Thursday Thoughts

Today I'm thinking about...


...Christmas being over. And how sad that makes me. Not just because I love all things Christmas...the music...the family...the tree...the lights...the food...the joy...But because it means another year passed. Another year of my children moving farther away from that magical place called childhood. Another Christmas with a little one filled with the wonder of Santa is passed.


... How much I love January too! As much as I love Christmas, I also look forward to the quiet that is January. I embrace the peace and calm that the long, cold evenings bring. We gather here together after dinner in our country home and watch television and visit while the wind howls outside. Things slow down and we can just be.


...My resolve to be in the moment. I realized recently that this is the last semester of school that Madison will be here with us. I vow to be more in the moment and relish each and every day spent with my four children laughing and talking and learning together. : )


Here are a few photos of what we have been up to these first few days of the brand new year...

This little guy grew up to become my wonderful, amazing father. And he celebrated his 80th birthday in Heaven this week.

 

 

So we made the cake we made him every year. And celebrated with him in our hearts.

 

 

My little lady was all set for Mass on Sunday. And decided to take a Chihuahua Webkinz with her, of course.

 

 

We packed away Christmas. And we miss it. But to make our daily dinner special, I lit this pretty candle. And it was good.

 

 

Have a cozy weekend, my friends!

Happy New Year!

 

 

Christmas And New Year's 2014

Well... another wonderful Christmas Season has come and gone. Presents and memories and even a few cookies remain. I hope you all enjoyed a cozy, peaceful, lovely time with those you love. Here are a few pictures of our Christmas days...

We began our Christmas celebration on the 23rd, the first day of Christmas Break. I surprised the kids with our first Annual Rudolph Breakfast! I love Rudolph, and wanted to extend the Christmas fun as long as possible. The kids and Steve were thrilled.  : )

Christmas Eve was wonderful! No snow...but cloudy and cozy and cold! We lit our traditional Christmas Eve candle...the one that burns only one special day a year...

We spent the happiest day of the year relaxing, tracking Santa, drinking cocoa, and getting ready for Mass.

We decided to attend the later Mass, and had dinner first. We had our large meal on the 23rd, and decided to have an easier but still delicious meal of Pizza Stromboli for Christmas Eve.

After a beautiful Mass and a sprinkle of homemade reindeer food on the front lawn, we had dessert. : )

Then we read The Night Before Christmas and hung the stockings. And the kids went to sleep on the happiest night of the year. And yes...we hang a stocking for our little puppy, too!

What good sports I have! The annual top of the stairs picture...

We opened stockings first and then had a delicious breakfast of cinnamon rolls, fresh fruit, and Kringles.

Then it was time! Santa had come and my children were excited! Madison was thrilled with her Polaroid Camera. Yes...they are back!

Peyton was in awe of her gifts...she loved a set of books Santa found!

Rhett was sooooo happy! He could not even choose a favorite!

And my baby. Her favorite? A jack-in -the box. Forget technology. The tried and true classics are timeless. : )

Christmas Day was cozy here in our country home. Just the six of us together, blessed and happy.

The week in between Christmas and New Year's was spent very much the same way...cozy and warm at home. We played new Christmas gift games...

and drank cocoa with Fluff...

and attended Mass in new Christmas clothes...

and held onto Christmas while looking ahead to a brand new year.

Soon it was New Year's Eve, and we baked some red velvet cupcakes and decorated the table...

and went to Mass before heading home to our little family New Year's Eve party.

We played games, and watched movies and all stayed up to ring in a brand new year.

I looked around at that moment and realized how blessed I was to have all four of my children and my husband together on New Year's Eve. I wanted to be in that moment forever. And so I tucked it into my heart, where it will remain for me to pull out whenever I want.

I want to remember so much about this season...How much fun it is to have a little one to pull the older ones back into the magic...how excited my baby was to read The Night Before Christmas...how she left cookies for Santa...How my children's eyes sparkled as they saw their presents...how we were all together at our table with Raspberry Ginger Ale in crystal wine glasses. I want to remember how very blessed I am. So I write it down. And keep these memories in my heart.

Happy New Year, my friends!

Thanks for visiting!

The Schoolroom...December 2014 In Pictures

Snapshots Of The Season

Sharing a few pictures of the past month or so during this week of Christmas joy...