Holy Innocents...

All the kids are going stir crazy. They needed a chance to step outside themselves. After reading the ideas Mat. Emily suggested over at Charming the birds from the trees I suggested them to the kids. Blue Eyes was quite excited about making a centerpiece and carefully counted out one candle for each of the kids and asked to add one for each of our miscarried "babies in heaven."

Iddy Biddy bundled up to go trim some pine branches...the first time she had been outside since Christmas Eve! Blue Eyes collected supplies and carefully arranged everything. Ferdinand acting as our home altar server lighted the candles and we read the story of the Holy Innocents and sang (badly) the Troparion.

In typical 3 yr old boy fashion Valentine suggested we throw Herod in the dungeon.

It was a peaceful moment in a crabby week.

Thanks Mat. Emily!


Troparion - Tone 1
As acceptable victims and freshly plucked flowers,
as divine first-fruits and newborn lambs,
you were offered to Christ who was born as a child, holy innocents.
You mocked Herod's wickedness;
now we beseech you:
"Unceasingly pray for our souls."

Sick and Tired...

Everyone is sick and tired of being so ill. We had just begun recovering from our last bout of colds when this round struck on the 24th. I am finding kids napping at odd times and in funny places.
We have found Valentine asleep twice sitting up, on the stairs and on my rocking chair.
We are seeing slow signs of improvement though...only one kid is still awake coughing all night.
Unfortunately we missed Liturgy once again this morning and will be missing the services and parish New Years Eve party tomorrow and the kids are pretty heartbroken and crabby over the whole Christmas season this year.
  

 

 

A Very Blessed Nativity to you all!

 

 

Joy and an Unfortunate Tradition

A joyful busy week! The kids were excited when the shepherds began appearing and went into a bit of a frenzy when the  Theotokos and St Joseph the betrothed appeared. It is the moment they realize just how close the Nativity is. We managed to get the enormous tree cut down and into the house for our tradition of Christmas Eve decorating. We were preparing for the Vesperal Liturgy when we realized another Christmas Eve tradition had begun. Valentine came down with a rough cough and high fever and slept away the entire day. This makes every Christmas Eve since he was born poor guy. Ferdinand and Blue Eyes were not far behind.
 

 

Creation Book Finished! (Finally!)

Things are really improving for Ferdinand and he finally finished off his Creation book. Just in time as he has been asking to make copies for Christmas gifts.
I really like scheduling the OT blocks during the Nativity fast and Lent because other while other lessons might get lost in the bustle of the season they are hearing the stories not only during lesson time but during family prayers and during church services. It feels like one MLB I don't have to present myself as much as our church family/liturgical year presents it...I don't have lesson plans these blocks so much as just live them with my children.
It is a nice change of place.

Five candles for peace...

Our Peace week was anything but peaceful! Surprise snow, Lucia lights, sneaky sheep, vomiting feverish children, three therapy appointments, and lots of Christmas crafting. But still we found our quiet moments in among the bustle.

Valentine is still a bit wigged by the manger scene, and has been smuggling almonds to feed the sheep at night.

 

Ferdinand as always refused to step even a toe out into the snow but quite cheerfully enjoyed watching his siblings play through the window.

After a few angsty tears Iddy offered to let Blue Eyes be Lucia this year for the first time. She did a lovely job assisting and for the first year I was able to stay in bed and enjoy the surprise while Iddy herded all the little ones down for treats and into costumes. Blue eyes of course was beyond thrilled.

It is Greek to me...

You know you home school your kids when... Your son types up his Christmas shopping list using the Greek alphabet phonetically so no one else can see what he is buying for them.
  

Week Four...Peace.

The fourth week of the fast is always so quiet and my favorite. Between the bustle of Sts. Nicholas and  Lucia day it is a peaceful reminder to refocus on the Fast.
As always we bought our first poinsettia this week and green living things begin to appear in our manger. The kids are finally all old enough that our poinsettia has survived a whole week with all its blooms intact!
Valentine has been found muttering peering at the manger scene in our nature window but is no longer smuggling things away. Blue Eyes spent a lot of time outside with a spatula denuding our neighbors porches of moss and tucking them into our scene and around our candles. (They love her  :) )
This is the week we hang our garland and wreath  and we were blessed by Blue Eyes' Catholic Godparents with a BIG beautiful Christmas Tree...we are still trying to figure out how to get it in the front door!

  

More Creation MLB...

Ferdinand is still working on his Creation drawings...we have had 3 hive free weeks and are cautiously feeling optimistic about them being finally settled again. He is much more cheerful and productive during the day ...always a good thing!

Three candles for Love...

We are slowly getting healthy, mostly just dealing with lingering coughs.

We pulled out all our St. Nicholas books, and spent a lot of time talking about why and how we show Love.
There were a lot of surprise love notes and chores mysteriously finished by secret helpers this week.

Stones and rocks appeared in our Nativity scene and once again Valentine attempted to smuggle them off.
Ferdinand decided he was old enough to be the one to light the candles...Iddy is anxious about it, but he has been cautious and is quite proud of himself.

A visit or two from St. Nicholas...

It was a lovely St. Nicholas day, we woke to the sound of censer bells and the smell of incense burning in our Icon corner. The kids received a new book and new pajamas and at long last our first oranges of the season! We attended Liturgy and received another visit from St. Nicholas!
We feel very loved :)
Ferdinand was a little worried about not getting to leave a shoe out since he was serving but old St. Nick borrowed a  shoe from Valentine so he would not be left out.