This is homeschool!

Ann caught picking.  She is still seriously cute in that tutu.

At the Explorium for our Wednesday outing.  I love this glitter table in their open art studio!  They can have all the fun they want and I don't have to deal with the mess!  I try to get us out of the house one morning a week.  It could be to the library, the park, the Arboretum, the zoo or the Explorium (thank you again Real Life 1380 for our free family membership for a year!) 

Add Jane gave Bridget her first bottle the other day.  Jane was WAAAY more excited about it than Bridget.  She did swallow an ounce or two.caption

Look at those jowls starting to grow!  I kiss those cheeks a hundred times in a day.

This was school today.  Cate and Jane decided to play "Sarah Morton" - after reading the book Sarah Morton's Day, a wonderful book about a day in the life of a girl in Plymouth Colony.  They acted out her life (Jane was Sarah's friend, Elizabeth) for (I am not exaggerating) FOUR HOURS.  Two hours before lunch and two hours after.  When do you have a 6 and 4 year old concentrate on one thing for that long???  No fights or whining (which have become more common between Cate and Jane).  I let my worksheets go and let them be.  They were so quiet, intent and into it.  "Sarah, are you polishing the kettle?" I heard Jane's voice once.   OK, there is Bridget squawking, so signing off for now...

Pumpkin Farm

Four daughters is not much harder than three, or two...

I'm typing over Bridget Clare, sleeping on the Boppy (nursing pillow) on my lap.  Ann is asleep upstairs and Cate and Jane are across the street at a friend's house.  Life IS crazy and hard, but also, it is a little easier with each child.  I wake up at night several times now.  Bridget nurses every 2-3 hours (but sometimes she sleeps 4 hours at a time) and Ann wakes up once or twice a night to nurse.  (We had her almost sleeping all night, and then...my milk came in with this new baby and she is all about the "bobos!")  On the nights when Matt and I have a date with the laptop in bed to watch The Office until midnight, I am not getting much sleep at all!  But, the good news is that Cate and Jane, ages six and four, sleep all night, and I have not had a solid night's sleep in six years, so I'm used to it.  I've read that motherhood is a time of light sleep - even when they are all sleeping, you wake up wondering if they are all ok!  I try to catch a nap with the babies in the afternoon, which brings me to another point - the fact that at ages 6 and 4, Cate and Jane can play in another part of the house, watch a video, or even be outside with friends on our cul-de-sac, and it's OK.  They are good girls, and they can do much for themselves.  I also have wonderful neighbors who are stay at home moms, so that is a huge blessing.  I have not yet gone to the store with all four kids by myself.  I think I will put that off as long as I can.  I run out with just the baby when Matt is home or now that my mom is here for little errands and grocery store trips.

Honestly, I don't know what I would do if Cate were in school and we were trying to get her out the door by 7 in the morning, and to bed by 8pm.  Bedtime takes hours to get everyone taken care of and settled down.  And breakfast/getting ready to go anywhere, or getting ready for homeschool take another few hours in and of themselves.  But we are happy!  Cate can hold Bridget (and wants to!) for a long time.  Jane can wipe Ann's bottom.  And if I can just keep a sense of humor and remember to enjoy how little and sweet they are, this parenting and schooling of four daughters won't wipe me out.  It will make me holier and better.

New School Year!

This is for the family and friends I have been meaning to call. I am too wiped out at the end of the day to make phone calls or email. It's good to be tired. But at 34 weeks pregnant, my body is not only tired but aches in places I did not even know I could ache! If you are hoping to see some belly pictures, sorry to disappoint. Only those who see me in person in Kentucky get to see the fourth pregnancy belly. I get great comments, mostly from people at church, about how I am not going to make it until October, or am I sure there aren't twins in there? I do try my best to look cute and be happy when we are around students - I want to be an excellent witness to the joys of having children! But I am sure Cate hugging and kissing my belly during Mass is witness enough.

The Bopper Wopper Home School

School started about 2 weeks ago for us here at the Little Way Catholic Home School (Bopper Wopper was one of the names suggested by Cate for the school). The top photo is the "uniform" the girls chose to wear today!

We made a banner for our school, and we have a medium sized American flag on a stick. Each morning when we start school at about 10:00, Cate and Jane take turns holding either the flag or the crucifix while we start the day off with our Morning offering prayer, the Our Father and the Pledge of Allegiance. Ann wanted to hold the flag today. After several days of watching her big sisters, she knew just what to do. She climbed up on a little box and held that flag high while we pledged (she was naked - she's potty training - I only realize now how funny that is).

For those of you wondering exactly what homeschool looks like, here is a run-down. First grade for Cate includes short lessons in:

-Religion (1 catechism lesson a week, 2 New Testament lessons and 1 saint of the week),

-Math (I am using Saxon Math curriculum this year),

-Reading (she is working through Little Stories for Little Folks phonics series),

-Writing (short copywork lessons each day in her book we ordered from Catholic Heritage Curricula - today one of the words she copied and then wrote was "pick" and then she asked me how to spell "nose" before I realized what she was doing),

-Literature (we are reading poetry and Aesops fables four times a week)

-Spanish words of the day, as a family, when we remember

-Art and Science once a week - sometimes these are covered in our field trips to the Explorium or Arboretum

-Read aloud every evening before bed - the Boxcar Children and Little House books this semester

Formal school time lasts 45 minutes to an hour, and we do a lot of the reading aloud and extra subjects off and on throughout the day. We try to finish before noon, or sooner, so they can ride their bikes before we go to Mass at 12:10 on campus a few days a week. In addition, Cate and Jane are taking swimming lessons now, gymnastics and dance next month. What I love is that they have hours on end to play - and how they play! Cate and Jane act out Little House on the Prairie, Peter Pan, Boxcar children and Little Women for hours in their room (mostly in their closet!) and with the neighbors after they get home from school or on weekends. Sometimes they bring Ann in, sometimes they ask me to keep her out. I made cornbread for them a few weeks ago, so they could have real cornbread like Ma made for Laura and Mary's dinner. I heard Ann the other day calling for "Jo!" and then realized she was talking to Jane and they were playing Little Women.

FOCUS at UK

We have been trying to be as involved as possible in FOCUS' fall outreach at UK. It's a good thing my daughters and I have sweet tooths (teeth?) and love to bake. We made cookies and brownies for their kick off pool party for early arriving disciples and Bible study students. And, the girls got to swim! We made spaghetti and meatballs for the student leaders' meeting we had here at our house all day last week, culminating in a home mass with Father Al. We stayed out of the way for the meetings during the day, but when Shelby started teaching camp songs, and MaryLiz started a game of Ninja, the girls jumped right in. We made dozens more brownies and attended three welcome dinners at the Newman center in three days. Our girls loved climbing trees and playing frisbee and playing cornhole with all the new students and students they just met.

We washed FOCUS cups for root beer float outreach at UK (see second photo - Cate and Jane counted 98 cups that would stack from our floor to the ceiling), but then found out they were not allowed to hand out food at the "We are UK" event that happened this evening. So, at "We are UK," FOCUS had a life-size cardboard cutout of Pope Benedict and students could get their photos taken with the pope, and a sign up for a raffle to win a free iPad. As of now, one week into fall outreach, with classes starting tomorrow, FOCUS has 400 students who filled out contact cards. We have been praying hard. We have to continue praying as the missionaries start the follow-up phase to actually get people to come to their Bible studies and speaker series.

Matt has been gone a lot. It will calm down soon. We have been unwinding together late in the evening with Seinfeld episodes from Netflix. Please pray for me as October 4 approaches and we have another bottom to bop in our house. We really can't wait. It will be nuts around here, but we are so excited to welcome this little McCartney into our home.

White Birch Lodge 2010

Thank you to my in-laws, Denny and Karen McCartney, for bringing us to White Birch Lodge yet again! This is my seventh year coming here with kids. Each year gets better. Now Cate and Jane and even Ann are old enough to enjoy the kids' program each morning from 10-12, so we get some time to read, go into town, excercise. Then, the rest of the day, we all enjoy beach and lake time with the girls, because they are old enough to really enjoy it, too! Jane asked yesterday if we could live here. It's fun living in a little cinderblock cabin right next door (hollering distance - "Is the coffee ready?") from Grandma and Papa, Aunt Meghan and Aunt Mary. It's even fun at 29 weeks pregnant, although I can't waterski or be as athletic as I would like. Check me out in the kayak, though! Even though I love being pregnant, and I am excited about it, and there is a good reason why I lumber along, and am carrying this extra weight, I still feel like a whale and envy the slim, active ladies here. Self image issues don't completely go away, they just change. By God's grace, I can remember to be thankful and keep perspective!

Spring rain

A weekend in the life of a missionary family

Goodness! What a wonderful weekend - boy am I thankful we homeschool! Cate was up until 11 or midnight each night for four nights in a row! The fun started Wednesday, when Aunt Meghan (also the FOCUS Regional Director for UK) came for a visit. I cooked Thai food for the FOCUS team and Aunt Meg stayed the night with us. Thursday, two Nashville Dominicans came to campus to participate in the FOCUS outreach, so the girls and I tagged along. We went to noon mass at the Newman Center, then we walked to campus to the student center to have lunch where all the students eat. You should have seen the looks we got as we walked: several college men and women, two sisters in habits, two strollers, Cate and Jane skipping along, and me pregnant. We all landed at the Chick-Fil-A (of course) at the student center, and ate, then we headed back outside and hung our Ask-A-Catholic sign from a tree in the Free Speech area, and proceeded to toss frisbees and engage passers-by. Tom MacAlester stood on the sidewalk, saying, "Have you met Sister Michaela?" or, "Have you ever met a Dominican nun?" And there was Sister Michaela, smiling, sticking out her hand for a handshake. It was adorable. Cate and Jane sang "Sisters" (from White Christmas) for the sisters and the college students.

Thursday night, Matt took Cate bowling with the sisters and a bunch of college students. I was astounded when Matt came home at 11:00 and woke me to say, "Cate bowled a 97!" He thinks she would have done pretty well even without the bumpers!

Friday, I started cooking early in the day. Matt and Tom had invited several college men over for "Holy Smokes" and homemade spaghetti and meatballs that evening. We ended up feeding 11 men, who prayed the Rosary before dinner and retired to the back porch after dinner to discuss manhood and smoke their tobacco of choice. It doesn't end there, though. At 9pm, we drove over to the FOCUS women's apartment, where I gave my "How can a Catholic woman have it all?" talk to about 10 college women having a sleepover. At 10:30, we then had a marriage Q&A panel for the ladies (Tom and Brittany, Matt and I). And, since our babysitters were at the sleepover, we brought along the girls, who were just about melting by the end. M&M peanuts, a video, and a little late birthday present for Cate from the college girls (3 new leotards!) kept the children awake and slap-happy...then they crashed into bed about midnight.

Saturday we drove to Cincinnati, where joined some new friends for Mass and dinner at their house. The Jung family - Nellie and Bill, and Billy (5), Anna (3) and Joseph (1), were instant friends of ours and we had a great time. Billy loves to play "Mass" and he was delighted to have Cate and Jane as candle bearers and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion! Nellie is the director of Cincinnati's Pure Fashion show, and several months ago, she asked Matt and I to MC the event.

Sunday, which was also my 33rd birthday, was the fashion show, at the Hyatt downtown Cincinnati. Nellie and I are both expecting, so we were a great pair at the show in our black maternity dresses!!! Cate and Jane loved the fashion show - afterwards they both practiced their model walks up and down the stage. Ann wasn't so sure - she had to go up on stage with me during my first section, and after that, Laura Gifford, who joined us to babysit, had to take her out in the hallway.

Needless to say, we have had several days of family mission work - we are exhausted the way you are after a great party. But it does not stop - three more weeks of classes at UK, and while the girls and I are back in the school and home groove, we are going to keep showing up with Matt when we can, and praying hard!

Goodbye KY winter!

The air is warm and moist, birds sing in the morning, and I am finally not feeling nauseated all day. I am thrilled to welcome week 11 of my pregnancy and spring (and the final weeks of Lent!) at once. We've loved hiking in the KY spring sunshine and twirling our umbrellas outside. Please notice hilarious little Ann in my circa 1977 turquoise coat. She is a doll. Always wants to put on shoes or boots and a coat and head outdoors to toddle around! Spring love to all our friends and family!

Sister Love

I am in awe at how well these three little munchkins play together. From the time they get up, Cate and Jane have something they are making believe. And frequently, they love Ann so much they let her play, too. Lest you think it's perfect, let me tell you I need to break up full-on wrestling matches over a certain doll or animal or article of clothing several times in an hour. But for the most part, especially during these snowy days, and during Matt's absence last weekend, I was amazed at the way they played together and did not ask very often for a video. Thank you, God! I pray they will grow up to be best friends...

More "Mastering the Art..."

Matt got me the 2-volume Julia Child set, and I am pleased to say he is now THE poached egg expert! His eggs are amazing. Even better, we made hollandaise sauce together last week and whoa butter! We can't have that too often! I wanted to eat it by the spoonful. Last night I tried another recipe from the book, Garlic Soup with Potatoes. You boil a whole head of garlic. Very enjoyable with swiss cheese and crusty bread. But, back to eggs, Jane is our real "gourmand" in this department. She makes scrambled eggs by herself nearly every morning. If Ann and I are eating them, too, I have her scramble three. She prefers to use butter rather than oil, and smears it delicately in the pan with a brush. We had eggs at a Bob Evans on our road trip home from Florida, and Jane's eggs are WAY better! This morning, she opened the new carton of eggs and exclaimed, "That's a lot of eggs, Mom!" She counted them. "There are 12!...That chicken laid a lot of eggs!"

Where all our dreams came true

It was cold enough for hats and mittens at Disney World, but the cold weather meant shorter lines! Thank you, Mom and

Dad for a delightful 2 days making memories!

Only a mother can offer up...

Dear Missionaries at UK,

Matt, Tom, Laura and Becca...I try to pause and offer up some of the little mundane trials of my life for you and your work on campus. When I am tired, or exasperated, IF I THINK OF IT (and it is my New Year's Resolution to think of it more often) I think, "Jesus, I give this to you for the students at UK!" I know these little hidden offerings can have eternal significance if I unite them to the Cross of Christ! Now, they are supposed to remain hidden, but I can't help wanting to share with you all (and the world, via blog) the unique mortifications of today.

We just got back from two weeks "on the road" - Christmas in Ohio, then Orlando for the FOCUS National Conference and Disney World. My house looks like suitcases exploded in each room. I am on my fourth of nine loads of laundry. I have Christmas gifts and goodies mixed with New Year's noisemakers and Disney souvenirs, strewn all over the place. I decided one tangible place I could start today was to clean the girls' car seats. It does not really help put the house in order...it makes more of a mess. But, my 3-year-old wet her car seat as she slept during the last hour of our 13-hour drive yesterday, so we had an emergency clean-up on our hands. These car seats have not been thoroughly cleaned in YEARS. They have endured our cross-country trip to Illinois and then our cross-country move, not to mention hundreds of trips to the grocery store, dance class, etc, often with snacks.

First, I shook the seats. M&Ms, peanut and plain, Cheerios, Pringles, Cheetos, Life cereal, raisins and assorted Disney princess accessories fell out. I broke most of my nails trying to get the plastic pieces out of the holes in order to get the covers off, then pulled the straps out and tossed the covers and straps into the wash. While they washed, I took the plastic seats to the bathroom. There are little deep holes in the seat part of each seat, and in these were stuck gum, and sticky sludge made of Chocolate milk, various juices, and, yes, you heard me say the 3-year-old wet her seat....well, that was not the first time. I put each seat into the bathtub, and ran water in the little crevices, and worked off the sludge with my fingers. While I was washing, Ann jumped on my back, saying "me...me...bath!" She wanted to get in the tub, and she pulled on me and whined the whole time I washed the seats. This is when I was first inspired to lift my thoughts and think, "Jesus - I offer this for UK and for Matt, Tom, Becca and Laura! And I am going to tell them about it!"

So, I got the seats washed, and after the crumbs, etc washed down the drain, I filled the tub and plopped a delighted Ann into it. I turned my back for 2 minutes, and then looked back, and Ann had done her business and was now bathing in a tub surrounded by floating you-know-what. I threw up my hands and thought, "More to offer up...with joy!" For you, for your work with the UK students - praise God!