When you're feeling miserable...

When you're feeling miserable with a fever and sore throat, and your head feels all funny, and you haven't left your bed all day, it is generally not a good idea to post comments on people's blogs.  Grammatical errors, "wonderful blessings that comes", and misspellings, "I know have some more ideas", may be made.  Refraining from leaving telephone messages or even speaking on the phone at these times is also a good idea.  Don't ask me how I know.

Cat Sketch

My oldest son has been enjoying using the Ginger Himes art DVDs.  Today, he drew this cat.  I thought it was kind of cute.

Northwest Catholic Family Education Conference and Dinner with a Bishop

Although I am no longer helping organize the Northwest Catholic Family Education Conference, I am happy to invite you to mark your calendars for the 15th Northwest Catholic Family Education Conference and the Friday Night, May 21, Leadership Dinner with His Excellency the Most Reverend Robert F. Vasa, Bishop of Baker, OR. This year's conference is Friday and Saturday, May 21-22.

Everyone who registers for both days of the conference will receive a free copy of Bishop Vasa's Healthy Families, Safe Children program (a $65 value).

You can save money on the leadership dinner by registering before Easter.

Finally, Seton is offering a $30 discount per child (Grades 1 through 12) when you fully enroll in Seton at the Northwest Catholic Family Education Conference.

Please share this information with anyone who you think might be interested in attending the conference and/or the Leadership Dinner.

I hope to see you in May!

MAKE A LIST WITH ME #1: Movies

I am accepting Totus Tuus Family and Catholic Homeschool's invitation to make a list with her.

She wrote:

LIST THE MOVIES YOU'VE SEEN THAT WERE REALLY WORTH 2 HOURS OF YOUR LIFE.

1.   All Mine to Give
2.   Babe

3.   The Bells of St. Mary's
4.   Boys Town
5.   A Christmas Carol (starring Alastair Sim)
6.   Come to the Stable (a little information here)
7.   Darby O'Gill and the Little People
8.   Eight Below
9.   Father Goose (review here)
10. Fighting Father Dunne
11. Follow Me, Boys!
12. Going My Way
13. Greyfriars Bobby
14. I Remember Mama (review here)
15. It's A Wonderful Life
16. Jesus of Nazareth
17. The Keys of the Kingdom
18. Lassie Come Home
19. The Lord of the Rings - The Trilogy
20. A Man for All Seasons (Charlton Heston)
21. A Man for All Seasons (Paul Schofield)
22. Miracle of Marcelino
23. The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima
24. The Miracle Worker
25. Monsieur Vincent
26. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
27. National Velvet
28. Pollyanna
29. The Quiet Man
30. The Scarlet and the Black
31. The Song of Bernadette
32. So Dear to My Heart
33. Summer Magic

Your turn! Link back to Totus Tuus Family and use the post title, MAKE A LIST WITH ME #1 as your post title AND use the image, too.

Family Ritual

When our first child was a toddler, I started to play what could be called the "I Love You Game".  I am still playing it with my little ones, today, and Finnian really likes it.  A couple of nights ago, he said, "Mommy, I love you."  I replied, "I love you, too, Finnian."  He responded, "I mean that I love your fingers and your toes and your tickles."  I knew what he wanted.   As I touched his head and then his toes, I told him, "I love you from your head to your toes and everything in between."   He laughed as I tickled his tummy.

He's Growing Up

Patrick: "Mommy, look what I found."

Me: "Patrick, I could kiss you."

Patrick: "No, I don't want you to kiss me."

January Picture Book Basket

This month's book basket contains the following books:

Akiak: A Tale From the Iditarod by Robert J. Blake

A sled dog refuses to give up during the Iditarod, despite being hurt.

Annie and the Wild Animals by Jan Brett

The Big Snow by Berta and Elmer Hader (added 1/13)

A Day On Skates by Hilda Van Stockum*
This will be the first time that I read this book.

A Gift of Gracias: The Legend of Altagracia by Julia Alvarez (January 21)*

Julia Alvarez tells a beautiful story of a young Spanish girl who helps to save her family's farm with the help of Our Lady of Altagracia. A Gift of Gracias is available in many libraries, however, my family recommends purchasing this picture book.

Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett

Gingerbread Friends by Jan Brett

The Hat by Jan Brett

This story is similar to The Mitten; however, the hat is inhabited by barn animals instead of wild animals.  As is typical with Jan Brett's books, it is fun to read and view.

Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton
Katy, a red crawler tractor, plows the people of Geoppolis out of a huge snow storm.

The Legend of Old Befana: An Italian Christmas Story by Tomie de Paola*

The children are looking forward to hearing this story again on January 6.

The Mitten by Jan Brett*
Wild animals attempt to warm themselves in Nicki's lost mitten.

Mousekin's Frosty Friend by Edna Miller
Mousekin finds some puzzling and unfamiliar tracks in the snow.  Will he learn to whom they belong?

Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
A girl goes owling with her father on a winter night, inspiring young listeners to want to do the same. My two oldest used to really like listening to this story.

Saint Felix and the Spider by Dessi Jackson (January 14)*
This is a wonderfully written book that draws the reader and listeners into the story. (added 12/13)

Saint John Bosco: The Friend of Children and Young People by Carol Monmarche (January 31)*
St. John Bosco has held a special place in our hearts ever since one of our children was baptized on his feast day, January 31.

Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin

Snowflake Bentley photographed thousands of snowflakes in order to study their unique formations.  This book recounts his endeavors with beautiful illustrations and an engaging story.

A Story of St. John Bosco by Brother Ernest, C.S.C. (January 31)*

The Story of the Three Wise Kings by Tomie de Paola
This is an out-of-print book by Tomie de Paola which retells the story of the three wise men. We read it on January 6.

The Three Snow Bears by Jan Brett*

Jan Brett does an great job of retelling Goldilocks and the Three Bears as a winter tale.  As always, she also succeeds in intriguing children (and adults) with her detailed illustrations.

A Time to Keep: The Tasha Tudor Book of Holidays by Tasha Tudor*

We enjoy reading this book towards the beginning of January and throughout the year.  Tasha Tudor weaves a little bit of magic, as she shares the delightful things that are celebrated or done throughout the year.

The Tomten and the Fox by Astrid Lindgren
The tomten agrees to share his porridge with the fox if the fox will stop disturbing the farm animals.

Trouble with Trolls by Jan Brett

We Three Kings illustrated by Gennady Spirin*

This famous carol is brought to life by Gennady Spirin's beautiful illustrations.  I hope to eventually add this book to our collection and read (or sing) it every January 6. Update: We added this book to our collection in 2011.

Winter Story (Brambly Hedge) by Jill Barklem
The mice of Brambly Hedge plan a Snow Ball.

Books that we own are marked with an asterisk*.