2012 Read Alouds

Below are most of the books and audio-books that we read and/or listened to in 2012.

Adam of the Road by Elizabeth Janet Gray

Around the Year Once upon a Time Saints by Ethel Pochocki

The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare*

The Children's Saint Anthony by Catherine Beebe

My second son kept asking his father to read more.

The Christmas Anna Angel by Ruth Sawyer, illustrated by Kate Seredy

The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden

Devotional Stories for Little Folks by Nancy Nicholson

The Door in the Wall by Marguerite de Angeli*

First Communion Days by a Sister of Notre Dame

James Herriot's Treasury for Children by James Herriot

Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder*

We gave the boxed set of books to our oldest daughter for her birthday one year and I read all of the books out loud to her and her sister at that time. It was nice to hear this childhood favorite again.

Men of Iron by Howard Pyle

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle*

Mossflower by Brian Jacques

Otto of the Silver Hand by Howard Pyle

Queen without a Crown by Madeleine Polland

Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome*

Swallowdale by Arthur Ransome*

This Way to Christmas by Ruth Sawyer

True Stories of First Communicants by a Sister of Notre Dame

  

An * indicates that we listened to the audiobook.

Wishing You a...

May you and your families have

a holy and blessed Christmastide!

Advent Daybook

Outside my window...

The ground is white. The children are excited that it snowed last night and they are hoping that it snows more.

In the kitchen...

Theresa has been baking a lot of cookies. Today, we are hoping to make some applesauce and cinnamon ornaments. I had intended to make them with the children on Saturday, but we didn't have time to do so.

I am listening to...

the boys talking in the dining room and the girls practicing piano and violin downstairs.  Catherine and Bernadette are practicing a piano/violin duet of "Silent Night" that they will be playing at a retirement center tonight.

I am wearing...

a jean skirt and navy blue sweater.

I am praying for...

my husband and children, extended family, our priests, and friends. I am also trying to remember to include prayer requests from various people.

`

I am thankful...

for my husband who went grocery shopping for me on Saturday and took Patrick with him to buy a Christmas tree yesterday. He was released early from jury duty today and so he called and told me that he is going to head to a certain store to look for some stocking stuffers that we have been trying to find for our boys. He is also hoping to buy this for the price listed on the website (not an inflated price). It will be a birthday present for one of the boys this year.

In the learning rooms...
Formal lessons will be minimal today. Brendan, Patrick, and I will be setting up our outdoor Nativity scene and hanging Christmas lights on the house. 

I am pondering...

"Love consumes us only in the measure of our self-surrender."

~ St. Therese of Lisieux ~

I am reading...

We and Our Children: How to Make a Catholic Home by Mary Reed Newland. I started reading this book in August, but put it aside to read The Mirror of True Womanhood. I have read the reprint of We and Our Children, How to Raise Good Catholic Children, a few times over the years. When I saw that the unedited We and Our Children was available, I knew that I had to buy it. I am glad that I did.

Plans for the rest of the week...

• Take children to piano and violin lessons
• O Antiphons began yesterday :)
• Mass
• Continue to pray for my Christkindl and do little things for her
• Buy a Christmas present for my brother-in-law and my nephew who will be visiting us for Christmas
• Take our annual Christmas photo
• Wrap some Christmas presents
• Have the children make our missing Jesse Tree ornaments (a couple of the ornaments for this week are missing)
• And more...

I am happy that...

I found this present for my father-in-law yesterday. I am thinking that we might get this for him too. I know how much he likes ND and the 4 horsemen. I also know that he is excited about ND's upcoming game.

A video...

Seven Months Old

St. Nicholas' Visit

On Sunday, St. Nicholas visited our parish. St. Nicholas began by telling the children a story from his life. Then, he asked some of the children catechism questions. When Patrick volunteered to answer one of the questions, I couldn't help but think about a previous visit from St. Nicholas. My tall little boy has learned a lot over the years. I pray that he continues to learn and that one day he becomes a great saint who brings greater glory to God.

St. Andrew's Novena Begins Today

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment at which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires (Mention your intentions here) through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His most Blessed Mother. Amen.

(It is piously believed that whoever recites the above prayer fifteen times a day from the feast of St. Andrew until Christmas will obtain what is asked.)

Imprimatur

+Michael Augustine, Archbishop of New York

February 6, 1897

Update: Lena has made it easy for us to remember to pray this novena by designing a printable novena card.

What We've Been Reading - November

I wasn't very good about keeping track of what we read this month.

Preschool - Second Grade Read Alouds

A Bargain For Frances by Russell Hoban

Bible Stories for Little Children under the approbation of Cardinal McCloskey (excerpt here)

Blaze Finds Forgotten Roads by C.W. Anderson

Catholic Children's Treasure Box Books by Maryknoll Sisters

A Child's Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson, illustrated by Tasha Tudor

Cinderella illustrated by K.Y. Craft

Cranberry Thanksgiving by Ende Devlin

Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear? by Nancy White Carlstrom

Miniature Stories of the Saints by Rev. Daniel A. Lord, SJ

Mousekin's Thanksgiving by Edna Miller

Over the River and Through the Wood by Lydia Maria Child, illustrated by Brinton Turkle
The Tale of Timmy Tiptoes by Beatrix Potter

The Tale of Tom Kitten by Beatrix Potter

The Thanksgiving Story by Alice Dalgliesh

Second Grade

The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse by Eric Carle

Caps for Sale: A Tale of a Peddler, Some Monkeys and Their Monkey Business by Esphyr Slobodkina

Goody O'Grumpity by Carol Ryrie Brink

Fifth Grade

Baby Island by Carol Ryrie Brink

The Bobbsey Twins of Lakeport by Laura Lee Hope

The Disappearing Staircase Mystery (Boxcar Children) by Gertrude Chandler Warner

Galewood Crossing by Alta Halverson Seymour

Outlaws of Ravenhurst by M. Imelda Wallace

Theresa liked this book so much last month that she decided to reread it this month.

Sixth Grade

North American Wildlife by David Jones

Eighth Grade

Between the Forest and the Hills by Ann Lawrence

Eight Cousins by Louisa May Alcott

Galewood Crossing by Alta Halverson Seymour

Kisses from Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption by Katie J. Davis


An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving by Louisa May Alcott, illustrated by Holly Johnson

The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien, edited by Christopher Tolkien
We have an older edition of this book.

Tenth Grade

Galewood Crossing by Alta Halverson Seymour

The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare (We read this play together.)

Modern Saints: Their Lives and Faces by Ann Ball

Me

The Dyslexic Advantage: Unlocking the Hidden Potential of the Dyslexic Brain by Brock L. Eide, M.D., M.A. and Fernette F. Eide, M.D. 

The Mirror of True Womanhood by Rt. Rev. Monsignor Bernard O'Reilly, D.D., L.D.

We and Our Children by Mary Reed Newland

Read Aloud

Around the Year Once upon a Time Saints by Ethel Pochocki
Patrick really enjoys Ethel Pochocki's sense of humor.

Men of Iron by Howard Pyle

Saint Dominic and the Rosary by Catherine Beebe

Saints for Young People for Every Day of the Year by the Daughters of St. Paul

Audiobooks

I checked these audiobooks out, so that I could listen to the stories. Please note, I do not feel that they are appropriate for young children.

The Innocence of Father Brown Vol. 2by G.K. Chesterton, read by David Timson

The Wisdom of Father Brownby G.K. Chesterton, read by Frederick Davidson