The love of reading:

We love to read around here...but, momma gets so tired and falls asleep when reading to the precious kids...especially when pregnant!!!

This perfect find at the library was just the right length and had great recipes in the back. Of course we called it Apple Farmer CC!!!

We read Apple Farmer Annie and made Applesauce Cake:

Applesauce Cake
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 1/4 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg (optional)
1/2 teaspoon allspice (optional)
1 cup applesauce
2/3 cup raisins

*Cream together butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl.
*Add eggs and beat well.
*In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, salt, and spices.
*Add to creamed mixture alternately with applesauce, beating after each addition and blending well.
*Stir in raisins.
*Pour batter into 9-inch greased tube pan.
*Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes or until browned. (toothpick inserted into cake should come out clean.)
*Cool, then spread with Butter Frosting (see recipe below).

Butter Frosting (it did'nt need the frosting...but is sounds so good)
2 tablespoons softened butter
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons milk

*Cream together butter, sugar, and vanilla extract.
*Add milk and stir well.
*The frosting should be smooth and easy to spread.

Glad to know we weren't the only ones who loved this book!!!

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Great book:

BURST:

See blog here:

This book hits a home run for any person!!! It touches on something everyone has experienced in their own life. Death, true love, sickness, detachment, depression, life choices, and much, much more. I hope you find it a must read and more so...a must share book, like I do.

Youtube video too:



THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

FAVORITE STORY FRIDAY:

SANTA'S FAVORITE STORY
We usually like books that tell the true Christmas story. This is the best book for kids with great pictures and under $6 bucks!!!



JESUS' CHRISTMAS PARTY
This is a hysterical book, but hard to find. Some places sell it for $10, amazon had it for $140? (not sure why-my kids want to sell ours now!!!) Must have a sense of humor and be able to read books with lots of verbal excitement!!!

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Favorite Books for Friday...

PANDA CAKE and FERDINAND (check out the amazon price for Ferdinand-$457!!!)

Some oldies but some goodies!!! Don't know if you are the kind of person who keeps library lists of new or old books to enjoy...I have been reading these to kids for over 20 years!!! To my own sweeties and when I did child care.

Another great reason to have lots of kids!!! It is great to revisit these great stories over and over!!! Today when I was reading them the "middle kids" were chiming in with the story!!! Gotta love the family classics!!!

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

It is still Christmas in our house!!!

These are some of our all time favorite books.

This awesome rack came from my pal down the street. I used it for Thanksgiving for decorations and Advent/Christmas for books. I plan on putting our hats, gloves, and scarfs in it soon!!!

QUESTIONS about homeschooling with little kids...and being pregnant:

opps...so much for my auto post today...

To answer a question with some quick advice,

From a mom expecting her 6th with the oldest 7:

1-what are the math facts, states info on tapes/ Cd's that you recommend?
I would suggest to go to free share or online to educational games. Really limit computer time for special occasions, rewards, or special days. Also go to your local library and get the tapes they have...you can find an entire world of books on tape, as well as other Cd's that could be used for "school". Some of our favorite Cd's from the library are: Little house on the Prairie, Mrs. Piggy Wiggle, Swiss Family Robinson, Red wall, Adventures in Oddessy, Box car children, as well as a ton of others. Your librarian should be you best friend...when I had lots little guys, I would call ahead ask for some specific things, they would get them for me and leave them at the desk for me, then I would pull up when out running errands and run in or send a big kid in.


2-do you have a chore chart? I have a lot of little ones only (oldest is only 7) and I NEED their help as baby #6 is due in Sept. I am not sure of what to expect or if I am not asking enough of them.
Do I have a job chart??? I am known in this town as having the biggest chart ever!!! The local nuns come to my house just to see that mother superior is easy on them compared to my family!!! (I am not kidding) It is amazing how much the little kids like the job chart, then you wake up one day and they are teenagers complaining about everything. For making a job chart I write down what I wish was accomplished during the day...what my husband wishes was accomplished for the day...than I put it in writing. I mean silly things like how I wish I read more to the little guys...played a game with them...so instantly it became a job for the big guys...than my husband loves coming home to the front yard not looking like we have 11 kids...so clean up front yard is a job...opening the van door and having everything fall out...new job...walking in the front door and stepping on shoes...new job...trying to find the mail...the kids favorite job: welcome daddy...they get the mail and watch out for poppa!!!


3-Do you have extra help besides your older kids? who and how did you find them?
Sometimes yes...it usually is kind friends who come to help out. At one time my mom thought she was doing me a favor and offered to pay for my kids to go to the local Catholic School...(she thought it was still $25 a family like in her day). When I explained that I didn't want to send my kids away to school...my sister just told her to give me some $$$ to find some help. That lasted about 2 years before another sibling needed help more than I) I am a huge one on asking for help...when I was pregnant with my fifth I mentioned to my friend my disapointment in falling asleep while reading to my little guys...she offered to come over to read to them...it has been 12 years and she still comes about twice a week during the school year!!! That is what I call a great friend!!! ASK/ASK/ASK!!!


4-What schooling ideas/ideas to help entertain the young kids do you have for when a new baby arrives?"
Limit your expectations when the baby comes...read as much as you can...let the kids play with each other, good toys, and outside!!! Have a special box of toys that just comes out when you need them: during phone calls with the doctor, during reading lessons with the early reader, or when mom needs a rest!!! Again...BOOKS ON TAPE are huge in our house!!!

opps...I guess I should of been more specific...

4 year old: "Mom, why don't you let us get 'those' books out at the library?"

Mom: "Because, I don't like the way those charaters act in the stories."

Preteen walking by: "Oh, I always thought you were just being mean!"

I guess I need to clarify my reasoning to my children and take advantage of those "teachable moments."

Another good book!!!

Caps for Sale is an oldie but a goodie...make sure if you don't own this, you get it next time you are in the library!!! My husband and I remember this as kids...wow!!! That is really old.

The only thing I don't like about this (and many other old books) is that they say something is a specific color, but is isn't. I need to find this at used book sale so I can color the "BLUE" hats really blue (they are grey in the picture)!!!

I also want to check out Circus Caps for Sale...haven't ever seen this one at the library.

Thy Will Be Done!!!+JMJ+

GOOD NIGHT GORILLA...

I am sure everyone has read this book!!! We have revisited it again, and again!!! This time the 4, 2, and 1 year old are enjoying it. It has been a favorite of all of our children!!! Every time a big kid walks by they say, "hey, I remember that book!!!" than they enjoy it again!!!

Thy Will Be done!!!+JMJ+

Book to checkout:

If you have an on going library list...add this cute book that your little kids will love...Elephant Buttons by Noriko Ueno. It is wordless and wonderful...we have been checking it out for 10 years!!! Each time the surprise at the end never gets too old!!! Enjoy!!!

Thy Will Be Done!!!+JMJ+

Meditation of the day...story time this morning

Today is Monday...I hate Mondays...but it is a way to start over...so here I try to listen to the Holy Spirit...

This is what I got:

From THE IMITATION OF CHRIST: On following Christ Our Model:

How foolish to wish for a long life, but not care whether it is a good life; to be concerned only with the present, with never a thought of eternity and the endless joy that awaits you.

Often think of the proverb: "The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing" Sir 1:8

The books we read this morning:

Sophie's Masterpiece- by Eileen Spinelli, if you like Charlotte's Web you will love this little story!!!

The Bee Tree: by Patricia Polacco. I don't think I have ever read a book by her that I don't like. I enjoy the way she shares family traditions, culture, her love to read & write, and her Jewish heritage.