{This and That} :: Announcements!

I actually have a bunch of posts in drafts almost ready to go, but for now, you get back-to-back {This and That} posts so that I can share some happy announcements!

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First and most importantly for me: Baby Damien Ambrose arrived on Sunday!

Six days late, after a few days of prodromal labor, he arrived with one push and much relief at 9:53am on the 9th!  We decided on his name a couple hours after he was born and entrusted him to two favorite saints: St. Damien of Molokai and St. Ambrose of Milan.  Thank you so much for your prayers.

We got home Monday, had the baptism Wednesday, and spent the rest of the week resting -- as much as one can with nine kids in the house!

Well, some of us spent the week resting. Some of us spent the week bickering over whose turn it was to hold the baby.  At least it's a worthy issue to fight over!  I tried to point out that he isn't going anywhere and that there would be many days, weeks, years to hold him. They didn't seem to think that was any reason to stand down.

 

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More exciting news: early registration is now open for CM West :: Conference in Old San Juan!

Our 2018 Northern California event will be February 8-10, at a peaceful retreat center nestled in the rolling hills of old San Juan Bautista, just a few miles from the Mission.

This early registration window is your chance to either put down a fully-refundable deposit to secure a spot before general registration opens in October OR complete your full registration at a discount.

This conference sold out quickly last year, so if you think you'd like to join us this February, click on over for more details!

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Last but not least: my good friend Dawn Duran has published a new resource for Charlotte Mason families and groups.  It's called Swedish Drill Revisited, and it's the work of years of research into Miss Mason's methods combined with Dawn's own experience as a physical therapist and educator.  She has implemented Swedish drill with her own children and in a co-op setting, and has shared her thoughts on the method as well as many how-to resources at Afterthoughts over the past year.  Now she has turned all that information (and more) into a user-friendly, hyper-linked e-book!  I'm hoping to do a thorough review once I have had a chance to try it out with my children, since drill is something that has always looked like fun but has never gotten off the ground here.  Now with Dawn's guide, I'm thinking I can make that happen.  If you're interested in reading more, head over to Afterthoughts Shoppe and take a peek!

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I told you how excited I am about In Memoriam last week; this week, I'm excited about all the posts people are writing in response to the perspective it sheds on Miss Mason and her work. A couple great examples so far:

The Delightfully Casual Element of Nature Study by Naomi (so pleased to read this since our own studies are quite casual but, so far, quite wondrous and valuable too!)
In Memoriam: Fellowship and Common Ground by Karen Glass (one in a series -- and I couldn't agree more!)

I'm hoping to write about some juicy tidbits I have discovered so far in In Memoriam...when I get the chance. ;)

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Have a great weekend!