Snow Monster

Outside

On the Second Day of Christmas

December 26, 2012

Outside my window....It is cold!  Dry and cold.  We have a blanket of snow that's been on the ground for a few weeks. 

Inside the house...Let's see.  There is currently a couple of kids playing Wii, one is sleeping, one is learning how to use her new telescope, and one is getting into everything that was left under the Christmas tree. 

In the kitchen...Leftovers.  We stayed home for Christmas (as opposed to "going home").  It was delightful.  Brett's parents are here, and it was good being with family for Christmas.  Several of us were sick so our Christmas Eve plans had to be cancelled, and not every one was well on Christmas Day, but we did our best to have a great day.  We had cranberry pork and turkey for Christmas Dinner along with salad, potatoes, and rolls.  Yummy!

I'm going...Nowhere.  We are having a great staying-out-in-the-country day.  We went in for Mass yesterday morning and today it feels great to just stay home.  We have no agenda, nothing planned, just chillin'.

Living the Liturgy....Merry Christmas!  We had a wonderful Christmas, despite being sick.  I think the hope that comes with the birth of our Savior was just what we all needed!  We woke up, passed out cough medicine, said prayers, opened presents, then headed to Mass.  Mass was beautiful, the oldest two served and our Bishop presided.  We then headed home and had Bishop over for Christmas dinner and we all enjoyed each other while the kids explored their gifts. 

Plans for the rest of the week...We are heading into town tomorrow to get some groceries and run some errands.  We'll go down to the harbor although with the recent cold snap the ships may be frozen in for the winter.  On Friday we are having a second party to celebrate Aidan's black belt in karate since we didn't have any family in town for his actual test. 

Some pictures...

Christmas Fortress

Aidan and Brett's mom made this from scratch. Aidan created a 3D model of it first, they baked gingerbread and then construction began.
Not bad for a first attempt.

School's Out!

Brett is currently finishing up his very last final of the semester, and the kids have finished most of my "must do before I set you free for your Christmas break" list.  I'm mostly ready on a physical level for Christmas, and trying to be ready on a spiritual level as well.

A couple of nights ago we went to a light display that the city nextdoor holds.  It was a great night.  Not too cold, not too windy.  My absolute favorite part of the evening however was watching the 3-year-old.  She was taking in every moment of our evening out.  Of course there was a bit of joking about how she was just amazed to be "in town" now that we are country-folk, but the enjoyment on her face was simply priceless.  She lit up (pun intended) at the manger scene.  I've tried to take her attitude and marvel at the beauty of it instead of be an adult and gripe that it was the only religious scene in the whole display.  How far are we going to go here?  Christmas!!!  It's CHRISTmas.  Holidays, HOLYdays.  I mean, people, there are so many things to get offended about, but removing Christmas from Christmas?  I just don't understand.

Okay, I seriously did not mean to turn this post into a rant.  My intention was to explain the irony in my sweet daughter's love for the manger light display.  You see, not a week before we were talking about Christmas with the kids and what they were looking forward to.  Most of them (good parenting award) were excited about the secret gifts that they've been working on for parents/siblings.  The resident 3-year-old redhead however exclaimed, "I'm excited for all of the gifts people are going to give me".  Lovely.  The true meaning of Christmas, fail.  

I hope to have some pictures up soon.  My camera was on loan some good-looking percussion professor and I just got it back.  In the meantime I'm holding my kids extra close, extra long, and that's all I'm going to say about that.  You get it.