10 Months Old!

Cillian, 10 months old already?!

He really is a pleasant-natured baby. He smiles a ton & is usually very happy. He has such a joyous smile, too. 

 It's his 1st Christmas, and he's enjoyed these first few presents from family.

Happy 10 months, Cillian! Now stop growing up so fast. :)

Looking Forward to the Presence

I am so excited to go "home" for the holidays.
I've had plenty of moments of getting choked up thinking about. It's hit me at Mass, when certain songs come on the radio, while wrapping presents...

We're going to South Carolina for Christmas. I'll be with my parents, sister & her family, brother & his family, and my boys will get to see their cousins. First time since Brennan was a baby. We see my side of the family usually once a year, so it's exciting. I miss them a ton, especially during the holidays, and it feels like THE present of this season.
My dad will play his accordion, we'll all go to Christmas Eve Mass together, there will be a fire in the fireplace, fondue on the stove, riding the trolley downtown, music from the 40's playing that my parents enjoy.

When it comes down to it, the presence of loved ones, can truly be the best gift.
I am looking forward to the present of the presence.

Brennan's First Christmas Program

Shame on me for not getting this in last week! I thought I had and I was wrong.
Brennan's program was actually before Aidan's. Brennan's was last Tuesday, and boy was he excited! He very much looked forward to it, he was quite enthusiastic, and it was altogether adorable!

In typical 4yo boy fashion, he might have placed his hands in not the best of places ;).
He also bounced up & down with each song and each time the audience clapped. A few times that meant he tripped off the step he was on.

It was all adorable. Bravo, Brennan!

Menu Plan Monday--December 12, 2011

Monday: Crock pot Chicken & Dumplings
Tuesday: Pasta Night
Wednesday: Brennan-McD's!
Thursday: Grilled Cheese Sandwiches & Applesauce
Friday: Dinner in Michigan
weekend: tbd
Monday: Honey-Mustard Pork, wild rice, green beans
Tuesday: Pancakes
Wednesday: Leftovers or Fried Egg Sandwiches
Thursday: Leave for South Carolina!

I'm late in posting, but oh well. We're already switching around some meals due to Scouts, last minute shopping, etc. This is our tentative list of meals until Christmas. We'll be using what we have since we're going to South Carolina. :)
Have a good, tasty week!

GREAT weekend

Another busy & exhausting weekend, but it was wonderful. I feel grateful that several times this weekend, I felt blessed by my family. Grateful with what we currently have.

Friday night was Aidan's school Christmas program. He was first a shepherd and then his class sang a song. He did a wonderful job and I'm amazed by how much he's grown up.

Saturday I did volunteer work, my in-laws took Aidan & Brennan overnight (yes!), and Pat, Cillian & I enjoyed a Christmas party, just adults. It was a very nice party with delicious food.

Sunday we went to 9:00 Mass, the went straight to Michigan. We met up with my in-laws, Aidan & Brennan, Pat's sister and her family, and their cousin. We spent several hours at the Henry Ford Museum.
The boys saw Santa again (awe-some Santa. Awesome) There were train tables, legos, a Wizard of Oz section, and so much more. It was great.

Brennan with his cousin David (below)

inside one of the huge trains

Aidan with Pat's dad

the museum has the Oscar Meyer Weinerbmobile, and near it is this play make-yourself-a-hotdog

The Wizard of Oz exhibit! The entire thing made me think of my sister & get so excited to see her soon.

the witch's bike

The Wizard of Oz, lego edition!

This sign at the museum made me think of my dad. If you know him, you'll get it.

the 5 of us (Cillian was asleep on Pat)

Pat's parents with Aidan & Brennan

Later we visited with just Pat's parents, then headed to his grandparents' house for dinner. It was so nice to see everyone.

This was put up earlier in the week, but I felt it was a good picture to end this post. :) The real reason we have these blessings, and why we gather to celebrate Christmas.

Thank God for a good weekend! I hope yours was nice, as well.

2 weeks (less) until Christmas!

Goosebumps?

I saw this for the first time a week ago, and it gave me ginormous goosebumps.
It's similar to the Advent Conspiracy videos in that it focuses on what Christmas is truly about.


Dang, that's good, isn't it?
The part when Jesus is a newborn crying...whoa.

I couldn't resist sharing. Let me know what you think.

Busy, Fun & Festive Weekend

The weekend was busy, exhausting & fun! Every weekend in December seems to be turning into this, but hey, that's the holidays, right?

The weekend kicked off with our parish family group night: dinner, kids go off for activities, adults stay for fellowship, prayer, Advent discussion, and then we all come back together for dessert. We're establishing some good friendships and we are really enjoying this group. We watched 2 Advent Conspiracy videos. Ever see them? Here's a good one:

Did it give you goosebumps? Totally did for me. 

Saturday I did some volunteer work (more on that to come), and then we drove into MI to go see our niece in the Nutcracker. I was the only one to go see the performance (with my sil & bil), and it was so much fun. She was a baker and did a great job. I love the music for The Nutcracker, and I've always found Russian to be my favorite. And Fritz. Just love it!

Sunday was nasty weather. Rain, rain, chilly, just bla. Still, the boys had letters for Santa, so we went to see him! We're fortunate to have a place near us that lets you see Santa at no charge, including using your own camera for pictures.

Telling Santa what's on their list

Cillian's 1st visit to Santa!

Our 3 handsome boys

the tree we get excited to see each year

Santa Baby ;)

We have a tradition of taking each boy to pick out an ornament each year. What they pick should reflect their interests for that year. Brennan was beyond excited to pick his this year. After 2 Hallmarks being sold out, we lucked out at Kohl's, buying the last one, the display model! SPIDERMAN ornament! He was so excited, it made it all worth it.

The boys decorating their mini tree in their room

There you have it. A very busy, fun, festive weekend. :)

Bath Time!

I realized the other day that I have no pictures of Cillian in the bath.
Say what?! (in my best Gus voice from Psych)

If you notice the foggy water, that's because he was having an oatmeal bath for a diaper rash.
This little cutie was enjoying his tub time!

Are You a Control Freak?

In some ways I am, but not as bad as Monica from Friends or Julia from Parenthood.

I like my days mentally planned out, especially the weekends.
I like my Christmas shopping to be nearly finished by the start of Advent.
You get the idea.

Reading this on Facebook:
"...conversion would not have been possible without absolute trust in Him and the recognition that I had to give up control and experience the death of my old self." Randy Hain writes on the ongoing need to surrender to God's will. What are the obstacles? Does out need to be in control get in the way?"
(you can read the post in its entirety here)

Ding!Ding! It's not a fun thing to think about, those parts of ourselves we need to accept the mental death of. You know what's inside of you that's in need of going away. I know what I struggle with. I want more for me & my family, even though our needs are met. I see others succeeding, and immediately wonder why God is ignoring that prayer of ours.

Is that how HE wants me to think and feel? I certainly do not think so. That way of thinking needs to die, surrender to God's will, and grow into a more Christ-like way of thinking. Is it possible while on earth? I don't know, but I know we must try.

My inner control-freak wants to know who-what-when-where-how-and why, right away. I would happily look at my life's road map of the future, if given the chance.
I pray, and I want to immediately know if and how and when that prayer will be answered.

We are called to die to ourselves, putting to rest those bad habits or sinful ways we have within us. It will always be something that we struggle with, as is human nature. But to try, truly try, is rising above and using courage to follow HIS plan.

What a perfect thing to focus on during Advent. Christ's birth, and a new birth within us.
"Laboring" isn't easy, but the end result makes it worth it.