Theme Thursday: Dozen

Clever, very clever and easy! I am  linking up to Cari for her Theme Thursday.

Blessed Our Lady of Guadalupe Day to all of my Catholic Friends!

Besides prayers to our Blessed Mother, I wonder who is celebrating by cooking some Mexican food? I am trying, but it won't be too festive. I am working on St. Lucia breakfast for tomorrow:) Too many festivities to handle at the same time!

Any way...
For my "dozen" edition:

I have dozen Jesse Tree ornaments:

 

 

The Jacob ladder is called by Kubus, Kubus' ladder of course:)

( for those who don't realize, Kubus is Polish nickname for Jacob)

 

 

Building Christmas tree out of dozen blocks.

 

 

A dozen of Candy Cane Joe-Joe's from Trader Joe.

Delicious:)

 

Kinga. 



On the Second Sunday

 

 



And here we are, lighting the second candle on our Advent wreath already. The days go so fast, that I am thankful for the evenings, when we slow down for a couple of minutes and live our traditions.
There are Bible readings, the Jesse tree gets filled up with the ornaments and the favorite Christmas stories are being read.
I do cherish those readings. Even my twelve year old likes to snuggle next to me and listen to the story. Especially if it is long and beautiful; like  "The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey".

I have discovered that book when Kiki was little, and I have to say it is my favorite Christmas story.
It is story of a woodcarver, whose loneliness and personal tragedy left him bitter and old; and of the love that kept on slowly coming into his sad life in the presence of a widow and her sweet little boy. This story makes my heart melt and my eyes tear, every time that I read it to my children. They sense the real miracle of Christmas too.

Our week would not be complete without a nightly visit from St. Nicholas. I could not catch him with a camera, but he has left few surprises for my children.
They are lucky. St. Nick visits them twice in December. It is good to have Polish parents:)
I honestly think that their childhood would be missing something without those visits. I as a child, waited for them anxiously:)

Kinga.

Theme Thursday: Lights

I am linking today to Cari, for the "Lights" theme.

I know it is December and it should be the Christmas lights. But I do not have the decorations on yet ( my earlier post, the Gaudete Sunday ). I could have taken a walk around the neighborhood, but I lacked the time.
My first idea was to take some pictures from the deck. The weather was foggy and misty, and the far away lights gave the dimmed light and nostalgic feeling. It looked good in the theory, but not in the camera.
So I improvised.
I had set the lantern on the table, put the candle in ( made in Poland, bought in Christmas Tree Store !), and took some pictures.
I needed that for a change:) I am quite pleased with my five minute unedited "art":)

 



 Kinga.

The Advent

 

 

 The first purple candle is lit.

 

 

The first book for advent evening reading.

 

 

The first Jesse tree ornament - the Jesse Tree itself.

( pardon my lack of craftsmanship in this particular ornament )

 

 



It has always played a big part of my life; this season, advent.

The traditions of the religious part of the season, ( however there should be only religious part anyway ), were different than I have encountered and welcomed to our family here.

The advent that I grew up with, was a season of quieting inside and out. There were no parties to be held, no Christmas carols, no Christmas tree or any other holiday decorations; until the Christmas Eve.
The advent days were started with a early morning Mass, called "Roraty". It was dark, cold, rather freezing, slippery and often snowy. I should not even mention that I walked to the church!
There was no time for breakfast before the Mass, only after, right before school. I was tired at the end of the day...

But I would never have it any other way. It is because of those small offerings and sacrifices that the season was special and then the Christmas was more joyous and the memories of those times are so rich.

Here the advent is loud, shiny, bright, and red. The Christmas carols sound long before Thanksgiving, the decorations are on even before Halloween! The parties are held everywhere and everybody is in crazy pace of shopping. But we try.

I and my family, start with advent wreath. We have also welcomed the beautiful custom of Jesse tree, instead of Christmas tree in the beginning. We read the passages form the Bible, and for everyday we read a different Christmas story. Usually with a deeper meaning.

As the season draws closer to Christmas we celebrate St. Nicholas day, Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Lucia day.

There is also secular side to this season. Kids delight themselves in chocolate version of advent calendar. We bake cookies, which disappear quite quickly, watch Christmas movies, we admire neighborhood  Christmas lights and start decorating the house and Christmas tree around Gaudete Sunday.

I try to make it  memorable for my children as it was for me, even though different. Mostly I want the kids to remember the religious aspect of the seasons of advent and Christmas.
I do know that if we continue those traditions, they will cherish the memories of them as I do mine:)

Kinga:)

7 quick takes on Thanksgiving

 

 

1.

It was our nineteenth Thanksgiving yesterday. I have tried to remember every single one of them. I remembered the very first one, on the rancho, in Texas. Very unique experience ! And I remembered the rest; where and with whom. Amazing, have many there have been already!

 

2.
This one we spend at home, just by ourselves. It has been like that for the last few years. Our own family is far away ( and does not celebrate Thanksgiving ), and friends are spending it with their own families.

3.
In the mid morning we decided to take Christmas pictures...outside. It was sunny, but cold with freezing wind. I made everyone take their coats off! The session went by very fast:)

4.

 Children were thankful each in his/her own way:
 

Kubus was thankful for trucks.

  

Kiki wrote a thanksgiving poem.

 

"I am thankful for the stories

I read again and again

To the movies, plays, and voices

That sing and never end.

 

I am thankful for the food

Prepared with care and love

To the soil, the earth. the sun and rain

And things like mammals, beasts , and bugs.

 

But I am most thankful for

Is He who gave me life

And the family and friends who love me

And helped me to take flight"

 

Zuzia wrote her own thankful story:

 

"When they said: what are you thankful for? I say I truly don't know where to start! So then I stand up straight and tall and say I'm thankful for the city, the river and the waves, and I can't forget my friends and family, and the poor little creatures who live in this beautiful world with us. Then I finish it with saying and that's what I am thankful for!"

 

5.

Andrzej said only one thing comes into his mind. He was thankful for his family.
Later in the day he was thankful for his two favorite football teams to win; the Cowboys and the Longhorns:)

 

 I, myself have to say I am thankful for my faith, my healthy kids: growing writers and the little, sweet truck lover; Andrzej who takes good care of us all; for warm, cozy home and good food on the table:)

 

6.
Speaking of the food;

We started our own tradition this year. We forwent  the turkey and went for the things that everybody likes. There were ribs, roasted potatoes, sweet potato casserole, garlic flavored green beans and for dessert apple pie with vanilla ice cream. And you know what? Everybody was happy for a change.

I think we will keep it that way!
 

  7.
Few pictures from the event. Just because I like it!
 

 

Kinga:)

 

The Apple Cake

 

 

 

 

 

It is hard to deny that the autumn days are getting fast toward the end. Yes, the colors are still somewhat on the trees and mostly under, and there is no snow on the ground, at least not for a long time. But the air is cold, the days are short and there is freeze at night. My evening walks are chilly, and in the darkness. I have to walk really fast to keep warm:)

In the spirit of ending autumn, and yet before we explore the books about Thanksgiving next week, I read to kids a lovely book "the Apple Cake" by Nienke van Hichtum. I found the recommendation on Elizabeth Foss blog. I do go there for literature and other uplifting readings. I am yet to be disappointed, and I doubt that it will ever going to happen:)

I read the book once, twice, and even Kubus was interested. Bear in mind that he mostly loves anything with wheels:)
The story is about giving and receiving and about the joy that they bring. It ends with a delicious apple cake and a recipe for it. I had to bake it.

A perfect way to start saying good bye!

Kinga:)

7 Quick Takes

Zuzia has accused me today of neglecting my blog. Between headaches and anxiety battles and trying to take care of the house and family, sometimes blogging is last on my list, even though I do like doing it.

My 7 quick takes today will reflect on the last week. It makes sense, 7 takes 7 days of the week:)
 

 
 

1.

Last Friday.

Since last year Kateri decided that she really wanted to try fencing. We have dismissed the idea of signing her up for this unusual activity, due to the fact that when and where and for what cost of time and money would that make any sense. To our great surprise, Kateri's new school offered up fencing program. The kids get bussed to the fencing facility but it is up to parents to pick them up. I was hoping that she won't get particularly attached to this new activity, but I was wrong. So on Friday's crazy afternoon traffic, the one I would like to avoid, you can find me getting to the other part of state, picking her up.

 

2.

Saturday.
 Another crazy schedule. It included Kateri's Girl Club meeting in Mass ( thanks to our kind friend to offer a ride ), Zuzia's swim meet, and Kateri's 2 basketball games!
 I, myself,  had managed to bake cinnamon rolls and bread.

 

 

3.

Sunday.
 After our weekly dose of prayer, and singing ( on my part ) I was hoping to go to Ikea. I really wanted to update few things in the house. Andrzej said it is out of the question. He wanted to stay home and rest a little. I can't blame him, but on the other hand I can't go there by myself either. Blame this on my crazy dizziness.

 

4.

Monday.

Day off from school, as I have mentioned in the previous post. It did not started well. I decided to take care of my oldest daughter's health and throw away the remaining Halloween candy that were scattered on her desk together with the empty wrappers. I think, it was the mess that made me do that. Let's just say that I did not score any points with Kateri and she still holds me accountable of making her life bitter that day.

 

5.

Tuesday.

First snow. Chilly, unpleasant, brrr... Fortunately it did not lasted long.

But Kubus insisted on playing in the sandbox. I was freezing as I watched this happy boy playing with diggers and bulldozers and dumptrucks!
 

 

6.

Wednesday.
My previous Yarn along day. I am still working on my orange vest. It is slowly progressing, but nothing to show off yet.

In the afternoon, we hosted the Junior Girl Club meeting. Lovely girls, lovely time, delicious cupcakes!
 

 

 

7.

Thursday.

Pilates class  - 10 miles.

Picking up Kateri from school - 25 miles.

 Basketball practice - 12 miles.

 Visit at the doctor - 20 miles.

So much for staying at home mom!!!

 

Kinga:)