Stacks of Books on Epiphany {Little Christmas}
Most of the children didn’t mind at all that their stacks were smaller, but our nine year old commented, “Now that I actually like books, my stack is so much smaller than usual!” A few years ago he was the one who, as he was opening the last book in his stack, was overheard saying, “Please don’t be a book, please don’t be a book, pleeeeassse don’t be a book… Oh NO! It is a BOOK! And it’s a bad one… There is a FAIRY in it!”
Ranger (age 14) received Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction 3: Build Siege Weapons of the Dark Ages along with Mini Weapons of Mass Destruction Targets: 100+ Tear-Out Targets, Plus 5 New Mini Weapons
The older boys were also given a copy of the brand new book by John Flanagan, The Battle of Packham Heath to add to their collection of Ranger’s Apprentice books, the inspiration behind the Ranger’s Apprentice Birthday Party a couple years ago.
Twinkle Toes (age 13) has been reading through the Nancy Drew books again and asked for Book 1 in the series to add to the collection she has from my childhood. She received The Secret of the Old Clock as well as Color the Classics: Anne of Green Gables: A Coloring Book Visit to Prince Edward Island.
Chiquita (age 11) received God and the General’s Daughter as well as The Chronicles of Narnia Official Coloring Book. She has been loving her writing class this year using Following Narnia Volume 1: The Lion’s Song and has already requested a Narnia themed birthday!
Snuggles (age 9) received Strangers at the Manger, as well as three books from the Matt Christopher Sport Series: The Hockey Machine, Ice Magic, and Body Check. (Thank you for the suggestion, Debbie, he has read all three of them already and looks forward to reading more in the series!)
Rose (age 7) ended up receiving (and has been loving!) the Jingle Bells Christmas Carol Coloring I had gotten at a discount with purchase at Barnes and Noble, a copy of I am Therese (to go along with the Doll she received for Christmas, and The Story of the Snow Children. She was one of the ones whose books didn’t arrive in time, but I now have some gorgeous fairy tales stashed away for her Easter basket!
Bud (age 5) received Ollie’s Ski Trip, Favorite Thornton Burgess Animal Stories Boxed Set and Love from The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
Celebrating Epiphany
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| January 6, 2017 – Epiphany of the Lord |
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| Manger Scene and Three Kings from Naturally Catholic
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| The Three Wise Men left a stack of Epiphany gifts under the tree! |
The word Epiphany means “manifestation.” As such, the object of the Church on this feast is not only to commemorate the historical arrival of the Magi with their gifts for the new-born King, but moreover to adore the same Christ Who continues to reveal Himself to us today.
It is an ancient custom to bless the home on Epiphany followed by a festive meal. The current year and the legendary initials of the three Magi (Caspar, Melchior, Balthasar) are marked above the outside doorway with blessed chalk; crosses are placed between the initials and year:
The Dolls’ Christmas
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New Year Daybook :: Snow Days
Outside my window…
Snow! On New Year’s Day the kids were so excited to wake up to our first snow of the season! Nearly two weeks later, we still have snow on the ground which is really abnormal for our area…
January 5th: Another snow day! ❄❄️ All schools are closed, my husband’s office is closed, and the county roads officials are saying stay home if you can. It’s going to be awhile before they can clear all the roads and ours is usually one of the last… I really wish I would have gotten to the store last weekend before this storm hit, but very thankful that we still have power!
We weren’t able to make it up to the mountains but they got to have some fun sledding during our Christmas break after all! ❄️
I am thankful…
for power! We had another (unexpected) snow storm this week and it caused all sorts of damage and power outages. Our power went out Monday night but thankfully, after 17 hours, it was restored. As of yesterday there were still hundreds (down from thousands) of homes in our little town without power. My dad (an electrical contractor and inspector) says we need to just bite the bullet and let him install a backup generator for our home. We almost did it this past summer but wanted to pay off the car and finish a couple other projects first.
January 9th: Driving home from work this evening…. Huge snowflakes coming down fast, snow and ice covered roads, and even turkeys! 🙏🏻❄❄️ I thought they said we weren’t going to get anymore snow this week?! #thankfulfor4wheeldrive #imgonnaneedittogetupourdriveway
Learning all the time…
Yesterday, January 12th, was the first day the local school district has been open since Christmas break began on December 16th! Thankfully, the snow (and all the snow days that will be added to the end up the school year, right when we’ll be getting ready to welcome our new little one) won’t effect our homeschooled students. They have been able to get back to school despite the poor road conditions, though the power outage did make some subjects a little more challenging on Tuesday.
Celebrating the liturgical year…
the O Antiphons, exciting news on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, all the wonderful feasts during the Christmas season, blessing our home on the feast of the Epiphany, and the feast of the Baptism of the Lord (last Monday on the OF calendar and today on the EF calendar)… We still have our Christmas tree up and will probably take it down tomorrow. I’m so glad it’s lasted this long this year!
From the kitchen…
amazingly delicious Pumpkin Pancakes for me using the recipe from Holiday on the Autoimmune Protocol (a gift from a sweet and thoughtful friend)…
… and Snowman Pancakes for the rest of the family!
I am working…
lots of hours at the office, converting my dad’s sole proprietorship to a corporation and setting up a new payroll and accounting system now that my dad and brother are partners. The kids haven’t been the only ones learning all sorts of new things lately! It’s definitely been a challenge to juggle everything, but I’ve really enjoyed working part time this past year and am so grateful for the flexible hours and extra income it’s provided our family.
I am creating…
or rather the kids had fun creating snow angels and snowmen. I just took pictures and tried to stay warm inside!
I am going…
in for another appointment and ultrasound at the end of next week. My doctor wants to take a look at my cervix before each of my next monthly appointments, just to make sure it isn’t showing any signs of early changes since I have a history of pre-term labor and bedrest. Baby will already be 17 weeks tomorrow! So far everything is going well. We appreciate the extra prayers so much!
I am hoping…
now that I seem to be getting a little break from the severe morning sickness, and recovering from the viruses, to get back to a good school schedule with my little ones and our plans for this school year. I can’t believe the school year is half over!
I am praying…
a special prayer, shared with me by a sweet friend, for all the pregnant mommas for whom I’ve promised to pray:
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| Happy New Year’s Eve!!! 🎉 I was really sick (the nausea was back with a vengeance) the past few days, but I’m feeling (mostly) better tonight and we are headed to a party! I had our daughter snap a picture of me and the baby. I’m pretty sure I felt her moving for the first time last night! ❤️ #15weekspregnant #ilookhuge #alreadyhadtopulloutmaternityclothes |
I am reading…
lots of picture books about ❄️SNOW❄️ to our little ones! Some are set up on the hutch and the rest are in a basket in the living room.
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| Snowmen at Night • Snowmen at Christmas • Snowmen at Work A Day on Skates • Ollie’s Ski Trip • The Story of the Snow Children • The Mitten |
I’ve also filled up our January book basket and tomorrow we will be reading the story of St. Felix and the Spider!
Pondering these words…
from St. John Paul II:
I am listening…
to Christmas music! My boys have been setting up their Bose Speaker in the kitchen and connecting it to the playlists on either their iTouch and Mini iPad. It’s been so nice!
Around the house…
Snow! Snow! Snow!
One of my favorite things…
homemade whipped cream, hot cocoa and peppermint candy canes on snowy days!
This week{end}’s plans…
- Today is my Mother-in-Law’s 80th birthday! Wish we could be there to celebrate with her ♥
- Our once every-two-month’s Latin Mass is Sunday evening!
- My baby brother and very first Godson turns TWENTY-ONE on Sunday!
- Monday is a holiday, which means my husband will have the day off for my birthday this year!
A little peek at my day…
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, including the answer to whether the baby is a boy or a girl… The nurse asked me what I thought it was, and then told me I WAS RIGHT!!! Sean went down to the store and had a bunch of color coded balloons filled with helium to wrap up in a large box. (He actually had a whole bag filled, not realizing I just wanted one for each kid, but it was a hit and definitely made a statement!) My sister JoAnn videoed the exciting moment and I’ll share that over on Instagram. I won’t make you all wait any longer… It’s time to OPEN THE BOX!
Merry Christmas
Snow White and Rose Red Birthday Party
From Instagram this morning: I have a helper at the office this morning! Can’t believe our baby girl is 7 years old today! We stopped at the mall last night so she could “pleaassseee, pick out an outfit to match” her birthday theme. (60% off clearance!) I was up extra early to finish decorating her cake, and she was up early getting all dressed up! ❤️❄🌹️🎉 #happybirthday #mylittlechristmasrose
We didn’t plan on having a big party, but after getting off work I called my parents and sent text messages to all my siblings that are currently in the area (four brothers and one sister, plus sister-in-law and two nieces) and EVERYONE was able to come over for dinner and cake! The birthday girl was very excited.
- 1 box Milk Chocolate Brownie Mix
- ¼ cup butter, melted and cooled to room temperature
- 1 large egg
- 2 tsp. water
- 60 peanuts split into halves (about ⅓ cup peanuts) or almond slices
- 30 chocolate candy kisses
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In a large bowl combine brownie mix, water, butter, and egg; stir with a fork to combine into a stiff dough. Dough will seem dry, but will completely moisten as you stir. (Knead briefly by hand, in the bowl, if preferred)
- Working with 1 even tbsp. of dough at a time, roll dough into balls and place on ungreased cookie sheets about 2″ apart. Cover the remaining dough in-between batches to prevent drying.
- Press candy pieces, points down and flat surfaces up, into the center of the uncooked cookies. Press four peanut halves, split sides up, into the edge of each cookie to form claws.
- Bake at 350°F for 11 minutes or just until the edges are set. The cookies may appear slightly under cooked, but do not over bake. Cool 1 minute on pans. Transfer to wire racks with a thin metal spatula and cool completely.
In the winter, Rose Red lit the fire and put on the iron kettle.
.: Make Your Own Trail Mix :.
Fish Crackers (Smore’s Goldfish)
Snow White’s Snow Balls (Trader Joe’s Mini Marshmallows)
Fish Crackers (Chocolate Mint & Pretzel Goldfish)
Eagle Talons (Cashews)
Rose Red & Snow White Chocolate (Peppermint Little Secrets)
Bear Claws (Dry Roasted Peanuts)
Bear Cookies (Chocolate Teddy Grahams)
Snipped Off Ends of Dwarf’s Beard (Coconut Flakes)
Rose Red’s Wild Berries (Freeze Dried Raspberries)
.: Piñata Time :.
.: Birthday Gifts :.
Next it was a beautiful journal, little lantern and some chocolates from Aunt Mary. When Aunt Mary was seven, she and her twin were flower girls in our wedding… Now she’s 24!
Grandpa and Grandma surprised her with Snow White (DVD) and Uncle Brian & Aunt Meagan gave her all sorts of fun accessories. She also received a lovely card/gift from her other grandparents.
.: Seven Candles :.
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia!
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| A Special Nameday Gift – St. Lucia Original Painting from Sleightholm Folk Art and St. Lucia Doll from The Little Rose Shop (I’ve been dying to give her this doll since I placed the custom order for it based on one of Heather’s paintings earlier this year!) |
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| Santa Lucia and Star Boy Coloring Pages from Waltzing Matilda |
Here’s the link to the recipe for Saint Lucia’s Braided Bread.
Scroll through all our past St. Lucy posts here.
Saint Catherine of Alexandria
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Lemon Elegant Heart Cakelets (birthday gift earlier this year)
St. Catherine of Alexandria from Catholic Folk Toys (from our collection)
St. Catherine of Alexandria from The Little Rose Shop (this year’s name day gift for our daughter)
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