More Christmas

Just a few more pics from Christmas ~ gosh it is going too fast!  Shannon and I are off on vacation tomorrow and I DON'T WANT TO GO!  Why this whole thing sounded like a grand idea nine months ago, I am not sure.  It will be fun once we are on the plane, but the leaving part...I am struggling with.

Family dinner at Mom & Dad's huge table ~

I was visiting with a checker at the grocery store this week.  He was excited that he had been able to see his two siblings this year.  They all still live in Helena and he hasn't seen them since last  Christmas.  

I almost cried. 

What a blessing to have brothers and sisters who still place value on family despite the craziness!

Hanging with Uncle Ben ~

Organic milk, cake, and eggnog...hmmm, someone missed the "healthy" memo ~

Ahhh, girlie stuff ~ right up Annika's alley ~

My Little Sous Chef

The last few days have been crazy and Nickles has been a bit neglected.  If that little boy doesn't have something to do he  finds something to do occupy himself and it is not typically something good.  Yesterday I was making a few meals to throw in the freezer so I put Nicholas to work.  He couldn't have been happier.  Today we was excited to help again, especially if he got to use a KNIFE!

Christmas

Christmas is the best holiday ever.  No, it's not the gifts or food or parties.  It is the waiting, the anticipation of something wonderful happening: preparing my heart to receive Jesus in a greater way, filling the manger with straws representing kindness, seeing the empty spot where Jesus will be placed Christmas Eve....all the small traditions, I love them. It is a season rich with symbolism.  Christmas Day is just the icing on the cake!

Shannon and I decided a few years ago to not only celebrate Christmas Day, but the 12 days of Christmas following.  One factor may have been that there is such a let-down on the 26th that we couldn't just stop celebrating.  But the other reason was that Jesus' coming into the world should be celebrated in a great way.  So while everyone else is yanking down their trees and getting back to business-as-usual we are still baking cookies and having a grand ole time, even saving presents for this special time.  

I must share my favorite, favorite, favorite part of Christmas Day.  I lie in bed waiting for the kiddos to be up and about, not having to ever wait long!  I absolutely love lying in the dark, listening to the everyone try to contain their excitement as they peek at presents under the tree.  Having been forbidden before going to bed by Daddy to wake anyone, they really do their best to be quiet, but Shannon and I can hear everything they say.  It's the best!

Happy 12 Days of Christmas!!!

Night  skating ~

And chatting ~

And waiting to be pulled in the sled ~

Annika singing with the Cathedral children ~

"Which song did you like the BEST, Mom?"

Waiting for Mass to begin ~

Ahhhh, crackers and BUTTER ~

Uncle Ryan teaching the boys a new game ~

Annika simply cannot contain herself!

Guessing Advent Angels...Katherine thinks she knows hers ~

"Please, please, please let me inside, it's cold out here!"

Nickles thought  a trike was a wonderful present, til he unwrapped Gramma's ~

A bow & arrow!

Since she received a "Brave" doll from St. Nick Annika has been 

practicing her Scottish accent ~ 

 

A snowboard on which to try breaking every bone ~

Thanks, St. Nick, for the matching hats!

And the craziest of all ~ a real bow from Uncle Matt so the kiddos can hunt with Daddy ~

Christmas Day skating ~

I'm fwying!

A concentrated stop ~

A

nnika giving her cousin a ride ~

Hockey ~ Hockey ~ Hockey ~

Grandpa skating with the best of 'em ~

Waiting for the game to move her way ~

MERRY CHRISTMAS !

Ben

The phone rang the other day and it was my brother, Ben. "Hey, what are you doing tonight and do you have dinner plans?"
At that moment I wasn't sure what I was going to be doing in 10 minutes, much less what I was having for dinner.
 
"I am coming up to Helena and thought I'd stop by for dinner."

I LOVE that.

I love that he just arrives.  I love that he has funny stories to tell the kids.  I love that he just fits in. I love that he helps himself to the food on the counter. I love that he is simply himself.

I love Ben!

Boys

The boys...they kill me.  The things they say and do either bug the tar out of the girls and I or totally crack us up!

Coming in rosy cheeked from skating this afternoon,
"Mom, I need hot choc-wat, my toes are so cold!"
"Dom, how is that going to help your feet?"
"It will sink into them."

Shan walked into this conversation tonight.
Eric in a serious discussion with Katherine, "Now I have decided to become a dentist when I grow up because that is the fastest way to make a million bucks. And I'm also going to play football."
Katherine, barely noting what Eric is talking about, "Eric, your fly is open."

While Eric was teasing Dom about eating the hamburger we were packaging,
"Ewic, if I eat dat I will frow-up for five days."

And then there was Nicholas.  For no apparent reason, he ran into the bathroom, grabbed Shan's deodorant and applied it to his bare bottom.
Upon Shannon's arrival home I told him we needed to chat about how he used his deodorant!

Looking for a Christmas tree ~

Ahh, this is simply magical ~

Whenever is Eric is working his tongue back and forth, we know he is seriously focused ~

Why, exactly, is stringing Christmas lights appealing?

They look good in the end, but this is certainly a job I'd forgo for the season!

And when he thought no one was looking Nickles tested lights.

They worked!

Skipping Christmas

My Grandma sent this book to me several years ago right in the middle of December for no other reason than just because. Of course I read it.  Every book she gave me I have enjoyed...maybe because she gave them to me and maybe because they were really good or maybe a little bit of both.  Besides the fact that this book was a gift from Grandma, I love it because it completely describes my sentiments about what is wrong with Christmas today, even what may be amiss in my heart during the Advent and Christmas season!

My kiddos dug it out of the Christmas boxes before we even began decorating and propped it on my pillow.  They know reading it is an annual event for me.  I suspect they may have earned a straw for the manger for this act of kindness.  I can't wait to snuggle into bed tonight to read it...maybe I can convince Shannon I am exhausted and need to go to bed early.

Grandma, you will be remembered for your little acts of kindness and how you treated each of us  like we were your favorite.
However, I know I was your favorite ~;o)

Michaela

These last couple weeks have been so crazy busy.  Advent is here and I love the evenings too much to interrupt them to sit down and record our days.  But if I don't write them down I will forget and they will be lost forever!

Michaela just completed a speech class at the local college.  As we had hoped it was a good introduction to college and a successful experience.  She had a fellow Catholic homeschooler with her in class. They were able to support one another in a culture that can be slightly anti-anything good!

One of the final days, she and Colton were leaving the classroom and were talking about family.  Michaela was talking about being from a family of seven children.  A girl overheard her and remarked how unfair to a child for anyone to have that many siblings. Now, things are certainly far from perfect in our household.  Most days it is downright chaotic, but  Michaela turned right around and informed her that she loved having that many brothers and sisters and that she was rooting for at least one more.  Then Colton backed her up and told the girl that while he was from a family of four, that was simply too small for his liking!

I was proud.  As a homeschooling mother I often fear that I shelter my kiddos too much and that they will be afraid to speak for themselves when they leave home.  This allayed some of my concerns, at least for one child!

Sewing at Grandma's...Michaela's favorite hobby!

Flying PIgs

This was discovered lying on the floor this morning.  Should I be concerned?  Truly, who would want to do this to Piglet?  According to Shannon they were attaching wings...but a flying pig?  I'm skeptical!