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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

Since we have so many little ones running around the house it has been hard to display projects that the older kids make. The little ones often get into things and disturb them or break them. However, I discovered that an old fish tank can serve as a perfect solution to the display problem. It works very well! The tank is just the right height so all the kids can see what’s in it, and they can tell each other and anyone who comes to the house about the things they found or made without fear of it being destroyed. Plus, the light makes it nice to see the items and the glass makes dust less of an issue. Only one problem: I can’t fit the really big stuff in the tank, but most of the things the kids make or find are small, so that’s not often a problem.

This is a project to decorate a blooming tree for the month of May. Because the month of May is the month of the Blessed Virgin Mary, decorating a flowering tree with images of Our Lady’s life and apparitions is certainly appropriate! Our kids had a grand time decorating the flowers for the tree! The tree turned out so lovely, but the my photos just don’t do it justice! Each flower has a center with an image of  Mother Mary, Mary portrayed in different nationalities, moments in her life, and her apparitions. The little ones loved learning more about Mary as we talked about each of the pictures. To make this tree you will need: small images of Mary  Flower shapes A tree to decorate ideas for a tree: indoor artificial or live tree, dead tree branches arranged in a flower pot or vase, tree shape cut out of colored paper and taped to a wall or bulletin board. Artificial flowers and leaves to decorate tree. (optional) Construction paper ~ purple, blue, pink, yellow, and orange for flowers (optional) Construction paper ~ Green for leaves (optional) Crayons, glitter glue, craft gems, and other craft items for decorating the flowers (optional) glue scissors thread needle Instructions: Once you have the tree to decorate and have added artificial flowers and leaves, if desired, decorate both sides of the flowers that have been cut out of construction paper using crayons, glitter glue, craft gems, etc. as desired. Then, glue a Marian image on both sides of the flowers. Use a needle and thread to make a looped hanger for each and hang the flower/picture on the tree. It so nice I’m not going to want to take it down after May!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ God Bless. ~Jen-Marie

Elizabeth as “Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha”

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

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!

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!

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!!

Making a floral crown for a Marian statue Often, we like to make a crown of flowers for our statues of The Blessed Mother during the month of May. Making a crown can be a bit tricky, but this is the easiest way I found to make one…. You will need: variety of artificial flowers – appropriately sized for the statue you are crowning cloth ribbon – enough to tie around the statue’s head the statue you would like to wear the crown hot glue scissors Instructions: Tie the ribbon around the statue’s head and knot it in the back. Cut off the extra ribbon.  Hot glue the flowers onto the ribbon,  start from the back sides and work to the front of the crown. You may use a bottle or bowl of similar size (instead of the statue) to hold the ribbon while you glue on the flowers. This will help you avoid getting glue on the statue. Place the ribbon back on the statue’s head occasionally as you add the flowers just to check how it’s fitting and looking.  Mother Mary, Pray for us! God bless, ~Jen-Marie