Modest Skirt Giveaway

I've been a skirt wearer for almost 2 years now.  I have always loved skirts and dresses and rediscovered my love for them after having Samuel.  I found they fit better after having a baby and looked better on me.  I also found that I felt better about myself, even in a simple jean skirt and t-shirt, I felt better than I did in jeans.  There is something wonderful about looking feminine.  It changes how you move, how you look at yourself and for me how I viewed my vocation as a wife and mother.  So slowly the pants just disappeared from my closet; they just weren't replaced and I haven't worn pants in about 18 months now.

Probably the hardest thing is finding modest yet stylish skirts.  I don't want to look like I stepped off the prairie or be that typical "home schooling mom" in the jean jumper.  You can find rack after rack of low-cut, skinny jeans, but try finding a long, modestly cut skirt that is flattering and not dumpy.  It's not easy.  I found New Creation Apparel and purchased a couple of their skirts.  They are priced well, are good quality and I'd buy there again.  There is now a give away you can enter to win one of their skirts.  Who doesn't like free clothing?  Especially good quality, modest clothing.

Check it out:
http://isthismodest.com/2011/12/29/december-2011-modest-skirt-giveaway/

Tree Decortating

Yesterday was our official tree decorating day.  I look forward to this day throughout Advent. We always have a great time...decorating the tree, eating way too much and watching Christmas movies.  Yesterday was everything I could have hoped it would be.  The kids just loved looking through their ornaments, oohing and aahing at all of them.  Once the little guys ran out of their own to hang on the tree they dug into the boxes of mine that I've saved.

They each started the day by getting their ornaments from Brad and I. Grant's was a beautiful ornament with Our Lady of Perpetual Help.  Parker had a scene with the Holy Family.  Matthias received a Dummer Boy.  Augustin had the three wise men, Samuel the holy family and then Veronica a holy family.

After that, they spent a long time decorating and the tree was very full when they finished.  I did some rearranging...especially when there were three and four ornaments on the same branch.  Mom said we're going to need 2 trees next year to hold all the ornaments; I think she's right.

Augustin hung A LOT of ornaments.

Matthias also opened his ornament from his Godmother and hung that on the tree too.  Thank you Miss Cheryl

I loved just sitting back and listening to them talk amongst themselves.  All the cute comments and the "I remember this one." and "Oohh look at this one!!"  Just pure happiness from everyone.  We watched White Christmas and Bells of St. Mary's two of my favorite movies.  The food was delicious.  Lots of appetizers followed by scalloped potatoes and ham.  Veronica spent most of the afternoon sleeping, which was probably good thing.  I think this was probably the most relaxing tree decorating day I've had.  The boys are all big enough that they did most of the unpacking of ornaments and decorating themselves and I really just got to enjoy watching them.

December and Advent are upon us

We are only 14 days into December, but we are already busy, busy with all the Advent celebrations and preparations as we wait in joyful anticipation for Christmas.  I have been negligent in keeping up here, but trust me, we've been having a great time and keeping busy.

The first big activity for the month was Samuel and Veronica's joint birthday party on Sunday, December 4th.  Samuel turned 3 on November 20th and Veronica was 1 on November 23rd.  We typically only have a big 1st birthday, but poor Samuel was too sick the first year and I had to cancel his birthday party the night before.  Then last year I was too tired to plan anything with Veronica's impending birth and my Mom's surprise party.  So this was the year....a combo party for the two of them.  My Dad was a trooper and made two cakes...one boy cake and one girl cake.  Samuel insisted on a lady bug and I wanted something girly for Veronica so he tackled a rag doll cake and both were adorable and very delicious.

Next on the agenda was St. Nicholas' feast day. Probably the most anticipated day of Advent and the entire month of December except for Christmas Day.  The night before the kids put their shoes our hoping St. Nicholas would fill them with goodies.  They were not disappointed either.  They awoke to find their shoes near their beds and filled with candy, a statue and an apple and an orange.  There were lots of smiles and laughter that morning.

Augustin finding his shoes

Matthias very excited about his fruit

Samuel really had a great time.  This was the first time he ever really got into the fun of the morning

Even the biggest guy gets into the celebration and enjoys the morning.  He is showing off his St. Nicholas statue

He looks so tall here.  He is tall, but he looks even taller when I'm sitting on the floor

I love this picture.

Augustin enjoying some baked oatmeal that Grant made the day before.  Quite a treat.

Veronica's too young to understand all the excitement, but she found someones orange and wasn't letting it go.

Baking

The boys have done a lot of baking this year.  Grant is great about getting everyone involved.  Here they are making ginger snaps and he let the little guys, to include Samuel, dip the cookies in sugar while Parker put them on the baking sheet.  

Only 11 days to go as Grant reminds me.  Can you tell they are excited?  It should be another 11 days of excitement as we await Christmas Day.

Too cute not to photograph

Some things are just too funny not to take a picture of.  On Sunday night Brad brought Veronica into the house in her carseat; one of the advantages of a small baby that still fits in the infant seat.  Samuel decided that it would make a great seat and spent an hour Monday night sitting in her seat.  He took the snuggly winter cover off, zipped it up and then curled up in the car seat.   The funniest part was that he was in no hurry to get out.

Veronica wasn't sure what to make of the whole thing and kept trying to pull him out