{this moment}

I quietly captured this moment from his bedroom door the other night without being seen... It always melts my heart to catch our children praying again on their own after being sent to bed!

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

Bargain Priced Books :: Celebrating Advent And Christmas With Children {Currently Free For Kindle!}

Congratulations to Amy H. who won the giveaway for a copy of Celebrating Advent and Christmas With Children!

I also wanted to let the rest of you know that the Kindle Edition is currently FREE at Amazon!

If you are like me and prefer having a hard copy of these sorts of books, the Paperback Edition is also currently 43% off!

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!) 

Metal Earth {3D Laser Cut Models}

I keep forgetting to share these pictures from a couple weeks ago!  Rascal had so much fun putting together a Metal Earth 3D Laser Cut Model one Sunday afternoon!

The Manuafacture recommends them for ages 14-18, but our 11 (almost 12) year old didn't have any trouble assembling his ship.

We are planning on purchasing a couple more of these little models to include in the older boys Christmas stockings...

Perhaps the Wright Brothers Airplane, the P-51 Mustang, or the Sherman Tank?

The Neuschwanstein Castle looks really neat too... I really wish they had the Vatican or some Catholic Cathedrals! :)

There are so many great options... which to choose?  If anyone has built these before I'd love to hear your favorites!

Didn't it turn out neat?! 

Our boys first saw these at a local specialty toy store with their Dad one Friday after Mass, 

but they can also be found at Barnes and Noble and Amazon.

A Jesse Tree Ornament Swap

Remember that "Choir of Angels" I was crating for a Jesse Tree Ornament Swap?  Well our set of ornaments arrived the day before Thanksgiving and I finally had a chance to photograph them to share with you all!

We opened the box on the first day of Advent and the children all enjoyed looking through the box and choosing their favorites!  They also commented on how the ornaments were all so different from each other and ultimately they decided, as unique as the ornaments are from the swap (as you will see they are made with such a large variety of supplies including: paper, wood, felt, clay, popsicle sticks, foam, etc) they prefer our old Jesse Tree (the one we have been using since they were babies) and the set from Jesse Tree Treasures we added a couple years ago.  It made me happy to see how much they love the traditions we have established over the years! 

The ornaments and the bible stories for each of the ornaments in this set coordinate with those used in the Holy Heroes Jesse Tree DVD.   The videos are short so they have left plenty of time for our usual readings from the New Catholic Picture Bible.   Snuggles and Rose have been enjoying coloring the corresponding ornaments provided on the DVD as well and adding these new ornaments to a branch we are using as a "tree" for this set.

.: Jesse Tree Swap Ornaments :. 

Day 1 Creation: Genesis 1:1-23 - Made by Mary S. 

Day 2 Creation: Continued - Made by Pamela @ Created to Mother

Day 3 Fall of Man: Genesis 3:1-15, 20-23 - Made by Deb

Day 4 Noah: Genesis 6:5-20, 7:1-23, 8:1-17, 9:1-13 - Made by Sarah M. 

Day 5 Abraham: Genesis 12:1-5, 13:14-16, 18:1-10, 21:1-3 - Made by Sarah

Day 6 Isaac: Genesis 22:1-14 - Made by Karen @ Karen's Adventures in Mommyland

Day 7 Jacob: Genesis 27:41-44, 28:10-17 - Made by Vicki

Day 8 Joseph: Genesis 37:3-4, 17-28  - Made by Tacy @ Picture a Skyline

Day 9 Moses: Exodus 2:1-10, 3:1-12 - Made by Kelly K. 

Day 10 Moses Continued: Exodus, Chapters 7-14, 19, 32 - Made by Lena @ JOY{filled} Family

Day 11 Ruth: Ruth 1:1-16, 7-22 - Made by Kacky K @ Beginning with the Assumption

Day 12 Samuel: 1 Samuel, Chapter 3- Made by Jessica D. 

Day 13 Jesse: 1 Samuel, Chapter 16 - Made by (my local friend) Trina

Day 14 David: 1 Samuel, Chapter 17, 19:1-2 - Made by Josette

Day 15 Solomon: 1 Kings, Chapter 3 - Made by Michelle Y.

Day 16 Elijah: 1 Kings, Chapters 17 & 18 - Made by Lucy C. @ Time for Buttercups and Daisies

Day 17 Elisha: 2 Kings 5 - Shannon C @ Homeschooling Papist

Day 18 Isaiah's Prophecies: Isaiah 8:6-7 - Made by Karen (?)

Day 19 Isaiah: Isaiah Chapter 6 - Made by Mel @ Slightly Crunchy Catholic

Day 20 Daniel: Daniel 6:11-17, 19-25 - Made by Melody @ Blossoming Joy

Day 21 Jeremiah: Jeremiah, Chapter 31- Made by Veronica

Day 22 Angels: Luke, Chapter 1 - Made by (me!) Jessica @ Shower of Roses (tutorial here)

Day 23 Zechariah, Elizabeth and John the Baptist: Luke, Chapter 1 - Made by Katie @ Raising Young Ones

Day 24 Blessed Virgin Mary: Luke, Chapter 1 - Made by Charlotte @ Waltzing Matilda 

(tutorial here or buy one here!) 

Day 25 The Visitation: Luke 1:39-56 - Made by Marie @ Joy Beyond the Cross

Day 26 Joseph: Matthew, Chapter 1 - Made by Micaela @ California to Korea and Back Again

Day 27 The Nativity: Luke, Chapter 2 - Made by Maggie OFS @ Holiness is for Everyone

Day 28 Magi: Matthew 2:1-12 - Made by Beth

.: O Antiphon Ornaments :.

The O Antiphons begin on December 18th.

(You can find all our past O Antiphon Activities here.)

O Antiphon: O Wisdom - Made by Karen @ A Servant's Memories

O Antiphon: O Lord of Lords - Made by Eliana

O Antiphon: O Flower of Jesse's Stem - Made by Shannon C @ Homeschooling Papist

O Antiphon: O Key of David - Made by Erin @ Growing With My Girls

O Antiphon: O Radiant Dawn - Made by Alysha

O Antiphon: O King of All Nations - Made by Lindsay K

O Antphon: O Emmanuel - Made by Marines @ Thy Will - 2 plus 3 

~ A collage of the Jesse Tree Ornaments with days and symbols ~ 

I ran out of time to create another for the O Antiphons! :) 

It was a fun experience and we have some more lovely ornaments to add to our collection!  I have been asked if I would participate in a swap again... Honestly, probably not.  Between the many hours I spent painting and assembling the angels, and then adding in the cost of craft supplies and shipping two ways (I split the shipping on a large flat rate box with a friend so it was "only" about $17 each, otherwise it would have been about $26 - a local swap would be much less expensive) I would probably opt to put that towards one of the gorgeous sets from Jesse Tree Treasures (I especially love that they have a custom set option now!) or work on crafting a new set of our own. 

Thank you to Karen for hosting this swap along with a second swap as well! That is over 60 sets of ornaments to sort and mail, and all during her first trimester no less... Amazing!