Scrabble Scramble

I’ve been cleaning out cabinets the last couple of weeks in hopes of getting rid of stuff.  We have too much stuff, but doesn’t everyone?  Well, we’re getting rid of some of ours.  While digging through some of it I ran across a Scrabble game that I purchased at a garage sale.  I had high hopes of using the letters for all sorts of language arts games, crafts, etc.  It’s been in the cabinet for almost three years now, so I decided that it was time to do something with this “letters missing” scrabble game.  I took two of the trays and all of the letters that were there (which was almost all of them) and set it up in our living room on a side table.  The letters I poured into a bowl that Austin had made with his two little hands.  After searching the bowl for letters that would spell “kindness”, I put my word on its little wooden tray and walked away.  I didn’t say a thing.  No one noticed for a couple of days and then “kindness” was replaced with “blindness”, “trust” became “rust”, and “mercy” became “me cry”.  While I’m trying to instil some virtues in my crew, they are working on their sense of humor.  Search your house for your Scrabble game and get it out – it will make everyone smile.  I can’t wait for guests to come over so that they can take a turn.

On a separate note, Lacy over at Catholic Icing has a new book coming out soon.  It looks awesome and if you order now you save $5.  Head on over to http://catholicicing.blogspot.com to see Catholic ABCs (The Book):  A Hands On Preschool Curriculum.  You won’t be disappointed.

CF148: Cry Baby

Podcast: Download

In this episode:  scout camp, praying the Angelus, Catholic Lifetime Reading Plan, benediction, lots of mail: Patrick, Chris, Mac and Katherine, A Little Way of Homeschooling, Melissa Wiley and Tidal Schooling

Fred McDowell
“Woke Up This Morning” (mp3)
from “I’ll Be So Glad When the Sun Goes Down: Alan Lomaxâ??s “Southern Journey,” 1959â??1960″
(Global Jukebox)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
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More On This Album

No Gifts Please

July 2 was Mattie Claire’s second birthday.  We celebrated her big day with a few friends and a birthday lunch.  Because Mattie Claire is the youngest of five children, she has lots of toys to choose from.  We have baby dolls, doll houses, Barbies, blocks, puzzles, plastic animals, Legos, gears to build with, trucks and cars, horses – the list could go on and on.  Because we have all of these toys, I asked my friends to not buy her a gift.  Instead I wanted to do a book exchange.   Mattie Claire would end up with a new book as well as her little guests.  For the friends who were a little older (other adults or our college grad friend) I asked that they purchase a book and donate it to our local library in honor of Mattie Claire’s second birthday.  When she gets older I’ll take her to the library and we will find the books donated in her honor.  I thought it was a great idea. … Continue Reading

Grocery Shopping with Kids

Grocery shopping with five kids is, well, not fun.  Until now!  I’ve discovered how to do it.   Just follow these 5  simple steps and grocery shopping with five children won’t be a chore anymore.  In fact, it can be quite pleasant.

Step One-each child plans meals for one day; breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner, and dessert.  You’ve got to let them plan for all of those so that they feel like there is food in the house.  It might seem like we eat a lot, but we’re not over weight.  Well, most of us are not.

Step Two-Mom puts all of the children’s menus together and adds a few days as well as a few green things.  I don’t think cereal, granola bars, cheese tortellini, and sloppy joes constitute a well-balanced diet for the day.

Step Three-make a shopping list and gather coupons.

Step Four-split the list.  I try to put things on one list that are all in one area of the store.  For example, Hannah and Luke today had dairy products.  I usually do produce and meat.  If I let Austin pick the meat, we would be eating salmon steaks, filet mignon, and pork loin every night and we would go broke.  Since I have 5 children, I split the list into three parts.  Sometimes they pair up boys together and girls together and other times it’s the two bigger kids and then the two younger ones.  I let them decide.  I usually take the baby, but sometimes they ask if Mattie Claire can go with them. … Continue Reading

CF145: Bird on a Stick

Podcast: Download

In this episode: The Sweeneys visit the Barrons, Mattie Claire gets ashes, Kathryn gets her driving permit, Bird on a Stick,  Mail Bag: Coley from Florida, Petra from the Netherlands, Debi in Texas, Charlie,  Jim Beeghley from Pennsylvania.

Leave us some voice feedback at 936-228-1836 or email us  [at]  catholicfamilypodcast [dot] com