Tuesday, December 30

The Sixth Day of Christmas...

The final member of the Deer Family (and our last Ostheimer figure for the year) joined her family today

We enjoyed a few HOURS of train playtime with Papa... this photo is deceptive, because it was taken after we came home from a very hasty trip to a nearby store to purchase a few little tracks we wanted to make a figure eight track configuration. We came out with a huge Thomas the Tank Engine playset to go with the tracks we already had. Papa got a little too excited and went all out for his little ones. After unpacking the box and seeing how overwhelmed our two and a half year old was and how complicated the tracks and bridges were getting ( I don't think that my husband ever had a train set when he was little!), we packed away the huge set to return tomorrow and have decided to just stick with the simple oval track, and collapsing bridge we originally had.

I am really enjoying the lights we have around our front door. It is the first time I have ever had lights outside. I like it so much that I may keep it up all winter. Is that weird?

Monday, December 29

The Fifth Day of Christmas...

A little fawn joined his father and mother.

We baked gingerbread cookies (and decorated them the Lazy-Mama way!).

On the spur of the moment, we decided to go to the light display in a park near our home. I think that the children enjoyed the hot chocolate and the tram ride better than the lights!

Sunday, December 28

The Fourth Day of Christmas...

What a whirlwind few days! My husband's family came for the weekend - MIL on Friday, BILs and one's girlfriend on Saturday, and FIL on Sunday. All stayed for a yummy Christmas meal and a present exchange. It was the perfect end to an interesting weekend that included a visit from the exterminator to deal with our resident mice, top to bottom house cleaning (due to aforementioned rodents), tons of cooking, and a touch of the stomach 'flu for two little ones. I am going to thank God for my hard-working and very helpful husband and sleep well tonight!

Saturday, December 27

The Third Day of Christmas...

Making ornaments is our little one's new favorite activity!

Mama Doe arrived today!

The Second Day of Christmas...

We framed a card that was painted by a parishioner today


Papa Stag joined our animal collection!

Friday, December 26

The First Day of Christmas...

Wooden vehicles for our little boy


Nativity figures from a dear friend who felt my pain when we lost our other ones:


The much-awaited and wished-for wagon


Mama and Papa's gourmet stocking stuffers after our little elf got her mitts on them


The Little Engine that Could


This is what $5 will get you at Walmart on December 21st... a gorgeous live tree that is fresher than the one we picked up at the same time last year for $65! I know you are proud, Meredith!


Our Christmas feast - the photo was strategically taken so that the enormous counter mess could not be seen! I am begining to realize why dining rooms that are separate from the kitchen are such a wonderful idea!

Thursday, December 25

Saturday, December 20

Emilie...


Please pray for Emilie, a young wife and mother, suffering through her last stage of cancer.

Edited to Add: Emilie peacefully passed away in her sleep on Wednesday night. Her husband was with her and holding her hand.

May Her Memory Be Eternal!

From Office Building to Church: Part Sixteen...


A man in our parish is a talented artist, so the church commissioned him to paint "marble" on the bottom half of the walls of the church. A chair-rail was added and our rental building looks even more church-y then before!! My husband and one of the carpenters of the parish also added some height to the altar table and Table of Oblation and then stained the wood to match everything else a bit more. I'll post more pictures when everything is back in it's rightful place and the new liturgical covers and Christmas greenery are up!

I think that the white walls should be painted blue (like at this church), but I'm having a hard time convincing the priest... what do you think?

Friday, December 19

Preparing for Nativity: Days Eighteen and Nineteen...

With the exception of the tree (we'll get it on Sunday!!), the decorations are up!

Husband Meme...


I found this on Becky's blog and had a lot of fun doing it! I'll be checking my answers with my husband later!

1. He’s sitting in front of the TV: what is on the screen? Fox News, ESPN, or House

2. You’re out to eat. What kind of dressing does he get on his salad? Extra Bleu Cheese.

3. What is one food he doesn’t like? Corn Muffins

4. You go out to the bar. What does he order? You would never find him at a bar!

5. Where did he go to high school? The local public high school

6. What size shoe does he wear? 13

7. If he were to collect anything, what would it be? Books on theology

8. What is his favorite type of sandwich? One PACKED with meat and cheese

9. What would the Husband eat every day if he could? Hmmm. Chicken Cordon Bleu?

10. What is his favorite cereal? Cracklin' Oat Bran or Cinnamon Toast Crunch

11. What would he never wear? Tight trousers

12. What is his favorite sports team? The New York Giants

13. Who is his best friend? Male: Mark. Female: Me.

14. What is something you do that he wishes you wouldn’t do? Spend money on anything that isn't absolutely necessary for survival

15. How many states has he lived in? Five - Alaska, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland

16. What is his heritage? French, English, Irish, Russian, and Armenian.

17. You bake him a cake for his birthday; what kind? Lenten Chocolate Cake... His birthday is ALWAYS in Great Lent. If it wasn't, I think that he's choose ice cream over cake

18. Did he play sports in high school? Basketball and wrestling.

19. What could he spend hours doing? Working, reading, and being with his family.

Wednesday, December 17

Preparing for Nativity: Days Fifteen, Sixteen, and Seventeen...

Whew! Our whirlwind of mid-December visits is over! We had my sister arrive for an unexpected overnight a few hours after my mother-in-law left for home. As sad as I am to see our guests go, I am looking forward to getting back to the business of getting ready for Christmas!

I was able to accomplish quite a bit with my sister here! I mailed off the last of the packages to far-away friends and family, bought and wrapped gifts for family that we'll be unable to see (and sent the hefty bag home with my sister to dole out), took down the autumn garland and hung the winter one, arranged some wintery faux flowers to decorate the coffee table, and even got to visit!


These are the things that I'd like to accomplish before Sunday:
  • Catch up on my Nativity Cleaning List
  • Catch up on our Nativity Activity List
  • Clean the house (I've been accomplishing this by Wednesday lately, so I am quite behind! It is so tempting to just wait for Monday to roll around again!)
  • Evict the mouse in our house and disinfect the kitchen
  • Catch up on laundry (Fortunatly, I am nearly caught up on washing things... folding? Not so much!)
  • Buy the last two gifts on our list, get some stocking stuffers for DH, and black tights for our little girl
What have you fallen behind on?

Monday, December 15

Preparing for Nativity: Days Thirteen and Fourteen...

This weekend was a busy one! We had my mother-in-law and our son's godfather and his son visit (my MIL will be visiting until Tuesday morning). We also had a birthday coffee hour for our son (check out the cake a friend made!!), a trip to the beach and lots of errand running! With ten days to go before Christmas, you can bet that the posts until Nativity will be full of activities!

Friday, December 12

Preparing for Nativity: Day Twelve...

Since today was our little boy's birthday, we did some fun things! We had some yummy chocolate cake and our little man received a balloon and his filled out baby book as gifts (he'll be getting a handmade baby doll from my friend's etsy store later in the month as well!) and we took him to a nearby Living Nativity. If there is a Living Nativity in your neck of the woods, GO! You will love it! Here are some photos from our day:

A big cake shaped balloon:


Chocolate cake and Cool Whip:


The Big Boy's Serving:


Telling the Genealogy of Christ:


Showing the fields where Boaz met Ruth:


Telling of the Archangel Gabriel appearing to the Mother of God:


The Archangel Gabriel appearing the the Mother of God:


The Three Wise Men meeting with King Herod:


King Herod:


The High Priests:


The angels appearing to the shepherds:



The Roman Soldiers collecting the tax:



"No room at the Inn!"



The midwife:


The manger scene:



The Elder Zachariah and Prophetess Anna:


Angel telling of the Resurrection of Our Lord:

Happy First Birthday, Little Man!!

You've come a long way from your interesting birth, little one! We love you!!
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