Picture catch up- St. Nicholas

As with most of my holiday stuff, I am behind in updating the blog of our festivities. I am chalking it up to my refusal to fall into the trap of the overrated hustle and bustle that gets us off track. I am focusing on hope these days; hope in what is to come- hope that God will work all things out in His timing., and I am focusing our many blessings, namely the kids. I pray you are all enjoying the season, and just in case I don't get to the cards- Merry Christmas and Happy New Year; May you all be blessed!

Our new tradition of celebrating the feast of St. Nicholas was a little different this year because Daddy was on retreat; we had more of a St. Nicholas weekend. Dec. 6th we went to a St. Nicholas party at church; I would like to say it went off without a hitch, but I was flying solo, and it was a little overwhelming for Pauly which of course led to it being a little overwhelming for me, but we stuck it out. There was lots of kids, lots of noise and of course a visit from good St. Nick himself. To my surprise, the waterworks turned of at his entrance and Pauly wanted to sit on his lap-he really wants transformers something bad I guess. That night when we got home, I put the kids to bed, poured myself a drink and hung the stockings for the kids to find in the morning.

















Someday I hope to have a real mantle again to hang our stockings on, but for now we make do.
George wasn't sure what to make of all the excitement.















We had planned to wait until Daddy got home in the afternoon, but it was hard to see the stockings hanging there full and not see what was inside. It was fun. They enjoyed themselves.

Once Daddy got home, it was time to put up the tree which for us includes carrying a huge and heavy box up from downstairs. The kids were eager to help, sometimes too eager.








While we fluffed branches and assembles the tree, Pauly was the designated light checker. I hate putting lights up only to find out they don't work. He enjoyed the task and took it very seriously. He gave me the all clear, and I began to string the lights only to find out 2/3 of the way through that several strings now didn't work. SOOO frustrating. I even took lights of my garland, and they stopped working. Paul attempted to put new fuzzes in, but to no avail we could not get the once cooperative lights to glow. So we ended the night with a 2/3rds lit tree and a glass of wine.

Lest you think we left it this way, which I have to admit I was tempted, we did buy more lights and finish the last 1/3. I figured it might be a good therapeutic exercise in not being perfectionist, but Paul didn't agree and the kids gave me a funny look. Thanks to a generous gift from our neighbor, we got a new beautiful 7 foot tree, and by beautiful I mean so beautiful I'm tempted to leave it as is. I'm embracing the minimalist approach to decorating this year. The old tree got moved to the basement; sorry, an adventure not caught on film. Stay tuned for more pictures- hopefully in a timely manner.