Early December

The annual take the nativity scene to the front yard ride.

At the right spot.

Biscuit came to check it out.

The kids were all invited to a birthday party at Pump It Up.  Needless to say, they were thrilled.

Anne and Catherine paused for a picture.

Heading up the big slide.

All the party kids.

With the very sweet birthday girl.

A picture of two of our Advent traditions, one old, one new.  We have had the magnetic Advent calendar for a long time.  Each day you open a door and add a piece to the nativity scene.  As you can see, one of the kids has put a shepherd up on top of the roof.  The two items in front were something new for 2013.  I've been wanting to have a manger to which the kids add a straw every time they do a good deed/make a sacrifice.  I mentioned this to the kids and the girls took the idea and ran with it, covering a shoe box in brown paper and cutting many lengths of yarn for hay.  And boy did I like it, even though it does not look fancy at all.  I had kids asking me many times, "What can I do for you, Mommy?"  I could use a box like this all year!

We celebrated St. Nicholas' feast day with little gifts and chocolate coins.

Chocolate coins, oh yeah!

Each child got a set of St. Therese sacrifice beads that they can clip onto their pants.

Anthony dug right into the chocolate, of course.

Coin eyes!

A picture of some of the potato pancakes I made, using up our Thanksgiving mashed potatoes:

Yummy!