Our Snow Day

When you home school, you miss the fun of waking up early in the morning to hear your mom say "snow day, you can sleep in!". I don't think that's a big issue for our kids since they have a tendency to start late around here anyway. This week, however, we did have all of our activities cancelled so it gave us an opportunity to play "snow day".

What our Friday should have looked like:

9 AM - #1 to Little Flowers, others school and play

Noon - Pick up #1 from Little Flowers, home for lunch

1 PM - Head out to St. Vincent for classes

2 PM - Top 4 in class, mom explores the campus with Mr. G

3:30 PM - Begin the long journey home

4:45 PM - Arrive home to greet DH who has picked up the fish fry; sit down to dinner

6:15 PM - Dinner finished, hop in the car to head to Slovak Dance

7:00 PM - Slovak Dance, all kids

9:00 PM - Head home and off to bed

Yeah, Friday is turning into my least favorite day but at least we're together for most of it. It is a lot of driving and I was grateful for a week off (even though we were already off last week) to just stay home.

Yesterday happened to be the feast of Blesseds Jacinta and Francisco Marto, two of the three Fatima kids so we started with breakfast and listening to Saint of the Day. At the beginning of breakfast, Blondie pointed out that the Blessed Mother had a rainbow (doesn't show that well in the picture, sorry) so I figured we were on the right track.

Finishing breakfast, I thought about what we could do to take up the whole day. Going with my theme of starting something then having it develop, I assigned the two older kids to read up on the things we saw at the Charleston Museum and find a way to transmit that knowledge to the rest of us.

True to form, they decided to write a play. I haven't seen it yet (rehearsals are continuing and the director is under-the-weather) but I was impressed with the sea wall and confederate flag of which I caught a glimpse.

We took a break from play, and from play-writing, to start an art/science project. I am always grateful for my friend Kellie. She is so art-wise and crafty. I saw this post while we were at the beach and immediately ordered them with my phone. I was so grateful for the idea! This is an all-day project if ever there were one :0) Water beads are the coolest thing. One warning, follow the directions, don't just let your kids dump them in the water or you will end up with a roomful of beads. Excellent exercise in absorption and dessication though.

 After about an hour, on their journey to plump little water marbles

 They spent about 30 minutes making caviar-based recipes. Why is that? They have never seen or eaten caviar. I have to be a bit more selective with the cookbooks they view I suppose. LOL.

Each of them picked a color and then sorted 14 (that was #3's decision, I think it's actually 13) of that color into a bowl. This was to be used to keep track of their decade as we prayed the rosary that afternoon in honor of the feast day. The bowls are still sitting in the kitchen and, hopefully, will be used after lunch. It's not all perfect...

Finding myself with an abundance of time and little people (and a house that is already dirty) I immediately think about cooking. The perfect recipe for a Lenten Friday - Jimmy pierogi! 

 "Jimmy" for you non-VeggieTales people, is butternut squash. Boil him, mash him with some sour cream and nutmeg...yum.

 My filler and crimper. The filling was wet so it was kind of a mess (like prunes) but infinitely worth it (like prunes)

Fry them in brown butter and yum. I froze half the batch for Good Friday - the perfect meager meal!

While the water beads were puffing and the pierogi dough was resting, we found time in our day to watch the Story of Fatima, EWTN's Way of the Cross for Kids and pray the Divine Mercy before bed that night. It is my hope to keep them from all TV except EWTN (or religious videos) this Lent and it's working so far (the whole three days!). It's been difficult coming off the video-fest that was our trip but they know we're heading into the desert and they have been troopers (the older kids anyway. Yesterday little man said, "why we gotta watch EWTN?" so cute, that one). 

Wishing you all a happy, safe First Saturday of Lent. Let us all pray for those who find themselves in difficulty today, whether it be physical, emotional or spiritual and, don't forget, 40 days for life is still going on...the need for prayer and fasting continues, even in the cold. I am feeling guilty about staying home and grateful for the people who staff the vigil during this frigid weather. May God see their dedication and reward it.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

— Ephesians 6:12-13

We are blessed!