My Daybook :: The Second Week of Advent

Outside my window... 
After all these years, my husband finally talked me into hiking the mountain in our back yard to watch the sunset! Totally worth it... (and hopefully all the poison oak is buried deep beneath the snow!)

I am thinking...        
about my inbox. It is overflowing with emails and I can't possibly respond to them all... I'm trying to let it go and hope everyone understands.

I am thankful... 
that I survived yesterday. Here is a peek at our busy day from the photos I posted on Instagram and Facebook! :)

First Day out of the house since Thursday night - Yep... Our road is still packed with snow/ice in areas.

Three cleanings done and three to go... (They were willing to squeeze in one more!!!) And so thankful that the Orthodontist was able to reschedule our oldest from yesterday to today! I think we might just hang out here for awhile before heading back to the dentist's office... 8am-1pm is a long time for little ones to behave in waiting rooms!!!

Our baby girl is having her first dentist appointment today! She is doing great!

Survived seven dental/ortho appointments, no cavities for anyone, convinced them to book six more back-to-back appts one day in June, fed the kids lunch, picked up groceries, now the two oldest girls and I are getting haircuts while I enjoy a Candycane Mocha!

Before and After - 6-8" cut off plus layers...  My hair feels so short! 

Learning all the time... 
the boys made sure to keep up with their math lessons while waiting at the Dentist!

Celebrating the liturgical year... 
so many feast days!  This week we are celebrating the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and the feast of Saint Lucy!

We are also continuing to count the days of Advent with our various Advent Calendars and Jesse Trees.   A couple days ago we read about The Ten Commandments from The Catechism in Pictures.  

I gave this book to my husband for Father's Day earlier this year and actually have a half finished post in my drafts folder with additional pictures... I should finish and post it sometime. It is such a gorgeous book!

Adding an ornament to our Jesse Tree

He is getting to be such a big boy all of a sudden... 

From the kitchen... 
lots of soup!  The Beefed-Up Barley Soup my mom suggested when we were out shopping last week was so yummy!  Perfect for these cold and snowy days after an afternoon sledding!

And here was our view from the dining table the other day during lunch!

I am working on... 
finding a few more stocking stuffers.  I think the comments from this post might be a good place to start.

I am creating... 
Santa Lucia's Braided Bread, or at least I will be soon!

I am going... 
to pull out another Noah's Ark puzzle!  The kids, especially Snuggles, have had so much fun working on this puzzle.  I think they assembled it, and reassembled it, three or four times the other night alone!



I am hoping... 
that our pipes don't freeze again... That made for an interesting Monday morning.   The weather has been so crazy for here, with lows around 0-8 degrees.  Tonight we are expecting freezing rain, and tomorrow freezing fog.  It doesn't look like I'll be going to town again anytime soon.

I am praying... 
for Jenn, especially today!

A simple centerpiece for our dining table with Advent candles from past years. 

I am reading... 
Come, Lord Jesus: Meditations on the Art of Waiting.

Pondering these words...
from St. Augustine of Hippo:

He was created of a mother whom he created. He was carried by hands that he formed. He cried in the manger in wordless infancy. He, the Word, without whom all human eloquence is mute. 

I am listening...  
to my husband read a story each evening after our family rosary.

We are still listening to Advent at Ephesus and Adventus.  We also just started listening to Mater Eucharistiae, the beautiful Mañanitas CD from Sister Servants, and Matins for the Virgin of Guadalupe!

Oh!  Today the kids were also listening to Fresh Flowers in Winter while they worked on our Our Lady of Guadalupe Puzzle once again.  We had to start on something new since we finished the Noah's Ark Puzzle so quickly!

Around the house... 

the Wise Men are still searching for Baby Jesus! Here are the places they have been found the past few days.

Dec 7th - The kids started our new puzzle last night! With the help of the Wise Men I have a feeling it isn't going to last the rest of Advent... or even the rest of today!

Dec 11th -  The Wise Men were lost so they purchased a map in The Shire...  

Dec 12th - "Look! There's Our Lady... but who's the guy with all the roses?"

(Here's the link to the Our Lady of Guadalupe Shining Light Doll and Playmobil Wise Men) 

One of my favorite things...  

assembling puzzles with my family during Advent!

This week's plans...

• Celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception!
• Tutors on Tuesday and Thursday - both canceled due to hazardous weather and driving conditions. . . 
• Dentist, Orthodontist, and Hair Appointments on Wednesday. . . 
• Celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe!
• Celebrate Santa Lucia Day! 
• Cut down our Christmas Tree, weather permitting. . . 
• Prepare for the birthdays next week! 

A little peek at my day...

Preparing a fun brunch for my kiddos in honor of "A Woman Clothed With The Sun" 
--- Happy Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe!

Celebrating the Feast of St. Nicholas :: 2013

We had a beautiful snowy feast day this year!  Eventually the snow was "well past St. Nicholas' miter!" 

Holy Bishop St. Nicholas lived faraway

Near the Aegean Sea is where Turkey did lay.

Travel back with us now to a time long ago.
We will visit his country, his life we will know.

New slippers, picture books, oranges, candy canes, chocolate coins, and a small toy or two! 

We remember this saint, such a holy, good man.

Be like him in charity, do all that you can.

Many miracles Nicholas hastened to do,

Helping people in need with gifts that were new.

This year's pictures books included: Letters from Father Christmas, Christmas From Heaven, The Dolls' Christmas, Kersti and St. Nicholas, Bambinelli Sunday, On that Christmas Night and Stable in Bethlehem

Bishop Nicholas traveled to Nicea town,

Where the Creed would be written, to us handed down.

During church every Sunday, we stand for the Creed.

Thank you Bishop St. Nicholas, for doing this deed.

The older boys each found a game in their new slippers (Spicy Farkle and LeftCenterRight - we've had SO. MUCH. FUN. playing these this past weekend!), Snuggles found a small lego set, the girls and Bud all found Shining Light Dolls (these have been such a hit!) and the two youngest also found Rudolph and Clarice. (I couldn't resist when I found them on sale at a local bookstore - my little ones, especially Bud, love all deer!)  Oh!  And Bud's cute new little booties were from Angela - if you have a baby, be sure to check out her Etsy store!

Sailors tossed in the wind and the storms of the sea,

Saw a vision of Nicholas who guided them free.

Now patron of sailing, they remember him yet.

Many icons and pictures with fisherman's net.

Giving money to poor girls, so marry could they,

Made our Nicholas famous, remembered today.

With dowry in hand, soon they were wed.

"God bless you and keep you," St. Nicholas said.

This year's St. Nicholas Cookies!  I'll try to post a few more pictures at Catholic Cuisine soon... 

Kid's patron in Germany, Netherlands, too.

Asks that presents be given to children like you.

Their customs are different: they put out their shoes—

Filling them with toys, his coming's good news!

Here stockings are hung by the chimney with care,

In hope that St. Nicholas soon will come there.

Dressed as bishop or Santa, he's one and the same—

Jolly, friendly, good man, we're glad that he came.

St. Nicholas Statue, St. Nicholas Wooden Doll, St. Nicholas Chocolate Coins, and the St. Nicholas painted by my little sister!

Cherry Cheese Candy Cane Coffee Cake
(That title makes me want to play Scattergories!) 

St. Nicholas Hot Cocoa with Homemade Whipping Cream

Call him "Santa" or "saint," they both mean the same,

For his nickname is Claus, short for Nicholas' name.

Giving gifts was his custom—we still do today.

Deeds done in Jesus' name forever will stay.

Our visitors during our St. Nicholas Day Brunch! 

Bishop Nicholas still is a hero to all.

Christmas Day, and all others we follow his call,

Bringing gifts and some joy to children in need.

Follow Nicholas today—do a good deed.

—St. Nicholas Day Poem, Author Unknown

My Daybook :: The First Week of Advent

Note: I meant to publish this post yesterday and didn't have a chance to finish uploading the photos before going out shopping with my mom all evening (before the snowstorm hit today)! I'll be back with a few pictures from today, but in the meantime -  Happy Feast of St. Nicholas!

Outside my window... It is COLD!  We have a "Winter Storm Watch" with a 100% chance of snow on Friday, the Feast of St. Nicholas!  It doesn't snow here very often so the children are all very excited!

I am thinking...        
about driving into town to pick up a few things, before the storm hits.  Hot Cocoa, whipping cream, cherries, and some Nutter Butters, plus a few other things just in case we lose power.

I am thankful... 
for our wood stove fireplace insert! It helps keep the house so warm and cozy.

Learning all the time... 
We are back to school this week following our Thanksgiving break... In the past we have tried to take all of Advent off of our formal schoolwork to focus on Advent and preparing our hearts for Christmas, however as the children get older it has gotten harder to take that long of a break during this time of the year.  If all goes as planned we will still be able to take a few weeks off beginning with the feast of St. Lucy on December 13th!  Now if we can push through the rest of this week and next....

Celebrating the liturgical year... 
as we always do during Advent!

Adding the Noah's Ark ornament to our original Jesse Tree

My "baby" is getting so big!

From the kitchen... 
I had a little helper making cookie dough the other morning!

It didn't take long for us to make quite a mess, but isn't my new can of baking powder cute!  I couldn't resist the pink and white can, even though I already had some in the cupboard.  ;) 

I am working on... 
praying for and doing extra special things for my "Christkindl!"



I am creating... 
St. Nicholas Coins for the feast.  I found the bag of Belgium Chocolate Coins at Costco, printed out the images, and quickly cut them out with a Fiskars Circle Punch!

I am going... 
to start wrapping some more Christmas gifts!  This and this arrived this week (I had pre-ordered them for the boys) and this* arrived for Bud (*just the figurines - at a great sale price!).  I don't know who is more excited about Christmas, me or the kids?!?  I can't wait to give them these gifts!

I am hoping... 
that I will find a new source for Advent candles that I love as much as the ones I always purchased from the Abbey... How I wish the monk would have been able to continue making these gorgeous candles.  My favorites were the round pillars, but this year we are using a set of square pillars I purchased a couple years ago (the very last set available in the gift shop) when I found out they wouldn't be carrying them any longer.  How hard is it to learn how to make candles? ;)

I am praying... 
Advent prayers each night with my family.  These few pictures were taken just after our wreath was blessed (by my husband, while I lit the first candle) and we prayed our St. Andrew Christmas Novena and Family Rosary on the First Sunday of Advent.

Each week of Advent my husband adds to our Nativity Scene.  This week it is very simple with just the stable and manger, Blessed Mother, St. Joseph, donkey, ox and a tree. 

I am reading... 
Come, Lord Jesus: Meditations on the Art of Waiting.

Pondering these words...
from Mother Teresa:

The season of Advent is like springtime in nature, when everything is renewed and so is fresh and healthy. Advent is also meant to do this to us–to refresh us and make us healthy, to be able to receive Christ in whatever form He may come to us.

I am listening...  
to Advent at Ephesus, Adventus (Tracks 1-5 for the First Week of Advent), and Legends of Nicholas.

Soon we will start listening to Mater Eucharistiae, The Story of Christmas (First songs including Ave Maria, Angelus, Breath of Heaven, and Magnificat...), the beautiful Mañanitas CD from Sister Servants, and Matins for the Virgin of Guadalupe for the upcoming feasts of the Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Guadalupe!

I am also considering purchasing a copy of Voice of Joy, after reading Melody's recommendation!

Around the house... 

the Wise Men have been on the move each night, searching for Baby Jesus!  Our oldest two boys have been moving them after everyone else is in bed and having a blast... Here are the places they have been found the past few days.

If you are searching for Baby Jesus you might have to scale a wall... or at least a baby gate!

The Wise Men took shelter under the rosemary bush and noticed a beautiful fragrance.  (It is said that the rosemary's fragrance arose after Mary hung her linens to dry on its branches!) They also spotted "a star in the East!" and started climbing to get a better view!

"Okay!  Who spilled the beans? It looks like we aren't the only ones searching for Baby Jesus!"

After hearing so much about Noah on the 4th day of Advent, the Wise Men decided to stop by the Ark and say hello... If only they could get to the top without slip-sliding down all the rainbows! As for the camel, he's busy catching up with some old buddies!  (You can find Noah's Rainbow Race at Amazon or at Catholic Child.) 

One of my favorite things...  

watching the little ones take turns unwrapping the books from our Advent and Christmas Book Basket each night after our family prayers.  Last night it was Snuggles turn and he offered to let Rose help him.    I wish I would have videoed Bud unwrapping his book on Sunday night.  It is amazing that pulling wrapping paper off a picture book can bring so much joy and excitement to a child... And the fact that their daddy looks forward to reading the stories to them each night makes this tradition even better!

This week's plans...

• Mrs. W tutoring on Thursday
• Celebrate the feast of St. Nicholas!  Unfortunately with the snow storm we won't be able to make the drive for Friday morning Mass... 
• Spend Saturday at home playing in the snow, assembling puzzles, and enjoying our time together as a family!
• Mass for the Second Sunday of Advent

A little peek at my day...

These two were having so much fun with some leftover cookie dough.

(They choose to use the Mini Noah's Ark Cookie Cutters - so perfect for this week of Advent!)