12 days of Christmas

 Christmas afternoon we spent at Grandma's house nibbling, playing games, eating, and playing more games.

 We smoked part of a fresh turkey. Since it was our first time trying to smoke turkey we only smoked to (gigantic) legs and a (gigantic) breast. It will probably about a 60 pound turkey with his feathers, wings and things while it was still alive. I might add, here, that it was mighty tasty!

 Everything was delicious and very, very pretty.

 This is the Nativity set set up so lovely. You can't really see all the details with the lights but each shelf has a scene on it. Very lovely.

 Then we had yet another farm incident. This time it warmed up  after Christmas and absolutely down poured one night, creating sink holes in the barnyard. This cow got stuck down in one. :(

 I went over to check the pigs and it was pretty sloppy (but pigs like sloppy) and it wasn't too deep.

 We spent several hours working on this poor cow as it was delicate work trying not to harm her yet getting a cow up. Cows are large creatures, and very solid.

 We got her out and let her rest a bit. We made a home for her under a tent of sorts so she could warm, gave her all the lovely juicy tidbits cows like, but alas, she was dead by morning :(

 Eternal Rest grant unto Leo Wipperfurth, O Lord, and let Perpetual Light shine upon him, may he rest in Peace.

 Since we had 12 days of Christmas off we were working on some projects. The first was a new office for me in the little loft in my room. They moved a walk back 4 feet and made me a nice little office that is nicely open style with a secret closet.

 We had stir fry (yum) and Aragorn used his hand made chopsticks, maybe by one of the TKD school dads.

 This is my secret closet. The only stuff in it is overflow stuff like empty "work boxes" and whatever didn't fit on the shelf next to my desk.

 Since we are also working on bookshelves I was able to take a nice shelf and the little cupboard we got at a flea market. They fit perfectly.

 Simple and hopefully something I can manage to keep neat and orderly, but that will be a feat in itself.

Rosie drew this awesome picture of Gimli!

 We celebrated Christmas with extended family on December 30th.

 We started the day with Rosary in their lovely little chapel.

 Which is complete with a little choir loft. Since we were fitting 50ish people in the chapel some prayed from the choir loft.

 The line for dinner was mighty lengthy.

 We also brought cheese balls. "Cheese balls, definitely cheese balls."

 The next day I was making juice and simply thought the fruits and veggies looked particularly pretty. This awesome colander I discovered at Willie St. Coop. Best ever.

 Then for New Year's Eve we went to the bakery to celebrate with our friends. 

 It had snowed-iced-rained-froze-etc. on New Year's Eve but it was glorious when we came home from Mass on New Year's Day.

 Blessed Mother statue with a fur cap and cape on (ok, it's snow, but it does look pretty)

 A beef got out and found the salt on Sam's truck to be mighty tasty.

 Part one of the book shelves are done. We have a very large home library. We homeschool, what else would anyone expect? We haven't counted in a goodly number of years but I'd guess around 2-3000 books, it's absurd, it's addicting, lots of good books here. We believe in books. I loathe reading off computers when I can read off paper. Books are a comfort "food" so to speak, not something you can get out of a computer.

 Then the living room turned into an infirmary. We had cases of vomits scattered hither and thither. Thankfully it was not bad cases. Believe me, I've seen worse and in multitudinous numbers simultaneously. We found some lovely geographical DVD's which showed various places on the earth. That and some movies helped bide time.

 January 5th some of the (healthy) kids were in a tournament. I decided not to compete as I wasn't ready.

 Frodo is the only one who did creative/xtreme.

 Marigold participated in her first tournament (novice, rather than competitive)

 She did a form

 And one-step

 She got 1st place in one-step and 2nd place in her form.

 Rosie kept score

 So did Bilbo for the first time.

 Bilbo and Pippin were in the same ring.

 Pippin: 1st in weapons, combat, and sparring, 3rd in forms
Bilbo: 2nd in combat and sparring

 Merry was home sick :(

Rosie also performed.

 Rosie: 1st in form, weapons, and combat, 2nd in sparring

 Bilbo trying to see how many kicks he can do on the solo strike

 Frodo spent most of the day judging and at the end of the day did his traditionals.

 Frodo: 1st in creative form, 3rd in xtreme form, traditional forms, and combat. He didn't place in sparring as he was in the first round competing against someone who was extremely good, he didn't mind losing to someone so great. :D

 Then we helped clean up some of the mats.

So true

A Blessed Christmas Beginning

For Your Sake, God Became Man (excerpt) -  by St. Augustine of Hippo
Awake, mankind! For your sake God has become man. Awake, you who sleep, rise up from the dead, and Christ will enlighten you. I tell you again: for your sake, God became man.

You would have suffered eternal death, had he not been born in time. Never would you have been freed from sinful flesh, had he not taken on himself the likeness of sinful flesh. You would have suffered everlasting unhappiness, had it not been for this mercy. You would never have returned to life, had he not shared your death. You would have been lost if he had not hastened 'to your aid. You would have perished, had he not come.

Let us then joyfully celebrate the coming of our salvation and redemption. Let us celebrate the festive day on which he who is the great and eternal day came from the great and endless day of eternity into our own short day of time.

 We can never quite get a photo of everyone before we leave for Midnight Mass as we all leave at different times. You most likely cannot comprehend the logistics around here. I left at 9:30 with a 3 of the girls (choir and fixing some binders and set up for the post-Mass party). Some left at 10:15ish for altar boy practice, some left at 11:15ish to get there in time for the prelude of hymns. There was another vehicle that left sometime thereabouts. So... Kili will represent our family for now...

 The prelude began with a flute solo which was gorgeous! 1/2 dozen or so hymns with a couple more beautiful flute solos interspersed thereabouts.

 Our beautiful church with a lengthy string of altar boys and our priest!

 After Midnight Mass (1-1/2 hours or so) we had a great Christmas party, I don't know why I didn't take any pictures! Woops.  Then we went out to see that it was snowing!

 This is when I crawled in bed. *Yawn*

 Our Blessings

 pop gun

 One of the best wrapped gifts. A towel.

 The first gift opened (after stockings). Kili's sword, the size of him.

 Making fresh buns for the afternoon party. Turkey is also in the smoker.

 Gimli T-shirt

Copper duct tape wrapped gift

 There was a sea of gifts under our tree... just do the math 14 people. If everyone receives 5 gifts that is 70 gifts.  We did not receive 5 gifts each. We did not receive 10 gifts each... Unwrapping, no matter the speed takes a looooong time.

 There were many daggers and swords... of course!

 Eowyn gave me this beautiful Bethlehem wood engraving. Here is what it said:
My Mother
My mothers is a woman like no other. She gave me life, nurtured me, taught me, dressed me, fought for me, held me, shouted at me, kissed me, but most importantly she loved me unconditionally. There are not enough words to describe just how important my Mother is to me and what powerful influence she continues to be. Mother, I love you.
*sniff-sniff*
It is also a work of art! It's truly beautiful

 Worst wrapped gift ever? padding was recyclable water bottles and laundry. Seriously.  The layers went on to recycled mailers, etc...

 Another creatively wrapped gift. Mind you these gifts took about 10 minutes or more to unwrap.

 Someone was thoroughly enjoying the unwrapping.

 Finally, there was something useful inside.

 There were some very creative homemade gifts in the lot.

 This is the funniest gift. Kili made a gift for himself... taped legos on to a paper (he also gave one of these to Frodo and Bilbo. Legos are coveted items. So a very thoughtful gift.

 The true reason for the season.

 A beautiful chess set!

 Creatively adorable tube people made by Rosie.

 I received this beautiful painting from Belladonna. "The heavens declare the glory of God; the firmament proclaims the worlds of the Lord. Psalms 19:1"  It is so beautiful!

Operation.

All were disappointed that it no longer shocks, only makes noise.

 Each one of the children received one of these gorgeous ornaments from Grandma and Auntie B. Each one contains an icon of  one of their patron saints.  Beautiful!

 I'm dreaming of a somewhat white Christmas

And now it is time for breakfast.

Yes, we used paper table cloth, paper plates. But we did use real silverware and cups (not pictured). 

We were really blessed by so many people with cards, letters, pictures, books, games, artwork, goodies, and all around good cheer. May God bless you all! Christmas day to be continued....