St. Francis Academy

New Widget

I saw this at Three Plus Two and just had to get myself one!

Tinkering

I'm tinkering yet again with my blog, so bear with me.  I was going to use one of the holiday themes, but the middle column was too narrow.  I realized this when I scrolled down to the family photo in front of the Christmas tree and realized it looked like I intentionally cropped out our oldest daughter!  Can't have that, now, can we???  I guess this red one with the star will have to suffice...

I'm on a roll...

Two posts in one day...it must be a slow morning!  H/T to Amy!

1. (209) Valerie's letter, 2. Double Chocolate Cheesecake, 3. Rays of Light, 4. Columnes al sol, 5. Adam Dunn bunts, 6. Misty wheel, 7. Rain over Rossbeigh, 8. Death By Chocolate, 9. The Voice of Water, 10. daffodil, 11. a chronicle of obsessions, 12. Ooooh! my new bag &shoes

Here are the rules if you want to play too:

a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.

b. Using only the first page, pick an image.

c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd's mosaic maker).


The Questions:

1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One Word to describe you.
12. Your flickr name

Enjoy!

P.S. Photo #3 is a place I've been to, close to where I grew up, and photo #7 is close to the town where my grandfather grew up!

Oh, Fooey!

Over the past several days I've been attempting to clean up the blog a bit.  I've been adding new links, deleting outdated ones, and generally messing with my Typelists.  The left sidebar has the new Typelists for History--Ancients and Science--Chemistry...probably more for my own sanity than for anything or anyone else.  It's a place for me to keep track of things we've used and liked.

Anyway, during all this fall cleaning, I inadvertedly deleted my own Great Books reading list that I've been working through in fits and starts for probably the better portion of two years now.  ::sigggghhhh::  Now I'll need to think the whole thing through again.  I've found myself wanting to pick back up where I left off.  I had taken a slight detour after finishing the Iliad and Odyssey because I was intrigued by the whole Agamemnon saga.  Kind of neat that I had done that, as I was able to discuss it with the kids when mention was made of the Mycenaean king's woes in the DVD we watched about Troy (see the left sidebar for the Netflix rental).  I had started The Aeneid, but didn't stick with it.  So, as I was saying, I want to get back where I left off, which means reading Herodotus' Histories and Thucydides Pelopponesian War.  I don't have either book, which means either reading them online (ugh, but see the link for the Harvard Classics in the Booklists section of the left sidebar), getting the Great Books of the Western World edition through the local library, or springing for the purchase of somewhat more readable versions at Amazon.  And, well, I may just wind up not doing that at all and pick The Aeneid back up once the kids trek into studies of Ancient Rome.  Decisions, decisions...

Oh, and hopefully I'll be done with changing the colors of the blog until the change in liturgical seasons at the beginning of Advent.  Oh, how I wish someone would design some not-so-blah templates according to the Church's liturgical colors.  I'm too cheap to spring for the next level of Typepad membership which would allow me to design my own templates.  LOL!

Because I have nothing better to do...

No sunglasses, sorry.

I'm quite pleased with my Simpsonized self, I must say.

If you have nothing better to do, too, then go there and give it a try!

H/T to Robin

It's Official Kids...People Think I'm Nice

Erin from the land down under just nominated me for the Nice Matters Award that has been making the rounds on many of the 4Real Learning Blogs (see the list in the right sidebar).  It's not strictly for homeschool blogs, just read the originators description when you follow the link above.  Since so many have already been nominated that I read and enjoy regularly, I'm limiting it to four blogs that I don't think have been nominated:

Theresa at LaPaz Home Learning: one blogger whom I would've loved to have met at the 4Real Conference in August had I been able to attend!  Her approach to home education is refreshing and I'm always visiting her blog for ideas and new insights.

Angela at Three Plus Two: I check her blog regularly to get a nice dose of reality!  With three older kids, a pair of twins, and now a newborn, learning is always going on, just not always in a neat and orderly way many of us plan for. :-)

Bearing Blog: I've known the author for many years from an e-mail list and had the pleasure of meeting her and her youngest last fall when they were in town visiting family.  Super cool, super smart, and...of course, super nice.

Amy at Between Daydreams: because, well, she actually reads my blog and comments. :-)  Seriously, though, I enjoy reading about her joys and struggles as a homeschooling mom.

No Worries...I'm Here

For whatever reason there was an issue with my credit card, so Typepad saw it fit to suspend my account until the issue was resolved.  Thus, I even missed my usual once-a-week post.  I suppose that's the nature of having a paid account, even if said payment is minimal and on a monthly basis.  At least I can post again.

I had my 14 week appointment with the OB last Monday and everything went well.  It was nice to meet the OB.  We talked a bit about the miscarriages we've had and after my exam he took great care to assure me to give a call if anything didn't feel right, even in the absence of bleeding or cramping.  For some reason, this was really nice to hear, as it is something I had never heard from any prior care provider. 

Baby's heartbeat was nice and strong, and the little one even did a nice big movement to prove to the doctor that our little swimmer is active and that what I feel from time to time is, in fact, movement of the baby and not gas or a muscle spasm.  I know, with as many pregnancies reaching this point, you'd think I'd be a complete and total expert in early baby movements....nope!

I will be having another ultrasound at around 20 weeks to check anatomy and make sure all is well.  We may even decide to go ahead and find out the gender this time around.  We haven't done this with any others (those pregnancies where I had ultrasounds later in pregnancy) and it would kind of be nice to go baby shopping since I've donated nearly every baby outfit for both boys and girls.  A few years ago I developed a Flylady attitude that if I'm not using something right now, I should bless someone else with that item.  Thus, the stored baby clothes were donated, the crib that my mother bought for our first was sold, and the bassinette which was coming apart was thrown out.  Knowing that God is eternally good and provides us with our needs, I trust that we'll be provided for with this newest blessing.

So, now I'm 15 weeks and am not as overwhelmed at the thought of football camp which is fast approaching.  The homeschool assessment day for the kids is set for this Saturday, and then I will set a day aside for the paperwork which needs to be sent into the district.  I'd like to get an early jump on our schooling, which means some new materials need to be ordered.  We have nearly everything, though I need to get some materials for chemistry, history, and grammar.

Anyway, it's good to be back after my enforced absence...OH, and thank you for the prayers for my mom.  She got through the procedure just fine and is feeling better as each day passes.

Random Musing

I hate resorting to blogging about once a week.  I know, as a blog reader myself, that the less frequently you post, the more likely you are to have your readers lose interest.  I read on a daily basis, and I think about posting just about as frequently, but life gets in the way, or I forget, or, or, or...you know how it is.

Anyway, my mom is in the hospital today to repair an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).  Fortunately, she was a candidate for repairing the aneurysm with a stent, meaning that she will avoid open surgery and intensive care.  Still, any surgery has its risks, and she will need to remain in the hospital for three days.  My worry over her is compacted by the fact that my husband is away on business for the rest of the week and I can't be in NY to be with her.  Not that I'd be able to do much anyway.  ::sigh::

With hubby away and the weather being humid and overcast, it seems the perfect time to immerse myself in some enjoyable reading, departing for the time being from The Aeneid.  I have chosen to plunge into Little Women.  It has been a thoroughly enjoyable read thus far.

Of course, there are a ton of other things I could or should be doing beside sitting with my feet up,a book in my hand.  First, there are the daily household chores, which I usually force myself to complete before the reward of reading.  Decluttering, though, is a completely other matter.  Next, there is the making of homeschool plans for the upcoming year.  I think about them a lot, though I've not gotten around to jotting down much of anything, let alone make any sort of purchases.  Then, there is the making of certain items for the younger set.  I have been intrigued by the idea of creating geography boxes for each continent, which are along the lines of the Montessori geography folders.  Boxes just seem much more practical than folders.  Teresa at Lapaz Farm Home Learning introduces the idea in this post.  The Wildflowers and Marbles blog has done something similar.  I have a good start with the books and little puzzles from the Top Secret Adventures Club and should be able to round it out with my stack of National Geographic mags.  Lastly, I need to consider our calendar for the next month or so.  Baseball is nearly over (five games left), but football and soccer are just around the corner.  The schedule for football (with conditioning five days a week) is leaving me feeling a bit overwhelmed, so I try not to think about it...much.  If I don't think about it, it will go away, right?  RIGHT???

I'm officially out of the first trimester and seem to have more energy to show for it.  I'm at 13 weeks and have an OB visit at 14 weeks.  I think I have felt the baby move, about 95% sure it wasn't gas, at least, but suppose it could've been some odd muscle twinges.  DH started a new job, which means new insurance down the road, but for the time being we are covered by COBRA.  I'm trying not to think about the cost of that in the coming month, either, and try to shove the thoughts of miscarriage to the very, very back of my mind.  I feel very Scarlett O'Hara-ish about it all.  ::sigh::

So, I distract myself a little with a good book, doing some chores here or there (I can do anything for 15 minutes), and working a bit on organizing the homeschool things (like sorting my Catholic Mosaic books and noting which ones are available through our local library).  It's a start...

A Meme

Since we arrived home yesterday and I am still processing our trip to Cooperstown, NY, I thought a meme would be a great way for me to slip back into blogging.  The boys did GREAT in the tournament.  They were the 16th seed out of 96 teams, went 8-2 in the tourney, and held their own in their first and final game of the "Sweet Sixteen" against the #1 seed (lost 7-3). 

Anyway, here's the meme:

WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Nope, though my mom was thinking of naming me Heather.  I'm glad she didn't, as there were 2-3 other Heathers in my class and I was the only Valerie.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
At my daughter's First Holy Communion last month.

DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
It's OK when I'm concentrating on writing well.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
Love, love, love Boar's Head Roast Beef.  It's not marinated, like most other deli brands around there parts.  Roasted turkey comes in a close second.

DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
Six with another one on the way--the tie-breaker for 3-3    

IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
Totally.  I'm the only person who gets ME. ;-)

DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?
Only around those I know will get it.

DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Yes

WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
No way! 

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
Raisin Bran Crunch

DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
Only if I tied them too tight to begin with and can't slip them off easily.

DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
Mentally or physically?  I'm able to bear a lot of things that I initially thought I wouldn't be able to bear.  But I think that's more God than Me.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
Ultimate Moose Tracks (chocolate ice cream with fudge ribbons and tiny peanut butter cups, yum)

WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
Eye contact, or lack thereof.

RED OR PINK?
Pink

WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
I yell too much.

WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
My father.

WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
grey pants and no shoes

WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
Cookies

WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
TV from the living room and my son rustling through a bag of used clothing

IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
Periwinkle

FAVORITE SMELLS?
Oil of chrism, vanilla, patchouli

WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
My mother.

FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?
Baseball (youth through MLB) and football (NFL)

HAIR COLOR?
Dark brown. 

EYE COLOR?
Blue. 

DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
No. 

FAVORITE FOOD?
Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings, including my mom's special stuffing.

SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Happy endings, for sure.

LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
National Geographic's "Lewis and Clark" (I was quite bored in the van yesterday)

WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
Burgundy.

SUMMER OR WINTER?
If I have to choose between the two, it's winter.  Yeah, I know baseball is in summer, but I hate the heat.  I like the cozy, snuggliness fo winter. 

HUGS OR KISSES?
Hugs, the big squeezy kind.

FAVORITE DESSERT?
Pepperidge Farm cookies

WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
Still getting through The Aeneid

WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore and Piglet

WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V. LAST NIGHT? NCAA College World Series, Championship Game 1, Tar Heels vs. Beavers

FAVORITE SOUND?
Rain

ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
Beatles...how could you even ask?

WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?
Arizona.

DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
I sing fairly well, though I don't consider that special. 

WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
Upstate NY.

h/t to Dawn

More About Me

Well, since my book habits weren't enough to satisfy you, you have the pleasure of sitting through yet another meme that I have decided to answer.  I don't play tag, so if you feel like answering this yourself, just leave me a comment so I can know more about you.

1. What time did you get up this morning?   7:20am


2. Diamonds or pearls?  Neither.  Though if you forced my hand, I'd pick pearls.  I'm not into bling.

3. What was the last film you saw at the theater? Oh, uh, er....I think it was Hitch.  That came out two years ago, so we probably were on our anniversary date. :-)

4. What is your favorite TV show?  Oooh...my time for confession.  I really like What Not to Wear (the one on TLC with Stacy and Clinton).

5. What did you have for breakfast?  I start with coffee, and since not everyone is up yet, it will still be a while before I eat breakfast.

6. What is your middle name?  Jeanne...kind of like "Anne with an 'e'"

7. What is your favorite cuisine?  I don't know.  I like Chinese food, but I rarely eat it.

8. What foods do you dislike? I really dislike ketchup.  I detest Black Pudding.  My mother used to fix it (for herself) and the rest of the household would go running from the peculiar smell.  Ugh!

9. What are your favorite chips?  Ruffles

10. What is your favorite CD at the moment?  Bach's Goldberg Variations played on piano by Glenn Gould.  If you play it loud enough and listen closely, you can hear Gould humming along while he plays.  Very bizarre...but that's Gould for you!

11. What kind of car do you drive?  Chevrolet Express 12 passenger van :-)

12. Favorite sandwich?  Boar's Head Roast Beef on a hard roll with lettuce, tomato, mayo and salt

13. What are characteristics you can't stand?  insincerity, gossipping

14. What are your favorite clothes? jeans and t-shirt (Stacy and Clinton would love me...not)

15. If you could go anywhere on vacation where would you go?  Ireland!

16. One random fact about myself: I always thought it would be cool to own a bookstore

17. Where would you want to retire? Maine

18. Favorite time of day?  mornings before anyone is awake

19. Where were you born?  upstate New York

20. What is your favorite sport to watch?  BASEBALL!

21. Coke or Pepsi?  Coke

22. Beavers or ducks?  Ducks. What a weird question.

23. Are you a morning person or a night owl?  More morning person, I guess.

24. Pedicure or manicure? Uh, I don't think anyone would want to deal with my poor feet, and I don't do nail polish.

25. What did you want to be when you were little?  when I was little???  A ballerina.

26. What is your best childhood memory?  Playing in the woods with my cousin who lived next door, building lean-tos, making pretend spaghetti and meatballs out of pine needles and pine cones, and making homemade fishing poles out of sticks, thread, and safety pins.

27. Ever been to Africa? No

28. Ever been toilet papering? No

29. Been in a car accident? Yes.

30. Favorite day of the week?  Friday

31. Favorite restaurant?  Texas Roadhouse

32. Favorite flower? violet

33. Favorite ice-cream? Chocolate

34. Favorite fast food restaurant? Wendy's

35. How many times did you fail your driver's test? None.

36. From whom did you get your last e-mail? Digital Scrapbook Place

37. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? I don't have a credit card, per se, but I would definitely max one out at Barnes and Noble, Borders, or Amazon.com

38. Last person you went to dinner with? Matt and the kids for our anniversary.

39. What are you listening to right now?  Glenn Gould humming to the 21st variation (see number 10)

40. What is your favorite color? burgundy

41. How many tattoos do you have? None

42. How many people are you sending this to? nobody

43. What time did you finish this blog entry? Well, at this question, it is 8:12am.

44. Favorite magazine: Faith & Family

45. Coffee or tea? coffee in the morning, tea (decaf) in the afternoon

46. Do you tan easily or burn easily? Burn. Irish skin, you know.

47. Do you color your hair? No

48. What was the first car you ever purchased without the help of your parents? Toyota something-or-other Wagon (the one that died in Utah; see post linked in #11).

49. What is your most dreaded household chore? Oh, let's see...probably scrubbing down cabinets or washing down the refrigerator shelves, though cleaning around the boys' toilet isn't high on my list of pleasing chore either!  I've begun delagating that task to the oldest boy, though, especially if he did something punishable. ;-)

h/t: Among Women and By Sun and Candlelight