And I think we’ll miss it when we’re done.   This past week we learned about the different ecosystems in Russia and each of the kids made a diorama of their chosen ecosystem.

From left to right: Tundra, Taiga and Steppe

Gamerboy said to me today, “Can we make a diorama for everything in school?”  I guess this project was a pretty big hit with my artsy kids.  

We also have almost finished up reading Sovietrek: A Journey by Bicycle Across Russia
and The Night Journey.They have all decided that a trip to Russia is out of the question, based upon the foods mentioned in SovieTrek.   They do eat some fairly unappetizing things–fizzy warm horse milk, raw eggs that you eat by poking a hole in the egg and sucking it out, cold chunks of pig fat…Steve and Dan Beuttner are pretty brave guys. 

The Night Journey though, what a beautiful book.  I can’t believe that I never read this when I was a kid.  it’s the story of a Jewish family’s escape from Russia during the early 20th century.  It’s told by Nana Sashie, who is telling her story to her great granddaughter.  Rache isn’t supposed to talk to her Nana about the past, because it might make her upset, but Nana Sashie seems to have this need to tell her story to someone, so Rache begins these secret conversations with her about the past.  It’s based upon a true story, and it’s just such a fantastic book.  There are so many things to discuss and the story has so many layers.  I HIGHLY recommend it to everyone.  

Next week we’ll wrap up our trip to Russia.  We’ll finish up our books, read The Magic Nesting Dolland paint our own Matroyshka dolls, watch Anastasia and Fiddler on the Roof, and possibly make a Russian meal (if we can find something that the kids will agree to eat, lol).

Today while reading from A Family Journey With Jesus Through Lent: Prayers And Activities for Each Day, Gamerboy asked to read aloud the scripture memory verse.  This is what he read:

“Blessed is anyone who endures temper tantrums.” James 1:2

I’ve spent the past few days pondering this article.  I want to have a more meaningful Lent.  I find that every year I make big plans but I’m not so good with actually following through.   I have been praying that I might make this Lent special, and I’m already a step ahead in that I actually planned ahead instead of scrambled around at the last minute.

So, as I said, I’ve been pondering that article and making up what my Lenten Program will be.  I like the idea of creating a program rather than just choosing something to give up.   The program should contain 3 things–prayers, fasting and abstinence and almsgiving.   

Prayer 

• Morning and Evening prayer every day
• Prayers at all meals
• Pray the Rosary daily (focus on the Sorrowful Mysteries)

Education and Reading

• Something for the mind : We Pray-Living in God’s Presence by Oscar Lukefahr; C.M. 
• Something for the Soul : Dark Night of the Soul – St. John of the Cross
• Something for the Heart : A Mother’s Rule of Life – Holly Pierlot
• Daily Scripture reading focusing on the Gospels

Fasting and Abstinence

• Give up all internet access on M/W/F
• Refrain from complaining, grumbling and losing my temper 

Almsgiving and Good Works

• Keep a change jar — donate all money saved during Lent to charity
• Declutter clothes, toys and books and donate what we don’t need.
• Spend my time wisely.
• Be cheerful and find ways to show love to my family.
• Work on writing and implementing my Rule.

I recently received a copy of To Be Like Jesus – Inspiration from the Gospel of Luke to review from The Catholic Company. This book is a gem.  Sister Ann Shields gives us 31 passages from Gospel of Luke followed by a reflection on the scripture.  She also includes an additional scripture at the end of each chapter for further reflection.  The book is set up to be read once a week in preparation for Sunday Mass, as the Gospel of Luke is read during Ordinary Time Cycle C.  However, I think this book makes a great devotional for any time of the year.  The reflections are really practical and thought provoking.  Even a passage that I’ve heard a million times, Sister Ann puts a new spin on it and helps me see something new.  I think this makes great pre-lent reading–it really helps me to set my focus on being more Christ-like.

And I’ve spent most of my week working on my plans for Lent.  See, most years it sneaks up on me and I’m left unprepared and scrambling at last minute ideas and then nothing gets done.  But not this year!  I’m determined to make the most of Lent this year.  

So here are my many ideas I’ve been jotting down in my notebook:

Make a crown of thorns we did this a few years ago and we had issues with the toothpicks getting stuck.  I’m thinking of maybe getting a grapevine wreath or something similar to use instead.

If I can get to the store (and remember what I needed there) I’m going to tie purple ribbon around all our religious art.   I like the gentle reminder of the season all around the house.  

I want to make some sort of Lenten calendar.  The kids love advent calendars, and any kind of countdown really.  So I think this would be meaningful for them.  I’ve seen many different styles.  I’m leaning towards simple, lol.  I’ll post pictures when I figure out what we’re doing.

I saw the idea at Castle of the Immaculate to have a bowl of sacrifices.  I LOVE this idea.  My kids were really struggling with the idea of having to sacrifice something for the entire 40 days of Lent.  I love the idea of choosing something different for each day.   

I would like to do the stations of the cross on Fridays with the kids.  I’ll be using this fabulous idea as well as these coloring pages.  I’m thinking I’ll put them up on the wall in my hallway going up the stairs.

And of course, I can’t forget books. Like anything else, we’ll be doing lots of reading during the Lenten season.

We jumped into our Russia study!  

We read A Symphony of Whales (what a neat book!)

We started The Night Journey (Annie is loving it, but the twins aren’t sure yet–it might be a little over their heads)

We also started reading SovieTrek  (so far it’s a huge hit–my kids love the idea of bike riding across an entire country or continent)

Annie is reading Angel on the Square .

Here’s a few pics of our Russia Map/Poster

Dinoboy drew a Beluga whale to go on the map for A Symphony of Whales

Annie is now officially a Girl Scout.  She had her first service project this week helping at the local food pantry, sorting food and discarding expired stuff.  She is so excited.  

We took Cutie to the children’s hospital for follow up’s with neurology (no real problems there but they want to see her in 6 months anyways–hopefully that will be the last time!) and hematology.  Hematology was much more interesting.  It seems that her Thalassemia, which we new was rare, is so rare that she is in fact the first ever case.  They’re even going to name it after her.  Thankfully it’s mild enough that we don’t need to worry now, but it looks like we’ll be back every 3 months to have her blood checked.   I’ve also set up an appt. for her to be evaluated by early intervention to see if she needs any speech therapy.  And of course, she said mama for the first time immediately after.  I figure, if she suddenly begins babbling/talking over the next month, I can always cancel the appt., Murphy’s Law and all.

Also, Cutie has suddenly started eating real food, and keeping it down.  It would seem that she’s finally learned to swallow without gagging.  Now if I could get her to eat something other than banana, we’d be in business.

Yesterday we finally got a chance to go to the library, and I was  psyched to see several copies of Carpe Demon available for check out.  It’s apparently the book of the month.  I had heard about it months ago at The Homeschool Library and it’s been on my to-read list ever since.  Basically the idea is what would happen if Buffy the Vampire Slayer grew up, and  became a soccer mom?   I’m only a third of the way through, but it’s really good!  

Phew…February got off to a busy start, and I don’t think it intends to let up anytime soon.

Overheard in the backseat of the car while listening to No Sleep Til Brooklyn for the millionth time…

Gamerboy: Do you think Cutie likes this song?

Dinoboy: I don’t think she’s old enough to appreciate the Beastie Boys.

How the Reformation Happened Hilaire Belloc (3.5) I would have rated it higher if I’d finished it, but Rob took it back to the library before I did and it was ILL. It was really interesting though!

Flat Belly Diet (4) I am really enjoying this diet. I’ve lost 3lbs and 2 inches so far, and Rob has lost about 10lbs and 4 inches.

Desert Fire: A Novel Shannon Van Roekel (3) I won this in a giveaway on GoodReads. It was ok, I liked the info about Sudan and what’s happening in the Darfur region, but I don’t usually enjoy Christian fiction because it’s a little too preachy for me.

The City of Ember DuPrau (4) I read this as a pre-read for dd, but she didn’t like it at all. I really enjoyed it though. 

Club Dead Charlaine Harris (4) the 3rd Sookie Stackhouse book. These books are just fun.

The Lightning Thief Rick Riordan (3) Eh. I read this because dd raved about how great it was. I thought it was pretty much just Harry Potter with Greek mythology. Even down to him traveling with a girl who was really smart (Hermione) and a kind of bumbling Satyr (Ron), an invisibility cap, a special camp (school) for the half bloods where they can learn about who they are and train, big bad evil guy returning, living with a family member who treats him badly…I understand that sometimes books will borrow ideas, but this just seemed like he took every idea from Harry Potter and tweaked it to fit his story. I did enjoy the Greek Mythology though, so I didn’t hate it, but I probably won’t read the rest of the series.

The Night Journey Kathryn Lasky (5) I absolutely LOVED this book. I bought this for dd to read while we studied Russia, but I decided to use it as a read aloud since there was just so much there to discuss and research. It takes place around the same time as Fiddler on the Roof and it’s about how the main characters great grandmother helped her family escape from Russia during the Pogroms. I can’t believe this is the first time I’ve even heard of this book.

The Lion,  the Witch and The Wardrobe (5) I read aloud to the kids.  Our goal is to read the whole Chronicles of Narnia this year.  We’ve only ever made it as far as Prince Caspian, which we’re reading now.  

Plus, of course, all the science books we read for our human body unit.  I actually read a lot in January.

As Annie was helping to get the appetizer ready last night at the in-laws house, Gamerboy came running to see what it was.  

Annie: It’s the appetizer, don’t look yet!

Gamerboy: Are there apples in it?

Annie: What?

Gamerboy: Are there apples in the appletizer?