Merry Christmas!

"...the light shines in the darkness,

        and the darkness has not overcome it."

-John 1:5

+ Merry Christmas, Friends! We had a crazy, beautiful year. K had a very high-risk pregnancy worthy of an in-person conversation over coffee (or booze!). Baby was born at 12:43pm on Wednesday, July 14^th. He is perfect and smiles, rolls, and coos.

Sweet Pea, 6 (Kindergarten), has forgiven baby for being a boy and shares her room with him. She is his second mother, for whom he has a special smile. She takes ballet and soccer, and has limitless energy.

Mr. Serious, 5 (TK), Sweet Pea’s “twin,” is in school full-time. He shouts all his words like the 4^th of 6 children and loves to be silly and laugh. He makes “dinosaur sounds,” likes anything BIG, and has enviable elan.

The Fifth, 2.5, wakes up at 6am and runs with the pack until everyone is asleep. He’s determined not to miss a thing. He is extremely friendly and verbal. Everyone loves him.

The Engineer, 8 (2^nd grade), is preparing for the sacraments. He cracks jokes that are funny. He loves music and brainstorming about future inventions. He’s good for a pithy truth-bomb.

The Firstborn, 10 (4^th grade), takes surf, soccer, and reads many books. His favorite things about California are that “the sun shines every day and it never gets that cold.” (Come visit!)

DH enjoys the flexibility of his job and working from home. He is super-dad, always doing something for his kids and K. He loves beach life and is looking forward to Notre Dame winning the Fiesta Bowl. Have a wonderful new year! +

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More Preparations...

O Emmanuel, our King and Giver of Law:

come to save us, Lord our God!

Hat tip to my alma mater:

In the grocery store, a male stocker said to me, "Merry Christmas ... or Happy Holidays!" "Thank you," I responded with delight. "It's whatever you want it to be. Whatever makes you feel happy." "Jesus makes me happy," I said with a smile.

The interaction was frustrating. Jesus is also Who makes him happy. Jesus is the very foundation upon which we all depend. He's the reason we have hope in the most important things: fidelity, self-sacrificing love, heroic charity. He's the reason we have an idea of what it means to be generous. He's the reason women expect to get married to one man -- and have him be faithful to her for life. He's the reason we have ideals of justice, love, prudence, etc. He's the very reason we have Western civilization...

He's so much more than just my feeling of happiness. So, I've been making a point to say "Merry Christmas!" to everyone I see (with a smile, without even a hint of snark,) because we need to spread truth and beauty everywhere.

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Capistrano Lights

 O King of all nations and keystone of the Church:

come and save man, whom you formed from the dust!

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Feats of Engineering

DH told them of the flying buttress, which they thought was hilarious because it had the word "butt" in it. So, we are learning all kinds of things over here!

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In Preparation...

 O Key of David,

opening the gates of God’s eternal Kingdom:
come and free the prisoners of darkness!

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Why We Can't Have Nice Things...

They are super cute, though!

 

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The Fifth

Less stuck than he thinks he is:

 

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The Fruit of the Spirit

...the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.-Galatians 5:22-23(Pulling from here today. So good!)

 

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Conversations with the Eldest

 "I feel like the least manly person in this house because I have the pink bowl." -Eldest

"And is it the color of the bowl that makes you manly?"

"No."

"What makes you manly?"

"Your choices."

"Yes. ... the strength of your character."

"Or just your strength."

(It's great having kids old enough to think about and articulate their thoughts on such matters. ❤)

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Bravely Overcoming Every Evil

Jesus is not known, that is why he is not loved! ... Love is a light that illuminates, transforms, and unites. To be united to Jesus is to have surrendered to the will of the Father. To be united with Jesus is to be one with him in thought and affections...

-Blessed Concepción Cabrera de Armida

(Derived from Mass/Magnificat 12/13/21)

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Our Lady of Guadalupe & Grandma Helen

As we remember the life of Grandma Helen on her birthday, we recall the words of Our Lady of Guadalupe, whose feast is today:

Listen and let it penetrate your heart…do not be troubled or weighed down with grief. Do not fear any illness or vexation, anxiety or pain. Am I not here who am your Mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Am I not your fountain of life? Are you not in the folds of my mantle? In the crossing of my arms? Is there anything else you need?

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Christmas Program

"Mom, do you know how sometimes some people's parents clap and shout their kids' names after they're done with their performance?"

-Eldest

"Yes."

"Well, could you not do that for me?"

He also informed me that he "never gets nervous" in front of people; and the only thing that scares him is getting in trouble. Poor thing picked up an awful rash (looks like poison ivy), which is likely from jellyfish larvae. The downside of going to the beach every weekend... He still wanted to perform and hang out with his friends. The rash is finally subsiding. It was harder on DH and I than him.

This one worked hard to do what he was supposed to do during his performance. He was promised a month's supply of ice cream if he complied. He stepped on stage swinging his arms. Then, we watched as his expression turned to recollection and he pulled himself together for his song. 😅 So much better than the pre-K butt dance!

This child loves the spotlight. You can see his eyes sparkling here. He had such a good time. And I enjoyed watching him.

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"Move It!"

"Move it!" he repeated to the lady in front of us on the way to Holy Communion. I wish it was unintelligible, but the woman in the next line leaned toward me and whispered, "That's hilarious."

Later in the day he came to me and said, "I broke." "What did you break?" I asked. "Come here," he responded with the appropriate gesture. He led me to our bedroom closet where he had forced the door off the track. "Can we NOT ruin things, Bud?" I asked. "Oh-tay, Mommy!" he responded with a hug.

"We go church?" he asked one morning. "We go doctor?" he asked the following morning. "Do you like going out?" I asked. "Yeah," he said with a nod.

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Livin' the Dream

What the second-grader is displaying in his hall at school:

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