1st Day of Kindergarten

Yesterday was Mary Clare's first day of Kindergarten! Doesn't she look excited.

Because we are not sending her to a traditional school, her first class was... PE at the local gym.

Gymnastics was a highlight of her week last year, but now it's even better because her buddy Ruth is in her class.

MC in class at back to school night.

MC is attending a charter school that is a part of our public school system. It's different than a tradition public school because primarily we do school at home*. I've been told very explicitly that we are NOT homeschooling, but doing school at home through a virtual academy. MC has a teacher and classmates that she gets together with a few times a month, either in person or via a skype-type program, but for the most part, I work with her at home to do her lessons. They call me the learning coach.

Here's her little desk with all it's materials and books, which happily arrived free of charge to my doorstep a few weeks ago. They are also going to pay for part of our internet.

That's the same desk from my room in high school where I did my homework and the same chair I sat in as a kid at the kitchen table writing letters to my grandmas, so her study space has some good educational roots.

Some of her lessons are online computer games or activities, but for the most part it's the two of us making discoveries together at the kitchen table or in a fort in the backyard or under a blanket on the couch... you get the idea.

Last night MC asked how long she would be in school for. "Um, at least 17 years." I said. I guess the journey has to start somewhere and I'm glad we get to do it together.

*If you are concerned that she will be socially awkward, please don't be. I'm a firm believer that awkward parents make awkward kids, not schooling at home. I don't think I'm awkward... and she has tons of social interaction with other kids multiple times a week... and I'm not just talking about her brother.

Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven at the end of her earthly life is a defined dogma of the Catholic Church. The Feast of the Assumption, celebrated every year on August 15, is a very old feast of the Church, celebrated universally by the sixth century. It commemorates the death of Mary and her bodily assumption into Heaven, before her body could begin to decay--a foretaste of our own bodily resurrection at the end of time. Because it signifies the Blessed Virgin's passing into eternal life, it is the most important of all Marian feasts and a holy day of obligation.

Time out. I wish I wrote the above paragraph, but I didn't... of all websites I have to hand it to about.com. Typically I'm not a fan of them because the site is so ugly (don't tell their mom I said that) and I'm often directed there by accident, but hey, they nailed it.

In case you are worried that you didn't go to Mass today you don't need to be running to confession. Since the Solemnity falls on a Monday it's abrogated. Ooooo, fancy word. It just means the obligation is lifted.

I love solemnities. Not only because my husband gets the day off of work (hooray for FOCUS!), but because they celebrate some of the most important aspects of our faith. Honoring Mary and remembering that one day all in the world will be right and we too will resurrect from the dead is so exciting. I really can't imagine what it will be like, but I seriously can't wait.

Because the feast falls while gardeners and farmers are harvesting there are traditionally blessings of fruits, herbs and flowers on this day. For the blessing and more info check out Catholic Culture.

My daughter picked some flowers from her very own flower garden and took them to Mass with us today for the statue of Mary. She was quite proud.

We also had a special tea time today (there was no tea, so it's more like a snack time, but tea time sounds much more official... and cool) in honor of our Lady.

To eat we had blueberry muffins which are white for her purity and blue for her mantle. To drink we had what I like to call Assumption Punch, which is made of fruit and the herb mint for the items we traditionally bless today. Directions are below!

Ingredients:

• 3/4 c. fresh squeezed lemon juice (about 6 small lemons)
• 1 c. strawberries (heaping)
• 1/2 c. pineapple juice
• 1/2 c. orange juice
• 3 c. sprite
• 3/4 c. sugar
• 2 c. crushed ice
• A few sprigs of mint

Step 1: Squeeze the lemons. If you roll them to soften them up a bit before you cut them open it makes the process much easier. Also, you can strain the juice when you are done to get out the seeds, or you can pick the seeds out before you squeeze them.

Step 2: Puree the heaping cup of strawberries. Any appliance with a rotating blade works here.

Step 3: Add the lemon juice and strawberries to all of the other liquids listed above. Stir it all up, garnish with mint and enjoy the deliciousness of summer.

Feast of St. Clare

It was an exciting day in the Cotter household because it's Mary Clare's feast day!

This photo has little to do with the Feast of St. Clare, but it was taken today.

I probably don't need to tell you this, but we had donuts for breakfast. Done.

Then we listened to a Glory Story on St. Clare. Glory Stories are produced by a Catholic company called Holy Heros who put out some fabulous resources for Catholic families.

The story was a little intense for my sensitive girl, but in the end when everything worked out she was fine. We had some great conversations over the story later in the day, so she was definitely taking it all in! I hope to add more of these to our collection over the years.

When St. Clare's convent was under attack by Emperor Fredrick II, who was at war with the Pope, she brought out a monstrance, held it high and began to pray. Her prayers were heard and the army fled. Thus you often see St. Clare holding a monstrance.

Naturally for a craft today we made monstrances. 

I believe this is the last time I will ever give my kids glitter glue.

Finally we read the book Clare and Francis by Guido Visconti. This book was a gift Mary Clare received when she was born from a great friend ours, Stacy. It is a beautiful book with amazing details that I am still discovering each time we read it.

St. Clare, pray for us!

Kelly's Camping Bachlorette

Perhaps you remember super-fun Aunt Kelly, the one who is marrying Tom? Well, this weekend was Kelly's bachlorette party... a camping trip in the Rockies! I told you she was super-fun.

There really is nothing like waking up to a view like this. Especially because I never sleep well when camping. Something about bears makes me nervous and I've convinced myself that perhaps one would like to eat me.

The night was definitely not a typical bachlorette party. We made our own dinner over the fire and then spent the rest of the night talking about Tom and the wedding. It was great.

The camping crew included some of Kelly's good friends from as far back as high school. I was very thankful for their knowledge of camping, without which the weekend would have been at a spa.

Just a few weeks until the wedding and we are all so excited to celebrate with Kelly and Tom!

The Launch of FOCUSequip.org

16 months ago I (Kevin) had the dream of setting up a website that would combine the great formation of FOCUS with the amazing practical tools that FOCUS offers for evangelization, discipleship, and bible studies.

Today, we are proud to announce the launch of www.focusequip.org. 

In particular, this website helps FOCUS students and student leaders, but can also be used by college students on non-FOCUS campuses, FOCUS staff and student alumni, and anyone who wants to learn more about the faith and how to share it.

A few highlights:

1. FOCUS’ three new Bible studies that I wrote: 

2. FOCUS’ three new How-to articles that I wrote: 

3. The Best-of FOCUS Conference audio talks and video clips

For example:

Video: Fr. Mike Schmitz – They’re Playing My Song

Audio Talk: Dr. Edward Sri – Don’t Impose Your Morality on Me

I wanted to thank many of you who have supported us with your prayers and financial support for our work with FOCUS. We could not have made this site without you!

I also want to thank my wife Lisa for all of her dedication and support! I couldn't have done it without her either!

If you are interested in following FOCUSequip on social media or a contest that is willing away 30 copies of Dr. Sri's book, A Biblical Walk Through the Mass, check out this post from the FOCUSequip blog.

God Bless!
Kevin

Potty Party

We have been potty training in the Cotter home. This is a dreadful task that all parents must, at some point, face head on. I have yet to find somebody who enjoys this, so if that is you please tell me your secret. For now we try to combat the difficulty by turning the process into a party.

Disclaimer: In an effort to spare my son the embarrassment of one day finding pictures of himself sitting on a potty floating around the internet, we will not be featuring such photos.

The potty party is a one day training method developed by Teri Crane, author of Potty Train Your Child In Just One Day... it's more like one week in the Cotter home, but it's still worth it to me. It's a cold turkey method where they wake up in diapers and by the afternoon they never put another one on.

So we cover the house with plastic tarps.

For a potty party you spend the morning training a doll how to use the potty so your child can learn how the process works. When the doll uses the potty or stays dry everyone gets a treat, so long as they promise to one day use the potty too. Little do they know that today is that day, beginning after their nap.

Paul celebrating his doll "Blue" learning how to be a big boy during Blue's potty party celebration at lunch. Blue is sitting with "Blue-Blue" the dog. We really need to teach our child how to come up with more creative names for dolls and stuffed animals. I love the look of excitement on his face.

In the afternoon it was Paul's turn to give the potty a whirl. Pun intended... I just like to point things like that out. After several cups of juice, to maximize training opportunities, Paul too had a celebration party where he received a present and threw away his diapers. Don't worry I grabbed them out of the trash when he wasn't looking. Now I just need to move them out of the kitchen cabinet to a more appropriate storage place.

He did really well on party day, but as you might expect there is some trial and error that follows so my conversations have been limited to:

Me: "Do you need to go potty?"

Paul: "No."

Me: "Are you sure?"

Paul: "No."

We'll get there.

Major props to Kevin for being the "potty coach" who ran the show on party day while MC and I went out for high tea.