November, December...

I'm going to throw this up on the blog, out of chronological order!  It begins with an Advent mantle scene (with our new mantle cloth this year), but tracks backwards to Thanksgiving, when my Mother-in-Law came to visit for a week!

My Mom bought me pieces from the Lennox Nativity every year since my wedding (until I had this much of the set), when I was married two days after Christmas.  There are more pieces that I might start adding myself.  I've got my eye on an elephant and camel!  (Baby Jesus is hiding until Christmas).

Gimli turned 15 and got his annual chocolate cake.  This year it was decorated with candy canes left over from St. Nick's hot chocolate!

We got our new counter tops installed...and we're still waiting for the backsplash to happen sometime in the new year...

Discovered this beautiful "Surrender Novena" (only the outside cover is in French!lol)  I'm working on trust and surrender to God's will and providence in my life.

(Welcome sign for Gramz)

I'll consider this "all caught up"!  Peace and love!:)

Christmas Photo Dump

I should make two New Year's resolutions: 1) to get a new phone because my phone is on the fritz and the camera is really sketchy, so sorry for the blurry pictures! and 2) consider getting a real camera out again, so my blog is prettier!lol

My sister came for a Christmas visit with her beautiful family.  On the day they arrived, her little Elizabeth came down with a fever.  Luckily, she rallied enough the next day to come play at our house and make a little Gingerbread house!

Sprinkles!!

Eowyn (my 6-year-old) happened to snap this picture of our tree.  It's not clear, but it makes a nice impression and captures my new favorite Christmas throw pillow. :)

 This year, we had a real live Chrsitmas infant to ponder and love.

This little angel became a newly baptized saint on the Feast of the Holy Innocents!  Blessings upon blessings.

I'll try to come back with pictures from the Baptism.  I didn't remember to bring my phone to Christmas Day (this was Christmas Eve).  My youngest sister and her family came down with a terrible flu that turned into bronchitis (or possibly pneumonia??) for my sister! Ugh!  We've missed her like CRAZY for the days after Christmas.  Never as fun without her and her children.  Many prayers for full and complete recovery ASAP!

So, for 2019, Merry Christmas!

Eowyn's 6!

Eowyn's birthday was on November 20th.  I've always said she was my Thanksgiving Turkey!  

If I had to try to describe Eowyn...it would be very hard.  She is a quirky, nymph-like creature, with whimsical tendencies.  Her eyes aren't quite the same color brown.  She is both strong-willed and shy in public.  She fights for her own way (spoiled baby girl, but still working on it) but loves to play.  She loves princess dresses, everything that sparkles, and unicorns.  She loves Wilma, the white cat she cried and cried for.  She is incredibly loving, loves to cuddle, and is particularly attached to her biggest sister, Arwen.  Those two remind me of myself and my youngest sister.  It bodes very well for their future!:)

Eowyn only ever wants strawberries and whipped cream.  This is her second year now with Strawberry Shortcake for her birthday.

 She was definitely excited!

I don't really celebrate my kids birthdays with big parties, but my second youngest sister was 9 months pregnant and nesting.  What that means for her is that she starts being incredibly active in taking care of all of her own home projects, but also in taking care of me!  She knew my in-laws were planning on coming for Thanksgiving, and, being the wonderful baker that she is, she said she would make "Thanksgiving Turkey" cookies for me to put out on a platter when they came.

Capitalizing upon this idea, I said, "Say, what if you brought everything here and we let the kids decorate and we called it a birthday party for Eowyn?!"

And so, my sister threw Eowyn a party!  She brought 6 kids, cookies, frosting, and sprinkles.  I asked my other sister to come with her 4 children and join us.  Insta-party!  (The three of us have 20 children together!!  Well, #20 was on the inside at that point...not any more!!)

Of course, my in-laws cancelled (other than my Mother-in-law), but the party was still a beautiful memory, and I will always be indebted to my amazing, talented, beautiful sister.