I never thought I would be asking this question, "Who left their Mountain Dew in the shower?"

L.E.N.S. Photo Challenge--Properties of Water

This weeks L.E.N.S. Photo Challenge is "properties of water".

I immediately knew the picture I wanted to use for this challenge.
It is one of my favorite photos of Mark---running through the water at the beach.
Head on over to Home is Where you Start From and join in the fun of the weekly L.E.N.S.Photo Challenge.

stART-The Trickster Tales

This week's stART project just jumped out at us this week.

While reading "The Trickster Tales" by Gerald McDermott, we noticed the bright colors and geometric shapes he uses in his illustrations.

I asked the kids what were some similarities in the artwork from book to book and we immediately noticed the artwork in the titles of his "Trickster Tales" books.

I thought it would be a great way to decorate our own names---using this artistic technique.
We simply printed out everyone's name, using block letters. (Amy was able to make our names pretty fancy)

We then colored them in. I had each child pick two or three colors and we used the books to give us inspiration.

Gracie's final product---along with Amy's fun computer graphics.

Some of our finished products.

I think I will have the kids cut out their names in one piece and mount them on black construction paper. Then we will use them to decorated the "schoolroom" walls.

Check out more stART projects at A Mommy's Adventure.

Into the Woods!!

Another wonderful summer theater performance on the lawn of the Oneida Community Mansion House by Victoria Buda's Academy of Theatrical Arts.

Last year we were treated to A Midsummer Night's Dream
This year was Into the Woods.
This is Becky before she transforms.....

Laura looked gorgeous!

Becky as Granny---after she was freed from the stomach of the wolf.

What a cool Granny----I wonder where the inspiration for Becky's Granny came from???

And you have to love those hips!!

Looking at the Sky on Friday

Looking at the sky over Fort Stanwix.

Check out more beautiful skies at

Crazy Working Mom

The Legend of Saint Christopher

It's vacation time around here, which means we have been traveling almost everyday to find some nearby fun.

Today we enjoyed a nice quiet afternoon, so I thought it would be a perfect day to learn about Saint Christopher, the patron saint of travelers.

I got out our Catholic Mosaic by Cay Gibson and the Fenestrae Fidei: A Coloring Companion for Catholic Mosaic.
I read and discussed with the kids The Legend of Saint Christopher by Margaret Hodges.

We are also loving the Loyola Treasury of Saints.

In the legend, Christopher carries the Christ child across a deep and wild river. When they get across, Jesus tells Christopher who He is. Christopher doesn't really believe Jesus, so Jesus tells him to take his staff and plant it beside his door, in the morning it would be growing, with flowers and fruit and vines.
Cay suggested as an activity to have the kids plant their own "staff" and decorate it with vines and flowers.
This was the perfect activity to a slow afternoon.

I couldn't have done it without Danny's help---I was out-numbered.

Mark wins the prize for the tallest staff!!

Our backyard now has 4 great looking Saint Christopher staffs!

I'm sure Saint Christopher is proud.

We are proud of Danny....

Check out this Catholic Sun article!!!

We are proud of our boy!!

(Dan is in red in the photo)

Wordless Wednesday--Always safe with Daddy

Staycations work for us!!

STAYCATION: a vacation for a period of time in which an individual or family stays at home and relaxes at home or takes day trips from their home to area attractions

We have just begun week two of Daddy's vacation from work and our "staycation"....and I have to say, it has really been enjoyable.

We have been able to get to daily Mass, visited state parks, had "fun at the fort", made "insta snow" in the back yard with small neighbors, had campfires at Grandpa and Grandma's house and with the neighbors.

I spent a wonderful anniversary evening watching the sunset with my hubby.

There has been early morning movie watching and wrestling matches with Daddy. We have enjoyed free summer movies at the "big" movie theater in the city, and spent time enjoying free summer fun at the library.

Evenings have been spent saying the Rosary as a family and then a little more wrestling.

Hopefully I will get our schooling plans made for the coming year over the next week.

But don't count on it....we are having too much fun!!

L.E.N.S. Photo Challenge--Bird-ology

This weeks L.E.N.S. Photo Challenge is "bird-ology".

A subject near and dear to our hearts.

I began watching birds as a tiny child thanks to my dad.

And now, Grandpa H. has instilled a love of the birds in grandchildren.

Thank-you so much for this gift, Grandpa!!
a ruby throated hummingbird

A gorgeous tree swallow.

Make sure to check out more "Bird-ology" posts at Home is where you start from.

Weekly Wrap-Up

This past week Daddy started his 2 week summer vacation!! Whoo hoo!!!!

Since Daddy is on vacation, so are the rest of us.

This week we enjoyed alot of fun vacation activities--all without going very far from home.

We began our "vacation" with a campfire and marshmallow roast
at Grandma and Grandpa H's house.
A few of the big kids were missing, but the 6 remaining children had a wonderful time.

Summer at its finest

Tuesday brought "Fun at the Fort"

We live about 15 miles from Fort Stanwix National Park.
Every Tuesday during the summer the park offers a morning of fun for kids.

This past Tuesday, we learned about what role children played at the fort during the Revolutionary War. (Many wives and children followed their soldier husbands where ever they went)

After learning about how the children of the fort lived , a Revolutionary War soldier took the kids into the fort and put them to work.

One of the jobs children would have is keeping the fort supplied with firewood.

Carrying water from the nearby stream was a job for young children.

Kimberly thought that carrying water was a pretty easy job.

Following their service to the fort, the kids received their badges, declaring them Jr. Park Rangers.

One warm afternoon we called the neighbors over and made Insta Snow.
This is a great outdoor activity.

We were able to make "snow" to the astonishment of the girls from next door.

Oooey gooey fun!!!!

And this snow doesn't melt!

Laura made a monkey for everyone to enjoy.

I got some of these wooden models at Michaels Craft store for only a $1.

This morning we made flying saucers at the Lowes Build and Grow program

It was an especially fun day today because Daddy was able to have fun right along with us.

Kimmy is becoming a great builder.

That's a neat way to display her flying saucer.

I wonder where Kimmy learned that?

Oh! I see where she learning it!

This fun week just goes to prove you don't have to spend money to have fun---most all of our activities were practically free!

Check out other Weekly Wrap-Ups at Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers.