Final Photo Dump Of 2013

Our New Year's Eve plans changed due in part to a sick child.  So we are currently home except for the girl who is at a friend's house for a sleepover.  It's a first for us that we are not all together for New Year's Eve.  Then my husband started to mumble "what a year!"  I am not ready for the rest of that statement. I refuse to look back, it is all too fresh, can't do it, not doing it! So instead let me present you with the final photo blog entry of 2013.  Happy New Year!

started my day with a cup of rich, dark chocolate hot cocoa with candy cane

the sun setting beautifully on the final day of 2013

fresh lemonade then off to run to their sleepover party at another friend's house, note the sweet baby on the right lol

sick child, not a good way to end the year

I have no one to share this with tonight..sad or yippee?! lol

can I just tell you that this is my most favorite Christmas present ever???!!! well aside from everything else ;-)

I took this selfie for my Texas family who sent me this lovely scarf. I am a scarf-a-hoarder as my closet is my witness

and finally, the dark chocolate truffle I have no problem NOT sharing with anyone

A safe New Year's Eve to all!

All That Glitters Is...Well...Glitter

We all have favorite Christmas decorations. Some of us collect trinkets, others special ornaments and one of us (ahem) collect sparkly words.  It wasn't planned, I didn't even think about it but there was one year when the glitter fairy decided she will sprinkle her joy in Christmas letters at the decorating aisle.  I happen to be walking by and the typical girly-girl in me had to have words that sparkle.  Most of you have seen these adornments but I would officially like to make a special homage to my beloved trinkets as purely indulgent blogging. Now you know what to get me for Christmas each year ;-) 

this stays in the box until Christmas Day

can't wait to use these stocking holders purchased at 50% off after Christmas! now how do I go about applying glitter to this?  LOL

'Twas The Day After Christmas

Happy Christmas season to everyone.  I pray that you all had a blessed Christmas Day.  Ours surely felt that way.  As per usual we went to Midnight Mass, opened presents in the morning then had Christmas dinner at my brother-in-law's home.  Today we're mostly hanging out and napping a lot. I don't have too many words but have a lot of pictures.  Enjoy:

my husband decided to remake my to-do list for Christmas Eve, note how many times he wrote "sweep floors" he thinks I'm obsessed with clean floors LOL.  Oh and that one about "DRUGS" that's a reminder to take medicine, we have legal drugs over here ;-) 

final time to light the wreath before we nap then run to Midnight Mass

the girl made this cookie mix in a jar as last minute presents that needed to be delivered

building downtown famous for it's life-size Nativity scenes

on the way home from Midnight Mass they were ready to go to sleep!

our humble Nativity scene, the oldest gets the honor of placing baby Jesus there after Mass

the six-year-old couldn't smile for the camera he just wanted to hit the hay

gift exchange with the family

The Edited And Focused Advent

Well the fourth candle of Advent is lit.  Christmas will be here in two days.  Most presents have been wrapped while a few remain in a Fedex warehouse somewhere hopefully to be delivered no later than Christmas Eve.  The big chores are marked off the list as copious amounts of sweets have been baked and consumed in the process of hanging the stockings on the chimney with care. 

As I reflect on these past few weeks I can't help but be thankful for the peace and quiet it brought.  We sorely needed an uneventful Advent and it was given to us on a silver platter.

It was an edited Advent. The noise-makers- blogs, social media, tv, radio and various other temples of din - were tempered. We edited the decorating (not necessarily by choice) as some of our trinkets and beloved Christmas collections never made it out of the box.  We didn't make a gingerbread house.  We didn't put up the Jesse Tree. We didn't have friends over for the usual Christmas break party. We wrapped presents early, in fact, we did a lot of things early including wrapping up school ahead of schedule.

It was also a focused Advent.  There was daily Mass, the Holy Hour(s), Consecration and many prayerful moments dotting each day.  It was heavenly.  It was heavenly quiet.  And I don't mean that our household was completely hushed.  The kids made the usual racket and argued about the most inconsequential things.  But there was no other competing noise which actually made it all the more bearable and curiously funny.  It is the natural noise of my life - children at play, children at work, children bickering LOL.

I am greatly anticipating Christmas, aren't you? For me the promise has already been fulfilled. I have already been given the greatest gift. I just had to tune in to the important things so I can hear and see again through the edited, focused lens of silence.  May these last few hours of Advent bring you rest and peace.

O Rex gentium, et desideratus earum, lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum: veni, et salva hominem, quem de limo formasti.
O King of the gentiles and their desired One, the cornerstone that makes both one: come, and deliver man, whom you formed out of the dust of the earth.

Two more days.

out to see the lights

my favorite Christmas present from last year handcrafted by the girl

what remains of the chore list, the girl added the last one- it's the most important :-)

Fitness And Christmas Cookies

How's that for an incongruous blog entry title?  This post is for those who are wondering how Insanity is going and what the girl is currently baking. I'm trying to kill two birds with one stone here people!

Well, I have gone a little nutty on the fitness thing.  I've decided to do a hybrid of Insanity, P90x and Rockin' Body.  Beach Body really needs to start paying me for the free ad ;-)  Part of the reason for the hybrid route is boredom, in the words of Tony Horton "I'm a fan of variety".  Another reason is that Insanity and P90x are very rigorous programs, I am finding myself worn physically, it is hard to sustain the enthusiasm once you have completed them.  So now with the hybrid I'm not as whiny about having to drag myself out of the couch (especially on dance days, which is what Rockin' Body is).  My six-day rotation has four days of cardio/dance then two days of weights. On the seventh day, I rest but have the option of doing stretch.

My fitness goal has changed from vanity (losing weight) to practicality (to keep away the winter blues and keep up with my children and chores).  That goal has kept me from being discouraged about results.  Once I passed that point of wanting physical results it was easier to talk myself to keep on going.  It's for the kids, I tell myself ;-)

Now that we're done with the fitness chat let's talk about cookies!!! 'Nuff chatter you need pictures:

the girl has been hard at work in the kitchen for a couple of days

she had a trusty assistant in older bother to make the best egg-less cookies

team work

the obligatory photo bomb

O clavis David, et sceptrum domus Israel: qui aperis, et nemo claudit; claudis, et nemo aperit: veni, et educ vinctum de domo carceris, sedentem in tenebris.
O Key of David, and scepter of the house of Israel, who opens and no man shuts, who shuts and no man opens: come, and lead forth the captive who sits in the shadows from his prison.

Five more days.

A Litany Of Thanksgiving

I first saw this posted at Fr. Z's blog.  It was written by a Benedictine, Cardinal Meyer towards the end of his life. The original is posted at the Monastero San Benedetto website's annual appeal.  A beautiful litany of thanksgiving:

For all Thou hast given, Deo gratias.

For all Thou has withheld, Deo gratias.

For all Thou hast withdrawn, Deo gratias.

For all Thou hast permitted, Deo gratias.

For all Thou hast prevented, Deo gratias.

For all Thou has forgiven me, Deo gratias.

For all Thou has prepared for me, Deo gratias.

For the death Thou hast chosen for me, Deo gratias.

For the place Thou art keeping for me in heaven, Deo gratias.

For having created me to love Thee for eternity.  Deo gratias, Deo gratias, Deo gratias!

Shows You Should Be Watching For Christmas

Bet you didn't know I'm a film expert!  Neither did I  LOL. In light of all the craziness now that it's officially only seven days before Christmas, we all need the down time to catch our breath.  And you don't want those loud jingle bell movies to add to the chaos.  So here are my two faves:

Rick Steves' European Christmas - yup that Europe travel expert Steves on public television.  This was on tv the other day and I had the presence of mind to actually record it.  When we finally sat down to watch we were glad we did.  The Old World charm of the European holidays with Father Christmas, caroling, St. Lucia processions and cutting a Christmas tree in the Alps was a welcome break from our stateside Home Alone's. I'm particularly biased about a short scene of Pope John Paul II's last Christmas Mass with the then Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Emeritus Benedict) beside him.  For that alone, you Catholics need to watch this documentary! ;-)

Into Great Silence - a stunning view into the life of Carthusian Monks, this is the perfect antidote to the noise of the season.  It's not necessarily a Christmas movie, I also watch this during Lent, but there's enough snow and silence to get you back to the meditative hum that is the spirit of Christmas (and Lent!). You don't have to be an aspiring monastic to appreciate this documentary.

So grab that hot cup of coffee or tea and a couple of your iced cookies, put your feet up and enjoy the quiet of the season ;-)

 O Adonai, et Dux domus Israel, qui Moysi in igne flammae rubi apparuisti, et ei in Sina legem dedisti: veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento.
 O Lord and Ruler of the house of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the flame of the burning bush and gave him the law on Sinai: come, and redeem us with outstretched arms.

Seven more days.

Hope In Genealogical Dysfunction

Today's Gospel reading on Jesus' family tree used to bore me to tears.  But as I have slowly immersed myself in Scripture, these names (some hard to pronounce) have become familiar, their foibles particularly prominent in my memory.  The sinful, the outcasts, the adulteress, the drunk, the deceiver, this is the kind of human family the Holy One was born into.  I chuckled and cried at that thought.  Talk about a truly dysfunctional lineage.  It has given me hope from the past and into the future especially as the genealogy account ends gloriously with Joseph and Mary.

St. Augustine's prayer beautifully sums it up - O blessed Virgin Mary, who can worthily repay thee thy just dues of praise and thanksgiving, thou who by the wondrous assent of thy will didst rescue a fallen world? What songs of praise can our weak human nature recite in thy honor, since it is by thy intervention alone that it has found the way to restoration.

When we think about the world we live in- broken, dysfunctional, hurting - our assurance is the Star of Hope's  free assent.  So we continue to praise and pray and trust that Jesus'  birth isn't all for naught.

O Sapientia, quae ex ore Altissimi prodidisti, attingens a fine usque ad finem, fortiter suaviter disponensque omnia: veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae. 

Eight more days.

These Last Nine Days

In the old country today begins the Novena Masses at dawn.  I miss that tradition.  I miss waking up early to go to the 4am Mass with my friends.  And every year I write about it so I'm sure you don't need the details.

The pace begins to quicken as the frenzy of shopping, baking, cooking and decorating take over our resolve for a quiet, meditative Advent. I refuse to open another newspaper ad or an email about big discounts that will never come again in a million years (or until after Christmas day LOL).  Even my favorite decorating blogs have gone nuts over their perfect looking homes and DIY-glittered ornaments.  I've had it with you Christmas people! It's still Advent!  LOL

On the same breath I am also thankful for those who have made my online shopping life so very smooth this season.  And those delivery people who work so hard to get these packages to us before the 24th especially in the snow and ice.  I shouldn't be dismissive of those who truly have busy lives.

It is these thoughts that have me thinking about how much I need Christmas.  I need this Christ-child who was born out of generous love to save me from my sins.  I need Christmas because after the frenzy has died down, gifts have been opened and cheer has been spread I will still be faced with my fallen nature.  That one doesn't come in a pretty package. And let me just say it now, in case you didn't know, I love Christ, I have seen His face, He has walked with me through those valleys and shadows.  And that friendship is how I can truly rejoice in His birth, fallen-nature notwithstanding.

May these last nine days before Christmas be truly blessed for you!

Here are some snapshots for today:

the girl loves to serve me tea with sugar cubes

the oldest child put up these ornaments on the maple tree, my favorite parol (a Filipino lantern) is on the right window

red brings cheer to an otherwise cheerless white snow

the oldest pulling the youngest on the sled

our mantle

 Happy Third Week of Advent.

St. Lucy Breakfast

Our breakfast was actually closer to brunch as there was daily Mass to run to and left-over chores that needed to be done before the festivities.  We faked it this year with store-bought cinnamon buns, I have no reasonable excuse but it sure made for a very relaxed celebration. We also didn't have our usual matching candle wreath for the girl and her dolly.  I wasn't going to stress out about that either.  Mass was the most important thing.

After brunch we did light schoolwork then the girl made treats.  We're looking forward to baking cookies this weekend while (another) winter storm threatens to keep us cooped up in the house. It will smell delicious!

My digital camera has gone missing so pardon the resolution of these phone-camera pictures.  I hope you all had a wonderful feast day, we sure did!

we always break out the festive dinnerware for the Feast of St. Lucy

most of you who have followed my old blog are familiar with this sweet little St. Lucy figurine

the boys

they want to go back to bed

these two are awake, alert, alive, enthusiastic

then the girl got to making treats to give her friends - these are white chocolate-covered pretzels with sprinkles and crushed candy cane

bagging her goodies

She also made this fudge, it doesn't look very appetizing but I promise it's good. I hope she puts one in your goody bag!

Catholic Playground

While browsing for coloring pages for today's Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe I came across this beautiful website called Catholic Playground.

It's beautiful.  There are free printables of the saints, Lego projects (I love the St. Stanislaus one!), recipes, crafts, etc.. How long have you people have been keeping this website a secret from me?!

Okay, off to play over there and print me some St. Lucy coloring pages.

The Leader Of The Irrelevant Church

Media "awards" are not exactly my favorite thing.  I think it is amusing that we could label someone "Man of The Year" or the "Sexiest Man/Woman Alive".  I'm not surprised that the Pope is Time's Man of the Year, dubious as the award-giver might be and considering the "contenders".

As usual I will go back to my original rant about how the secular world, for all it's claims that Christianity (specifically Catholicism) is no longer relevant, continues to keep their eye on what the leader of this irrelevant religion has to say or do.

Now I'm waiting for someone to honor me with the title "Most Quotation Mark-Using Blogger of The Century".

Advent Wreath Link-Up

Catholicmom.com has it's first Advent Wreath Link-Up where I bravely joined other Catholic moms to showcase our wreaths.  I wrote about mine here a few days ago -The Advent Wreath Saga.  Now go over there and get your Advent Wreath fix!

This may yet be my shortest post evah.

How Lovely Are Your Branches

We had such a wonderful weekend.  On Saturday we went with friends for our annual trip to the Christmas tree farm. With the blanket of snow from the winter storm, cutting tree this year was the quintessential Christmas experience.It was frigid but it was also beautiful.

Yesterday some of us renewed our consecration on the technical feast of the Immaculate Conception.  The girl made her consecration for the first time.  It was so lovely. I still tear up every time I say those words of consecration.

To cap it off we had our priest friend come over for dinner, he blessed our Advent wreath and played indoor basketball with the boys. He told us that his staff also made their consecration that morning. We are not his parishioners but our kids play sports at his parish school. We chatted about homeschooling, the state of education in general, his vocation story, etc. He was in youth ministry so he is familiar with the pulse of what's going on in the world of the young (he also happens to be very young!).  He's not had Filipino food before so I was a little bit nervous that he wouldn't like it.  Well, he left with some of the food so I think that says something.

So here's a ton of photos from our trip to the tree farm.  Happy Monday!!!

all buckled up and ready to go

winter wonderland at the tree farm - this is our fourth year here

warming up with hot cocoa while waiting for friends

I would love a window with a view like this

playing a game of checkers

the six-year-old playing with his dad

here we go!

the perfect tree....for Charlie Brown but not for us

the oldest pulling the younger siblings

it wasn't too long ago when they were all about the same height! well, except for the two youngest

eureka! the husband getting ready to cut the one

everybody gets a chance to cut

then the oldest will finish it off with his Swiss-army knife

but not before the six-year-old gets a turn on the saw

the hubby with the cone-head wife

every year they have to hoist the tree over their heads

baled and ready to go home

truck is loaded and ready to go - don't worry the kids didn't really ride on the back of the truck on the way home

goofballs

the babe and the tree

trim-a-tree

 Happy Second Week of Advent!