Creativity Jar

I just put together a Creativity Jar.  It's a mason jar filled with small craft items: pipe cleaner, clothes pin, fabric squares, ribbon, puff balls, stickers, beads, craft sticks, rubber bands, etc.  It is meant to spark kids' imagination and encourage them to be inentive and create art or other things.  This one will be part of a Christmas present for an 8 year old girl.  Hummingbird designed the label; it might change.

I'm wondering if it's something people would buy something like this and if so how much one would be willing to pay.  I would love your input.

New Liturgy Books

In addition to working on artsy craft projects with my kids, I been using my long hiatus to edit and format a full-length (or mostly so) Divine Liturgy prayer book for older kids.  Like the toddler one I put out in April, these can be personalized with photographs from your home parish (or other parishes if you like).  I've done one with a lilac cover because my girls really wanted lilac, and one that boys may prefer with dark blue.  The text is almost identical (I did use "handmaiden" in the girls' and "servant" in the boys' for the priest's part at communion.  Where the toddler book has outlines for placing photographs, I opted just to leave large chunks of space in this one.  I figured this allows more flexibility in choosing sizes or decorating around them for any particularly artistic kids.  

I've proofed this about a dozen times and followed along with it at mulitiple services, so I think it is typo and problem free.  If anyone orders a copy and finds a problem, though, please let me know so I can make corrections.  Also, this version uses traditional "Thee/Thou" language.  If there's interest in a "You Who" version, I'm up for some more editing.  So if that's something you'd like to see, leave a comment or email me.

Anyway, I'm really excited about these and my kids can't wait to get out copies.  You can order your own on Amazon.

Upcycle CD Pascha Candle Holders

30 bead, multi-colored prayer rope

Our church just held its first annual arts and crafts fair.  The girls and I made all sorts of crafts for it: paper collage art, photographs, clay coil pots, prayer beads, and our favorite, upcycled cd Pascha candle holders (or multi-purpose trays other times of the year).  The sale went pretty well, but many people suggested I should open an etsy shop, so I'm working on creating an online shop.

Until I get it up and running, I wanted to post a few pictures. We're selling the prayer beads and candle holders for $5 each, and we take custom orders if you have color preferences.  If you'd like something before the shop is set up, just email me!

With flat bottom

Without flat bottom

Prayer Request

For two months my mom has been in and out of the hospital.  It started with stroke-like symptoms that turned out to be a seizure.  Her first time in the hospital 2 spots were found on her brain.  The doctors have been slow and indecisive about what it was and how to treat.  A few weeks ago they did a biopsy on one of the spots (and removed "all" of it).  For whatever reason, the full results were slow to come back.  Today we were told it is a high grade glioma.

The prognosis is not good.  Lately, or not so lately, I feel like God is most definitely ignoring my prayers.  So, although I don't really do the public prayer request, I am asking now for all possible prayers.  We could really use a miracle right now...

Homeschool Input

Bumble Bee is set to start Kindergarten next year... but despite doing well on the classical selective enrollment test, she has been waitlisted or not accepted to 12 magnet and gifted schools in Chicago.  Too many parents are no longer moving out to the suburbs when their children reach school age!  The competition is fierce for the classical/gifted schools, and the magnet schools are based on random lotteries.  

Our neighborhood school is a level 3 school, which means it's a failing school, at the bottom of the heap.  I'm not thrilled about the idea of sending her there.  Chicago has one public "virtual charter school" (homeschooling with the help of CPS). I thought I would do that, but even there she's number 48 on a waitlist.  So, I'm thinking about doing homeschool with her.  Illinois is amazingly lax about requirements, and she's not even legally required to be in school until she's 7!

I was reading up and found a program based on Charlotte Mason's ideas of teaching.  I rather like what I was reading about this program's curriculum.  I also saw, however, that there is an Orthodox online school, St. Raphael's I think it was.  It seems like it would need to be supplemented.

Anyway, I know that lots of you out there homeschool, and I would love to hear about what has worked and not worked for you.  Over the years I have picked up activities here and there from your blogs to use in our down time.  Now, I'd like a little more guidance on putting it all together and having a unified curriculum.

Please comment....

Uncontrollable Laughter

It is not often that our entire family is struck by uncontrollable laughter, but at dinner tonight we all found ourselves infected with giggles.

Hummingbird was telling us about a book she was reading in which the main character cut herself while shaving her legs.  After describing how disgusting it was, she said, "I don't ever want to shave.  Do I have to shave my legs?"

I answered, "No, you don't have to, but in American society people will make fun of you if you don't."  Then I added, "I don't want to shave either.  So, I only do it when I'm going out in public with my legs showing.  I almost never shave in the winter when only Dad will see."  (more information than anyone wants, I'm sure...)

Raucous laughter ensued from the girls, and DH and I began laughing, too.  Through her laughter Hummingbird tried to ask, "Why would you let Dad see your legs and no one else?"  

I realized that I was on the verge of opening a can of worms I did not intend to open.  Trying to avoid the Birds and the Bees talk I answered something like, "Dad thinks my legs are pretty, so sometimes I show them to him."  Enough to silence any further questions, and everyone's laughter eventually calmed.

It was nice to have a moment of full family enjoyment, and it was nice to end with my children still as innocent as ever.

Hating Disney

My kids are loving the movie Frozen.  They memorized most of the lyrics to the songs and whole scenes, even though they've only seen the movie twice.  I even like the movie, overall.  So, I ordered a copy for their Pacha Baskets.  Disney had a great pre-order deal: buy the blu-ray combo, get 4 lithographs and a $20 coupon.  Can't go wrong!

Oh, actually, can go wrong.  After placing the order they emailed to say the lithographs were no longer available.  Okay, we'll still take the movie and coupon...  But wait, here comes an email offering Frozen and Tinkerbell lithographs if you enter a magic code for each movie and pay $3.65!  No more lithographs available??

A customer service email got a "we'll pass along your comment to management."

Okay, I still have the coupon code.  Let me go buy the Frozen costume BumbleBee would like for Halloween & her birthday party.  Oh, wait it's not on the Disney store website any more.  I wonder when they'll get more in.  I hope it's soon because the coupon code expires on March 30.  (I've been checking back regularly since March 18).  Still not available.  Let me email to see when more will be in.

Response: "Unfortunately, we are not given any notification on if or when items 
will be restocked on the website".  Sorry we can't help.

Okay, then can you extend my coupon so that I can get the discount I paid for whenever the site is restocked?

Response:  No, you'll just have to hope for another promotion code when it's back in stock.

I am totally disgusted with Disney's customer service.  I guess they no they hold all the power.  Kids really want their stuff, and parents will just have to pay through the nose for it or bear the complaints of their children.

Annunciation Craft Kit

Lesson For The Annunciation

The feast of the Annunciation is a glorious respite in the middle of Great Lent.  For adults there are numerous church services and fasting to prepare us for Pascha.  Since children aren't fasting and most are probably not paying attention completely when they are in church, it is important to provide them with lessons at home or in Sunday school that will help them gain an understanding of what this time is all about and hopefully bring them closer to God.  We can use each of the feast days in Lent (even the minor ones) as fun teaching moments to show children that Great Lent is not something to be dreaded, but something that can help us grow as Christians and bring us closer to God.

Look at an icon of the Annunciation, and have your child color an Annunciation icon .  While he is coloring, ask about what he sees in the picture.  Ask what he thinks the word annunciation means.  Older children may already have an idea and be able to explain it to you.  If they can't, explain to them that it's just a fancy word that means announcement. 

Next, read the Bible (Luke 1:26-38) or a children's Bible story about the Annunciation.  Below you will find discussion questions to ask when you've finished the reading:

1.      Who made an announcement?

a.       The angel Gabriel

2.      To whom did he make it?                  

a.       Mary

3.      What was the announcement?

a.       That she would have a baby and name Him Jesus

4.      How did Mary respond?                   

a.       A little confused about how but wanting to do God's will "Let it be done to me according to your will."

Craft Activity: Clothespin Angel and Virgin

These figures can stand in your icon corner for the feast, and later they can be added to your Christmas tree as a reminder of how we arrived at Christmas.

Supplies:

2 old fashioned clothespins (3 3/4 inches long)

Clothes and Wing pattern

Scissors or pinking shears

Blue fabric (liturgical color of the Theotokos)

White fabric (for the angel)

Fabric glue

3 small rubber bands (loom bands work great)

Gold (or silver) pipe cleaner

Gold (or silver) paper

Markers

Instructions:

1.      Cut out the pattern pieces.  Pin skirt pattern to blue fabric and cut.  Repeat with white fabric.  Cut out a small square (roughly 3x3 inches) of blue fabric.  If your child is very young or not good with scissors prepare this part in advance. 

2.      Draw faces and hair on clothes pins.

3.      Put fabric glue on one side edge of white fabric.  Fold the other edge of fabric around to meet glue.  Hold it about 30 seconds or so to give the glue a chance to set a bit and ensure it holds.  Repeat with blue fabric.

4.      Slide the skirts over each figure and fasten with one rubber band.  If you don't have small rubber bands, you can glue the skirt around the "neck" of the clothes pin.

5.      Put the blue square of fabric over Mary's head for a scarf and fasten with the last rubber band.  If you glue the scarf on Mary, be sure to glue the top, back, & sides so it doesn't poof out too much.

6.      Twist one end of the pipe cleaner into a small circle.  Cut off the excess leaving a half to one inch stem.  Position the halo over the angel's head and tuck the stem into the rubber band at the back of the angel.

7.      Cut out wing pattern, and trace onto back side of gold paper.  Cut out wings, and glue onto angel's back with gold side facing forward.

Since this is an important feast day in the middle of Lent be sure to enjoy it.  Have some fish for dinner and finish off with a dessert in honor of the Theotokos.  One of our favorites that is perfect for an oil & wine day is dump cake.  Make it with blueberries for the Theotokos.

Blueberry Dumpcake

Ingredients:

1 Box vegan yellow cake mix (Duncan Hines is vegan)

1 Can blueberry pie filling

Smart Balance margarine

1 tsp almond extract

1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

Directions:

1.      Pour pie filling into 13x9 pan.  Rinse the can with a little water and pour over filling.

2.      Add almond extract and stir around.

3.      Pour cake mix evenly over pie filling (DO NOT STIR).

4.      Melt about 4 ounces of margarine and pour over cake mix.  If there are large parts with no melted margarine, repeat this step until most of the mix is covered.

5.      Sprinkle nuts on top, if desired.

6.      Bake at 350F for about 35 minutes (or until cake mix is golden brown).

7.      To serve, scoop out into bowls.

Finally, and perhaps most obviously, celebrate the feast by attending liturgy!