Feast Day of St. Nicholas

We never started any traditions around this wonderful saint when my older children were at home- I think occasionally they left their shoes out for some treats to be placed in them. We still don't have a regular tradition that we have stuck to, but we take time out on this special day to honor this special saint and have some fun. 

 Our feast day table from 2010. 

We also spent some time that same year learning more about this saint. Cousins joined us for a whole day of St. Nicholas fun. 

And here is our table and treats from last year, 2011. 

This year... well, I can't set it yet! The kids aren't even home from their evening with their sister and brother-in-law. I just hope I can stay awake! 

Happy Feast of St. Nicholas!!! 

Our Feast of the Guardian Angel Past

Our very first at home celebration of a feast day other than Christmas and Easter was for the Feast of the Guardian Angels. It is also one of the very first posts that I put on this little blog!

The boys made crafts- you can see them here. 

They had so much fun creating and decorating in preparation to celebrate with Grandpa and Grandma. 

You can read more about our celebration here. 

Happy Feast Day!!! 

Text Message Book Review (and Faith Table Decor!)

Hello little blog. It's been a while!! I miss you. 

Good-bye August:

Hello September: 

Exhalation of the Cross (Sept. 14) from Seton Art 1 made a few years ago- I should have 3, but boys would always give them away to sisters and grandma!

Saints for Sept. coloring pages from Waltzing Matilda Blog- colored and laminated a few years ago for our "month of saints" study. 

 Also from Seton Art 1- colored by my boys a few years ago. 

And, for those who might be interested, an impromptu text message "book review" from my 19yo daughter, Erin. You get to read it at your leisure- I think the text came through like at 1 a.m. or something! Either way, I enjoyed reading it. 

First Text From Erin: 

"Hey so I picked up that book you gave me for Easter, "extreme makeover", and so far it's really good. I like it because it doesn't really say "you should do this or that" or "this is bad" -it more speaks in general terms and gives statistics (a lot of references to studies). So things that don't really apply are still interesting."

A While Later: 

"I like how it's a more concrete and logical approach to beauty, chastity, modesty, faith and just living life. It's cool cuz like I said the book is more telling stories, listing statistics, sharing personal experiences, then at the end of every chapter there are a list of more personal questions to ask yourself. So the chapters are good to get you thinking and also helps you see how to kind of defend your view..rather than saying "in this christian book I read",  you can say "well I read that 9/10 women would say..blank" you know?"  

And then: 

"It's less idealistic and abstract and has more real information to help for your conscience. :)"

Finally, a return message in response to a text back from me (that I don't have a record of):

"Ya,  I like it cuz it doesn't feeel like a faith book lol. And also I think it's good to not be reading one about couples. I can just focus on myself."

Weird format, I know, but I thought you could get the full "text message feel" that way! :) 

Transfiguration of Our Lord::Craft

While I was reading Patty's blog post about the craft her family did for the Feast of the Transfiguration, it occurred to me that we had not done that project from Seton Art 1. Years ago I put together craft bags (actually my daughter, Michelle, did most of the work) for each of the projects from that book. Most of them were completed, but we missed a few. 

Happily, I was able to find our leftover bags! 

 I did not think to take pictures until after the Transfiguration project was completed. This one is ready to go for the Feast of the Assumption. 

The Transfiguration craft: 

                                           

Color the picture. 

Glue it on the yellow background paper. 

Glue that onto a piece of cardboard with the border painted red. 

Coat the whole thing with Mod Podge. 

I love the way they turned out. 

 Thank you, Patty!

It's Easter!!

Are mine the only kids running around the house singing repeatedly, in the their best (very dramatic) opera voice, "horse and chariots, horse and chariots, were cast into the sea!!"? 

The Vigil mass on Saturday was... I almost can't explain it. The mass began at 8:30 and ended around 11:30, and it really seemed to me that it went by in the blink of an eye! And, the most amazing thing, 11yo Marky, who had struggled (really struggled) through serving on Holy Thursday and Good Friday, made it through- no problem!! While we have attended all three services before, never has our whole family attended all three in the same year. It was pretty awesome.

This is one of my favorites moments of Easter day. No Easter attire, no Easter decorations. Just my motley little crew after finding Easter baskets, and dad working on the bacon and sausage (4 pounds!). I am sitting on the step by the back door taking the picture.-

There were many magical moments to follow.-

I admit that we have not hit the first week of Easter with the zeal that I would like- we are pooped. My oldest daughter and I were comparing our Holy Weeks and came to the conclusion that those last three days are perhaps suppose to be a bit grueling. It seems only fitting.

Now, time to rejoice! Or, in our case, rejoice and sleep!

We did add this adorable printable to our Easter/Divine Mercy table-

The black and white version is available to print here- the color version comes if you subscribe by email to Catholic Icing.

We printed several copies of this Divine Mercy Novena and Chaplet from Diary of a Sower blog. It is shown with a ring through the top- I think it looks better that way, but I just quickly stapled ours.

Happy Easter!! 

March Feast Day Decorations

Taking a lighthearted turn here to show off our 

St. Patrick's feast day table. 

 It is hard to see in this picture, but the light through the door was 

casting rainbows on the wall! 

 In case everyone has not colored their own "Paper Dali", you can print your 

St. Patrick here. 

 I purchased this super adorable "cool spool" from the Iris Blue Artworks store at Etsy.

 We made these shamrock rosaries last year using an idea posted on Catholic Icing. 

And more... 

 We did bump St. Joseph from the feast day table- not very nice considering this is his month! But he has a very prominent spot in our kitchen, and I added a purple cloth (in honor of lent) that I think makes him stand out nicely.

 A little more St. Patty's bling. 

Thanks to Tiffany's inspiring post, I am adding a little purple to our decor.  

Some more St. Patrick's day books and the smaller "cool spool" 

that came in a set with the one above. 

Blessings to you during this Lenten season! 

My Pretty Table

I introduced my very pretty "freecycled" table in December. 

It is so nice to not have to move everything off the
kitchen table when we want to eat! 

For the feast of St. John Bosco and the month of The Holy Family 

(end of January/beginning of February). 

This week for St.Valentine's Day, the month of the Holy Family, and 

in honor of The 7 Sundays of St. Joseph (new to us). 

Erin brought home these balloons from the dollar store and
made a bouquet for us!

So cute!

Happy Feast Days! 

December 6::The Feast of St. Nicholas

About St. Nicholas from Domestic-Church.

Our table is set.

I am not sure that it is in keeping with advent wreath etiquette, but I needed 

somewhere to put this one last St. Nicholas and I thought it looked cute. 

These coins are a new "tradition". I printed the covers from Shower of Roses. 

I had planned on getting fancy with this chocolate Santa and making him a 

miter and crosier. Next year! I'll put it on the list. 

We don't usually do gifts, but my boys love, love, love Fruity Pebbles and rarely get them, so it will be a true feast day treat for them. St. Nicholas is also leaving this new family game for us to play tomorrow. We own the book and will read some of it in the morning. 

Other sources: 

St. Nicholas Center 

St. Nicholas at Paper Dali 

Saint Agnes::January 21

I am thankful to Family at the Foot of the Cross for the timely post on this special day, and Catholic Icing for the St. Agnes archives!

 I had planned to set some time aside to honor St. Agnes, but when I woke up this morning and saw (on other more prepared blogger's posts) that today was in fact THE feast day, I was completely unprepared.  We sort of did a scramble to put a few things together.

 Mark colored this stunning page from Waltzing Matilda...

 and made these yummy brownies.

James and Paul pulled together the holy card crafts. We listened about St. Agnes at saint of the day while we prepared dinner, and then later dad read more about her from our saint book.

Nico, my darling grandson, joined us for our celebration-- his contribution, besides being adorable, was pulling the entire table runner over after dinner!! Thank goodness the candle was not still lit! :)

This day is additionally special as my grandmother's middle name was Agnes- being from the big Irish Catholic family, I am sure she was named after this special saint. I am glad we were able to take at least a few minutes today to learn more about this saint and celebrate her short, faithful life.