This year the girls and I read several books during Advent to prepare for Christmas. They are all old favorites of mine and I am so happy to be passing them along to my children. 

First, we read Madeleine L'Engle's The Twenty-Four Days Before Christmas. I've mentioned this book several times previously. Quite simply, it is my inspiration for how we celebrate Advent. In fact, it may be my inspiration for how we try to make each day the best it can be. The premise of the book is that the family does something each day of December to prepare for Christmas. In the midst of this, the awkward seven-year-old narrator is having trouble being a graceful angel in the Christmas Pageant and she is worried that her mother, who is expecting a baby, might be in the hospital for Christmas. It, of course, all comes together beautifully in the end. Not only did I read this lengthy story to Meg and Clare, they had their Grammy read it to them again just after Christmas. I think we have successfully passed a love of this story on to the next generation.

A couple of days before Christmas we began reading Barbara Robinson's The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. I grew up watching the television movie adaption of this book and I read the book itself several years ago. This year I decided the girls might enjoy it. I was amazed by how much they loved it. We read the first chapter or two at bedtime one night. We read the next chapter the following night. We then finished the book in its entirety on Christmas Eve in two very long reading sessions. The girls are still talking about the Herdmans--those fire-starting delinquents who end up taking over the Christmas Pageant. They love Imogene and her portrayal of Mary. They laugh about the Herdmans' passionate anger towards Herod. Meg and Clare were completely absorbed in this book. It is a charming story about how these hoodlums, who have never before heard the Christmas story, end up helping the church-going nice people understand the Christmas story so much better. 

There was very little sleep on Christmas Eve. We were giving Meg and Clare each desks from IKEA for Christmas. While my husband and I watched Love Actually, I used my IKEA assembling skills and put together both desks. As I finished assembling and the movie finished, my husband headed to Midnight Mass. In our parish, Midnight Mass actually begins at Midnight (not always true for other parishes). I finished up Christmas morning preparations and then curled up on the living room sofa, where I spent the rest of the night acting as guard. Periodically throughout the night I would hear little feet walking across the floor upstairs and I would rush up the stairs where I would find one of the girls at the top of the stairs wondering if Santa had come yet. 

At 6:30 a.m. Clare made it about halfway down the stairs. I told her she had to wait for Meg. She responded, "Okay, but I see my art desk." We pulled everyone together fairly quickly. Even my exhausted husband (who protested he didn't really need to see the girls opening their gifts) made it to the sofa (where he promptly fell back asleep). The girls were happy with their desks and the art supplies. Clare loved her Elsa doll and wig. Meg loved her Clara (from the Nutcracker) rag doll. 

At 8 a.m. we started scrambling to make it to Mass. I quickly put the ham in the crockpot. Everyone threw on clothes. We were not in our Christmas best, but we made it to Mass. The girls love Christmas Mass because they finally see the church decorated, including the beautiful Nativity scene. After Mass (and after allowing the girls to look closely at the Nativity scene), we headed home to prepare Christmas dinner. 

Christmas dinner was pretty simple this year. Ham, a turkey breast, mixed vegetables, mashed potatoes, canned biscuits and store-bought cranberry relish. Our biggest project Christmas Day was making the birthday cake for Jesus which would serve as our dessert. As you can see from the picture above, the girls went all out on decorating as they always do. They even used candy from their stockings to add color and pizzazz.

Christmas night we headed to Bull Run Regional Park for the Festival of Lights. It was a long drive there, but completely worth it. There are 2 1/2 miles of lights to drive through and the light displays are very whimsical. It was so much fun and perhaps will become an annual Christmas night tradition.  I have to say I preferred it to ZooLights at the National Zoo, which is legendary in this area. 

Christmas was a lovely, quiet day this year. The grandparents began coming into town the day after Christmas. The girls would have preferred to have someone special visiting on Christmas Day, but they were perfectly happy with how things worked out. 

We've been trying to strike the balance between taking it easy and creating Christmas memories this week. I've had a few medical appointments and my husband has been winding down work, but we've managed a few fun activities. 

On Monday we made our gingerbread house. After having our first gingerbread house completely collapse on us several years ago, we prefer the boxed variety with all the pieces and proper icing that actually sticks. Our very favorite is the Trader Joe's gingerbread house with cute gingerbread people and animals that accompany the house. 

On Monday we also had planned to go caroling with the Dominican friars. Dressed in full Dominican garb, the friars sing fun carols at a Metro station and catch the attention of those passing by. Unfortunately there was freezing rain on Monday and the event had to be cancelled. So what to do with our extra time? The girls and I decided to go to the U.S. Botanical Garden's Christmas display. It was beautiful. The girls loved the Christmas tree, the miniatures of important D.C. landmarks such as the Capitol Building and the Washington Monument. They loved the model trains and they especially loved the miniature pirate's ship. 

By Tuesday it was time to prepare for Christmas Eve and Christmas. We had bought most of the necessary food, but I had yet to make party mix, which was a Christmas Eve staple while I was growing up. Using my grandmother's recipe, the girls and I mixed the ingredients and toasted it. I think I should have baked it a bit longer, but I was afraid I would burn it. Regardless, I am so happy to have party mix around for Christmas Eve.  

We are nearly ready for Christmas. I hope I've bought all the presents. Everything is safely tucked away and I haven't had a chance to look at it. When the girls go to sleep tonight, the boxes come out and I will be busy putting together art tables. Can't believe Christmas is almost here! 

Sunday was not a good day. I was struggling. A life-long anxiety disorder (that has taken a back seat for awhile now) has flared up--probably related to a health problem that is revealing itself. On Sunday morning, I was having panic attacks. But life with three kids does not stop just because you have are having a panic attack. I managed to get the girls basically ready for Mass. I then put Baby Anne in her crib so I could finish getting ready. She cried. I hurried to finish. Then I heard my husband say from downstairs, "WHAT ARE YOU GIRLS DOING?" What they were doing was "making bath crayons" using food dye. Meg was stained in various colors of food dye and there was dye on the walls, cabinets and floor. All this happened minutes before we were to go to Mass. 

While they couldn't completely understand the outrage at their actions ("we were just trying to make bath crayons"--which I guess comes from an episode of Creative Galaxy), Meg was horrified by the fact she couldn't get the food dye off her hands and face. She initially refused to go to Mass, but we informed her there was no choice. She sat in the corner of the pew and buried her face so her friends wouldn't see her. 

My panic attacks continued. The girls were tasked with cleaning the house and car as part of their punishment for getting out the food dye without permission. There was a great deal of yelling and crying from pretty much everybody in the house (perhaps only my husband managed not to cry). As the afternoon progressed, I told my husband, "I want to go to the Shrine." The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, aka the National Shrine, was having a Blessing of the Bambinelli (the Baby Jesus from the Nativity) and the Lighting of the Christmas Tree as part of their 4:30 pm Mass. Considering the emotional state of everyone, my husband thought I was crazy. I knew we all needed a restart and I thought this event might hold the key.

When we arrived we discovered the Blessing would take place after the Mass, so we decided to walk around the Shrine with the girls rather than try to have them sit through Mass. There are many beautiful chapels throughout the Shrine and the girls enjoy seeing them. As my husband played tour guide and the girls asked to see various chapels they remembered seeing previously, everyone's moods lifted. We headed back to the Upper Church near the end of Mass where I found a statue of St. Theresa of Lisieux. St. Theresa had faced her own anxiety issues and I asked her to pray for me. Right now, I could definitely use the prayers of someone in Heaven as well as the prayers of my many friends and family members praying for me on Earth. 

It turned out the Blessing was to be held back downstairs, so we headed back down again. As the crowd gathered, everyone pulled out various Baby Jesus figurines. Some were large and elaborate. Some, like ours, were tiny. Monsignor Rossi prayed a blessing and the large Christmas tree outside the Crypt Church was lit. Holy Water was then sprinkled throughout the crowd of Baby Jesuses. I was grateful to feel that Holy Water hit me--a reminder of our baptism...and quite honestly, don't we need that reminder often. 

As we left the National Shrine and enjoyed the numerous Christmas lights outside, I think we were all very glad we had experienced this change of scene. We had broken free of our dismal day and found a little hope. 

When the third Sunday of Advent approaches, all I can think of is carol Gaudete. Many years ago (before having kids), my husband and I attended an Advent concert at The Catholic University of America. The one song I can remember from that concert is the medieval carol Gaudete. 
           
The third Sunday of Advent--the pink candle Sunday (for those who use an Advent wreath)--is known as Gaudete Sunday because "gaudete" is the first word of the Latin introit of that day's Mass. Gaudete means rejoice.

In our family, the weekend of Gaudete Sunday means we can put up the Christmas tree. Traditionally, Christmas trees didn't go up until Christmas Eve. There is something nice about that tradition, but it just seems to be asking too much of our children who see Christmas decorations all around them. We've decided the joyous nature of Gaudete Sunday is a perfect time for decorating the Christmas tree. 

This year my mom was visiting us on Gaudete Sunday. My husband had to travel for work, so we asked my mom if she would like to visit so I would have help with the kids while he was gone. (Her recent retirement from work makes these wonderful quick trips possible.) It was a busy weekend. On Friday afternoon, the girls dressed up in Nativity costumes and took pictures at the Pauline Bookstore's Birthday Party for Jesus. Friday night, Meg's school held an Advent Lessons and Carols. Late Saturday morning, Meg's service group placed wreaths at a National Cemetery. On Saturday afternoon, we attempted to see Santa at the National Christmas Tree--only to discover there was no Santa this year...just a Santa chair. In the midst of all of that (and with a lot of work from my mom), we managed to get the Christmas tree decorated, the nativity sets out, a wreath put on the door and even some gingerbread cookies made. A nice way to enjoy Gaudete Sunday.

This past Saturday was St. Nicholas Day. I have had a fondness for St. Nicholas Day since high school German class. I don't believe I have a drop of German blood in me, but I have always had a fondness for German food and folk culture. My husband strongly supports celebrating St. Nicholas Day because it is straight out of the Catholic liturgical calendar and because the real St. Nicholas punched a heretic at the Council of Nicea (and who doesn't love a jolly old bishop who would punch a heretic).

Saturday was also Meg's joint birthday party with two other children from her class. Our theme involved the North Pole, so we decided to throw a little St. Nicholas ornament into each guest bag. We mixed up an inedible dough, using flour, salt and water. We rolled the dough out and cut out small shapes. We then used the St. Nicholas cookie stamp I recently purchased to imprint a picture of St. Nicholas on the dough and then put a small hole at the top of the ornament. After baking ornaments at a low temperature for several hours, we added ribbon to them and they were ready to go. 

We have a similar stamp for St. Lucy and plan to make St. Lucy ornaments over the weekend. Of course, these can also be used to make actual cookies. Hopefully we'll do that at some point soon as well. 

A few nights ago, we took just a few minutes to make a fun memory. It was a mild night--not too cold. We could see the moon clearly in the sky. So, just before bedtime, I grabbed our library copy of Own Moon--the Jane Yolen book about a dad taking his child to search for owls on a cold, wintry night. Meg found her kid's lantern. I brought out our "in case the lights go out" lantern and we headed outside and sat on the grassy hillside. In the slight cold, we read Owl Moon by lantern light.

The girls quickly remembered the last time they had done this. Last spring, after a night of making s'mores around the firepit at my sister's house, they had made a makeshift tent to pretend they were camping. That night it was my sister who pulled out the lantern and her copy of Owl Moon and read to them by their tent. 

Both nights the girls were giddy in their excitement. Something about a book world and the real world colliding makes things extra special. When I was in fifth or sixth grade, I was reading a book about a boy who magically travelled back to Plymouth  at the time of the pilgrims. We happened to vacationing near Plymouth, so my parents made the drive there for the day simply because I was reading the book and wanted to go. We visited the strikingly small Plymouth rock as well as the Mayflower II (which was much more exciting). We walked through an old cemetery and I felt the book I was reading come to life.

My favorite movie ever is "You've Got Mail." At one point Kathleen says, "So much of what I see reminds me of something I read in a book, when shouldn't it be the other way around." I don't really care if it should be the other way around. I just love when the worlds collide. Even better, I love when the worlds collide and create a new tradition. I don't think this will be the last time the girls read Owl Moon under the real moon. In fact, I wonder if one day one of them will read it to their daughters on a cold, wintry night. 

Our adventure for Wednesday night was Light Up Shirlington. It was scheduled for Tuesday, but happily the organizers postponed it for a night due to the weather. Great move! The weather was gorgeous Wednesday night and what an enjoyable night we had. 

After feeding the girls dinner at home, we packed up and headed there just after 6 pm. My husband planned to meet us there directly from work. While we waited for him, the girls picked up reindeer antlers (a must have freebie for all the kids) and ran into a school friend. We passed Santa at one point and Clare melted in giggles--she was so excited. My husband found us just before the tree lighting. The girls had moved closer to the stage with the other kids and were dancing to All I Want for Christmas Is You, performed by one of the actors from Shirlington's Signature Theatre. Meg was jumping up and down, waving her hands in the air to the music. If only I could bottle that joy and pull it out on the rough days. 

As the countdown began, the kids piled on stage with Santa in great excitement. They loudly joined in: 3, 2, 1. The countdown ended, confetti shot out everywhere...but no lights came on. Uh oh. A few seconds ticked by and then the tree lit up. Crisis averted. Everyone was thrilled.

We skipped the horse and carriage rides due to crazy long lines and a fussy Baby Anne. But the girls did get balloons. While I was a little disappointed we didn't do the carriage rides, the girls seemed perfectly happy to just watch the carriages go up and down the streets of Shirlington. It was an unusual sight.

It was such a fun night. I suspect we'll be returning for many years to come.

Clare made my day yesterday. She asked to read Madeleine L'Engle's The Twenty-Four Days Before Christmas. I grew up with this book and it remains one of my favorite stories. My mom is a Madeleine L'Engle fan. She first found this story in a magazine--Family Circle, I believe--and would read it to my sister and I in the days leading up to Christmas. At some point my dad gave her a beautifully illustrated book of the story, which is fantastic, but I still have fond memories of that magazine copy. 

The Twenty-Four Days of Christmas instilled in me a strong sense of Advent. Advent is a time to prepare for Christmas. It is not Christmas itself. Christmas begins on Christmas Day and extends at least until Epiphany and possibly through Candlemas. Advent--the four weeks before Christmas--is a time of reflection and sacrifice. We will slowly put up Christmas decorations. Candles can go up now, but the Christmas tree must wait until Gaudete Sunday (the third Sunday in Advent). 

We once again have an Advent calendar from the National Gallery of Art. This year's calendar has all Madonna and Child paintings from the NGA. Between Christmas and New Year, we will once again go to the NGA to attempt to find as many originals as we can of the paintings featured on the Advent calendar. Here you'll find my post about last year's trip. 

Our dining room has been taken over by our Jesse Tree. Our parish provides weekly printouts for the Jesse Tree. This past Sunday Meg and Clare collected sticks (some rather large) to create our Jesse Tree. They also cut the week's ornaments out themselves. We have been doing our Jesse tree ornaments at dinner time (when we have a little more time) and opening our Advent calendar window in the morning  (when we are running out the door to school). 

So far, it has been a nice start to our Advent season. 

I am anxious to begin writing about our Advent experience, but I must get through Thanksgiving first. While we typically spend Thanksgiving with my family, travelling just wasn't an option this year. Baby Anne is not a good traveller. That, combined with only a short break from school, helped make our decision to remain home. 

It's not the first Thanksgiving we've been home. Just after our wedding, my husband and I stayed home for Thanksgiving. I cooked a turkey, made side dishes and whipped up a homemade pumpkin cheesecake. But in the end, it was just the two of us eating on the sofa (we didn't have a table at that point) and it didn't really feel like a holiday.

Twice I have given birth in the days immediately preceding Thanksgiving. With Meg, she was suffering from jaundice on Thanksgiving and I have little memories of eating. I think my husband just heated up some food his mother had made for us and brought me a plate to eat while I was holding Meg. It was more festive last year after Anne was born. My mother-in-law was still in town helping with the older girls and we all gathered around our dining room table to eat. I had nothing to do with preparations, since I was just home from the hospital, but it still felt like Thanksgiving. 

This year it was time for me to attempt making Thanksgiving dinner again. Preparing the raw turkey is pretty much my least favorite cooking duty ever. This year I had to pull out those turkey innards with Clare and Baby Anne looking on. I just kept telling them, "I'm dealing with a raw turkey here. All requests will have to wait until I'm done and have disinfected the kitchen." Clare understood. I don't think Baby Anne quite got it. Still, we managed and the turkey made it into the oven. 

The sides were our biggest discussion. Meg, Anne and I love sweet potatoes. My husband and Clare refuse to eat sweet potatoes, but like mashed potatoes. I made both. Everyone agreed on peas. The girls wanted biscuits. I wanted stuffing and cranberry sauce. Clare wanted pasta. In the end, we had quite the feast. 

Late in the day, we welcomed Nicole and her extended family for desserts. We were happy to welcome Nicole because she brought great desserts (and because she's a wonderful friend, of course). She contributed a chocolate silk pie and a pecan pie to our pumpkin pie and apple crisp. I had apple cider with mulling spices simmering in the crockpot and my husband made coffee (he's way better at it than I am). The guys watched football. The women attempted to calm down Meg and Clare who were over-the-top hyper by that point. They had been trapped in the house for basically two days with lots of sweets By the end of the night, Clare was coloring at the table and Meg was practicing reading. 

Everyone went to bed not too long after our normal bedtime. And I think we went to sleep thankful for the lovely family day.