Christmas Photos (Of course!)

It was a wonderful Christmas!  We were so blessed with plenty of family time, and relaxation. We went to early Mass on Christmas, and the kids still were smiling and happy to open gifts after taking pictures!  William still has trouble with the flash, but we got a pretty good family photo.  And, this is my Christmas morning photo dump.  Because that is what we all want to see.  The joy of each face.  And how well my crew cleans up.







Second grade gifts are some of my favorites.  I love things that the kids make at school.

Patrick loved his new jacket for school, and though the weather was quite warm, he was determined to wear it as much as possible.  Warmest Christmas I can remember, as we went out in shorts later that day!





I tried my hand at making a gift.  It's not perfect, by any means, but I think Emma will love having it on her wall.  She chose the fabric. 



This note came from Patrick, in a gift of chocolate popcorn, paid for by himself.  My children NEVER write me note like this, but especially the almost teenager!  I blubbed quite a bit when I saw this. 

I love this photo.  The aftermath, the silence, the joy. 

Oh Christmas Tree!

You know how often God provides?  Every.single.time.

Our pre-lit Christmas tree has been less than willing to light up each year, without much coaxing.  We were gifted a new to us artificial tree, 9 feet high!  In our two-story living room, it fits in perfectly!  Tommy provided new lights for the tree, that change from white to color.  It is awesome!  I like the mixture of the colors and white, but Tommy is a white light fan.  So, we compromise!  We let it change!  I promise I will share photos of the tree at all stages.  It is neat to see! 

I love the "trimming of the tree" time in our home.  My little elves are just so sweet and helpful! 

Can you see how tall the tree is, compared to Tommy?  He is even on his toes to fill in the gaps with ornaments!  As my friend Lisa said, the line from the Advent Carol "People Look East" says to make your house fair as you are able.  With 5 kids, I take that line very literally!

And Lucy enjoyed the ones that had a bell.  She got into the Jingle Bell spirit. 

Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real: December Posting

Linking up (after a brief break) with Like Mother, Like Daughter.

{Pretty}


I was more excited than the children.  Our local ballet academy offered some tickets to the Nutcracker ballet at the Auction night for the school.  We were able to get tickets at half price, and I was so tickled to bring my oldest 3.  It was the first time my kids had been to any kind of ballet performance.  They had to listen to me tell them the story on the way, and during, as well as try not to sing along to every song.  Some, as you can tell, were more thrilled than others.  I was happy to have a night when we didn't need to have a stroller, or wiggly toddler on my lap. 

It was a beautiful evening, and those kids worked so hard!  It was even better to be able to see so many of my friends' children on stage!
 
(And NO, Emma is NOT taller than me.  Yet.)

{Happy}



This year, we spend Thanksgiving with my side of the family.  We have tried to alternate families, since we are surrounded by so many and have the option to spend different holidays with each.  But with health issues, surgeries, and busy schedules, it seems that we have gotten off the rhythm. I was so happy to be close to home, to be with my parents and some siblings.  Lucy has decided she is ready to walk, and it was so nice to spend time at a family friendly home, where she could wander and be loved in each room, by every person.  As her shirt says, "Everyone is thankful for me." 

(While I feel I should clarify, that Lucy walking doesn't exactly make me happy, her joy at her new found talent makes me happy, and, really, who can't be happy when that sweet face looks up at you?)

{Funny}


The day after Thanksgiving brought Fr. Juan to our home again!  He let us cook for him this time, and we did not have anything even remotely resembling Thanksgiving meal.  (Being from Venezuela, Father didn't have that meal with his family the day before either.)  We played Apples to Apples, the Disney version, and Father beat us all!  He had fun with the kids, when it was their turn to judge, and he would look them in the eye and say, "We are friends, right?"  And they would giggle. 



Yep.  That's us.  :)

{Real}



We tried for a nice shot on the timer setting, and even with the heads cut off, I love the lighting, the smiles and the joy that shows through in this one.  Father always is so "yoyful" and brings it with him.  He always tells the children that there are no "donkey faces" allowed.  Only smiles and love. 

Saint Nicholas Cookies

 

Saint Nicholas weekend came so quickly this year, and I do love how each time we do it, a child steps up to try something new.  James was more ready to cut cookies, especially the candy cane, or "J" for Jesus and James.

Daddy is the best roller, and I need to make a double batch next year, as the rolling and the cutting goes so quickly! 

We had participation from all the (able-bodied) children.  Even the oldest one who prefers to sit in the corner and read, or play card games.  It is photo documented!  Patrick came to help!

What's Fall Without A Halloween Post?

Of course we did Halloween!  We had a hugely busy day, and for the first time, we did not have all the kids together for Trick or Treating.  The older 2 were invited out with friends (super nice families) and we let them go!  I was excited that it meant Patrick has made some new strides at Seton, and new, bigger kid activities are opening to him.  Emma had a birthday celebration to go along with T or T. 

But first, we had a party at the Knights of Columbus.  All but Mommy were dressed in costume!  James asked me who I was dressed as, and the usual response from me is "a Mommy."

 Glinda, Minnie, Christopher Columbus, Baseball player, and Iron Man. 

A prize if you guessed James was "Larry Boy" and his super suction ears!  A friend loaned us this adorable creation by her mother, and James was thrilled to wear it.  Though a mask and glasses don't always go well together.

Now, a little backstory on Emma's costume.  This creation is from my senior year in high school musical, where I was Glinda!  The dress was so pretty, and just a little long (as I had a 5 foot wide hoop skirt when I wore it), so I pulled out my sewing machine and did some stitching! 

Now, if you have a costume on in the morning, and you decide to trick or treat later on, it's only natural that you pick another one, right?  Well, we had 2 fast changes that evening.

William decided to be a "Formal Apology" but he didn't tell folks what he was, so he didn't get as many laughs as I had hoped.  This one gives me the giggles.

The little guys all went out with Daddy, and shorter legs means less candy (thankfully).  Tommy even took sweet Lucy along with him.

 I was alone.  All alone in the house.  I got an itch to do some tidying.  I almost always sit outside and hand out candy.  Almost every year it is me.  And our neighborhood has long wait times in between.  So, I started to clean.  I left a big bowl outside, I had lights on, I would go to the door every now and then and wave at the neighbors.  Then I got distracted, and I look up and see a line of kids at my door, looking at me expectantly.

My bowl was gone. 
My candy was gone. 
GONE!  Not even an hour had gone by.  I was so upset.  Dratted kids.  I liked that bowl too.  But, it was my own fault.  I guess.  "Trick or treat!" 

But, I still had the Cutest Minnie in the world at my house!  Love this cutie patootie! 

Carrot Cake: from the LSU Tiger Bait Cookbook 

CAKE INGREDIENTS

 4 eggs
1½ cups vegetable oil
1-8 ounce package cream cheese (softened)
3 cups grated carrots
2 cups sugar
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons soda
1 teaspoon salt
1½ teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup coarsely chopped nuts
Preheat oven to 350°.  Grease and lightly flour two 9” round pans or one 13” x 9” oblong
pan.
Combine sugar, flour, soda, salt and cinnamon and stir together.  Combine cream cheese,
eggs, and oil.  Beat well.  Add vanilla and beat again.  Add dry ingredients and mix until
well blended.  Add grated carrots and chopped nuts and mix.  Pour into pan(s) and bake:
45 minutes for round, or 55 minutes for oblong.  Cake is done when toothpick comes out
clean.  Cool and frost. (Recipe follows.)

ICING INGREDIENTS:

¼ cup butter (softened)
1-8 ounce package cream cheese (softened)
1-1 pound box powdered (Confectioner’s) sugar – sifted
2 Tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
Cream butter and cream cheese until very light.  Add sugar gradually, beating after each
addition.  Add milk and vanilla and beat until smooth.
Enough for top, middle and sides of round cake.

(Note for me: if icing is too thin, continue beating, add more powdered sugar, and/or less milk)

Our Best Daddy

Tommy celebrated his 37th birthday this week, though if you asked him, he would tell you he's 34.  That's what happens when you get old.  You forget things.

 I love this picture with all the kids, but especially Lucy's bed head in this shot.  We had to wake her to celebrate with all of us. 

 We tried to use the trick candles on the cake to surprise him, but he knew as soon as they were lit and began sparking.  I made his favorite, usually made by my Mom, carrot cake!  But, I need to whip the cream cheese icing longer and add more powdered sugar to make it thicker.  Next year!

The kids got a kick out of how many breaths it took, and this isn't his first time blowing out those candles!

Our best Daddy.  He sacrifices every day, waking up early to catch a train for about an hour to get to work.  He works in DC, where the pressure is high and sometimes the people are not the nicest.  He takes a train home, to come to a house full of little people - full of noise, full of love, and sometimes (very often times) not so clean.  It's usually a quick dinner, then off to an activity: exercise class, Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts (usually bringing one or more children along).  He has added an extra item to help out at Patrick's school.  His evenings are busy, but he always finds time to give each child a slice of himself.  He is also a member of the Knights of Columbus, Eucharistic Minister, and Jail visitor.

And, if 5 children to love isn't a big job by itself, he has me.  I call with crazy questions, text him incessantly, cry for ridiculous reasons and am always worried.  About everything.  He will answer my calls, laugh at my jokes, hug me when I am at my craziest and help get me on the right path to Heaven.  He has so much love for God and keeps our family together with his love.

My husband works so hard, gives with all of himself, and keeps all of us together.  We love you so much, our Best Daddy, and we thank you for all you do!!!!

Congratulations, Mary and Ryan!

Mary and Ryan (aka #maryan2k15) are married! 

 All my boys cleaned up really nicely, and James was very proud of "his bow." 

 William and the flower girl, Laura.  The two of them are always together when we have a family event.

 Congratulations to the beautiful couple!

 We all had an amazing time, and the kids danced until they told us we had to go home.

I can't get over how grown up Emma looks. 

 We were missing some family members, some far away, and some staying home to care for a sick child, but the weather held for the outdoor reception at the winery, and I was super proud of my family.

 My husband cleans up extra well too.  Isn't he the handsomest in his tux?

This is just one of the many times we had kids on the dance floor, and they were whip nae nae - ing.  I was too.  :)

Lucy is 1!

My sweet Lucy turned one on October 3!  Our sweet girl is such a joy, and we are so blessed to have her with us.