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!

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. :)

The Chosen Ornament Is...

Christmases 1-5 my kids are given an ornament, typically Hallmark's Child Age Collection.

Once Aidan hit his 6th Christmas, it changed into him picking out an ornament for that year, to show for something he was interested in that year.

This year's ornament:

Tom & Jerry!
I personally love it. Love it.
The boys watch a lot of Tom & Jerry, it's classic, and I favored it as a kid, too.
I am happy with his choice. :)
Tonight it goes on the tree!