It's Snowing

The boys don't need to pretend anymore. It really is snowing, and Kieran is very excited. He keeps telling me, "Mommy, it's snowing!" and "Mommy, snow is on the van. We need to clean it." He also commented, "Mommy, the snow is on the flowers." I love my little boy and his wonder and enthusiasm.

Snow Fun

Last Saturday and Sunday, we were all excited to finally get a little snow. The children enjoyed it while it lasted and had a fun time playing outside.

Did he throw it at me?

It's cold!

Winter Wonderland or...

We were all happy to see approximately one foot of snow fall and stick in our neighborhood this week. My husband and I enjoyed looking at the beauty outside, while our children played in their winter wonderland.  Unfortunately, I did not take very many photos.

We still have a lot of snow on the ground. As of Thursday, we also have a large branch, some small madrona branches and three trees down. One of the trees that fell was an old madrona, a favorite of mine.  It came down on part of our fence.

Still, despite the cleanup and repairs that we have ahead of us, I am thankful for the beauty and enjoyment with which God provided us.

Advent, Christmas and Winter Feast Day Books

One of the things that I like about this time of year is snuggling up with my children and reading picture books. A few years ago, I shared a list of picture books that we like to read during December and January. Below is an updated (and hopefully better organized) list.

Advent Books:

Annika's Secret Wish by Beverly Lewis
Apple Tree Christmas by Trinka Hakes Noble
Celebrating Advent with the Jesse Tree (St. Joseph Picture Books) by Rev. Jude Winkler*
Christmas Day in the Morning by Pearl S. Buck*
Christmas in Noisy Village by Astrid Lindgren*
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski*
The Donkey's Dream by Barbara Helen Berger*
The Fussy Angel by Mary Arnold*
The Jesse Tree by Geraldine McCaughrean
Marta and the Manger Straw by Virginia Kroll*
Mortimer's Christmas Manger by Karma Wilson
Mousekin's Christmas Eve by Edna Miller
An Orange for Frankie by Patricia Polacco*
The Story of Holly and Ivy by Rumer Godden*
Take Joy! The Tasha Tudor Christmas Book by Tasha Tudor*
The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree: An Appalachian Story by Gloria Houston

Who's That Knocking on Christmas Eve? by Jan Brett

Why Christmas Trees Aren't Perfect by Richard H. Schneider


Feast Day Books:

December 6: Kersti and Saint Nicholas by Hilda Van Stockum*
The Legend of Saint Nicholas by Demi
Saint Nicholas by Ann Tompert
The Miracle of Saint Nicholas (Golden Key Books) by Gloria Whelan*
December 8:  Mary: The Mother of Jesus by Tomie dePaola*
December 12: Our Lady of Guadalupe by Carmen T. Bernier-Grand* (added 12/12)
The Lady of Guadalupe by Tomie dePaola*
December 13:  Lucia, Saint of Light by Katherine Bolger Hyde
December 26:  Good King Wenceslas by John M. Neale, illustrated by Tim Ladwig*
January 6:  The Legend of Old Befana by Tomie dePaola*
We Three Kings by Gennady Spirin*
The Little Drummer Boy illustrated by Kristina Rodanas*

We really like the illustrations in this book.

Christmas Books:

The Animals Christmas Carol by Helen Ward

The Christmas Bird by Bernadette Watts

Christmas Carols (Little Golden Book) arranged by Marjorie Wyckoff, illustrated by Corrine Malvern*
The Christmas Coat by Clyde Robert Bulla
The Christmas Donkey by Gillian McClure*
This is a beautiful story about a proud and stubborn donkey who learns a very valuable lesson from the Holy Family.
Christmas in the Stable by Astid Lindgren
The Christmas Story by Jane Werner Watson*

I recommend looking for the 1st edition of this Golden Book. The original publication included the Magnificat. I don't know why the publishers at Golden Books edited it.

Christmas Trolls by Jan Brett

Cobweb Christmas: The Tradition of Tinsel by Shirley Climo
Father and Son: A Nativity Story by Geraldine Mccaughrean

The Fir Tree by Hans Christian Andersen, adapted and illustrated by Bernadette Watts

How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss*
The Huron Carol by Frances Tyrell*
Jingle the Christmas Clown by Tomie dePaola

The Legend of the Christmas Rose by William H. Hooks

Little Boys Christmas Gift by John Spiers*

The Little Donkey: A Christmas Story by Gerda Marie Scheidl, illustrated by Bernadette Watts

The Little Drummer Mouse by Mercer Mayer

Night Tree by Eve Bunting

Room for a Little One: A Christmas Tale by Martin Waddell*
My children (ages 6 and under) thoroughly enjoy this book and will often ask me to reread it.

Saint Francis and the Christmas Donkey by Robert Byrd

Silent Night: The Song and Its Story by Margaret Hodges
A Small Miracle by Peter Collington
This is a beautiful, wordless picture book.

This Is the Stable by Cynthia Cotten*
Cynthia Cotten uses lyrical verses to tell the story of the first Christmas.  The illustrations add to the beauty of the story.

The Tomten by Astrid Lindgren

The Twelve Days of Christmas illustrated by Jan Brett*

Books that we own are marked with an asterisk*.

Dates indicate Feast Days when we make a point of reading or rereading a book.

The Things I Find on My Camera

Photo taken by Brendan

Snow Day Snowflake Photos

Remembering Snowflake Bentley, Brendan decided to use his EyeClops and take some photos of snowflakes. I really like the second photo.

Magnified 200 times

Magnified 100 times

Magnified 100 times

Magnified 100 times

Magnified 100 times

It's Snowing!

I am putting our youngest down for a nap.  The children are exclaiming, "It's snowing!"  I am assuming that it will turn to rain and we will not see more than a dusting of white fluffy stuff, if anything.  We have had a beautiful, warm, sunny winter with most afternoons spent outside.  The children have enjoyed the weather, but they were recently lamenting the fact that they had not seen any snow this season.  I reminded them that snow has been known to fall (not really stick) in March and April.  Their squeals of delight make me happy that it is doing so this month.

January Picture Book Basket

This month's book basket contains the following books:

Akiak: A Tale From the Iditarod by Robert J. Blake

A sled dog refuses to give up during the Iditarod, despite being hurt.

Annie and the Wild Animals by Jan Brett

The Big Snow by Berta and Elmer Hader (added 1/13)

A Day On Skates by Hilda Van Stockum*
This will be the first time that I read this book.

A Gift of Gracias: The Legend of Altagracia by Julia Alvarez (January 21)*

Julia Alvarez tells a beautiful story of a young Spanish girl who helps to save her family's farm with the help of Our Lady of Altagracia. A Gift of Gracias is available in many libraries, however, my family recommends purchasing this picture book.

Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett

Gingerbread Friends by Jan Brett

The Hat by Jan Brett

This story is similar to The Mitten; however, the hat is inhabited by barn animals instead of wild animals.  As is typical with Jan Brett's books, it is fun to read and view.

Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton
Katy, a red crawler tractor, plows the people of Geoppolis out of a huge snow storm.

The Legend of Old Befana: An Italian Christmas Story by Tomie de Paola*

The children are looking forward to hearing this story again on January 6.

The Mitten by Jan Brett*
Wild animals attempt to warm themselves in Nicki's lost mitten.

Mousekin's Frosty Friend by Edna Miller
Mousekin finds some puzzling and unfamiliar tracks in the snow.  Will he learn to whom they belong?

Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
A girl goes owling with her father on a winter night, inspiring young listeners to want to do the same. My two oldest used to really like listening to this story.

Saint Felix and the Spider by Dessi Jackson (January 14)*
This is a wonderfully written book that draws the reader and listeners into the story. (added 12/13)

Saint John Bosco: The Friend of Children and Young People by Carol Monmarche (January 31)*
St. John Bosco has held a special place in our hearts ever since one of our children was baptized on his feast day, January 31.

Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin

Snowflake Bentley photographed thousands of snowflakes in order to study their unique formations.  This book recounts his endeavors with beautiful illustrations and an engaging story.

A Story of St. John Bosco by Brother Ernest, C.S.C. (January 31)*

The Story of the Three Wise Kings by Tomie de Paola
This is an out-of-print book by Tomie de Paola which retells the story of the three wise men. We read it on January 6.

The Three Snow Bears by Jan Brett*

Jan Brett does an great job of retelling Goldilocks and the Three Bears as a winter tale.  As always, she also succeeds in intriguing children (and adults) with her detailed illustrations.

A Time to Keep: The Tasha Tudor Book of Holidays by Tasha Tudor*

We enjoy reading this book towards the beginning of January and throughout the year.  Tasha Tudor weaves a little bit of magic, as she shares the delightful things that are celebrated or done throughout the year.

The Tomten and the Fox by Astrid Lindgren
The tomten agrees to share his porridge with the fox if the fox will stop disturbing the farm animals.

Trouble with Trolls by Jan Brett

We Three Kings illustrated by Gennady Spirin*

This famous carol is brought to life by Gennady Spirin's beautiful illustrations.  I hope to eventually add this book to our collection and read (or sing) it every January 6. Update: We added this book to our collection in 2011.

Winter Story (Brambly Hedge) by Jill Barklem
The mice of Brambly Hedge plan a Snow Ball.

Books that we own are marked with an asterisk*.