May Bookcase display

As May is nearly over and I have not had a chance to show our May Bookcase display I thought I would do it now.
It took quite a while to get right as I had to wait for our 'Blessed Mary' to be cut out.
It wasn't on our display to start with due to a breakdown in machinery, ie; the jigsaw finally broke down. It has been used for so much since Braedon got it for the Christmas after he turned 10.
Our May Home alter has a Blue cloth in honour of Our Lady.
An overall shot of the display.
Left side of Bookcase. Still with the unfinised spot for the Autumn cut outs I am still hoping for (Please Breadon).
Right side with beautiful Mary picture we have all year round.
A fully painted 'Blessed Mary', for the second time, with darker blue paint. Baby blue just disn't look right. Saxon spray painted these, his first time at painting a display item.
Saxon sanding the letters. This actually takes a VERY long time and is quite hard to do smoothly. Great job Saxon, thank you.
The original cut out letters by Braedon, my ever faithful wood working, talented son. We would not have many of our wooden decorative things if not for him. Thankyou again, Braedon.
The books we had on display and in the basket to read during the month of May.

I hope you have had a wonderful and happy month of May. We certainly have had a very full month. A time filled with much happiness and thankfullness for Gods continual blessings and joy in remembering Mary our spiritual Mother.
Blessings,

Pentecost Plans

♥♥ Pentecost(Whitsun) was the name given to a Jewish agricultural festival to indicate that it took place on the fiftieth('pente"-five)day after Passover. It was on this day that the twelve disciples of Jesus(now including Mathias in place of Judas) met with Mary, the mother of Jesus, and others. While the disciples were "all with one accord in one place...there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing wind."(Acts2:2.) A powerful current gathered up the disciples as if on the in-breath of God, and, taken hold of by this divine inspiration, they became aware of "cloven tongues like as of fire" which "sat upon each of them." The story goes on to recount that the twelve were "filled with the Holy Ghost" and were able to speak on such a way that "every man heard them...in his own language."♥♥♥from All Year Round

Plans for the Day♥♥♥
♥♥Readings for Pentecost Year B


♥Books♥
Tell the story from the Betty Lukins book using the Felt board and characters
-Read the New Catholic Picture Bible
-The Very First Christians
-IBelieve: The Nicene Creed
-The Apostles of Jesus

♥Activities and Crafts♥
-Blow up a heap of Ballons and then release them to fly like the Holy spirit.
-Make a Whitsun couple ♥The Nature Corner
-Make Mary and the Apostles from wooden people or needle felt them or sew felt them
-Make Whitsun dove mobile ♥The Childrens Year
-Flying Rice bags!and Streamers! ♥The Childrens Year
-Butterflies ♥The Childrens Year
-Make some bookmarks:
-dove shape with a red ribbon and put the gift of the spirit on one wing, and fruit of the spirit on the other
-Whitsun dove wings ♥All Year round
-Fairy streamers ♥All Year Round

-Do some of the activities and colouring in from the list below.

♥♥"From the earliest centeries, the dove has been used as a symbol of the Holy Spirit. The symbolism was inspired by the Gospel report of Christ's baptism and is still popular today. From medieval times on, in many parts of central and eastern Europe, the people hung artfully carved and painred wooden doves over the dining table as a constant reminder to the family to venerate the Holy Spirit." ♥Catholic Traditions in the Home and Classroom

♥All Seasons Wreath♥
-add yellow and red streamers to the doves we made for Ascension
-make sure the Family altar cloth is red

♥Cooking♥
-make bread dough and make into a dove shape
-Make a cake and ice with white cream, draw a dove shape and have 7 rays coming out from the dove (representing the 7 gifts of the Holy spirit)
and surround the cake with 12 strawberries (representing the 12 Apostles and the Fruits of the Holy Spirit).

♥Table Decorations♥
-Red table cloth with little cut out doves sprinkled on top
-Large Candle in middle as centre piece with small candles and white flowers around
-In centre of the table have a basket of plastic fruit with a 'fruit of the spirit' tied on it. At the end of the meal have everyone take turns to pick a fruit.
This fruit will be the virtue to work on during the year.
-Dove shape placemats
-At each place have:
-a cookie with a red lifesaver stuck on in the middle and a red candle in the middle ♥The Year and our Children

♥Main Meal♥
Fried Chicken, mashed potatoe, and green veges
-if we can a 12 fruit salad ♥Catholic Cuisine

♥♥"In England, the day of Pentecost is known as Whitsun, or Whitsunday, meaning 'white-Sunday.' It has long been a tradition to wear white on this day, perhaps as an acknowledgement of the purity of the spirit, perhaps as a reminder of the moment of joining in the Church community at Baptism and Confirmation." ♥All Year Round

♥Colouring Pictures♥
--colouring page
--other colouring Pictures from Catholic mom
-ascension colour pic
-stained glass colouring pic
-dove colour pic
-dove flying colouring pic

♥Enjoying Nature♥
-once again kite flying with the kites made on Ascension
-Bubbles
-use the streamers made from Ascension
-put butterflies made above on sticks like streamers and run as well.
-look and identify birds in backyard or area


♥Heap of Pentecost ideas:♥

-Lots of ideas
-Catholic Mom ideas
-Holy Spirit
-Symbols of the Holy Spirit
-More Pentecost ideas
-Gifts of the holy spirit
-Pentecost Puzzles:
-Pentecost song:

♥OTHER IDEAS♥

-Family activites
-Pentecost Play

- Teacher Planet resource page for Pentecost
--Work sheet
--Pentecost spinner

--Pentecost crossword
--Pentecost decoder
--Pentecost word jumble
--Pentecost word search
--twelve disiples word search

--Holy Spirit mobile

--More word searches

Blessings,

Small Success 19

1. Had Moran's birthday go very successfully.

2. Bought presents for Myffwyn's bitrthday and cake party well in advance.

3. Finally got Arwen's baptism photos loaded onto the post after computer problems(even though I haven't done the other ones I'm behind on.)

Bonus 4. Arwen had her final visit with the midwife. she put on 170 grams in 2 weeks, which averages about 60 per week. This seems to ab her standard and the health care professionals are fine with this and so am I.

Well that's my take on Small Successes for this week. For other stories visit Faith and Family

Blessings

Moran's Birthday in pictures

What a very excited 7 year old. She woke up with the sparrows luckily we had some other early risers to help entertain her untill tired Mummy and Daddy got out of bed.
We had had a late night as both Daddy and Mama and Papa had come home on the plane the night before so there was plenty to talk about as well as to organise for Miss 7.
However she had a very happy birthday made more special by the visitors being her.
Plenty of fish and chips ,party bags (again? well it is Birthday season you know),presents and Wombat cake as well.
Flower crown.
Table and room all set.
Birthday bag is full.
Seasons table is decorated and looks very girly including pretty silks behind.


Throne awaits the princess.
Onto the presents. She was actually quite self conscious opening them with everyone watching.


Wombat cake.
Ready to blow out the candles.

Bithday ring is lit as well.

Blowing out the candles. Go Moran.
Happy Birthday princess we all love you so much.
Blessings,

Arwen's Baptism

Last Sunday on the Feast of Our Lady Help of Christians and Assension Sunday we had our sweet little Arwen Baptised.
It was a very special day for all of us and one we have been axiously anticipating.
Due to circumstances beyond our control her Baptism had been held up and so we were doubly pleased to finally have the momentus day arrive.

This was the image that was made specially for her by Anne, who obviously is very talented. Thank you so much Anne.
It was wrapped around her Baptism candle which David and Erin, her Godparents gave to her. Once again I am very thankful for Erin being able to travel so far to actually be here on the day.

Dosen't it look lovely.
These are her special Baptism balloons which have doves on them. So appropriate for both the Assension and her baptism.

This is the white garment made specially for her, with crochet lace edging by her Mama. Thankyou Mama it is very beautiful.
Just because she is so beautiful. I can't resist taking her photo.
I caught the start of the smile but not the full open mouth one that is so sweet.
All of the family.
Father John and Papa and us.
Papa and Mama and us.
Erin, special God mother, Arwen and me.
We had such fun with Erin here, and her "little man" (post to come on that) that our children were so sad to see them leave.
If only we lived closer, hmmmmmmmmm. Hopefully soon.
Our gorgeous Autumn with little Arwen. So lovely to have big sisters dote on the baby ones.
This is the Baptism cake I made and decorated.
We have always had special cakes for the Baptisms, family tradition. Home made fruit cake and decorated for each child.



Various photos of Stephen, Erin, Arwen and me.
Various scenes from the Baptism which are self explanatory.















We are so thankful to have had this special day for our little girl and we pray we can be the parents God wants us to be. That we can be an example of love and trust in God and help each of our children to grow in love for God, and with faith to fulfill his purpose for their own lives. Please pray that we can do this for all our children.
Blessings,