BamBam grows up ...

... and makes his First Holy Communion today!

Today is the anniversary of John Paul the Great's death and so we thought it appropriate for our BamBam to make his FHC on the date when his patron was sent home to the Father.  As an added bonus, it was First Saturday, so we had Morning Prayer, Rosary, Confession AND Mass.  

LegoManiac was able to serve and String Bean was happy to have a chance to dress up and look lovely in pink!

Congrats, BamBam ... we are very proud of you and love you very much!

We have the best kids ever ...

... this was on the laptop this morning to greet Rick & I:

BTW, that would be a "pen flower" that our favorite mail-lady gave him one day -- a loved present indeed!

... and this just came from Kotch and the "littles":

Gorgeous flowers for this gorgeous (but COLD!) day ... the florist even put real lemon slices in the vase

 

Feast Day: Feast of the Immaculate Conception

This is a BIG feast around here: the feast when we honor the fact that the Blessed Mother was conceived without the stain of original sin ... was pure from her conception ... so filled with grace that God chose her to be the mother of His son!

This is such a big feast that even dh "parties" -- on his way to work he stopped to get a sausage biscuit and coffee at McD's.  For those of you who KNOW my husband, this is really kickin' back for him.

Unfortunately my littles are sick!  String Bean has been down with a horrific cold since Friday -- she's getting better but her voice sounds like a bad impression of Lauren Bacall.  BamBam is sneezling and generally icky while poor LegoManiac has been feeling the pangs of a horrific cold that has his stomach so upset that he's been in the bathroom off and on for about 2 hours now (it's 6:00 a.m.) and generally unable to sleep.  The poor kids ... we don't even know if we'll make it to Mass today, that's how pitiful all are.

But, as the kids awaken and feel like it they'll be joining me in a new tradition: on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, we will each make our own Nativity sets as well as put up and decorate our family one.  My plan is that each year, as the children's skills improve, the Nativity sets become more and more elaborate -- something that will become an heirloom collection that they can take with them as they grow into adults. 

This year, String Bean and LegoManiac have opted to make theirs with felt, making sewn 3-d shapes and stuffing them.  BamBam wants to make his from wood -- painting a simple, thin-wood set.  I'm going to make a "bread dough" set.  We will at least finish the Baby Jesus figures today as our Pastor will bless Jesus at Sunday's Mass (which is also the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe) -- so those kids better get better!  Although, somehow when we have a school day that includes crafting, miraculous cures take effect.

Prayers that your day is blessed with the intercessions of Our Lady and that you continue to experience a holy, healthy and happy Advent season.
 

Month of Thanks Day 3: Thanks be to God for my Three Little Ones

Tonight I am thankful for my three youngest ... they make each day an adventure, teaching me much more than I could ever teach them ... they are amazingly resilient to life's ups and downs and just keep on a-smilin' (even if LegoManiac missed his postponed-from-last-week fencing scrimmage tonight due to the van being in the shop with a failing catalytic converter ... ka-ching, ka-ching)

Birthdays: Happy Birthday, head of the house!

Last night,
with candles burning bright,
we sang a very happy birthday to

the love of my life,

the father of my children,

our provider and protector,

our very anchor who is always doing his best to get everyone in our family to Heaven!

God bless, you dear, on your birthday!  We love you very much!

*-*-*

FYI:  dinner was a sumptuous feast of grilled burgers (or cheeseburgers for those of us who LIKE American cheese!), Waldorf salad, griddle-fried potato slices dipped in olive oil and a mix of Zatarain's Creole Seasoning and a smidge of sugar, GingerAle (the real stuff -- did you know many of the generic brands DON'T contain ginger -- what's the point?),
and for dessert:  blueberry/cranberry pie with crumble topping (and the crust was one made with ground nuts, canola oil, and a smidge of sugar). 
All was delicious!

Family: anniversaries and birthdays abound!

Happy 49th Uncle Jim!

Happy 59th Anniversary Nanna and Poppy!

Happy Anniversary Uncle Tom and Aunt Steph!

and a very, very Happy 50th to Gma and Gpa B!

We love you all very, very much!