On the Twelfth Day of Christmas my true love gave to me... twelve tons of needles.
We always get our tree the day after turkey day. This year the girls picked it out with no help from grown ups. Because Thanksgiving came so early this year by Christmas day our tree was bone dry and mostly on the floor.
Eleven teeth with fillings
One of Madeline's prize gifts was this play-dough set which comes with a power drill in which you build teeth then create braces, cavities and fillings. She's into the tartar.
Ten hands a baking
Starting with Thanksgiving and on the Dardens spent a lot of time in the kitchen. Food is a big tradition for us including treats for the neighbors, cookie exchanges, sausage balls and chex mix and many other treats. The girls were a big help this year, especially with the eating part.
Nine Crazy Houses
We travelled around Richmond to see the craziest houses on the Tacky lights tour. We loaded up everybody, even Lilly, into the Tahoe with jammies on and hot chocolate in hand (or just the marshmallow if you are Cora) to explore.
Eight Carmadella's visiting
For Thanksgiving, my parents celebrated their 40th Anniversary in Richmond. Shane, Tony, Jeannette Maria and babies all came down to surprise them for a Vow Renewal ceremony at Thanksgiving morning mass. It was all my Mom wanted and the Cathedral downtown was gracious enough to agree to do it. It was beautiful!
Seven donuts eaten
Jingle Bell Charlie, our elf on the shelf, surprised the girls one morning with donuts. Don't think he will do that again because Cora seems to have a powdered donut addiction. I found her downing them after sneaking onto the counter and had to eventually hide them. I'm guessing she ate at least seven.
Six feet a' dancing
The Nutcracker is in full swing in this house all year round, but even more exciting with the Trans Siberian Orchestera Christmas Album
Five Dardens Smiling
It's always a Christmas Miracle to get the five of us smiling and dressed up.
Four Nightly Traditions
Bedtime routine takes a little longer in December. We have an advent calendar to update, Mary and Joseph figures that travel around the house getting closer to the stable each night until they arrive there on christmas eve, we have the Jesus Storybook Bible to read each night with Advent stories and Mom and Dad have to remember to keep up with the Elf on the Shelf.
Three Goodwill Castoffs
Being the third girl in the family means Cora gets lots of hand me downs. There is nothing the child needs or wants that she does not inherit from her sisters. This posed a problem this year as I knew she'd want to unwrap stuff with her sisters, but couldn't bring myself to buy her a darn thing on top of what family was already getting. My wonderful friend Kristie offered her box of things headed to goodwill which contained among other things a sit and spin, puzzle and wooden snake. SCORE! Someday we'll tell Cora about her Santa gifts and I'm sure she'll laugh. Maybe.
Two Christmas Stars
Eva was a bird in her school play with a coveted speaking part and Madeline was Mary in her school play. I'm not sure which one was more excited, but they both did great. Madeline tends to hide behind the scenes, but I think she felt like she had to match Eva's excitement and she stepped up the to the plate.
And One Baby in a Manger
My sweet Grandfather, who passed away exactly a year ago, made me this Nativity set. It serves as a reminder of many things. It is not the expensive gifts that mean the most, it is not where you spend the holiday or on what specific day you celebrate, it is not how pretty your house looks or how big the stash of presents is. It is about family, love, peace, joy. It is about sharing this all year round. It is about the smallest gift, wrapped in Mary's arms.
No comments:
Post a Comment