Happy All Hallows Eve

It is the beginning of our celebration of all the holy men and women who have gone before us, the Church at Rest.  Halloween has taken a turn toward the scary and unholy, but is still a valid to remember the dead.  It has been such a crazy week that I am scrambling to pull together some activities for a get together with some great friends later.  So, I thought I would share a bit of our plans.

Source

The children are dressing up, but I do not let them dress up as anything scary, inappropriate, or "bad" influences like pirates, devils, and the like.  I think dressing up fuels the imagination, so I'm fine with it as long as it is pushing the children in a positive direction. Usually, we also have saints costumes for All Saints Day, but it seems October flew by without me thinking about that. I may just get the kids to pull something together from their dress up bin, tomorrow. Last All Souls Day, we walked the cemetery and prayed the Divine Mercy chapter. I am hoping to do that again this weekend.

Here are some links for All Saints resources, Have a very blessed weekend and God rest the souls of all the faithfully departed.

• As always, Jessica at Shower of Roses is chock full of amazing ideas.  I am going to attempt to pull together a couple of guessing jars and her saintly scavenger hunt.  Find her All  Saints resources here.
• Charlotte at Waltzing Matilda also has some beautiful games. We are going to do her saintly symbols scavenger hunt. You can find her posts here.
• Holy Heroes has a wonderful post on celebrating All Souls with children. You can find it here.
• We are going to pray the Litany of Saints today at the party, you can find it on the Pray More Novenas site, here.
• Lastly, we are going to make some saintly decorations to add some extra holiness to our home and share stories of our favorite saints with our friends. I'm making copies of a blank paper doll for each child to fill in and share.  (Paper Dali saints is a great place to find ready to color paper dolls if you don't want to make your own) There are so many projects that can be done, but being short on time and money, paper dolls is where we are at. However, check out my pinterest boards for more ideas.

God bless you, all! How are you celebrating this weekend of feasts?

Pretty Happy Funny Real: The It's been Crazy Around Here Edition

I am so sorry that it has been so long since I last posted. It hasn't been for lack of wanting to. So, here I am, and hopeful that I can get the ball rolling again. Linking up with Auntie Leila and offering you a peak at our week.

Pretty

I quickly snapped this picture of Little Man's godsister after Mass on Sunday. I wish I could have gotten closer but I didn't want her to know I was taking it. She was so eagerly and obviously praying, with her little lips moving as she whispered to Jesus. I still owe that little one a birthday gift, so come back next week for a tutorial on what I am making. Her mother and I both said, this little glimpse of Heaven should be in a magazine somewhere.

Happy

Everyone was happy at the barn this week. Little Man was rolling in the dirt which made him happy as a pig in mud. He is falling in love with the horses and tried running into the arena for a closer look several times.

Buddy was happy to get a lesson in, which hasn't happened in a couple of months for various reasons. He was not happy that I tried to take his picture on his way back to the barn.  For Buddy, when he wants his picture taken, he is a ham, but when he feels like the photo is interrupting something important he wants nothing to do with it.

Cowgirl was happy to be back in the saddle again--does that expression work when you ride bareback?  With lots of rain the past two weeks and me being very ill last week, this was the first time we had been to the barn since the beginning of October.  She was also happy to try put her new boots. I was very happy to have found them at a consignment store for only $9. I had been praying for a breakthrough in finding boots because we have had some unexpected expenses recently but I discovered that both the kids were wearing boots that were two sizes too small. I searched and searched for a good deal but couldn't find one, I wasn't sure what to do, then a blessing fell in our lap. Thank the LORD. Buddy is wearing Cowgirl's old boots and everyone's toes are happier.

Funny
So, we have a few projects we are trying to wrap up before winter. Since, we are hosting our Teams of Our Lady group in two weeks, I am trying to set that as the deadline for finishing. I feel a bit guilty because we just learned about humility and letting go of the fear of what others think. I know that my wonderful teammates will not even be moved one way or another by the state of our home, they are such lovely Catholics, but it is a good motivator to organize the troops.

One of the projects at the top of the list was replacing the kitchen floor. When we moved in almost 10 years ago, I laid a vinyl tile floor in the kitchen during Cowgirl's naps. I really liked that floor and had no desire to redo it, except that it was popping up all over and tripping us. Buddy even cut his foot on a portion of popped up tile.  We originally planned on replacing it with linoleum, but in will spare you the details of that ordeal. So, after sending my husband the picture below and telling him how much I needed a functioning kitchen, I headed out to see what flooring I could find.  We headed to the closest large town that has just about everything and began our search. The kids and I managed to hit three stores in two hours, including a closeout store where I found Shaw laminate flooring for $1 a square foot. Cowgirl helped me load eight boxes into two carts and we headed to the checkout before the snack I had purchased to keep everyone happy ran out.

When we returned to the car with the eight boxes and four bags of other items we purchased for other projects, I realized I still had to fit it all in the car. It is actually a godsend that my husband was working late
 He wouldn't have fit in the car, it was doubtful that my stroller would fit after I loaded the boxes, forgetting that Little Man was still sitting in it. I pulled out a few boxes, out the baby in the car, wedged in the stroller, replaced the boxes and put everything else in the passenger side seat. I then sent my husband the photo below with the caption, "We all survived and I fit it in the car, too!"

Real
Having our all purpose room out of commission has been a real challenge. The counters are full of all the pantry items from our hutch.  The table is askew and missing chairs, the refrigerator is in the middle of the room, and there are tools everywhere. Still I am starting to see the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel-- although I have chosen to delay a couple of other projects just because I need to keep school going for the time being.  Little Man's Godfather has been helping us out with the floor. They have enjoyed seeing each other.

Although they have been working on a lot this past week, like the flat tire I got in Little Man's Godparents' driveway on Saturday.  It's Funny how in the midst of Real chaos, there is a Pretty easy way to be Happy; surround yourself with great, God-loving people!

Teaching Vocations: The Mass Kit

Here is a quick Favorite 5 list of Mass kits for kids.  I planned a longer post but am fighting something fierce and can only make it through a quick one, so bear with me.  More to come soon.

This is a truly exquisite set from Our Father's House. If you have the means to purchase on, it is a true treasure.

This is the Mass Kit that I bought for Buddy. Not as fancy but still beautiful. I like how it includes the stoles to match the liturgical seasons. You can find it here on etsy. 

Speaking of etsy, this is a new find there. What I like best about this set is that the variables are also included (including white, which is lacking in the set above) and since everything is felt it is extremely durable. You can purchase this set here.

For the very young, there is this stuffed set.  I have been admiring it for Little Man for quiet some time. We have purchased a few of the rice filled saints dolls for boo-boos, and I also like the fabric books! Check out the shop here!

If you have never visited Catholic Icing, you must. Lacy has a beautiful plan for a homemade Mass Kit for only a small fraction of the cost of any others.  She also has a plan for a mini-travel Mass Kit here.  I plan on making some of these items to round out our own collection.

So, that's my very fast post.  Later this week, I will be posting a very inexpensive diy baptism set. Come back and join us, soon.

We Have a Winner!!

Congratulations to Elizabeth Be. !!! Thank you to all who entered. The link https://secure.lillarose.biz/parties/6759 will be open until October 28th for Christmas shopping or something special for yourself. Please shop through the link so that Mary's Meals will earn donations. Thanks, again. Happy Saturday

Giveaways Galore in 7 Quick Takes

Linking up with Conversion Diary for 7 Quick Takes Friday to bring you some fabulous giveaways, before beginning my new series on vocations next week.

1
First, in looking to link up with Auntie Leila for pretty-funny-Happy-Real yesterday, I stumbled upon another blog names Like Mother, Like Daughter that not only has some delicious recipes but is offering a $300 PayPal giveaway! This is huge, so it had to come first:) What would you do with $300?

2

Don't forget about the giveaway that is ending at midnight right here on Veils and Vocations. Enter to win your choice of loveliness from Lilla Rose.

3

Michelle at My Domestic Monastary is giving away her book Faith Beginnings. Hurry and enter the contest ends at midnight.

4

Have you visited Catholic Deals before? It's a great resource for finding family and religious minded sales online. It also hosts some wonderful giveaways. Check out their post of beautiful, saintly doll clothes to help your Little girl get her best friend ready for that All Saints party. These also make sweet Christmas gifts. While you are there, enter to win a rose crown and crucifix necklace for your favorite doll.

5

If you have never visited Holy Heroes, please do. My children have enjoyed so many of their products and go to sleep most nights listening to one of the five Glory Stories they own. Holy Heroes has a bunch of freebies going on. First, you can try out volume one of Glory Stories and receive a free prayer card of your choice for just the cost of shipping. They make wonderful stocking stuffers.  Also, sign up for their free Mass prep emails that contain an entertaining video lesson on the Gospel reading for the coming Sunday, printable coloring pages, and more. Did I mention, it's free? We watch the Mass prep video every Friday during Morning Meeting. Don't forget to sign up for the Advent Adventure before you leave Holy Heroes, another fine, free tradition. My kids can't wait for it to begin.

6

House Unseen, Life Unscripted is one of my new favorite blogs.  Dwija is a funny, down to earth, real Mom.  She recently moved to a house that had been seen, but that's another story. She and Babyganics are sponsoring a cleaning products plus $100 giveaway.  Be sure to enter even if you don't like to clean;)

7

Brandon Vogt is having a giveaway for the new American Catholic Almanac. He sponsors a giveaway every Friday. Hop over to enter, now.

Pretty Happy Funny Real: The Giveways to Giddy Up Edition

Once again linking up with Auntie Leila for {p,h,f,r}.

PRETTY

First off, I have figured out how to center text on my Kindle, yay! But if you are looking for pretty hair jewelry, check out my Lilla Rose link. There is a very special 72 hour sale going on right now and for every order, $1 will be donated to Mary's Meals. All new customers win big because they can still get the buy 3 get one free offer on top of the sale prices. Also, make sure to enter the giveaway for your choice of Lilla Rose prettiness.

HAPPY

Little Man appears to be as horse-crazy as Cowgirl.  He is constantly clicking his lounge and bouncing up and down, pretending to ride. He even says horse, which sounds more like "gorgk" but he gets his point across, and he cries every time we have to leave the horses after riding lessons.  We brought home, from my mother-in-law's, Cowgirl's first rocking horse that she got at the age of about 18 months.  She honestly played with it up until recently because since it has flip up and down wheels, she would tie a rope to it and drag the horse around pretending she was, well, a cowgirl.  Let's just say that everyone is enjoying having Cinnamon at home.  Little Man likes to rock on him and practice his "posting."  The big kids are having a ball taking him on "pony rides" around the house. Yup, we will be spending a lot of time at the barn for years to come!

FUNNY

This year at our co-op, I am teaching a preschool art class.  We are exploring different artists and making our own versions of some of their famous masterpieces.  This week we learned about Picasso and the girl with the ponytail. To get the children to explore seeing faces differently and ignite their creative juices, I had each child bring in a photocopy of a black and white headshot of themselves. They then were instructed to cut the picture apart however they wished and use the pieces to create a new picture by gluing it onto construction paper and coloring with bright colors.  I was impressed by how seriously and thoughtfully they completed this task.

Now, Buddy is "auditing" this class.  It is technically for five and under, but since he has no class during its time slot, he tags along and participates in the project.  He is my read-all-the-instructions-and-never-color-outside-the-lines child.  This is how he interpreted my instructions.

His response, "If it doesn't look real, Mom, it isn't worth anything." ...sigh!

REAL

Yesterday was Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, so I lit two candles. One was for all the tiny saints, including mine, who are loved but lost too soon.  The other was my special Ave Maria candle that I light in memory of my daughter, Ashley, on her born in to Heaven and due date anniversaries.  Praying for all the lost little ones and the mother and fathers who love them with very full hearts despite their empty arms. God bless you all!

Coming Soon, A New Series: Teaching Vocations

So, my real passion and desire is to create a treasure chest of resources for leading little ones to vocations.  I am working on a series of posts for both boys and girls to do just that. My hope is to eventually write a book for children about the different orders, something that would have fascinated me as a child and even now.  I started this blog after searching for years to find these resources but never finding what I really wanted. So, please return in the next few days to see the start of this series--just in time for the Year of Consecrated Life starting this Advent.

I apologize for the lack of good graphics lately, my computer is being serviced by a dear friend, so maybe soon, I can get back to using Paint and a real keyboard. :)

If you have not done so already, please enter the Lilla Rose giveaway!