Giveaway!

Please sign up for the Giveaway by commenting on this post. A cheery hello or whatever will get your name in the hat! I am late getting this out before Christmas but better late than never! The winner will receive this authentic Spanish Mantilla…beautiful red for the winter months! Also, this lovely ladder one decade rosary….handy and useful!

The drawing will be announced on Friday morning!

Smidgens!

 

St. Nicholas Day was special as always. Here is Mike and Jeanette’s little family enjoying their goodies from St. Nicholas!

 

Our stockings were ready!

Hannah peeking at her goodies that will keep her happy all day long! We get our treats from the Health Store…costs more but we keep it simple and the after-effects are less damaging. 🙂

We had our own family St. Nicholas Party this year. As you can see, it is still a big shindig. Here all the little people (grandchildren) are lined up to receive their treats….provided they were good this year, of course! A dinner and games will follow!

On the couch, to receive the kiddos are three….no, not Aunties….but Santies! Santy Gemma, Santy Rosie, Santy Hannah!

Each child is asked if they have been good. Santies raise their eyebrows in doubt at some of them but they are given goodies all the same. (Aunties just know too much, that’s all!) 😀

Juliette’s enjoying her goodies!

Yesterday seemed to be Christmas Baking Day, coincidentally, for many of us. Here, Theresa’s little family take part in the festivities. Plates of goodies will be given to those who enjoy them this season!

Our baking day!

 

Gin’s little people are doing play dough!

Johnny is all dressed up for the Air Soft War that took place this last Sunday.

It seems they all had a blast….literally. Here is Hannah, who was right in there with the rest of them! I don’t understand the thrill of it all….but I don’t ask questions….well, at least not too many. 🙂

Gabe and Ernie

We had a stunningly beautiful Advent Rorate Candlelight High Mass at 6am Saturday morning. It was beautiful and the first one for us.
Here is a bit of history:
The Rorate Caeli Mass is a traditional Advent devotion wherein the Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary for Advent is offered just before dawn. In many instances families and individuals travel an hour or more, rising and arriving very early for this stunningly beautiful Mass. The interplay of light and darkness speak to the meaning of Advent and the coming of the Light of the world.

The Rorate Mass is lit only by candlelight. Because it is a votive Mass in Mary’s honor, white vestments are worn instead of Advent violet. In the dimly lit setting, priests and faithful prepare to honor the Light of the world, Who is soon to be born, and offer praise to God for the gift of Our Lady. As the Mass proceeds and sunrise approaches, the church becomes progressively brighter, illumined by the sun as our Faith is illumined by Christ. (Thank you, Isabel Bogowith, for the photos!)

Our Advent Tree

Our Advent Wreath…

A beautiful and unexpected package came to the door from a dear friend through this site. I have never met her and I was taken aback by her kindness!

The lovely goodies!

 

I’m not sure what Devin and the kids are making but it looks very interesting! And one thing I am sure they are making….memories…family memories…the best kind of gift! <3

We all gathered for little Ethan Paul’s Baptism. I think number 25 grandchild…but I have lost count.

A new little saint!

 

Colin and Z’s fifth child!

Father Flood and Ethan Paul.

Hannah and Ethan snuggling…

Gin”s Spiritual Christmas Cribs in progress…

Our lighting is not the greatest at night in the room we have our Spiritual Christmas Crib so here is Margy’s solution.

 

Rosie and Margy wanted to do a special photo shoot so they had a friend, Joe James, who is very good at photography (as you can see) so some photos for them….

Angelo figures it’s pretty rough growing up with a bunch of sisters! 😀

Talk about multi-tasking!

 

Father Flood gets his first blessing from Father Charles Ike.