Catholic Child Catalog: Faith & Fun!

I've been busy celebrating the Advent season with the family and writing for Catholic Child Catalog!
Check out some of the activities we've been doing over at CCC's Faith & Fun section!
Christmas, A Time for Fun Traditions!

Montessori-ish St. Nicholas Presentation

The Saint Nicholas Center has a sweet little presentation for the Feast of St. Nicholas. On their website it says: "This story is for use with open, discovery-based approaches to children's Christian formation." One of them being the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

There is also a more detailed version for older children. Check it out by clicking HERE.

While at the website, I also found out that a new movie called, Nicolas, Bishop of Myra, is in production as we speak! It sounds interesting and I'm looking forward to it's release!
Check out more info HERE.

It's Time for Advent Adventures Again!

Last year our family signed up for Holy Heroes free Advent Adventures program. My kids absolutely loved it, and it was a really great springboard for talks and activities regarding the Advent Season. When you sign up for Advent Adventure, you'll get an email with each day's new video, crossword puzzles, coloring sheets and more! I am so grateful for this wonderful program, as it has truly enriched our Advent season with even more excitement and anticipation for the coming Birth of Our Lord. We are very much looking forward to starting our Advent Adventure this coming season and hope that your family will enjoy it too! You can sign up by clicking on he logo above, or by visiting www.holyheroes.com
While you're there, you can also check out all of their wonderful products, of which my children especially enjoy Glory Stories and Holy Heroes Mysteries of the Rosary Cd's. These are great tools for celebrating the Liturgical year, and the children come away inspired and learning so much after listening to these! Check it out!

Feast of St. Nicholas

Today we had quite an exciting begining! Papi and I were awoken to the sounds of our amazed children marveling at the tiny treats they found in their little shoes left by the fire place last night. They were so excited to see the little foil covered chocolates, candy cane, and tape. Tape? You ask? Yes, tape! :) Like the kind you wrap presents with! It seems these boys are never more content in this life than when they've got things like tape, rubber bands and yarn. What's funny is that they were not at all shocked that St. Nicholas had brought them something for being good little boys, but that St. Nicholas knew Papi liked Snickers bars and got him one ;) They just could not get over the fact that he actually knew!
After breakfast, the boys each got a different picture of St. Nicholas to color from SaintNicholasCenter.org and then our 6 year old read A Saint Nicholas Story to his brothers.

Jessica over at Shower of Roses had a great practical life activity for her children to do based on St. Nicholas. Her children made some St. Nicholas Hot Cocoa mix to give away to friends and family for Christmas. I think this is a wonderful idea and a great way to incorporate some Montessori practical life activities during this season of Advent. I know the children will be thrilled to do this! Thanks for the idea Jessica!

Interactive Advent Fun!

http://www.holyheroes.com/
Click on the link above to take you on a daily Advent Adventure! Our children have been enjoying this so much and I'm even learning along the way as well! Advent adventure has been more than perfect to include in our Catholic Living studies and experiences for this time of year! It's a great resource, and the best part is that it's FREE! :) I thought you might enjoy it as much as I have. I heard about it on the 4RealLearning forum and am very glad we checked it out! Take a look!