Summer Learning Fun!

With 2 girls gone to Schoenstatt Girl's camp this week and 4 little boys 'bored' without one of their favorite playmates to play with, I decided to put together something a little fun just for them. With my blog called "Just Heavenly" and our homeschool called "Heavenly Homeschool" and our homeshrine called "Heavenwards" you must realize that my one goal in life is to get myself, my husband and all our children to Heaven! Why not? Nothing else is as important to me than my children and their faith walk. Having 5 boys, 4 of them little and right in a row, hoping and praying that at least one of them chooses the priesthood is never far from my mind. So that was the main focus for our mini Vacation Bible School at home this week--the Priesthood and the Mass! So here we go!

First we started out practicing making the Sign of the Cross and genuflecting as a refresher for all of them. (The 2 year old of course looks like he is trying to poke his eyes out!) Then we prayed one decade of the Holy Rosary for our priests at church. At the end of the week, I will make thank you notes with an explanation of our week and informing them of the spiritual bouquet we made for them.

Then I read them a few pages of this book. I will finish reading it throughout the week. I love these books!

When we were done reading I gave them some coloring sheets and went over vestments with them, showing them how the priest's vestment colors are matched to the liturgical year. I found the coloring pages here and also used her Vestmant Craft (change the color) to have them change the vestments themselves! I also read to them the prayers the priest says as he is putting on each piece of clothing.

While they were coloring, I had some Mass songs playing in Latin in the background. When they were finished coloring, I took an old green bedsheet that I have already used to make them their own chasubles and cut out stoles for each one of them. Using fabric paint, I decorated each one of them. They will have to wait for the paint to dry to try them out though! (forgive our cutting and the wrinkly fabric! Mom has only so much time.)

After lunch was cleaned up we had to have a snack! Sugar cookies made to look like little hosts seemed to be a great finish to our educational and fun day. All four little boys helped with the measuring and then the 8 and 6 year olds helped roll them into balls to bake. I used a steak knife to put a little cross in each. I thought they turned out pretty cute!

That is the end of our first day of Priest and Mass study. I will post more pictures in the coming days so you can enjoy all the fun we are having. Thanks for reading and come back soon!