Dreaming...

I don't usually ask for stuff for myself... well, besides chocolate! For my birthday last year I asked for these, and for Christmas I got several Christmas and Advent picture books for the children as my gift. We definitely keep things simple with the children's play things. So when they do get something, it is a real treat and a joy to see them receiving it. I know Mother's Day is still a few month's away, but I can't help dreaming of the beautiful custom necklaces and jewelry from The Vintage Pearl. Their jewelry seems to be just my style, and now that I'm expecting baby number 6, a pretty mama necklace seems like just thing :)

The Little Travelers: Japan

My 5 year old decided to buy The Little Travelers: Japan dvd with money he received from his Godparents for his birthday. His Godparents went to Japan about 3 years ago, and had a lot neat stories to tell and pictures to show. We just watched it a couple of days ago and both the children and I absolutely loved it! It was filmed through the perspective of 2 little girls, sharing with us their experiences in a new country and culture. I think this is a great dvd to show to any child really, but I especially found it great for children being raised with a Montessori type education.

In school we are focusing on Asia for our geography and cultural studies this month. This dvd will fit in perfectly with our study of Japan, along with watching Frances Xavier and the Samurai's Lost Treasure. The 6-9 class will also be learning about how the Catholic Church survived underground in Japan for a couple of hundred years. and the messages of Our Lady of Akita.

Please pray for Serena Rose Marie Priest

My comadre Amy just sent this information to me regarding her friends and their precious, newly adopted daughter Serena Rose:"The biggest joy in our lives arrived on Oct 1st. We have been in the middle of the adoption process for about one and a half years and on Oct 1st, we got the call that she was ours. Serena Rose Marie came home with us on October 4th.

She weighed 6lbs 2ozs, currently she weighs 15lbs 10 ozs. She is a beautiful baby, and as sweet as she can be. We love her so much. She truly is an angel, and we are so blessed.

On Nov 24th we took Serena for a CT scan of her head, and we have come to find out that she has been diagnosed with "hydranencephaly", which in a sense means, her brain did not fully develop during pregnancy.

Her challenges that lie ahead are unknown completely, as there are no two cases the same, we will take one step at a time. We love her so much and we are up for the challenges.

On December 23rd the adoption was finalized... what a perfect Christmas present!!!! On January 1st she was bapitzed... and
that makes her our own little Saint!!!!

Please keep Serena in your prayers, and pray with us that a miracle will happen. We are truly blessed with this beautiful little girl.

Love and Prayers,

Joe, Juliet and Serena"

Juliet has set up a website for Serena. To find out more, please check it out here:
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/julietpriest

Continent Studies: Animals

Our Montessori home school co-op will be doing a study of Asia this month, starting with a trip to see the Peking Acrobats on Monday.At our last parent/teacher meeting, we decided to purchase some miniature animal replicas for the 3-6 classroom, and it also looks like I'll be purchasing some for my 2 boys in the 6-9 classroom as well. I did a quick online search for lists of animals by their continent and found out that Alison's Montessori has sets of animals for sale, as well as a list of what is included for each continent. F.Y.I. Alison's Montessori has the following sets available:

Animals of Africa:
Aardvark
African Adult Elephant
Camel
African Wild Dog
Giraffe
White Rhino
Cheetah
Warthog
Lowland Gorilla Male

Animals of Asia:
Brown Bear
Panda
Leopard
Praying Mantis
Hare
Orangutan
Siberian Tiger
Elephant
Red Panda

Animals of Antarctica:
Chin Strap Penguin
Emperor Penguin
Giant Squid
Humboldt Penguin
Humpback Whale
Rockhopper Penguin
Sperm Whale
Walrus
Polar Bear
Octopus
Harp Seal
Dolphin
Sailfish

Animals of Australia:
Platypus
Cockatoo
Kangaroo
Koala
Blue Whale
Octopus
Crocodile
Humpback Whale
White Shark
Sperm Whale

Animals of Europe:
Owl
Hedgehog
Brown Bear
Wild Boar
German Shepherd
Border Collie
Dalmatian
Frog
Harp Seal
Ladybug
Hermit Crab

Animals of North America:

Squirrel

Beaver
Anteater

Deer

Bald Eagle

Wolf

Bison

Moose

Animals of South America:
Llama
Donkey
Armadillo
Alpaca
Iguana
Flamingo
Great Horned Owl
Honey Bee
Toucan
Macaw
Hermit Crab

These can be included in geography boxes or kits for the classroom as mentioned in this earlier post.

Now to find a good source to buy cultural objects! I provided the children with coins, textiles, jewelry, post cards, and indigenous dolls from Mexico for our studies in December and they loved them! I had them from when I visited family as a teenager. Got any ideas or suggestions for cultural objects from the rest of the world?