Stacks of Books on Christmas Morning

I'm still trying to recover from being sick, as we ease back into our daily school routine and work towards finishing up our second quarter for this school year, which will end on January 24th.   In the meantime I am going to work on sharing a few more pictures from earlier in the quarter and from our Christmas break!

Last year I was inspired by Charlotte to give our children each a stack of books for Christmas this year! It was such a hit, especially with the older children.  I love that they (at least most of them!) love receiving books as gifts as much as I did as a child.   

Here is the list of books our children unwrapped on Christmas morning: 

Captain (age 13) received the basic Kindle e-reader (the 6" Ink Display, "without special offers" version, purchased on sale - it won't let me link directly...), this cover, and The Invaders: Brotherband Chronicles #2, The Gate (the new book by Nancy Carabio Belanger is now available at Amazon) and Twenty Tales of Irish Saints.

Rascal (age 11) also received the basic Kindle e-reader ("without special offers" version, purchased on sale), this cover, and The Royal Ranger, The Haunted Cathedral and The Fire of Eden.

Twinkle Toes (age 10) received the Samantha Books Set, Samantha Just for Fun (not pictured),  Inside the Secret Garden (illustrated by Tasha Tudor - she received The Secret Garden also illustrated by Tasha Tudor for her birthday), The Tasha Tudor Cookbook, Mandy, Pink Ponies Cookbook, Ballet Shoes (somehow this ended up in TT's stack instead of C's, oops!),  Strawberry Hill, Saint Catherine of Siena Audiobook, and a set of Little Lined Books... in her stocking.

Chiquita (age 8) received The Secret Garden (illustrated by Inga Moore), The Little House Cookbook, Addy Book Set, Rebecca Just for Fun (not pictured), A Story of Saint Agatha, Queen of the Poor, King Oberon's Forest, Sweet Little Ladies and the Secret at Berry Creek and  a set of Little Lined Books... in her stocking. 

I just love the illustrations in this version of The Secret Garden illustrated by Inga Moore.  

So pretty!

Snuggles (age 6) received Saint Felix and the Spider, Cranberry Christmas, Peter Pan, Sir Cumference and the Off-the-Charts Desserts, Three Tales of My Father's Dragon, and See Inside Trains.  (I forgot to include one of his books and the audio book in the photo...)

Even though Snuggles was excited when he opened his first four books, by the time he opened the fifth (See Inside Trains) he wasn't so sure he loved the idea of a stack of all books.   

As he was opening the last book we all couldn't help laughing when he we overheard him quietly saying "Please don't be a book, please don't be a book, pleeeeassse don't be a book... Oh NO!  It is a BOOK!  And it's a bad one... There is a FAIRY in it!"  Poor boy!  ;)   It took his older brothers a couple minutes to explain that it was Peter Pan... He loves Peter Pan!  

The youngest two received most of their new books on their recent birthdays here and here... 

On Christmas Rose received Pride & Prejudice: BabyLit Counting Primer.

Bud's Noah's Ark Board Book is his new favorite to read before nap time! 

 

We have been reading it every afternoon. . . 

His favorite page is the one where all the animals are "sleepy" and "nigh nigh!" 

I also pre-viewed a copy of the darling book Red Knit Cap Girl by the same illustrator, before wrapping and sending it to one of our goddaughters for Christmas, along with a little doll I hand-painted...  and LOOK!!! Charlotte's darling photo was featured on the author's blog!  I just love all of her illustrations and I've already ordered a copy of Red Knit Cap Girl for our family, along with a copy of All Creatures Great and Small to include in Easter baskets this spring!  

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!

Feasts & Seasons :: Our January Book Basket

January 1st, Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Holy Mother of God (New) and Circumcision of Our Lord (Trad.):

• Virgin Mary (Saints and Angels) by Claire Llewellyn
• Mary: Mother of Jesus by Mary Joslin (study guide in Catholic Mosaic)
• Take it to the Queen: A Tale of Hope by Josephine Nobisso
• Mary by Demi
• Solemnity of Mother of God - Protectress (Mother of God Coloring Book) 
• Mary, Mother of God (Mondays With Mary, I own the first edition) by Meredith Henning

January 2nd, St. Basil the Great (New):

• Saint Basil (Saints: Lives and Illuminations) by Ruth Sanderson
• St. Basil the Great (Picture Book of Saints)

January 3rd, Most Holy Name of Jesus (New):

• Holy Name of Jesus Coloring Book
• The Saving Name of God the Son

January 3rd, St. Genevieve (Hist.):

• Saint Genevieve (Saints: Lives and Illuminations) by Ruth Sanderson
• St. Genevieve (Once Upon a Time Saints) by Ethel Pochocki
• Saint Genevieve (Saints for Girls - also available from TAN/Neumann Press) by Susan Weaver 
• Genevieve, the Shepherdess from The Golden Legend of Young Saints

January 4th, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (New):

• Elizabeth Seton (Around the Year Once Upon a Time Saints) by Ethel Pochocki
• St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (Lives of the Saints: An Illustrated History for Children) by Bart Tesoriero
• Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton (More Saints: Lives and Illuminations) by Ruth Sanderson
• E - St. Elizabeth (An Alphabet of Catholic Saints) by Nippert
• Mother Seton and the Sisters of Charity (Vision) by Alma Power-Waters
• A Story of Mother Elizabeth Seton by Brother Ernest (Neumann Press - also available from TAN)
• Kat Finds a Friend: A St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Story by Joan Stromberg

January 4th, St. Pharaildis:

• Pharaildis (More Once Upon a Time Saints) by Ethel Pochocki

January 4th, St. Rigobert:

• Rigobert (More Once Upon a Time Saints) by Ethel Pochocki

January 5th, St. John Neumann (New):

• John Neumann (Around the Year Once Upon a Time Saints) by Ethel Pochocki
• St. John Neumann (Lives of the Saints: An Illustrated History for Children) by Bart Tesoriero
• "Do whatever He tells you." Saint John Neumann by Brenda and George Nippert
• Thomas finds a Treasure: A St. John Neumann Story by Joan Stromberg

January 5th, Twelfth Night (The Twelve Days of Christmas):

• The Twelve Days of Christmas by Jan Brett
• The Twelve Days of Christmas by Laurel Long
• The Twelve Days of Christmas by Gennady Spirin
• The Twelve Days of Christmas: A Christmas Carol (A Little Golden Book)
• The Twelve Days of Christmas: The Story Behind a Favorite Christmas Song
• Twelve Days of Christmas Stained Glass Coloring Book
• The Thirteen Days of Christmas by Jenny Overton
• The Little Match Girl by H. Thury (study guide in Catholic Mosaic)

The Twelve Days of Christmas by Laurel Long

January 6th, Epiphany of the Lord (New, Trad) Sts. Caspar, Balthasar & Melchior, the Three Wise Men (Hist.):
(In the United States this feast is celebrated on the first Sunday following January 1st)

• Babushka and the Three Kings by Ruth Robbins
• Small Camel Follows the Star by Rachel Brown
• The Third Gift by Linda Sue Park
• We Three Kings by Gennady Spirin
• The Last Straw by Fredrick Thury (study guide in Catholic Mosaic)

Small Camel Follows the Star by Rachel Brown

January 13th, Baptism of the Lord (Trad.):

(On the New Calendar, this feast is celebrated on the Sunday following January 6th)

January 14th, St. Nino of Georgia:

• Saint Nina (Saints: Lives and Illuminations) by Ruth Sanderson

January 14th, St. Kentigern:

• Kentigern (More Once Upon a Time Saints) by Ethel Pochocki

January 14th , St. Felix of Nola:

• Saint Felix and the Spider by Dessi Jackson

Saint Felix and the Spider by Dessi Jackson

January 15th, St. Paul – The First Hermit (Trad.)

• St. Paul and St. Anthony: The First Hermits (The Book of Saints & Heroes) by Andrew Lang

January 17th, St. Anthony of Egypt (New, Trad.)

• Saint Anthony (Saints: Lives and Illuminations) by Ruth Sanderson
• St. Paul and St. Anthony: The First Hermits (The Book of Saints & Heroes) by Andrew Lang

January 20th, St. Sebastian (New, Trad.)

• St. Sebastian (Saints and Angels) by Claire Llewellyn
• St. Sebastian (Lives of the Saints: An Illustrated History for Children) by Bart Tesoriero
• S- St. Sebastian (An Alphabet of Saints) by Robert Hugh Benson (Neumann Press)

January 21st, St. Agnes (New, Trad.):

• St. Agnes (Saints and Angels) by Claire Llewellyn
• Saint Agnes (Saints for Girls - also available from TAN/Neumann Press) by Father Gales
• Saint Agnes by M.R. Berardi (OOP - from my childhood collection)
• Beautiful Saint Agnes from The Golden Legend of Young Saints

January 21st, Our Lady of Altagracia:

• A Gift of Gracias: The Legend of Altagracia by Julia Alvarez (study guide in Catholic Mosaic)

January 23rd, Espousals of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Hist.):

• Betrothal of Mary to Saint Joseph (Mondays With Mary, I own the first edition) by Meredith Henning

January 24th, St. Francis de Sales (New) (Trad. – Jan 29th):

• St. Francis de Sales (Lives of the Saints: An Illustrated History for Children) by Bart Tesoriero
• Saint Francis de Sales (More Saints: Lives and Illuminations) by Ruth Sanderson

January 25th, The Conversion of St. Paul (New, Trad.):

• Paul (Lives and Legends of Saints) by Carole Armstrong
• St. Paul (Saints and Angels) by Claire Llewellyn
• The Great Hero: St. Paul the Apostle 
• Adventures of St. Paul by Oldrich Selucky
• St. Paul The Apostle by Mary Fabyan Windeatt
• The First Christians: The Acts of the Apostles for Children by Marigold Hunt
• On the Road to Damascus from Golden Legend of Young Saints

January 26th, St. Paula (Hist.):

• Saint Paula & Saint Jerome (Saints: Lives and Illuminations) by Ruth Sanderson

January 27th, St. Angela Merici (New) (Trad. – June 1st):

• Saint Angela Mereci (More Saints: Lives and Illuminations) by Ruth Sanderson

January 27th, St. John Chrysostom (Trad.) (New – Sep. 13th):

• Saint John Chrysostom (Saints: Lives and Illuminations) by Ruth Sanderson

January 28th, St. Thomas Aquinas (New) (Trad. – Mar. 7th):

• Thomas Aquinas (Around the Year Once Upon a Time Saints) by Ethel Pochocki
• St. Thomas Aquinas (Saints and Angels) by Claire Llewellyn
• St. Thomas Aquinas (Lives of the Saints: An Illustrated History for Children) by Bart Tesoriero
• Saint Thomas Aquinas (More Saints: Lives and Illuminations) by Ruth Sanderson
• St. Thomas Aquinas by Mary Fabyan Windeatt
• St. Thomas Aquinas and the Preaching Beggars (Vision) by Brendan Larnen, OP and Milton
• The Quiet Light: A Novel about St. Thomas Aquinas by Louis de Wohl (Note: This is not a children's book, but I have really enjoyed reading the saint novels by Louis de Wohl.)

Saint Thomas Aquinas - Lives of the Saints: An Illustrated History for Children

January 29th, St. Francis de Sales (Trad.) (New – Jan 24th):
See January 24th for booklist.

January 31st, St. John Bosco (New, Trad.):

• A Story of John Bosco by Brother Ernest (Neumann Press - also available from TAN)
• St. John Bosco by Kathleen Pearce
• St. John Bosco and Saint Dominic Savio (Vision) by Catherine Beebe
• St. John Bosco Mission to Love DVD

Other Links for January:
Links for January :: Month Dedicated to the Most Holy Name of Jesus

You can find links to all of our book lists here. 

Roses for Baby Jesus

Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!

This like some sweet refrain

In childhood lisped at mother's knee

Through all the happy years to be

Rose loves lining up her new pink Rosary Roses five times for Baby Jesus during our family rosaries! 

Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!

My heart-cry Thy sweet Name.

~ Jesus Make Me Worthy
(This post contains affiliate links.)

Today is the Feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus on the new calendar and it is celebrated on January 5th on the traditional calendar.  We will be reading The Saving Name of God the Son and coloring pictures from the Holy Name of Jesus Coloring Book.

It is also the historical feast of St. Genevieve!  You can find short stories about St. Genevieve in Saints: Lives and Illuminations, Once Upon a Time Saints, and Saints for Girls: A First Book for Little Catholic Girls (also available from TAN/Neumann Press - I'm dying to read this one to Rose, but I'm still saving it for her Easter Basket this year!).  I've been busy organizing bookshelves and hope to share a complete list of books for January soon.

I hope your new year is off to a blessed beginning! 

A Few Highlights from 2013. . .

Like last year, I thought it'd be fun to share some of the highlights from this past year. I actually compiled photo albums as gifts for our parents this Christmas and I snapped some screen shots of those pages (with the text slightly modified) to share with you all here at Shower of Roses.  Once again it has been such a wonderful year, filled with so much love, joy, and many, many blessings!



In January we celebrated the twelve days of Christmas with a super fun dinner party and I celebrated my 35th birthday... Even though Sean was away for training for a few weeks he and the kids made sure it was just as special as always!



Rascal turned 11 in February with a Hobbit themed birthday!



March was busy! We welcomed a new Holy Father, completed a Papal Unit Study and Lap Book, and the boys were excited to see their "Habemus Papam!" lego creation shared all over the web, and even tweeted by a Vatican spokesman!



In the meantime the girls were busy practicing Irish Dancing for St. Patrick's Day.


We spent a weekend at the coast for Sean's birthday.



March ended with Easter Sunday, Baskets filled with Books, and our Annual Egg Hunt!  You can scroll through all the Easter posts here.

(Speaking of Easter, Chiquita is very excited that in 2014 her birthday will fall on Easter Sunday!) 



Our sweet niece turned 3, learned to walk, and has been making such wonderful progress. 

(My brother and his wife also announced their new baby on the way at Thanksgiving!) 



In April we were blessed to attend a Sound of Music play and enjoy another Mother & Daughter Tea Party.



Chiquita celebrated her 8th birthday with a Josefina American Girl themed party.



After years of praying we were blessed with a regularly scheduled Latin Mass each quarter!  

(These EF Masses will increase to every other month in 2014!  These are the first Latin Masses at our local parish that didn't require me having another baby first! Woohoo!) 



In May Twinkle Toes had her (first phase) braces taken off and we celebrated the feast of Pentecost - one of the many beautiful feast days we celebrated again this year.



In June we attended a Catholic Family Camp with the Fathers of Mercy.



Snuggles turned 6 on the last day of Golf Camp and was thrilled with his Lone Ranger birthday!



The 4th of July was celebrated with friends and fireworks, and cake!



In July we became the parents of a teenager. . . Captain loved his Long Expected Party! 

Summer was filled with wildfires and overtime, way too much smoke, a vocations camp, swimming lessons, tidepooling and more.



In August we were blessed with another beautiful Goddaughter.  The children were (once again) inspired to play Mass (and Bud here) following an amazing Latin Mass we attended during a William Byrd Festival.  

(I was also blessed with another Godson this December, but sadly wasn't able to travel to Nebraska for his baptism a few days before Christmas... He is such a cutie and I can't wait to meet him!) 

Twinkle Toes became a Ten-ager and loved her "Caroline" party.



We ended the summer with one last trip to the coast, a cake on the anniversary of Summorum Pontificum, an exciting golf accomplishment for my brother, another visit from friends and a trip to Crater Lake!



After our guests headed home we began our 2013-2014 school year with goals and checklists.



In October we tried not to worry when my husband was furloughed, and some of the family headed to visit my husband's parents for the first time in nearly three years.  The older boys and I missed them so much! It was hard not being able to travel all together... Saving for a larger van, one that fits all nine of us, is one of our goals for 2014!

We went to the pumpkin patch, got lost in the corn maze, and Rascal built a PumpkinMan...

. . . and the children all looked so adorable in their All Saints Costumes for our annual party! 

Our diocese was blessed with a holy new Archbishop. The fall was filled with many school projects, feast day celebrations, and a Thanksgiving celebration with friends and family!

December started peacefully, but very quickly we were reminded of just how much we value running water in the home when our pipes froze and our well pump's motor died following a snowstorm and abnormally low temperatures for our area!



Despite the lack of running water (thankfully for "only" 6 days, before we were able to replace the deep well pump) I still managed to pull together a perfectly pink party for Rose!




And Bud celebrated with a Deer in the Woods birthday!



The feasts of St. Nicholas, Our Lady of Guadalupe, and St. Lucy were enjoyed as much as ever and Christmas was beautiful! (I created the book before Christmas, but do plan to share some pictures from Christmas day soon.) 

I have also been so incredibly blessed by this little space of mine here in the blogospehere... Thank you all for the kind comments, prayers and support! May God bless and reward you all! 

Happy New Year!