Christmas Eve in Pictures

~ Completing our Puzzle ~

Our second puzzle, the Holy Family Jigsaw Puzzle, finished just in time for Christmas.  This one was much harder than the last, at least for the border and the stained glass windows which I had to finish.  

We started the puzzle on the 18th, just before I left for the hospital, and the girls continued working on it while I was gone.  They completed most of the little scenes (which they loved) and almost all of the middle.  Now if we could just find that last piece that went missing while I was gone...

~ Singing "O Come, O Come Emmanuel ~ 

~ Enjoying our favorite Christmas Gift ~ 

~ Christmas Cookies and a Visit from some of my Siblings ~ 

~ New Pajamas on Christmas Eve ~ 

~ Visiting the Manger after Midnight Mass ~

~ Not a Creature was Stirring ~ 

After setting up some of the boys' train set on the new train table for Snuggles, we were finally ready for a little sleep at 5am Christmas morning!  Even though they were both worth it, two all-nighters in one week are two too many!  ;) 

Nativity in the Woods :: A Puzzle for Advent

As I mentioned in one of my Preparing for Advent posts this year, I had ordered a new puzzle for the children to work on this Advent.   This was their 4th 1,000 piece puzzle in the past year... They started with the Our Lady of Guadalupe Puzzle last Advent, completed the Last Supper Puzzle during Lent, and then worked on a Good Shepherd Puzzle during the Easter Season.

For this Advent I ended up deciding on a Nativity in the Woods 1,000pc Puzzle.  Originally I had planned to give it to them on the first Sunday of Advent, but ended up waiting until just before bedtime on the feast of St. Andrew, November 30th.   Of course they wanted to get started right away!

Every chance they got, both early in the morning and before bedtime, I would always find someone working on the puzzle!   It was so cute to see the little goals they would set:  they all worked together on finishing the border, Rascal set out to complete the owl in the bottom right corner, Twinkle Toes loved working on the Nativity scene, Chiquita began on the angel, while Captain started on the Stained Glass windows and some of the other animals.   Snuggles enjoyed watching, and sorting pieces, while Rose pointed out the "Baby Jesus!!!" at every opportunity!   

A little help from Uncle David after Mass on Sunday

"Look Mama, there's baby Jesus!"

"Baby!!!"

I couldn't believe how fast they were completing the puzzle!   By the feast of St. Nicholas, just one week later, they ended up finishing the puzzle after our St. Nicholas Day brunch.   We seemed to be missing two pieces (which I had been worried about, especially due to little Miss Rose's interest in the puzzle) but Captain quickly found them under the couch.

This was definitely their favorite puzzle yet, and though they were all very excited to complete it, they were also sad to be done already.  

I think we might pull out the Our Lady of Guadalupe Puzzle today, and then I also ended up ordering this beautiful Holy Family Jigsaw Puzzle (which I ran across after linking to all the other puzzles I was considering in that first post), to use as one of our O Antiphon gifts this year.  That way they will have another to work on during the Christmas season!

Preparing for Advent :: A Few Fun Finds

I've been having to "take it easy" lately, due to lots of contractions and a positive fetal fibronectin test (which isn't really very accurate when it is positive, and doesn't mean I will go into labor in the next couple weeks, I just don't have the reassurance that I won't...).  So, as you have probably already noticed, it has finally allowed me to spend a little time considering this coming Advent and Christmas.  I've been having so much fun deciding on a few new things to purchase (with the help of a surprise Amazon gift card!!) for this year, and I thought I'd take a moment to share a few of my finds with you all.

Have you seen the new Saint Nicholas and Christmas Angel Playmobil toys?   My boys absolutely love all things Playmobil and I can't wait to surprise them with this little set on the feast of St. Nicholas!

Last year our children had so much fun putting together the Our Lady of Guadalupe Puzzle during Advent, that I decided to purchase another puzzle for this year.   I ran across some beautiful options, including No Room at The Inn, White Mountain Puzzles O Night Divine, Ravensburger Two Angels, and this absolutely gorgeous Holy Infant Window Puzzle.    I ended up deciding on this Nativity in the Woods 1000pc Jigsaw Puzzle though... For some reason, it just seemed perfect for our family!   (Here is a similar Stained Glass Window Jigsaw Puzzle.)

In the past it has always been so hard to find Nativity themed Stockings for our boys.   (The girls all have Angel Stockings, which seem to be a little easier to find, though not much!)  This year we ran across two favorites and ended up deciding on the beautiful Kurt Adler 19-Inch Canvas "Joy to the World" Christmas Stocking, in case this new little guy decides to arrive in time for Christmas.

In addition to the our very first and favorite Advent Calendar, I have always wanted to add a Fabric/Banner Version as well, to go along with our Jesse Tree, but have never had the opportunity to create one.   This year I was surprised to run across so many options including: Alma's Design Nativity Advent Calendar, Nativity Fabric Advent Calendar by Vermont Christmas Company, Nativity Advent Calendar by Pockets of Learning, and the Little People Nativity Advent Calendar.  I ultimately decided on the Nativity Fabric Advent Calendar by Kubla Crafts.  Which one is your favorite?

Next on my list is trying to find nice, yet affordable, slippers, chocolate coins and new picture books for the feast of St. Nicholas!

{pretty, happy, funny, real} :: Ascension Thursday

Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life. 

{pretty}

Our completed Easter Good Shepherd Puzzle: Lost No More

{happy}

Ascension Pancakes for Breakfast on Ascension Thursday!

{funny}

Snuggles:  "Excuse me, Mommy, but I don't want any strawberries!" 

{real}

I snapped a quick picture from across the kitchen, as the boys were saying their prayers, before enjoying their breakfast.

Visit Like Mother, Like Daughter for more pictures of contentment!