That is my Joseph carrying the cross! Patrick also served, he carried the incesnse. It was his first time assisting with the incense. It make me almost cry when I see my boys assist at Holy Mass.
This is my favorite statue of our Blessed Mother. I love the look on her face. She is life sized and just so beautiful.
We had such a wonderful evening all together! Merry Christmas!
The tree is decorated. Christmas music fills our home. After a major clean of the kitchen (a move the refrigerator kind of cleaning) we just finished a two day bake-a-thon. Mary Jane is quite the baker. We need to make one more batch of peppermint bark for teacher gifts. That needs to get done today. Also on the list...I need to make the pyrogies, wrap presents, Finish addressing Christmas cards, and grocery shopping for our Christmas eve and day meals. Terry is home so he and I will do this together :0)
I was in Walmart on Thursday getting all of our baking supplies and I started to get all choked up. I was thinking about my children and Terry and my Dad and how we are all going to be together over these next few days. No place to go. I feel so blessed to have this time together. I was so excited and overwhelmed at how blessed I am. In those same thoughts I think of those in Newtown, those families, those babies. I pray and beg mercy and grace for them...for all of us.
Well, I am off for now. I promised John Paul he could help me make the dough for the pyrogies. I may have to give him his own little batch. Have a great weekend everyone!
Last Sunday after Mass we took the kids to the park for a photo shoot. It was sooo windy. I think the gusts were around 35 mph. Out of the 372 pictures that I took I think I have one, maybe two where the kids are all looking at the camera with their eyes open. We did get some great pictures though. I thought I would share a few with you all.
I recently purchased Lightroom 4
My book end boys:
Apparently Patrick did something hysterical at the other end of this picture. I'm not quite sure what, but being that he is a nine year old boy I can only imagine:
Love this picture:
Amelia!! Julia and her are two peas in a pod. She is so full of life as you will see in the next couple of pictures:
Again, that darn wind blowing dresses and hair:
John Paul was not interested in picture taking. He just wanted to find sticks and bugs and leaves. Just as any three year old boy would be. So sweet:
So how was your New Year's Eve? Ours was a ton of fun. We had a fondue party. I say party when it was really just the 11 of us, including my Dad. Amelia kept saying "Mom this isn't a party!" But hey, like I said. There were 11 of us. That is a party. I read about the Foss family's traditional New Year's Eve feast in the latest issue of Faith and Family magazine and thought it would be fun to give it a try. We had a good time. We went to the vigil Mass at 5 and came home and started to prep the food. We turned on some music, broke out some puzzles. Hung out in the kitchen and cooked and dipped and laughed and talked. The kids had Shirley Temples. It was a nice relaxing evening.
John Paul had one to many Shirley Temples and maybe a little to much chocolate fondue! Ha!
Henry didn't get to have any chocolate fondue, and he was sad about it.
So we put a party hat on him instead and that made him happier
Here is a picture of Julia. Who loves to have her picture taken.
We followed the recipes in the magazine.
We had beef and pork with a horseradish dipping sauce. Terry also made a curry dipping sauce which was so yummy. We had three cheese dip, beer cheddar dip and of course chocolate fondue.
I think we have ourselves a new tradition!
May the peace of our Christ be with you!
XOXO
Pretzels, chocolate chips, and some toppers equal an easy, fun, yummy treat. We made these last week and plan on making some more because our first batch is gone! All you do is melt the chocolate, spoon it over the pretzel and then sprinkle on your toppings. Let the chocolate set and your good to go. The little girls loved helping with these. Even Amelia with limited visibility who is growing out her bangs and keeps taking out her barrette. :0)
People, look east. The time is near
Of the crowning of the year.
Make your house fair as you are able,
Trim the hearth and set the table.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the guest, is on the way.
Furrows, be glad. Though earth is bare,
One more seed is planted there:
Give up your strength the seed to nourish,
That in course the flower may flourish.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the rose, is on the way.
Birds, though you long have ceased to build,
Guard the nest that must be filled.
Even the hour when wings are frozen
God for fledging time has chosen.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the bird, is on the way.
Stars, keep the watch. When night is dim
One more light the bowl shall brim,
Shining beyond the frosty weather,
Bright as sun and moon together.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the star, is on the way.
Angels, announce with shouts of mirth
Christ who brings new life to earth.
Set every peak and valley humming
With the word, the Lord is coming.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the Lord, is on the way.
Words and Music: Eleanor Farjeon (1881-1965), 1928
That picture above was taken last week. But I love it and wanted to get it up here. We have a busy week ahead of us but we are not all healthy. Julia and I caught Patrick's bug. I am feeling better I just have a cough and feel tired. Julia is still running a high fever. I pray the baby doesn't get it or anyone else for that matter. I am also praying the upcoming busy-ness doesn't take away from some much needed quiet time so we can prepare our hearts. So if the cookies don't get made in my kitchen this year there is always the local bakery. Maybe this illness is a little gift.
