End of Year Picnic 2013

Wahoo!

The school year is FINISHED!

We survived first/second grade and now it's summertime!

 

 

Last week was even busier than our usual crazy schedule! We FINISHED our school work. (Yes, I did make Ray finish his entire Math book.) We assembled portfolios of our work and met with a certified teacher (Thanks Cathy!) to have our work reviewed and approved. THEN.... we joined our awesome homeschool group for our annual end of the year picnic at a local park. It was a perfect, beautiful day! We had tons of fun! Here are a ton of pictures ----

 

The ever-popular craft table.
Fruit Loop necklaces and face painting

Some patriotic cuties!
Our picnic had a patriotic theme this year.

Too pretty to eat?

 

What a group of fun boys!
They had a great time playing on the "natural playground."
I think this is the only picture I got of Ray all day.
He was too busy playing.

We hired Coach Q of the "Homeschool*Gym" to play games with the kids.
It was fabulous fun for everyone!

Mmmm!
Yummy picnic food!

Here's my annual response to the
"Don't your kids need socialization?"
question!
You can play "Where's Waldo" and try to spot Adam and Ray.
Hint: Ray's head is turned, so good luck.

Check out these beautiful women!
My fabulous Catholic homeschool mom friends!

The bubble station was a big hit!

Good bye school!

Hello Summer!!!!!

Take Me Out to the Ball Game!

Last night we had a great time at "Catholic Family Night" with the Columbus Clippers! It was the boys' first baseball game. The weather was gorgeous and even though the Clippers lost, we thoroughly enjoyed the evening.

 

Father - Son Campout 2013

Jon, Ray, and Adam attended their third annual homeschool father-son campout on Friday night. As always, they had a wonderful time!

 

Here they are, ready for take-off. Can you believe how much stuff they took for a one-night (less than 24 hour) trip? Jon will blame that on me... I kept suggesting they take more and more items "just in case."

 

The proud campers in front of their tent ---

The boys love having time and space for exploring nature. The stories I heard involved mud mountains, "real clay" mountains, crayfish, snakes!!!, snails, sticks..... and then I think I stopped listening. Ray told me he held three snakes (but they weren't poisonous) and that one bit him but it didn't hurt at all. (!!!!!)

One of the dads worked with the boys on knot-tying. The boys were excited to bring home a piece of rope that glows in the dark. (I wish he would have taught them to tie their shoes!)

When the campout was planned so late in May, we feared the weather could be really hot. But it was actually VERY cold! We pulled out sweatshirts, hats, gloves, and pants... and they were definitely cold out there!

Every year the boys and dads pray the Rosary around the campfire! Awesome, huh?

Jon went equipped with his griddle and his Kuerig! That man loves his breakfast!

I am so thankful that my guys have this opportunity each year. It's great for Jon to be with the other dads. I understand they played a lot of poker out there this year.

And, yes, it's really my FAVORITE night of the year! I love my guys fiercely, but a night all to myself is heavenly too! I enjoyed lunch with a friend, some shopping, SILENT time at home alone, and a few drinks with some friends in the evening. And of course I slept in too!

The campout was the perfect length of time, though. Just as I was really starting to miss them, they came home.... smelling yucky and bringing with them lots of laundry!

Wrapping Up and Moving Up

This weekend the boys wrapped up their soccer season. Unfortunately, their undefeated streak was broken as they lost the last two games of the year. They had fun and played hard though.

 

The Flyers with Coach Sean

MaMaw even came to watch.
I let her borrow my "princess chair."

On Sunday evening we gathered with our Cub Scout Pack for an end-of-the-year picnic, awards ceremony, and graduation.

Ray was promoted from Wolf Cub to Bear Cub

Ray actually got to be the one to give Adam his neckerchief.
Adam was promoted from Tiger Cub to Wolf Cub.

We are so blessed to have the boys participate in such fun activities with really nice families. But we are very glad to have things wrapping up for the summer. We're ready for some downtime at the pool!

Pentecost Ponderings

This is a picture of the dome at the top of our church.
It's my favorite part of our church.

Happy Pentecost! I hope that you celebrated and experienced the Spirit's powerful presence in some way today.

 

We attended a beautiful Mass at our parish at noon. We had triumphal music featuring several brass instruments, inspired preaching from a new deacon, and even a Confirmation! The boys were really great in Mass. Ray loved receiving his 3rd Communion.

 

We've been discussing Pentecost and the Holy Spirit for the past several days. Ray set up our prayer table for this great celebration ---

 

 

 

I love how he lined those apostles up like bowling pins with Mary at the front!

 

I found the Sequence to be particularly moving at Mass today, especially the following lines --

 

Let Your radiance in us shine,

And our inmost being fill.
Bend the stubborn heart and will,

Melt the frozen, warm the chill.

On the faithful who in You,

Trust with childlike piety,

Deign Your sevenfold gift to send.
I was deeply struck by the great and awesome power of the Holy Spirit. He is truly so much more powerful than my own stumbling efforts and resolutions. Yet I don't call upon His power nearly enough. It seems backward to be saying "Come Holy Spirit." I feel like the Spirit must be saying something like, "I'm right here. Just open your heart/mind/spirit you stubborn, independent girl."

 

I'm sure the Holy Spirit would say it so much more eloquently and lovingly of course. ;) And that's the point, really. He loves me better than I love myself. He can help me in ways I can't help myself. And this great, solemn Feast is a reminder of that. We hear of the awesome experience of the apostles. We're reminded of the origin and unity of our Catholic Church. And we're reminded that God sent the Spirit to US! He wants us to be open to receive the gifts of wisdom, knowledge, understanding, piety, counsel, fortitude, and awe..... EVERY DAY in EVERYTHING we do. They are gifts extended to us, yet so often left un-opened and un-used.

 

My other annual pondering on this great Feast is that we really should work to return this day to it's deserved level of solemnity and celebration. It's a HUGE and important day in our liturgical year. Although we said special prayers, attended Mass, and went out to lunch.... the rest of our day was filled with errands, chores, and a Cub Scout gathering. As I've said before... next year we'll do it up big! Really. Any ideas? How can we celebrate the Spirit together in ways that will evangelize our own as well as the world?

 

With renewed vigor and trust, I end this day with this beautiful prayer by St. Augustine ---

 

A Prayer to the Holy Spirit

Breathe in me O Holy Spirit
that my thoughts may all be holy;
Act in me O Holy Spirit
that my works, too, may be holy;
Draw my heart O Holy Spirit
that I love but what is holy;
Strengthen me O Holy Spirit
to defend that is holy;
Guard me then O Holy Spirit
that I always may be holy.

Amen.
St. Augustine of Hippo (AD 354-430)