Tag: family

Wishing you and yours a blessed day of celebration.

Wishing you and yours a blessed day of celebration.

Today we prep for a roast beef + Yorkshire pudding dinner, and bake breads for the neighbors, then frost a cake for baby Jesus.  My large Nativity has a Mary who is holding the baby, so we resort to another infant Jesus who lays in a straw manger, made of plastic, to be set in a ring of candles and sung to Christmas eve.  It belonged to the kids so they could play with the Holy Family.  We used to make a cardboard stable, and pretended to act out the famous story….with the kings arriving after following the star.  There were several years where couldn't locate the plastic Jesus and frantic-ness ensued to get him recovered and placed on the cake in time to celebrate his birthday.  I began the tradition when our oldest was just over a year old.  Getting gifts on your birthday is something we all grow up with, so it was the perfect way to explain Christmas to our children.  So we don't lose Him, plastic baby Jesus spends his non-birthdays in our silverware drawer.  He's never far away to visually remind us of His presence…..and today we honor Him as we exchange our presents.

My favorite track from the Very Special Christmas album series is by Stevie Nicks, with guest Robbie Nevil.  This is the best video I could find.  To see the 'making of', click HERE.

Today we prep for a roast beef + Yorkshire pudding dinner, and bake breads for the neighbors, then frost a cake for baby Jesus.  My large Nativity has a Mary who is holding the baby, so we resort to another infant Jesus who lays in a straw manger, made of plastic, to be set in a ring of candles and sung to Christmas eve.  It belonged to the kids so they could play with the Holy Family.  We used to make a cardboard stable, and pretended to act out the famous story….with the kings arriving after following the star.  There were several years where couldn't locate the plastic Jesus and frantic-ness ensued to get him recovered and placed on the cake in time to celebrate his birthday.  I began the tradition when our oldest was just over a year old.  Getting gifts on your birthday is something we all grow up with, so it was the perfect way to explain Christmas to our children.  So we don't lose Him, plastic baby Jesus spends his non-birthdays in our silverware drawer.  He's never far away to visually remind us of His presence…..and today we honor Him as we exchange our presents.

My favorite track from the Very Special Christmas album series is by Stevie Nicks, with guest Robbie Nevil.  This is the best video I could find.  To see the 'making of', click HERE.

Burgers, brats, and beer….in the sun.  Nothing better.  Fireworks later.  Glorious.  Happy 4th.

Burgers, brats, and beer….in the sun.  Nothing better.  Fireworks later.  Glorious.  Happy 4th.

The final report card came in.  Fallon's highest marks ever.  Pretty good considering some seniors tend to slack off as the year winds down.  At college orientation we learned that parents aren't given access to grades.  ???  You'd think that signing your name on tuition checks might give you some privileges but it's time to let them fly, and trust that they'll continue to do well and communicate with you.  I'll be filing away this last report, with some of the other remarkable items I've saved over the years.  Onward we go!

We are so proud of you Fallon – bravo!  

Had a great time with family last weekend.  Mom and Dad, John and Renee, and my nieces Morgan, Mackenzie, and Meg joined us to celebrate Fallon's graduation.  We spent a day at the shore, rode some terrifying rides, got in the ocean, and enjoyed walking the refurbished boardwalk.  As the slogan on the airwaves keeps reminding and reassuring us:  We are stronger than the storm.  There's still alot of work to be done following superstorm Sandy but it was wonderful to see the crowds filling up the beach.

Summer is here!  Be well and behave ;) 

The final report card came in.  Fallon's highest marks ever.  Pretty good considering some seniors tend to slack off as the year winds down.  At college orientation we learned that parents aren't given access to grades.  ???  You'd think that signing your name on tuition checks might give you some privileges but it's time to let them fly, and trust that they'll continue to do well and communicate with you.  I'll be filing away this last report, with some of the other remarkable items I've saved over the years.  Onward we go!

We are so proud of you Fallon – bravo!  

Had a great time with family last weekend.  Mom and Dad, John and Renee, and my nieces Morgan, Mackenzie, and Meg joined us to celebrate Fallon's graduation.  We spent a day at the shore, rode some terrifying rides, got in the ocean, and enjoyed walking the refurbished boardwalk.  As the slogan on the airwaves keeps reminding and reassuring us:  We are stronger than the storm.  There's still alot of work to be done following superstorm Sandy but it was wonderful to see the crowds filling up the beach.

Summer is here!  Be well and behave ;)