This and that

Things are going fine over here.   We are getting a lot of schoolwork accomplished.

Sissybug completed her second Latin course and instead of moving on to the 3rd we asked our Latin tutor to teach her the Lost Tools of Writing (which our teacher happens to be an expert in).  She is- and Julia loves it- it's all a win/win!  Julia and I both were burned out on Writing with Ease (even though it was a good program) and needed to switch gears. 

They were coloring the other day and Julia said, "I'm surprised you picked a butterfly page, Tucker."  He said, "Why would you be surprised?  I love butterflies- I'm practically an expert on butterflies.  I have studied them extensively and released them into the wild."  Okay then.  Butterflies it is.  :)  He did study them several times last year and all this spring in co-op. 

He keeps making "bulls eyes" for his Bulls Eye Club and wanted to know where the laminator was.  I couldn't remember and he said, "We should call Daddy.  I'll put his shoes on so I look like him when I call."

He also found his Uranus costume and has been living in it for a few days.  I'm so glad he can still get in it!

The space obsession has not waned a bit.  He draws these things in his free time.



The other day at lunch he said, "Can I bring my planets model into the restaurant?"  And when we said no he said, "Fine, I'll just bring this giant Atlas."  How can I get onto him for wanting to have his atlas with him all the time?

This weekend we had our Teams of Our Lady annual retreat.  Our team is a group of six couples and a priest who meet once a month to have dinner, pray and study a book together.  Once a year we go on an overnight retreat at two of the couples' lake houses that happen to be next door to each other.  Friday night we had a crawfish boil in the garage and ate from the back of the Kubota!

Saturday we had a big breakfast and the group had confessions/Mass/ and a talk by Father.  Marc and I had to leave right after breakfast because Marky's basketball team won the first round of playoffs and had a game on Saturday.  They lost (they played the number 1 team), but they played hard and we were proud of them.

Sunday afternoon Marc had a collaborative concert with the Boys Choir and "3 on a String".  We LOVED "3 on a String"- they were as funny as they were musical. 

Wednesday was Ash Wednesday.  Marc altar served at the noon mass with the Bishop.  That night we prayed the "Scriptural Rosary," which is becoming a favorite for us.   The boys like reading the Bible verses off the iPad. 

And how hard was it for me to not by this bunny for Charliebear.  It told him the stories of Peter Rabbit.   My gentle giant loves stuffed animals. 

Speaking of Charlie, Marky took this picture the other day of Charlie "doing his schoolwork."  :)

Speaking of reading, we just finished In the Days of Alfred the Great- we really enjoyed it.  I love delving deep into a historical figure.  It's amazing how much he had to overcome to get England stable from the marauding Danish pirates.  He had to rebuild the culture from the ground up and brought education to the forefront.  Now I want to read the rest in this series.

By the way I stumbled across a great resource to watch as we go down the line of the English Monarchy- it's called Monarchy by  David Starkey and the first episode is FREE on Amazon prime.  We watched the first one on the Saxon kings up to Alfred the Great today and it reinforced everything we'd learned.

Memorize with Music

I was talking to a friend the other day about how we've learned so much with songs, and she asked me to put the versions we do on the blog.  So here it is.  :)

We use Classically Catholic Memory, and have for years so much of what they have memorized- like skip counting, poems, history and science facts- has come from that.

Also, we have Geography Songs, which most children wouldn't like, but because Tucker had a phase here he was obsessed with geography it worked out.  They learned all their states and countries from this CD.  They can even tell you all the countries in the Russian Federation! 

For seasons we just learn:

I know my seasons
Know them all-
Winter, Spring
Summer, Fall.


Days of the Week-


Months of the Year-


Continents-


State Capitals-


Presidents of the United States- (now the ending is "Bush, Obama, Trump")


Preamble to the Constitution- (Actually ALL of School House Rock is great)


Kings and Queens of England- From Horrible Histories show- (just learned the chorus)


The 12 Disciples Song-


Old Testament song (Catholic)-


New Testament Song-


And by the way, I am not high tech and don't know how to do this any other way than I play the songs on my phone (on YouTube) and connect the headphone line to the car speakers.  Lately, we've learned at least one long song every road trip. 

This and that and saying goodbye

The passing of my grandmother was totally unexpected.  Marc and I actually had plans to be in Washington D.C. for a  dinner this past weekend, but all of that was cancelled.  We drove part way to Virginia on Friday and stayed in South Carolina.  Even though we got there late we let the children swim a little to get out some energy. 

Tucker is never without his space encyclopedias. 

We tried to put the three amigos in the sofa bed.  It worked for a while. 

But eventually restless Charlie ended up in our bed.  It was hard to wake him up- all the traveling wore him out. 

We arrived in Virginia on Saturday and went first to the funeral home to see Memaw.  Then we stayed at Pawpaw's house all day and met cousins we'd never met before.  We were touched by how many people showed up that we haven't seen in over 20 years.  It tells you how loved Memaw and Pawpaw are. 

Their church was amazing- we had more food than we could ever eat.  They brought us a lasagna dinner on Saturday night and then the ladies hosted a 10 a.m. brunch on Sunday.  We came in our church clothes from the hotel.  The boys tried to keep their clothes in good shape, but they couldn't resist playing with "light saber" sticks. 

The funeral was lovely.  It was in the Baptist Church they've been members of for almost 40 years.  Memaw and Pawpaw were married for 66 years- what an accomplishment. 

Memaw was an artist- she painted, smocked, crocheted, knitted, sculpted.  Her home is filled with her beautiful art pieces- mine is too.  She had her masters degree and taught art at various places.  She played the piano, golfed and loved the beach.  She had wonderful taste and bought me some of my most beautiful clothes when I was little.  She loved to play games- she was in a bridge club for 40 years.  She taught me to play rummy, and I have happy memories of playing Clue with her and her sister.  She played Bingo with my children.

She was a world traveler.  Pawpaw was in international sales and when he would be working she would ride the trains and tour the museums by herself.   She was quite a lady.  And most of all- she loved us.  She was proud of us and loved us with all her heart. 

Memaw with her four grandchildren and their spouses-

We will miss you Memaw.

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Marc had work in Philadelphia on Tuesday so he flew straight from Virginia on Monday.  That meant Mommy had to drive the 10 hours home with the children.  We left on Sunday night and got about 3 hours down the road and stayed in a hotel.  I was nervous, but it really went great.  The children were great- so well behaved!  They went straight to sleep and we got up and had breakfast in the hotel. 

We drove and drove- Marky stayed in the front seat and talked with me to keep me company.  :)  We had a lot of life lessons on that ride.  (As an aside, I taught them all the books of the Old Testament on the ride up- I never waste a car trip!)

When we got to Atlanta there was a terrible accident blocking FIVE LANES of traffic downtown.  We were stuck- and starving.  So we stopped at Atlantic Station and had lunch at California Pizza Kitchen.  Again, the children were so well behaved- they helped me figure out how and where to park and were calm and quiet when I was stressed.  :) 

We got home Monday evening.  Tuesday morning when we went to art class Tucker wanted to wear Marky's Chewbacca sweatshirt.  It was so cute- he was telling everyone, "oh my big brother let me wear this.  This is my big brother's."  :)

By the way, rolled up in his hands was his "planet chart."  It has the planets and how many rings and moons they have.  He was taking it to art to show his friends.  "I know they will love it," he said.  :)

Yesterday afternoon I heard hammering coming from the playhouse.  I went to investigate. 

I asked what he was doing.  He said, "I am simply nailing up my bulls-eye for the bulls-eye club I am founding."  I got many details on the club- they only use slingshots and pebbles and keep good records on points.  You sign up by "simply sign the list on my clipboard."  :)  Marky said, "Oh- I have a slingshot."  Tucker said, "That's perfect- would you like to join my club?"   :)  Sissy is going to be secretary and keep records on her clipboard.  :)

Marky started rowing team yesterday.  He went to rowing camp last summer and really loved it so we let him join the team this spring.  It's such a peaceful sport. 

And this is what happens when Daddy leaves his phone in the car this morning after swim team.  They love to text me selfies.  :)