Christmas 2015

This year our Christmas celebrations started on Wednesday when we had donuts delivered by a couple of Aaron's brothers.  Somehow this has become a tradition and the kids just love it, since clearly we don't get enough donuts every Sunday after Mass.  

Later that day we visited our friend Jean at the care home.  We stayed a little longer than usual, and she took us on a little tour around the place to show us all "her" Christmas decos.  That was fun.  I am so glad that we have built this relationship, it is such a blessing to our family and especially the kids.

When we got home the kids went over to our dear neighbor's for cookies and she had made them each a little pencil pouch.  Clem loved his so much he has slept with it every night with his little kitten zipped up inside.

That evening we went on our annual light-look.  We'd never waited until that late in the year to go.  Suffice it to say that the eve of Christmas eve is a VERY popular night to go out and look at lights.  But we had a really good time. Just don't check the gas mileage on our van.

Earlier in the week we worked on our annual ornaments for grandparents and godparents.  We decided to take a break from the salt-dough ones and did photo ornaments this year instead, I had picked up a pack at Aldi at the end of the season last year for super cheap.  This was a nice change in pace (read: sooooooooooo much easier and wayyyyyyyyy less messy). 

Christmas eve was a really quiet day this year (plans/obligations outside the house-wise that is).  Normally we celebrate with my inlaws that day, but apparently there were some scheduling conflicts so we had the day to ourselves.  We did some shopping in the morning (groceries and some last minute Christmas gifts the kids needed to pick up for me).  I'd be a liar if I said it was a great day.  It was actually a really long day and by evening the kids about had me to my breaking point.  Merry Christmas.  But we survived, we always do.  And the rest of the weekend was pretty good.

We finished up our Jesse tree!  This is such a great tradition, I just love it.  So, so much.  I am glad I finally got my act together and made something we can use year after year.  I like it a bunch.

Christmas morning we took our annual pictures in front of the tree.

The kids were particularly cooperative this year, so that was nice!  We did have one good outtake though.

Then we headed to Mass to celebrate the birth of Christ.  We grabbed a family pic afterwards.  Always amusing.  Here are the two we ended up with. Always amusing. Did I mention that?  Clem is clutching the aforementioned pencil pouch.

Then we arrived home and St. Nick had come!  How does he do that?!  (With a locked garage door and a mama who forgot to write the check for church.  Again.  Every year, same story.  Bahahaha.)

Opening gifts was really fun this year.  We were excited about the things we Santa found for the kids.

Gemma got:

1. a new backpack for school

2. an owl pillow that matches her bedding

3. a sticker book and the Violet books which she has gotten multiple times from the library and loved.

Kolbe got:

1. the much longed-for walkie talkies (I got cold feet on the motorola ones and went with a kids set, they seem to be a good fit)

2. a space puzzle and a similar sticker book to Gemma's (which he had also been pining for)

3. a hooded bath towel (our homemade ones are getting to be on their last legs, they have graduated to pool-use now) 

Clement got:

1. Ten Apples Up On Top (about which he was positively ecstatic, see picture below) and Tops and Bottoms (I only wish I had gotten the CD version, oh well)

2. a Thomas the Train 35 piece puzzle

3. Hi-Ho Cherry-O (I sprung for the vintage version and that was a good call)

All three kids got fleece Old Navy gloves in their stockings.  Gemma got the Chime Traveler chapter books, Kolbe got Blink (game) and Clem got a Poky Little Puppy Christmas ornament for the tree.

The kids both had homemade gifts for us from school (how did their teachers know that hand-print art is my absolute FAVE!), and this was the first year they had strong feelings about shopping for Aaron and me, so Aaron got some Royals swag and I got some kitchen items, including some new glasses as we have broken almost half of ours.  Would you believe Bed Bath and Beyond still carries the exact ones we got for our wedding?!  Now we have lots more to break.... The kids also worked really hard on homemade gifts for each other (completely their idea) and it was really sweet to watch them exchange those gifts.  Lots of perler beads and paper-made creations.  And a library book (bahahaha).  It was a fun morning opening gifts together and then playing some games.  

We had an enjoyable time with both extended families on Christmas afternoon/evening (my family) and the evening after Christmas (Aaron's family) and are actually having a quiet day at home today since the weather was too iffy to travel to see extended-extended family.  This post is too long to detail those with pictures and commentary, so I think it's time to wrap this up!  Merry Christmas to all!!

Journal: almost Christmas

TODAY

Out my window: Cool, cloudy, but still above average temps.  Maybe some colder weather/precip this weekend?

Around the house: Fresh balsam scented candle, Christmas music, wrapping gifts, kid crafts, doing some cooking, brining a chicken for Christmas eve.  Good stuff.  Monday was a really good day with the kids.  Yesterday was abysmal.  Today is off to a rocky but better-ish start.  I am trying (operative word here being trying, as there is plenty of failing going on) to offer it up for so many who are going through hard times.

 

The kiddos: Gemma has really taken off on reading chapter books on her own.  Here I was all angsty that she'd never read chapter books by herself and now that she is I'm all, "I wish she still wanted to be read to more."  BAH!  Never happy. Her latest fave are these Bailey School Kids ones (it's a series), which (to me) fall under the twaddle category, but I read one (yawn) and there's nothing objectionable (besides some minor school misbehavior, which I'm not worried about rubbing off on my rule-follower), so alas.  I know I read plenty of Babysitter's Club in my day, and I'm sure those aren't much better, haha.  I checked her out the first Ramona book from the library and she has been reading it too (I remember reading anything Cleary dozens of times as girl, but haven't felt compelled to read any aloud as yet).  And Charlotte's Web I think.  She reads like I million things at once (I'm one to talk).  But enough, I really didn't intend this to be a post about books.

Kolbe seems to be enjoying the break most of everyone.  He is my sleeper, first one to fall asleep every night (we've been putting the kids to bed about 1/2 hour or so later than usual) and always the last one to wake up.  And generally, he has been pretty happy and content.  (I think Gemma misses the structure of school days, and I believe Clem may miss the quiet mornings where he is my only child.)  All the kids have been enjoying playing on the Santa Tracker which is this interactive app thing on our AT&T Uverse.  We don't do/have video games/tablets around here so this is a special thing that they enjoy during Advent/Christmas.  And it's pretty interactive so it's not like they are just sitting there zoned in front of a screen.  But I'm probably just rationalizing.  

Clement has been my angry elf of late.  He is just very #three which can be very #challenging.  But that's OK.  This ain't my first rodeo and this too shall pass.  This morning he woke up about 5 screaming that I took his bowl.  Um, OK?  So I asked if I needed to get him a bowl to which he growled, "yes."  I brought him one and he grabbed it, curled up and immediately fell back asleep.  This middle-of-the-night-angry-request-for-random-items gig is nothing new with him either.  #whatever 

In the kitchen: I made these soft ginger cookies yesterday and they are delish.  I used butter instead of margarine (do people still use margarine?), used half WW flour and half brown sugar.  They were fantastic, did I mention that?  Otherwise this week it's been grilled meat with baked potatoes, green beans and broccoli/rice casserole, homemade pizza (YUM!), lime chicken tacos (modified an old recipe for something else, and they were a HUGE hit with the kids), chili, running the smoker tomorrow and typical Christmas over-indulging feasting over the weekend.  Up next week I have honey chicken and goulash on the menu so far and that's about it. (I'm not taking any time off work over the break so I have to have some semblance of a plan that I'm willing to execute.)  Oh, and I am going to make a batch of cinnamon rolls for breakfast tomorrow.  Planning to make the dough today, refrig it overnight, set the alarm for way early and pull it out to rise, and then roll and bake them when I get up. 

Learning:  Aside from reading and our Jesse Tree, nothing structured.

Reading: The kids and I are reading The Family Under the Bridge and we have so enjoyed our Picture Book a Day selections. Some faves this year have been Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree, various versions of The Gingerbread Man, Charlie Brown, Apple Tree Christmas, Petunia's Christmas and The Night of Las Posadas.  I am too lazy to link.  I am making my way slowly but deliberately through Fire Within.

Watching:  We watched an interesting show about earthquakes on The Weather Channel last night.  I can't believe I just typed that...  The very sad part of this story is that we actually turned down free tickets to Transiberian Orchestra last night because it was going to be too late of a night. #lame

Bringing me joy:

Thinking about: Growing in virtue.

Pictures to share:  

Picmonkey is fun.

Journal: December, it's all good

TODAY

Out my window: cloudy, cool, dreary.  Lest you be fooled, it has been sunny and unseasonably warm all week (like upper sixties some days).  Cooler next week, but still warmer than average.  I'm not complaining.

Around the house: Nothing much of note, gift wrapping is mostly done.  All the Christmas decorations make things feel so cozy and cheery.  I'm getting the piano tuned this week.  It has been sadly neglected for, well, I am scared to look how long.  But now that I've been playing it more (I accompanied for the Christmas program at the kids' school and will be doing another thing with the same music teacher in February, so I actually have a reason to practice) it makes sense to keep it tuned.  That and I'm pretty sure it is better for the piano to not let it go un-tuned for long periods of time.

 
The kiddos: Looking forward to Christmas break!!  Kolbe had his "Santa's Workshop" (an annual thing they do with the kindergarteners at our school) on Friday.  It was two hours, the first hour being various centers in the classroom where they made some ornaments, santa hats, did puzzles, played BINGO, etc., then they had recess and came back in to the lunchroom and built gingerbread houses with graham crackers and lots (and lots and lots) of frosting.  I got to go and help out and it was a great afternoon!!  I felt like a frequent flyer at the school this week, between music rehearsals and the program and then the Santa's Workshop.  Sooooooo much fun!! 

In the kitchen: This past week we had crispy chicken salads, spaghetti and meat sauce with steamed baby carrots, German sausage and sauerkraut, and my hubby grilled meat on Thursday with some great leftovers that kept us from having to eat the tears of our forefathers for dinner Friday night because I was just done and that blasted dinner fairy didn't bother to show up (again).  Up next week: shepherd's pie (most likely), more salads, maybe some chili, chicken parm, steamed broccoli, other stuff....

 

Learning: Jesse Tree, really enjoying the readings this year and I love our simple yet colorful ornaments.  Our tree is starting to take shape, even though Clement is dubious that it is really going to look like a tree.  I caught him trying to rearrange the ornaments one morning he was so frustrated with it!!

Reading: Enjoying our Advent Picture Book a Day selections immensely.  I've rearranged a few things, but we are mostly sticking to my original list, and I have also grabbed about a dozen (maybe more?) other Christmas titles from the library (some new to us, some old favorites) that have gotten lots of mileage in our book basket.  We are reading The Family Under the Bridge at breakfast.  I read it with Gemma last year and this year everyone is enjoying it.  Gemma and Kolbe have been referring to each other as Monsieur and Madame, haha.  I have started Fire Within.  It is going to be a good read.

Watching: I actually left the lunch dishes in the sink (this NEVER happens around here) and watched How the Grinch Stole Christmas and A Charlie Brown Christmas with the kids this afternoon.  Love!!

Bringing me joy: Accompanying for the Christmas Program.  Man I miss playing the piano, it was so much fun!!  Reconnecting with a good friend.  Reading good books. Errands with the kids in weather that does not require coats and hats and gloves and insanely cold blasts of wind every time I open the car doors.

Thinking about: always something!

 

Pictures to share:  

I am so glad that there is only one "S" in Christmas!

Living liturgically: morning prayers

Recently I read this post on Living Liturgically as a family, and it got me reflecting on the things that our family does to live liturgically throughout the year in our little domestic Church.  I think my favorite part of this article was the very first point she made: it takes YEARS to build up traditions and become familiar with the liturgical year.  True. That.  I remember being a young(er) mama with a toddler and a baby and feeling so.overwhelmed. at all the different things that we could be doing but weren't doing.  But slowly over the years we have added this, tried that, quit doing something else because no one would cooperate, etc. etc. etc.  And now, what may seem like a lot for someone from the outside looking in, is simply the rhythm that our family lives throughout the seasons of the Church year.  Do we have it all figured out?  Nope.  We're still adding and molding and forming, and I am amazed how traditions evolve through the years as the kids get older.  I may have gotten a little teary last year when there was really no reason to sing our little "Jesus is Coming" toddler-song around the Advent wreath.  But I think that's the key to traditions, letting them evolve and take the shape they need to for your family wherever you're at, and realizing that traditions can change (or go away) over the years as children grow, and that's OK.  

I also liked her point #2: living liturgically happens year round.  I noticed this year, profoundly, that it didn't seem like we were doing much for Advent...and then I realized we were doing all our "regular things" but since the liturgical year has become such a natural part of our lives year round, Advent was more-or-less a bit of a change-up in the regular things we do daily instead of the "radical switching of gears" she mentioned.  

The rest of her points are good too.  Seriously, check out the article.  But I'll stop now and get on to the point of this post, which was supposed to be family Morning Prayers.

One of my favorite liturgical-living traditions that our family has added recently (past 6-8 months or so) is using the Prayer found at the end of Morning Prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours (I use the one volume version, Christian Prayer) at the end of our family morning prayers.  Our morning prayers typically consist of the Bless us, oh Lord prayer (since we pray them before breakfast), the traditional Morning Offering, stating the Holy Father's monthly intentions and also praying for a specific priest or seminarian from our diocese each day.  We also add any family member/friend who may have a birthday or anniversary (or something else going on) that day.  We pray a simple prayer that goes along with whatever the month's theme is (did you know that each month has a particular devotion in the Catholic Church?  See here for more on that...) for instance, a Hail Mary in October or the Act of Contrition or Act of Love during Lent (this is also a great opportunity to help the kids memorize their rote prayers).  Then I say the Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours (which takes all of 10 seconds) and we're done.  I love adding this Prayer because it is such a simple way to focus on what is happening liturgically on that specific day, be it a Church season like Lent or Advent, or a feast day or memorial, such as the Transfiguration or the Feast of St. Luke.  And full disclosure: my oldest still grumbles most days that I had the audacity to change our regular morning prayers by adding this (apparently excruciating) ten seconds of recited prayer.  But I'm sticking with this one.  ;-)

God is good...all the time.  May he continue to bless us, everyone, as we live His love throughout the year.

Journal: December, Advent, Winter

TODAY

Out my window:  Sunny!  But do not be deceived.  When the sun started peeking out yesterday around noon, I realized it was the first time we had seen it since sometime last Wednesday.  So much rain on Thanksgiving and a bit of ice over the weekend as well.  If temperatures had dipped just a bit more south things could have gotten pretty nasty.  Thankfully though, all was well and I believe my pansies even survived!  I have put a few potted plants in the window well to see if they will weather the Winter.  I'm not counting on anything, but it will be a fun little experiment never-the-less.

Around the house: We got our Christmas decorations up over the course of Saturday and Sunday and the Advent wreath is on the table.  Listening to the beautiful voices of the Benedictines of Mary currently.  Christmas shopping is mostly done, now I have some wrapping in my future.  The kids are excited for the Feast of St. Nicholas this weekend!

 

The kiddos: We had a fun-ish break last week.  Two of the kids (who shall remain unnamed) were incredibly a bit grumpy for way too much of the week; and then Gemma was a little under-the-weather on Monday, Kolbe followed on Thursdsay (and had to miss out on going to grandma and grandpa's) and I felt a little down on Friday.  But Clem and Aaron seemed to escape unscathed and everyone else seems to be completely recovered for the most part.  We did make it to the local science museum one day, and took a trip to the zoo to hit the indoor exhibits on Sunday because we were stir.crazy.  We also managed to get a good (enough) family picture Thanksgiving morning to include in Christmas cards.

In the kitchen:  

This week:

meatloaf, twice baked potatoes and steamed green beans

crispy chicken salads

pesto chicken, parmesan rice and steamed broccoli

creamy tomato tortellini

that's all I got so far.    

Learning: We got started with our Jesse tree this morning, and are on Day 3 of our Picture Book a Day.  I love Advent!!  Gemma read The Elves and the Shoemaker in her reading book at school (I really am very pleased with their reading selections this year) so I checked a different version (Galdone) out from the library and it was fun comparing the two.  Kolbe will be reading Gingerbread Baby at school this week, which has been a longtime favorite at home, so we have checked out several other versions of The Gingerbread Man, including The Library Gingerbread Man which was adorable by the way, and will be enjoying those plus a few other Jan Brett titles as well this week.

Reading: I just finished Deep Conversion, Deep Prayer and took away some pretty great things from it.  Now I am getting ready to begin Fire Within.  I am hoping this will be a deeply beneficial read. Keeping up with the usuals as well.

Watching: New season of Survivorman. Gold Rush. Booze Traveler.  The Curse of Oak Island.  We are an exciting bunch, those are the latest things we semi-keep tabs on.

Bringing me joy: Peace.  Read a great quote about peace here.  Searching for it and maintaining it can be difficult for me.  But then I catch glimpses of it here and there.  Praise God.

Thinking about: The above.  Gratitude.  Prayer.  Salvation.  The saints.  Virtues and vices. 

Pictures to share:  

A chilly day for the zoo but we sure had fun.

 All my turkeys.