A Sweet St. Valentine Gala

Banners, cake, a story and lots of sweet faces!

I'm glad the projects were started early.  One day a cricut machine will 'magically' appear in my house; and make the crafts a whole lot easier.

Our St. Valentine Gala was yesterday.  A few days prior to the actual feast day, but since the 14th landed at the start of Lent, and on a Thursday (crazy days for us); an early celebration was the best idea ever!

I made the banners using each a picture of each child.  Then I wrote a verse from the bible regarding love around the hearts.  All together the banner looked really cute and they were scattered through out the living room and dining room.  A gift for each family to take home and place in their own space.

We had the focus of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary as well as St. Valentine.  Keeping this feast Catholic is always important, especially in these times were in.

When the kids arrived, it was PARTY time!

We first read the real reason for St. Valentines' Day.  As, I'm told by my Lucy (who was celebrating a very grown up Jane Austin Valentine Tea down the street) I get into my 'teaching' modes easily.  Hey, aren't I a home schooler?  So, yes we talked briefly to the kids about true love.

Loving the way God loves.

Love is hard.

Love takes work.

Love should be cared for.

Love should be shared.

Because we have the best example of what love is, and how to love.  We have Jesus on the cross.  We have the knowledge that God so loved us, that he created each of us to love and be loved.  He loved us so much that he was willing to die for us.

Beautiful LOVE!

We promptly went from reading and talking to EATING

and crafting!

Each child planted an ivy around a wire heart.  I had meant to decoupage the images of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary.  But, I couldn't find my decoupage stuff.  To bad too because the images were so cool!

But during the planting, I told the kids that like this ivy, if we care for our faith by staying close to the sacraments and Jesus our faith would grow just like the ivy. 

Strong. 

Vibrant.

We just didn't have food and crafts though.  There was a scavenger hunt.  What were they hunting you ask?  Rabbits? Eggs? Dogs?

NO!

They went hunting for HEARTS!

Each heart had a number on it.  Once all the hearts were found they had to line up in according to their numbers.  That was funny!  Who would have thought that finding the #3 and where he should go would be so hard...  Us moms just laughed; they received NO help from us.

The hearts had a verse from

1 Corinthians 13: 1-13

Each child had to read aloud the verse written on their heart. 

This was cool!

Ending our day with the St. Valentine exchange and play-play-play

 

  

 

It was an awesome afternoon among friends!

Dear Saint and glorious martyr,

Teach us to love unselfishly and to find great joy in giving.  Enable all true lovers to bring out the best in God and in each other.  Love.  Love is patient and kind, it doesn't envy or boast and it's never pround.  Love is not rude or selfish.  It doesn't get angry or keep track of wrongs.  Love doesn't delight in bad things, but it rejoices in the truth.  Love always protecdts, trusts, hopes, and preservers.

Love never fails.

St. Valentine, Pray for us!



Easter Cookies

It's been months since I've baked these cookies. 
They are great, yummy, but can be time consuming.  Easter Sunday was a good reason to return to the icing. 

It took me a while to get into the groove.

I almost quit.

But I'm glad I didn't...

...and so were the kids!

To bad I couldn't get the camera to focus. 

Have I mentioned that I've been without a camera since New Year's Eve?

Yep, the camera is nicely tucked away inside my pocket.

That pocket being my snow pants.

Which, of course, are safely put away;

in a box, in Big Bear Lake ;-/

Back to the cookies.

I use 3 different and loyal recipes for the cookies.

This one, that one, and this one.

(A note on these 3 blogs... I LOVE LOVE LOVE them.  I've tried many of their recipes; and they've been awesome, yummy, goodness.  Really! 

 So check them out.  Look at their beautiful creations, and enjoy)

Back to my post....

I also have a great, can you believe tasty, royal icing recipe.

But instead of sticking to what I know works, I tried a new recipe.

It looked promising.

It came from a trusty source.

But it, or I, failed.

It never hardened the way it needed too.  See the purple "He is Risen" cookie at the bottom right?

  Poor cookie didn't survive Cecilia's little fingers.

I need to not try new things on such important dates.

Once they are in a cute bag, tied with a pretty ribbon around it,

and placed in an Easter basket.

 

No one notices the imperfections anyway

~ ♥ ~

My cookie baking break continues;

 until Rose's First Holy Communion.

A short two weeks from now.

Happy Easter!

Head over to Catholic Cuisine for a link-up party!

The First Time ::

She asked God to forgive her

it was sweet, private, guided by a priest who is gentle and remembers the hearts of children;

it was perfect!

Sweet Rose,

The night before your first confession we sat together, examining our conscience, slowly the sins that have hurt God came up.  Each time one came up your eyes widen.  Each time we spoke how when we fall so easily into sin, it brings tears to Jesus eyes, you teared up.  There have been changes in you, as I've seen your heart open.  And this has been happening long before this night.

You then made the sweetest letter to take with you. Your drawing of the chalice filled with His precious blood made me pause.  It was your letter of your first confessed sins.  Innocent little list, a list that I pray stays as simple as it was this first time. 

Then as it is with you, when you woke the next morning the very first thing you asked, "Momma have I done anything bad since last night?"  You wanted to make sure you covered your tracks.  So typical of you.  I think Jesus must have laughed and perhaps think, as I thought,

"Oh what a wonderful creation!"

Your first confession, Rose!

Your first taste of the endless mercy from Jesus.

Thank you Jesus!  Thank you for our Rose!

Thanksgiving Greetings ~

Almighty Father,

 you are lavish in bestowing all your gifts, and we give you thanks for the favors you have given to us. In your goodness you have favored us and kept us safe in the past. We ask that you continue to protect us and to shelter us in the shadow of your wings. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen

Let Freedom Ring!

Happy 4th 5th of July!

Were there sparklers being waved about by your little ones?

Hubby had a vision of how he wanted his 4th of July to be.  It involved a lot of work... I mean the kind of work that involved sweat, muscles, lots of patience and a beer or two to make it bearable ;-).

    It took two weeks of tree removal (along with the root ball-picture to come soon), shoveling, pulling out weeds, getting the rocks; then getting the ground to be leveled, for us to come to the stage of setting up the pool.  Oh yes, hubby got his our pool.  I'll have to write down the construction experience of this massive rubber square. 

 It was classic.

But SO SO SO worth it....

Just to see this face.

Once the pool was up, it was time for the clean up.  The Fourth of July was only 2 days away!

It wasn't pretty. 

Triple digit temperatures.

One set back or another.

 But Hubby and I did our best to get the backyard, in some what of a, ready condition for guests. 

 Then, the family was called. 

Bring your towels. 

 Bring your appetites.

And come on over!

Hubby was pooped out though LOL!

Look at my FIL!  Still doing well.  He came early so that he could leave b4 he got too tired.  He has to be careful with crowds you see.

Then the party animal came out of him

and since he was having so much fun with the grandkids...my FIL and MIL stayed until 10!

Mr. A and his wifey (carrying their son) came to celebrate too.

  Mr. A helped Hubby and I with that pool set up. 

I We are very grateful for that.

Kids enjoying the pool.

Families enjoying the fireworks

Family enjoying the show of the 'big' ones

while on the roof.

I wonder if this is safe to breath in...?

Deep in thought, memorized.

A full day of sun, fun and fireworks...

...it wasn't too much of a surprise to have had at least one child

end her day like this.

God bless you all!

Ringing in the New Year...

...with snow and family

We had the pleasure of spending New Year's Eve with one of my brothers and his family.  This is the first time in years that we've been able to manage celebrating together.



My brother, Leo, is a typical younger brother (he's the one in the red jacket...just look at his smirk...still my little brother).  As kids he would tease his big sisters, mess with our dolls, had our mother wrapped around his little finger....the kid could do NO wrong in her eyes. 

It's actually still kind of like that, LOL :)

But look at him now?

A family man

He's a pretty great brother.  One of the kindest men I know; truly has a giving heart.  Not perfect mind you, I still have to act like his big sis here, but he is pretty close to the best kind of brother anyone could want. 

The weather up in the mountains was perfect.  Just enough warmth to make it comfortable and plenty of snow for winter fun!

We went sledding

gathered icicles

that later had to be confiscated when they were turned into swords

tossing of snow

some were not as happy

about that snow in her jacket

Hubbie thought Max would make a better snow angel

if he tossed him into a pile of undisturbed snow

Max didn't think so...

We ate, drank, played games and danced a bit too

by the time midnight came around everyone but Rose and Princess were awake

I mean 'really' awake

The next day was nice and mellow

but nothing stops this family from

snowboarding

This is by far some of the best moments of the vacation

It was a great way to celebrate a brand new start

and we were blessed to have spent it with family

I am truly grateful for the memories made here

Every good gift comes from the Father of light.

May He grant you His grace and every blessing,

and keep you safe throughout the coming year.

R. Amen!

May He grant you unwavering faith,

constant hope, and love that endures to the end.

R. Amen!

May He order your days and work in His peace,

hear your every prayer,

and lead you to everlasting life and joy.

R. Amen!

May almighty God bless you,

the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit.

R. Amen!