Christmas 2015

"At that time there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that the whole world should be enrolled. This enrolling was first made by Cyrinus, the governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, every one into his own city."

"And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem: because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary his espoused wife, who was with child."

"And it came to pass, that when they were there, her days were accomplished, that she should be delivered." 

"And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped Him up in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn."

"And there were in the same country shepherds watching, and keeping the night watches over their flock."

"And behold an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the brightness of God shone round about them; and they feared with a great fear. And the angel said to them: Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, that shall be to all the people: For, this day, is born to you a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David."

"And this shall be a sign unto you."

"You shall find the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger." 

"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God, and saying: Glory to God in the highest; and on earth peace to men of good will."

~ Luke 2:1-14 ~

He's Still a Boy at Heart

I have mentioned before that the best Christmas gift is going to Midnight Mass. My second best Christmas present this year was hearing the inspiring sermons that our pastor gave during the last week of Advent and on the Feast of St. Stephen (the second day of Christmas). I am so thankful to have such a holy pastor and to be able to go to daily Mass.

This year, I also received another favorite and unexpected gift, watching my teenage son flying his drone and building his Millennium Falcon Metal Earth 3D Metal Model. Seeing the joy that he is getting from flying the drone, making it flip, and taking video reminds me of when he was younger and used to spend hours flying his remote control helicopters. I was also happy to catch occasional glimpses of him building his Millenium Falcon. Even though he is growing older, I know that he will always be my little boy.

Merry Christmas!

Adoration of the Shepherds by Charles Brun

Gaudete, Christus est natus!

A Little Bit of This and A Little Bit of That Daybook

Outside my window

It's mating season for the moles and they have been wreaking havoc in our backyard. Those patches of dirt in our lawn are mole mounds. I think that it might be time for our resident mole ranger to take care of the problem.

I am wearing

a black skirt and a Marian blue shirt.

In the kitchen

We are hoping to make some cookies for our new neighbors who moved in around Christmas. We have been meaning to do this for the past few weeks, but haven't gotten around to it. I felt really terrible on Saturday when the father knocked on our door and introduced himself as our new neighbor. My children are excited to have some children living next door, and I am excited that our neighbors are fixing up their new yard. The dad works for or owns a landscaping company. If you've been reading my blog for a while, you probably know that I thoroughly enjoy gardening. I'm happy that our neighbors do too.

I am thankful for

My husband and all that he does to help. I am also thankful for my oldest daughter who does so much to help with her brothers and sisters, and around the house. I am truly blessed.

I am hearing

quiet. Everyone is downstairs, save for my oldest daughter and my baby. My little boy is sleeping peacefully next to me.

I am praying for

my dad. His health took a turn for the worse during Advent. It is so hard to live so far away from him, knowing that he is suffering.

We are learning

Our youngest daughter is very excited to be preparing for her First Holy Communion this year. She is enjoying learning her catechism and is happy to share what she has done in her class with me.

My oldest son and I have been working on Latin Mass responses with Patrick and Finnian. Kieran is usually in the room when I am doing so, and he has started saying some of the words, like "fortitudo mea." This is homeschooling at its best.

I am reading

Treasure and Tradition. Our pastor recommended this book to everyone in our parish during Advent. My husband and oldest daughter each received a copy of the book for the Feast of Epiphany. I am planning on using it as part of my children's religion lessons after I have finished reading it. Several of the families at our parish are already using Treasure and Tradition for their children's religion classes. It is a truly wonderful book.

I am listening to

Holy Families Don't Just Happen. I have listened to this sermon a few times over the years. Recently, I decided to share it with my oldest daughter. We listened to it while working on laundry together. The following day was Sunday and as usual we went to Mass. We were both very surprised to hear our pastor give an equally good sermon on the same topic. If you have teens or young adults living at home, I highly recommend that you have them listen to this sermon. I wish that I could share Fr. S.'s sermon too.

I love my husband

He took a long Christmas vacation, and we enjoyed relaxing at home with him. He returned to work on Tuesday, January 13. I miss having him at home, but am thankful that he has a job. A couple of my friends' husbands have lost their jobs and are having a hard time finding new ones. I am praying that they will do so soon.

I am pondering

how Candlemas could have arrived so quickly. I have had so much that I have wanted to share from Christmas, but somehow I haven't had the time to do so. These photos and little anecdotes will have to suffice.

Our little boy's shirt says, "All Mommy wants for Christmas is a Silent Night." People who read the shirt during Advent were amused, but it really is all that I want for Christmas each year.

Our baby received a pelican bib, socks, and The Saving Name of God the Son for his first Christmas presents. My mom used pelican bibs with my brother and sisters and me when we were young. I can't believe that I waited until my ninth child to get one of these bibs. It is so easy to clean and it catches almost all of the food that our little boy drops when he is eating.

Due to illnesses (high fevers, coughs, and a rash) in our house during Advent, we took our annual family photo on the second day of Christmas this year. Doing so meant that my husband could join us and take the photo. We all enjoyed our little outing with Daddy; however, Patrick and I did not enjoy having some birds deposit their droppings on us. Watching a couple of bald eagles, flying over the water and perching in some trees, did make up for it somewhat. We had no idea that the location that we chose for this year's photo was a bird haven. We're looking forward to returning and doing a little bit more bird watching. When we do, I think that I will wear a hat.

Happy Feast of Candlemas!

Our Lady of the Candles

I have seen a candle lit.

I have watched the slow

Consuming of the strength of it

That a light may glow.

And I have thought upon a maid

That to the temple came

And offered all herself to be

Wax - to feed a flame.

~ Sr. Mary Catherine, O.S.U. ~

{pretty, happy, funny, real}

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

Every Thursday, at Like Mother, Like Daughter!

{pretty}

I thought that the Christmas tree that my husband and oldest son chose this year looked very pretty (it still does). Unfortunately, we forgot to take a photo of the tree with the presents under it this year.

{happy}

Our little girl was happy to receive a mantilla and doll stroller for Christmas. She had wanted a doll stroller for her birthday, but I hadn't been able to find one that was tall enough. Around the end of November, I saw this stroller at Costco for a very reasonable price, and I knew that she would like it. She is looking forward to taking lots of walks with me around our neighborhood pushing her stroller.

The face that my son is making in the background was intentional on his part. He thought it would be amusing to make a disappointed looking face, even though he was actually happy.

My friend, Elena, is responsible for letting me know where I could find the pretty mantilla for Elizabeth and her sisters. Thank you, Elena.

{funny}

During our Christmas vacation, we made gingerbread houses. Doing so has become an annual tradition in our family. Anyway, after finishing the gingerbread houses, we all left the dining room. A little while later, Kieran came and asked me to clean his red hands and face. He had eaten the red icing that our oldest son had used to make a brick path leading to one of the gingerbread houses. He had also eaten several candies off of two of the gingerbread houses. We all marveled and laughed at the fact that he had left one of the three gingerbread houses fully intact. He didn't touch the gingerbread house that he had helped his daddy and his brother make.

{real}

Kilian is my first child who has had to have his hair cut before he is a year old. He enjoyed eating a cheese stick while I gave his hair a little trim. He looks more like a little boy than a baby boy now, but his hair is no longer in his eyes.

Advent Catch Up

I have had so much that I have wanted to share, but very little time to do so.

During Advent, we were blessed with a visit from my brother. Unfortunately, we weren't able to spend a lot of time with him due to high fevers and coughs, but he did visit for a little bit. He thoughtfully brought the children little bags filled with chocolate and a box of chocolate for me from Rohr. The bags and box of chocolate were reminiscent of the chocolates that my grandparents used to send us each year for Christmas. I was happy to see how much the children appreciated them and hear more than one of them say, "These are the best chocolates that I have ever tasted." I think that Rohr probably makes the best chocolates in the world.

On the feast of St. Lucia, our oldest son set up our nativity scene and hung up our Christmas lights with a little bit of help from his younger brothers and sisters.

Our outdoor decorations are still lighting up the night sky. Thankfully, our next door neighbor's lights are doing the same.

During the last week of Advent, my children made and decorated Christmas cookies for friends and neighbors.

We made gingerbread cookies, sugar cookies (adding peppermint extract to our recipe instead of almond extract), snowball cookies (a.k.a. Italian wedding cookies, Mexican wedding cookies and Russian tea cakes), peppermint shortbread, our favorite peanut butter fudge, and a couple of other cookie recipes. The cookies were all placed in Christmas treat boxes and delivered by my husband and/or children.

Kieran decided that the Little People Nativity figures could use a little decorating too.

Kilian learned that there are interesting things to play with in the kitchen cupboards. Kitchen clean up became a little bit harder thanks to him, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Oh, I love my children!

Hopefully, I will be able to share a few Christmas memories soon.

Apple and Sausage Breakfast Casserole

This casserole has become a Christmas morning staple in our house and makes for a tasty Christmas breakfast. The original recipe came from a Costco cookbook a couple of years ago. Catherine makes this slightly adapted recipe on Christmas Eve day each year, which means that she will be making it again tomorrow. Today, we are baking cookies and other goodies again. After waking up on Christmas morning, I wander into the kitchen and pop the breakfast casserole into the oven. Enjoy!

Apple and Sausage Christmas Breakfast Casserole

Ingredients:

• 1 pound breakfast sausage (we use maple syrup flavored sausages) 
• 2 Granny Smith apples, cored and chopped 
• 5 TBSP sugar, divided 
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon 
• 6 cups cubed French bread 
• 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese 
• 9 large eggs, beaten 
• 2/3 cups sour cream 
• 1 tsp vanilla extract 
• 3 cups milk 

Recipe:

Coat a 12-x-9 inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

Brown sausage in a skillet, stirring to crumble.

Toss apples in a bowl with 2 tablespoons sugar and cinnamon.

Place half of the bread cubes in the prepared baking dish. Top with half of the sausage, half of the apple mixture, and half of the cheese. Repeat the layers.

In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs and sour cream. Whisk in 3 tablespoons sugar, vanilla, and salt. Add milk and whisk until combined. Pour over the mixture in the baking dish. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Bake, uncovered, for about 70 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

Makes 8 to 10 servings. Although there are 10 people in our family, we always have leftovers.

Print Recipe

Remembering the Reason for the Season when Giving Gifts

In my last post, I kind of joked about buying Christmas presents for nine children this year. I enjoy getting things for my children, especially religious presents, and things that they need and like. Each year, my children are given three Christmas presents. Shortly after our first child was born, my husband and I agreed that it was important to give at least one Christmas present that would help our children to grow in their love for God. After all, Christmas is the celebration of Jesus' birth.

Over the years, we have given our children basic and more detailed religious puzzles, books, Nativity sets and figures, ornaments, games, and more. This year, my husband and children will be getting the following religious Christmas presents:

Saints Memory Card Game
When my older children were young, we got Mary Memory. We still have it and the children like playing go fish, using the cards. When I saw Saints Memory on the Fraternity Publications website, I knew that it would make a wonderful little present for one of my younger children. The quality of the cards is great and I am impressed with the selection of saint pictures. I am looking forward to playing saint memory and go fish with my children, using these cards.

Treasure and Tradition: The Ultimate Guide to the Latin Mass
This gem of a book comes highly recommended by our friends, including our pastor. I can't wait to see it. Fr. S. told me that looking at Treasure and Tradition you would think that it was an excellent reprint of an old book; however, it is a treasure that Lisa Bergman has written for Latin Mass goers (and anyone who is interested in the rich history of the Church) today. It would make a wonderful present for both priests and lay people.

The Saving Name of God the Son by Jean Ann Sharpe
One of my little boys will be getting this board book for Christmas.

Who is Coming to Our House? by Joseph Slate
We have checked this book out from the library year after year around Christmas time. When Patrick asked if he could get this book for Christmas, I decided that I would get it for one of his younger brothers. It is a sweet little story that has worked its way into Patrick's heart.

The Catholic Girl's Guide edited by Fr. Lasance
Two of my daughters already have this book. Come Christmas, three of my daughters will have this book. I think that every Catholic tween or teen would benefit from owning and reading this book.

Infinity Veils

Fr. Peter Cutouts

Praying Angel Ornament

I purchased this beautiful ornament from Fraternity Publications.Unfortunately, it is no longer available on their website.

Angels in Iron by Nicholas C. Prata

My husband recommended that we buy this book for one of our boys. I think that he will enjoy reading it.