Name Meme

Jamie tagged me for this Name Meme. If anyone has a moment, could you please point out where the word 'meme' came from, or what it means??

Copy the questions from my post and paste them in a new post on your blog. Erase my answers and put yours in. Use the first letter of your name to answer ALL of the following questions. If the person before you has the same 1st letter pick a new one. You CAN NOT use anything twice, and you CAN NOT use your own name for the boy/girl question. After you are done, tag 5 people...

1. What is your name: Suzanne (Suzie for short)
2. A 4 letter word: Ship
3. A boy's name: Samuel
4. A girl's name: Savannah
5. An occupation: Seismographer
6. A color: Sunburst
7. Something you wear: Sweaters
8. A Food: Strawberries
9. Something found in the bathroom: Shower
10. A place: Saskatchewan
11. A reason for being late: Sleet covered roads.
12. Something you shout: Stop!
13. A movie title: Scarlet and The Black
14. Something you drink: Smoothie
15. An animal: Squirrel
16. A song title: Simply Red (I owned the single on cassette - not sure why! They pretty much sing the title and their band's name over and over ... until it ends.)
17. A verb: Saute

With all the tagging going on, the majority of the blogs I read have been tagged already. So, if you happen upon this post and want to play along, please do!

Snow Day Boredom?

When the day looks like this outside the kitchen window .... this mom tries to employ her creative genes to keep the kiddos busy. Schoolwork first, then on to crafts and playtime.

Zeke (above), now 6 years old, practicing hand-writing.

Dash finds a spot to read his gospel passage. This wouldn't be my first choice for comfort in reading, but it works for him, I guess.

Angelina practicing piano. Notice the bare feet - and to think it's -2 degrees plus a nasty wind chill outside!

Graham, and the other kids, enjoy the colored rice. This time, I added a variety of different magnets and metal objects that he can find. It's messy - completely out of my comfort zone! - but his entertainment is key to sanity on snow days. I made the rice a couple years ago. It started out in four separate colors - red, blue, green and yellow. One day it was mixed together; which does make for easier storage.

Colored Rice

Ingredients Needed:
1 cup uncooked rice for each color (I used Minute Rice, which is less expensive)
3 to 4 drops of each bottle food coloring (I used the liquid coloring in squeeze drop bottles, but also read that the paste colors can be used if you prefer brighter colors)
1 tsp. rubbing alcohol per color

To color the rice: In a quart sized jar, add the dry rice and 1 tsp. rubbing alcohol. Cover and shake to coat. Drop on the food coloring, mixing/shaking between drops. Keep adding drops until you get the desired color. Pour the colored rice onto a cookie sheet that has been covered in foil or waxed paper. Let dry in a warm airy place (out of the reach of kids and pets). The drying takes about 1 hour.

Repeat the steps to make additional colors of rice. I store our rice in glass jars, but ziploc bags would work just as well. While the colored rice is non-toxic, I wouldn't recommend eating it!

IDEAS: mosaics, hidden magnets, scoop and pour with spoons and funnels,

Wordless Wednesday - In Imitation

Poetry

The sound of my kids voices retelling their favorite poems is such a thrill to me. The inflection of their voice adds to the words, bringing them alive and carrying me or whoever is listening into the tale. My start with poetry memorization wasn't as loved!

As a young girl of about seven or eight years, my mom MADE me memorize a poem. I believed it to be pure drudgery and would have rather spent the time reading the book from which the poem was selected in the quiet of my room. I can actually remember standing, shoulders slumped, while going through the poem line by line. The poem itself was titled 'Gathering Leaves' by Robert Frost. It was quite short (compared to those my kids are memorizing... shhhhh, don't tell them!) and when I had it memorized, she recorded me on cassette tape to memorialize the feat.

Gathering Leaves
by Robert Frost

Spades take up leaves
No better than spoons,
And bags full of leaves
Are light as balloons.

I make a great noise
Of rustling all day
Like rabbit and deer
Running away.

At the time, I didn't see the point in memorizing a poem. But since parts of the poem have stuck with me all these years, I've realized that there is worth. It brings a happy picture into my mind each time I think of even the title, and I remember the rhythm of the words.

Although my knowledge of his work is small, Robert Frost has become one of my favorite poets. 'Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening' has been memorized by both Dash and Angelina, and I look forward to Zeke's turn. The poem has been illustrated in this book... the pictures are stunning and completely capture the words written.

Silent Sunday

Statue of Saint Therese

Outdoor garden on the grounds of St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church - Key West, FL

Freaky Friday

There's a Mouse in My House!

5:30a Dash quietly walks into our bedroom and whispers to his dad: "Dad you've got to see this," sounding somewhat excited, "While I was downstairs doing some homework (by the TV, I might add), I saw a mouse!"

I'm thinking: "Doing homework?? Right," in a somewhat sarcastic and unbelieving tone.

Eric: Doesn't say a thing, but gets up immediately.

I'm thinking: "Hey he got up right away! I'm going to have to remember this buzzword for future reference."

5:45a Eric comes back to bed.

I ask: "So??"

Eric says: "What."

I reply: "What, you don't think I heard the word mouse??"

I'm thinking: "Gee whiz, how can any woman not hear the words 'there's a mouse' and not be immediately in-tuned!"

Eric says, while chuckling: "Dash set up cheese leading up to a milk jug. He says its an age old trick."

I'm thinking: "Wow, my 11yo knows an age old trick. Right," in a somewhat sarcastic frame of mind.

6:ooa Hubby and I both decide to get up. He goes to exercise downstairs and I start my shower.

Zeke: "Mom! Hey, Mom!" (while I am in the shower) "Did you know there's a mouse downstairs?"

I replied: "Yes."

I'm thinking: "Do I need to hear this right now? Thank goodness I already know or I'd be a little creeped out to find out in the shower while bare-footed!"

Zeke: "I've gotta go tell Eva." Who still happens to be sleeping, but hey this is BIG news!

Bottom Line: We haven't seen the mouse, since it's first viewing. Where there's one, there are usually more. How did it get into my house!?! Where are my shoes? Get my shoes on, now. We'd better buy some great traps. I have a lot of paper in the schoolroom and the toy room is an absolute disaster. Eric's office still has boxes. Where is that mouse hiding? What is it chewing on right now?? I can handle it as long as I have my feet covered! Ugghhh - Freaky Friday.

Improvement

I've wanted to cut the Dr. Pepper for quite some time. But....I actually like the flavor and it's a pick-me-up on those days of low energy, so it hasn't been easy to root out. The part I like the least is that it contains so many empty calories; and no, I don't drink diet anything. I'd rather go without than drink diet sodas - I can taste the sweetner and don't care for the flavor.

As an interesting side note, did you know that Dr. Pepper is one of the few (quite possibly only) sodas that can still be purchased in its original formulation?? I learned this interesting fact when visiting TX a few years ago.

Back to my struggle. The final can from the pack was savored on Thursday, February 12. I have persevered thus far and not purchased any to store at home (although I have purchased Dr. Pepper with a meal when in town - I consider this a treat). With Lent coming, I don't plan to buy more.

I have prayed for an end to this craving. That seemed to help for a while, and then I somehow picked up the habit again. Well, something must be working for my cause again, because I honestly am not craving it at all. Thank goodness! Pop/Soda should be an occaisional treat and not an everyday drink.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to Zeke!

He's six years old today and has been reminding me of his birthday daily (it seems) for the last three weeks. Apparently he's concerned I'll forget . . .


I don't easily forget this huggable little guy - he doesn't let me! Zeke's smiles are usually accompanied by a cute tilt of the head. He thrives on touch and loves to touch and be touched. He's getting so big; it seems that he grows when I turn my head for only a second. When I look back, I notice something else about him that I'm sure wasn't there just a second ago.


Accomplishments this year include: making his own bed, reading short stories, cross-country skiing, walking up to Grandma Green Acres all by himself, and folding his own clothes.


Because Dad needed to be gone on Zeke's birthday, we planned a special pre-birthday meal and invited Grandma and Grandpa Green Acres. Can you believe that all he wanted for the meal was grilled cheese? That makes him happy. When I asked if he wanted tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches for his special meal, he raised his arms in the air and shouted, "YES!" Then he quietly added, "But, you can not do the tomato. Just the grilled cheese would be good." Yes, but the rest of us would prefer a little more nourishment! For his birthday 'cake' after the special meal, we had thick brownies and vanilla ice cream.


On his birthday, Grandma and Grandpa Golden Acres came to visit for the day. They brought a marble cake, and of course, presents.


While I know he'll get a few toys, I know his favorite gift, or should I say the one that will be used the most, will be this t-shirt - the bright yellow in size small (still, thankfully! ). We purchased one just like it for him almost four years ago at the CCL convention in Arkansas. He proceeded to wear it everywhere. It is stained past the point of me letting him wear it anywhere and has a hole in the shoulder. He wouldn't let me get rid of it..."It's my favorite shirt, Mom." So, rather than leave him without, I'm replacing it for his birthday.

Too Much Stuff - Part 2

Now that the toy supply is manageable, how do I determine what to let into the house from now on?

I am a work in progress and admit to not having complete control over this aspect of our household for many reasons. I would sometimes like to say "No more gifts, please." But, that's not really practical. Accepting gifts can be an act of humility; accepting the charitable actions of others is a good lesson for kids, too. In our house, receiving a gift means a Thank You note must be written - also a good lesson in manners and social graces. So, while these ideas aren't necessarily solutions, they are ideas that can help.

1. Our first defense is to give gift suggestions that are consumable or needed (clothes, art supplies, educational gifts, etc.) Thankfully, our relatives ask for gift suggestions most of the time and I can guide them toward fulfilling needs instead of wants.

2. A factor I consider, now that we've moved, is what will happen to the item if I no longer need it or if it breaks. I don't have easy access to recycling and our garbage is not picked up at the curb! Plastic, metal and glass don't easily burn or break down and must be taken to a pile on the edge of a field. Not very eco-conscious, in my opinion. It's at least something to think about, even if you can discard items easily by putting them on the curb.

3. Birthday parties. Friend birthday parties in particular are usually the source of small and mostly useless gadgets that add to the clutter in our homes. This is one of the main reasons I haven't done friend parties. Not the best reason, but it has been my way. In the past couple years, a really neat phenomenon has caught on within our homeschool group. The moms have continued to host parties, but ask that the guests bring as a gift a monetary donation that can then be donated. I absolutely love this idea! Some past recipients have been Saint Gianna's Maternity Home and a local family whose daughter was recently diagnosed with Leukemia. I am planning to change my stance on friend birthday's in April for Dash's 12th birthday.

4. Gifts that you 'Do'. By this I mean, ask for a gift of time. Grandparents are precious; so are aunts and uncles. Their time is even more valuable. Some of the best gifts my kids have received have been time with aunts, uncles and grandparents. The time spent together may have been at Chuckie Cheese or Space Aliens or just baking cookies, but it always created a beautiful memory. Instead of material gifts, ask relatives to give time . . . and then actually plan it! Yes, it may take more work to coordinate schedules, but it is worth that time and more.

5. For gift giving and suggestions, I tend to stick to the toys groups already in the house (Part 1 lists toys that are used most often in our home). That doesn't mean we don't purchase 'hot' toys every now and then, but Thomas the Train and Duplo Legos are stand-bys and they fit with what we already own and enjoy.

True Companion

Eric & I exchanged Valentine cards tonight after being gone all weekend. I was excited for him to open my card because I knew he'd like it. Knowing Eric is a fan of the musical cards, I discretely scanned the square envelope he gave me and quickly said, "You open yours first!" He complied. We both had a good laugh and a kiss to follow.

A little background and an explanation . . .

In college, Eric was accepted to a six month IFYE (International Foreign Youth Exchange) program through 4-H. We'd been seeing each other for about a year at the time he found out he was accepted. I was excited for him, because the program is limited, and I knew it would be a great experience for him. So, during my senior year of college, he was in Australia exploring and learning the culture of Down Under while I toiled away at my studies. It was a good test for our relationship, and one that neither of us regret.

During that time of limited contact (there was no internet access and phone calls were few because they were extrememly expenisive), we sent letters and cassette tapes back and forth. His tapes were much better than mine! And yes, I still have them. One of the tapes included this Marc Cohn song - True Companion (and it happens to be the featured song on the musical Valentine cards we gave to each other this year).

You can listen to a sample here and the lyrics are below.

Baby I've been searching like everybody else
Can't say nothing different about myself
Sometimes I'm an angel and sometimes I'm cruel
But when it comes to love I'm just another fool

Yes I've climbed a mountain
I'm gonna swim the sea
There ain't no act of God, girl
Could keep you safe from me
My arms are reaching out,
out across this canyon

I'm asking you to be my true companion
True companion
True companion

So don't you dare and try to walk away
I've got my heart set on our wedding day
I've got this vision of a girl in white
Made my descision that its you alright
When I take your hand, I watch my heart set sail
I'll take my trembling fingers, and I'll lift up your veil
Then I'll take you home and with wild abandon
Make love to you just like a true companion
You are my true companion
I got a true companion
Whoa true companion

When the years have done irreparable harm
I can see us walking slowly arm in arm,
Just like that couple on the corner do
Cause girl I will always be in love with you
When I look in your eyes, I still see that spark
Until the shadows fall, until the room grows dark

Then when I leave this earth I'll be with the angels standing
I'll be out there watiing for my true companion
Just for my true companion
True companion
True companion

Saint Valentine's Day!

Happy Saint Valentine's Day!

Today is also ValenDine. This is an event a group of friends and I planned last year to help raise money to complete a renovation of the childcare room for the Cathedral. It was a night of fine dining, beautiful vocal solos and duets, entertainment from a string quartet, a marriage vow renewal ceremony and a blessing for engaged couples or singles. In addition, childcare is provided onsite at a reasonable cost. The event was a success, making all the planning well worth it.

The childcare room renovations were recently completed, and the room is so peaceful and clean. All that remains to be done is a bit of decorating in the room itself. I still hope to acquire toys for the room and organize them in the best way. Thanks to helpful friends, this will be completed soon, too.

Tonight, another group (a circle from our church) has decided to carry on ValenDine. It is my hope that it becomes an annual tradition. The marriage vow renewal was my favorite part of the whole evening, and it is why I hope this event continues to be a tradition. My husband and I are helping at ValenDine this year, but also hope to attend and enjoy the evening.

The Bleeding Hearts shown in the photo are just beautiful in my opinion. They are one of the first plants to poke through in the spring time and are an incredibly easy plant to grow because they require so little care. Bleeding Hearts would be a good addition in any Mary Garden.

Little Flower Quilt - Part 1

Our Little Flowers girls club has created a quilt(s) to donate to the Spring Festival at the Cathedral for the last three years. Each year's quilt is different, but includes the same flower squares. I was in on the first year, skipped last year, and am now again involved in helping to complete the quilts this year. The girls help by picking and cutting fabric for the flower squares. Moms supervise; do fine cutting and tracing on flower patterns; iron; cut alternate squares and borders; machine quilt and finish the quilt by binding. This year, the club is creating two baby sized quilts.

I offered to do the piecing, bordering, quilting & binding for this year. I'm so thrilled with how the first turned out. The girls choose such interesting fabrics and each flower reflects the personality of the designer.

Here is the first quilt...

Normally, I cheat and don't iron all my seams. I did this time to make it crisp.

This border fabric (the yellow with blue star flowers and blue dots) is from my Grandmother, Julia, who died when I was 8yo. I always enjoyed looking through her fabric and notions as a young girl. When she died, my mom inherited her fabric and notion stash. Eventually some made its way into my home and I have had so much fun incorporating some of her notions and fabrics into clothing for my daughter. I am glad to see the fabric used in this way, too.

Here is the second quilt top...

Each quilt has 10 flower squares. We were 5 short after each girl made her square, so a few made a second flower square. The flowers are ironed on and then stitched about 1/2 inch in from the edge. The edges are snipped - as if you were clipping seams for a curved edge - to create a ragged look when washed. This technique makes it really easy for the girls and they don't have to be as precise. It's very 'forgiving' in its final look.

These are a couple close ups. You can even see the clipped edges of the flower in the lower picture.

This is Angelina's flower.

The next step is to add 100% cotton batting and a backing. The quilt is then machine quilted and the edges are bound with fabric binding. Pictures to follow in Part 2.

Wordless Wednesday: I cried yesterday ...

Too Much Stuff - Part 1

NOTE: This post somehow got incredibly long, so if you don't have time or the need to read, please move on to someone else's more inspring post! I tried to declutter the paragraphs of their extra words, but didn't have much luck. Guess words and toys are just attracted to me!

Since we recently moved, it would seem logical that I would have gone through everything and left behind any excess. I THOUGHT I DID! Our stuff made it into four garage/book sales in the past year (five - counting the church's garage sale shortly after we moved). Larger items were given to friends and family. And, we donated at least the volume of a small (think Volkswagen Bug or GEM car) car in furniture, clothes, and miscellaneous.

I thought we'd pared it down pretty good...

Why then, do I find myself shrieking, I mean shrinking, at the sight of a toy covered floor. Where did all those toys come from?? When it comes right down to it, I have no one to blame but myself - if I and my husband didn't give the items, they are most likely from a suggestion I freely gave when asked. In my defense, I don't always suggest toys!

So, I have two issues to deal with

1) how to determine what we keep, and

2) how to determine what to let into the house from now on.

In this post (Too Much Stuff - Part 1), I'll address the first issue, 'how to determine what we keep' from the toy perspective. I'll tackle the second issue in a later post.

What we keep seems to present the most disagreement. I like FlyLady's philosophy on decluttering and choosing what to keep. While I haven't followed her for a couple years, her suggestions really helped me get the stream-lining started. I went through clothes, toys, games, kitchen-ware, books, linens and furniture while asking myself the following questions:

• Do I love this item?
• Have I used it in the past year?
• Is it really garbage?
• Do I have another one that is better? If I do have another, should I really keep two?
• Does it have sentimental value that causes me to love it or does it give me guilt and make me sad when I see the item?

If I'm helping the kids, other questions are included:

• Do you play with it?
• Is it educational or can you learn a skill from it?
• Would this be fun to have in the church's childcare room?

I add that last question because our kids spend about 2 hours per week at the church's childcare room. Sometimes its easier to let a toy or game go if they know they'll have the opportunity to play with it again.

My guide to how much/many of a particular toy to keep is that each kind must fit in a 22gal. or less tote - only two 22gal. totes are used for toys. If the tote starts to overflow; it's time to pare down.

These toys are kept in totes and are played with most often:

1. Legos - duplo (22gal. tote) and smaller
2. Thomas the Train
3. Dress-up
4. Fisher Price (22gal. tote)
5. Cars and HotWheel sets
6. Kitchen dishes, food and accessories
7. Dolls and clothes
8. Coloring books
9. Polly Pockets
10. Lincoln Logs
11. Blocks
12. Toddler

A toy box holds misc. toys (binoculars, balls, tractors, trucks, etc.) that don't fit the list. I've tried to keep close to this list and donate most 'other' toys. Toys are generally kept in one room. The exceptions are Angelina's girly toys (Polly Pockets, Barbie, Madeline and doll furniture) and Dash's smaller Legos, which are kept in their bedrooms.

You can't get me down, I'm ...

SUPER DOG!

Here I am in my SUPER DOG action poses ...

No rainy and cloudy day will stand in the way of AWESOME* fun for SUPER DOG!

*This is the latest buzz word for Graham; everything that's really fun is AWESOME!

February Rain?

View from the School Room Window

The rain started last night and continues today. It is damp and cloudy. The temperature is 34 degrees F; no sleet, yet. We have piles of snow all around the house, the driveway is lined by snow and it is raining. This weather is just plain odd. This storm is supposed to bring up to a foot of snow, too. On the bright side, I'll be grateful because it will cover up the dirty, pock-marked snow piles and make everything look clean again.

I'm glad to stay home today.

Looking out a rain spattered window, this is the view of our snow-lined driveway - soon to be ice peaks, I'm sure.

False Piety

At the February Family Formation parent talk, Father brought up the term FALSE PIETY. In his warning about false piety, he could have been speaking directly to me!

Had he heard past conversations of mine??

I like to have people over to our home, and I especially like to have priests and other religious visit our home. In fact, I think it's important to show our kids that priests and religious are normal people who have the same interests we might have ... they might enjoy sports, a game of cards, dessert, fishing, board games, quilting, a home-cooked meal, an occaisional beer, hunting, or whatever!

But do I invite priests, nuns or other religious to our home?

What is different is their vocation. Yes, our kids can see the priest on Sunday or at daily Mass; they can see the nuns minister to the elderly at the local nursing home, but how will our kids really know what a religious vocation is and entails unless we invite priests, nuns and other religious into our home?

No, Father hadn't heard my past conversations; and yes, I do invite priests and other religious to our home, but not very often. It has nothing to do with my house - my house is clean enough for a drop-by visitor on most days and on planned visits I'm happy with it's appearance. What stops me is that I know they are soooooo busy.

Visits with Father are booked months in advance; he has to be too busy for our family, right? Other people have more pressing needs and questions than I do. The priest couldn't possibly have time for me and my family; could he?? And if he did have a bit of time, wouldn't he appreciate not having to be anywhere?

See where I'm headed? That's false piety, exactly. And Father called me on it (privately) on that Wednesday night.

So, I got up my nerve and I waited - in line! - to speak to him Wednesday night. When it was my turn, I hesitantly asked if he'd be willing to visit our home, even though it's 100 miles out of town; and then I patiently waited for his reply. The answer was "Yes".

I knew the moment I asked what his answer would be; it was already written on his face. Now, I just need to make that phone call to schedule the actual visit. I have to call; he's expecting it!

Water Color Fun

On Tuesday, the kids had their first 4-H meeting/project. It was more an art demonstration and was lead by a local art instructor at the high school. I was impressed by his organization and by the simple techniques he taught the kids to use - the ages ranged from 6yo to about 13yo. He set up a demonstration table and had regular art paper (though he admitted that heavier water color paper would be ideal) taped to large press boards for each child. The kids brought their own water colors, but he laid out the larger brushes, rulers, pencils and water containers at each individual station.

The kids learned about setting the horizon, the effects of starting with wet or dry paper, mixing colors, and stippling. He showed them how to create a sky, trees, leaves, and grass.

Dash and Angelina participated and had a great time. They'd been wanting to meet kids in the area for quite some time. It's not easy when you live in a rural area and do not attend the public school. For me, it was nice to finally meet some 'local' moms.

Here are the kids' creations...

Dash's features a tree and hill with shadow. He didn't wait for the paper to dry, so his trees are less defined.

Angelina mixed colors for her grass and used stippling to create leaves. She painted her trees on dry paper, so they are more defined.

Wordless Wednesday by Angelina

St. Blaise

Growing up, my family never missed getting the Blessing of St. Blaise. Although his feast day is February 3, we usually received the blessing on the Sunday following his feast. When we lived in town and could attend St. Mary's Cathedral, the blessing was given on the feast day and we made an effort to go to daily mass for this blessing. We'll miss the blessing on his feast day this year because the local priest is out of town and I'm not able to drive an hour to daily mass (or the 100 miles to St. Mary's). Maybe the visiting priest will give us the blessing this coming Sunday?? I know it's considered optional nowadays, but I feel like I'm missing something important anyway - I especially miss St. Mary's on days like this. So, in honor of St. Blaise, we'll forgo dessert today (and I'll forgo my Dr. Pepper).

For more information about Saint Blaise, check here or here.

The Blessing of St. Blaise (given by the priest)
“Through the intercession of St. Blaise, bishop and martyr, may God deliver you from ailments of the throat and from every other evil. In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”

St. Blaise Prayer

O glorious Saint Blaise, who by thy martyrdom has left to the Church a precious witness to the faith, obtain for us the grace to preserve within ourselves this divine gift, and to defend, without human respect, both by word and example, the truth of that same faith, which is so wickedly attacked and slandered in these our times. Thou who didst miraculously cure a little child when it was at the point of death by reason of an affliction of the throat, grant us thy powerful protection in like misfortunes; and, above all, obtain for us the grace of Christian mortification together with a faithful observance of the precepts of the Church, which may keep us from offending Almighty God. Amen.

*Until researching, I didn't realize there were different ways to spell his name: Blaise, Blase, Blasius. While most of the information is the same regardless of spelling, I used the spelling I remember from childhood!

The Results

Well, the crop judgers arrived home from their first-ever contest excited to show me their results. Turns out they were the only junior team at the contest, so they actually won awards! Plaques for high team and high individual are awarded; they brought home both. That was quite a shock to their dad and me, who expected this to be a 'get your feet wet' and experience the nerves, timeline, and attention to detail that is part of a crop judging contest.

High Junior Team Plaque

True to his name, Dash raced through the different crop classes and was the first to be done in almost every class (according to his dad). He earned an individual blue ribbon.

Dash with his blue individual recognition

He admitted that his sister, Angelina, bettered him ...

While Dash was visiting the Golden Acres grandparents (my parents) the previous week and unable to study crop judging materials, Angelina studied every day. On Thursday and Friday, she had individual attention from Grandma and Grandpa Green Acres (my husband's parents), who were impressed with her good attention skills.

In fact, during the contest, she noticed that one set of sheets was a different color from our practice sheets! It threw her, but not for long. Angelina came home with an individual plaque.

Angelina with the High Individual Plaque

By scores, there is much room for improvement. However, each can increase their scores quite easily. Cards must be filled out correctly and completely - easier to remember after participating in a contest. The next meet is Little I at NDSU. This will be a much bigger meet; I hope they've been inspired to work and learn.

Our Daily Schedule

I REALLY like lists. Order makes me feel calm and I am a better mom when there is organization around me. I do not thrive in chaos and my family can attest to the misery that has been inflicted when there is too much mess.

So when it comes to our school day, it's on a schedule. However, flexibility is a part of our days, too, because that's one of the reasons we homeschool. Including flexibility means we can take a family vacation in October or the kids can visit grandparents for a whole week during the winter or early spring - schoolwork can (and usually does) come along. My mom and MIL have no problem with schoolwork coming along for the visit, although I do try to streamline the lessons.

7:00-8:00a Everyone is up and does the following: eats breakfast, makes their own bed (except for Graham, who gets help from me or Zeke), gets dressed and takes care of personal hygiene. Eric & I usually get up earlier; but with the weather as it is, I've been sleeping in a little more!

8:00a-12:00p These are our set school hours. Afternoon hours are scheduled for some subjects, but the kids work hard and are generally done by dinner time. If there are days when that isn't reality, they go back to the schoolroom and work in the afternoon.

12:00-12:30p This is usually when we eat dinner. Clean-up by me or one of the older kids follows.

12:30-1:00p I try to remember to ask the kids to do an afternoon chore. It usually consists of sweeping or vacuuming floors, washing mirrors or doors, unloading or loading the dishwasher, or helping with laundry. Snow shoveling in the winter and lawn/garden work in the summer are added, too.

1:00-5:00p The afternoon hours are free - free for laundry, errands, reading, baking, games, meal preparation, computer time, projects, outdoor play, & travel preparation (we travel to Fargo every Friday for meetings, quilting, lessons and homeschool group activities). Since moving to the farm, we don't have many 'during the day' obligations! It's really strange. I'd like to start going to adoration again; and attending a daily mass at least once per week would be nice.

6:00-6:30p Our usual supper time falls around this time. One of the kids usually helps clean up the kitchen.

6:45-8:00p The kids might have time to play a quick game after supper, but usually they get ready for bed. Most nights, Eric will read aloud to the kids for a full hour. On quite a few nights, they convince him to read longer! Then, it's prayers and bed. The older two like to stay up and read until about 9p.

For Eric and I, the evening hours are ours to spend as needed. Sometimes it's a TV show or movie, but mostly it's catching up on work, correspondence and correction of schoolwork.