Advent Adventure

Did you sign up for Advent Adventure last year? We did and we LOVED it! Just fill in your email address and they'll do the rest--everything is delivered right to your computer. It just doesn't get any easier!

Seven Minutes of Flu FAQs

This video was created by the Will County Health Department. H1N1 Clinics begin this week in the Fox Valley. You can find more information at the Kendall County Health Department and the Kane County Health Department.

We're definitely planning to get all the arklings in for the vaccine asap! How about you?

One Benefit of Being Busy

I would never have tried out this recipe if I wasn't so pressed for time. It just sounds wrong. But it was right. Oh, so very, very right!

Want to make it even simpler? I browned over 5 pounds of ground beef at one time and froze 1-2 pound bags of it. Not even a greasy skillet to speak of for my troubles. Now, if I really wanted to get all high-speed, I'd enlist the help of one of these bad boys to help my clean-up!

A Day of Astronomy

For my local readers...A Day of Astronomy is an event you might like to take advantage of tomorrow. Our upcoming science unit is Astronomy--and this event is FREE! I don't think you'll have to ask us twice.

Media Play

Everyone knows the media has a bag of tricks that distorts reality and changes the images that we see. As a part of our All Things Girl group, which just started on Sunday (and I LOVE!), we'll be delving into the media and its effect on self-image in young girls.

Nothing to talk about there. Ahem.

While doing some of my research, I stumbled upon a site that is absolutely age-appropriate for our 8-13 year old audience (and would certainly be of value to any older kids), created by PBS Kids called "Don't Buy It! Get Media Smart!". Check it out, it's worth it!

Strong Pro-Life Catholic Candidate for Governor in Illinois

Do you live in Illinois?

Are you planning to vote in 2010 for our new governor?

Are you a practicing Catholic Christian?

Have you been looking for a candidate who brings true "change" to the party?

Please take a look at Adam Andrzejewski, brother to one of our very own moms in our local Catholic Mother's Group.

You may find just what you've been looking for! And feel free to spread the word!

Stopping In...

to my poor neglected little blog to make sure that those of you in my neck of the woods caught wind about this recall.

Looks like brats and dogs for Memorial Day.

H/T Mom ;-)

Catholic Company Photo Contest

Win $100 Gift Card for the Cutest First Communion Photo!!

The Catholic Company, the market leader for online Catholic books and gifts, has just announced a First Communion Photo Contest. What a great excuse to pull those photos out of the photo book and show them off again.

Oh--and if that isn't enough--bloggers, podcasters, and webmasters can win a $50 prize for referring the winning entry! What great motivation to help spread the word!

For a look at last year's winner and other entries click here.



Good luck!

March and Maple Sugaring

According to the calendar and (more importantly) to the mallards and robins who have returned to the Ark, Spring is just a few days away!

Dawn from At Sun and Candlelight shares The March Sap Moon just to get you in the spirit!

And, you'll have a chance at an Ark-on-wheels sighting next weekend at this awesome, FREE Maple Sugaring event!

Hope we see you there!

Pssstt...looking for a unit on maple syrup? Dawn (my homeschooling partner-in-crime) sent this great link to me. Definitely bookmark worthy.

Free Waterpark Passes!

The newly-opened waterpark, Raging Waters, located in Yorkville has a great offer for active kids. Here are the details:

Take the Plunge - and Receive a Free

Day Pass to Raging Waves

Raging Waves announces "Plunge into Fitness," a new exercise program for local schools. From March 16 to May 1, children in kindergarten through 5th grade are invited to exercise 30 minutes a day, keep a fitness log, and submit their parent-signed forms to their classroom teachers. (Homeschoolers can submit forms directly to Raging Waves.) Any physical activity may be logged: biking, skateboarding, jump roping, and even playing team sports. Over the seven week period, students will have exercised at least 25 hours - and will earn a free day pass to Raging Waves. Check our website on or after Monday, March 9 to download "Plunge into Fitness" forms.

H/T super-neighbor Denise via email

Great Backyard Bird Count

Another great project at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Make sure your neighborhood birds are counted for the 12^th annual Great Backyard Bird Count! Keep track of the birds you see for at least 15 minutes from February 13 through 16 and report the highest number of each species you see on the GBBC website. You can count in your yard, balcony, or city park­-anywhere you see birds. Watch reports come in from around the continent on the website, upload images for the photo contest, and take our new survey. Just by participating in the GBBC you'll be entered into a drawing for great prizes donated by the National Audubon Society, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Wild Birds Unlimited, and Droll Yankees. Join the Great Backyard Bird Count this year and Count for Fun, Count for the Future!

Lenten Adventure

From the same great people who brought you Advent Adventure, Holy Heroes is offering a similar program for Lent.

You can visit their website for more details, plus check out their announcement regarding new product testing and how it will affect their store. This may be their "going-out-of-business" sale! But let's hope it's not!

Love the American Girl Movies?

Or do you know someone who does? My neighbor (thanks, Denise!) tipped me off to this great deal on the set of the first three American Girl movies on Amazon.

Holiday Public Service Announcement

I wouldn't want you to think I've lost my perspective on what's really important this Christmas season, but this one couldn't go untouched. I made sure to go straight to the source when I received (several) emails telling me that my beloved Talbots stores were ALL going out of business.

I made fast work of making sure this rumor was just that when I saw such blasphemy! You can read about it on their website...and it looks like it may not be true for the others stores as well.

It's all well and good until somebody starts trashing Talbots.

Preparing for All Saints Day

Here is a lovely link to Pflaum Gospel Weekly's Family Pages. It has a host of online resources such as reproducible activities (for preschool, K-1, 2-3, 4-6, 7-8 and a family prayer service(including a litany of the saints). Be sure to stop by and check it out before you even start carving those pumpkins!

Bad Coins

This is a warning from the Canadian government to its people, but I thought we might be careful about candy from China as well. Also, if you know anyone in Canada , please inform them of this dangerous candy. Happy All Hallows Eve!

H/T Jenny via email

Every now and then, a warning circulated in email proves to be the real deal. Such is the case with this warning about Pirate's Gold Chocolate Coins sold at Costco and other locations throughout Canada. You can read the full story here at snopes.com.

Says Who?

The National Catholic Register ran this article, which was brought to my attention on the Catholic International Adoptive Parents Yahoo group.

While (must I repeat this again?) no adoptive parent believes that adoption is a panacea, many--if not all--believe that adoption at least gives a child a fighting chance at a life with a mom and a dad who love them, whether biologically connected or not. If it is not possible to love another person who is not your genetic cohort, then we have an awful lot of explaining to do in our marriages--all of whom (we don't have single-branch family trees now, do we folks?) bear no resemblance to our chromosomal pool. And yet in a sacramental marriage, in spite of our different gene pools, we manage to love one another and sanctify one another, pointing one another toward Christ step by step and day by day.

If the article's author is correct, then blended families, extended families, foster families and adoptive families are unable to offer "the love of a parent for a child to encourage us to acknowledge and work on our sins — and to make us grateful for the gifts that we have been given." In fact, she believes " biological parents, both mother and father — are the best people to raise their own children" leaving all others as a poor substitute in their wake.

To read the full article, click here. Or, if you're feeling saucy, you can email the editor of the National Catholic Register at editor at ncregister dot com.

Here is the letter I sent them:

To the editor,

Regarding Ms. Selmys article, "It Is in Love That We Are Made", I wonder how extensive the author's experiences are when she speaks of this "pattern that I have seen repeated throughout my encounters with adopted children."

I wonder if she has ever met an adoptive child who is well-adjusted. I can't imagine that ALL of the people at the homeless shelter were adopted. Perhaps it is just possible, that there were people there without parents...or maybe, just maybe, raised by their biological parents and still struggling to make their way?

I wonder if she has ever seen the other options that an adopted child might face, had adoption not been part of their life?

But most of all, I wonder, has she ever looked into the eyes of a child, who so little resembles her, and been showered by God's grace by what she sees?

I know I have.

Jane M.
Mom to seven incredible blessings--three of whom were designed not by my hand or gene pool, but all by the hand of God

Learn Bird Songs

Subtitled: How to Drive the Cat Crazy

H/T By Sun and Candlelight

Making vacation plans?

Check out these 15 Must-See Places for Kids.

Where's My Tax Rebate?

Wondering when you'll receive yours? Here's the official schedule for direct deposit and mailed paper checks straight from the horse's mouth.