Keeping Mommy on her Toes

I am ten months old.

January 19

I pulled myself to a stand for the first time on February 3. My mommy was surprised to see me standing up, holding onto the chair as she walked past the living room. The next day, she took this photo.

February 4

I started to crawl on my hands and knees a couple of days before pulling myself to a stand. 

February 3

My mommy was starting to think that I would walk before I crawled. However, she is thankful that I didn't crawl at six months like some of my sisters and brothers because I like to put everything in my mouth. Someone has to always be watching me. I am pretty good about showing everyone what I have in my hand if they ask me, "What do you have?" Occasionally, I like to put whatever I have into my mouth as quickly as possible. Being so close to the ground has its advantages - I can see things that other family members don't notice. Of course sometimes I don't like what I put in my mouth. One night, I found something that looked interesting, but it didn't taste very good, so I came to my mommy whining. She swiped my mouth and was disgusted to find that I was trying to eat a guinea pig dropping. Thankfully, the pediatrician assured my mom that I had chosen the best and most likely safest animal dropping to eat. Needless to say, I won't be putting one of those gross tasting nuggets in my mouth again.

January 14

I crawled up the stairs for the first time on February 27. My mommy was right behind me, but I didn't know it until I got to the top of the stairs. I can now explore the whole house on my own. I am perplexed as to why I keep finding some doors shut and why I can open some cupboards, but not others. I don't know why all the Legos disappeared from the coffee table. I am still trying to figure out where they went. I so wanted to pull apart those Lego structures. The little pieces would have fit in my mouth perfectly.

It's time to go. I have stayed in one place long enough. There is so much to explore.

Habemus Papam

After praying our extra Rosary this morning for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, our future pope, the Church, and our world, we tuned into EWTN online to watch for the smoke. I had told the children that I thought we would have a Pope today. We were all very excited to see the white smoke. After seeing the white smoke, Catherine suggested that we connect the laptop to the tv and watch it on the large screen. I am happy that we did. We all sat and watched, waited, and finally saw and listened to our new Holy Father, Pope Francis. We prayed for and with him, and then we knelt as he gave his first blessing.

May God bless Pope Francis!

St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!

Saint and Chapter Books for Young Boys

Last month, I received and replied to the following question from a friend:

Christine,

Do you have any recommendations for saint books or classical chapter books for a 7 yr old boy. Pius needs some reading and all I've ever done is girl oriented.

E

Some books that come to mind are:

Encounter the Saints books - Anthony was given a set of these books from the 1960s that he really enjoyed. For some reason, he didn't seem to like the newer books in this series as much.  These books might be slightly above Pius' reading level. If so, there is an easier series called Along the Paths of the Gospel that some of my children have liked. There are other books in this series beyond what Seton carries, but they are a little bit harder to find. 

We have some of Eva K. Betz's books that have been reprinted by Neumann Press. My boys like them as read alouds and for personal reading.

Angel Food for Boys and Girls by Fr. Gerald T. Brennan

I read these to my children, but sometimes they decide to take one of the books and read them on their own.

The Little Apostle on Crutches by Henriette Delamare

In the Footsteps of the Saints Series by Brother Ernest, C.S.C.

Mary's Books has reprinted this series that includes many titles about male (and female) saints, including: St. Joseph, St. Patrick, St. Dominic, St. Simon Stock, and more. There is also a book about the Infant of Prague. I recently received these books from Adoremus Books and am impressed. Patrick has not seen them yet, but I am fairly certain that he will like them when he does. I hope to order more titles from this series.

Catholic Tales for Boys and Girls and More Catholic Tales for Boys and Girls by Caryll Houselander

Catholic Stories for Boys and Girls - We only have one of the books in this series.

Stories of the Child Jesus from Many Lands  by A. Fowler Lutz

Once upon a Time Saints and More Once Upon a Time Saints by Ethel Pochocki

Patrick enjoyed listening to me read these books to him.

You might also want to keep your eyes open for Norah Smaridge's out-of-print LUDI: The Little St. Bernard and Bernard (A Patron saint book). Anthony enjoyed the latter book when he was younger (I still like it). Pius would probably like Joan Windham's Sixty Saints for Boys too.

Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard Atwater
I recommend finding a copy without a picture of an actor on the front of it.

Daniel Boone and Cartier Sails the St. Lawrence by Esther Averill

Pancakes Paris, The Truffle Pig, and other books by Claire Huchet Bishop

A Bear Called Paddington and other books in this series by Michael Bond
My first grade teacher introduced me to Paddington Bear and I have liked him ever since.

Freddy the Pig books by Walter Brooks

Anthony used to find these stories very funny.

Just William by Richard Crompton
Anthony and his older sisters still talk about William's humorous antics. There are other books in this series.

Alvin Fernald books by Clifford B. Hicks

These may have been Anthony's favorite books.

Barry: The Bravest Saint Bernard by Lynn Hill
This book has been/is a favorite with my boys.

Emil and the Detectives by Erich Kastner


Ben and Me by Robert Lawson

Homer Price and Centerburg Tales: More Adventures of Homer Price by Robert McCloskey

Henry Reed books by Keith Robertson

The Buffalo Knife, Flaming Arrows, The Perilous Road, and Winter Danger by William O'Steele - Anthony was almost 9 when he read these books.

Charlotte's Web, Stuart Little, and The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White

It might be worthwhile getting this set.

Pius might also enjoy reading books by Ingri and Edgar Parin d'Aulaire (I think you are familiar with these titles) and some of Sid Fleischman's books. 

I do not know Pius' reading level. If the above chapter books are too difficult (most of them would be too hard for Patrick), then you might want to look for books by C.W. Anderson, Nathaniel Benchley, and Robert Quackenbush.

I hope this helps.

Lenten Gardening Observations

Patrick: "Oh, look at the purple flowers! I like Lent because that is when the flowers start to come up."

Theresa: "By the time Easter comes, the garden is full of flowers and it looks beautiful."

*The children were observing miniature irises that bloomed on Ash Wednesday. I failed to take a picture of them in a timely fashion. The croci look beautiful right now. Like my children, I cannot help but marvel at the purple flowers that blossom during Lent. God is so good!

What We've Been Reading - February

Preschool - Second Grade Read Alouds

Annie and the Wild Animals by Jan Brett

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

The Boy Who Loved to Draw: Benjamin West by Barbara Brenner
The children found Benjamin West's making of his homemade brush very funny.

Brigid's Cloak by Bryce Milligan

Catholic Children's Treasure Box Books by Maryknoll Sisters

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

Henner's Lydia by Marguerite de Angeli

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

Saint Bernadette by Fr. Gales

Trouble with Trolls by Jan Brett

and more...

Second Grade

Jenny's Birthday Book by Esther Averill

Pancakes Paris by Claire Huchet Bishop

Sam and the Firefly by P.D. Eastman

Small Pig by Arnold Lobel

The Truffle Pig by Claire Huchet Bishop

Fifth Grade

Emil and the Detectives by Erich Kastner

My children all decided to read this book after watching the old Disney movie. A couple of the children preferred the book. It is appropriate for younger readers too.

Henner's Lydia by Marguerite de Angeli

My daughter read this chapter book to her younger siblings.

Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder
It took a friend recommending these books to my daughter for her to decide to finally read all of them. Thanks to the Little House books, she is turning into a bookworm.

The Martha Years series (Little House in the Highlands, The Far Side of the Loch, Down to the Bonny Glen, and Beyond the Heather Hills) by Melissa Wiley
I hope that Harper Collins eventually comes to their senses and reprints these books with the original illustrations and in an unabridged format. Although we already own them in this form, I would like to buy three or four more unabridged sets of this series.

Little Vic by Doris Gates, illustrated by Kate Seredy

The Saturdays by Elizabeth Enright

The Four-Story Mistake by Elizabeth Enright

Then There Were Five by Elizabeth Enright

Spiderweb for Two: A Melendy Maze by Elizabeth Enright

Sixth Grade

Big Red by Jim Kjelaard
Anthony has read and reread this story over the years. I think that it is safe to say that it is one of his favorite books. We have an older version of this book.

Emil and the Detectives by Erich Kastner

The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien

The Pushcart War by Jean Merrill
Anthony couldn't wait for the audiobook to finish, so he decided to read the book.

Young Mac of Fort Vancouver by Mary Jane Carr

Eighth Grade

The Ark by Margot Benary-Isbert

The Four-Story Mistake by Elizabeth Enright

Then There Were Five by Elizabeth Enright

Spiderweb for Two: A Melendy Maze by Elizabeth Enright

Lay Siege to Heaven by Louis de Wohl

Little Vic by Doris Gates, illustrated by Kate Seredy

The Song of Bernadette by Franz Werfel

The Wind Blows Free by Loula G. Erdman

The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

Tenth Grade

Emil and the Detectives by Erich Kastner

Emma by Jane Austen

The Four-Story Mistake by Elizabeth Enright

Then There Were Five by Elizabeth Enright

Spiderweb for Two: A Melendy Maze by Elizabeth Enright

Strawberry Girl by Lois Lenski

Me

Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux edited by John Clarke, OCD

Read Aloud

Bernadette: Our Lady's Little Servant by Hertha Pauli

The Burgess Bird Book for Children by Thornton W. Burgess

Enid Blyton's Nature Lover's Book by Enid Blyton

I grew up reading some of Enid Blyton's  books. I am happy to be able to share her writings with my children. I originally intended to read this book to my younger children, but I noticed that a couple of the older children migrated to the room as I read. My children in preschool through sixth grade are enjoying listening to the story. My two eldest children read this and The Burgess Bird Book for Children a few years ago.

The Man Who Never Died: The Life and Adventures of St. Peter, the First Pope by Gerald T. Brennan

      

Audiobooks

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, read by Rob Inglis

The Pushcart War by Jean Merrill, read by Mark Hammer
We laughed out loud as we listened to Mark Hammer reading The Pushcart War. His narration of this great satire is absolutely delightful. One  of my children said, "It's worthwhile reading the book, but you have to listen to it too. The narrator makes it even funnier." Mr. Hammer does a wonderful job imitating the various dialects that one might have heard in New York in the 1960's (maybe even today). Check the book out to read it and see the illustrations. Check the audiobook out to hear this funny story come to life.