Thursday, Second Week of Advent ... Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

We began the day with our traditional Marian feast breakfast of blueberry muffins....from the box...the only ones my crazies will eat.  I've tried a million and one different delicious, homemade blueberry muffin recipes, and they've not liked a single one. The box mix sure is easier, though!

This might be my new favorite Christmas book.  It totally brings to life the "whatever you did to the least of these, you did to me" verse.  And it has an invitation that encourages kids to give Jesus a present for Christmas.  This is a direction that we hope to be moving in with our Christmas giving, hopefully more each year...less for us, more for those who really need, the "least of these."

When I went to wake up Annie from her nap to go to gymnastics, here's what I found:

Not sure how there's room in the bed for her, but she INSISTS on sleeping with every last one of these dolls...names each one individually and sees to it that they are all in place.  The conversations she carries on with them while she's trying to go to sleep are absolutely priceless.

So far so good on the stomach bug...everyone seems to be in the clear.  Glory to God!

Wednesday, Second Week of Advent

Today was recovery day.  Last night, we went to bed with buckets next to everyone just in case.  Phil slept on the couch because my head was splitting open, and I just knew I'd be throwing up all night.

Praise God for his mercy!  We all slept ALL night!  What a relief!

So today we caught up on our books...books of the day and all of our St. Nicholas Day books.  Whew!  This mama was so tired of reading out loud by the end.

Still not feeling quite right, but much improved...

Tuesday, Second Week of Advent ... Feast of St. Nicholas

After a long night of being up with Mary-Grace and more middle of the night laundry than I ever care to do again, we celebrated St. Nicholas.  Well, a little...we did our best considering we were all waiting with baited breath to see who would fall victim to the stomach bug next.  Thankfully, it was only me, and I only got a smidge of it.  I emailed Courtney later and said, "As far as pukey bugs go, this one was nice and kind and gentle to us….or Ann Voskamp is just really rubbing off on me…"

So, we woke up to...

And that's about as far as we got.  Jacob got his school work done, and we veged out...

Monday, Second Week of Advent

I don't remember much about this day because it ended with a bad headache that became a stomach bug for Gracie.  Loads of fun, really.

However, I got these cutie pics of my littlest.

She found her Lucia crown in my room and wore it while making pipe cleaner candy canes with the bigs.

The book we never read!  Bad table manners at "Hot Chocolate" mean the book gets postponed.  And they outdid themselves in the poor manners department.  Seriously, who's their mother anyway?!

Sunday, Second Week of Advent

Today began with a run.

I've never typed that statement in all my life and been actually referring to the mode of exercise known as running.

Let me clarify...Mom and I are doing the Couch 2 5K program. We started almost a month ago because we want to get in better shape for a certain something around the bend.  Never in a million years did I think I might enjoy it!  I mean, I don't really enjoy it *during* the actual workout, but I feel exhilarated after.  Who knew?!

Then a trip to Wal-Mart with my littlest girlies.  We managed to get there early enough to beat the crazies. Phew.

We managed to squeeze in hot chocolate and a book.

I love that my little dude is man enough to take this awesome picture with that girly-looking book.

Little Flowers in the afternoon with my big girl...got to squeeze little man Davis and visit with friends.

We finally got around to that movie night...I LOVE this movie...The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey.  I still prefer the book, but I really do love what the movie adds to the storyline.

Saturday, First Week of Advent

This is the only picture I took today.  Our morning was a little nutty getting ready for Catechism, but, oh how I love our parish.  The kids had a great time in their classes, while we sat in church with Annelise (and Davis) and visited with Father.  After anticipated Mass, we did our book of the day, The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey, one of my very favorites.  It makes me tear up every time I read it.  We were supposed to end the evening with a movie night, but, ahem, little people meltdowns were through the roof.  Needless to say, it was early to bed after prayers.

I take that back...I did take more pictures than I thought...

I stripped her down before I let her dig into that petit-four!

But, before bed, Annelise became obsessed with blowing out the candles on our spiral.  She kept telling me, "One more time! I blow!"  Phil got this video....we laughed so hard.  It's so fun to have a toddler during this time of year.

Friday, First Week of Advent

We're being spoiled right now with gorgeous weather.  I don't want to take it for granted!

Today we read a favorite story, even more so now that we have a "Lucia" in our family.  I found a used copy several years ago for a very reasonable price, and I'm so glad I did because they are HARD to come by nowadays.

Annelise asks for "choca mulk" all morning long now.  It's adorable...that little finger pointing toward her Christmas mug.  And I love that mess of curls!

After Mass, we had homemade pizza, which I should definitely put on a regular rotation because it's such a hit; the bigs played outside, and Annie and I napped.  That is the recipe for a great afternoon!

My boy had karate and was rewarded for all of his extra help around the house lately, and I got to wander Target all alone for 35 glorious minutes.

Once home, we did our Jesse Tree and novena early so that Phil and I could go to Supper and Substance.  (Side note: we're already seeing our prayer being answered, so praise God!) The kiddos were thrilled to be with Nana, who brought them out for an "i-seam" treat.  We had a lovely evening listening to friends share about their life in missions.  It was inspiring.  Their challenge to the rest of us was to ask God what he's calling us to do that is extra-ordinary right here in this moment.  I'm going to ponder that for awhile.  I don't want to miss it.

Thursday, First Week of Advent

Another beautiful day.

The kids spent most of the day outside.

We played UNO.  I used to always be able to win, but my boy is getting good.  He beat me by a landslide twice today.

Hot chocolate and pistolettes, a new favorite.  A sweet book that reminded us of what's really important.  This intentional morning "tea time" was exactly what we needed. (The first picture shows her chunking wrapping paper behind her.)

Mass is always sweeter when the daddy can come with us.

Our Advent spiral began today...lighting one candle a day to journey with Mary to Bethlehem. (As a side note, Phil is quite concerned that we will have a blazing inferno once Christmas arrives and all those candles are lit!)

Annelise got to go first to open the door on the Advent calendar.


And to document proof of her post-bath curls: