New Christmas Books for the Feast of St. Nicholas + Our Annual St. Nicholas Giveaway

by | Nov 12, 2023 | , , | 194 Comments

New Christmas Books

– New Christmas Books for the Feast of St. Nicholas –

As the holiday season approaches, and we bid farewell to All Saints Day and Martinmas, it’s time to shift our focus to the upcoming feast of St. Nicholas. Amidst the hustle and bustle of Thanksgiving preparations, I find myself eagerly anticipating our family’s annual Advent traditions including celebrating St. Nicholas Day which lies just around the corner!

On the morning of December 6th, our children wake up to discover their heartfelt letters to the Holy Child and St. Nicholas have disappeared, replaced with treats in their slippers. New Christmas Books, sometimes new slipper or shoes (when needed) oranges, chocolate gold coins, candy canes, and a note from St. Nicholas himself.

Over the years, our children, who are now mostly teenagers and young adults, have continued to receive a new Christmas book as an integral part of this beloved tradition of ours. This has resulted in a remarkable collection that spans over two decades. I look forward to passing down these treasured Christmas books to them when they start their own families one day.

Below you will find the list of books I picked out for this year.

Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Additional affiliate links included to TAN Books, Ignatius Press and Holy Heroes as well.

Captain – 23

Between Us and Abuela: A Family Story from the Border

You’re never too old for picture books! As C.S. Lewis says, “A children’s story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children’s story in the slightest.”

This Christmas might be the first he spends away from family, and our first without all of our children home… We’ve been exploring ways to bring him home for the weekend, but the logistics of getting him to an airport after classes on Friday and then having to fly back on Christmas day to make it back to his classes the next morning are making it increasingly unlikely. Despite the distance, we’re determined to send him a few care packages filled with love and homemade goodies to make his Christmas away a bit brighter. In the meantime, I’m eagerly counting the days until his graduation from the academy in February. Secretly, I can’t help but hold on to a small hope for a government shutdown over Christmas, which could possibly bring him home, even if just briefly.

Between Us and Abuela: A Family Story from the Border is a heartwarming picture book that tells the story of a family separated by the U.S.-Mexico border. Through letters and pictures, the book conveys the love, hope, and resilience of the family as they find ways to stay connected and celebrate special moments despite the physical distance that separates them. It’s a touching story of family bonds that transcend borders. It also portrays the Border Patrol positively, showing them as individuals who help facilitate connections between families separated by the border. The book highlights the humanity and compassion that can exist even in challenging situations.

Ranger – 21

Drinking with Saint Nick

For our 21-year-old, we’ve chosen to give him his own copy of Drinking with Saint Nick: Christmas Cocktails for Sinners and Saints. This delightful book is not only a festive guide to crafting Christmas cocktails but also weaves in fun anecdotes and stories related to the holiday season, making it an enjoyable read for anyone looking to add a spirited twist to Christmas celebrations. And don’t worry, we’re not suggesting he needs the cocktails to cope with his older brother’s absence (this is the first year those two have been separated) – it’s all in good fun! 😉

Also available directly from Ignatius Press.

Twinkle Toes – 20

A Year with the Saints

For our daughter, who is now a licensed insurance agent and has taken on the world with her own business, I’ve chosen a gift that reflects her commitment to growth and self-reflection. A Year with the Saints: Daily Meditations with the Holy Ones of God is such a beautiful Deluxe Leatherette book, offering daily meditations and insights that can provide her with inspiration and guidance in both her personal and professional life.

Plus, it’s a fantastic deal right now – you can grab it for just $10 this month at TAN Books, which is nearly 78% off the regular price. A gift that’s both meaningful and budget-friendly! (I actually might order three more copies so we can give one to each of our other young adult children in their stack of books for Christmas for them to read in the upcoming new year.)

Update: It looks like the sale over at TAN on A Year with the Saints has ended. You can find the current deals here!

Chiquita – 18

Hercule Poirot’s Christmas: A Hercule Poirot Mystery

For our college girl, who loves murder mysteries and will finally have a well-deserved break over Christmas, I’ve chosen the intriguing book Hercule Poirot’s Christmas: A Hercule Poirot Mystery. In this official edition featuring exclusive content from the Queen of Mystery, the holidays take an unexpected turn when a family reunion is marred by murder, and the brilliant Belgian investigator, Hercule Poirot, swiftly takes on the case. This gripping tale is the perfect read to keep her entertained during her holiday break, and we’re excited to see her dive into the mystery.

Scout – 16

A Christmas Carol: The Graphic Novel

For our sixteen-year-old son, we’ve chosen A Christmas Carol: The Graphic Novel. It’s a visually captivating adaptation of the classic Dickens tale, perfect for a teenager who enjoys graphic novels. This book presents the timeless story in an engaging format with stunning illustrations. He’s going to love it!

(Thank you, Tiffany G, for suggesting this book and the Agatha Christi book above last year!)

Rose – 13

The Lion in the Box

“Recently widowed, Mama would only be able to provide a meager Christmas for her five small children. Even though Mama could only get work occasionally, the family was rich in love and affection. The older girls did housework while Mama was away, and Lili looked after Ben and the baby. On Christmas Eve, the family spent an anxious evening that turned into one of the most extraordinary and memorable Christmases of their lives. This true story is set at the turn of the 20th century in New York City. Highly recommended as a Christmas read-aloud.”

Bud – 11

The Christmas Rocket

“This beautiful Christmas story, set in Italy during the 1950s, is about a potter’s son who goes down the mountain with his father shortly before Christmas to sell pots, vases, and platters. They have high hopes of bringing home enough money for a nice Christmas dinner, perhaps enough for a pair of real shoes for Dino, and even a rocket for him to set off with the other boys on Christmas Eve. The trip does not turn out as planned, it goes from bad to worse until Dino starts home in tears. As he trudges up the mountainside, something happens. Something which lights up Dino’s heart and gives us a new view of the Christmas story.”

Grace – 6

‘Twas the Day Before Christmas in Bethlehem Town

For our six-year-old daughter, I’ve chosen the brand new book ‘Twas the Day Before Christmas in Bethlehem Town. This charming book is more than just a retelling of the Christmas story; it’s a beautifully illustrated journey that transports readers to the heart of Bethlehem, where the anticipation of the first Christmas Eve unfolds. The book captures the excitement and wonder of that special night and I look forward to reading it with her.

Joy – 4

Silent Night

Silent Night: A Christmas Song

I’m taking full advantage of my last opportunities to buy board books for our four-year-old, who still really enjoys them! Our little animal lover will be receiving Silent Night: A Christmas Song this year. With delightful animal illustrations throughout and the lyrics to a favorite Christmas song, it’s a great addition to our collection. I also considered A Very Merry Christmas Prayer which is also darling when I was browsing the bookstore this past weekend.

Silent Night Interior Pages

Free Printables

You can download my St. Nicholas labels over at Dropbox with either Black or Green text… And here is the link to my original St. Nicholas Chocolate Coins from 2010 and the updated version in 2019!

St. Nicholas Printables

St. Nicholas Giveaway

Once again this year I will be hosting FOUR Advent and Christmas giveaways here on the blog:  this St. Nicholas Giveaway, the 2023 Shower of Roses Christmas Gift Guide + Giveaway, another Advent Book Basket giveaway and finishing up with another O Antiphon giveaway!  Here is the first giveaway in preparation for the feast of St. Nicholas! Enter for a chance to win one of the following six prizes:

Prize #1 – Books from Author Susan Peek

Susan Peek Books

The books included are: Saint Rudolph and the Reindeer, The Forgotten Christmas Saint: St. Anastasia, The Outlaws’ Friend: A Christmas Story of Blessed Solanus Casey, Saint Cloud of Gaul: The Prince Who Traded Kingdoms, A Soldier Surrenders: The Conversion of St. Camillus de Lellis , Saint Magnus the Last Viking, A Single Day . . . Or Not: An Ancient Irish Legend sponsored by SusanPeekAuthor.com ($90.00 Value)

Congratulations, Lizette R!

Prize #2 – Set of Five Cookie Stamps with Recipe Booklet

Cookie Stamps
Cookie Stamp Details

Includes: #001 – Santa Claus, #031- Noel Stocking, #317 – Old St Nick, #357 -Santa on the Rooftop, and #413 – St Nicholas sponsored by Rycraft Cookie Stamps ($64.95 Value)

Congratulations, Sarah V!

Prize #3 – An Advent Hope & Advent Candle Kit

Holy Heroes

Includes: An Advent Hope: A Children’s Book about Family Advent Traditions and the wonderful Advent Candle Kit sponsored by Holy Heroes ($42.90 Value)

Note: I’m excited to add An Advent Hope to our Advent Book Basket this year! We have always loved this candle kit too. Be sure to check out all the great products for Advent over at Holy Heroes!

SAVE 15% with coupon code SHOWER15 through 12/5/23

Congratulations, Katie W!

Prize #4 – Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus & My Name is Philomena

Tan Books

Includes: Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus: An Introductory Latin Missal for Children and My Name is Philomena sponsored by TAN Books. ($42.90 Value) Note: Find my review of My Name is Philomena here.

Congratulations, Raquel F!

Prize #5 – Light of the Saints

Light of the Saints

Includes: Light of the Saints is an interactive, light-based children’s book that tells the story of 12 saints from around the world. Shine a light behind the page to see hidden images of their miracles and heroic acts. Light of the Saints is the answered prayer for parents who want to teach their kids about the saints. AND it rhymes! All you need in addition to the book is a flashlight or phone light. ($18.95 Value)

Congratulations, Mary K!

Prize #6 – The World Waits

The World Waits

Includes: The World Waits sponsored by Sophia Institute Press ($16.95 Value) (Also available from Amazon here.)

Congratulations,Kelly S!

Please leave a comment on this post and then enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter box below:

Note: If you have any trouble with Rafflecopter just send me an email or message with your name/email address and I can add you manually. I’ve been looking for alternatives, but haven’t found a free option yet that offers what I need for these annual giveaways that I love hosting for you all! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

More Suggestions From the Archives

Advent Book Basket and Printable Labels:  2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022

New Christmas Books for the Feast of St. Nicholas: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022

Stacks of Books on Christmas Morning or Epiphany: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017

You can find the rest of our booklists here or scroll through all our past St. Nicholas Day Celebrations in the archives.

Even more St. Nicholas themed gifts can be found in these past posts filled with Christmas Gift Ideas & Stocking Stuffers from 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022

Read about our family traditions: The Advent Season in Our Catholic Home

Scroll through past posts featuring the Feast of St. Nicholas here.

Celebrating Martinmas 2022

by | Nov 11, 2023 | , , | 0 Comments

– Photos from Celebrating Martinmas 2022 –

“Allow me, brothers, to look toward heaven rather than at the earth, so that my spirit may set on the right course when the time comes for me to go on my journey to the Lord.” – St. Martin of Tours

I have so many partial posts in my drafts folder… Here’s one I was able to finish up from the feast of St. Martin of Tours last year.

Coloring Pages

Download and print this great St. Martin Coloring Page over at Waltzing Matilda.

Crafting Lanterns

Like their older siblings Celebrating Martinmas back in 2013, our littlest girls loved crafting their own Martinmas Lanterns!

Find the directions here.

Family Rosary, Bonfire and S’mores

We had Snow on Martinmas again and it was coooooollllllld… Our annual Celebrating Martinmas Lantern Walk was very brief, we opted to huddle around the fire pit with blankets for our family rosary and then roasting s’mores.

Martinmas Lantern Walk

Dear well-beloved Saint, you were first a soldier like your father. Converted to the Church, you became a soldier of Christ, a priest and then a Bishop of Tours. Lover of the poor, and model for pagans and Christians alike, protect our soldiers at all times. Make them strong, just and charitable. Always aiming at establishing peace on earth.

St. Martin of Tours, pray for us!

Autumn Leaves: Painting with Watercolors

by | Nov 9, 2023 | , , , | 4 Comments

Watercolors

Inspired by our recent Autumn Adventures: Crafting a Leaf Man she independently gathered supplies, set up her paints, and impressed us all painting an autumn masterpiece with watercolors! 🍁👧🎨

The girls have been painting with watercolors every week this fall! They love their Yarka Water Colors Semi-Moist Paint Sets. The paint sets have been put to good use, and it looks like I might need to order a couple replacements to surprise them in their Christmas stockings!

Kindergarten Crafts

Autumn Leaves

Autumn leaves for now falling,

Red and yellow and brown.

Autumn leaves are now falling,

See them fluttering down.

Autumn leaves from the treetops

Flutter down to the ground,

When the wind blows his trumpet,

See them whirling around.

Autumn leaves when they’re tired,

Settle down in a heap,

At the foot of the old tree,

Soon they’ll all fall asleep.

– Poem the girls recently memorized in Primary Arts of Language

Finished Painting

Celebrating the Saints: Our 2023 Saint Costumes

by | Nov 7, 2023 | , , | 4 Comments

Saint Costumes

This year’s saint costumes: St. Florian, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, St, Margaret of Scotland, Crusader/Knight Templar, St. Gertrude of Nivelles and St. Barbara.

Our annual All Hallows’ Eve party has always been a favorite family tradition, especially for our kids who eagerly await the opportunity to dress up as beloved saints each year. You can see many of their saints costumes from over the years here.

St. Margaret of Scotland

St. Margaret of Scotland Saint Costumes

St. Margaret of Scotland, also known as Queen Margaret, was a 12th-century Scottish queen and a devout Christian. She is celebrated for her piety, charity, and contributions to the Church, as well as her efforts to promote education and social welfare. Margaret’s life is a testament to her strong faith and her commitment to making a positive impact on the world.

Our daughter wore a gorgeous Velvet Dress which she was given by a local friend and previously used for one of our Murder Mystery parties last winter! She added a tiara and a white cape as well as her Deluxe Leatherette copy of My Daily Bread from TAN.

Crusader / Knight Templar

Crusader Saint Costumes

A Knight Templar was a member of the medieval Christian military order called the Knights Templar. These knights were known for their role in the Crusades, dedicated to protecting Christian pilgrims in the Holy Land. They wore distinctive white mantles with a red cross and played a significant part in medieval history.

The Crusader costume was an impulse purchase at Party City a couple years ago, but it was too large for him at the time. I purchased the sword from an Etsy shop for one of our past Hobbit parties!

St. Barbara

St. Barbara Saint Costumes

St. Barbara is known for her strong faith and steadfast devotion. According to tradition, she lived during the 3rd century and defied her pagan father to embrace Christianity. Her commitment to her Christian beliefs led to her martyrdom. St. Barbara is often depicted with a tower or a sword, representing her faith and courage. St. Barbara is usually pictured with blond hair, a palm branch, and often a crown. The Chalice is a symbol of the Blessed Sacrament and often associated with Saint Barbara in reference to her final wish for the grace of Sacrament. She is the patron saint of those in need of protection against sudden death.

Princess Gown and Crown are from Trish Scully, Sword was an Etsy purchase one year. The chalice is from her younger brother’s Mass kit.

St. Florian

Saint Florian is considered the patron saint of firefighters due to a legendary story where he saved a town from a fire.

His older brothers handed down this costume from years past. Ranger wore it in 2015 for St. Maurice. Scout (Snuggles lol) wore it as St. Martin in 2021. You can find the costume here and helmet here.

St. Gertrude

St. Gertrude Saint Costumes

St. Gertrude of Nivelles, a 7th-century Christian saint, was the abbess of an abbey in Nivelles, Belgium. She was known for her compassion and care for the sick. Saint Gertrude of Nivelles is often associated with being the patron saint of cats, not because she loved cats, but on account of her ability to expel mice. The Catholic Encyclopedia explains, “She is also patron of travelers, and is invoked against fever, rats, and mice, particularly field-mice.”

I think some of the images the kids were looking at may have been combining two different Saint Gertrudes… St. Gertrude the Great, a 13th-century Benedictine nun, is often associated with the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. She had mystical experiences and visions that contributed to the development of the Sacred Heart devotion. St. Gertrude the Great’s writings and experiences played a significant role in promoting this particular devotion within the Catholic Church. We pray her prayer for the Holy Souls all of November!

Anyway, for her costume we used an old knee length Size Small Gap Dress of mine for her habit with a black cape and veil from our costume collection. We pinned on a few of her favorite cats (this one and this one) and modified the heart that one of the girls made for last year’s costume. She was so excited about her kitties and the cat pumpkin she helped carve too!

Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Saint Costumes

Our Lady of Mount Carmel is a title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is particularly associated with the Carmelite religious order. She is venerated as the patroness of the Carmelites and is depicted holding the Child Jesus.

We used one of her older sister’s Carmelite habits with a cream veil. I believe I bought her gold glitter crown from Hanna Andersson one year. We pinned on one of my favorite scapulars from Stella Marigold Art. For Baby Jesus we wrapped one of her favorite dolls in a white muslin baby blanket and made a white paper crown.

All Saints in Heaven, pray for us! 

Saint-O-Lanterns

by | Nov 5, 2023 | | 4 Comments

We love illuminating our faith on All Hallows’ Eve with Saint-O-Lanterns! This year the kids came up with carvings to celebrate St. Florian’s courage, honor the Blessed Sacrament, share the beauty of Carmelite roses, as well as a purr-fect tribute to St. Gertrude. 🎃🙏🌹🐾

This past week I shared a reel over on Instagram but wanted to update the blog with a few pictures too.

I didn’t manage to capture many pictures of the process this year. I did pitch in by printing a couple templates and other images used for inspiration. Other than that, they took charge of the preparations and did all the carving themselves. The little girls loved having their older siblings help them with their Saint-O-Lanterns.

Flower of Carmel by Twinkle Toes & Joy

O Beautiful Flower of Carmel, most fruitful vine,
splendor of Heaven, holy and singular,
who brought forth the Son of God, still remaining a pure virgin,
assist us in our necessity!

– Opening prayer of Novena to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel

Saint Gertrude’s Cat by Ranger, Scout & Grace

Saint Gertrude of Nivelles is often associated with being the patron saint of cats, not because she loved cats, but on account of her ability to expel mice. The Catholic Encyclopedia explains, “She is also patron of travelers, and is invoked against fever, rats, and mice, particularly field-mice.”

Saint Florian by Bud (11)
Saint Florian is considered the patron saint of firefighters due to a legendary story where he saved a town from a fire.

The Blessed Sacrament by Rose (13)

To view more, scroll through our past Saint-O-Lanterns!

Preparing for Advent: Order Your Advent Candles Now!

by | Nov 3, 2023 | , | 1 Comment

Advent begins at the beginning of next month, and the time has come for my annual reminder to prepare for the season and order Advent Candles for your wreath. The dear nuns at The Cloister Shoppe have these beautiful candles ready to ship, and they have a tendency to sell out quickly as the holiday season approaches. Don’t miss your chance to add a meaningful touch to your celebrations with these special candles.

100% Beeswax Advent Candles

For many years, our family has been ordering the exquisite 100% Beeswax hand-poured tapers created by the talented Dominican Nuns at The Cloister Shoppe. These candles have been the centerpiece of our Advent wreath, casting a warm and comforting glow as we gather for dinner each night throughout the Advent season. The craftsmanship and love put into each taper make these candles a cherished part of our yearly celebrations.

(Father Terrence Gordon showed me tape hack to prevent tapers from dripping during one of his last visits to our home… It worked for a little while but I don’t think I did it correctly… Going to try again this year.)

In these pictures, you can see Joseph and Mary making their journey down our Advent Path. About seven years ago I decided to create a path down the center of our table for Advent, using our Jesse Tree ornaments for each day of the season. The first year was a simple countdown path made from doilies, but the following year, I incorporated our wooden Jesse Tree Ornaments from Jesse Tree Treasures.

The Our Lady of Guadalupe Candle is from Clear Creek Abbey. (Also available from Amazon.) While I’ve yet to bring myself to burn it, it adds a lovely and meaningful touch to our Advent decorations

More Favorites from The Cloister Shoppe

Each year, I make an effort to plan in advance and order additional candles to be blessed on Candlemas (February 2). This ensures that we have them ready for the new liturgical year and the upcoming Advent season. Here are some I have purchased over the years:

Click here to visit the Cloister Christmas Shoppe!

Advent Wreaths Around Our Home

In our home, we like to set up two Advent wreaths during this special season.

The taper Advent Candles find their place in an Advent Wreath on our dining room table, where we light them each night during dinner, creating a warm and beautiful atmosphere.

Additionally, we have a larger wreath adorning the coffee table in our living room. This one is lit during our family rosary each evening, and we leave it aglow while unwrapping and reading from our cherished annual Advent Book Basket.

I still miss the pillar candles I used to buy from the Benedictine Monks when they were still making them. Currently, I opt for these 3×3 candles in purple and pink. (You can find more Advent Wreath-related posts here.)

There was one particularly ambitious year when I even hung our Advent Wreath like the Von Trapp family! 🕯️🎶

Advent Candle Crafting for Children

Our children have also thoroughly enjoyed crafting their own candles using the 100% Beeswax Advent Candle Kit from Illuminated Ink. This hands-on Advent project is a wonderful way for children to actively participate in preparing for the Advent season.

(You can also order Advent Candles kit from Holy Heroes.)

Advent Wreath Socks

Speaking of Advent wreaths, don’t miss out on the delightful Advent Wreath Socks from Socks Religious – they’re so much fun! I loved using mine the past couple Advents and look forward to taking them out again next month.

For more Advent Planning:  

The Advent Season In Our Catholic Home

Saint Costumes Over the Years

by | Oct 27, 2023 | , , | 0 Comments

Last night, I took a little trip down memory lane and created a heartwarming Instagram reel featuring our children’s saint costumes from the past couple of decades. It brought tears to my eyes, reliving the love, joy, and countless memories. Time flies by so quickly!

Are you still looking for some costume inspiration for this year? Check out our Saintly Costumes (2008) post which lists many simple saint costume ideas. You can also scroll through all our past posts under the label Costumes or click over to Links for October or Links for November. I have also linked each year below. Many of those posts contain additional details about some of the costumes.

Last year one of our daughters Crafted a Crown Fit for a Queen which was so much more extravagant than my Quick & Easy Homemade Paper Crowns. We still need to see what we can pull together for this year!

Looking back…

1991 & 1997 • 2004 & 2005

2006 • 2007 • 2008

2009 • 2010 • 2011

2012 & 2012 • 2013 • 2014

2015 • 2016 • 2017

2018 • 2019 • 2020

2021 • 2022

I realized that we haven’t ever had a year with all of our children home for All Hallows Eve and All Saints Day.. The closest we got was in 2017 with 8 of our 9 in the photo. Our youngest wasn’t born until 2019 and our older boys were both across the country at Christendom College that fall. They truly grow up fast!

Thank you all for joining me on this little trip down memory lane!

Please note…

Last October Shower of Roses was unexpectedly removed (canceled!) from Blogger/Google the week before All Saints Day… I lost complete access to everything! To ensure this doesn’t happen again, the entire blog has been migrated to WordPress which I should have done many years ago but couldn’t justify the cost. With a staggering archive spanning 17 years and over 45,000 photos, this migration was no small feat, and I’m immensely thankful for the invaluable help and support from Sprout Studio.

Last night I ran across some more internal links (a few past costume posts) that are redirecting to incorrect posts. I’m actively working to correct internal links, improve formatting on old posts, and ensure that preview photos load as intended. I apologize if you happen to run across any poor formatting from the transfer or bad links!

All Saints Guessing Jars {2022 Edition}

by | Oct 12, 2023 | | 2 Comments

All Saints Guessing Jars {2022 Edition}

Are you preparing for an All Hallows’ Eve or All Saints’ Party this year? I received an email the other day which made me realize that I hadn’t shared the six new All Saints Guessing Jars Labels I added to our ever-growing collection last year! I’m uploading them for you all now. According to my records, we now have a whopping 105 options, combining these new lables with those found in the archives from previous years. 

This weekend, I hope to dedicate some time to create updated All Saints Guessing Sheets, like the ones I’ve made in recent years for all the original All Saints Guessing Jars. Perhaps I’ll even come up with a few new ones! I’d also like to attempt consolidating them all into a single document, although I always tend to have more ambitious plans than I can accomplish! 😉

All Saints Guessing Jars {2022 Edition} - Candies and Treats

Here are the Six New All Saints Guessing Jars from 2022:

All Saints Guessing Jars {2022 Edition} - St. Abigail Patron Saint of Bees & Beekeepers - Honeycombs
St. Roch Patron of Dogs & Dog Lovers - Doggy Bones (Scooby Doo Graham Crackers)
St. Gabriel the Archangel - Bugles

St. Abigail Patron Saint of Bees & Beekeepers

Honeycomb Cereal

St. Roch Patron of Dogs & Dog Lovers

Doggy Bones (Scooby Doo Graham Crackers)

St. Gabriel the Archangel

Bugles (The bugle symbolizes Archangel Gabriel’s role as a divine messenger, announcing important events and messages from God)

St. Martha the Dragon Slayer - Cinna-Dragons
St. Kateri of the Turtle Clan - Tangy Turtles
Sts. Caspar, Melchoir & Balthasar - Three Wise Men - 3 Musketeers

St. Martha the Dragon Slayer

Cinna-Dragons – from Trader Joe’s

St. Kateri of the Turtle Clan

Tangy Turtles – from Trader Joe’s

Sts. Caspar, Melchoir & Balthasar – Three Wise Men

3 Musketeers

You can download these printable labels here… 

… and the corresponding printable guess pages here.

Little "saints" guessing how many candies are in each jar.

The All Saints Guessing Jars always steal the spotlight at our annual party! They never fail to captivate the “little saints” with their simple yet engaging concept. The excitement and anticipation as everyone tries to estimate the contents of each jar make this activity a yearly favorite.

Here is the link to all of my FREE All Saints Party Printables!

Autumn Adventures: Crafting a Leaf Man

by | Oct 9, 2023 | , , , | 2 Comments

This delightful autumn-inspired Leaf Man Craft sparks creativity and brings the beauty of nature into your crafting adventures!

🍂 My little girls and I love visiting bookstores! We recently returned from another delightful trip and couldn’t resist bringing home the wonder of autumn captured in three enchanting books. Leaf Man, The Leaf Thief, and Autumn in the Forest have now been added to our family collection, promising whimsical adventures amidst the falling leaves and the colorful transformations of nature!

📚 Leaf Man emphasizes creativity and imagination through imaginative leaf transformations, while The Leaf Thief combines a narrative-driven story with stunning illustrations to convey messages of sharing and appreciating the beauty of nature. Autumn in the Forest portrays the enchanting shift of seasons in a lively forest, capturing the vibrant hues of autumn and the playful antics of its inhabitants. It’s a delightful depiction of fall’s beauty and the joy it brings to the woodland. All three books celebrate the wonder of leaves and the autumn season in their own unique ways, making them delightful reads for little ones.

🍁 After reading the books (and sharing the pictures of some of their older siblings doing the same craft seven years ago! Here’s that link: Leaf Man :: A Picture Book Inspired Craft for Fall) the girls set out to make their own Leaf Man craft for autumn!

Creating a Leaf Man is such a fun and creative activity!

Here’s a simple guide to make a Leaf Man:

  1. Collect Leaves:
    Gather various types and sizes of leaves from your yard or a nearby park.
  2. Create a Base:
    Use a piece of paper or cardboard as the base for your leaf man. We used 12×12 card stock in fall colors.
  3. Arrange the Leaves:
    Arrange the leaves to form the body, limbs, and head of your leaf man. Overlap them to create different shapes and patterns.
  4. Add Details:
    Use smaller leaves for arms, legs, and facial features like eyes, nose, and mouth.
  5. Glue in Place:
    Carefully glue each leaf in its desired position on the base.
  6. Decorate:
    Use additional natural materials like twigs, acorns, pinecones, or seeds to embellish your leaf man.
  7. Let it Dry:
    Allow the glue to dry completely.
  8. Display:
    Display your leaf man craft proudly or even write a short story or poem about your creation.

🍂 They did such a beautiful job all on their own! I only assisted with the glue. 🍁

Picture Books: Leaf Man, The Leaf Thief, and Autumn in the Forest

From the Archives: Leaf Man :: A Picture Book Inspired Craft for Fall & Little Saints Preschool: Fall is Here!

Our Lady of Champion Glory Story

by | Oct 9, 2023 | , | 0 Comments

The only approved Marian Apparition in the United States

Happy feast of Our Lady of Champion!

I’m popping in real quick to let you know that Holy Heroes is currently having a 50% off FLASH SALE on Our Lady of Champion MP3 Download and the Our Lady of Champion CD. We’re planning to download the MP3 for our family to listed to this afternoon. So excited to add this story to our collection!

“The National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion is an internationally recognized holy site where the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared. The Shrine is more than 150 years old and typically draws more than 3,000 people a year to its small chapel. But ever since the Catholic Diocese of Green Bay approved three apparitions of the Virgin Mary at the site, the spot has become the center of it all for believers from around the world. It is the first and only church-approved apparition in the United States.” – Source

Our grown children have fond memories of listening to the original Glory Stories during their formative years, and now we’re introducing those same cherished stories (and the new additions!) to our younger children.

“Searching for audio dramas of Catholic saints to inspire the hearts of your children? Try the Glory Stories collection of over two dozen Saints and Blesseds and four approved Marian Apparitions (so far!). Each story is thoroughly researched to be historically accurate. Teach your children about the Saints through their own words and true-life stories!”

Our Lady of Champion Flash Sale

You can find more ideas for October in the archives:

Links for October: Month Dedicated to the Holy Rosary

Our October Book Basket

Our Lady of Champion, pray for us!

Celebrating Martinmas 2022

Celebrating Martinmas 2022

by | Nov 11, 2023 | , , | 0 Comments

- Photos from Celebrating Martinmas 2022 - “Allow me, brothers, to look toward heaven rather than at the earth, so that my spirit may set on the right course when the time comes for me to go on my journey to the Lord.” – St. Martin of Tours I have so many partial...

Saint-O-Lanterns

Saint-O-Lanterns

by | Nov 5, 2023 | | 4 Comments

We love illuminating our faith on All Hallows’ Eve with Saint-O-Lanterns! This year the kids came up with carvings to celebrate St. Florian’s courage, honor the Blessed Sacrament, share the beauty of Carmelite roses, as well as a purr-fect tribute to St. Gertrude....

Saint Costumes Over the Years

Saint Costumes Over the Years

by | Oct 27, 2023 | , , | 0 Comments

Last night, I took a little trip down memory lane and created a heartwarming Instagram reel featuring our children's saint costumes from the past couple of decades. It brought tears to my eyes, reliving the love, joy, and countless memories. Time flies by so quickly!...

All Saints Guessing Jars {2022 Edition}

All Saints Guessing Jars {2022 Edition}

by | Oct 12, 2023 | | 2 Comments

Are you preparing for an All Hallows' Eve or All Saints' Party this year? I received an email the other day which made me realize that I hadn't shared the six new All Saints Guessing Jars Labels I added to our ever-growing collection last year! I'm uploading them for...

Our Lady of Champion Glory Story

Our Lady of Champion Glory Story

by | Oct 9, 2023 | , | 0 Comments

Happy feast of Our Lady of Champion! I'm popping in real quick to let you know that Holy Heroes is currently having a 50% off FLASH SALE on Our Lady of Champion MP3 Download and the Our Lady of Champion CD. We're planning to download the MP3 for our family to listed...

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-23, Ranger-22, Twinkle Toes-20, Chiquita-18, Snuggles-16, Rose-14, Bud-12, Grace-6 and Joy-4 (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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