Celebrating the Feast of St. Nicholas :: 2013

by | Dec 10, 2013 | , , , , | 16 Comments

We had a beautiful snowy feast day this year!  Eventually the snow was “well past St. Nicholas’ miter!” 
Holy Bishop St. Nicholas lived faraway
Near the Aegean Sea is where Turkey did lay.
Travel back with us now to a time long ago.
We will visit his country, his life we will know.
New slippers, picture books, oranges, candy canes, chocolate coins, and a small toy or two! 

We remember this saint, such a holy, good man.
Be like him in charity, do all that you can.
Many miracles Nicholas hastened to do,
Helping people in need with gifts that were new.

Bishop Nicholas traveled to Nicea town,
Where the Creed would be written, to us handed down.
During church every Sunday, we stand for the Creed.
Thank you Bishop St. Nicholas, for doing this deed.

The older boys each found a game in their new slippers (Spicy Farkle and LeftCenterRight – we’ve had SO. MUCH. FUN. playing these this past weekend!), Snuggles found a small lego set, the girls and Bud all found Shining Light Dolls (these have been such a hit!) and the two youngest also found Rudolph and Clarice. (I couldn’t resist when I found them on sale at a local bookstore – my little ones, especially Bud, love all deer!)  Oh!  And Bud’s cute new little booties were from Angela – if you have a baby, be sure to check out her Etsy store!

Sailors tossed in the wind and the storms of the sea,

Saw a vision of Nicholas who guided them free.
Now patron of sailing, they remember him yet.
Many icons and pictures with fisherman’s net.

Giving money to poor girls, so marry could they,

Made our Nicholas famous, remembered today.
With dowry in hand, soon they were wed.
“God bless you and keep you,” St. Nicholas said.

This year’s St. Nicholas Cookies!  I’ll try to post a few more pictures at Catholic Cuisine soon… 

Kid’s patron in Germany, Netherlands, too.
Asks that presents be given to children like you.
Their customs are different: they put out their shoes—
Filling them with toys, his coming’s good news!

Here stockings are hung by the chimney with care,
In hope that St. Nicholas soon will come there.
Dressed as bishop or Santa, he’s one and the same—
Jolly, friendly, good man, we’re glad that he came.

St. Nicholas Statue, St. Nicholas Wooden Doll, St. Nicholas Chocolate Coins, and the St. Nicholas painted by my little sister!
Cherry Cheese Candy Cane Coffee Cake
(That title makes me want to play Scattergories!) 
St. Nicholas Hot Cocoa with Homemade Whipping Cream

Call him “Santa” or “saint,” they both mean the same,
For his nickname is Claus, short for Nicholas’ name.
Giving gifts was his custom—we still do today.
Deeds done in Jesus’ name forever will stay.

Our visitors during our St. Nicholas Day Brunch! 

Bishop Nicholas still is a hero to all.
Christmas Day, and all others we follow his call,
Bringing gifts and some joy to children in need.
Follow Nicholas today—do a good deed.

—St. Nicholas Day Poem, Author Unknown


Bargain Priced Books :: Celebrating Advent And Christmas With Children {Currently Free For Kindle!}

by | Dec 9, 2013 | , , | 4 Comments


Congratulations to Amy H. who won the giveaway for a copy of Celebrating Advent and Christmas With Children!

I also wanted to let the rest of you know that the Kindle Edition is currently FREE at Amazon!

If you are like me and prefer having a hard copy of these sorts of books, the Paperback Edition is also currently 43% off!

My Daybook :: The First Week of Advent

by | Dec 6, 2013 | , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Note: I meant to publish this post yesterday and didn’t have a chance to finish uploading the photos before going out shopping with my mom all evening (before the snowstorm hit today)! I’ll be back with a few pictures from today, but in the meantime –  Happy Feast of St. Nicholas!

Outside my window… It is COLD!  We have a “Winter Storm Watch” with a 100% chance of snow on Friday, the Feast of St. Nicholas!  It doesn’t snow here very often so the children are all very excited!

I am thinking…        
about driving into town to pick up a few things, before the storm hits.  Hot Cocoa, whipping cream, cherries, and some Nutter Butters, plus a few other things just in case we lose power.

I am thankful… 
for our wood stove fireplace insert! It helps keep the house so warm and cozy.

Learning all the time… 
We are back to school this week following our Thanksgiving break… In the past we have tried to take all of Advent off of our formal schoolwork to focus on Advent and preparing our hearts for Christmas, however as the children get older it has gotten harder to take that long of a break during this time of the year.  If all goes as planned we will still be able to take a few weeks off beginning with the feast of St. Lucy on December 13th!  Now if we can push through the rest of this week and next….

Celebrating the liturgical year… 
as we always do during Advent!

Adding the Noah’s Ark ornament to our original Jesse Tree
My “baby” is getting so big!

From the kitchen… 
I had a little helper making cookie dough the other morning!

It didn’t take long for us to make quite a mess, but isn’t my new can of baking powder cute!  I couldn’t resist the pink and white can, even though I already had some in the cupboard.  😉 

I am working on… 
praying for and doing extra special things for my “Christkindl!”

I am creating… 
St. Nicholas Coins for the feast.  I found the bag of Belgium Chocolate Coins at Costco, printed out the images, and quickly cut them out with a Fiskars Circle Punch!

I am going… 
to start wrapping some more Christmas gifts!  This and this arrived this week (I had pre-ordered them for the boys) and this* arrived for Bud (*just the figurines – at a great sale price!).  I don’t know who is more excited about Christmas, me or the kids?!?  I can’t wait to give them these gifts!

I am hoping… 
that I will find a new source for Advent candles that I love as much as the ones I always purchased from the Abbey… How I wish the monk would have been able to continue making these gorgeous candles.  My favorites were the round pillars, but this year we are using a set of square pillars I purchased a couple years ago (the very last set available in the gift shop) when I found out they wouldn’t be carrying them any longer.  How hard is it to learn how to make candles? 😉

I am praying… 
Advent prayers each night with my family.  These few pictures were taken just after our wreath was blessed (by my husband, while I lit the first candle) and we prayed our St. Andrew Christmas Novena and Family Rosary on the First Sunday of Advent.

Each week of Advent my husband adds to our Nativity Scene.  This week it is very simple with just the stable and manger, Blessed Mother, St. Joseph, donkey, ox and a tree. 

I am reading… 
Come, Lord Jesus: Meditations on the Art of Waiting.

Pondering these words…
from Mother Teresa:

The season of Advent is like springtime in nature, when everything is renewed and so is fresh and healthy. Advent is also meant to do this to us–to refresh us and make us healthy, to be able to receive Christ in whatever form He may come to us.

I am listening…  
to Advent at Ephesus, Adventus (Tracks 1-5 for the First Week of Advent), and Legends of Nicholas.

Soon we will start listening to Mater Eucharistiae, The Story of Christmas (First songs including Ave Maria, Angelus, Breath of Heaven, and Magnificat…), the beautiful Mañanitas CD from Sister Servants, and Matins for the Virgin of Guadalupe for the upcoming feasts of the Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Guadalupe!

I am also considering purchasing a copy of Voice of Joy, after reading Melody’s recommendation!

Around the house… 

the Wise Men have been on the move each night, searching for Baby Jesus!  Our oldest two boys have been moving them after everyone else is in bed and having a blast… Here are the places they have been found the past few days.

If you are searching for Baby Jesus you might have to scale a wall… or at least a baby gate!
The Wise Men took shelter under the rosemary bush and noticed a beautiful fragrance.  (It is said that the rosemary’s fragrance arose after Mary hung her linens to dry on its branches!) They also spotted “a star in the East!” and started climbing to get a better view!
“Okay!  Who spilled the beans? It looks like we aren’t the only ones searching for Baby Jesus!”
After hearing so much about Noah on the 4th day of Advent, the Wise Men decided to stop by the Ark and say hello… If only they could get to the top without slip-sliding down all the rainbows! As for the camel, he’s busy catching up with some old buddies!  (You can find Noah’s Rainbow Race at Amazon or at Catholic Child.) 

One of my favorite things…  
watching the little ones take turns unwrapping the books from our Advent and Christmas Book Basket each night after our family prayers.  Last night it was Snuggles turn and he offered to let Rose help him.    I wish I would have videoed Bud unwrapping his book on Sunday night.  It is amazing that pulling wrapping paper off a picture book can bring so much joy and excitement to a child… And the fact that their daddy looks forward to reading the stories to them each night makes this tradition even better!

This week’s plans…

  • Mrs. W tutoring on Thursday
  • Celebrate the feast of St. Nicholas!  Unfortunately with the snow storm we won’t be able to make the drive for Friday morning Mass… 
  • Spend Saturday at home playing in the snow, assembling puzzles, and enjoying our time together as a family!
  • Mass for the Second Sunday of Advent

 A little peek at my day…
These two were having so much fun with some leftover cookie dough.
(They choose to use the Mini Noah’s Ark Cookie Cutters – so perfect for this week of Advent!) 

Metal Earth {3D Laser Cut Models}

by | Dec 4, 2013 | , | 10 Comments

I keep forgetting to share these pictures from a couple weeks ago!  Rascal had so much fun putting together a Metal Earth 3D Laser Cut Model one Sunday afternoon!

The Manuafacture recommends them for ages 14-18, but our 11 (almost 12) year old didn’t have any trouble assembling his ship.

We are planning on purchasing a couple more of these little models to include in the older boys Christmas stockings…

Perhaps the Wright Brothers Airplane, the P-51 Mustang, or the Sherman Tank?

The Neuschwanstein Castle looks really neat too… I really wish they had the Vatican or some Catholic Cathedrals! 🙂

There are so many great options… which to choose?  If anyone has built these before I’d love to hear your favorites!

Didn’t it turn out neat?! 
Our boys first saw these at a local specialty toy store with their Dad one Friday after Mass, 
but they can also be found at Barnes and Noble and Amazon.

A Jesse Tree Ornament Swap

by | Dec 4, 2013 | | 5 Comments

Remember that “Choir of Angels” I was crating for a Jesse Tree Ornament Swap?  Well our set of ornaments arrived the day before Thanksgiving and I finally had a chance to photograph them to share with you all!
We opened the box on the first day of Advent and the children all enjoyed looking through the box and choosing their favorites!  They also commented on how the ornaments were all so different from each other and ultimately they decided, as unique as the ornaments are from the swap (as you will see they are made with such a large variety of supplies including: paper, wood, felt, clay, popsicle sticks, foam, etc) they prefer our old Jesse Tree (the one we have been using since they were babies) and the set from Jesse Tree Treasures we added a couple years ago.  It made me happy to see how much they love the traditions we have established over the years! 
The ornaments and the bible stories for each of the ornaments in this set coordinate with those used in the Holy Heroes Jesse Tree DVD.   The videos are short so they have left plenty of time for our usual readings from the New Catholic Picture Bible.   Snuggles and Rose have been enjoying coloring the corresponding ornaments provided on the DVD as well and adding these new ornaments to a branch we are using as a “tree” for this set.

.: Jesse Tree Swap Ornaments :. 

Day 1 Creation: Genesis 1:1-23 – Made by Mary S. 
Day 2 Creation: Continued – Made by Pamela @ Created to Mother

Day 3 Fall of Man: Genesis 3:1-15, 20-23 – Made by Deb
Day 4 Noah: Genesis 6:5-20, 7:1-23, 8:1-17, 9:1-13 – Made by Sarah M. 

Day 5 Abraham: Genesis 12:1-5, 13:14-16, 18:1-10, 21:1-3 – Made by Sarah
Day 6 Isaac: Genesis 22:1-14 – Made by Karen @ Karen’s Adventures in Mommyland

Day 7 Jacob: Genesis 27:41-44, 28:10-17 – Made by Vicki
Day 8 Joseph: Genesis 37:3-4, 17-28  – Made by Tacy @ Picture a Skyline

Day 9 Moses: Exodus 2:1-10, 3:1-12 – Made by Kelly K. 
Day 10 Moses Continued: Exodus, Chapters 7-14, 19, 32 – Made by Lena @ JOY{filled} Family

Day 11 Ruth: Ruth 1:1-16, 7-22 – Made by Kacky K @ Beginning with the Assumption
Day 12 Samuel: 1 Samuel, Chapter 3- Made by Jessica D. 

Day 13 Jesse: 1 Samuel, Chapter 16 – Made by (my local friend) Trina
Day 14 David: 1 Samuel, Chapter 17, 19:1-2 – Made by Josette

Day 15 Solomon: 1 Kings, Chapter 3 – Made by Michelle Y.
Day 16 Elijah: 1 Kings, Chapters 17 & 18 – Made by Lucy C. @ Time for Buttercups and Daisies

Day 17 Elisha: 2 Kings 5 – Shannon C @ Homeschooling Papist
Day 18 Isaiah’s Prophecies: Isaiah 8:6-7 – Made by Karen (?)

Day 19 Isaiah: Isaiah Chapter 6 – Made by Mel @ Slightly Crunchy Catholic
Day 20 Daniel: Daniel 6:11-17, 19-25 – Made by Melody @ Blossoming Joy

Day 21 Jeremiah: Jeremiah, Chapter 31- Made by Veronica
Day 22 Angels: Luke, Chapter 1 – Made by (me!) Jessica @ Shower of Roses (tutorial here)

Day 23 Zechariah, Elizabeth and John the Baptist: Luke, Chapter 1 – Made by Katie @ Raising Young Ones
Day 24 Blessed Virgin Mary: Luke, Chapter 1 – Made by Charlotte @ Waltzing Matilda 

Day 25 The Visitation: Luke 1:39-56 – Made by Marie @ Joy Beyond the Cross
Day 26 Joseph: Matthew, Chapter 1 – Made by Micaela @ California to Korea and Back Again

Day 27 The Nativity: Luke, Chapter 2 – Made by Maggie OFS @ Holiness is for Everyone
Day 28 Magi: Matthew 2:1-12 – Made by Beth
.: O Antiphon Ornaments :.
The O Antiphons begin on December 18th.

O Antiphon: O Wisdom – Made by Karen @ A Servant’s Memories
O Antiphon: O Lord of Lords – Made by Eliana

O Antiphon: O Flower of Jesse’s Stem – Made by Shannon C @ Homeschooling Papist
O Antiphon: O Key of David – Made by Erin @ Growing With My Girls

O Antiphon: O Radiant Dawn – Made by Alysha
O Antiphon: O King of All Nations – Made by Lindsay K
O Antphon: O Emmanuel – Made by Marines @ Thy Will – 2 plus 3 

~ A collage of the Jesse Tree Ornaments with days and symbols ~ 
I ran out of time to create another for the O Antiphons! 🙂 
It was a fun experience and we have some more lovely ornaments to add to our collection!  I have been asked if I would participate in a swap again… Honestly, probably not.  Between the many hours I spent painting and assembling the angels, and then adding in the cost of craft supplies and shipping two ways (I split the shipping on a large flat rate box with a friend so it was “only” about $17 each, otherwise it would have been about $26 – a local swap would be much less expensive) I would probably opt to put that towards one of the gorgeous sets from Jesse Tree Treasures (I especially love that they have a custom set option now!) or work on crafting a new set of our own. 

Thank you to Karen for hosting this swap along with a second swap as well! That is over 60 sets of ornaments to sort and mail, and all during her first trimester no less… Amazing!

Preparing for Christmas :: Seven Fun Finds for Advent

by | Dec 1, 2013 | , , , , , | 101 Comments

Advent has arrived and the Christmas countdown has begun!  Tonight we will light the first candle on our Advent Wreath, draw names for our Christkindl just like we did last year, and unwrap our first book after our family Rosary and Christmas Novena!  I ♥ Advent! 
My St. Andrew Chaplet from Mary Devotions

The past few years I have shared some of my “Fun Finds for Advent.”  I had every intention of finishing up this year’s post last Monday or Tuesday before our guests arrived for Thanksgiving, but I just wasn’t able to squeeze it in… Even though it is a little late, here is what we are adding to our usual traditions for this Advent!  

#1: Wise Men ADVENTures 

Inspired once again by Catholic Inspired, we are going to be enjoying some Wisemen Adventures this Advent!  The Wise Men had one last game of Farkle to finish last night before they set out to search for the Christ Child… Our oldest two boys (who will be keeping the wise men on the move all through Advent!) are having so much fun with this already!  And I couldn’t resist emphasizing the “ADVENT” in Adventures.  🙂

It’s not too late to join the fun!  Put that Elf back on the shelf and pick up some Wise Men!  😉 We will be using the Playmobil Wise Men, but any would work just fine.  I read that Jennifer will be hosting a link-up, so be sure to take pictures each day!
#2: The Jesse Box 

I also pulled out The Jesse Box! I was given this last year as a sample, but just didn’t have the time to review it back then.  I pulled it out this week and am so excited to use it with my children this year.   (Update:  You can find all the details and additional downloads, activities and lesson ideas on the website created by the makers of The Jesse Box.) 

Each week we will be creating a new scene based on the Gospel Reading for the week! 

#3: The New Holy Heroes Jesse Tree DVD
I’m simplifying our Jesse Tree (or perhaps I should say trees!) readings this year with the help of Holy Heroes brand new Jesse Tree DVD!  The videos for each day will coordinate perfectly with our new Jesse Tree Swap ornaments as well, and I have also printed out the ornaments for the little ones to color too!  

#4: Saints of Advent

Saint Nicholas from Shining Light Dolls will be making an appearance in our home this December 6th and Our Lady of Guadalupe with arrive on December 12th!  Our three girls will also discover Our Lady of Knock, Our Lady of Czestochowa and Our Lady of Lourdes in their Christmas Stockings! When I originally saw these online I wasn’t sure I’d like them or not, but they are just as cute as can be in person! 

As cute as the vinyl dolls are, I really LOVE wooden toys!  This past summer, during a special sale, I purchased some more wooden dolls from Armadillo Dreams.  I’ve posted pictures of our sweet Santa Lucia doll in the past. St. Nicholas will arrive on December 6th and the Star Boy will join Santa Lucia on December 13th.  I also had just enough in my Paypal account (from All About Learning affiliate sales – thank you!) to also purchase the Nativity Set at the discounted price! I am planning on giving that to the family during the O Antiphons for “O Emmanuel.” 

#5: Advent Calendars

I love that Advent begins on December 1st this year and so nicely coordinates with our favorite Advent Calendar!  Along with our original Jesse Tree, this Advent Calendar (pictured above) was one of our very first Advent traditions… It is still a favorite! 

This year, since Advent doesn’t often land on December 1st, I did something I have never done before and bought a few totally secular fun Advent Calendars for the children.  Originally I had just bought the Playmobil Winter Wonderland calendar (for Snuggles and Bud to share), but with the great sales this past week I added the two lego calendars (for the four older children to share) as well, along with a chocolate calendar for my husband and Rose!  
  
(*all way over priced at the moment…) 

“Mama!  Deer, Deer!” Yep, I knew he would love that!  🙂

#6: A New Family Puzzle
This year we are going to assemble “The Invitiation” – a gorgeous Noah’s Ark themed 1,000 piece puzzle (along with this Ark-Full Animals Puzzle or this Animal Alphabet for the younger ones) to go along with some of our Jesse Tree readings! I’m also still considering this lovely 12 Days of Christmas Puzzle for during the 12 days of Christmas…. So pretty!

#7: Celebrating Advent and Christmas with Children

Celebrating Advent and Christmas with Children is a brand new book by Colleen Rooney which was just released last month!  Colleen kindly offered to send me a review copy along with a second copy to offer to one of my visitors here at Shower of Roses!  
It is such a beautiful book, packed with great ideas and recipes, and is a welcomed addition to my collection.  I look forward to trying some of her ideas with my own family soon! 

Amazon is currently offering Celebrating Advent and Christmas with Children at a 41% discount, you can currently purchase the Kindle version for only $3.99, or you can enter the giveaway below to possibly win a FREE copy here at Shower of Roses! 
Check out the additional “Fun Finds For Advent” in the archives:  

I hope you all have a very blessed Advent! 

A Brand New Glory Stories CD – Secrets From Heaven {and a St. Mary’s Messenger Giveaway!}

by | Nov 30, 2013 | , , , | 77 Comments

I always try to have my Christmas shopping completed (at least mostly completed) before Advent begins and am currently working on checking off a few last items as I start to pull out and set up all of our Advent Decorations and Book Baskets! This year I’ve broken the “three” gifts for each of our children into three categories: something fun, something faith based, and something to read.

We already had gifts/ideas for most of the children, but I was having a difficult time coming up with something faith based to put under the tree for Chiquita…  (I already have one of the Shining Light Dolls for her stocking.) I was so excited to hear that Holy Heroes has just released a brand new Glory Story CD: Secrets from Heaven – The Children of Fatima!  (If you buy it today you can also choose a free Holy Rosary CD!) It will be perfect for her!

I have decided to wrap the two CDs along with a copy of the St. Mary’s Messenger 2013 Summer Issue (which she hasn’t seen yet and which featured one of her past birthday parties!) and a St. Mary’s Messenger Subscription as her “faith based” gift. She is going to love it!

St. Mary’s Messenger is a full-sized, full-color, standalone, 32-page, quarterly Catholic magazine for kids, ages 7 to 12!  The yearly subscriptions (4 issues) are available for $19.95.  I’ve posted more about St. Mary’s Messenger here.

St. Mary’s Messenger has generously offered to give complimentary subscriptions to TWO of my visitors here at Shower of Roses!  If you would like to be entered in the giveaway, please use the Rafflecopter entry box below:

Celebrating Thanksgiving

by | Nov 30, 2013 | | 7 Comments

I hope you all had a very happy Thanksgiving!  We were blessed to have friends (Rose’s Godparents and their 6 children) stay for the past two nights. My parents and some of my brothers also joined us for dessert and a game of Apples to Apples after dinner… It was so much fun!  I stayed pretty busy in the kitchen most of the day, but I still managed to take a few pictures.  🙂 
.: Decorating Cookies :. 
“Thanksgiving” Pumpkin Cookies  (leftover from our All Saints Party) 
.: “Turkey” Appetizers :.

.: Fun with Family & Friends :. 

Our sweet goddaughter, playing board games, and naps before dinner… So cute! 
.: Thanksgiving Feast :. 

And one of my favorite surprises? The last minute “Thankful Tree” Captain was outside making early Thanksgiving morning!   Oh!! And finding out that we have another niece or nephew on the way! 

O God, Thy mercies are without number, and the treasure of Thy goodness is infinite: we offer thanks to Thy most gracious of Thee, Thou wilt never forsake those who pray but prepare for the reward to come. 

Our Festive Raspberry Cranberry Jello Mold

by | Nov 30, 2013 | , , | 8 Comments

One of my favorite Thanksgiving side dishes, in addition to the Praline Pecan Yams, is our Raspberry Cranberry Jello Mold…   It also is perfect for Christmas and New Year’s as well!  Here is the recipe: 
Raspberry Cranberry Jello Mold

2 cans jellied cranberry sauce
3 1/2 cups water, divided
2 (6 oz) packages raspberry gelatin
2 cans fruit cocktail, drained
1 1/2 cups chopped celery
1-12 cup or 2-6 cup molds

Bring cranberry sauce and 1 1/2 cups water to a boil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring often until sauce melts completely. Remove from heat.

Stir in gelatin until completely dissolved.  Stir in remaining 1 3/4 cups water.

Refrigerate until gelatin thickens to consistency of egg whites.

Stir in fruit cocktail and celery.  Ladle into molds. Cover and refrigerate until set.  At least 8 hours or up to 5 days.

To un-mold: Dip mold into warm water. Invert in serving plate shaking gently back and forth to release gelatin. (Repeat if necessary.) Refrigerate if not serving soon.

Praline Pecan and Mallow-Topped Sweet Potatoes

by | Nov 27, 2013 | , | 13 Comments

Praline Pecan and Mallow-Topped Sweet Potatoes
I’ve been busy in the kitchen all morning, getting as much done as possible before our company arrives!  (They were suppose to arrive last night, but are coming this evening instead.)  I have a spaghetti sauce simmering on the stove for dinner tonight and just finished making the sweet potatoes for tomorrow!
I’ve had a couple requests for my recipe(s), after posting a picture on Instagram, and realized I had never shared them here before!  Every Thanksgiving, even growing up, the “Sweet Potatoes and Desserts” were “my job” (my sister Jen always made the rolls and my brother Sean always made the Raspberry Cranberry Jello Mold!) and yesterday my mom called for the recipe since I won’t be bringing them over to her house (we will be getting together with my extended family for dessert) this year.
Praline Pecan Yams
29-oz can yams/sweet potatoes, drained
1/3 cup coconut
1/3 cup chopped pecans
1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
3 Tbs flour
3 Tbs butter, melted
Note:  This recipe will fill a 1 qt baking dish.  I usually double the recipe for my Pampered Chef oval baking dish or triple the recipe for a 9×13 baking dish.   
Place drained yams (I usually mash them) in ungreased casserole or baking dish.  In a small bowl combine remaining ingredients; blend well.  Sprinkle over yams.
Bake at 350˚F for 35-40 minutes or until bubbly.
Mallow-Topped Sweet Potatoes 
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, melted
1/4 cup orange juice
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 29-oz can sweet potatoes, drained
large marshmallows
Note:  This recipe will fill a 1 qt baking dish.  I always triple the recipe and bake it in a 9×13 pan. 
Mix butter, orange juice and cinnamon in lightly greased baking dish until well blended.
Add sweet potatoes; mix lightly. (I always mash the sweet potatoes.)  Top with marshmallows.
Bake at 350˚F for 15-20 minutes or until sweet potatoes are hot and marshmallows are lightly browned.
*These last two pictures were taken last year on Thanksgiving.  If you refrigerate them overnight they will take a little longer to bake. 
Now that the sweet potatoes are all ready for tomorrow, it’s time to move on to the Raspberry Cranberry Jello Mold  pies and other desserts!
Do you have a favorite Thanksgiving recipe for sweet potatoes? I’d love to hear about it!
Metal Earth {3D Laser Cut Models}

Metal Earth {3D Laser Cut Models}

by | Dec 4, 2013 | , | 10 Comments

I keep forgetting to share these pictures from a couple weeks ago!  Rascal had so much fun putting together a Metal Earth 3D Laser Cut Model one Sunday afternoon!The Manuafacture recommends them for ages 14-18, but our 11 (almost 12) year old didn't have any...

A Jesse Tree Ornament Swap

A Jesse Tree Ornament Swap

by | Dec 4, 2013 | | 5 Comments

Remember that "Choir of Angels" I was crating for a Jesse Tree Ornament Swap?  Well our set of ornaments arrived the day before Thanksgiving and I finally had a chance to photograph them to share with you all!We opened the box on the first day of Advent and the...

Celebrating Thanksgiving

Celebrating Thanksgiving

by | Nov 30, 2013 | | 7 Comments

I hope you all had a very happy Thanksgiving!  We were blessed to have friends (Rose's Godparents and their 6 children) stay for the past two nights. My parents and some of my brothers also joined us for dessert and a game of Apples to Apples after dinner... It...

Praline Pecan and Mallow-Topped Sweet Potatoes

Praline Pecan and Mallow-Topped Sweet Potatoes

by | Nov 27, 2013 | , | 13 Comments

Praline Pecan and Mallow-Topped Sweet Potatoes I've been busy in the kitchen all morning, getting as much done as possible before our company arrives!  (They were suppose to arrive last night, but are coming this evening instead.)  I have a spaghetti sauce simmering...

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.


Our Family

Sean & Jessica, Captain-25, Ranger-24, Twinkle Toes-22, Chiquita-21, Snuggles-18, Rose-16, Bud-14, Grace-8 and Joy-6 (blog nicknames)

A Little About Me

Hi! I'm Jessica, a Roman Catholic wife and home educating mother to our nine children. I was home educated myself, along with my eleven younger siblings. I have a special devotion to St. Therese, through whom I have been given much help and many blessings--the beautiful "Shower of Roses" that she has sent my way! Here I will record a few of the blessings I treasure. Please remember that what you see here is just a little glimpse at our lives, so please say a prayer for us, as we continue to strive for holiness.

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Shower of Roses Alphabet of Saints

A Papal Unit Study & Lap Book

Shower of Roses Easter Gift Guides



All Saints Party Printables

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