It has been a lovely Christmas season so far. It has been whizzing by….I find that life is doing that on a regular basis. You, too?
When my girls mention often, ‘Wow, the weekend is here already!” then I wonder if the hours still DO have 60 minutes in them? I thought that only “older” people felt life was passing quickly! 🙂
A few tidbits…
Theresa has had intense morning sickness all through this season and I know it has been hard on her. Her last pregnancy was especially hard because her “mono” also kicked in. She sent me this poem I thought you would appreciate:
I look down at my test, excitement and fear,
I knew it would be positive, another baby in less than a year.
I struggle with memories, pain from the past,
What others don’t see, in me the scars last.
Each one of us as we journey through life,
Experience times of joy, sorrow and strife.
In the end what controls us is not times from the past,
It is here, it’s the present, the strength to make new memories last.
Our Lord shows us how by the blood that He sweat,
The cross that He carried, the example He set.
All the suffering and pain, with humility born,
Memories yes, but all for the glory of that Easter morn!
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Theresa’s little Nini (Sienna) is quite the character. Here’s a conversation that took place last week:
Nini: “Dad, my tummys sick.”
Dev (Dad): ” Next time you’ll know not to drink so much hot chocolate. “
Nini (very loud): ” It’s not that, I got a disease!”
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This is David. David is my son-in-law’s brother. He moved into a farmhouse across the way from Devin and Theresa right as Theresa was becoming immobilized with morning sickness. David has been a lifesaver. He drives my girls back and forth, back and forth, as they change places to help Theresa with her young family. We are all grateful for Dave. Would I be somewhat crazy by now without him? Probably. Does God provide? Yes! 😊
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Below is a gallery of some doings through the Christmas season. Click on the first one to view them in “gallery mode”.
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- Z (our daughter-in-law), Gracie and Isaac
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- Mike and Jeanette’s little family. Jeanette made the matching skirts and tie for Mike. Very nice!
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- “Uncle” Joseph brought his new Kuerig machine to the New Year’s Party! All kinds of hot chocolate for the kids. Parents looked on dubiously…. 😛
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- Theresa mustered the courage to come to the party. She has spent several weeks at home with morning sickness.
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- Colin and Z’s Nativity.
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- Colin and Z’s Christmas tree, etc.
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- New sailor apron and I don’t know where the caps came from….
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- Agnes and Magdalene. Oh so cute!
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- Father Kodet is keeping the little people occupied! Emma shows her tooth to fascinated Father! 🙂
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- Christmas Polky-dots!
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- Margy reading to her nieces and nephews.
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- Games with Father!
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- Virginia’s lovely fuzzy hat!
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- My own fuzzy hat that Gin bought me.
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- Games!
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- Dominic is taking it all in…
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- Decorating….
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- Posing….
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- A little Christmas confusion….
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- Ice Fishing in Kansas! Who would have ever thought?
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- Mike (our son-in-law) is a hunter from Maine and if there is a will, there is a way….even in Kansas!
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- Tonio with his catch!
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- Hannah’s catch
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- Angelo’s catch!
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- Virginia and her gang make home-made Christmas gifts for the kids’ cousins!
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- Nathaniel with his cute yogurt moustachio!
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- Emma and Mommy made Christmas crowns for the girl cousins. Their initial is perched on each one.
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- The kids are happy after their crafting spree! Mom is prostrate on the couch!
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- Many Christmas packages!
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- Our gorgeous ribbon Kanzashi Snowflakes and Tree Topper made by Virginia. They gracefully hang on our little Norfolk Pine and the intricate craftsmanship is stunning! 🙂
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- Look at the work that went into this Tree Topper! Beautiful!
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- Take any hot chocolate with your whipped cream, Rosie?
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- Practicing for Midnight Mass….
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- Virginia’s homemade Christmas Topiary.
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- Virgina’s decorated home.
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- Virginia and Juliette
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- Gin and Emma
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- Two Sweet and Loving Christmasy girls…
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- The REAL picture!
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- These are the ones still at home…
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- Uncle Eddy traveled from Canada to visit with us.
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- Juliette is not happy about this photo!
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- It’s been awhile since we buried Dad and we were happy to get his headstone set on its foundation on Christmas Eve. We met and prayed the rosary at the cemetery….It was special. Thank you to our son, Sep, for a beautiful job on the headstone!
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- Our Christmas Menagerie!
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- Another menagerie picture…..Gemma’s gift with legs in the background.
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- Christmas Eve before Mass.
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- Cousin Rodney from Canada telling stories after Midnight Mass…about 3 in the morning!
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- Gift for Gemma!
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- Beautiful quilt for Rosie!
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- The Sorrowful Mother for Dad!
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- These portraits are of their patron saints, St. Rose of Lima, St. Margaret Mary and St. Vincent de Paul. This Catholic artist is amazing and they made wonderful Christmas gifts!
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- Juliette and Grandma
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- Vin and Nathaniel on Christmas morn.
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- New electronic BattleShip game for Christmas!
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- Vin and Gin’s Christmas corner!
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- Virginia made these unique “quilted” doilies for Christmas gifts.
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- Jacob and Gracie’s Christmas gifts….
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- Having fun with Legos!
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- Having fun with Foozball!
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- Virignia’s finished Spiritual Christmas Crib.
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- Our Spiritual Christmas Crib barely got finished and didn’t get all colored in…
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- In a hurry after dropping off one of the girls to help Theresa. I needed to get to Mass so I took a shortcut. Not good.
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- Margy entertaining Adrian.
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- It’s 6am, Angelo has his headlamp on and he’s making rosaries for Legion of Mary while listening to “Hank the Cowdog” on the boom box… Nice!
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- Gin’s lovely Juliette..
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- Juliette and her toes. 🙂
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- Gin and Littles…
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- After Christmas my tea cupboard abounds!
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- Doing fence at Colin’s. He is dreaming of many more goats!
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- Jacob helping
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- We gave each of the couples a beautiful picture of Sts. Zelie and Louis Martin for Christmas. This is Z’s corner with the picture.
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- This is Theresa’s corner…
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- And this is Virginia’s corner.
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- Cheers with Rosie!
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- Grandpa gets hugs for New Year’s Day!
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- Vincent and I.
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- All our girls.
So neat! What wonderful times….
Wow wow! There is just a massive amount of time in all those decorations and all the handmade gifts….they look stupendous!
How in the world do the mom’s with multiple small children find the time to homeschool and do all those crafts? I constantly feel like I am on a sinking ship, BUT when I do try to do crafts(sewing) and such of my own, it seems to take away even more from the kids and chaos ensues.
SOOOO, one would wonder how is everything finished in good humor, low frustration(if any), school completed, meals made, babies fed, monitoring fights, sharing, and disagreements among kids, housework and cleaning done, etc., while still having sometime to create more intricate items?
How are all those beautiful decorations all over the place and not a constant monitoring of don’t touch, put it down, you didn’t ask, etc., of the little ones, so that they last for a few Christmases? 🙂
The corner stone on his grave is very very nice, RIP. 🙂
Keep in mind, Mary, that this is a culmination of many years, sisters that help, good years of decorating and then not-so-good years. We are showing the best here. Little fingers get into our decorations, too. It is a constant struggle…but they do learn what is and isn’t off-limits….well, most of them get it. 🙂
Also, my daughter, Rosie, helps Virginia with homeschooling.
This is to inspire, not discourage…. 🙂
Thank you!
Are you able to share the artist’s info for possible future orders?
Sure! http://www.portraitofsaints.com
Try again: http://www.portraitsofsaints.com
Thank you! It works!!!!
I really love all the photos! Thanks.
What a great slide mom!!! The poem was awesome as well, good job Tweety!