Advent Around Here

It’s the last day of Advent so i better sneak a post in about it. It’s been a busy four weeks around here, so we didn’t get all of our usual traditions accomplished, but we did embark on quite the new adventure, which I’ll post about next. But first, Advent: Minimalist Style. 

We made our grinch cookies because they are so easy and so yummy. We watched the animated film about 200x, and we tried to watch the real-people one but turns out it’s still too scary. Maybe next year. 

We went to the St. T’s Christmas program and of course it was spectacular! Their music teacher is amazing and allows these students to experience music in the most creative ways. Plus, all the songs were about Mary because without her yes we wouldn’t have Christmas as we know it. So beautiful, so Catholic. 

Grandma Susan covered the cookie making for us. The boys love her ginger cookie recipe. 

Elias has enough play doh experience that he could participate too, although this dough is really yummy. He got lots of snitches. 

Baking With Kids

My mom: cool, calm, collected. 

Me: screaming on the inside. 

We finished up the rectory kitchen renovation and had a little ribbon cutting ceremony. 

Such a great bunch! It was so fun to meet new people in the parish and have a mission together. I’m looking forward to updating five rectory bathrooms in January with some of these people!

 The boys discovered “Snoofy” (PLEASE don’t correct them, it’s so dang funny) so we watched Charlie Brown Christmas this year. You know it’s bad when your 7 year old says, “Mom, I think Charlie Brown needs new friends.” #proudmom We were not impressed, but the tree makes us laugh and Fr. F had it in his office which made us laugh even harder! 

We decided I would stay home from the office Christmas party at Logan’s work this year, but as he was leaving I just really wanted to go sit down with him and have a good drink, so Grandma Kathleen kindly sat with the sleeping children. I surprised Logan by showing up at the party and turns out we played the Saran Wrap ball game. 

Guess who won?!

Grandma Kathleen covered the candy house making for us. It was so fun!

Candy House Making

Kathleen: calm, cool, collected. 

Me: screaming on the inside. 

I just hate food messes. 

So there you have it Advent 2017...that’s a wrap! 

Lewis at School

St. Nicholas Day

St Nick left us some goodies on his feast day! (Augustine made the awesome advent wreath!)

His class was in charge of readings and choir on St. Nick’s feast day. He got to read a petition! He was SO excited. He did a great job and loved every minute of it. 

We went to an event at Pius that was very fun that evening. A realistic St. Nick, color pages, blessing of the Baby Jesus from our nativity set, cookie decorating and hot chocoate. We took our friends with us because their mommy wasn’t feeling well, so we all hopped in the photo together. 

The high school choirs sang Christmas songs too! The kids loved watching the big kids sing. 

More Hats

 

Team Fun

It seems like I finally have time and energy to enjoy the team for the first time in 8.5 years. It’s a nice change!

We had the traditional end-of-semester toasts at our house. We’ve been hosting the last 3-4 years or so, and it’s a really great perspective on the team since I rarely see them work together. 

We also went bowling together this year. They boys had a blast!

Team babies

Elias couldn’t wait for his turns. 

Augustine has been bowling before, and did very well on his own! He even bowled for Katie who is 9 months pregnant and couldn’t bowl for very long. 

And Lewis was doing pretty darn well on his own too by the end of the afternoon!

We are not bowlers at heart, but it was fun!

Thanksgiving 2017

My photos of this year are pitiful! What was I thinking?! I don’t even have a picture of our lovely day at Grandma Kathleen’s house (so sorry Grandma!). 

I have Thomas being sweet to my baby (as always).

The little boys doing the one activity we had (why didn’t I plan some this year?!)

Getting the tree the day after. 

The boys playing Mass...so may concelebrants!

My baby being oh so pious. 

Thomas being sweet again. 

And our thanksgiving visit to Grandpa Burda’s house. 

Better than nothing I guess!

A Little Adventure

I was really debating whether it was a good idea to drive 45 minutes by myself to visit friends passing thru for Thanksgiving. And I knew it would be rough coming home because it would be well past bedtime. But when I realized we hadn’t seen the Klein’s in over a year, I knew we had to go, and it was totally worth it. 

You know it’s been too long when you never saw your friend pregnant AND you didn’t know her baby was already 8 weeks old! 

Augustine was in heaven. Baby holding is his favorite...just look at her!

Elias and Marilyn were instant best friends. He doesn’t usually take to people quite that fast, but he was smitten. 

Lewis keeps careful track of the baby holding line. 

They made a delicious venison dinner for us, the kids played, we caught up over sips of wine, and decided we better not let a whole year pass again.