Lent 2014: Reconcile and Share

We're not doing much that is different from our past Lenten seasons around here.  I have transformed our nature study area into our Lenten season table.

Our wonderful Lent/Easter book basket is out.  What a treat to enjoy these books once a year.  As a family, I chose to read out loud the Michael Hague Easter Treasury.

Our Lent Box with the Stations of the cross is out.  This is such a wonderful activity that my kids enjoy every year.  We have our Stations of the Cross Fridays.

Every year I also hope to inspire the kids with our Lenten countdown calendar.  Every day we nail a cross to the board.  This year I chose to decorate the board with a path made of 40 stones.  Every time we nail a cross, I try to talk about our focus for the season: Reconciling and Sharing is our theme this year.  I do this by choosing a prayer or a poem or simply reminding them about specific situations/times we need to remember these values in our lives.

Here are my past Lent and Easter posts:
Lent 2012
Easter 2012
Lent 2013

Dia De Los Reyes

Celebrating Epiphany Sunday yesterday was such a blessing.  The focus was on the word "EPIPHANY"; the biblical meaning, the celebration, the manifestation of the divine and the moment of sudden insight in our lives!  Just such an appropriate way to end the Christmas season. 

As we've done for years now the kids look forward to the Feast Day of the Epiphany (January 6th): the visit of the Magi to the baby Jesus.  In Latin cultures this is known as Dia De Los Reyes and usually celebrated with a Rosca de Reyes (special bread in the shape of a crown with fruit candy on top) and hot chocolate. This year we decided we would commute to celebrate with the rest of the family.  They did school as usual this morning, but then we began a frenzy of clean up to go to my parent's 50 miles away. In the midst of the rush I went into the kitchen to find our nativity blocks set up.  This made me stop and realize that living the liturgical year and sharing with family are truly gifts to be cherished.  Memories my children continue to tuck in their hearts and souls.

My sister read to the kids the story of the Magi and about the celebration. My oldest then narrated very nicely about one of the books she read during our Advent/Winter unit this season: The Story of The Other Wise Man by Henry Van Dyke.  We really recommend it!  The kids and family listened and enjoyed the retelling by her.  Then they dove into some very tasty bread with Abui's hot chocolate.  Oh, and we got two of the five hidden babies :D

President's Day Hike

We've been really good about keeping up with at least one weekly trek.  Unfortunately, I haven't been so good about posting our pictures.  Yesterday was such a beautiful day that I just had to come in here and share.  We teamed up with friends and headed to one of our favorite spots; taking a flatter and certainly more scenic trail this time.  Enjoy!

 

 

Don't know if you see the same symbolism as I did when I took the pictures or if it's just my very sensitive heart being immersed in the season of Lent, but oh the emotions ...

Lent 2013: Simplicity & Routine

We've had such a busy year so far that our table and our Lent season really need to stay simple.  There have been several unexpected emergencies and highly emotional moments that our goals are simplicity, reflection and routine.  This year our board is decorated with one cross, purple ribbon,  a muslin pouch filled with nails, a wooden hammer and our Alleluia wrapped in the second muslin pouch.  Each day after we've read from Lent for Children a Thought a Day suggested by Jenn at Family in Feast and Feria we will hammer a nail to our cross. 

I also loved the idea of a Montessori style Lent box for our stations of the cross.  Visit Holly at The Three Sided Wheel for her wonderful tutorial and printouts.  I was able to put this together last year and the kids really enjoyed it as well.  It was just perfect for my very sensory needy boys.  So it is on our table again this year.

As for our book basket; it is filled with our favorites and last years additions. I have just a few new ones that I've collected since then:

- Lilies, Rabbits, and Painted Eggs: The Story of the Easter Symbols by Edna Barth
- The Story of the Easter Robin by Dandi Daley Mackall
- The Legend of the Easter Egg by Lori Walburg

I can't wait to see if I find any new treasures by Easter Sunday.

Saint Nicholas Morning Tea

We had such a good time celebrating the Feast of Saint Nicholas last year that the kids had been waiting and talking about it.  So off to bed they went last night, but not before chopping some carrots and putting their shoes outside the door.  I hear that the tradition in some countries is to leave one shoe out.  My kiddies prefer to leave two; just in case.  They woke to find a purse of chocolate gold coins, candy cane and clementine for each.  (the sugar rush started early today!!)

Instead of having a simple yogurt breakfast this time we decided to have a try at making some Scepuloos cookies.  I used the recipe from the St. Nicholas Center.   I carved a miter on them : ) They are definitely for dunking; they were a bit hard. Of course, this wasn't a problem because they had plenty of Trader Joe's Candy Cane Green tea to sip.  After seeing the huge sugar consumption this morning I decided they would only have the tea, but for myself I did try a concoction the teller at TJ's shared with me:  make a cup of their Sipping Hot Chocolate and then steep a bag of the Candy Cane tea.  This was delicious!

Our story today was The Secret Gift Bearer from Saintly Tales and Legends by Lois Rock.  Our morning poem came from The Young Oxford Book of Christmas Poems :

December- Prayer to Saint Nicholas

by John Heath-Stubbs

 

Patron of all those who do good by stealth-

Slipping three bags of gold in through the window

To save three desperate girls, restoring

Dead boys to life out of the pickling tub

Of an Anatolian Sweeney Todd-

Teach us to give with simplicity, and not with an eye

To the main chance: it's less than

Three weeks' shopping time to Christmas.

Advent & Winter Term 2012

We tend to start school in mid August and by Thanksgiving have finished a first term.  I've enjoyed this very much.  It gives us about five weeks to shift our CM education towards preparing for the Christmas season.  We don't stop school and our style doesn't change; materials just get replaced a bit.  The month is filled with activities and to do lists outside our home; that I really noticed a sense of rush rather than the calm that should be.  So for the last several years I've felt that letting the kids enjoy the time filled with great books, handicrafts, poetry, music, nature study/science, art and good thoughts about the coming of our Savior in our home was important. 

All our regular school book baskets are put away and filled with lots of Christmas and winter type books.  This year the kids and I will be enjoying the following:

Religion/Faith:  Destination Bethlehem by Sharon Altman and Christine Winkelman

Geography: Christmas Stories 'Round the World edited by Lois Johnson

Music/Composer Study:  All About Christmas by Maymie R. Krythe (the last four chapters on carols)

Poetry: The Young Oxford Book of Christmas Poems

Art Study(&Religion): A King James Christmas edited by Catherine Schuon & Michael Fitzgerald

Nature Study/Science:  And Everything Nice: The Story of Sugar, Spice and Flavoring by Elizabeth Cooper (this ties in great with the Marco Polo year we're having too) and  Twelve Kinds of Ice by Ellen Bryan Obed (not scientific, but a cute story that gives us some thoughts to research)

The kids also each have independent reading time.  They have lots of books to choose from and I've not been keeping up with my new purchases so I've had to make a few trips to the library to get some new titles for them.  Besides their chapter books; we have on our schedule a picture book daily (which we read as a family).  On the schedule is also a craft or baking/cooking.  They really enjoy this (I'll post next on how this has turned out great with our Spices books).  This gives us lots of time to enjoy our days, but daylight is shorter.  What are they to do?  Well, I've noticed they ended up indoors more this time of year and this gives them time to create or make handmade gifts for people.  One of my girls is on her third set of crochet items she'll be gifting; don't want to spoil what it is in case the grandmas' & aunties are reading ; )

Our math continues as usual (not so creative here, sorry).  I do, however, create a notebook for them to keep all their copy work or written narrations/pictures for the season; a spot for our language arts you might say.  Another instance when I just love my binding machines, pretty paper and my StartWrite program:

This is our second week on this schedule and already I feel like we've slowed down and are enjoying each other.  I can't wait to share with you what's on our nature study table and the cute things the boys are enjoying in that little nook. 

Easter 2012

I hope that you all had a wonderful and blessed Easter day.  We have spent the week preparing for this morning.  As a family we were able to attend all Holy Week masses (what a blessing) and this morning the kids were more than happy to be at Easter mass.  After mass we headed over to my in laws and had a good day with family and friends.  The kids ate, played and were just delighted.  I wanted to share just a little about what we've been doing the last couple of days.

We finished adding our crosses to our Lent board. 

Really enjoyed our new Easter books.

Yesterday, the kids enjoyed their annual tradition of egg dyeing.  Grandma came over and helped out with the fun.

My intent was to get some nice natural dyeing done, but, alas, I just didn't get to my shopping list on time.  I have to say though, the kids really did a great job at combining colors and making them look pretty natural:

And then my creative boys with space and camouflage colors:

This morning, the kids woke up to Easter baskets left by the bunny aka great aunt P..



And before heading to church the kids picked a few camellias to finish our Resurrection scene:

We also dug out our little wrapped package from our Lenten Box:

To finally sing and rejoice, He is Risen:

You Bless us oh Lord and we thank you;

Happy Easter to all of you!

Lent: Reflection and Sacrifice

These last few weeks have been filled with every emotion imaginable.  It only seems appropriate that our next liturgical season of Lent begin tomorrow; a season of reflection and sacrifice.  I didn't have time to plan much for the kids, but fortunately I had pinned a few ideas on to my Pinterest.  This Sunday, while family was visiting, I just pulled a few things I already had and created our Lenten Calendar board:

Every day for forty days we will nail a cross to the path:

I also know that I can't go wrong with some treasured titles and our usual Friday Stations of the Cross Teas.  The kids have been enjoying Lent Time Teas for the last two years.  We start with a reading from The Story of The Cross by Mary Joslin with two stations per week and then pick a book from our Easter book basket.  Many cared classics and lovely illustrated titles:

• Benjamin's Box by Melody Carlson
• The Easter Swallows by Vicki Howie
• Journey Easter Journey by Dani Daley Mackall
• Juanita by Leo Politi 
• The Easter Story by Carol Heyer
• Rechenka's Eggs by Patricia Polacco
• The Egg Tree by Katherine Milhous
• The Easter Egg Artist by Adrienne Adams
• Little Rose of Sharon by Nan Gurley
• Petook by Carill Houselander, Tomie de Paola
• The Thornbush by Michael Laughlin 
• The Easter Egg by Jan Brett
• Michael Hague's Family Easter Treasury

I'm adding this nature Resurrection scene to our Friday reflection time.  I thought I would have the kids add an item daily, but instead decided  to make seven plastic bags with items to add on each Friday of Lent.  This is just perfect for our nature table.  Let's face it, my little boys will enjoy learning and reflecting, especially when it means that their hands might get dirty ; )

They were more than happy to give up some lego soldiers for the season.  I ordered a few new to us titles that I'm still waiting for.  I'll have to post about them later.  I hope you continue to enjoy your Shrove Tuesday; we'll be enjoying a chocolate chip pancake dinner today. 

Getting Ready for Dia De Los Reyes, Epiphany

As the Christmas season continues, we always look forward to January 6th: el Dia de los Reyes (the Day of the Kings).  Epiphany was one of those traditions that I do remember of as a child.  I was always confused by it though.  There was talk of the baby Jesus being stolen at one celebration and then returned at another celebration.  I remember one get together after another December through February.  As I've gotten older I've discovered that these cultural traditions are actually very much rooted with our liturgical calendar.  Rather than trying to explain the whole thing, I found this site which does a pretty good job at it.

A few years back trying to instill our Catholic traditions along with some culture we began to celebrate the Epiphany with a simple snack consisting of our yummy Mexican hot chocolate or sometimes a Chapurrado (if I'm feeling up to making it) and the traditional Rosca de Reyes.  This, I think, is always the most fun.  It is a sweet bread in the shape of a ring with some dry fruit candy and a few plastic babies hidden in it.  The kids always hope they will be the lucky ones to get a baby.

While we indulge we always listen to our favorite Epiphany book by Tomie De Paola: The Story of the Three Wise Kings.  Visit Jennifer's blog Family in Feast and Feria for some other great Epiphany titles.  She is always a wonderful source about our faith and Liturgical calendar.

Now, why am I writing this tonight.  Well, I also discovered a few years back that if you don't buy or order your Rosca early, you might not get one.  One year my husband tried a few bakeries and they were either sold out or the lines were just way to long to wait.  He has been nice enough to buy it a day early now.  We have a few park days tomorrow with our homeschool groups so we'll be enjoying our story, hot chocolate and Rosca in the evening so dad can join us.  How do you celebrate Epiphany? I always enjoy learning about new traditions. : D