Advent begins three weeks from today! Advent varies in length from 22-28 days, beginning with the Sunday nearest to the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle (November 30th) and embracing four Sundays. The first day of Advent can fall as early as November 27th or as...
New Christmas Books for the Feast of St. Nicholas {and a St. Nicholas Giveaway!}
The feast of St. Nicholas is just a month away! On December 6th our children wake up to find that the letters they wrote to the Holy Child and/or St. Nicholas have been taken and their (sometimes new/replaced) slippers have been filled with little...
Boy or Girl?
On Christmas Eve we had a fun surprise for the kids and our extended family who came over for the evening before we all headed to Midnight Mass! Last Wednesday afternoon I called the doctors office for the results on some blood work they did a couple weeks ago,...
Merry Christmas
... from our family to yours! From Instagram on Christmas Eve: Boy or girl? I've had a little secret for the past few days and the answer is in the box! 💙💗 #whatisyourguessI'll share the rest of the pictures of the box getting opened as soon as we have a...
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia!
Santa Luciaby Katherine Hydebased on traditional Swedish lyricsfound in Lucia, Saint of LightNight treads with heavy stepRound yard and hearthWoods brood in darkness nowSun's gone from earthBut through the darkness comes, With brightness glowing, Saint of...
Honeycomb Cake on the Feast of St. Ambrose
Today my little ones helped bake a Honey Bun Coffee Cake in our Honeycomb Pull Apart Cake Pan for after dinner in honor of the St. Ambrose, the honey-tongued doctor. Legend says that when St. Ambrose was a baby, a swarm of bees flew in the window and...
O Antiphons Ornaments & Gift Package Giveaway
Ever since our oldest children were very little, we have been implementing an old monastic custom in our home by providing special treats, representing each of the "O Antiphons" on the days leading up to Christmas. The O Antiphon prayers begin on December 17th and end...
Celebrating the Saints :: Saint Andrew Cupcakes
Today is the feast of St. Andrew! We had a very full day today, between co-op classes for all the big kids and an afternoon at the office for the three little ones and I, but we had another nameday to celebrate! On the way home this evening we stopped at our local...
The Jesse Tree :: Read-Aloud Book of Bible Stories
Happy First Sunday of Advent! I had hoped to have one last giveaway all ready to go for this weekend, but between hosting Thanksgiving dinner for twenty (thankfully I had help!) combined with the nausea I've been fighting (thank you all so very much for the prayers,...
Bargain Priced Books :: Coupon Codes for Christmas
The last few years we have really enjoyed giving our children stacks of books for Christmas and I am always looking for great deals and promotions to save on all the books we purchase.Right now you can get $10 off any book purchase of $25 or more over at Amazon...
Prayer of Mothers
Father in heaven, grant me the grace to appreciate the dignity which you have conferred on me. Let me realize that not even the Angels have been blessed with such a privilege—to share in your creative miracle and bring new Saints to heaven. Make me a good mother to all my children after the example of Mary, the Mother of your Son. Through the intercession of Jesus and Mary I ask your continued blessings on my family. Let us all be dedicated to your service on earth and attain the eternal happiness of your kingdom in heaven. Amen.