How we teach reading

 

This is how I taught two of my kids to read! First we start with a good Sight word Book. (Dick and Jane type) We like the 1st grade Faith and Freedom readers from Seton home study.  They are wonderful and helped our children gain confidence that they can read! At the same time our children would use a good phonics workbook, I liked the one from MCP. Also Alphabet flashcard to learn letter sounds.  Then our kids would learn word families with Little stories for Little Folks, catholic phonics readers from CHC.  With each new book I would have them make a word family craft to go with the story.  I used this program with two of my kids and they are great readers, and they enjoy reading!

Solemnity of The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Eli's

I love "quiet" days at home!  It is never really quiet here! lol  We made our craft for the feast day, which reminded Sienna that she loves doing school work!  I am looking forward to getting back to our routine of doing school work with the kids. We prayed a decade of the rosary (of course we meditate on the fourth glorious mystery) and no one gave me any trouble because I promise to let them make a desert in honor of Mary's assumption into heaven.  We had angel food cake because Mary went to heaven where Angels are....  Whipped cream for the clouds and topped with blueberries for Mary's color of Blue!  And of course our day will end with Holy Mass at 6pm at St Mary Queen of the Angels.  Might do a picnic with take out food over at Elm park before mass, really don't feel like cooking tonight!
                                                                 St Mary, Pray for us!

Ava's

Sienna's

Don't put me on Facebook!  Yes, Zach celebrated with us too. Oh that reminds me I have a Scott Hahn youtube video for him to watch on the Assumption. (Thanks Urgino's) link

Tour of Brazil

We finally finish Brazil!! The cooking part always slow us down from finishing a tour of a country and it is always me that is the hold up!!! lol  Eli does a geat job researching the country and filling in his brochure.  And Zach and Eli love making his passport photo with his green screen!! That is my favorite part... well I like the table setting too!   Eli Skydiving picture makes me laugh, I love it!   We made miniature meat pies, Black beans and rice.  (I have never cooked dry beans before!)  And we didn't get to the Brazil nut cookies yet! Here is Brazil:

The Miraculous Medal

Today we had our miraculous medals blessed by Fr Nate.  Ava and I have been reading a story about the miraculous medal and we have been enjoying this story so much.  I started reading it at bedtime because she has been having a hard time at night with asthma or anxiety.  So it has become a special time for us. I just love the Mary Fabyan Windeatt saint stories, they are so kid friendly and I really enjoy reading them too! Ava was so excited to dress the same and both wear our Miraculous Medals to Church today.  Ava wanted me to get my medal blessed also since I didn't know whether it was blessed or not.  I got mine from my Mom's jewelry box after she passed. (I had been wearing it for quite some time and just assumed my mom had it blessed.)

               O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee!

The Sacred Heart of Jesus

How Beautiful and Comforting is your Sacred Heart! We honor you on this feast day of Your Most Sacred Heart. Thank you for allowing this project to bring us closer to you and please let all who see these shirts be reminded of Your infinite Love and Mercy!  We also Honor Your Blessed Mother by contemplating her Immaculate Heart.  Thank You dear Jesus for giving us Your Mother from the Cross.  Amen!

Nope, Zach wouldn't wear one!

Sacred Heart of Jesus

Little Christ's hands!

Sienna was playing downstairs with Eli and Ava.  They were making a giant tower out of Knext, but Sienna made "Little Christ's hands"!  How sweet!  She gave one to each person in her family!  Sienna took hers to bed and said it would help her have holy dreams.  Then she says "it is also the Father, Son and Holy Spirit!! The Holy Hand of God!" (tomorrow if the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity!)

Come Holy Spirit!!!

It has been a really hard week finding out our pastor, Fr Steve, is leaving for a new parish and school. I know God is good and has the best plans for Fr Steve and our parish but it just feels like we are losing a family member.  And It is a great loss!  Sienna thinks he came back when she saw him at Tuesday night mass, I didn't even know she was aware of the situation!! lol 
So As the girls were doing their craft for Pentecost,  I realized that the Holy Spirit did come and will continue to pour out Grace upon our church family.

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.
V. Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created.
R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray.

O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.