Celebrating Epiphany

I didn't think I was going to be able to pull it off this year, but this morning I woke up feeling better (I have been pretty sick since the first) and decided I could at least make cupcakes for the children to celebrate Epiphany! I quickly baked the cupcakes, and then decided to keep going. Pretty soon everything had fallen into place (thanks to a bit of pre-planning) for a simplified version of last year's Twelve Days of Christmas Dinner party to go along with some Pasta and Salad. I have a few pictures to share with you all before I am off to get some more rest.

Eggnog Cupcakes with Eggnog & Rum Buttercream Frosting 

and Twelve Days of Christmas Cupcake Toppers

Bud was quick to claim his cupcake, just as soon as I turned my back for two seconds! :)

.: Twelve Drummers Drumming:. 

Twelve Drummers Drumming = 12 Points of the Apostles Creed

Chicken Drumellas from Trader Joe's

.: Eleven Pipers Piping :.

Eleven Pipers Piping = 11 Faithful Apostles

Pretzel Rod Pipes 

.: Ten Lords A-Leeping :.

Ten Lords A-Leeping = 10 Commandments

Pepperidge Milano Cookies with without the Roman Numerals written with black sparkle gel.

.: Nine Ladies Dancing :.

Nine Ladies Dancing = 9 Fruits of the Spirit

I wasn't up for a trip to the grocery store for fresh fruit, so I pulled out 9 different fruit flavored Polish candies from the large bag we were given from Father K's Polish mother when she visited! 

.: Eight Maids A-Milking :.

Eight Maid A-Milking = 8 Beatitudes

Eggnog leftover from New Year's Eve

.: Seven Swans A-Swimming :.

Seven Swans A-Swimming = 7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit

A nice big salad to go along with all the treats. . .
The only connection this salad has is that I made sure it had seven ingredients :) 

.: Six Geese A-Laying :.

Six Geese A-Laying = 6 Days of Creation

Deviled Eggs made another yummy and healthy addition to the party and tied in nicely.

.: Five Golden Rings :.

Five Golden Rings = 5 Books of Moses: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy

Snack-O's from Trader Joe's this year, instead of Onion Rings. 

.: Four Calling Birds :.

Four Calling Birds = 4 Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John

We took a break from our new favorite game to play Church Windows! 

.: Three French Hens:. 

Three French Hens = 3 Gifts of the Magi and/or 3 Virtues, Faith, Hope & Love

I just displayed the Gifts from the Magi, instead of the Epiphany Crown Cake this year. . .

(along with the beautiful puzzle nativity Bud received from his Godparents for Christmas!)

.: Two Turtle Doves :. 

Two Turtledoves = 2 Testaments (Old and New)

Chocolate Turtles instead of the homemade Turtle Dove Chocolates

.: A Partridge in a Pear Tree :. 

Partridge in a Pear Tree = 1 Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, on the Cross

This year instead of baking a pie, I served a Pear Tarte from Trader Jo's.

Silent Night Table runner can be purchased from Catholic Embroidery

12 Days of Christmas Ornaments are from Jesse Tree Treasures

And after dinner. . .

Gifts from afar to open on Epiphany! (Thank you Grandpa and Grandma G!)

Wise Men Still Seek Him. . . And one last gift to open!

"And entering into the house, they found the child with Mary His mother and falling down they adored Him; and opening their treasures, they offered Him gifts; gold, frankincense, and myrrh."

Matthew 2:11

Happy Epiphany!

O Christmas Tree

... A few pictures from Instagram and my phone.

December 16th 

I think the kids might be trying to tell us something...

December 17th

I've been in survival mode lately, and keep forgetting to take pictures of the Wise Men... They had me laughing this morning when I noticed them loading their Christmas Tree on top of the camel!

December 18th

The five big kids were all gone overnight for our last day without water... When they arrived home yesterday they discovered that the Wise Men (and Legos) had all lost their Christmas trees! ;)

Uh oh!  Now that we finally had water and could get to town, we had a bit of a hard time finding a Christmas Tree... Where we live many people buy Christmas Tree permits and head into the mountains to cut their own trees.  However, due to the weather and roads, most people bought trees in town this year and everywhere is pretty much sold out...   We discovered that the Christmas Tree Farm we have been going to the past couple years closed (they are converting their land to a vegetable farm) and the other local tree farms had closed for the season!  I couldn't even find artificial trees! 

Sean ended up going to a nursery and came home with this green Blue Spruce. Hahaha!  We joked that someday we will look back on this year and say: "Remember that year we were stuck home due to the snow, had no water for 6 days, couldn't find a Christmas tree so we bought (a way too expensive) tree at the nursery to plant outside... and even it died!" ;)    That would be our luck this year!

Dec 19th 

My brother Brian called and said he happened to pass by a tree lot, in a little town just south of us, and that they still had some trees!  Sean drove down and ended up buying a tree for only $15!  It is a little lopsided and was a little too tall, but he was able to fix that, and now we just need to decorate it today!

It's a good thing we didn't wait any longer to start looking for this year's tree..
Of course, Christmas would have come just the same, with or without a Christmas Tree!

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!