Favorite Things: Tray...

Though we don't drink coffee, most people do! We recently had a few parishioners working in the church and I offered to make them something warm to drink.  Out came the coffee maker, mugs, milk pitcher, sugar, and spoons. I put everything on a tray that I had nearly forgotten about in the cupboard and all of the humble makings for a cup of joe looked like so much more!  I think that I will use this tray more often to elevate the ordinary things of life into something a bit more lovely!

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice...

We've had some big changes in our house recently:  Sugar Plum has moved out of her little toddler bed (which Button has taken over) and into a big girl bed!  We found the mattress, box-spring, and metal bed frame early in December and gradually gathered the beautiful bedding to complete the look that we were hoping for.  We are all so happy with how her room looks now!

January's Nature Table...

Yarn Along: Pippi Longstocking...

It feels as if it has been weeks since I picked up my knitting needles...  I think that the last time I worked on my projects was December 26th!  I tidied up my basket today and have plans for casting on (I frogged all I had done due to a  foolish mistake) for a Honey Cowl in the green/blue yarn (it's for my sister's birthday!) and will resume work on my Edith Shawl tonight while we watch a little television.  I finally have the new needles that I need, so that will be fun.

The children and I are reading Pippi Longstocking.  I vaguely remember reading it as a girl, however the movie version will forever be imprinted on my mind.  It was a favorite!

Living and Learning: January...

Faith 

The Twelve Days of Christmas
St. Basil’s Day
Theophany
Sanctity of Life Sunday
The New Martyrs of Russia

Homemaking
Perfect Stovetop Popcorn Recipe 

Take down Christmas décor (After Theophany)
Revamp winter menu plans
Clean car
Declutter and organize linens
Create a shopping list for needed linens
House Blessing
Update framed photographs and create a picture wall
Buy and fill out calendar/planner
Christmas Thank you notes
Wash all of the linens on each bed

Themes

12 Days of Christmas

Snow

Oranges

Rituals 

Gently resume lessons after the Nativity break

Keep things simple and quiet to recover from all of our comings and goings this past month
 

Special Days

+Grandma Joyce (7th)
Poppy Chick (9th)
Grandfather James(11th)
Auntie Juliana (15th)
AA Milne’s birthday (18th)
Popcorn Day (19th)

Full Wolf Moon (27th)

 
Learning
Practice being still and quiet during services and prayers

Practice patience and love towards one another

Learn to Sing "Beneath Thy Compassion"
The Sign of the Cross for Button
Learn to Sing "Beneath Thy Compassion"
The Blessing of the Atlantic for Theophany
Listen to Peter and the Wolf  
Tidying up Toys after Play
Clearing the Table after Meals
Read Pippi Longstocking for Book Club

The March for Life in Washington D.C.
Metropolitan Tikhon's Enthronement
Visit to Mount Vernon
Read Nature Table Scene
Book Basket
Watercolor Pencils
Fold Window Stars
Lacing Cards
Memory Game and Puzzles
Inside hide and seek
Feed birds
Polish wooden toys together
Weaving with Sugar Plum
Knitting Tower with Sugar Plum

Twelve Drummers Drumming...

On the Twelfth Day of Christmas we celebrate the feast of Theophany

1.  Read (or retell) pages 38 and 39 in Celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas.  Read any other books your family may have on Theophany. 

2.  Place an Icon of the feast of Theophany in a prominent place.  It would be nice to add one to the centerpiece on the dining room table, on your feastday table, or in the icon corner

3. Serve the same special meal you had for Christmas Dinner

4.  Present your little ones with a small gift in honor of the final night of Christmas

5. Host a Twelfth Night Party and enjoy a party with delectable foods, special treats, games, and Christmas music. *

:::::

Using Celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas  as a framework, I am going to plan little activities and readings for the Twelve Days of Christmas.  Because of family obligations (we have two family parties back-to-back these next two days) and church events (Metropolitan Tikhon is visiting our parish this coming weekend!), we will not get to everything.  However, it will  be nice to refer to these Christmas Learning Baskets in future years.  Also, I would love to hear your suggestions for things to add...  this is a work in progress!

*Idea taken from Celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas

Eleven Pipers Piping...

On the Eleventh Day of Christmas is the Eve of Theophany

1.  Read (or retell) pages 36 and 37 in Celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas.  Read any other books your family may have on Theophany. 

2.  Place an Icon of the feast of Theophany in a prominent place.  It would be nice to add one to the centerpiece on the dining room table, on your feastday table, or in the icon corner

3.  Decorate a jar to bring to church to fill with Holy Water to bring home

4.  Clean your house and sign up to have your house blessed as soon as possible after Theophany.  Encourage your children to clean and organize alongside you to prepare for your priest's visit.

5. Purchase a fancy bottle of bubble bath or a special bar of soap to enjoy during bathtime

:::::

Using Celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas  as a framework, I am going to plan little activities and readings for the Twelve Days of Christmas.  Because of family obligations (we have two family parties back-to-back these next two days) and church events (Metropolitan Tikhon is visiting our parish this coming weekend!), we will not get to everything.  However, it will  be nice to refer to these Christmas Learning Baskets in future years.  Also, I would love to hear your suggestions for things to add...  this is a work in progress!

*Idea taken from Celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas

Ten Lords A-Leaping...

 On the Tenth Day of Christmas we remember the Synaxis of the Seventy Apostles

1.  Read (or retell) pages 34 and 35 in Celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas. 

2.  Place an Icon of the Apostles in a prominent place.  It would be nice to add one to the centerpiece on the dining room table, on your feastday table, or in the icon corner. 

3. Make Shepherd's Pie for Dinner (brown ground beef with chopped onion and make mashed potatoes.  Spread the beef in the bottom of an oven proof pan and spread mashed potatoes on top.  Serve with beef mushroom gravy generously ladled on top).

4.  Make little boats out of walnut shells to float in the bathtub

5. Choose your favorite Christmas picture books and take a pile of them to read under a warm blanket on the couch.  Nibble on homemade popcorn or another favorite treat as you enjoy them 

:::::

Using Celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas  as a framework, I am going to plan little activities and readings for the Twelve Days of Christmas.  Because of family obligations (we have two family parties back-to-back these next two days) and church events (Metropolitan Tikhon is visiting our parish this coming weekend!), we will not get to everything.  However, it will  be nice to refer to these Christmas Learning Baskets in future years.  Also, I would love to hear your suggestions for things to add...  this is a work in progress!

*Idea taken from Celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas

Nine Ladies Dancing...

 

On the Ninth Day of Christmas we remember The Prophet Malachi and Saint 

Genevieve of Paris

1.  Read (or retell) pages 32 and 33 in Celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas. 

2.  Place an Icon of the Prophet Malachi and/or Saint Genevieve in a prominent place.  It would be nice to add one to the centerpiece on the dining room table, on your feastday table, or in the icon corner. 

3. Make Cheeseburgers and French Fries for dinner!
 
4.  Make and decorate a lantern out of a tin can or jar*

5. Once it gets dark, bundle up and take a walk with your candle or lantern through your neighborhood in honor of Saint Genevieve's miracle with the lantern on the dark and stormy night.

:::::

Using Celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas  as a framework, I am going to plan little activities and readings for the Twelve Days of Christmas.  Because of family obligations (we have two family parties back-to-back these next two days) and church events (Metropolitan Tikhon is visiting our parish this coming weekend!), we will not get to everything.  However, it will  be nice to refer to these Christmas Learning Baskets in future years.  Also, I would love to hear your suggestions for things to add...  this is a work in progress!

*Idea taken from Celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas

Eight Maids A-Milking...

Oil for Anointing at the Akathist to Saint Seraphim

On the Eighth Day of Christmas we remember Saint Seraphim and Saint Juliana

1.  Read (or retell) pages 30 and 31 in Celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas.  Read any other books your family may have on Saint Seraphim or Saint Juliana. 

2.  Place an Icon of Saint Seraphim and/or Saint Juliana in a prominent place.  It would be nice to add one to the centerpiece on the dining room table, on your feastday table, or in the icon corner.  You can also add some toy bears to your centerpiece in honor of Saint Seraphim!

3. Read your children the prayer to your Guardian Angel and consider helping them learn it by heart to recite before bed or when they wake up in the morning:

O Angel of Christ, holy guardian and protector of my soul and body,

forgive me everything wherein I have offended thee every day of my life,

 and protect me from all influence and temptation of the evil one. 

May Inevermore anger God by any sin. Pray for me to the Lord, 

that He may makeme worthy of the grace of the All-holy Trinity, 

and of the Most BlessedTheotokos, and of all the Saints. Amen.

4.  Enjoy eggnog, hot chocolate, milkshakes, or some other delicious treat made from milk

5. Work on a handcrafting project such as knitting, embroidery, sewing, needle-felting, etc.

:::::

Using Celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas  as a framework, I am going to plan little activities and readings for the Twelve Days of Christmas.  Because of family obligations (we have two family parties back-to-back these next two days) and church events (Metropolitan Tikhon is visiting our parish this coming weekend!), we will not get to everything.  However, it will  be nice to refer to these Christmas Learning Baskets in future years.  Also, I would love to hear your suggestions for things to add...  this is a work in progress!

Seven Swans a Swimming...

Photo by Subdeacon Roman Ostash

On the Seventh Day of Christmas we remember Saint Basil the Great

1.  Read (or retell) pages 28and 29 in Celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas.  Read any other books your family may have on Saint Basil. 

2.  Place an Icon of Saint Basil in a prominent place.  It would be nice to add one to the centerpiece on the dining room table, on your feastday table, or in the icon corner

3.  Serve a big family breakfast

4.  Make paper snowflakes.  We made ones out of coffee filters and cupcake liners for our windows, but I also want to try to make folded ones like these.

5. Bake a Vasilopita Bread (there is a recipe included in  Celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas, but here is one from An Orthodox Kitchen)

:::::

Using Celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas  as a framework, I am going to plan little activities and readings for the Twelve Days of Christmas.  Because of family obligations (we have two family parties back-to-back these next two days) and church events (Metropolitan Tikhon is visiting our parish this coming weekend!), we will not get to everything.  However, it will  be nice to refer to these Christmas Learning Baskets in future years.  Also, I would love to hear your suggestions for things to add...  this is a work in progress!

*Idea taken from Celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas

Six Geese A-Laying...

During Vespers on Saturday Night

On the Sixth Day of Christmas we remember Saint Melania of Rome

1.  Read (or retell) pages 26 and 27 in Celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas

2.  Visit someone that is sick or in need *

3.  Make up a batch of Peppermint Play Dough (we add peppermint extract and glitter to make it sparkly) for your little ones to enjoy

4.  Make Peppermint Milkshakes... Or take the family out to get them (we really like Chick-fil-a's!)

5. Collect the ingredients that you will need to bake a Vasilopita Bread (there is a recipe included in  Celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas, but here is one from An Orthodox Kitchen

:::::

Using Celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas  as a framework, I am going to plan little activities and readings for the Twelve Days of Christmas.  Because of family obligations (we have two family parties back-to-back these next two days) and church events (Metropolitan Tikhon is visiting our parish this coming weekend!), we will not get to everything.  However, it will  be nice to refer to these Christmas Learning Baskets in future years.  Also, I would love to hear your suggestions for things to add...  this is a work in progress!

*Idea taken from Celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas

Five Golden Rings...

Watching Papa receive his first priestly award from Metropolitan Tikhon

 On the Fifth Day of Christmas we remember Saint Anysia

1.  Read (or retell) pages 24 and 25 in Celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas. 

2.  Make Thank You cards to write to family and friends for the gifts that were received.  Youcan decorate premade cards from the craft store or fold construction or computer paper in half to make them.  Decorate a lot of cards at once and then have your child write out a few each day until they are all finished. *

3.  Download Handel's Messiah (we found one on iTunes for under $10) and enjoy listening to it throughout the Twelve Days of Christmas

4.  Stock your pantry or refrigerator with special Christmas drinks.  Eggnog is Father John's favorite and we all like Twining's Christmas Tea and Martinelli's Sparkling Apple Cider.

5.  Play family games like Charades, Old Maid, or Hide and Seek and opt to have a night without the television

:::::

Using Celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas  as a framework, I am going to plan little activities and readings for the Twelve Days of Christmas.  Because of family obligations (we have two family parties back-to-back these next two days) and church events (Metropolitan Tikhon is visiting our parish this coming weekend!), we will not get to everything.  However, it will  be nice to refer to these Christmas Learning Baskets in future years.  Also, I would love to hear your suggestions for things to add...  this is a work in progress!

*Idea taken from Celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas

Four Calling Birds...

On the Fourth Day of Christmas we remember The Holy Innocents

1.  Read (or retell) pages 22 and 23 in Celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas. 

2.  Place one small candle for each child in your home in a pretty centerpiece to remember the Holy Innocents who were the first to suffer for Christ*

3.  Collect clothes, toys, or baby supplies to give to your local crisis pregnancy center

4.  Look at all of the Christmas cards you received this year (especially the ones with photos included!) with your little ones.  Tuck them into an envelope labeled with the year and put it into your ornament box to compare to next year's cards with this year's, next Christmas!

5.  Start reading a Christmas chapter book together.  One of our favorites is The Lion in the Box

:::::

Using Celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas  as a framework, I am going to plan little activities and readings for the Twelve Days of Christmas.  Because of family obligations (we have two family parties back-to-back these next two days) and church events (Metropolitan Tikhon is visiting our parish this coming weekend!), we will not get to everything.  However, it will  be nice to refer to these Christmas Learning Baskets in future years.  Also, I would love to hear your suggestions for things to add...  this is a work in progress!

*Idea taken from Celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas

Three French Hens...

On the Third Day of Christmas we remember The 20,000 Martyrs of Nicomedia

1.  Read (or retell) pages 20 and 21 in Celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas. 

2.  Enjoy eggs today!  We're going to hard boil some eggs that we bought from a friend's farm.

3.  Build a church out of wooden blocks together as a family to remember the 20,000 martyrs that perished in Nicomedia

4. Fill bird feeders in your yard and clean out a birdbath if you have one

5.  String cranberries and popcorn on embroidery floss and  hang from the branches of a tree for the birds and squirrels to snack on

:::::

Using Celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas  as a framework, I am going to plan little activities and readings for the Twelve Days of Christmas.  Because of family obligations (we have two family parties back-to-back these next two days) and church events (Metropolitan Tikhon is visiting our parish this coming weekend!), we will not get to everything.  However, it will  be nice to refer to these Christmas Learning Baskets in future years.  Also, I would love to hear your suggestions for things to add...  this is a work in progress!

Two Turtle Doves...

At the Akathist to Saint Stephen at my Father-in-Law's Parish

On the Second Day of Christmas we remember Saint Stephen the Protomartyr

1.  Read (or retell) pages 18 and 19 in Celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas.  Read any other books your family may have on Saint Stephen.

2.  Many times, we bake and are given many delicious treats at this time of year.  Put together a few plates of goodies or a container of yummy leftovers to bring to an elderly person that you know, someone in need, or someone that lives alone.*

3.  Place an Icon of Saint Stephen in a prominent place.  It would be nice to add one to the centerpiece on the dining room table, on your feastday table, or in the icon corner 

4. Host a night of Caroling!  Ask everyone to bring their favorite type of cookie and set up a hot chocolate bar with lots of different marshmallows, sprinkles, cinnamon, whipped cream, peppermint sticks, etc.*

5.  Plant bulbs in pots to enjoy when the decorations come down

 

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Using Celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas  as a framework, I am going to plan little activities and readings for the Twelve Days of Christmas.  Because of family obligations (we have two family parties back-to-back these next two days) and church events (Metropolitan Tikhon is visiting our parish this coming weekend!), we will not get to everything.  However, it will  be nice to refer to these Christmas Learning Baskets in future years.  Also, I would love to hear your suggestions for things to add...  this is a work in progress!

*Idea taken from Celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas

A Partridge in a Pear Tree...

The Children in Our Parish Kissing the Cross After the Midnight Liturgy for Nativity

On the First Day of Christmas we remember The Synaxis of the Most Holy Theotokos

1.  Read (or retell) pages 16 and 17 in Celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas.  Read any other books your family may have on the Mother of God.

2.  Enjoy pears today!  We might add them to a fancy salad for lunch!

3.  Place an Icon of the Mother of God in a prominent place.  It would be nice to add one to the centerpiece on the dining room table, on your feastday table, or in the icon corner 

4.  Spend time together as a family.  Play games or work on puzzles together, find good places for presents that were received and organize a box of things to give to others (gifts that cannot be used and items that are no longer needed) or to donate, craft or bake together, etc.

5.  Watch a good Christmas or religious movie together with delicious snacks!  Our children watched several selections from Jesus of Nazareth with us (with of course, lots of  commentary!).

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Using Celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas  as a framework, I am going to plan little activities and readings for the Twelve Days of Christmas.  Because of family obligations (we have two family parties back-to-back these next two days) and church events (Metropolitan Tikhon is visiting our parish this coming weekend!), we will not get to everything.  However, it will  be nice to refer to these Christmas Learning Baskets in future years.  Also, I would love to hear your suggestions for things to add...  this is a work in progress!

Christ is Born!

Thy Nativity, O Christ our God, 

has shone to the world the light of wisdom! 

For by it, those who worshiped the stars 

were taught by a star to adore Thee, the Sun of Righteousness 

and to know Thee, the Orient from on high. 

O Lord, glory to Thee!

Christmas Feasting...

Since Orthodox Christians abstain from meat and dairy products during the Nativity Fast (which is 40 days in length), the feasting on Christmas is a serious business!  Here is our menu:

Breakfast

Eggs by Papa

Bacon

Bagels

Grapefruit

Orange Juice

Lunch

Cheese, Pepperoni, Sausage, and Cracker Tray

Vegetables (Carrots, Cucumbers, and Peppers) with Bacon Ranch Dip

Dinner

Pork Loin

Mashed Potatoes

Stuffing

Applesauce

Cranberry Sauce

Christmas Cauliflower

Peas

Gravy 

Dessert
Christmas Cookies and Candies
Eggnog

Reading...

Hello, Matti,"  his father said.
"We didn't catch the Gingerbread Baby."
"Did you make that beautiful gingerbread house?"  his mother asked.
"Yes," Matti said, smiling.
Only Matti could hear the tiny voice from inside the gingerbread house.

"I'm the Gingerbread Baby, 

Lucky as can be,

To be living in the house

That Matti made for me!"

The Gingerbread Baby

Jan Brett