Merry Christmas

 After Saturday Mass at our parish for the 4th Sunday of Advent, we headed home to pack for our Christmas travels.

 We had a wonderful & almost quiet time at the farm with my parents.  Lots of chatting, cards, dominoes, singing, & playing.  Even some napping happened!  I can not remember the last time I was able to take a nap on a holiday there.  Made it even more enjoyable.

 My brother Doug's family was able to celebrate with us for part of the time as well.  We all loved spending time with sweet baby Lily.

 Rebecca working on her scrapbook.  She received the cutest kit from her cousin!  Yes, that is rows of sequins on the page.

 Our quiet Christmas Eve dinner

 After Christmas stories, singing Happy Birthday, & placing Jesus in the manger, it was time for presents!

 All were very pleased with their gifts.  Teresa was especially thrilled by her "sparkle toy" from her cousin.  She asked Santa for one a few weeks before, but we had NO IDEA what in the world she was talking about.  Thank goodness someone did!

 Relaxing upstairs after the kids are in bed

 Christmas morning:  Santa came!

 Christmas tree cinnamon rolls

 Mass at St. Francis

 After Mass we headed back to the farm for a lovely brunch, more fun playing, & packing.  We headed out the door (only returning once for forgotten items) & off to our next celebration with Darren's family.

 We had a much busier crowd at their house & lots of fun.  My highlight?  Listening to Andrew make baby Ryder giggle over & over & over again.  :)  Having too much fun to take any more photos. 

Merry Christmas! 

May the joy of our Savior's birth fill your heart with peace.

Snow day!

 Our first snow day of the season... perfect.

Fun outside,

 baking banana bread & Christmas cookies,

 more fun outside,

& hot cocoa with fresh bread upon EVERY reentrance.  Such a fun day!

Caroling

 For the third year in a row we ventured out with the GodTeens to go Christmas caroling.  This year we visited the Pink Sisters.  This was my first year playing guitar by myself... let's just say it was interesting.  :)  We sang, introduced ourselves, & were able to meet the sisters.  They showered us with cookies, punch, & prayers.  We were able to make a visit in their beautiful chapel afterwards, too. 

Bless the Baby Jesus

 Bringing the Italian tradition to Nebraska, we've enjoyed the Bless the Baby Jesus ceremony at the cathedral for the last few years.  Many friends come with their small children & bring along the baby Jesus from their Nativity scene to be blest by the Bishop.  It was so nice!

We were able to meet with him afterwards & have some cookies with our friends.  We brought a trunkload of donations for Birthright in from the families there to donate as well.  What a fun Advent tradition.  Thanks for organizing, Emily!

Visitors

My sister Denise & her family made a quick stop on their way to Colorado.  My parents came to join in the fun, too, since we don't see them often.  We started off with dinner at one of our new favorite restaurants:  Cheddar's.

 Then Red Grandma & Grandpa came over to play until bedtime & stayed overnight.  The big kids thought it was pretty special when they dropped them off at school!  Teresa thought it was pretty awesome to have them "all by myself" for a couple of hours that morning.

 Later that day Denise's family & Cara's family & Fr. Jon all came over for dinner.  We also celebrated Lucy's feast day!  Here's our attempt at a cousins' photo... Nicholas was seriously uninterested.

Rebecca's always up for a photo-op.

 

 Teresa discussing the deep plot points of Cinderella with her Godmother Auntie Denise.

Rebecca made this horse completely unassisted for her cousins.  Then she wrote a note to them on the saddle blanket.  So cool!

So glad we were able to see you all!  Thanks for visiting.

Arr... it's a birthday

 My sweet nephew Nicholas was not nearly as jolly as his name implies when we got together to celebrate his second birthday.  Here he is crying on his dad's lap while we sing!  He perked up later, though.   Cara made a super fun pirate birthday for him. 

 How do you carve up a pirate ship?

 The kids were all fascinated by whatever fascinated my nephew Joseph.

Happy Birthday, Nicholas!

Jolly old St. Nicholas

 We awoke to this on the feast of St. Nicholas!  I don't have any pictures of the kids, because they were to hopped up on sugar & excitement to sit still. 

Then Teresa & I went to celebrate at Moms' group, too.  Fun day!

St. Nicholas, patron of children, pray for us!

First snowflakes!