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We started to say a family Rosary together about 5 years ago. It amazed me how much it seemed to help me and my family life!  So I highly recommend saying a family Rosary! Saying the Rosary may take those precious 20-25 minutes out of our overly busy days, but God more than makes up for it in other ways! I’ve been asked by several people “How can you say a Rosary with so many little kids?” And I was just asked that question again by a wonderful lady who also has her hands full! __________ While every family is different and our tricks may not work for everyone, this is what we found works well for us: When and How: We normally say the Rosary at night after the kids have had their night time snack and the little ones are ready for bed. The room you are praying in needs to be clean – toy, book, and distraction-free. We have a few rules: The bigger kids must stay sitting or kneeling. The little ones must stay laying down or sitting and they normally have a pillow and blanket, too, but no toys! It did take a few days to get them to understand the “no toys, stay sitting” rules!! We just had to keep bringing them back to the room and taking toys. Once it becomes an everyday event the kids just learn to accept it. Now the little kids just lay down and often times they fall asleep. Types of ways we pray the Rosary: 1. With a DVD:  Years ago when we started saying the Rosary as a family we used Rosary DVDs. It helped the kids to learn how to say the Rosary and the images helped them to stay focused. We got the DVD’s from EWTN, but they might be cheaper somewhere else. The DVDs I found to be the best ones for kids are: Use the DVD — “Rosary in the Holy Land” (The one in the picture is different than mine, but I guess it’s the same.) For Holy Land Rosary Link ~Click here! Other DVD — “The Holy Rosary” -it’s the one with the stain glass window pictures. For Holy Rosary DVD with stain glass window Pics. ~Click here! Note: The Rosary DVDs which are made special for kids are often too distracting and seem to make them think it’s more playtime!! 2. With Pictures: We also have pictures of each of the 20 mysteries. They are the 8×10 size and I put them in a poster frame.  For 20 Mysteries Prints ~Click here!   We just display the correct set of mysteries before we begin. Before we had the 8×10 pictures, the kids each had small Rosary books (Simple $1 book) to help them follow along, but those eventually were just too ripped up to use. 3. With Scripture:  Sometimes we will read scripture verses before each Hail Mary. “Rosary of Praise” or “Scriptural Rosary” are good books to use for this. 4. Other ways, times, and places we have prayed the Rosary: We have also said the Rosary on the drive home from different events when we know we will not have the time when we get home.  A few times we have loaded the kids in the van to say the Rosary while trying to get a baby to sleep. We have said the Rosary while walking outside around our property. We’ve said the Rosary at nap time, it helped to put the little kids to sleep. Distracted Kids? We change the way we say the Rosary (with the pictures, DVD, scripture book, etc.) if they seem like they are becoming more easily distracted. **In other words, if we say the Rosary with the scripture book for a few weeks and the kids seem to be losing interest we switch to the DVD for a while. Other thoughts:  It might help if you start saying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, then after a few days/weeks switch to the Rosary. We give each of the kids a turn leading a decade of the Rosary. If you plan to buy or make Rosaries for children, I recommend “all-twine knotted Rosaries” ~ they are much stronger and more difficult for kids to break!! __________ If you are considering trying to say a daily Rosary together as a family, I hope this can help you to get you started. I hope it all made sense, if not please feel free to leave a comment!

Hannah as “The Angel Gabriel”

This is a popular game at our All Saint's Day parties! This simple game was made using 2 liter bottles with Satan pictures and a soft ball. You should never let Satan try to get you to do something bad. The kids rolled the ball and knocked the 3 evil demons down!

The Feast of the Holy Innocents. This feast day is to remind us of the day Herod murdered all the baby boys so he could kill the King of Kings. But Joseph took Mary and baby Jesus to Egypt and escaped the massacre. See Matthew 2:1-18 Today is a special day to remember the babies who have been murdered, especially those who have died due to abortion. Pray for all babies that they may have the chance to grow as God intends and do God’s will throughout their lives. To help stop the anti-life push around the world, the late Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen encouraged the spiritual adoption of an unborn child. This is done by praying that the one particular but unknown child’s life is spared abortion and be allowed to continue to live. To help accomplish this, it was recommended an individual say the following daily prayer for a period of nine months. ~ Prayer of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Please spiritually adopt an unborn baby. For more information go to: http://www.spiritualadoption.org/

I remember the days when Jon and I only had the two oldest girls. I was so stressed and overwhelmed. I understand how people feel when they ask “How do you do it?” It’s amazing how God gives you what you need. As I had each baby God gave me more patience and understanding. I’m not perfect and I’m still learning, but I’m less stressed with 8, going on 9, kids than I was with two!! Praise be to God for His wonderful ways!!

I made using a wooden sectioned crate (you could use separate boxes or buckets), plastic play fruit and veggies, and a basket. In this game the kids organized the produce by putting red produce in the box labeled red, yellow produce in the box labeled yellow…etc. Younger kids could take the basket of produce to the wooden crate and sorted them. Older kids tossed the produce into the correct box.

Naomi as “St. Helena of the True Cross” She is such a ham!!

This article on discipline was sent in an e-mail from CHC back on February 16, 2010. The way it explains how to handle children is wonderful! I just wanted to share: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Since it is almost impossible to homeschool in the absence of discipline, we offer ‘The Five C’s to a Happy Home.’ The first step in effective discipline is verbal correction . When an undesired behavior is first addressed, point out what the child did wrong, why it’s wrong, and an alternative, positive behavior. “We don’t hit the kitty; instead, we pet him, like this.” Now the child knows what behavior is not acceptable, and what is. The second step in effective discipline is that it is conversation-free . There is often a temptation to think, ‘well, maybe he didn’t understand the first time I told him not to hit the kitty, so I should explain again.’ Discussing the issue again invites the child to talk back, and can develop into a power struggle. Limit talk to a single, brief statement— ‘Remember, we don’t hit the kitty’– as you lead the child to time-out; do not respond to any outburst from the child. Words alone are not discipline; they are just words. The third step in effective discipline is consequences . Time-out can be an effective consequence if it is used consistently. Another excellent consequence is to remove the child from the scene. [He has to get down from the table and wait to resume eating until he is in control of himself and everyone else is done.] If the behavior centers around a toy or an object, the toy or object can be taken away for 24 hours. The fourth step in effective discipline is consistency . A child who has been disciplined inconsistently usually ignores correction, because he knows that he can get away with the behavior several times before anything happens. This is reward enough to keep the bad behavior alive. In contrast, a child who burns himself on a hot wood stove will not touch the stove a second time, for he realizes that the stove will consistently burn him each and every time he touches it. If a child has been disciplined inconsistently, he may test vigorously when a firm plan of discipline is put into place. But, if correction and consequences follow each time, the behavior will die out. Each time he hits the kitty, he goes to time out. The final step in effective discipline is “catching the good.” It is of paramount importance to be observant, catch the child doing the good behavior, and praise him for the improvement. “See how nicely you have learned to pet the kitty. Good job.” Praise stresses the correct behavior, demonstrates to the child that he can do it, and warms little hearts. If undisciplined children are ‘running the household,’ you may wish to drop school for a week and focus on the Five C’s. Pray for wisdom and the graces that Our Lord promises to all parents, then identify the worst behaviors and address those first. Announce to the children what will be expected from now on, and begin taking those five steps to reclaim your happy home. We keep all of you in our prayers and regularly have Holy Mass offered for your intentions. We truly appreciate your prayers for the CHC apostolate, also! In Their Hearts, Theresa Johnson http://www.chcweb.com/

May, the month of Mary, is on its way! Here is a fun art project for the kids so they can honor Our Blessed Mother during the gorgeous spring months. Supplies: Sheet of Paper A Flower catalog Picture of Blessed Mother Scissors Glue Instructions: Have the kids cut out their favorite pictures of flowers from the catalogs and glue them on a sheet of paper. The pictures should overlap so the paper underneath is not seen. You may also add a few pictures of bunnies, butterflies, and birds, etc. In the center of the flowering collage add a picture of the Blessed Mother. This can be taken from a prayer card, printed from the Internet, or cut out of a religious catalog. My daughter Rachel, who came up with this wonderful idea, helped Elizabeth make this example:   Simply Gorgeous! Just be sure to save all those flower catalogs you’ve been getting in the mail! If you’re like me you get at least one a week during the spring months!! Mother Mary, pray for us! ~Jen-Marie

Abigail as “A Princess Angel” I’m not sure what that is!?!? But she insisted!

A few years back our kids made personal prayer books. I bought small scrapbooks and patterned paper to fit in each page. I also saved lots of religious and nature pictures for several months. The pictures came from several sources, like religious mail, magazines, Christmas and birthday cards, as well as, gift wrap and any other things that I found, which were on their way to the trash. I typed up lots of nice prayers and printed them off. Each of the kids received a copy of all the prayers. Then they chose pictures to glue on the page with it. They had lots of fun making the books and it made prayer time more personal and easier to focus on. Here are some of the prayers I had typed up: _____________ Morning Prayer God, give me eyes that I may see, The treasures you have given me. And give me ears that I may hear, The words of faith that keep you near. Lord, give me strength when I am week, And may Thy goals be those I seek. Grant me courage when I’m alone, And when I face the great unknown. Send me a friend when I’m in need, And let me do a noble deed. That others, too, may somehow see, The One who lives and works though me. ~Clay Harrison ____________ Night Prayer Dear God, I thank you for this day, For all your gifts, for work and play. Forgive the things that I did wrong And make my heart grow pure and strong. Show all the world your love and light and let me rest in peace tonight. Amen ___________ Family Prayer God made us a family We need one another We love one another We forgive one another We work together We play together We worship together Together we use God’s Word Together we grow in Christ Together we love all men Together we serve our God Together we hope for Heaven These are our hopes and ideals Help us to attain them O God. Amen __________ Memorare Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen. _______________ Prayer To Your Guardian Angel Angel of God, my guardian dear, To whom God’s love commits me here, Ever this day, be at my side, To light and guard, Rule and guide. Amen. ___________ The Morning Offering O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart, in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, in reparation for my sins, for the intentions of all my relatives and friends, and in particular for the intentions of the Holy Father. Amen. ____________ Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi Lord, make me a channel of thy peace, that where there is hatred, I may bring love; that where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness; that where there is discord, I may bring harmony; that where there is error, I may bring truth; that where there is doubt, I may bring faith; that where there is despair, I may bring hope; that where there are shadows, I may bring light; that where there is sadness, I may bring joy. Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted; to understand, than to be understood; to love, than to be loved. For it is by self-forgetting that one finds. It is by forgiving that one is forgiven. It is by dying that one awakens to Eternal Life. ___________ Children’s Prayer To Mary Dear Mother of Jesus, look down upon me As I say my prayers slowly at my mother’s knee. I love thee, O Lady and please willest thou bring All little children To Jesus our King. _______________ These are only a few of the prayers I typed and added to the books. For more prayers go to: http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/prayers/index.htm

This game is fun for young and old!! The game players search through the beads in the container to find items, but they are not allowed to open the container!! It was addicting fun for everyone! I made this using a large clear container, melting craft beads, and items to find. You might be able to use a soda bottle, but a large jar with a wide mouth works best. The larger opening allows you to put larger items in. A large peanut butter jar might be good. I filled the container half full of beads and I added items to find. I wrote down what the items were as I put them in the container.  I used things like charms and jewelry pins, fancy buttons, stationary supplies, craft supplies, sea shell, etc. Once you have everything in, seal the jar shut with tape or glue.  I added about 60 items, some larger, some small.  I made a check list of the items so the kids could see if they found everything. This was a hit among the older kids!