Happy Feast of St. Nicholas!

Jolly Old St. Nicholas!  He's been on our minds a lot for the past week.  We've been enjoying reading about him and putting together a St.Nicholas lap book.  Aren't they cute?!

I'd show you the inside, but we've only done one activity so far:)
We will pick up the pace today and the rest of the week.
The two youngest of my current students are doing the lapbooks, and the oldest will be reporting on the way St. Nicholas is celebrated in different countries.

Our Advent reading is going well. And we are enjoying our Jesse Tree.  This whole decorating early thing has enhanced our season.  It's much more peaceful and the kids are very excited. Especially the 6 year old.  Apparently, she is paying close attention to our studies and reading.  Her older sister took her shopping the other day, and big girl told little girl that "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" wasn't an appropriate Christmas song because it doesn't mention the birth of Jesus at all.  Little girl looked big girl in the eyes and said, "No, but it does mention Santa, and Santa and Jesus are BFFs!"  Of course!  Who do you think the saints hang out with anyway??? 

Now, take a look at this picture.  Don't you think that boys with ginormous feet (a 9 and 12 year old, who BOTH wear a men's size 10!) shouldn't have to put their biggest shoes and boots out???  Their regular shoes by themselves hold plenty of candy. Sheesh!

We will spend some time on this fantastic website today:
St. Nicholas Center
Check it out!  Lots of information, stories and activities for young and old!!

Then, later in the week we have a Holy Day of Obligation and the Feast of Juan Diego! It is an exciting week in the Church. 
I love the Catholic Church; her rhythms and seasons bless and order our lives, and her wisdom lights our way. Deo Gratias!

Happy Advent!

Advent Preparation

I love this season!  Even though, most years, I end up feeling very overwhelmed and stressed.  In order to alleviate some of my "bah-humbug" holiday stress, I decided to start earlier this year, and can actually say that I have 70% to 80% of my shopping done.  First. Time. Ever! So, when we pulled out the advent wreath, Jesse Tree, nativity sets and Christmas picture books on Sunday, I decided to keep on going.  You see, normally, I only put out Advent stuff at first and then 2 weeks later or so, I decorate the rest of the house. 
Years ago, a wonderful priest stated that it was not appropriate to "celebrate" Christmas before Christmas actually got here.  We should save Christmas for Christmas and use Advent to prepare; he encouraged us to hold off decorating until closer to the actual holiday.   Of course that makes sense.  But, I am ashamed to admit,  a lot of the excitement and anticipation disappeared for me.  Preparing for Christmas had become just one more chore to cross off  the enormous Christmas to-do list.

Waiting to decorate the house until mid-December(when holiday preps are ramping up in a big way) just made me more stressed out.  The decorating became a big burden; so much so, that one year I was tempted to only put the tree and stockings up and leave it at that.  I never did go that far, but I did cut waaaay back on decorations that year. 

So, this year, in my attempt to lessen my stress, I decided to put up most of the decorations on the first Sunday of Advent, leaving the tree and stockings until later (when college boy gets home). 

The younger kids were thrilled to see the house all Christmasy, and were so eager to help.  My oldest daughter, who is extremely fond of keeping traditions exactly the same as they are "supposed" to be, looked askance at me, wondering what I was doing.  She seemed to be pacified when I assured her the tree would go up at the "proper" time.
In the back of my mind, however, I questioned if I were doing the right thing and not jumping the gun.  I heard the excitement in the kids' voices as they exclaimed how "homey and cozy"the house was.  I had a lot of peace, also.  Then, it dawned on me.  Advent is a time for preparation and that is exactly what we were doing.  I wasn't celebrating Christmas early, but preparing for it!  We light our advent candles and read the Jesse Tree readings, all in anticipation of the birth of Our Savior.  We prepare a nursery before a child is born; and we prepare our homes, but especially our hearts, for the birth of the newborn King. 
If preparing early lessens the stress of it all, and increases our anticipation and excitement, it's all good, right?
Forgive me, Father, for I have decorated....

Advent Candles and stuff

 I had mentioned in a previous post that I am a bit Advent-candle-challenged, racing around each year searching for purple and pink candles at the last minute.  Well, this year, on the first Sunday of Advent, I actually did an advent candle craft, yes, craft!, with my kids.  I got the idea from Catholic Icing. I was a bit hesitant, but they came out great!  We melted pink and purple crayons (I used the microwave for melting, but Catholic Icing has different instructions) and painted the melted crayons onto white pillar candles.  It looks lumpy and handmade and I love it!! 

My two helpers mugging for the camera

Final product

Notice in the close up shot that our candles have been "blinged."  My little girl believes that everything is better with bling.  So, we added some sparkle to the candles, and honestly, I like it.  I must be part princess:)

One of the BIG pluses of this project is that I will have Advent candles for many years to come!  These are big 6" pillars!  

We have begun our Jesse Tree, and our Advent reading.  I have to mention a book that I purchased this year to add to our Christmas library.  It brought tears to my eyes when I first read it.

It is the nativity from Joseph's perspective.  How often I have felt compassion for "poor" St. Joseph.  The awesome responsibility of raising God's own Son must have overwhelmed him at times.  He didn't even have the benefit of an Immaculate Conception (except as his wife, of course!).  This book probes the tender and awe-inspiring thoughts Joseph may have had as he gazed upon his newborn Son.  What a beautiful book!

I hope your Advent is leading you smoothly and surely to the joy of Christmas.

Preparing to Wait

This year, we will be celebrating our first Advent and Christmas in our new house.  Typically, Advent sneaks up on me as I am digesting the remnants of Thanksgiving dinner in a pumpkin-pie induced haze.  This year, I wanted to be ready.  Since I am now working outside of the home, I knew I needed to be "on the ball"--no procrastinating or leaving anything to the last minute (except those darned Advent candles--I am always running around the first week Sunday of Advent looking for purple and pink candles--or even white candles to which I can attach purple and pink ribbons--sadly, it looks like this year will be no different as far as the candles are concerned). BUT,  I am happy to say that I have already purchased some gifts on-line and begun reading Destination:Bethlehem to the kids.
I can't wait to start reading our Advent/Christmas books!  I ordered several to add to our collection and as gifts.  My husband's goddaughter is recently married and we have decided to purchase Christmas picture books for her each year to create a collection for her and her future family.  She's a schoolteacher and liked the idea.
One of my favorite books, which I purchased as gifts this year is by Eve Bunting, called "December."

It is a visually beautiful book about a homeless mother and her son who entertain an angel disguised as an elderly homeless woman.  My favorite line is what the elderly woman says as the mother invites her to stay with them in their cardboard box for the night. "It's warm in here.  It's warm with love."  Beautiful story.


Here are some of our other favorites, old and new:
The Miracle of Saint Nicholas
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey
The Christmas Tapestry
The Donkey's Dream
and anything by Tomie DePaola:
     The Legend of the Poinsettia
     Old Befana
     The Lady of Guadalupe (Dec. 12--dont' miss it!)
     Merry Christmas, Strega Nona
     The Night of Las Posadas
     The Three Wise Men


Advent, the season of waiting, builds a sense of wonder and anticipation which culminates with the birth of Our Savior on Christmas Day.  It is good to thoughtfully and deliberately plan...to wait.

Advent and Christmas

I don't have much time to write these days, but I was doing a "quick click around" and saw that Elizabeth has a lovely post to help us prepare for Advent and Christmas. It's wonderful. Go see.

'Tis the Season for Giving

I feel like sort of a slouch. I enjoy reading lots of Catholic moms blogs and gleaning ideas and even lesson plans from them, but I haven't really given anything back. Well, it's not much, but I'll show you how we celebrate Advent and decorate for Christmas. Keep in mind that we are renting a house right now, so the "decor" isn't what I would like it to be, but it's the best I can do for now. So, in the spirit of giving rather than receiving (taking, downloading, printing, whatever you want to call it) here goes:

Here's the tree and a few select ornaments, including a Chrismon. The kids and I have made different Chrismons over the years, for our own tree and as gifts for others. Dear sons #2 and #3 decided to decorate the tree themselves yesterday. I walked into the living room and they had over 1/2 of the ornaments already hanging on the tree. Thankfully, the lights were already up, but the beads I use for garland were not. It would've been too difficult to try to hang and drape beads "just so" with the ornaments already there, so I reverted to one of my favorite looks--horizontal wired ribbons. I think they're beautiful. Dear hubby campaigned for tinsel (some people call them icicles--I just call them tacky). I actually relented and bought a package, but dreaded putting them on the tree. Thankfully, the tinsel got "vetoed" by the kids, especially College girl, who has decided for some reason that she gets to choreograph our holidays to conform to her memories--or how she thinks her memories should be.

This is our Advent Wreath with the Advent Candle I made last year. And our "Jesse Tree". I have a really nice felt one that I made a few years ago which we normally use. But I was given this one (and another one by my mother-in-law) and decided to do something different. The kids can color the symbols on these and the readings are a little different, so they get more bible exposure--always a good thing. We are just stapling these symbols onto pink and purple ribbons. This one pictured is 3 year old princess' "tree". She likes to use a lot of pink:)

Here are pics of some of my angel collection and one of our nativity sets, our "good deed" manger (which looks like it could use some more filling--BTW those are muslin strips) and our matching stockings, hand-knitted by my husband's Aunt Nancy.

We have two snowstorms coming in the next few days, so I will just relax in my freshly decorated house, read Christmas books, bake a batch of cookies or two and address my Christmas cards....no, I do not have all my shopping completed, or ANY wrapping...it will get done...it always does...never early....never smoothly...but I'm convinced perfection is overrated anyway. Please don't burst my bubble.

A blessed Advent to all!