O Christmas Tree: Rejoice the 3rd week of Advent Dec 17, 2013

Sometimes the chaos of the season seems to steamroll any source of peace you try to schedule in. Despite the craziness last week we were able to enjoy and laugh at a few moments.

The Hunt: Last Sunday we went to get our tree. It is our tradition to cut our tree out of the pasture behind my in-laws house as we did this year. Each year it is challenging to fit it in because of other events and it is actually hunting season, deer hunting. So after church we bundled up and added our hunters orange and headed out for the tree. We were on a time schedule due to a Christmas party our daughter had that afternoon. To help us stay on the schedule we were hurried by the entrance of a couple hunters coming into the pasture next to ours. This of course made me a little nervous, even though they were well aware of our loud family of 7 a couple hundred feet from them. We decided we better make a decision between the trees we had found so far, which was an easy one since one of the two choices, and unfortunately the favorite of the kids, was about 6foot in diameter. A little too big for our house thought they had creative ways in mind to make it fit. So the boys cut down the tree and we packed it up and all loaded back into the truck all while my husband tried to keep our noise down out of respect for the hunters. Only to find we had lost the dog. So we had to drive circles around calling and whistling for her. He worried that she followed the hunters, me worried that our 12yr old dog had a heart attack in the woods following the truck. As it turns out she found my in-laws dog and they were by the gate running energetically around. So we headed out and not long after so did the hunters, probably figured we scared any deer within a mile away.

Clustered ornaments

 Decorating Party: That evening we brought the tree into the house and began decorating. The kids of course were crazy, Dad and all. Getting all the wrestling out of their system before it was no longer allowed in the living room with the fully decorated tree. Back when we just had 2 kids a wrestling match knocked our tree to the ground. Christmas music on and me trying to keep the little ones form tearing through the ornaments box it felt a little out of control. I then made a conscience effort to try to relax and not be so controlling while decorating. I still helped hand out ornaments and made sure the correct kids got to hang their special ornaments, but I actually let the kids get one out of the box after that. That is a big step for me. After the decorating was done, I only moved ornaments that I hung personally to fill in the holes, also very hard for me. You know though some of the crazy hangings really made the tree look great. For some reason the kids hung many ornaments tight to the trunk which at first I wanted to spread them out, but at the end I liked it. There was also the competition of who could hand the highest and lowest ornaments. The highest besides the topper was hung with a roll of wrapping paper and the lowest, by our 3 year old by accident. Her big brother was impressed it was so low it sits on the ground. Later I had a flash back to my days growing up and decorating the tree. My dad had made for our first Christmas a cardboard star wrapped in aluminum foil for a tree topper. As years passed my mom wanted to put angels or fancier stars atop. We kids just wanted that star. Our first Christmas my mom bought an angel for our tree topper so we would have our own. I myself would have that star as I have yet to see a star I liked as much. As it seems though I am now in my mom’s shoes as my youngest said her favorite ornament on the whole tree is our pretty angel on top. I am afraid it will be there for the long haul. 

Highest Ornament

Lowest Ornament

Final Product

Rejoice the 3^rd Week in Advent: So as I wrap this up and am on the home stretch for the shopping that has been haunting me. I listen to a short Christmas song from the clock my Mom bought us last year, which I owe her a thank you. It has many times been a breath of Christmas calm as the clock reaches each hour of each day and plays a short traditional Christmas carol. With three advent candles lit, the pink one symbolizing REJOICE as we are in the homestretch and final preparations for the celebration of Christmas. An appropriate theme as I rejoice to finish shopping and having the chance to enjoy things like our beautiful tree, Christmas shows, Christmas lights,  baking& eating, time with my children and husband, parties with family and friend, and final preparations. Rejoice to feel the Christmas spirits grow in the celebration of an amazing gift from God, the birth of Jesus.

Below are the readings for the week, which I have strayed from. Sorry for not posting them last week:

Monday Nm24:2-7, 15-17a/Mt21:23-27

Tuesday: Gn 492, 8-10/Mt 1:1-17

Weds: Jer 23:5-8/Mt 1:18-25

Thurs: Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a/Lk 1:5-25

Fri: Is 7:10-14/Lk 1:26-38

Sat: Sg2:8-14 or Zep 3:14-18a/Lk 1:39-45

Sun: Is 7:10-14/Rom 1:1-7/Mt 1:18-24

Our Week of Christmas

With our Internet down for over a week this is a little late, but it was ready to post so I will go ahead and share, you can read it now or next December if you wish.

Baking, shopping, wrapping, and celebrating complete I look back at many wonderful hours with my husband, children and our family and friends.  

Christmas #1

Our Christmas celebration began the Saturday before Christmas at my husband’s parents. Twenty seven people gathered in one room to give thanks and then share a delicious meal. After the clean-up was finished grandkids ages 2-21 spent time laughing and playing together while some gathered around the table with the adults to play card games or just visit.

Grandpa then announced it was time for the gift exchange. This was our first year with kids and adults combined in one exchange it seemed to be a hit.  Grandma and Grandpa then passed out the traditional common gift for all grandkids. This year gum wrapped with Christmas cash for each of the kids to burn a hole in their pockets. We then move on to the $10 gift. This exchange is many times a highlight of the evening, adults and some of the big kids bring a used $10 gift. Not a white elephant from you house, but something from a garage sale, auction, pawn shop etc... It is always fun to see what shows up, which gifts are popular, but mostly which are not. We then start rolling the dice for the highest combination, the winner has the choice to leave the game with the gift in hand or trade for another and stay in.

The remainder of the day is spent eating leftovers, playing games and visiting. With the grandkids getting older this was our first year without the traditional sleepover or basement camp out. Despite some disappointment of the younger kids, the day was a success and all had fun even without the extra overnight hours.

The final Sunday of Advent

Sunday we celebrated the final Sunday of Advent, the kids eager to have all 4 candles in the advent wreath lit.  We did have to lower the greenery to keep it from catching fire, but we made it, new candles are a must for next year. After church the kids went home with Grandma and Grandpa to have Christmas leftovers and my husband and I went home and started wrapping. Normally we end up doing it all on Christmas Eve so we appreciated this offer by my in-laws to get some of that done earlier and the kids enjoyed the extra time with them.

Christmas Eve

Monday, Christmas Eve brought excitement and last minute prep. We wrapped gifts, made sugar cookies for Santa and cleaned house; because we all know Santa doesn’t visit messy houses. That evening we dressed up for Christmas Eve mass, something more enjoyable for the girls than the boys. Though our second son showed his dimples when he walked in with his Christmas tie.

The beautifully decorated church and Christmas Carols really helped the spirit of the season come alive. The older two girls participated in the procession to lay baby Jesus in his crib and singing before mass. Both worried they wouldn’t know all the words but I never noticed a single mistake. The traditional mass, as always was amazing, the story of Jesus’ birth and what it means to all Christians. Our oldest got to play his trumpet with the choir. I was proud I don’t know that I have ever enjoyed Joy to the World so much. The mass concluded with Christmas greetings from other parishioners, we are really blessed to have a great church family.

 That evening Grandparents visited our house for snacks and a game of Nertz.  After saying goodbye to Grandparents and Relf (our Elf on the shelf) the kids eagerly headed to bed. With children snug in their beds, or sleeping bags since the kids all like to sleep in one room Christmas Eve, my husband and I finished the preparations. About 1:00 am the wrapping, setting out gifts, stuffing stockings, and 5 heavily decorated Santa cookies were complete. I feel bad throwing cookies away, but normally sick after eating them. Thank goodness we started on Sunday. It always seems to take a bit of time, carefully thinking through the placement of the gifts and proper wrapping paper to keep the mystery of Santa alive for even just one more Christmas morning. In the end I always love to just look at the tree for a few minutes before heading to bed with probably as much excitement as the kids.

 Christmas Morning!

We were awoken by 5 smiling faces, well 4 smiling faces and one half awake 2 year old. They all know the routine and play along with disappointed groans as my husband says, let’s all just snuggle a little bit first.  All seven of us cover our queen size bed, which is a little more challenging every year, I think they like the moments together as much as we do.  After a prayer and a Happy Birthday song to Jesus, upon request of our 6 year old, a phone call to Grandma and Grandpa to say we were up, and a few anxious moments in the hallway while Dad started the video camera the kids entered the living room with excitement.  

The stockings were emptied first and what a nice surprise that the kids were more eager to hand out the gifts they had for each other and us before opening themselves. They quickly cracked “the gift code” a tradition we started a few years ago. Instead of putting the kid’s names on our gifts for them we come up with a code for each, so they can’t tell whose gift was who’s until the figure out the pattern. It could be the wrapping paper, a sticker, or the color of writing. They kids think it’s fun. The pace then quickens, and before you know it the room is filled with wrapping paper and smiles.

The rest of the day was spent building Legos, eating, and playing. Some never even got out of their pajamas. I enjoy this most about Christmas, the feeling of not having to go anywhere and just being together.

Christmas #3

Christmas morning was not the end of Christmas for our family. Wednesday was spent wrapping, cleaning, packing, and loading the van for our trip to Colorado for Christmas with my family. With my husband only having to work half a day we were able to start our trek early afternoon.

Christmas was planned for Friday evening so Thursday was spent settling in and visiting. I don’t know who it was harder for the kids or my Mom to wait for the celebration. My sister, who doesn’t like keeping who you have in the gift exchange a secret spent the day trying to pick up on clues of who had who so she could figure it out before the exchange.

Friday we had our final family Christmas of 2012. Beginning with another yummy meal and then kids eagerly waiting for their uncle, my little brother, to get off of work so they could dive into the presents. When he arrived they all yelled Santa Claus is here as he walked in with his gifts. After one of my mom famous photo sessions, which despite our complaints we are always thankful for later, the gifting began. 

We still buy for all the kids on my side, so we take turns each family handing out their gifts and watching them be opened. The final gifts for the kids from Nanna and Grandpa. Despite the attempt at organization with 13 grandkids age 13 down to 1yr it still gets a little crazy, but fun. 

After the kids the older girls (my sisters and brothers girlfriend) have our gift exchange. Yes my sister guesses were right again. My parents then get out their envelopes. A few years ago instead of buying gifts they started putting cash in envelopes with one holding an extra dollar and one holding 2-3 times the amount of the rest. We randomly select the envelopes and play a game to see who gets which one. The Right family game was used this year. At the end everyone quickly opens to see who has the “winning” envelope and if you had it to start. This has been a fun tradition, for the givers and the receivers. The big boys (our husbands and my brother) then do their gift exchange. Normally a themed event, starting with the inaugural year of paintball gear (my dad included). Years followed by craigslist gifts and many other creative ideas. The last few years they played poker to decide the order of selection. The process seems to be more fun to them than the gifts.

At the end of Friday night our celebrations came to an end.  Though it is sad for to conclude the magical season you always hold on to the memories.  I’ll likely spend the week enjoying the Christmas decorations for a bit longer, if our tree lasts, as they will stay up until the Epiphany of the Lord celebration at Church, Jan 6 http://www.religionfacts.com/christianity/holidays/epiphany.htm. On Jan 6 the kids will finally take out their 3 Wise Men in their managers. Then as we begin the clean up the excitement of the start of a fresh new year begins.

 I hope this Christmas season brought your families joy, time together, and a chance for your relationships on earth and with God to grow.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year now :)

Advent: The Second Week, Who’s Santa?

There are so many Christmas traditions in families and in our world.  As we are approach the end of the 2^nd week of advent one tradition has been in my thoughts, Santa Claus. There has been two moments of awe the past couple weeks of the mystery and magic of Santa. You probably don’t remember the first time you realized who Santa was, but you can probably remember realizing who Santa really was. With a 13 year old and a 2 year old in our house I have experienced both realizations this year.

One morning this December I tried to encourage my 2 year old to do better going potty on the toilet by offering that maybe Santa would bring her some new underwear for Christmas .  She looked at me and said, “Who’s Santa?” I imagine she was too young last year to remember. This made me excited for the years of fun Santa would bring. The nights of quietly laying in bed hoping to hear Santa’s bell. The hurry to get to bed early on Christmas Eve only to find you are not able to fall asleep. Once you are finally asleep waking multiply times throughout the night waiting for it to be a “reasonable” hour to wake Mom and Dad. After two Christmas celebrations with Santa visiting, I think she now recognizes Santa Claus.

Last week I was driving our 13 year old to school and decided I to ask if he wanted to sit on Santa’s lap at the family reunion this year. At the reunion parents provide gifts to Santa and he calls them all up by name. Last year he was one of the oldest to still go up, though he seemed fine with it I didn’t want to embarrass him. He responded, “Not really.” I could see a little disappointment in his eyes and felt it in my heart. Even though it hadn’t been discussed officially I knew he didn’t believe in Santa.  I remember when I stopped believing, how bad I wanted my logical thoughts to go away and telling friends Santa is a big part of the spirit of Christmas and I still believed in that.  So I went on to talk to him about how St. Nicholas was a real person and it is his spirit of giving that has formed the tradition of Santa Claus and been handed down through generations for parents to keep alive.  He looked at me through eyes of a child saying are you telling me there is no Santa Claus and eyes of a teenager saying I know mom! I had to hold back the tears. I know he knew the truth. He was the same kid who has picked up the slack for our less than adequate tooth fairy making the on time delivery of money to his younger brother.  I think he felt like I did, now that I said it out loud he knew I knew and that made it real. I told him I loved him, dropped him at school, and shed a few tears on the way home.

I now have one child who is learning about the the jolly fellow in a red suit that flies a sleigh with reindeer and one who the belief is beyond logical thoughts. I did later inform him that Santa still brings presents to all in the family even if they are too old to sit on Santa’s lap.

“Though I’ve grown old, the bell still rings for me as it does for all who truly believe.” The Polar Express

Santa is magical for all ages in different ways. When we left the reunion last Sunday there was a gift for our 13 year old in the van with a tag reading From: Santa.  When the other kids saw it he said, “Hey Mom, Santa must have found my gift in his slay when he left”. He is now just part of the magic, not to mention he gets to sample the stash of Christmas candy :).

A couple of fun stories of Christmas symbols:

The Candy Cane:   http://justforkidsmagazine.com/candycanelegend.html

The Poinsettia:  http://justforkidsmagazine.com/poinsettia.html

Advent: The First Week, Deck the Halls!

 We normally start decorating later than others for Christmas but as the First Sunday of advent came and went I was feeling a little like a scrooge.   The only decoration so far was our advent wreath, 3 mornings had been missed on the advent calendar and our new Elf on the shelf was still sitting in the box with my 6 year old asking, ”Do you really think if we open him he will fly out of the box?”  

Please don’t think we do not embrace the magic and mystery of Christmas in our home. The decorations, music, the smell of goodies are all part of our Christmas celebration.  Somehow time just got away from me. I will blame my tardy start to decorating on the 70 degree weather outside.  A little cold weather, especially snow, always puts me in the Christmas mood. Instead the spring like weather has made me want to clean my house first. Yesterday I decided precious time was being wasted.  Snow or no snow, messy house or not, there was only 20 days left to enjoy the magic of preparing for Christmas.

When the kids arrived home from school yesterday they were greeted by the smell of a Christmas candle and Christmas music.  “No electronics or TV tonight we are getting out the Christmas decorations!,” I said. “You got the house clean!?” my six year old said excitedly. I kept telling her over the weekend our house was too messy to decorate. To my sadness not everyone responded with cheers like she did, maybe we had a house full of scrooges this year. “It takes so long to decorate,” my oldest daughter said, “and you never let us help that much because things are breakable”. Maybe I should’ve turned on the AC so it felt like it was cold outside to get them all in the mood?  Despite the lack of enthusiasm I pushed forward, while making a mental note to not be so controlling and let the kids help more, it didn’t have to be perfect.

With the door wide open to the fresh air and dusting furniture as we went the boxes of decorations were carefully and sometimes not so carefully placed around the house. Even though at the end of the evening the snow village Grinch no longer had presents in his hand and Cindy Lou Who could not stand anymore everything looked great.  We turned out all the lights, sat on the couch and took it all in. I am content to say at that point we ALL were in the Christmas Spirit.

Below are some pictures of our decorations, with more still to come. Our tree goes up later in the month and we a few rooms are not complete. As a whole it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at our home and as a bonus it was below freezing when I got up this morning!

This is my favorite Nativity scene.

The broken :) Grinch Snow Village.

My son added a Santa hat  to the squirrel made by my husbands grandmother.

Snow Village

  

Non Breakable Decorations! Missing pieces already, only the 3 Wise Men they haven't arrived yet anyway.

Christmas Dishes

Handmade Decorations.

The morning Sunrise, God's addition to our decoration!

At Church this week:

Advent Decorations: Advent begins the liturgical year in the church. The church is decorated in Purple. This is a time to prepare for the birthday of Jesus. At our church there are candles in a circle to represent the advent wreath. The number of candles lit at the beginning of mass each week will correspond to the week in advent we are celebrating.

The Giving Tree:  Like many churches there is a tree with tags for members of the community that could use a little help at Christmas time. Take a tag and gift your neighbor for Christmas. My children really enjoy this.  We try to adopt a family about our size and the kids help select gifts and wrap them.  There are many ways to help others during the Advent season, start by checking at your church for opportunities.

Communal Penance Service: This may seem like a downer to the season, but it is an important part of the season, that we unfortunately do not always make time for. Jesus’ purpose in coming to live among us was to in the end die for our sins.  So to fully enjoy the Christmas Spirit, we need to ask for forgiveness for our sins however big or small, and start the Liturgical year renewed in spirit.

St. Nicholas Feast Day: December 6 is the feast of St. Nicholas (patron saint of children). St. Nicholas was a real person who lived in the fourth century. He opened his home to homeless and secretly left gifts of food and money for the people in the night. Sounds a lot like someone who visits on Christmas Eve doesn’t it? One church custom on his feast day is for families to leave their shoes out the night before and in the morning they are filled with treats.  http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/patron-saint/

Immaculate Conception: December 8 is when the Catholic Church celebrates the immaculate conception of Mary. Our Church celebrates mass on this day.  http://www.catholic.com/tracts/immaculate-conception-and-assumption