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By Tricia on October 28, 2009 in Homeschooling, Kids

This is what happens when a cute little frog who looked like an excellent jumper (apparently these are hard to find) crossed our path as we were leaving the library on our weekly trip. Usually I am peeling children out their new books so they can do important things like oh, I don’t know… eating, bathing, evening chores and sleeping, but as soon as we got home it was all about their new captive “member of the family”.

We did not even go straight home from the library since I like to save on our gas usage and bundle errands into the same day. This little frog went with us to Publix and our other errands before coming home to this little aquarium. Much research was done the next day about the lives of frogs, their habitat, diet and the different species that live in Florida.

As a mom, I pray that Our Lord help me to see this little frog as excitedly as I saw the first one my first born showed me. I expect to keep saying this prayer for many many more years. Thank you Lord for the precious look of curiosity on this little boys face.

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The first day of school and the Schultuete

By Tricia on September 14, 2009 in Homeschooling

My kids LOVE the first day of school!!! The second day is never as fun. I think it is probably hearing about all our new plans, the smell of new Crayola crayons, (what you never smelled your crayons when you were a kid, go smell some!!) all the new school supplies and brand new books. Well, thanks to my friend Mimi, I found out about a German tradition which goes back centuries and I learned that American kids are missing out big here.

It is called the Schultuete. It is basically a cardboard cone, the translation is literally “school cone” and it is filled with candies, sweets, school supplies, small gifts and any little delights the child would love on this special day.

I wanted to use items I already have so instead of posterboard, I used butcher paper (love this stuff) and instead of using colored tissue, I used colored tulle which is now nicely folded back in my sewing room. I have to say this was the best first day of school ever and we will add this to our family traditions.

They each took the time to examine each cone and see how I personalized them with stickers that match their interests. Of course they love any excuse to get candy but the best part was seeing how truly grateful they were for everything that was in their cones. And once they were empty… of course they wore them. Here are the coneheads.