There's Taiko in Our Future!

I am so excited!

WE are so excited!

Marty scored 8 comp tickets for us to go see an internationally acclaimed Taiko Drum concert.

It's the Shasta Yama 2009!

Don't know what Taiko drumming is??? Wikipedia tells us here.......all about it.


And here is a promotional video:

Here is video of San Francisco Taiko performing:

The founder of SF Taiko, founded in 1968, will be preforming tonight, too. He brought Taiko to the West Coast.


A few of my friends have drummed over the years............and one of our young friends will be in this concert.

We used to go and watch them rehearse at the city park after ballet class and after play rehearsals.

One time we saw them in a mini-concert for an extended care facility............and I was very pregnant with Maddelyn. She went wild in the womb when the drumming played! It was so funny! The room was too small for all of that drumming.......but it was good!

I have always loved listening to them.....and watching them. But, I could not afford tickets to go see their concerts.....soooo this is so exciting!

The concert will be outdoor and Mt Shasta will be the backdrop for the show. Lawn sitting with a picnic. Doesn't that sound lovely? I was just reading in another article that one of the performers thinks this may be the largest outdoor Taiko concert in the US....with "world class musicians."

How cool is that?

Post note: Our plans are tempered with the fact that the two youngest fellas threw up in the middle of the night........though seem fine right now. Please pray it all works out!!

Many blessings on your day!!

Love, joy and prayers!

Chari

SARAH SINGS THE NATIONAL ANTHEM......

.....for our community's Fourth of July celebration tomorrow!

Our town has frequently been voted the best small town 4th of July celebration.........and it attracts 6,000-10,000 visitors every year.

The day starts with a FUN WALK/RACE........at 8:30am sharp

.......then there are prizes given away.........including a new car every year. At least once it was won by a kid.

There is an all-you-can-eat breakfast at the local Catholic Church.

There is a street fair for four days.

There are happenings at our parks.

At noon, the parade starts. It is not all that interesting of a parade, but we used to go every year. Garrett will be in it this year with his baseball team that won the season.

Then, we head to the lake with lots of food.......because we will be there till midnight! The fireworks over the lake are wonderful and every year we have more and more friends join us........last year I bet we reached 50 people. This year I think may go up!

Then..............we go home, absolutely exhausted! :)

And, the parade is always started off with the NATIONAL ANTHEM.

And, THIS year, it will be sung by our own Miss Sarah!

She will have her biggest audience yet.......and probably will never be able to top this number in the future. And, it is her first public singing performance.

We will take any prayers for her to do her best, of course!

Saint Cecilia, patron saint of musicians,

PRAY FOR US!

Happy Fourth of July!!!

With love from,

Chari & the family at Our Hearts' Haven

If you are wanting homeschool room inspiration.....

You have got to see my friend Jennifer's learning room!

Look what you can do with a dining room!

In fact, if you check out Jennifer's blog at anytime you will find inspiration.

Have a lovely day!

Love, chari

A Wig-Wam in the Woods

A few years back, my family and Willa's family, took to the road, to spend a day exploring Yosemite. It was our one and only visit. At that time, our boys were quite impressed by the indian homes there. When we returned to Willa's home, they built their own indian home. It took a few years, but it eventually returned to the earth.

Before we arrived for our visit this year, they made plans to build a new one. Having more years of life experience under their belts, they were able to visualize something more involved.

Here is the photo story.......

Matthew, on crutches, took on the role of Ramses, building his "pyramids" with his little slaves: Keiron 13, Garrett 12, Aidan 10, Malachy 7 & Paddy 6.

We were quite amused.

An overall view of where the wigwam is to be.

Matthew & his crutches.

Aidan is digging a place for the opening-see the rocks in the foreground...literally......placed to hold that end of the wigwam.

A close-up of the rock work.

Matthew, bossing.......I mean, leading and guiding.

Matthew showing them how it is done right. Aidan & Garrett look on.

Keiron & Garrett swinging their axes...part I

...and have swung their axes.......part II

Final product: The morning after their first sleep out in the wigwam. Garrett, Keiron, Sean & Matthew slept out there the first night. The second night it was just Matthew and Sean......and it ended in the morning with them running inside due to unexpected thundershowers!

Detail of the inside wall.......

Another detail of the inside walls.......

Yet another detail of the inside wall......

Detail of upper part of the inside wall




Detail of the upper part from the outside

The boys are still inside......

Close-up of the boys: Sean, 16 (Willa's) & Matthew, 18 (mine)

Detail of the bark

Finished product!

My favorite view...out the top!

The view of Willa's house from the wig wam.


Tomorrow we say goodbye to the wigwam......till who knows when.....

And to Willa's family, too....till July? Maybe!

Oh, wait! Tomorrow IS July...well, maybe till later in July!

Please pray for our drive tomorrow....

......I expect to be no less than ten hours on the road....ugh!

Love & Blessings!

Chari

Haven Heartbeats

Dear Grandma,

How are you? How's the weather been?

We are in the Sierras at my friend's house. They live about 5, 500 feet...almost 2, 000 feet more than us. The weather has been perfect here...lovely summer temperatures. Willa and I have been able to get three long walks in. I had trouble sleeping the last two nights and was too sleepy to go yesterday and today. I hope tomorrow and Tuesday will fare better. We leave for home on Wednesday. We arrived here last Tuesday.

The boys built a wigwam. Their backyard is the woods and they got their building materials from there. It is pretty clever. Matthew, on crutches, was the taskmaster and the four younger boys were his slaves, uh, I mean his helpers. It reminded me of Ramses bossing Moses around in The Ten Commandments. :) Tonight, four of the boys are sleeping in the wigwam. Here's to hoping the mosquitoes leave them alone tonight! I will take a picture tomorrow...maybe I will post it...IF I remember. :)

Today we drove down to Fresno for Mass. It was 88* in the mountains...but it got to 109* in the city. UGH! I told the kids that I begged God to never allow me to live in a place that gets that hot. I would melt...they could just bury me and be done with it. I will not do heat. At least with the cold...I always have my leggings. :)

I have done a few pages of scrapbooking here. Maybe five? I think the next five are lined up and ready to go. I am working on Anne at six-seven weeks. Slowly, but surely, I just might catch up....oh, probably not. I just keep taking more and more and more........pictures. Sigh.

Marty is at home working on fixing things.....he took the lattice off the front porch...will be sanding and staining the deck...he got the sprinkler system convinced to turn to AM after midnight now.......tried to poison the clovers in the grass, but has now resorted to using a natural way to eradicate some of the clover......he hung the big feeders for the chicks who are four weeks as of yesterday.......and he "cleaned" out the well system. He said he found a dead chick today, with no obvious reason why. I hope it is not disease. We have about 40 hens. I only got one rooster......but, lucky us........they threw a FREE rooster in our order. Marty says I only get to keep one. I have about 20 breeds...I like the variety.

Well, it looks like it is after midnight now....so I will go to bed now.

Goodnight! We all love you!

Chari

Welcome to Workboxes!

I originally began writing this post in early June...and have only just been able to post....sorry for the delay to my friends who had been waiting. :)


es fine!

*****************************************************************

I cannot stop thinking about.....

homeschool workboxes

........I cannot stop thinking about the possibilities. I am simply giddy about a "new" approach in homeschooling, for the first time in a loooong time........I can't wait to get started......but I have been simply too crazy busy to start!

I think my life is still too busy to start, but I have been looking around my home, seeing what I could use or tweak to work, without much investment. I have been perusing the storage bin aisles at the stores and have hit the dollar store, too. I need to make this inexpensive. I simply must.

I really need to get this written up in one place, so I can share it with all of my friends. I know so many who would find this a very useful idea. And, as this is NOW the prime time for homeschool planning for the next year.......I need to be in a hurry!

I particularly think my friends Frances, Maria, Willa could make good use of this idea......for various reasons. I think Shawna & Stacey would like it, too!

I first heard about this idea on Brigid's blog. I remember thinking how clever it sounded........and the usual thought: "I wish I had known about this when my kids were younger." I always forget that I still have a couple of young kids. :)

Then it was brought up on the 4 Real homeschool message boards in March. I skimmed the first messages and treated it like everything else new: I" do not have time to look into anything new......besides, nothing really feels new anymore, after all of my years of homeschooling."

Then, in May, the same thread got going again, ladies wondering how those using the workbox system were doing after a few weeks.

Comments were consistently coming up, there and in other places on the Internet:

WE GET MORE DONE IN A DAY THAN WE EVER HAVE BEFORE.

WE ARE USING SO MANY HOMESCHOOL ITEMS THAT HAD JUST BEEN LYING AROUND THE HOUSE, UNUSED.

THE KIDS ARE EXCITED TO DO SCHOOL.

WE HAVE MORE FREE TIME.

Well, of course those concepts caught my eye!

I want that for ME!

I want that for MY homeschool!

At first, I thought, hmmm, Malachy (7yrs) could really go for this......he loves doing stuff........any stuff.........and he loves being creative and this would give him a chance to do that more often.

Then, I thought how well Garrett would do with more structure (we always need more structure here!).

And I thought about the days when I am at work or just unavailable.......which I hope will be less once we move Anne & Matthew out. The workboxes would be just the thing to give them for those days.

Eventually my thoughts turned to my two high schoolers........

Sarah, 10th grade, could probably benefit from a more specific plan each day. I think she would accomplish more.

And Maddelyn, soon to be 9th grade, who thrives on structure and prefers to have most decisions made for her, would probably do well with this idea......once she gets over the balking....she does not like change. Wonder where she gets that from.... :)

So, I have spent much time in researching the WORKBOXES IDEA.

I have found a yahoo group which is good for early questions and inspiration.

I have found many blog posts about this topic.

One mom made a great list about WHY WORKBOXES? I like it!

But before we go explore the 'net, let me tell you where this all got started......

There was a woman named Susan Patrick who had an autistic son, and she did a lot of research about educating him and eventually developed this idea for her son. You can find her website here and read her story here.

She wrote a book called:

Sue Patrick's Workbox System A User's Guide

Many people have started using the system without reading the book. I was planning to do that, too, but I have seen so many moms say that while it could be done without reading the book, they were so glad to have read it. I would assume with any special needs children in the family, it would be even more important to read the book. I am sure if you do it without the book, it would work just fine. I have decided to order the book as I rarely have anything I need to buy for school anymore......so I can justify this small purchase. I will share it with my friends, too. You know who you are. In fact, I just ordered it Sunday night from Amazon, along with some other good stuff. I want to have it here in time before I go to Willa's house next week. I hope it gets here. (It didn't...only part of the order arrived.....:( )

The basic premise is to have 12 boxes for each kid, and place in each box, each school day, what they need to do, from the first to the last. When they finish one box, they go to the next numbered box.

Now, that is a very basic description. But, then...this is a pretty basic idea. Checking out the links below will give you a much better overview.........since I have not actually done this. In the past we have done similar workings.....but this is more fine-tuned.

And, keep in mind: KEEP IT SIMPLE! That is always a good rule for homeschooling moms to follow! So, while you explore this idea, do not give it up right away.......study it more and spend time thinking about the possibilities.......asking God if this is a good fit for you. I can't help but think it is a good fit for so many I know!

In the meantime, I have discovered a bookshelf in the schoolroom that can be put into the boys' room for this project. And, I have purchased some bins I have used in the past.........for $1 each at the dollar store. Now, I just need to clean out the spot in the boys' room for it....and figure out where to put the stuff on those shelves. I have posted to Freecycle, looking for bookshelves. So far, no nibbles....

......since I wrote that...my friend Patty just happened to have some metal shelves I can use to replace the ones in the schoolroom. Thanks, Patty!

Well, since I started this post, someone has written an online article about workboxes.....and there are lots of links and a few photos. I think I will give you a link to it, so you can look around. Before you start clicking on the links on that page...I have highlighted the useful ones below........

Also, while Willa and I were looking for the above article, she found another good blog post with lots of links. I have also highlighted the good ones below.......

Here is a great idea for using cereal boxes for holders...great photos. I will be considering this idea because I WANT magazine holders, but cannot find any less than $5 anywhere...and some were as a high as $14

Leslie, who also has six kids (aged 2.5-15yrs) has a nice post on workboxes, with good details of what's in them. Her blog is so lovely, that I added it to my google reader. :)



A good example of one mom who tweaked the system to work for her family, using three different methods of storage.


Oh, wow! I love how this looks here! Now I see I CAN use only what I have around and have it still look good visually and make sense. I needed this visual permission. Check this out if you do not want to get a bunch of new stuff or spend money. It works! Plus, you will all chuckle at her first photo. :)


Same mom has an excellent suggestion for the "art-handicapped" mom...ideas for art in the workboxes.


Here is Candace's blog and how she is doing the system.



Tina has a wonderful testimonial to offer after the end of her first week......She also has two posts about their Do-It Door...which someone may find helpful. It is a clever idea. Post one and post two. Especially helpful to those with young elementary kids.



This mom did it exactly as recommended in the book. In fact, you can find all of her posts about the workbox system here, which includes her first few days. Be sure to read from the bottom up. A nice look into someone's home and first week using the system.


Here you can find a lovely blog and description of using with a 2nd, 1st and preschooler. She has great photos of her system. This specific post here covers what to do with the "together" activities. I like her idea.



I like Lynn's little chat about the attitude to take when approaching this system, when you cannot or will not do it exactly as the book states. She also has another approach on the numbering.



Laura has seven kids and six boxes and no room to do the full system. You can see the alternative she is using here. She is using plastic bags...and her children loved the test run so much, they want to do it for the summer! :)


This post is useful to think about what to put into the boxes: the "must haves" the "want to haves" and the "fun" extra stuff.


I like the use of these ice cube trays.......check them out for another way to organize your workboxes. She let me know that you can find them at the Dollar store, Wal-mart, Freds...where she paid 1.50 for each.

Several posts of this small family's experience....a 5yo and a 3yo. Cute kids!

The mom above interviewed her kids' reaction to workboxes.

This mom wrote a "day-in-the-life" post for the days of her 8yo and 6 yo. You get to look in each drawer.

I really like this blog. It is sweet & classy....and she has an alternative way to use the idea, when you have a family that would require 96 boxes!!!! And, based on the little bit of research I am doing, and I could be mistaken, but Leslie may have been the one who got the whole workbox discussion going online. If you scroll down her homeschool posts, you can find some are about the workboxes...and photos of her girls using the boxes.

Another nice blog by Kendra......again, start at the bottom and read each post above. These are all of her workbox posts. She has a nice sense of humor. The one at the bottom reviews the original book a bit. I have a feeling she is describing what MY reaction will be when I get a chance to read it.

A nice post.

Heather has a collection of posts...the most telling ones are at the bottom of the page. Start there and then read each post above the last. She has many photos of her kids actually doing the work. I like how she described the workboxes: "A LIVING CHECKLIST" I believe this verbalizes what I LOVE about this idea: it "livingness!" Is that a real word??? :) Spellcheck says: no way!

Cute number idea for numbering the boxes! She will even make them for YOU....for ten bucks!


List of ideas at homeschoolshare.com for putting in the boxes....expect this list to grow! I had already printed out the animal classification page for Malachy before I found this link. Our little collection of animals will go to good use!



WHAT'S IN THE BOX? The description: Suggestions, Ideas & Discussions regarding the workbox system. Could be a nice one to follow.......I think I will add it to my Google reader.



THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX has lots of info....and the other parts of her blog are inspiring for the preschooling moms.



Good stuff for tots!



Want a resource for LOTS of worksheets? Try worksheetsworks.com! I have not used lots of worksheets in the past...but Malachy loves them...and this website looks like good filler. Oh, I found alphabetizing, maps, fractions, clocks, money, calendars, states & capitals, California puzzles, and lots more!



So, what are the kids saying about the workboxes? Find out here!



A message board about sharing workboxes, by Homeschool Share. By the way......this is a good place to find ideas for filling your workboxes. Explore if you have not been here before.



Other ways to apply the workbox idea:


How about vacation boxes? Clever!


There are lots of blog posts on workboxes for preschoolers. Since I sadly do not have any preschoolers, anymore, I mostly ignored those resources. The yahoo group above has quite a few including their preschoolers, so it is a good resource.

And, as last thought on these workboxes............

Something to think about......I like this quote Heather wrote: "Nearly every homeschooling board is humming with thoughts and questions related to this approach, which is, in essence, a structure for outlining a school day with minimal distractions. Is there more to it? Of course. But at its very heart, the Workbox System is about optimal organization. And, as we all know, organization is one of the major themes in homeschooling." Read more for an interesting take......she writes well...I like her vocabulary and way with words.

God bless, Chari

Haven Heartbeats

Hello!

I can only spend a moment here..........to say we are so busy........that I cannot post anything, anytime. Even now.

We have so much to do by next Monday, when we plan to leave for the Sierra Nevadas....where some of you may remember we visited last summer.......and the March before that.......and anytime we can get there. :)

We have an entire stage & set to break down and store.......a nephew from New Hampsfire is coming for a visit......John & Gloria will be here all weekend........to tired to add the rest, but it is a massive to-do list.......STILL.

Please pray for Matthew's knee to heal........it is slow-going. At least his wisdom teeth are healing well and without consequence!

Got to head to bed, after I put a load of laundry on.

Noght and God Bless!

Love, chari

PS I am working on a post.......I hope to post it soon! I have promised Frances I would hurry and get it done................I tried tonight but my computer said: NOT NOW! :)

My Grandma's Birthday.........

....is the same day as Flag day!


One of the items on my grateful list: that my children have a GREAT GRANDMA to know and love!

HAPPY 88th BIRTHDAY, GRANDMA!

WE MISS YOU!

WE LOVE YOU!

We will try to call you on your special day!

with love, the inhabitants of Our Hearts Haven

ps.....you can see the birthday greetings from last year......includes vintage photos

It rained today.........

Garrett, Malachy & I were driving home from Garrett's baseball team barbeque this afternoon........when the thunder clouds that had been building released one giant raindrop on my windshield, about 1/2 mile from home. As I was pointing out the size of the raindrop to the boys, a bolt of lightning seemed to land right next to our car, and the thunder was an immediate, instantaneous jolt. Just one loud boom. We all jumped! Then, the rain made large polka dots all over the road......and as we pulled into our driveway, the 1/4 inch hail began to pelt our car. The rain was SO hard.

We were stuck in the car for a few minutes before the boys decided to make a run for it to the porch.

Anne came out of the door and said: It's Kansas all over again!

Not quite! THAT was pretty bad! And extremely scary for the driver.

After another two minutes, I decided to make a run for it, too! I was soaked even though it was only a ten foot run to the porch from my car.

The rain was pouring off the roof........the flower-bed-needing-flowers was filled with water......

The rain was thunderous in its pounding of the earth. We had to yell to each other to be heard, though we were all on the porch together.

I did go turn off the sprinkler system after ten minutes. :)

I had yet to use the video function on my new camera......so, just for fun, I took a video. It was so easy! I think I will use it more often for posting here.

I must say, the rain does not sound or look as intense in the video as it was in REAL LIFE. The water on the ground that you see is after only about 3-4 minutes of rain......it just broke open wide.

So, have a peek with us!

Blessing from Our Hearts' Haven!

Love, chari

YES! That IS Matthew on crutches! More later on that! But, Clare......you DO need to know his dancing days for the summer may well be over......before the season even started. Pray it is not so!

It's a Picture Book Day!

I think I will start a new topic post. We read lots of picture books around here.....and I thought I would start keeping track of the keepers.



We will often read a handful, or more, of one author. Here is a recent discussion on 4 Real message board about the same topic........



I recently found at Bridget's blog, that she had a recommendation for

SEVEN LOAVES OF BREAD by Ferida Wolff

Our library did not have it, but I could find it on the interlibrary loan list. I also saw about six other books by the same author, and I found the titles intriguing, so I ordered all of the books by Ferida Wolff.



I am glad that I did! I pretty much enjoyed them all, as did the kids. I kept them to share with my friend Gloria from San Francisco last weekend. She liked them, too.



I was surprised that all of the books have a totally different illustrator. We liked some better than others.



Here is the list we read:



SEVEN LOAVES OF BREAD



Cute & sweet story as the busy, productive sister takes ill and the lazier sister takes over.......and she finds that making less than seven loaves of bread actually costs more work that making all seven loaves of bread.

THE STORY BLANKET



I saw on her website this is her newest book. This is an incredibly sweet story about an old lady who makes gifts for the community out of her story blanket...till its gone. Then, the community give her yarn to make a new story blanket as a thank you gift for all she has done...and then she starts the give-and-take cycle over again. The colors and illustrations are lovely. I think Miss Miranda, my little princess friend, will like this story.



THE EMPEROR'S GARDEN



We really liked this book, too. Humble villagers who are very agreeable with each other create a garden for the emperor's visit. When a monsoon damages their work in the garden, they are sure the emperor will not like the garden. They begin to be less agreeable toward one another. When the emperor loves the garden, the villagers begin to appreciate each other again. Gorgeous artwork and color.



THE WOODCUTTER'S COAT



Loved this story and artwork too. A clever and witty story as a woodcutter has a beautiful and efficient coat become ragged and less useful, only to be stolen by a beggar on his way to get a new coat, with a trade of firewood to the tailor. We then follow the coat as it gets new life, from one person to the next........only to end up in the woodcutter's hands again.



A WEED IS A SEED



I thought this story would be different than it was. It tells two perspectives about how a negative thing can be viewed on a positive side. For example: a weed is a plant growing where we do not want it...but it can feed a mouse in the winter......or moth eats a hole in our shirt, but pollinates flowers.......or rain ruins a picnic day, but waters the fields. The illustrations are fair, the colors nice.



IT IS THE WIND



The watercolors are lovely in this book, and make up for the text, which we did not mind, but did not prefer. It might be because the text was a bit young for us. Actually, I found on her website that this book is for youngers. Gorgeous artwork.





The author has a website. There are a few lesson plans there. I did not take a look at them.



The list of all her books is here.

ENJOY!!!

Happy reading blessings to all!

Love, chari

PS: Gloria......you should be able to find all of these through the same library system. do you know how to use Northstate Cooperative Library to your advantage?

Matthew Graduates Tonight!

WOW, we did it!

We will actually have graduated TWO kids though our homeschooling experience.

I know saying TIME FLIES is not very original, but sheesh! I had just found out I was pregnant with them........and now they are leaving home in August.......

HOW DID THAT HAPPEN????

So, Matthew has been with a local charter school for most of his school years......and they have wonderfully created a lovely graduation ceremony for their seniors.

Matthew will be introducing the keynote speaker, since he is the one who invited her.......and he will probably give a dramatic monologue, comedic, of course, as a student performance........and he is giving a little speech, too.

I cannot wait to hear one of my favorite songs:

POMP and CIRCUMSTANCE :)

I played it so many times in band........I looked forward to it every year. :)

And, now, Matthew is the first of our kids to actually go through a graduation ceremony from high school.

We are so proud of him!

We cannot wait to see what his future holds.....especially when we see what his present has offered us...........

Please pray for his future vocation.

With love,

Chari & Family

P.S. These are the three photos to be shown on the screen at graduation.

First: Cast photo from college play last December taken by J. Young

Second: Matthew, age 3 & Marty, younger than he is now :)

Third: Matthew in NYC on our Star-Spangled Adventure

MY HEARTS' HAVEN DAYBOOK 2009

Written Sunday morning, May 24th.......

Outside My Window.......a gorgeous sunny day.......like last week.......and like the week to come.........I am deliriously happy about the weather!!!!! :)


I am thinking........so MUCH to do! Where to start??? SHOULD I start??? I want to slow dowwwwwn!

I am also sadly thinking about a situation that happened recently...........someone was strangely offended by something I did........It was a simple thing and now it is making for bad feelings in her family......please pray! And, what I did was NOT offensive......and if I could do it over again.........I would have to do the same thing! My conscience would not allow me otherwise. Oh!

I am thankful for.......... warm weather...........for my kids helping to put the garden in..........for the amazing work they did in putting on a play........for my friend Maria.........and for Gloria..........and for being chosen to be Benedict's godmother........and.........and........and.....

From the kitchen.........bacon sandwiches for lunch.........we are eating leftover Costco lasagna for dinner and some steamed veggies........we need to run out of the house........again......for another show........the final show......I also hope to make a cake or cupcakes.......for Christopher (Maria's # 4 out of 8) who is passing the programs out at the play tonight. It is his birthday...........and I was his nurse when he was born!

I am wearing........a nightie.........and a hand-me-down Disneyland sweatshirt from my dad........

I am creating........not. Just trying to maintain. :)

I am going...........not sure :)

I am reading......... Still barely reading The Confessions of Saint Augustine. And I am 1/3 through Walden; Or Life in the Woods by Henry David Thoreau. I need to start a new book with the boys........Back of the North Wind??? Maybe. I just read six picture books to them by Ferida Wolff. Also our weekly newspaper........that has an article and photo, both by me.........for the kid's play. I almost forgot........I just read Betsy-Tacy and Heaven to Betsy by Maud Hart Lovelace.

Here is the book review I wrote for Abraham's Book Challenge:

Betsy-Tacy by Maud Hart Lovelace

I was needing something light to read while I am in the middle of something "heavy" and this book "popped" off of a list. This is the first in a series. My friend Lissa loves this series as does my oldest daughter, Anne. (In case you wonder who my friend Lissa is.......she is an author of Little House "pre-quels" and her pen name is Melissa Wiley. She wrote the Martha Years and the Charlotte Years.) Right away I found out something I had been assuming WRONG for years. I had always thought that Betsy-Tacy, was ONE person! I had no idea it was TWO girls.

It is an adorable book! It was written in 1940. It is a story about 2 five year olds who meet and become best friends. They are such sweet little girls! I love their family lives. So good, so pure. In this first book of the series, a very sad thing happens in Tacy's family. And, a very happy thing happens in Betsy's family. Tacy has about 8 siblings....and Betsy only one. Both have 8 year old sisters who become very good friends, too. They live on Hill Street at the top...their house are the last two houses, across from each other. Betsy's dad has a store and I forget what Tacy's dad does. Both dads "drive" to work in buggies or wagons. They both have barns. Betsy's mom is so sweet. I was surprised at how much freedom two five-year-old girls are allowed!

They live in Minnesota and I just found out from the link below that it is based on the author's hometown of Mankato.....a town I drove through recently on a cross-country trip. That will make it easier to imagine their surroundings. That is always fun.

The girls love to sit at the bench on the top of the hill and have picnics. They also have a piano box in the backyard of Betsy's house and they have their own little "living room" in it. They play "paper dolls" with magazine cut-outs and the "dolls" live in magazines. They love to play dress-up.

I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series. From looking at this website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betsy-Tacy I find that each story has the girls getting older....all the way to the first few years of Betsy's married life and each book in the series becomes a higher reading level. I only own the first book and the last four......so I will have to try the library for the others.

I HIGHLY recommend this book to little girls whether as read aloud from mom or to read to themselves. I think Shawna should read this to her two little girls soon...and she can borrow my book if she wants. I highly doubt little boys would be interested in this story. I am so glad I was inspired to pick up this book I missed as a girl.

AND.......I still need to write the other one.......

I am hoping.............that our cat, Jane, named ofter Jane in Pride & Prejudice........miraculously lives.........and if she does not, that her kittens will be well-cared for by her sister Lizzie.............who is at this moment nursing the four of them along with her one kitten. Boy, was she shocked when I gave all of those kittens to her last night!

I am hearing......Maddelyn playing her piano pieces, readying for her recitals next week........and the two youngest boys playing together......barely below the argument level.... :/

I am wondering.......why computers must be a pain in the ____!!!! Every computer I am touching this week makes me nuts..........from the computers at home, including Anne's new one......to the one at work.....at Rite Aid photo center.........to my new cell phone.......to my new camera.....to the ones at the charter school......ACK!!!!!!!

Around the house.......wet, clean clothes to hang on the line......a floor to be vacuumed.......cupcakes to make......an entire house to organize (I sound like a broken record :) )........I HAVE gone through Malachy's clothes.....both in the drawers and in storage......so he is ready for summer.........and I have gone through Maddelyn's drawer with her.

Now Showing..........I just watched The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. I was looking forward to seeing it because I recently read the short story of the same name by F. Scott Fitzgerald. I loved the story! Therefore, I was disappointed with the movie.........because it barely had anything in common with the original story. The acting was good of, course...........but, it is a long (almost three hours) and strange story.........and all of the coupling between couples was between unwed couples. The original story was SO good! It was good enough for a movie...........why did they have to change it!

We saw the second disc of The Planet Earth, a BBC series from Discovery Channel. It included Ice Worlds.........FABULOUS!!! Deserts............SO COOL!!! They spent over 25 million dollars making the series.......and it shows. It is absolutely wonderful and amazing!!! See it if you can........we are getting ours from Netflix.

Though.........I have found that my dad has the series on DVD so I am trying to get a hold of his set now.

In the schoolroom.....and OUT of the schoolroom....NOT MUCH............mostly is it PLAY Performance WEEK!

Though there is some......Handel, math........Sarah finished her math-u-see book and has one more to go.........Maddelyn is 2/3rds done with the last book........and hopes to start Jacob's algebra soon. Garrett and Malachy are plugging away at their math books.......Some baseball, teeball (just finished this week!) piano, singing, American history, chicken egg development, picture books........

The BIG projects this week, after the play is done.........for Matthew to get his high school project papers done so he can graduate at the end of the week and Maddelyn has two 8th grade projects to do before she moves up to 9th grade.

Also, I have something "new" in homeschooling that is exciting me.......I hope to share eventually..........I just pray I can see it through!

One of my favorite things.........as they say in the song from one of my favorite musicals: Seven Brides for Seven Brothers: Spring, Spring, Spring!!!

Signs of the seasons............that gorgeous bright spring green EVERYWHERE!!!! Wonderful and comfortable temperatures!!!! Flowers everywhere..........swallows building at least eight nests on the third floor of the fort (my grandma would hate that!).........mowing and watering of the lawn......a visit to the lake.........a hike to several falls.....sandals...........happy am I!

In the garden............all the seeds are in..........and I think.....I may have actually combined the carrot and lettuce seeds into one packet..........this should be interesting!!!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...........

Monday-music night for piano is in the evening..........a barbeque with several families???

Tuesday-go to lake with Gloria & John, graduation rehearsal for Matthew, Piano lessons for three of the kids........and one more performance of The Gazebo for the kids so we can film it

Wednesday-Matthew presents his high school project to two teachers..........a private piano recital in the evening.......only Sarah & Maddelyn will be playing from our family

Thursday-Matthew graduates from our charter school this evening

Friday-we go see TWO different dance school performances because we have friends at two different studios.......and baseball for Garrett that evening and possibly my older children will go to a dance........but we are thinking about having our own at a different time :)

Saturday-Garrett's baseball team having a kids vs parents game & barbeque....not sure if I should embarrass Garrett and Marty by playing, in a skirt :)

Sunday-Mass, followed by the official piano recital at which Garrett, Maddelyn & Sarah will be playing

Monday-45 chickies arrive!!! Garrett has a baseball game in the evening

Tuesday-five of six kids go to orthodontist at a city 1.25 hours north of here.............and perhaps Mom's Night Out at my favorite local restaurant

And, now...........if I shall not be here much.........you can see why!

Special prayer requests on my mind this week.....for private intentions..........for these breathing issues I have...........for two someones very close to me who have deadlines........for my friend Willa and her family after the passing of her father.........for two acquaintances of my children (through theater) whose father died earlier this month (I just found out)..........for other health issues for many I know

St. Gerard's List..........Tonia (my co-worker, due the same due date as Malachy: October 20th), Suzanne, (Gloria's sister), Louise, Victoria & Erica.....and we can add two of our nieces......both in New Hampshire: Clara due with #5 and Suzanne with #2. And, now, my friend Jodie is due with #9 and Gloria's sister-in-law Jody is due with #5!

I am currently scrapbooking..........I actually found a bit of time to scrapbook.......but not until I re-organized my scrapbook stuff and put it totally out of sight..........to save till June.......did I realize I actually had time to do it two nights while Matthew as building his set. So, I got Anne's baptism photos and first two weeks of life scrapbooked. yes!

And, now, it is all put away............I am not sure when it will come out..........by the end of June for sure..........I hope to go away for a week and take it with me.

I am exercising.........unfortunately, I have taken 2-3 weeks off............due to illness and other such stuff, such as NEVER being home!!

I do hope to get a 2 mile walk in with the kids today along the railroad tracks behind our house.

Here is picture thought I am sharing........

Signs of spring near the falls.......

God bless us all!

Love, Chari

Girlfriends

Remember those picture booths?

The ones where you and your friends squeeze in and take four photos?

Well, I recently did the same for Sarah & Sierra.

Sweet.

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Spring blessings!!!

Love, Chari

PS.......anyone living anywhere remotely near me is welcome to come see the kids in their show this weekend!

Anne Graduates Tonight!

Tonight Anne will take part in her first graduation ceremony.





She will be receiving an Associates of Arts Dregree in English, with a focus in Theatre from our local Junior College.

She is expecting to transfer to the University of Nevada-Reno......my Alma Mater!

We are very proud of her......she will graduate with High Honors and Phi Theta Kappa.

She is so excited to move on.........

Prayers for her future vocation, wherever God calls her, please!

Love,

Chari

For the month of May, Mary's Month

Okay.......my original post tonight is below the line.

I thought it over and decided I needed to do a bit of research through Blogger's Help section......and the first attempt failed, using their video tutorial......but, their written info.........fixed my education........I think it will work!! Let's see!

So, the credit for finding this video goes to Buring the Candle at Both Ends.......

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I have no idea how to embed this video.........so, I will have to have you go to this blog............you can see it!

I am so proud of those kids. They are inspiring!

Oh! .......here is another video

So, here is the video at the above link..........now that I have it figured out! BEWARE! I will be using more video now! :)

God bless!

Love, chari


PS......If anyone knows how to embed video witout downloading it to my computer.......PLEASE teach me! I think I made my computer sick the last time I did it!

I did try to copy and paste the "embed" on youtube.......but I cannot get ALL of the link! ACK!

Haven Heartbeats

So, I have a half an hour to wait for my boy to start his baseball game.....I am at the charter school while the other four rehearse.......their play opens next week.

Thought I would just babble for a few moments here........total babble.

Last week, on Tuesday, I felt like I was coming down with something.....which was no fun when I had to go teach a childbirth class for 12 couples.

The next day I was down with something...and so was Marty. Then the next day, I felt better....and went to work for about half a shift.......but got really stuffy while I was there..and could not breathe through my nose for 48 hours....ugh!!!

Then the next day........I felt much worse......and the following day, barely better....and I had to call in sick for my morning shift on Mother's day.......I felt barely better on Mother's Day........so I was SO glad I called in sick.......but then they called me in to come sign my time card...ugh! That was the second time in three years that I called in sick....and still had to go in and sign the time card.....ugh! I usually only call in sick once a year at the most. Kind of easy when you are hardly on the schedule. :)

Luckily everyday since Sunday, I have felt a bit better. Today......my schedule was such that I could get the house cleaned up a bit..........I started out that way......but my breathing issues were perking up too much today...and it sure slowed me down.....

Plus, I had to get Matthew's student VISA application and other stuff taken care of today........for the travel agency.....that took all morning....not to mention all of the time last week......but, I was able to FEDEX it this afternoon. FEDEX is $$$$$!!!!! I had no idea. I am so glad Marty gave me more $ than I asked for this morning........I would not have had enough.

It is SO MUCH WORK to get this kid out of the country! Every time I turn around...there is another packet of paperwork!! This is much harder than figuring out the college application stuff.........a whole new lingo, too.

I should go back to that "to-do" list I posted here in January....and see what's left.

And add what's new.

Every.day. is a "due date"

Until June 4th at noon.

I know.

I have mentioned that before........but, I am keeping my eye on my work and every once in awhile.....I peek ahead to June 4th..at noon. :)

I have a meeting with Shelly at 10am on the 4th........our last of the year for our learning records.

Now you know why I keep saying........noon on the 4th.

Oh, wow......this is definitely babbling. :)

I have been "writing" so many blog posts in my head lately....even philosophical ones.....even profound posts :) .....and homeschooling...and spiritual posts. But, I am not sure if I can ever actually commit them to paper...I mean to the blog.

Please pray I can get my house a bit cleaned up before our company arrives next week! It is SO thrashed.......and never being home and being up too late.......and having appts every day........is just making it too difficult to get to it.

If you walked into my house right this moment.you would see clean clothes all over the living room floor........waiting to be folded.......piles of dirty clothes on my bedroom floor.......a refrigerator desperately needing to get cleaned (has to happen tomorrow because Marty is going shopping for us tomorrow)........two bathrooms needing to be cleaned.......a certain nameless child did not do his turn at cleaning the bathroom.....its in trouble!.......the hallway is full of stuff I need to get into the garage.......the floor needs to be mopped, desperately.......the carpet vacuumed.......the dining room table and the kitchen counter cleared and wiped down........the kitchen has our early dinner mess all over it.......both kids rooms are strewn with clothes.......and my desk and dresser need decluttering.........help!!! Is that enough of a visual for you???? :)

I promise........I am NOT exaggerating......OR sugarcoating it. MY kids will VOUCH for me!! :)

And OUT of the house....the school room is DESPERATE after the winter......and the back of my car is full of stuff Matthew put in there from building the set.

Okay....time to go to the game!!!

Love to you all!

Chari

Sad news for one of my dearest friends......

If you are one of the few who read my blog regularly.........two of which are actually in her own family............you will probably recognize my friend's name.

It is with great sadness for one of my dearest friends, Willa, that I beg these prayers.

Earlier today the sad news came.....that her father passed away this morning, unexpectedly.

Being unexpected does make it all the more painful.

A few specific requests:

.....for Clare, she was to spend ten days with her grandparents next week in Alaska.....and this is especially painful.

.....for Liam as he finishes up his finals at TAC and graduates this weekend.

......for Paddy & Aidan, they are so young and this sorrow is strange to them

......for Willa's mom....she and her husband were a very close couple.....

......for the rest of the family, of course........her other children and husband, and Willa's brothers and their families

And, could you please MOST ESPECIALLY offer a MEMORARE for Willa's dad's soul? He was a Christian, and a good man, but not Catholic.......and Willa has been praying so hard and so long for his conversion......she feels this loss most painfully.

Could you please pray that Memorare for her peace as well? This is one of her favorite prayers.


MEMORARE

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen. Thank you so much for covering my friend, and your friend, in these prayers.

You are all so dear. You may leave a note of condolence here for Willa and family, if you so please.

Thank you so much for your prayers. I know Willa and her family covet them. I do as well.

Blessings,

Chari

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, MOM!

And to my Grandma!!!

And, to my sisters.......and my cousins........and all of my friends!

Going back only a few generations, my grandma was the offspring of these two people....

My Great-grandparents, William Henry & Era Lee

She was a Winn & he was a Goodwinn. Kind of funny.

They were only 11.5 and 17 years when they married.

Then, they gave birth to my grandmother, below, who then married my grandfather.

This is May Alleen & Ira James.

She hates her first name and goes by Alleen,

but mostly "mom" and grandma," and he went by Jim.

I think this is their 25th wedding anniversary....

...in which case, I must have been born already, I am guessing.

And Alleen & Jim gave birth to BeverLey Kaye, my mother.

My mother was born in Texas, but here above, my grandma with my mom as a toddler, and my Uncle Louis, her older son, are visiting California. This is Morro Bay and Morro Rock which looks much more busy now than it does in this photo!

My grandpa with my mom as a toddler, and my Uncle Louis.

My mom and her younger brother, Stephen.

My mom with her older brother Louis and her younger bro, Stephen.

A school photo of my mom.

The next bunch of photos were taken in 1955 when my mom and her parents and younger brother came from Texas for a visit to California, just before they moved to California.

Their first visit to the Pacific Ocean?

....my grandpa, always ready to play, with my mom and Uncle Steve.

My mom and her younger brother Steve.

My mom.....

My mom......

My mom........

My mom and her brother Stephen with a friend or cousin in the middle.


Then, my mom grows up and gives birth to me after one year of marriage to my dad.

You are going to love the sixties look in these photos......

My mom with me.....notice the clock, the scarf.......the clothes

My mom with my first sister......ntoice the chairs, the sandals.....glasses and "sideburns"

My mom and my dad and me at her elbow, at a Cristmas meal.

Am I whining???

My mom with the black scarf.....with me next to her.....my sister Teresa in the high chair......Uncle Louis and Aunt Martha on the right......and my grandparents on the left, with my cousin Mark. That's my dad's arm. We often went to this Mexican restaurant in Los Angeles......very auhtentic.......I only remember tortilla chips...........and a man singing with his sombrero......"Ai, Yi, Yi, Yi" :)

My mom in the blue dress, me in the red..........Uncle Rex......who later abandoned Aunt Ruth. :/

I always loved this photo of everyone dressed up.....and posing in front of a tent!

This is my mom, my little sister Teresa........my dad's mom....and me!

Love their dresses!

My mom did lots of really cool things for me when I was growing up. I have a serious amount of samples below..........

My sister Teresa and I with our cousins Mark and Michael.

My mom would always set a lovely "children's table" for us at Christmas and Thanksgiving.

She also sewed our matching dresses.

Oh, and curled my extremely STRAIGHT hair!

She always made a beautiful Christmas tree for us.

My grandma feeding cousin Michael..........Aunt Martha in the blue....my mom in the red...and my sister and I and Cousin Mark opening many presents.

Another Christmas.........and another dress my mom made for me...........this time she knit it. I may still have it. Though you can barely see my sister behind me........she crocheted that dress.

My mom and Aunt Ruth are on the couch.

My mom threw great birthday parties for me!

A bunch of friends and relatives.........at the park in Westchester, California.....

......the park I "grew up" at. My dad in the Mickey Mouse shirt.....he has not changed much!

My mom in blue with sun glasses. I am in center with present.

Another year, another party........same park :)

Must have been a cool April day in Los Angeles.

I am the gal with her head bent, to open a present.

Cousin Mark is front and center, with my little Cousin Jimmy to the right.

Mark is now a Professor of Psychology in a Southern California UC school....

...and Jimmy is now an Internist in So. Cal.

I have no idea who most of those kids are....

...my Aunt Sue, Jimmy's mom, my dad's sister.....is to the left.

My mom.......looks my sister-in-law Dana right here......

one of same parties as above......me with pony tails....

.....my sis Teresa with the short blonde hair.

My made great cakes for us.........her first being for my first birthday.

Here, she lights a yulelog cake that she made for one of our Christmas dinners.

Isn't it a sweet cake!

My mom always worked hard to get our family together to see my Cousin Julie,

whose mom (my dad's sister) died when she was one year old.

I always appreciated that........

and now I have been able to maintain that relationship through my adult years.

Julie and I were buds when we first met........like sisters then.

We are only 15 months apart.

Above, you have a lot of cousins, two generations......my dad's cousins and my cousins.

Starting on the left, is my dad's cousin Leslie holding my littlest sister Jennifer Leslie, her namesake.

Leslie and her twin sister Lynn, whose name is the same as my middle name (Lynne), are only nine years older than me.......and Leslie's kids are same age as Anne, so we have a lot in common.

I am in the center front.......in the row behind me are Cousin Julie, my sister Teresa, my cousin Cindy.

Aunt Nancy is holding her baby Garry..........and she is cousins with Lynn and Leslie, because she is my dad's youngest sister.

Lynn is the cousin standing on the right.........

and the grown up in back are Julie's step-mother (I am having a blank on her name) holding her baby, my mom and my Grandma (dad's mom).

She took me to Johnny's Pastrami as many times as we were able.......so KNOWS visiting Johnny's is always priority in Southern California!!!

My mom "tried" to teach me how to sew.........I am still barely just past novice.......I do not sew naturally.......at least my girls do! But, she was able to help me sew this quilt while we had four generations hanging out in Louisiana with my great-grandmother and grandmother (see them above!). Seh helped me sew a quilt when I was 12 years old, too. I still have that one. The one above I made for my new husband..........it has since disintegrated. :/

Lesson learned.......NO Wal-Mart fabrics for permanent quilts!!!

My helped with all of the planning of my wedding in only three months.....

.....my veil, my cake and the decor.

Our family in 1985:

Baby sister Jennifer, my mom, me, my new husband, Marty,

my dad and my sister Teresa.

THANKS MOM FOR ALL OF THE GREAT MEMORIES>>>>>

>>>>OF WHICH THERE ARE MANY MORE.......

......but, not enough pictures to prove it! :)

Blessings to all on this Mother's Day, 2009!

Love, chari