This Little Light of Mine

This is a big year for M as she is initiated into two more sacraments of the church- Reconciliation and Communion. In late January she celebrated First Reconciliation. It was a different kind of ceremony than the one I celebrated as a 2nd grader. When I received the sacrament it was within the context of my small 2nd grade class back at Mount Carmel. Our class processed in together to join our families and sang prepared song. We also had these great paper pinafores we had made that said "I am Sorry" on the front and "I am Forgiven" on the back. After we went into the confessional- the old fashioned kind with kneelers and red velvet curtains- we came out and in front of the congregation turned our pinafore to the forgiven side with a big grin.

My First Reconciliation- February 1987

M's was a bit more tame. Our church is so big, that the ceremony ran more like the penance services that church's hold at Advent and Lent. About 6 area priests were there set up around the edges with two chairs and a candle. The children took turns going to the nearest priest and after they said their penance prayers the families were free to go.

After the ceremony M and I stopped off at Ben and Jerry's for nice big ice cream cones and I was pleased to see we weren't the only 7 year olds and grown ups there. I am sure the staff was wondering why the sudden rush for a rainy evening ice cream cone, but we Catholics all know that there is nothing like ice cream after a good confession:)

My beautiful daughter of God.

As Goggie, Oma and Opa's card to M said, "Shine on beautiful child of God. Shine on!"

Punxsutawney Daffodils

This past Tuesday was Groundhog Day, and as most of you know our dear old Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow and ran back frightened into his home to wait out 6 more weeks of winter. Well, here in Charlotte we had nothing to be scared of! The day was a glorious 70 degree masterpiece. The kids and I walked to school and were accompanied by robins gaily searching for worms, chikadees and wrens flitting about, and we even spotted a downy woodpecker foraging in the trees for some breakfast. The best surprise of the day, though was spotting these early February daffodils growing wild in the woods behind the condo. N and I braved the old rosebush thorns to bring this beauty of a boquet home to grace our kitchen.

If this is winter...we'll take it!

Christmas Card Outtakes

Thanks for the idea CrazyCampbells!!

You know everyone has them... the photos that just didn't make the cut. Here's some of my favorites.

First Day Back at School

As most of you know the kids and I embarked on a homeschooling journey this fall. I'm proud to say that through it I learned much about my children and got to share a closeness with them and develop a rapport that I have not had before. But, for as much as we liked it when it came down to it M just really likes going to school. She always has. As she told me, "I like learning at home, but I like learning with friends better."  Part of me thinks we didn't give it enough of a chance, but my gut feeling is that this is what is right for my whole family right now. And, lucky for me "teaching" my kids doesn't get to end. Little N still has a year and a half until Kindergarten, and I've got a bookshelf bulging with the best "living books" I could find. So cheers for bookophilia!!

Some New Definitions...Thanks to M & N

Scrapping (v)- A musical style on which most of the words are spoken in a fast, rhyming, melodic manner. Some of M's favorite scrapping occurs in songs such as D.J. Got Us Falling in Love and Tonight.

Dext (n)- The place where one sits to do homework, read lessons, and text on their iPod.

Bathtize (v)- The Initiation Rite in which a Christian has water poured over them and the "Father, Son, and Holy Spirit" is called down to make them a new person in God. See also "John the Bathtist."

Oopsie the Daisy (ph)- A colloquial phrase that means "uh-oh"; commonly known to get most adorable four year olds out of trouble.

Part time angels

Brightly Wrapped Presents Christmas

Make a statement with personalized Christmas cards at Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

And to think, she once refused to go upside down!

So my little M is an acro lover (that's short for acrobatics.) She takes classes at the studio where I work, and she practices all the time. She got her standing backbend after just a few weeks of class. She has just mastered the "kickover" which means she's just one more step away from a back walkover. A little more fluidity and she's there! Check out this video of her practicing in the living room.
And to think, this is the girl who refused to turn upside down at birth!