Feast Day of St. Wenceslaus

Today we recognize the saintly life of Good King Wenceslas. He was a duke, martyr, and patron of Bohemia. He died on September 28th, 935. He gained the thrown at age eighteen and was known to be a "virtuous" and "righteous" king...his demeanor was thought to be pious and carried a princely vigor. He gave generously to the poor and practiced his faith strictly as a "Good King" should.

To commemorate his feast day, we read the book "Good King Wenceslas," by John M. Neale

St. Wenceslas Pray for Us

We're Going on a Leaf Hunt

Oh what to do with the over abundance of leaves? Our family has thought of a couple of things to do on this beautiful fall day :)

This lesson that I created, not only promotes family togetherness, but educates your young child about the changing seasons. 

Today we started our lesson reading the book "We're going on a Leaf Hunt," by Steve Metzger

After we read our book, my kids were excited to go outside and find some leaves. I recommend the app from Leafsnap  to help you ID unknown species. Just take a picture with your phone and it recognizes the leaf like magic :)

As you look at the leaves, emphasize the beauty of the trees and leaves and talk to them about how God created all the beautiful species. 

After jumping in our leaf pile and snapping a few photos, we gathered our collection and brought them inside to make a leaf collage.

                                                 Hard at work on her collage :)

        The completed masterpiece :) Verse taken from Ecclesiastes 3

                           Another completed masterpiece :)

All Saints Day Party Ideas

With the changing leaves, comes the excitement of our upcoming All Saints Day party! 

Every year our church has an All Saints Day celebration in lieu of trick-or-treating on Halloween night. Last year, the kids dressed in a Saint's costume of their choosing and presented their Saint to a panel of judges. 

The kids also enjoyed soul cakes, which are generally cupcakes that the children have made. Each cake represents a dearly departed soul being prayed for. A basket of names is placed beside the cakes...you pick up a cake, you must pick up a name. 

Another activity that the kids/adults partake in is a pumpkin carving contest. The only limitation here, is that the carvings need to have a religious undertone. Previous years, we have also had bags of candy and hayrides. 

We are very fortunate to have this celebration for the kids. It gives them the chance to learn the lives of the Saints and to pray for dearly departed souls. 

                               Grandma is a Nun...and St.Vincent De Paul

                                           His plate of food for the hungry :)

                                                         Blessing the food :)

                                             Offering the plate of food :)

                                     My Husband's carving of Jesus's face :)

                              Winner of the Pumpkin Carving Contest :)

Planning Fall/Winter Activities :)

Have you seen the leaves changing color yet? Or the first few leaves fall? :)

This is usually a sign that I should be planning our upcoming activities for fall and winter. I find it easier to print off a blank monthly calendar for October through December to alleviate the chaos that the holidays can bring. I came across the site Free Printable 2012 Calendars, which is a useful site if you want to stay organized this coming holiday season.

I've already planned some fun family activities for next month. A lot of the activities we have engaged in previous years. Here are some pictures/ideas from years past :) Enjoy!

 Emma Krumbee's Scarecrow Festival

                               The kid's absolutely loved the giant haystack :)

                                   The notorious barrel train ride! CHOO! CHOO!

John Deere trikes for the kids to ride :) Who could ask for anything more? :)

                                   Peek-a-B00! Playhouses for the kids :)

Me and LU LU posing in front of the giant cornstalks :)

                              Daddy and Vincent pretending to drive the tractor :)

               

                   Annual Fall Photo Shoot                                                 

Sever's Corn Maze

   A giant pit of corn kernels :) How cool is this?...The kids loved it! :)

                        Family photo shoot by the John Deere tractor :)

                            Hanging out in the Super Cool Corn Maze! :)

                                          Definitely coming back this year! :)

Our New Little Duckling! :)

Thomas 

September 9, 2012

8 Pounds, 20 inches 

All bundled up in his Halo Sleepsack :) Compliments of the hospital 

My husband Stephen and our three precious little ducklings :) We are so blessed :)

Can you believe those cheeks?  :) Love them..so kissable :)

Our little angel... what a miracle :)

I'M DUE TODAY! :)

Just sitting here writing my blog post and anxiously awaiting the arrival of my new little duckling :)


I firmly believe that God didn't say "You will have this baby in exactly 40 weeks" for a reason. I believe He makes us wait to teach us patience, calmness, and how to deal with our hormonal emotions as a mother should. He teaches us not to be planners...to leave all what happens up to Him.


Maybe He gave me the extra time to spend alone with my two other children & husband. Whatever the reason, I know it's for the best.


My two other children are excited for their newest sibling. My son and daughter both want a brother. Vincent wants a playmate and my daughter wants to be the only little girl in the house :)

Enjoy these cute 20 week ultrasound picks :) Although the baby is much larger than this now ;)

Making Your Child's Silhouette

Step 1: Buy a pair of Italian frames at a thrift store, garage sale, www.etsy.com, or spot a pair in your grandmother's attic.

Step 2: Remove pictures from frames and save to trace for a new background for silhoutte. If there is a backing that is securing the picture in, just pry off the staples or screws. 

Step 3: Remove glass and paint frame with Martha Stewart's Ballet Slipper pink paint. Let dry. 

Step 4: Take a picture of your child's face in their profile view. Upload picture to Microsoft word on your computer. Change the saturation of the picture until your child's face is darker (this will make it easier to cut out and trace). To do this, right click on the picture in Microsoft Word, go to the format picture tab and adjust the brightness until it's really easy to see the outline of your child's face.

Step 5: Print the picture out and cut out the profile.

Step 6: Trace the profile pic to paper of your choosing and cut out. 

Step 7:  Choose background paper for silhouettes. Place old oval pictures on new background paper, trace, and cut out. 

Step 8: Glue silhouettes on new oval background paper. 

Step 9: Place ovals in dried frames, apply backing, hang, and enjoy :)