Woohoo!
Happy Birthday…
…to my sweet cousin Juliana.Have a wonderful Birthday, we love you!
Nativity Lapbook & Craft
If your not busy enough already, and you happen to be looking for an extra project to do before Christmas… I just ran across this link for a Free Nativity Lap Book! I printed it out for my kids to make today.
Also, Meredith has a great post: The Nativity and the Child. It even includes directions to make a darling homemade Nativity using a tea box!
A Grinch Lapbook and Reindeer Craft
I have such lovely memories of my dad reading to me and my siblings when we were little. He was, and still is, so great at changing his voice to reflect the different characters of each story, and always had us children totally captivated. As a child, a few of my favorite books (and this could just be because they were my dads favorites) were One Morning in Maine, The Blueberry Pie Elf, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Even now, my dad pulls out these old, well loved, books to read to his grandkids.
Right after Thanksgiving, Homeschool eStore was offering a whole bunch of free downloads. I downloaded a few of them including “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” which included everything needed for the boys to make a two-folder lapbook based on our favorite Dr. Suess book.
We started by reading the book and watching the cartoon!
Then, I helped the boys assemble the foundation of their lapbooks using red file folders. After that, the boys made quite a few mini books to place inside the lapbooks. Their lapbooks are now packed with information, including: a vocabulary list, a list of their favorite Christmas songs, various facts about the book, a grinchy-quiz, a mini-biography about Dr. Suess, their definition of “grinch”, a comparison of the book and cartoon, a letter to the grinch on why he shouldn’t hate Christmas, a bit of copywork from the book, and much MUCH more!
While the boys were working away on their lapbooks, the girls had fun making reindeer and serenading Snuggles with Christmas Carols! It was so cute! (Snuggles was tucked into his cradle swing and they were standing in front of him holding a couple science books their song books singing Silent Night, and other Christmas songs, as he watched them smiling!)
These reindeer are so easy to make! The head is made from a tracing of the child’s foot, and the antlers are their hands! Then you just add a nose, smile and eyes and its done!
Congratulations!
Our Goddaughter, MaryCatherine, WON FIRST PLACE (within her age category of 0-4) in the All Saints Day Coloring Contest at Illuminated Ink!
Didn’t she do a lovely job? I think it’s beautiful!
There is currently another contest for coloring this beautiful Christmas picture!
Now… maybe this time I will be a good mama and actually MAIL IN my kids pictures! Little do they know that their submissions to the All Saints contest are sitting here next to my computer STILL!
O Antiphons ~ Dec 17 to 23
This month is going by so fast! I can’t believe that Advent is almost over and Christmas is almost here! Like many Catholics, we are currently praying the “O” Antiphons. An article on Catholic Culture put it so beautifully when they said that the O Antiphons are “the seven jewels of our liturgy, dating back to the fourth century, one for each day until Christmas Eve. These antiphons address Christ with seven magnificent Messianic titles, based on the Old Testament prophecies and types of Christ. The Church recalls the variety of the ills of man before the coming of the Redeemer.”
Catholic Culture also explains that:
Beginning on December 17, as the final phase of preparation for Christmas, the Church recites or chants the O Antiphons preceding the Magnificat during Vespers of the Liturgy of the Hours.The O Antiphons express the Church’s longing and expectation for the Messiah, her startled wonderment at the fullness of grace which the Christ-Child is about to bestow on the world. Their theme is the majesty of the Savior, His wisdom, His faithfulness and sanctity, His justice and mercy, His covenant with His chosen people, who in their ingratitude broke faith with Him. They are concerned with His power and love as King and Redeemer of the world, His relation to every soul as Emmanuel, God-with-us. (With Christ Through the Year by Bernard Strasser)According to Professor Robert Greenberg of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, the Benedictine monks arranged these antiphons with a definite purpose. If one starts with the last title and takes the first letter of each one — Emmanuel, Rex, Oriens, Clavis, Radix, Adonai, Sapientia — the Latin words ero cras are formed, meaning, “Tomorrow, I will come.” Therefore, the Lord Jesus, whose coming we have prepared for in Advent and whom we have addressed in these seven Messianic titles, now speaks to us, “Tomorrow, I will come.” So the “O Antiphons” not only bring intensity to our Advent preparation, but bring it to a joyful conclusion. (Fr. William Saunders)
There is an old monastic custom of providing special treats, representing each of the “O Antiphons,” leading up to Christmas. This has been a tradition in our home for a few years now. It is such a fun way to teach the children about them and increase their excitement as Christmas gets closer! Here is what we have been doing so far… in addition to what we have planned for the rest of the week as we finish preparing for the Birth of Christ!
O Wisdom that comest out of the mouth of the Most High, that reachest from one end to another, and orderest all things mightily and sweetly, come to teach us the way of prudence!Since the symbol for wisdom is a book, we purchased a new prayer book for our family… I ordered it awhile back and was worried that it wouldn’t arrive in time! It arrived on the 17th! How perfect was that. The prayer book we choose this year is called Novena: The Power of Prayer. I have purchased it a few times in the past for gifts, but still didn’t have a copy for us! I LOVE it! Not only does it contain many novenas, it is filled with beautiful pictures and stories of the saints as well.
We planned on making smores outside, but, due to rain, I baked a pie while my husband lit a fire in the wood stove and then we all watched a family movie together. It’s very rare that we watch a movie together with the kids, and we all really enjoyed it!
Since the symbol for today is a flower, I usually buy our Christmas Poinsettia today. However, after reading this post, I decided to pass on the real poinsettias this year and maybe make paper poinsettias … But, instead, my husband was such a dear and brought home some beautiful red cyclamens! As the kids were smelling the flowers, I heard one of my boys say, “I don’t smell anything… except someones bad breath!” (I then sent them all to brush their teeth!)
O Key of David, and Sceptre of the house of Israel, that openeth and no man shutteth, and shutteth and no man openeth, come to liberate the prisoner from the prison, and them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death.Since this is initially a monastic tradition, and on this night, the monk in charge of the wine cellar would provide a special bottle of wine. We will be having some special drinks with dinner! If I can get to the store we may even have a key lime pie!
O Dayspring, Brightness of the everlasting light, Son of justice, come to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death!
Since this O Antiphon refers to light, we will finish putting up our outside lights. (We wait to turn on our lights outside, as well as on our tree, till Christmas Eve. You can read my husband’s post on this, if you’d like.) They are actually almost done, I just want to do a few trees in the yard and need a few extension cords. Actually, we are really lucky to have one of my brothers who actually installs Christmas lights for a living! (The rest of the year he does landscape lighting and events such as weddings) He is always super busy during the Christmas season installing lights, not only for homes, but city and business lights as well! A few years ago he had to leave my parents early Thanksgiving night “for work”… Anyways we drove home to find our house completely lit up! As one of our neighbors put it… It looked “awesome!” Each year since, he has put up our lights as a Christmas gift to our family. This year it is pretty simple, he just outlined the roof line, but still looks quite lovely!
After the kids are in there pajamas, we will surprise them with a trip to town to see some of the lights! This is always such fun, and I am looking forward to it too! 🙂
Today I am going to surprise the kids with a new “king” puppet! Actually I purchased a 4 pack from discovery toys, but I am going to save the other 3 for Christmas. My kids love acting out puppet shows. Also, during craft time, I think we will be making these crowns!
O Emmanuel, our King and our Law-giver, Longing of the Gentiles, yea, and salvation thereof, come to save us, O Lord our God!This is the last of the O Antiphons… Tomorrow will be Christmas Eve! The treat for today is going to be a couple new coloring books on Christ and the Eucharist. They are called Holy Name of Jesus and Eucharistic Adoration. We have the Mother of God Coloring Book from these publishers as well, and it is beautiful!
You can also listen to the O Antiphons beautifully chanted in Latin here.
Reading other blogs, I have found so many wonderful ideas that I hope to incorporate in the future. There is a wonderful post on the O Antiphons over at O Night Divine. Also, go check out Ruth’s blog to see all her wonderful ways of celebrating the “O Antiphons.” I just love her “O Antiphon” House. I definitely want to make one for next year!
Go see Bella!
Bella just arrived at one of our local theaters. We weren’t able to get a babysitter, so hubby went to see it Sunday night with some friends from church and I got to go last night with my sisters and more friends, actually there were 26 of us last night! It was such fun!!
Bella is very moving and an absolutely inspirational film. It is very straightforward and honest, yet contains many levels of meaning that will leave you thinking. If you have the opportunity you HAVE to go see it!
A Christmas Quiz
I ended up taking this quiz twice… Once answering the questions while thinking of Christmas at home with my hubby and children.
| Your Christmas is Most Like: A Charlie Brown Christmas |
 Each year, you really get into the spirit of Christmas. Which is much more important to you than nifty presents. |
I thought that was pretty accurate! Then, I retook the quiz answering the questions as if I was spending Christmas with MY family…mom, dad, siblings, aunts, uncles and cousins… Basically, what I remember from when I was younger. I couldn’t stop laughing when I got this answer:
| Your Christmas is Most Like: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation |
 Christmas is a big, boisterous event at your place. And no matter what, something hilarious usually happens. |
This is also a very accurate description! In addition, my dad LOVES this movie, and my mom HATES it! I have so many memories of mom telling dad to “shut THAT off!” Yes, Christmas was crazy (yet totally fun) as a child!
If you have an extra second, and you take this quiz, leave me a comment and let me know what movie your Christmas is most like!
I did it!
I finally made an appointment to get my hair cut.
If you have ever looked at my profile, the random question it asks me is:
“The hair from your last haircut… What would it say about your new style?”
And my answer:
“It’s been so long, it doesn’t remember! My goal is to get it styled by Christmas! :)”
It always seems that I am constantly putting it off until it becomes an absolute necessity. I think it has been, oh, at least 8 months since my last appointment. Anyways… My hair has gotten REALLY long. Plus, I have been going through that whole postpartum thing and shedding tons of it all over the house. It has been bad. With long hair, just one piece can turn into a ball and it drives my dear hubby crazy!
Then I started thinking about donating it to Locks of Love. I have friends that have done so, and it would be so great to help bless a child that has lost their own hair due to cancer. You only have to cut off a minimum of ten inches to do so.
I just couldn’t decide. I thought about posting a poll and asking what you all thought, but I was worried about hearing you all say to just do it, and cut it off… This made me realize that I am totally a little bit attached to my hair.
Realizing this helped me make my decision. So for a little Advent penance, I decided to donate it and bless another child, since I have been so completely blessed myself with my own sweet children. Plus, it will grow back, right!?
Anyways, here are a couple pictures…
Before & After
OK. Now don’t laugh! I HATE pictures of myself! But here is the front:
The whole time my sweet hairdresser was sawing away I could hear the words of Amy March in Little Women, “Jo, your hair! Your one true beauty!”
It did turn out better, and longer, than I expected and my hairdresser layered it and added a few highlights as well. (I was hoping that the highlights would help me feel better about turning 30 next month! Yikes!)
My kids and hubby like it, and I’m sure I will get use to it. Twinkle Toes was a little sweetie and said, “I want to get my hair cut like yours so we can be twins!” I love my family!
I just checked my email…
… and I WON!!!!
I can’t believe it!
I am SO excited!
We had such a busy day yesterday with our Santa Lucia Celebration, our Winter Christmas Storytime, Snuggles first food and then Chiquita getting sick that I totally forgot about the Book Walk… that is, until last night when I was reading Cay’s blog. Then it took me a few minutes to think about whether it was Thursday or Friday and how much of a time difference there was between where we live and CT… Anyways, I realized I had about 7 minutes left to enter, so I sent my entry in at the last second!
The book that I won is an autographed copy of For the Love of Literature by Maureen Wittmann. I have been meaning to order it, so this is SUCH a TREAT! I can’t wait to read it. Hop on over and read Cay’s review! (You’ll want a copy too!)
Thank you so much Cay!
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