Advent Blessings

Elijah, Callan, and Aedan have been enjoying our nightly Advent prayers out of a special children's Advent prayer book. So have Mommy and Daddy!! It has been a wonderful way to reconnect with each other at the end of the day. We gather around the Advent wreath and read a short Bible verse and prayer out of a children's Advent book given to Elijah by his godparents, Jane and Robert. After the prayer, a small Advent activity related to the day's topic is suggested. We have been doing the suggested activities each night, and it has been very meaningful to everyone. After the reading, we turn to the back cover where a window to the corresponding day waits to be opened!!! This is the highlight for Elijah and Callan!!!
Blessings on all of you this Advent.

St. Nicholas Day

This past Saturday, December 6, was the beautiful feast of St. Nicholas. Traditionally, children set out their shoes by the fireplace on the eve of St. Nicholas' feast day. They awaken in the morning to a shoe full of surprises!!
Our family loves this tradition and looks forward to it each year. Elijah, Callan, and Aedan sat out their shoes by the fireplace Friday night. Saturday morning, they awoke to see that St. Nicholas had put a candy cane in each shoe, along with a Christmas book and pajamas next to it. As they ate their candy canes (with the exception of Aedan who has no teeth), we read each one of the books together. It was a heartwarming celebration!!!

The Gift of Cousins

Has anyone ever stopped to think about the wonderful blessing of cousins?? They're friends and family all wrapped up into one!!
Elijah, Callan, and Aedan spent a wonderful Thanksgiving in Chicago playing non-stop with their two cousins, Reina and Lola. Each one of them enjoyed the other's company for three entire days - playing, coloring, hiding-and-seeking....just plain, old-fashioned fun!!!
Cousins rock!

Clap, Clap, Clap Your Hands!

This past Monday, our "little man" (aka. Aedan) learned to clap his hands. His big brother taught him to do this, and both boys are as proud as can be! Aedan has continued to utilize his newfound skill over the past couple of days, and we are delighted to watch him. He looked so proud Tuesday morning when he "re-discovered" his latest achievement!

Puppets and Pennies

What a fun afternoon we all shared yesterday on the Plaza!! Elijah and Mommy attended the puppet show he had been so long awaiting. It was based on the book Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey. Full of witty humor, yet maintaining the integrity of the story, the show was as enjoyable as we expected!!
While we were watching the show, Daddy took Callan and Aedan around the Plaza to enjoy the shops and beautiful weather. We joined up with them after the show near one of the Plaza's many fountains. Elijah and Callan were each able to toss in two pennies...and they loved it!!! Just the act of watching where their pennies fell was pure joy for them.
As I have said before, and will say again, what joy we can all behold in such simplicity.