so much going on....

wow, long time since I've posted, so much has been going on. The girls have started making a quilt for their beds, and I have been very impressed so far. Ellen has done a lot better then I would have thought. Her quilt will turn out well. I started a new scheduling system for school work, I make a calendar on the computer and list out special things that we will do on the days, like days they will be kitchen helper, the bible theme, if they are to start a new book, and then do a week schedule with the subjects, at the end of the week we staple them together, then at the end of the month we staple it to the calendar and put it to file. Maria has started a new work book. it is a compelte curriculum book and it is pretty nice, we just add on as need. I have been scheduling crazy, but after 3 months of just tring to be loosy goosy with everything, we need it. In January I tried "unschooling" and it was fun at first and it might be for some families, but not us, by March the house was a mess the kids were running around fighting and I had no idea what was going on, I couldn't keep track of anything, so I spent the last 2 weeks orginizing, and scheduling EVERYTHING!! And already you can tell the differnce, we are much better ready to face each day, when we know what the plan is. I really like the meal calendar I made, it makes my day go a lot smoother when I don't have to think about what I will cook. Well that is probably enough for know, I will be posting more often.
Preach the Gospel at all times. If necessary, use words. - St. Francis of Assisi

I don't know if I should be proud or ashamed?!

Well I just spent 6 hours cleaning my sons room, with his help of course. I don't know if I should be proud of that or ashamed? We got down and cleaned it til it shined. Swept under everything went through every toy and piece of clothing. Got rid of 2 black trash bags of trash, 1 of clothes, and 1 of things to donate, 1 bag of things I did not want to part with so they went in storage. I feel drained now, haha. But it should be easier for him to keep under control from now on. Maybe I should pray for that one.
Preach the Gospel at all times. If necessary, use words. - St. Francis of Assisi

give-o and unschooling

This is our give-o board, played like bingo-o only when you have a number that is called you donate the item that is on that square. As you can see this one has been started, when you have a number that is called you can put a sticker on, after your item makes it in the donate box.

 

I used a piece of graph paper and labeled the squares with the items I thought each child had the most to donate or with things I know that they don't play with and it just hasn't made it out of the house yet. I also had some of the squares say "your time" you can do anything you want for this one as long as you are give your time in a way that is above and beyond. Some examples we gave the kids are, shoveling the neighbors walk, walking the dog with out being asked, helping with the quilt for charity. The ones that look like hands say "bigger" and "smaller" you chose something bigger or smaller then your hand. And so far the kids love it they are very excited to play each day, with makes me love it even more then I did.

As for schooling we have not done much lately, after deciding to try unschooling, I thought we might take a few weeks and work on life skills and chillin' out. Each day I try to work on 1 chore with 1 child to make sure they are doing it well and make sure they know the best and easiest way to do it. We have been playing give-o and helping mommy clean out closets ect... We all have been reading alot and talking about Lent and what it is all about. Our library has backpack kits, that have books and activities in them that are on 1 subject so I have been letting the kids check those out and of course they have been very busy playing with toys,  homemade play-doh, making more clay and play-doh and just being kids. All in all it has been a very calm few weeks, and sometime soon we will be getting into a more structured day, I was thinking maybe next week start with a morning rhythm and have free time in the afternoon so I can continue cleaning out and catching up with my sewing.

I will really try to post more often, after all that is why I started blogging!   

 Preach the Gospel at all times. If necessary, use words. - St. Francis of Assisi

Wow, it's been awhile

Well it's been something like 2 weeks since I posted last. I have been a combination of busy and sick. We are having our new church dedicated this Sunday and being lead Sacristan I have been to many meetings and doing a lot of planing these last few weeks. And this week I felt horrible. Today is the first day I have felt good. Which is good because tomorrow will be busy. My oldest 2 serve the early Mass and then we will stay to set up for the dedication Mass. I am excited about the dedication but also very nervous, I hope I don't forget to do something. I have been Sacristan for about 3 weeks, which is how long we have been planing the dedication Mass. I wish I had other Masses to prepare for before this. And we did not have a Sacristan before this so I am learning as I go. Not to mention that Ash Wednesday is only 3 days later.
Speaking of Ash Wednesday, we started our Lent activity early this year so we would sort of be done by Holy Week, that way we could fully enjoy that week. We are signed up forHoly Heros Lenten Adventure. And that will start Fat Tuesday, we are doing a bingo game of giving, I will post pictures later. But it is basically bingo but when they get a number, like i-7 then they give up whatever is on that square. Somethings are, a stuffed animal, your time, something bigger then your hand. And each week we change the board. They get up each morning, "can we play give-o" supper excited about giving up there things. Who would have guessed. We are doing this in place of the usual giving up candy, ect... So everything they give up has to be in good condition so it can be donated. We will also do a Lenten Cross. It is similar to the Jesse Tree. It is in the shape of a cross and each day you add a picture to it, and it follows the Old Testament prophecies and their fulfillment in the New Testament. I think we will get pretty in to this considering the age of my kids. I also want to focus this lent on clearing out the junk from the house, all that stuff that you look at and think why do I still have that, and then just move it out of your way.
Needless to say a busy/sick as I have been we have not done much in the way of "school" we did manage a trip to the library. And the kids did read quite a bit, and spent a lot of time on their educational games for the computer. I am hoping to get some new shelves this week so I can finish reorganizing my school and sewing rooms. I think it will help me to get sewing projects done and help to do some schooling if everything is more accessible and organized. 

Preach the Gospel at all times. If necessary, use words. - St. Francis of Assisi

AHHH!!!

 Well I have joined another home school group from our area, they are very active, meet at different times during the week and you just go to the ones that are things you would like to do and work for your schedule. And from what I've read about the members I think this will be a much better fit for us.
We have not done much school work this week, I gave everyone some handwriting, worksheets and some workbook pages to do. I have been so busy this week and it's only Tuesday, haha. I feel a little guilty when we don't have "school" time each day, but that is part of why we do this to learn in different ways, and different things and to "break" when we need to.
I really need to do some picking up and organizing around here, it drives me bonkers when the house is messy.
I hope to finish my conversion story tonight or tomorrow.
I was just fitted for a tiara, and in case you were wondering i need a big one. so says my youngest daughter.
I will be off to the fabric store soon to get some new patterns and some supplies, I have a lot of sewing to do.
I have decided to hit some up coming craft shows and swap meets to sell my wears, if any one knows of some good ones in the NE area of Illinois let me know.
I have been taking some new pictures for my profile picture, most of them did not turn out. But I think I might use one any way.

Preach the Gospel at all times. If necessary, use words. - St. Francis of Assisi

I should...

 I should be working on this...

or this...

but alas I am doing this...

Preach the Gospel at all times. If necessary, use words. - St. Francis of Assisi