No time to link to anything also. I will be back soon.

Have some fun today!! 

Patrick and Football

I haven't really posted alot about Patrick and football this year. This is Patrick's first year in pads. He was hesitant at first but when he found out his Dad was one of the coaches he was all in. 

Patrick is a funny kid. He is very focused and serious on the field.

When the coaches call the players over he is usually the first one there.

One morning before one of his games he was sitting at the kitchen table studying the playbook because he wasn't sure of one of his assignments.

I love this picture. Those are my guys. Joe is always on the sidelines watching his brother, Terry the coach, and Patrick waiting to get back in the game. 

And speaking of coaching. We have awesome coaches. One of them being my husband ;0) they are super encouraging, positive, and fun. The kids love them. Believe me, some of the coaching we have witnessed from playing some of these other teams is absolutely ridiculous. How it helps to yell at a bunch of eight year old boys who are just learning how to play the game is beyond me. 

It is fun to watch these little guys play. Paddy, we can't wait to see what you do :0)

life lessons and football

( I started this post three days, I am going to try and finish it today!)

Lots to blog about...no time to blog it.

You know how it goes.

It has been busy around here. School is in full swing. We started our second week of school and whamo!! We are all feeling bad with allergies? colds? Oh well, the work load is "light" this week.

Football is also in FULL swing. Joe and Patrick are playing. There is a lot of practicing and time involved with this sport. But they sure do love it. ( I love this picture of them!)

And we love to watch them play. 

(Joe is number 10)

Joe has had three games so far. The first was a kick-off jamboree game and they won. The third was a scrimage for them but for their opponent it was an official game on their roster. They won that game also. 

The second game was a tough one. They were playing awesome in the first half and then their opponent rallied and came back and won the game. It was hard.

These team sports are tough. There has to be a winner and there has to be a loser. It is hard to see your child give it their all and see them lose. You so badly want to protect them from that disappointment don't you?

This group of boys handled it with grace though.

 These are tough life lessons. But, in the end it is good for them, those lessons. Because sometimes in life you are going to work your hardest, give it your ALL, and things are just not going to turn out the way you want. It is life. 

This is how God changes us, molds us, grows us, makes us who we are.

This boy, this move here and big changes, the challenges he has faced this past year, it has been tough. 

We were talking the other day about this past year. I asked him if he remembered this time last year and how hard it was for him, and to see where he is now. He did. I saw a shy smile come across his face.

He is growing. He is handling the disappointments well. He is moving on and learning from these life lessons. He is becoming quite the young man. God is working on him. 

We are so proud.

 

A Mother's Smile

Joe started school today. When I picked him up he had a big smile on his face. Big change from last year. We are ready to officially begin our school year on Monday. This week we are busy with doctors appointments for the kids and me. Joe had an orthodontist appointment and got a palate expander and braces on the top teeth. The poor dear is adjusting to talking and eating with a mouth full of metal. He has had a big week; new school, braces. He is handling it well though.

In other news Catherine lost a front tooth yesterday. How cute. I love her toothless grin. She is getting so big and is just a sweetie.

John Paul discovered the laundry shoot in my closet. I found a drawers worth of clean clothes and lots of shoes in the laundry room. Good times!

In the next couple of days I want to blog about the learning spaces I have set up for my guys. They are loving the new set up. Very excited about this.

I read something today though that puts everything in perspective. "The most extraordinary education begins with a mother who smiles."

Isn't that awesome?! So all the prepping and planning I have done is great and good. But the key ingredient is going to be my joy and enthusiasm. I am so thrilled to have my children home with me. I feel so blessed to be able to teach them. Do they know that? Most importantly do they see that?

Little Stinker....

The night before Terry had gone out and brought back ice cream for everyone. Everyone had eaten theirs except for me. My Black Rasberry Chocolate Chunk was waiting for me in the freezer.

Until someone found it and went off and ate it!

Guess who it was?

Although he says he didn't do it.

We think differently.

 

preparing

My Mother in law is coming tomorrow for a visit so posting may be light for a few days. Except for Joe's Track meet. I am going to get a post up about that soon. It was incredible! I am going to try and not be to obnoxious in that post. I have tons of pictures. Today I need to finish picking up the house and cleaning. My Dad left this morning. We had such a great visit. Thankfully we will see him next week when some of us head to sunny Florida for a visit!!

 Patrick finished his First Holy Communion lapbook. This came from Lapbooks for Catholics. We had so much fun doing this together and have had so many great discussions about this Sacrament. Patrick receives his First Holy Communion on Sunday, Mother's Day. He is so looking forward to it. Actually we all are. Here are some pictures.

Winter Village~by Mary Jane

Snow!!!

We saw our first snow fall a couple of days ago

This was a big deal. My Florida babies have never seen snow.

This morning we woke up to this

This was a HUGE deal. It was like Christmas morning with all the squeals and excitement.

Don't worry, I made sure to tell them not to eat any yellow snow. :0)

 

 

I am going to try to update later. We had a wonderful thanksgiving. Amelia turned 4!!! I just can't seem to find the time to sit down here and blog. Hopefully later. I don't think I will be going anywhere today!