Two Nicolas(es)

We celebrated today the feast of St. Nicholas, who is my Nicolas' patron saint. Some years I have baked special homemade buns, this year with had donuts(not very ethnic but all I had time for). The kids woke up to find mugs filled with chocolate coins and other St. Nicholas related candy by their places at the table. We read the story The Miracle of St. Nicholas by Gloria Whelan and, I got a lot of teasing from the children because reading the story I cried AGAIN.

The Season for Purple

or how to solve a difference of opinion. Mark always complains of Christmas starting too early and Advent getting the short end of the deal. True to his beliefs, he always has refused to get a Christmas tree until the third Sunday in Advent (Gaudete Sunday). Until this year. Torn between his opinion (which I share), and the kids, who want to have the Christmas tree up when everybody else has theirs, I came up with a compromise: An Advent Tree. I found some purple lights ( I promise they are purple, however pink they might look in this picture)

some purple ornaments

And made it into an Advent tree!

Gabi added some more touches of purple throughout the house

And now we can be festive without forgetting that the waiting is not over, and the time to celebrate is not here yet.

Obviously, I am NOT Going to Make It

The goal was picture a day, 365 pictures total. Well, somewhere along the line I fell off the wagon and never got back on.
One of my readers have encourage me to continue. He even sent me so pictures to spur me on:




Maybe I'll pick the camera back up.

Tourist in my Own Country

These in no particular order are some of the pictures taken during our trip to the DR. It was a great month!

Sunset at the beach.

Fortaleza Ozama against the bright blue Dominican sky.

At the top of the tower.

Going down.

A. racing his cousin with Diego Columbus's house (El Alcazar de Colón) in the background.

Inside the first cathedral in America. This is one of the many side chapels.

Cannons. I assume the trees weren't there when these were place there.

Another shot at the top of the tower.


Another colonial building.

Umbrellas are great when the Caribbean sun hits and the temperature rises.

The modern side of Santo Domingo.

Ant in a Jar

Reading by the Pool

Just Two

The only two strawberry worth eating on my strawberry plant.

A Toast to Me

Life has been busy. Since my last post I have:

• work for an internet news service as a translator for 9 days. Fun job but very intellectually intense.
• had a birthday. It was a great one! Mark and the kids pampered and made mefeel so special. It made turning 44 a lot easier :-).
• de-clutter my kitchen (still have to do the rest of the house)
• prepared my two oldest children to go to a People of Praise camp. This involved some shopping and some emotional preparation (on the part of mom). They flew (their first time flying without us) and are going to be in Buffalo for a week.
• booked tickets to go visit my family in the DR.
• given hospitality to teens coming to work in the Allendale project of the People of Praise.
  
• Lost the habit of taking pictures. This is a habit I plan to recapture.

So, a toast to me for managing to enjoy it all (mostly anyway).

Children's Creations

Learning to Read

Behind the Wheel

On My Screen

Yesterday, I had the rare privilege of watching a movie I wanted to watch and, all by myself too! I have read the book this movie is based on last year and really liked it. The movie, even though it leaves out some key elements of the story-like Evelyn's Catholic faith-, is very good in its own right.

Another Mirror Shot

New Haircut

Now, what can I do for those circles under my eyes?

Enjoying the neighbor's flowers

Our next door neighbor was taken to a nursing home recently. Today it was such a gorgeous day that I went outside with my camera. As I wander around our front yard I noticed these hydrengias flowering in her garden. They are so pretty. It made me sad to know that Mrs. N. is not going to be here to enjoy them ever again.While in her yard, I also noticed these magnolia blossoms. I thought they were interesting looking.

Fun Game

It has been a while since we had the chance to play a board game. Today we played Settlers of Catan. It was fun. We don't know who won because we had to interrupt the game. Hopefully I'll win but I doubt it. In this game you have to have a (gasp) strategy!

Grilling Season and Mark's Birthday

Grilled salmon, grilled vegetables, grilled bread and German Chocolate cake were on the menu for Mark's birthday dinner. Que Rico! (that's Spanish for yummy)

Images from Six Flags

Thursday was homeschool day at Six Flags. Here are some of the images from a fun day.

A Big Step in Faith

Gabi got confirmed today. May God bless her abundantly with his Holy Spirit!

In the Garden

There is nothing pretty about a pile of dirt. This year we are trying to do a "Square Foot Garden". This is the dirt mixed according to the directions on the book.

The last two pictures are part of my herbs (basil and mint)that I am growing in pots outside my kitchen.

Guess where I was at 11:00 pm tonight?

And do you know you can see the most interesting characters there? I wish I had the courage to take pictures!

Bubbles

Dancing Feet, Playing Hands