December 24, 2008
Cookie Exchange Day
One of the families in our homeschooling group hosted a cookie exchange day at their home. We were just about the last ones to arrive in the train of big vans. It was quite a sight and noise level as we walked in the door!
We began the day as usual with Confession, Mass and Spanish Class then headed to the B's house. They have the perfect party place and a very beautiful family friendly home.
Everyone brought something for lunch.
After lunch the children gave their musical presentations.
This boy played the trumpet.
My children did a particularly good job of trashing their family room. Someone else's toys are always more appealing than ours at home.
I always get comments like "How do you get all 9 children to look at the camera at the same time?
Yet, I could not get these 2 friends of mine to look at the camera at the same time!!
Children lined up the stairs for their musical turn.
This young lady played the clarinet.
This young lady played the clarinet.
This little lady just plays plain old cute!
Next was the cookie decorating fun.
Merry decorating a cookie.
There is some debate whether Pippin had more on the cookies or on his shirt.
There is also some debate as to whether there was more frosting heaped on the cookies or put directly into the mouth!
Then there was what the mothers were all waiting for the actual cookie exchange! This was the wide assortment of cookies.
December 22, 2008
Stamps in Days Gone By
Sam just approached me with a bunch of Fr. Flanagan 4c stamps he unearthed in our feeble cleaning attempts. He said "What are these?! Lick-on stamps?!" Yes, dear, it's the way things used to be.... *snicker*
December 21, 2008
A Large Family Christmas
I rarely ever watch YouTube but an on-line friend of mine sent this link to a Large Family Christmas on YouTube. And yes, I have heard every one of them! :)
December 16, 2008
Las Posadas
The tradition is that for the 9 days preceeding the Birth of Our Lord, St. Joseph and Our Blessed Mother searched for a place suitable for the Son of God to be born. And as we all know, there was no room in the Inn... Is their room at the Inn of your heart?+
Today also begins the O Antiphons Novena, though technically there are 7 O Antiphons from Dec 17th to December 23rd. Be sure to read this fascinating and beautiful informantion about the O Antiphons HERE at Fisheaters!
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December 16: O Shepherd that rulest Israel, Thou that leadest Joseph like a sheep, come to guide and comfort us.
Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory be.
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December 17: O Wisdom that comest out of the mouth of the Most High, that reachest from one end to another, and orderest all things mightily and sweetly, come to teach us the way of prudence!
Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory be.
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December 18: O Adonai, and Ruler of the house of Israel, Who didst appear unto Moses in the burning bush, and gavest him the law in Sinai, come to redeem us with an outstretched arm!
Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory be.
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December 19: O Root of Jesse, which standest for an ensign of the people, at Whom the kings shall shut their mouths, Whom the Gentiles shall seek, come to deliver us, do not tarry.
Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory be.
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December 20: O Key of David, and Sceptre of the house of Israel, that openeth and no man shutteth, and shutteth and no man openeth, come to liberate the prisoner from the prison, and them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death.
Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory be.
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December 21: O Dayspring, Brightness of the everlasting light, Son of justice, come to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death!
Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory be.
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December 22: O King of the Gentiles, yea, and desire thereof! O Corner-stone, that makest of two one, come to save man, whom Thou hast made out of the dust of the earth!
Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory be.
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December 23: O Emmanuel, our King and our Law-giver, Longing of the Gentiles, yea, and salvation thereof, come to save us, O Lord our God!
Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory be.
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December 24: O Thou that sittest upon the cherubim, God of hosts, come, show Thy face, and we shall be saved.
Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory be.