Sonlight Garden

gingerbread day

 

It was gingerbread house day yesterday. I had just poured myself a nice cup of coffee, sat down with my bunch with my camera in hand, and then...Henry, little stinker, reaches up and knocks my coffee over. John Paul was not happy, pour guy. We cleaned it up quickly and proceeded. No reason to cry over spilled coffee, however, I almost did because I used up the last of my half and half on that spilled cup. Oh well.

It was bittersweet this year. We assembled these while Joe and Julia were at school. It made me a little sad not seeing their faces around the table. They are getting older. All of them. As we were putting them together I was reminded of years past and how much fun we've had keeping this little tradition. When we started doing this a few years ago I never thought there would be a day when they wouldn't all be here doing this together. So, I am learning to savor these everyday moments. These children are growing up. Next year I think we will do our house building during Christmas break when mid term exams are over and see if I can lure some "big" kids in on the construction.

making.....

making pot holders

 

making valentines 

 

and a mess

 

 

making valentine dots

 
 
 
  
 

spring crafting

 

These are the pictures that the littles did yesterday. They had a really good time making them.  They are spring trees in bloom. The leaves are made of pink tissue paper. They are bright and cheerful, just perfect for the kitchen.

 Wouldn't these be fun for summer (green leaves), fall (multicolor or apple trees), winter (orange trees) for us here in Fl. 

My Today 8

After receiving Tea and Cake With The Saints by Alice Cantrell all my girls can think about is throwing a tea party. Well today we did! It was a celebration in honor of St. Julie Billiart, one of the founding sisters of the Sisters of Notre Dame. It was her feast day today and she is also Julia's name saint.

This great book has also inspired Julia to start a Home keeping binder.

On the menu:

• Raspberry Punch
• Buttermilk Scones with Vanilla cream cheese
• Stuffed Eggs
• mini peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
• mini tuna fish sandwiches
• and of course tea!

After the tea portion of it the kids changed and then they planted flower seeds in tin pots that I had picked up real cheap. They had a great time.

I think the flower pots turned out so sweet. We also made little sticks with St. Julie on them to stick in our pots. And we topped them of with bows made from leftover fabric. The children had a blast.

"How good is the good God!" -St Julie Billiart

Psyanky Eggs

Well we made pysanky eggs ALL DAY on Saturday. It is tedious work that requires a tremendous amount of patience, especially when working with children. There are raw eggs, candles and hot wax involved, but it was fun and we will definitely do this again next year. I had a kit that had the beeswax, dye and kystkas which are the tools you use for "writing" the design on your egg with beeswax. the kit is the way to go if you are going to ever try this project. My Lithuanian grandmother had these eggs around her home at Easter time. Doing this brought back some wonderful memories. I am so glad my children were able to experience it.

A Child's Prayer Place

I totally took this idea from Cottage Blessings back in December. I just loved this idea of a "mini" altar. I really wanted to do this for my children so that they could have a quiet place all for themselves. A place where they could pray and think and have their quiet time with God.

We started with wood shelves from the craft store that we painted with acrylic paint. Some of the children added stickers and on the shelf we glued a paper doily on top and then applied a coat of Modge Podge. Very easy, and I think they came out so sweet.

Catherine chose bright yellow! In the middle on the doiley is placed the Crucifix. She chose the Blessed Mother as her statue. There is also a Holy Water bottle. Hanging from the pegs are their Rosary and St Therese sacrifice beads and or scapular.

Mary Jane chose pink. (of course!) She chose Our Lady of Fatima

Julia's altar with Our Lady of Guadalupe. Julia wanted to write "Jesus, I Trust in You" on hers. That has also been my prayer.

Patrick of course chose his name saint. Saint Patrick.

And my Joseph chose St. Joseph. Joseph wanted his altar very plain which I think turned out just as beautiful. Very simple and appropriate for a 10 1/2 year old young man.

  Beside the altars I think I am going to hang up any scripture verse that we are trying to memorize or that I think will pertain to a particular child. I am also going to hang up a child's examination of conscience and an Act of Contrition. For the younger ones who are not yet reading we will read it to them with their night time prayers.

The statues came from Catholic Folk Toys