At Home Journal (vol. 1)

So, I'm sure I won't be the last to try this but a few friends have been doing some online journaling and I thought I might give it a go.  I've never been much for journaling but  sometimes it would appear especially as things continue to be busy around here that it may be the way to get a blog post out and still keep family and friends updated. We shall see...

October 30, 2012
Outside my window:  Well, its chilly!  Fall in WI is definitely here to stay.  I'm grateful for the sun and the clear blue sky especially after all the Sandy Storm news from out east.  Guess, I'm also happy enough to be land locked.

Clothing myself in: maternity jeans, black long sleeve cotton top and gray and black scarf tied in a Celtic knot. 

Around the house:  Well, the girls are in the midst of playing house and they aren't the tidiest players.  So the living room even though I've picked up things numerous times in there is cluttered, again and so is the kitchen table, the counter tops and the sink.  I've got to empty the dishwasher before Kurt gets home.  That should help somewhat...at least in the kitchen.

The baby:  I know, everyone is interested but the baby has definitely dropped and I have to go to the bathroom constantly it seems.  And this kid is certainly the most active child thus far.  Maybe it will have some sort of kicking in its future?  Yikes.  I actually got on the computer to print out an updated copy of our birth plan to bring to the clinic next week...yeah, I got side tracked.

The girls:  Have been playing really well together A LOT lately.  Mostly it is imagination play... they and their babies take on countless names identities and adventures.  Sometimes including, train trips to Grammazona (Julia's version of Arizona), bands, fire departments, dance parties, school...with names like Hannin, Mike, Kale, Totty, Lily, Ike and Nina.  They totally crack me up...of course, my identity changes, too,  usually I'm Gramma though.  Which gets confusing when they call for Mom and I'm not the Mom they want, oops!

This week is 'G week' for us...we've been talking goats and had grilled 'G'eese sandwiches for supper last night.  It is also green week at the library story hour which coincides nicely!

In the kitchen:  We've continued to process tomatoes (7 pints this weekend) and apples (still waiting in the canning kitchen...there may be a few fruit flies enjoying my procrastination) from our harvest.  I was pleasantly surprised with the quantity and quality of our late tomatoes this year.  Kurt, Dad and I picked a huge tote full for green ones before our first frost and nearly all of them in the past month have now turned a beautiful red.    I made some homemade tomato soup yesterday that was in my opinion delish!  Though it gave me terrible heartburn...

Bringing me joy:  I've not had nearly the back pain this pregnancy as the last!  My Kurt is so sweet and patient with me these days.  What blessing!  Also, the girls are so excited for Halloween- Katie, Captain Hook/pirate and Julia, Tinkerbell and the All Saints party we're hosting at our home on Thursday- Katie, St. George and Julia, St. Bernadette.  I'm handing out treats and wondering if there are any very pregnant saints I could be on Thursday without much effort...hmmm, two years ago my friend and I went as Elizabeth and Mary and acted out the Magnificat...I thought about the woman in Revelation *including wailing and moaning aloud!  But the costume is tricky for that one.  Ideas?

Thinking about: The election and upcoming birth of this baby...

Picture to share: Felt like this was out life here for awhile...just fruity!  Isn't this a pretty piece to have in the kitchen though?

Ok, best print out that birth plan and order a car seat online!  Tata!

The Year of Faith- The Apostles' Creed 'I Believe'

In the Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI declared this year (October 2012-November 2013) the Year of Faith.  Certainly, as someone mentioned to me the other day, every year is a year of faith, or should be, right?  Yes!  However, I always feel like the more opportunities, reminders, encouragement and big picture focus I can get helps me to practice each year, day, hour of faith as it comes. 

So, because of the Year of Faith for our religion classes on Wednesday nights we have been working on teaching and studying the Apostles' Creed and will continue working through it all year- hopefully.  For our Religious Education Parents' Night this year I took on the same theme- "I Believe- the Apostles' Creed" and ran with it.  I thought I'd post our station activities and snack here in case anyone else was interested.

Station 1-
Apostles' Creed Mini-books

Station 2-
Creed Races and Relays  I adapted this game, after the first two rounds of ordering the prayer they took it to the gym to really relay race with the pieces.

Station 3-
Apostles' Creed Game  I took the questions from this game and paired them with this game board, a di and two markers.  Then families played as teams.  If they got a question right, they shook the di and moved.  If not, they stayed put play continued till someone won or the team who traveled furthest in the time allotted won.

As you can see, I can't take much credit for the activities.  However,  I will say coming up with a snack that went with our theme as in past years was tricky.  Google got me nothing!  (In years past- we've done a cupcake rosary, devils food cake with swords for St. Michael, liturgical Sundaes for our Mass themed night...you get the picture.)  Anyway, here's what I eventually came up with- delicious!

Apostles’ Creed Snack Mix

The Year and Our Children (original edition I purchased at a book sale) includes in the back ideas for symbols representing saints, including the apostles...so that's where I started. Imagination, inspiration from the Holy Spirit and the dollar stores get the rest of the credit.

The Apostles—

·         St. Peter, the first Pope represented by the ‘pope’s hat’ or mitre aka Bugles

·         St. James (the Great), shared the faith in present day Spain baptizing many represented by the scallop shell for baptizing aka marshmallow

·         St. John, was a fisherman with his brother James represented by fish aka goldfish

·         St. Andrew, also a fisherman represented by nets aka pretzel nets

·         St. Matthew, a tax collector represented by money aka money mints

·         St. Philip, remembered for his part in the miracle of loaves and fishes in the Gospels represented by loaves aka pretzel loaves

·         St. Thomas, the doubter felt Christ’s wounds represented by wounds aka cinnamon reds

·         St. James (the Less), leader of the early Church in Jerusalem was stoned  to death represented by stones aka M&M’s

·         St. Simon, went by ship to spread the Good News represented by the ship’s life savers aka fruit loops

·         St. Bartholomew, skinned alive as a martyr represented by knives aka pretzel sticks

·         St. Jude, pictured with fish from his time traveling by sea or his presence at the miracle of loaves and fishes represented by a fish aka Swedish fish

·         St. Matthias, the apostle that replaced Judas Iscariot after his betrayal  represented by  a carpenters square or dice for the lots cast to choose him aka cheez-its

2012 Kieler Fire Prevention Parade

This year's Kieler Parade was extra special becasue the kids (and Gramma and Grandpa) were in it! They rode in the first fire truck!! And then of course got plenty of candy walking back to where I was sitting. We were so excited to have G&G and the Harris cousins (minus the newborn) for the weekend! 

Here they come!!

Peeking and waving!

We're in here!

The littlest rider

The biggest wavers!

In Grampa's lap, just where she wanted to be.

Suited up!

Daddy drove the truck!!

3 out of 4 looking...it was the best of 6 shots I took!  Note the Packer garb, thanks Uncle John and Diana!

October is Fire Prevention Month! If you haven't replaced your batteries in your smoke detectors or made a plan of where to meet outside if there's a fire in your house do it today! Here are some shots of pictures from previous years- I don't know why I didn't blog about it last year, 2010 2009 2008.

Baby Bets

Well, it's close enough now that I wanted to open up this post for the arrival and stats of Snyder Baby #3. 
History :
Katie - 3 days late,  born just after 9 p.m. 9 lbs. 7 oz. 21 inches long
Julia - 9 days early, born just after 4:30 a.m. 8 lbs. 7 oz. 21 inches long
Currently with this pregnancy my initial due date is 11/17; the early ultrasound dated 11/14.  I have had more early contractions this time; having very few with the previous two kiddos and these have been noticeably stronger.   Though I think part of the problem is I'm a bit dehydrated. 
So, leave your guesses - boy or girl,  date, time,  weight and height.  The winner will receive a Kieler T-shirt and bragging rights.

Art

We've been blessed for the past year now to be able to be a part of a small co-op that gathers twice monthly for Gym and Art at a local community center.  The previous video was from gym filmed on my phone.  I also took a few pictures of our art projects from two weeks ago (we met again today). 


The younger set (6 and under) was working on the element of color, particularly color identification and mixing.  We read the book Mouse Paint and did some painting of our own. Today this group worked on color matching and mixing colors using dye and paper towel.  I'll have to take a picture of them if I think of it as they turned out great!


The older set has also been working on the element of color.  They were focusing on warm and cool colors on the color wheel.  These are the first steps in a two week project to create paintings like Stuart Davis.  They finished these works today. 

Yes, if you haven't guessed, it's the "art teacher" typing this post.  I've had tons of help though-- the other moms are a wonderful group.  I have also been enjoying this art blog.  My dear friend Tina, the art teacher helped me to come up with a plan that has really worked well, thus far, working through the Elements of Art.  And the work that the kids have produced and the fun they've had has been awesome.  Hopefully I can feature a few more things here as we continue to enjoy "Gym and Art".

Gym Video

So, I want to see if this will work...a video I took at Gym and Art a few weeks back.  Julia hitting the ball off the tee and running to first.  Please try to ignore my enthusiasm...I'm just jealous of her skills.

We're still here!

Between processing the garden, orchard and the fact that there will be a little one here in a month or so blogging has been low on my list.  Instead I am trying to make the most of these moments at home with these two (usually) sweet girls.  A baby birthday guessing post will be forthcoming.