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?"
One of my favorite things...
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!
