Footprints on the Fridge

On the Road--Just so you know

We are still on the road and we are still alive and well!  There has not been much computer time as you might have guessed.  We finish in Boston today and have decided to head north to Kennebunkport, ME for a night...just to say we went all the way!  Then we're headed South and I'll let you in on some of the fun details of our trip when we get home!

On the Road--Round Two

We're safely settled into our hotel in Williamsburg this evening after a fun day of learning.  After spending half of yesterday on the road, we arrived here late in the afternoon, just in time to check in, grab some dinner, and take a swim in the indoor pool.  We spent the evening reading books and using the internet to make a plan for our time here.

The drive here was incredible.  The trees are still full of their colorful foliage and I am in awe.  Those of you who see this every year of your lives may find it trite, and for those of you who have never seen it, I do not have the words to give you even close to an idea of what it is like.  What I have loved most is that it is a first for Greg and I both--a shared experience of something all at once magical, spiritual, and emotional, one of those sweet secrets that only the intimacy of marriage brings.  I know there is a perfectly logical, scientifc explanation as to why those leaves are still on those trees, but quite honestly, it feels to me like God held out His hands and let His paintbrush linger a bit longer than usual just so I could see it.  I feel His presence so strongly in this beauty and I am so in love with Him.  At times it feels almost overwhelming--breathtaking in the truest sense.

I've felt this way a rare few times in my life--when the church doors opened on my wedding night, each time I've looked in a new baby's face, when I stood on the dock of a little Caribbean island and felt the breeze hit my face for the first time, snorkeling in a coral reef for the first time, seeing a volcano erupt in Costa Rica, and sitting in a half-finished adobe chapel in the Mexican dessert, watching the sun set when a group of wild horses came galloping by.  Moments when I'm totally overwhelemd by the magnitude of God's pure, unblemished love for His creation and His creatures.  The colors of autumn seem a singular expression of His love and I can do nothing but thank HIm.

Tomorrow we have another day in WIllaimsburg and then we head on to Front Royal, Va.  Below is Gabe's narration of the trip to Table Rock State park in South Carolina.  Notice how it's one big run-on sentence?  Gabe tends to move much more slowly than the rest of our family.  I'm beginning to see this is how life with us feels to him--like one big run-on sentence.  We'll slow things down a bit for him, one day, I hope...maybe next month...oh no, that's Christmas... well anyway, he's been on the floor setting up his new tubes of Powhatan Indians and Jamestown settlers for an hour...I hope that helps!

(I'm too tired to upload photos tonight, sorry!)

 

We’ve been at the mountain and it was really steep and we saw a poisonous centipede and we saw a river and we saw a crashed down tree because hurricane trina I think and I went on the wrong side of the river so I had to cross it. And we drived down a swirly street and there was this carpet grass to lay on so we wouldn’t fall.  We saw poison ivy. My ears hurt.  I throwed rocks, actually I skipped them. 

On the Road--Round One

We've made it to my sister's house in South Carolina.  We drove twelve hours yesterday, arriving here just after midnight.  The kids were remarkably easy-going for most of the car ride and the we had no major snags.  Thank God and all of you who are praying for safe travel. 

The lights of Atlanta late last night were one of my favorite parts of the drive.  Big cities close up--not really my thing.  But from afar, glowing in the night sky--pretty breathtaking really.  They mesmerized Evan, who was snapped wide awake by them and then insisted I sing to him for the last two hours of the drive.  I'm not sure the rest of the family loved it so much, but it was better than him screaming.

Greg has headed off to the nearby Table Rock State Park with our older boys and their cousin Peyton.  I have spent the morning visiting with my sister Shannon and my nieces, while Evan has charmed everyone and Kolbe is currently napping on the chest of his godmother.

Tonight we are off to this restaurant my boys remember from our last visit that has HUGE pizzas and a trip to the planetarium at Roper Mountain Science Center, which is a fitting follow-up, since on of our audios on our ride was Jim Weiss' Galileo and the Stargazers.

Tomorrow we head on the Williamsburg.  I'll update when we can.

Signing Off for Vacation

One of the fabulous benefits of being a homeschooling family is that you can travel whenever you want to.  Another is that your schoolroom is the real world.  So we're off on a Thanksgiving adventure that blends together time with family, new friends, old friends, American history, and our Catholic faith, as well as long card rides for both family bonding and lots of literature both on tape and read aloud.

So starting this Thursday, this family school becomes a mobile unit.  First stop, my sister's house in Greenville, South Carolina.  After a short visit we are off to Williamsburg, VA for a taste of colonial life.  From Williamsburg, we'll head to Front Royal, VA for a visit to a great Catholic ministry, its neighboring Catholic college, and the Shenandoah National Park.

From there  I'm off to meet an online friend and inspiration in real life.  And then on to Paoli, Pennsylvania for a Thanksgiving reunion with some of our dearest friends--my maid of honor, the godparents of our second child, and the person who can make laugh at myself more than anyone.  It's been four years since our last visit, and I am beyond excited to see her, hug her blooming belly (baby #4 is on the way) and hang out with her husband and kids.  And the very cool extra benefit is that we can head in to nearby Philadelphia for a dose of American History, and picnic at Valley Forge.  We'll also celebrate our Evan's second birthday there the day after Thanksgiving.

The next leg of our adventure takes us on to Massachusetts.  Our first stop is The National Shrine of Divine Mercy, then a couple of days in Boston before we begin the trek south again.

We are leaving the return leg of our journey open.  Perhaps we will revisit our Virginia contacts or stop at my sister's again, or discover someplace altogether new to us. 

The next few days will be a crazy mix of organizing, list-making, shopping, and packing.  Add a visit with some supercool friends on Monday, and I'm all booked up.  Maybe I'll be able to update you from the road, but if not, there'll sure be a lot to share when we get home.  I'm letting the kids take turns narrating each day for our travel journal.  There should be some fun things to share.  We won't be back for a good long while, but don't forget about my little corner of the net...I'll be back before you know it!

Lovelieness of Handmade Gifts

I had hoped to have time to get a nice post together for Dawn's Loveliness fair, handmade gifts.  But life did not permit that yesterday.  So here are some quick thoughts:

We are trying to go handmade for Christmas this year.  Handmade gifts from the siblings to one another, handmade gifts from mom to her boys, and handmade gifts for family and friends (or copies of Cay's Christmas Mosaic.  The toys we will purchase for the boys will be handmade from specialty toy stores.

Earlier in the year as our little internet community of moms discussed beauty and rhythm in our lives, my thoughts were toward using Christmas and holidays as a way to spread warmth and beauty in a way that is unique to us, by making the gifts we will give and by choosing things for the boys that were beautiful and different and created with craftsmanship and artistry. 

As we moved on in our discussions to Waldorf-inspired learning, I was even more drawn to the idea of the boys using their hands and creative minds and hearts to express the sentiments of the holidays.  And even more convicted that I wanted to give them things that nourished their imaginations and filled their childhood memories with golden hues of warm woods and the feel of natural fibers and unending play with a few well-loved items.

Then the whole China thing exploded and the plastic playthings I was already beginning to loathe became items of suspicion and worry.  Even our beloved Thomas set was questionable.  Now my convictions were solidified.

I have planned the handmade gift list and ordered the supplies.  During my cleaning binge, I set up a spot to work.  I don't want to list the whole list here because some faithful readers are also recipients!  But I am going to set up a page to keep track of my progress--hopefully tonight. 

By the way, my friend Alice and her family drive up every Christmas week with a precious box full of homemade cookies tied with ribbon and a handmade tag.  It is one of our favorite holiday treats.  It is simple and lovely and to me, the epitome of spreading warmth and joy. 

I only hope this Christmas my family and friends can be blessed with those "warm fuzzies" that handmade lovelies bring me.

Here's A Little Peek

at how a Maps and Mankind works in our house.

Today we were wrapping up our studies of Columbus.  During our morning school session, I finished reading Jean Fritz's Where Do You Think You're Going Christopher Columbus?  out loud to the kids.

They modeled ships out of beeswax, and even some little Columbus look-alikes to ride in them. And then added little birds from our seasonal display to be his parrots!

   

Then I helped Quinn brainstorm and draft a writing assignment for our Book of Centuries.  I gave him this scenario:

Pretend you are Columbus on the way home from your last journey.  You have received word that Queen Isabela is ill and you may not see her when you return.  Moved by all she has done for you, you write her a letter apologizing for your failures and reminding her of your accomplishments in her name. 

We brainstormed and drafted the letter today and will work on revisions and editing throughout the week. 

Then we settled in for a little map work, tracing Columbus' path and the paths of the other Spanish explorers that followed him: Vespucci, Balboa, Ponce de Leon, and Magellan.

We folded up our map hiding the continents of the Americas to see what Columbus expected the world looked like, then slid out the continents and measured with our fingers how much larger the world actually was.

At lunch, we read Columbus poems from Joaquin Miller and Stephen Vincent Benet.

This afternoon, I read the story of St. Edward the Confessor to Gabriel and Brendan while Quinn did a math lesson and some grammar exercises.  We looked at Denmark, England, and France on the map and noted how close they were to the countries we had marked for our Columbus work in the morning.

At teatime, we finished reading D'Aulaire's Columbus.  All that looking at the map sparked a discussion about plate tectonics and much animated pointing and investigating as to the way in which the continents could be put back together into one piece. 

It was a good day.  We read a lot, talked a lot, learned a lot.  It exemplifies what my daily rhythm and weekly plan can create in our home and why they really work for us.

Homecoming Day

Greg and the boys will return this afternoon--to a clean house and a big pot of meatballs and spaghetti, Italian herb bread, marinated broccoli salad, and a mom who is refreshed and renewed.

But a far more profound homecoming takes place today.  My nephew Sean returns from his tour of duty in Iraq.  He will see his five month old baby girl for the first time since she was a few days old.  We are all rejoicing at his safe return.  Please thank God with us!

Welcome Home, Sean!

Cleaning Day 1: Report

So day one o the cleaning binge has come and gone.  While I, of course, wish I had gotten more done than I did, I am beaming with joy as I type from my sparkling clean kitchen.  I spent the entire day here yesterday, and it shows.

• I decluttered all cabinets and drawers then cleaned them inside and out.  I left my "home managment" and "arts and crafts" cabinets untouched because I need to organize some other areas and set up some new systems before I tackle them.
• I cleaned all appliances inside and out. My antique Chambers stove comes apart in ways I never imagined!
• I cleaned all furniture.
• I wiped all door frames, wood trim, and baseboards.
• I paid November's bills.
• I made all semi-annual appointments.
• I swept, mopped, and swept again.
• I washed and ironed the baptism gown and put it away.
• I baked five sweet potatoes, pureed them, and froze them in individual portions for baby food.
• I kept a running shopping and honey-do list as I came across things.
• I made a supply list for homemade Christmas gifts and ordered anything I could from the internet.
• I gathered supplies to start my home management binder.

Isn't it funny when life seems so easy because you only have a two year-old and six month old to take care of.  Well, I have a full agenda today too, so off I go.

Cleaning Binge

After a trip to Houston to spend Halloween with my sister-in-law and her family (pictures when the camera returns), I am home with my two little guys and Greg and the older boys are off an adventure to San Antonio to visit his aunt and uncle and cousin and camp in a nearby State Park.

And I am off on a mission.  Three uninterrupted days to being cleanliness and order to my home!  I am so excited.  Last night I made a to-do list for today, pulled out all the cleaning products, and googled some recipes for natural cleaning agents.  I am so happy to have this time before we leave on our vacation in a few weeks.  It will allow me to return home afterword and embark on our advent and holiday plans feeling settled and ordered. 

I can't wait to report how lovely it all is, but for now, I have a date with some rubber gloves and a scrub brush--and I'm happy about it!