Celebrating the feast day of St. Nick

On December 6, we celebrate the feast of St. Nicholas, the true Santa Claus. It's a Czech tradition to have your stockings filled with small gifts from this saint.

Our parish held a Breakfast with St. Nick event that included a huge, delicious breakfast, and pictures with St. Nicholas. Eli wasn't so keen on seeing St. Nicholas and he was about .00029 seconds away from bursting into tears in this picture, but it came out to be a great picture. 

My mom asked all of my siblings to be there with their children so she could get a grandchildren picture. It took a little coercing, but she got a precious picture of all of her grandchildren in their Christmas pajamas. 

When we got home, St. Nicholas had left a few things in our stockings. (Please excuse the messiness and missing baby Jesus in the Nativity)

Eli was excited to see what he got

He liked that he could dump everything out on the floor

Eli received a toothbrush, toothpaste, puzzle, coloring book, and Rudolph bandages.

He was excited to start using his toothbrush.

Doris wanted to know what he got. St. Nicholas brought Doris and Mr. Bates a few things, too.

Trim the Tree

It takes me a full week to put up my Christmas decorations. I know that's too much. But, I absolutely enjoy every minute of getting out old ornaments, placing decorations in new places in the house, and hanging garland...lots of garland. 

Last year, I put everything up with a 6 week old. This year, it was with a one year old. Eli was a lot of fun to have around. Yes, he threw most of the decorations on the floor once I put them up, but we made memories. 

He was really intrigued by the tree and I guess most children are. He loved to hold the ornaments and tried to put them on the tree.

I kept the glass ornaments on the top portion of the tree for obvious reasons.

He is putting his cousin, Billy's, ornament on the tree that was sent to us a few years ago.

I love this shot

And after awhile I noticed that he wasn't putting ornaments on the tree anymore, but sitting in his rocking chair and admiring the tree. He reminds me that I need to relax and enjoy this time with him. I need not worry about every minute detail. I need to sit back and relish this special time with my family.

Adoring My Lord

My parish began a 24/7 adoration chapel about a year ago. For those unfamiliar with an adoration chapel, it is a small chapel that is separate from the main church that houses the consecrated host of Jesus. As Catholics, we believe that Jesus is truly present in the bread and wine offered at Mass when consecrated by a priest. 

During this time adorers may come to spend alone and quiet time with the Lord in His most sacred state. I never understood the true power and beauty of this until I attended CRHP Retreat(Christ Renews His Parish) a few years ago. Being in the presence of Christ allowed me to pray deeply and grow closer to our Lord.

Fast forward to last year when our parish started our adoration chapel. In order for it to remain open 24/7 we had to have adorers at every time of day, as you do not want to leave Jesus alone. They asked for adorers and I couldn't see myself committing to an hour every week. It now sounds so selfish, but I had just given birth to Eli and was trying to manage a home with a baby. 

I substituted for a friend a few times on Friday nights when she had to go out of town. Every time I left I felt that I needed to be there. Jesus wanted me to spend time with Him. The hustle and bustle of being a new mom was weighing on my spiritual life. I prayed my Rosary every morning, but I really needed that deep contemplative prayer time that adoration offered. 

In July, my friend told me that they needed another person to take the shift after her, if not she would be taking three hours by herself in the middle of the night. I felt the call to accept this gift that God was wanting me to have.

My time is for 1 1/2 hours on Friday night. It's not always easy to wake up in the middle of the night, but it's worth it every single time I open that chapel door. This is my "me time" with Jesus. There are no text messages going off, no babies crying, no noise distracting me from what I came there to do. By spending that time with Jesus, I am able to not only talk to my Lord, but truly listen to what He wants for me. This time is sacred. I want others to take this same opportunity to grow closer to Christ.

I know that my parish is truly blessed to have an adoration chapel. I have talked to neighboring parishoners and they are always in awe that we have a chapel to go to at anytime of the day. I pray that more people take advantage of this gift.

 God is waiting for us. 

We have only to accept.

Halloween 2014

Last Halloween, we were bringing our newborn baby boy home from the hospital. This year, we were dressing up our one year old up as an ewok.

I let Eli walk around in his costume a few days before Halloween so he could get more comfortable in it

He loved wearing the costume

On Halloween day, my sister and I took the kids to her work Halloween party

Eli and Marley had fun trick-or-treating and playing in the pumpkin patch

Eli was stopped many times for pictures in his ewok costume

My neighborhood decided to hold trick-or-treating this year. We've never had trick-or-treating in our neighborhood because we live in the country. Our family and friends came out to several participating houses on a hayride. It was so much fun and I wish I had more pictures of the event.

Our house was ready to go for ghosts and goblins to come and get candy

The event was such a success that we decided to keep it going next year. I can't wait to see how it will go next year!

Eli's First Birthday Party

We held Eli's birthday party a few days from his actual birthdate. My family and friends came out to help celebrate our sweet guy's big day.

We had a Halloween themed party since Eli's birthday is the 29th

My sister helped me decorate our house

We had nachos, pumpkin cheesecake dip, mummy hot dogs, hot dog fingers...

And even a mad scientist cooking a delicious concoction

We encouraged everyone to wear their Halloween costumes to the party

Our little ewok

He needed a snack break

Eli's guests

My cousins were happy to be there

Eli playing with his aunt and cousin

A few of our guests playing with toys

All of Eli's younger guests in costume

They were all just too cute for words

I'm so glad he had so many friends come to his party

Just enjoying the party

It was finally time for birthday cake

We got Eli his own cupcake to eat

He kept trying to touch the flame-lit candle

He loved the cupcake

Eli(ok, me) opening his presents

He didn't know what to do with all of these great gifts

I'm saddened that our little boy is growing up so quick, but I am so blessed to have him in our lives