Christmas 2014

Christmas this year was richness itself! We dined on lamb, pork, salad, mashed potatoes, yams and homemade marshmallows, and eight pies, chocolate and pumpkin at Grandma's house, and had gifts which came upon us! It was really nice. At home we awoke at six a.m. and Dad rung his new cowbell, the signal for stockings.

On Christmas eve after Vigil Mass, we listened to Handles Messiah, and had cookies and popcorn. In the stockings, I received deodorant, the boys all got yo-yo's which now are the fad here, and Able and Essie were happy with a crazy elf with purple hair and watercolors

It was beautiful and everyone was shouting, "Oh, look at this! "Oooo!" After this excitment, Papa showed s upstairs, and as he does every year, he said, "Now look at this-Look how good Jesus is to us, I can't believe how many presents..." We opened them all that morning, and had breakfast of chocolate pumpkin muffins and bacon which got on some of the packages. I crocheted Eph's little monk, Father Lionel, that he got last year, a festive hat with a plume.

My favorite home gift was a nutcracker from Eph and Zac which I christened, Krisnut, and I dance with him every night before bed. He is like me and Essie's mascot, and stands to attention on the bookcase. Mass was beautiful too, Eph and Clem served and did a very good job, and we looked at the creche. It was a beautiful Christmas, and when I looked at the babe in the manger I thought, "Jesus only had three gifts, and look at us, we are rich and full with good things. Jesus, let us always remember, you are the reason for the season!" I want to thank Grandma for the gifts, especially a bluebird, covered with family buttons, Thank you!

Christmas Eve Tidings

Advent is over and christmas is upon us already! As a family we have learned so much this Advent. Family enrichment, bible facts, Christmas carols, and finger-knitting. Alright, finger-knitting! It is complicated for little ones to knit and crochet with the needles and hooks, and using your hands you can make beautiful and kind gifts. It's an awesome way to use an afternoon. Christmas is a Time of Families It can just be the every night pilgrimage to the Advent wreath, a bible reading for the Jesse tree, or saying the rosary. We have biblical discussions with Dad while eating popcorn, and learn so much from Mom about housekeeping and christmas cookie tips. This year we decided to have a christmas cookie exchange with just two other small families. We had it yesterday and the results were delicious. Christmas is a Time of Unity Me and my younger siblings play a game with our toys called, Toyland. Every year on Christmas eve they have a Christmas Party, which leads to a cleanup, but is very enjoyable and fun. Finger-knitting in the room and talking, swapping ideas and having conversations is another way we bind together as the Dauvin children. We have snuggles with Mom and Dad, be kitchen-helpers, and have a fun time together just using our talents and love. Christmas is a Time of Giving This year we went christmas shopping at Goodwill. It is so much fun giving, much better than receiving and being selfish. We also made our christmas presents too, Infinity scarfs, bookmarks, blowgun targets, etc. Its a lot of fun! Christmas is a Time for Decorating. We put up our Christmas tree on the 3rd Sunday of Advent, we've found a few more ornaments than we had last year. Since our kitchen window is facing the highway and we needed to use our garland, Mom put it up on the window and it looks cheery and cozy. We put up our Russian creche, our Jesse tree, and outside we have a glow-in-the dark nativity set that won't work due to the rain and dull lightbulbs. In the girls bedroom, I put up chinese lanterns, and on my bookshelf, my old snowglobe, and an apple scented candle. Keep Christ in Christmas! Christmas is not about the christmas lights, the brassy carols, the presents and the rainbow colored candycanes, its about Christ's birth. Celebrate!

Sister Fun:Me and Essie made these for the Christmas Cookie Exchange. WE are a good team!

Here is my finger knit cup warmer. It was really fun to make!