Apples

So, I hadn't really wanted this to be a "homeschooling" blog, but just more a journal of thoughts and days, but we had so much fun and I am so excited about our new "nature study" that I had to share. I like the idea of very relaxed unit studies. Since the kids love nature and I wanted to do more than just "sit at the table learning" for nature, I decided that each month will have a theme and we will learn as much as we can all about our nature theme. This month we started a few days late, but I chose apples as out theme. We took a trip to the library last week and got books about apples and Johnny Appleseed (which Jameson thinks is a hilarious name and starts calling everyone "mommy appleseed", "Ada appleseed", etc) and put them in their seasonal reading basket.
We went to the store and bought all the different varieties we could find, and as I washed and sliced them, we talked about their names and how they looked, felt, etc. They thought that granny smith was a pretty funny name! (I am noticing a theme...a 2.5 year old things everything is funny!)





We let them boil, added cinnamon, organic sugar, and nutmeg and our applesauce is so yummy! I left the skin on and I like it so much better that way. We are planning a trip to Oak Glen to go apple picking next weekend, so that should finish up our study this month. I don't know if I should do leaves, or acorns next?? Any ideas??

Feast of the Nativity of Mary

Mary was born to be the mother of the Savior of the world, the spiritual mother of all men, and the holiest of God's creatures. Because of her Son's infinite merits, she was conceived and born immaculate and full of grace. Through her, Queen of heaven and of earth, all grace is given to men. Through her, by the will of the Trinity, the unbelieving receive the gift of faith; the afflicted are tendered the works of mercy; and the members of Christ grow in likeness of their Head. In Mary all human nature is exalted. We rejoice in her birthday, as the Church has done from the earliest times. This is one of the three birthdays in the Church Calendar — the Birth of Jesus (December 25), the Birth of John the Baptist (June 24) and the Birthday of Mary. All three were born without original sin, although Mary and Jesus were conceived without sin, and St. John was cleansed of original sin while in the womb at the Visitation of Mary.

According to the 1962 Missal of Bl. John XXIII Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, today also commemorates St. Adrian. The liturgy of Our Lady's Birthday in Rome included a procession from the church of St. Adrian in the forum. It is possible that he is a martyr of Nicomedia who suffered during the Diocletian persecution.

We celebrated with homemade vanilla cake, complete with candles and singing! Today is a very blessed day...where would we be without her...?

First Baseball Game

We took Jameson to his first baseball game with Grandma & Grandpa last weekend. I was SOOOO excited for him, more excited than he was. He wore his his baseball shirt, his glove and big boy underwear and was ready to go. We ate hotdogs, peanuts and the weather was perfect. We left after the 7th inning, before the kids got too stir crazy. It was the last Quakes game of the season. I can't wait to go back next year!

Cutest baby in the whole world

She is the happiest baby....and I love her to pieces!