Catholic Women's Almanac - Happy Monday! (Updated with Pic)

Hi there.

Happy Monday All!

If you don't already, check out The Catholic Women's Almanac bloggers. And if you are a Catholic Mama, consider joining us on Mondays! Everyone loves a comment or two... so check them out!

We had such a great weekend. Friday we met friends at a local museum, got my Military Spouse ID redone (if I showed it to you, you would DIE laughing. It seriously does NOT look like me. We crack up every time), then we went to a fish fry at a local Knights of Columbus Hall! Such a fun day. Saturday we had rain + soccer. It was wet and windy and we came home, showered, made homemade hot chocolate with brown sugar and cinnamon AND lunch, then napped for three hours - don't you just love a quiet weekend? Bring on the rain. God knows we need it!  Yesterday was another quiet day. I did laundry in prep for my hubby going to Jersey this week. Good old Fort Drum.

I wanted to apologize for an oversight in last week's post. I used a word that was vulgar. It was a misspelling on my part, but normally I catch these things and ya'll, I am so sorry. I just noticed it when I was starting this post. I've put a formal change and a note of apology in last week's CWA Post.  I just wanted to mention it!

I hope your past week was a great one. I can share with you that I no longer have a faucet nose. Nope, it is back in my chest. Ya'll - I am seriously considering an exorcism for this chesty-sinusy cold. Lord have mercy! I'm tired of it. It's affecting my life and I know ya'll are tired of hearing about it. 

School was great. You can read about that HERE in my weekly wrap-up post.

The week ahead...

Plans?

No Karate this week. It is our local Spring Break Week. I should say, we are not having Spring Break because WE are going on a trip with Marque later in May. Sooo..... Various sports practices.  May go see Oz with a friend and her son.

I plan to actually make a few cards. I keep saying this, and I hope/pray I can do it this week. I have so many colored images and need that creative outlet.

Cooking? Baking?

I am baking some strawberry-banana muffins this week (I think I've told you my son is a muffin and yogurt guy for breakfast). I am also baking a shamrock cake, much like the one below - though this year I will decorate it differently. It's green velvet with butter cream icing AND I will take it to a dinner party we are going to on St. Patrick's Day. 

Reading?

Women's Catholic Bible
That's My Son
Canning Books - I need to start soon so I'm making a list of what is going on this year's list. Plus, I will be teaching a few women in our local Catholic Homeschooling Group how to can!

On My Prayer List?

The Papal Conclave. How exciting for us to be teaching our children how a new Pope is chosen. AND as sad as I am to see Papa Benedict go, I hope and pray his successor is as staunchly evangelical Catholic!
My husband - for safe travels this week.
My child and I so that this chest cold leaves. I'm considering and exorcism. You think I'm joking? Nope - not even!
Several friends who have health issues.
Our Government and our World in general.

Captured?

There is a hands-on tornado maker at the Science Museum.

He was trying to make the paper fly.

Who doesn't love a dino dig?

Thinking about/Researching?

Common Core Initiative. You see, since Texas announced it wasn't adopting it, I never bothered to look into it. Then, I missed all discussion of this topic, apparently until this past week. And now, I keep hearing it/seeing it and I need more info. I'm not a bandwagon person. I don't just take a side because others do. I do my own research and make my decision from there.  Texas did not adopt it, but they use this mess called CScope. The TEA was forced to review it after a teacher had students dress in Burqas, etc... It's a mess. Why they did not review it beforehand is BEYOND me.  Here is a talk on CScope by Glenn Beck. 

Then I was reading weekly wrap up blogs and found this blog: My Blessed Life. If you scroll down to Helpful Homeschool Tips or Advice to Share, click on the 2nd Link. It's about Homeschool curriculum companies aligning with Common Core Initiative. And then it links back to her blog again with a list of companies who are aligning.

I also found this article from a teacher's point of view in NY.  I Was Naïve About Common Core Initiative  and HERE is a slew of articles to peruse.

I just hope to HIGH HEAVENS we retain our right to homeschool. I don't mind my child taking a test here and there to prove how well educated he is. I honestly believe that things like this start in hopes that school districts that are low achieving will be brought up to higher standards. I'm not sure exactly how to do it, but I pray we find a better way.

Phew, that is exhausting.

I wanted to leave you with this... I took it off Pinterest and I'm making it into a bookmark. Right click and save onto your computer. Bring into PowerPoint. Print onto card stock, hole punch and add a ribbon if you like, or not.  We pray for our husbands, but I love a cheat sheet with verses...

I hope you have a great week.
I sure love reading your blogs and reading your comments on my blog.

Blessings ALL!

Em