Thanksgiving Week 2017 - Daybook Post

Outside my window ~

Compliments of Miss Ester and Mabel.  They put these up the day after Thanksgiving.  We will finish decorate this coming weekend.  For now,  I'm savoring the last of November. :)

I am thankful for ~

 ~ our Thanksgiving week!!

Monday and Tuesday - the kids worked on school.

Tuesday, Miss Clementine and I drove down to pick Sarah up from school.

Wednesday brought Sarah, Miss Clementine, and I to see Ice! Gaylord Texan Lone Star Christmas.

2 million pounds of ice.

9 degrees F inside.  Brrr....

This year's theme was 'Twas the Night Before Christmas'.

The last time we took we bought tickets for Ice! was back in December of 2009!

They were SO little and SO cute!!

Time is passing too quickly.

From the school room ~

Sarah caught a ride back to school with a friend from the DFW area.  I was grateful for that and was even more grateful when she told me they made it safe and sound.  (Thanksgiving traffic in I35 in Texas is a nightmare.)

The other kids started back to school today.  It is so hard after a holiday, isn't it?

From the kitchen ~

It was a FEAST!

We invited some friends over for dessert / coffee/ wine on Thanksgiving night.

Everyone brought something.  Total vein-clogging goodness!

And I made this for lunch the next day (in hopes of off-setting that pumpkin pie breakfast).  Ha ha!

What I am reading ~

Nothing.  I finished up my Christmas shopping challenge and am now preparing for some Advent reading.  I think I'm going to use one of the books I already have.

Maybe this one ::

Or this one ::

Around the house ~

Black Friday morning found my oldest three girls heading out for breakfast together.  My mama heart loved seeing that!

Saturday night, David had a guys night at our house (21 dudes were over).  So the girls and I went to confession, Mass, out to eat, and then hit the "Home for the Holidays" in our historic downtown.

We had SO much fun!!!  The weather was gorgeous (balmy, low 70's), the atmosphere was magical, and we really enjoyed our time together. :)

I am praying for ~

* all of students who are preparing for finals

* the souls in purgatory

I am listening to ~

Miss Clementine watch a Christmas movie on David's laptop.

Coming down the pike this week ~

Monday - my mother's 76 birthday!

Monday - Troops of St. George (TSG) meeting

Wednesday - Miss Clementine is going to help her little friend celebrate a birthday!

Friday - Little Flowers Christmas cookie exchange (Yummy)!!

Friday - Sunday - TSG camp out

Saturday - Decorate for Christmas

A last photo to share ~

Last night, David and I were invited out to a comedy club to help celebrate two friends turning 50.  Here's a photo from the memorable evening :)

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving week with your families and friends.  May this next week be as peaceful as possible for you all as you prepare for Advent season to begin.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Patty

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Advent Calendar in Art

Each year on the kids' anniversary of their Baptism, we try to make it a little bit special by gifting them with a small, faith-based gift.

Last week we celebrated Miss Mabel's Baptism birthday and wrapped up this gorgeous book;  Children's Christmas Book of the Nativity - Advent Calendar in Art.

It says "children's" but this is for anyone, especially art enthusiasts!

Each day displays a beautiful piece of artwork depicting the Nativity, a reflection, Bible verse, and the artist's name & date.

It is a unique addition to our collection of Christmas books and a keepsake she'll always enjoy.

~ Patty ~

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Cinderella Attended the Military Appreciation Ball

Miss Ester was asked to attend a Military Appreciation Ball on Veteran's Day last weekend.

Oh my goodness!  They looked SO classy!!

These two are so joy-filled, bringing smiles to everyone around them.  Neither are allowed to date.  (Win-win when both sets of parents are on the same page when it comes to dating.)  Instead, they hang out together within groups of friends or family members.

A gentleman at church the next morning came up to me and said, "I met your daughter and her date last night at the ball.  They were so polite.  They really seemed to be enjoying themselves and were so well-behaved.  The folks at our table were so impressed."

That made me so proud of them!  As a friend said, "It's confirmation from the Lord that we are doing something right."

Picture credit :: Kari Lynn

~ Patty ~

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(MAJOR) Fall Catch-up Daybook Post

Outside my window ~

Our maple tree is starting to turn and it is always such a gorgeous sight from the girls' bedroom window upstairs.

What a great "classroom" window, don't you agree?! :)

Somebody waits patiently for the neighbor's leaves to fall into our backyard...

I am thankful for ~

So MUCH!!

1.  Let's see.  Since my last daybook post, I flew up to KC for a weekend.  I met my sisters and mom there, and we laughed until our sides ached!!

(Selfie stick newbies! Ha ha ha!)

2.  Then there was the fun on Halloween night!

Rosie the Riveter passed out candy.  Our donut had a blast.  She was a hoot!

Stan the man decided to be our in-house, health chef for the day, creating these yummy snacks we found

We ordered a jack-o-lantern pizza from Papa Murphy's for dinner.

3.  I am also thankful that Stan the man is a patient at the Texas A&M / Baylor University schools of orthodontics.  It saves us a ton of money!

(He had his top braces placed back in October and will have his bottom ones placed on Dec. 5.)


From the school room ~

We continue to make great progress through the semester.  We just started week #13.

Sarah is doing quite well at college, and it is hard to believe her first semester is almost over.  She only has a few week left.  We look forward to her being home for Thanksgiving!!

From the kitchen ~

Homemade French Silk pie for David's birthday.  Compliments of Miss Mabel :)

Mabel also mastered her chocolate Swiss roll cake!!

Tara, another blogger friend, once suggested adding some sprigs of holly to this dessert.  It made it look even prettier.

What I am reading ~

Nothing at the moment.  I am continuing to take the Catholic Sistas Christmas shopping challenge.  Ya'll!  I am almost done with all of my Christmas prep!!!  I'll be done by the first Advent.  So excited!

Around the house ~

Big D turned 49!!

Miss Ester is licensed to drive now.  We waited to have her take the driving test for a few reasons, but the #1 reason to wait was the cost!!  There's really no reason to have two teen drivers in the house.  Once Sarah left, we saw the need arise again.

I am praying for ~

* all the souls in purgatory

* our new goddaughter!

God bless sweet Bridget Therese!

I am listening to ~

the meat on the burner browning; Clementine talking to herself; and Stan the man showing me some cool things in a book (while I type ;)

Coming down the pike this week ~

Wednesday - Stan has an alter server refresher course

Thursday - Thyroid appointment for myself

Friday - Miss Mabel sleeps over a friend's house

A last photo to share ~

The girl plays for blood!

Have a great week!

Patty

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French Silk PIe

Miss Mabel recently made her first, homemade French Silk Pie for David's birthday, and it was delicious!  It did not last 24 hours ;)

She found the recipe here.  (Scroll almost 2/3 down the website page to see printable recipe.)  I didn't bother typing it up since there is a direct link. 

Mabel used a graham cracker crust for hers as well as home made whip cream.  Yum!

Please note :: This pie tastes tastes even better if refrigerated overnight!! 

Enjoy!

Patty

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St. Martin's Day - Feast of St. Martin de Tours - Martinmas - Veteran's Day

We just celebrated Veteran's Day yesterday, November 11.  It is also known as St. Martin's Day or Martinmas, or Feast of St. Martin de Tours.  Did you know that November 11 was chosen for a particular reason to honor our country's veteran's?  It has so much to do with this man, St. Martin de Tours. 

I put this on my Face Book page yesterday :: 

I've grown to ❤️ the story of St. Martin de Tours. Martin was born to pagan parents and at the young age of 10, he was called to the Gospel and became a Christian. At 15, he was forced to enter the Roman army. On a very cold day, this handsome soldier came across a poor beggar who would surely freeze to death. Martin tore his cloak in half, giving a piece to the beggar. That night, back at encampment and sleeping by a fire, Martin dreamt. The beggar was actually the Lord, who came to thank Martin. Martin was so moved that he gave up being a soldier and became a monk. This was not an easy thing to do, but he prevailed and led many to Christ in his journey. In Europe, farmers traditionally celebrate the end of harvest on Nov. 11, St. Martin's day. On the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month, the Armistice was signed ending World War I. On that day, St. Martin's Day, soldiers around the world put down their weapons and prayed for peace. St. Martin is the patron of the poor, soldiers, conscientious objectors, and tailors. It's incredibly poignant that Veteran's Day was established on St. Martin's Day. 

I purchased this book to add to our book collection earlier this fall ::

And this is the third year that I wrapped up something for each child; something that is warm and NEEDED. 

The items are typically a new pair of winter pajamas, gloves, scarf, robe, etc.  Something that they definitely need. 

My children have always been so generous when it comes to helping the needy that I love to reciprocate the love back to them.

St. Martin de Tours,  pray for us!

~ Patty ~

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