Quick Takes

--1--

Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!

The last few weeks of the year always get away from me, with all the stuff that goes on.

--2--

There's an anniversary to celebrate in there.  Thirteen years ago, the husband and I looked like this:

Now, my hair is longer and I weigh, um, more. Justin looks about the same though.

--3--

I got to meet a blogging friend, her husband and their adorable baby.

--4--

We spent a couple of days with my husband's grandparents and mom and dad.  They hadn't met the littlest one yet.  We hadn't seen them in a few years, since our conversion to Catholicism.  It's been a difficult time, but the subject didn't really come up for discussion while we were there, so it was a pleasant time.

--5--

The baby?

He's not too fast yet, but look out world...

--6--

On an unrelated note, I hadn't planned on going, but I will be getting to go to Blissdom again this year.  It's a lot of fun, although my friend Meredith, who knows everyone, won't be there, so who will I tag along with?  I know no one, no one knows me, and I really, really am an introvert.  Even so, I'm looking forward to it.

--7--

And speaking of Meredith.  She's having a baby soon and like all moms-to-soon-be (again), I know she needs plenty of prayers to carry her through the last few difficult weeks of pregnancy and the weeks of newborn haze. So please remember her.

--Bonus Round--

Go read Betty Duffy.  She's awesome, and generally says stuff I wish I had said.

Preparing

Preparations are underway. In between getting bronchitis and having a child with a severly sprained ankle, we've baked some Christmas bread and Mexican wedding cookies and wrapped many presents. We've read stories that leading us toward the big day. My husband's Schola is practicing carols and Gregorian chant.

I think we're almost ready.

A happy Christmas to you all.

What Will Jordana Break Next?

This blog is a hobby and when life gets busy, it falls by the wayside. I wish I could tell you all about the wonderful baking, creating and all I've been doing, but I haven't. Mostly I have been just barely keeping up and prying my eyes open, since the almost five month old has decided he rarely wants to sleep at night and when he does sleep it is only held by and attached to me. I don't get my best sleep that way.

Perhaps it is the lack of sleep that is causing a rash of breakages around here. It all began with my Panasonic Lumix, which I dropped lens down onto a tile floor. It has since failed to work. Then my almost brand new iPod Touch decided one morning to give me the white screen of death and turn super hot in one corner. Nothing I've done seems to have any effect and guess who lost the receipt? Guess who was keeping her Christmas shopping list on it? D'oh!

So I'm sleepy and breaking things. I hope nothing else crashes, smashes or starts pining for the fjords, but while I wait to see if everything else keeps working for a while, I have a shopping list to rewrite or the kids will be getting leftover Halloween candy for Christmas.

Saints and More Saints

Happy St. Nicholas' Day!  Growing up we didn't celebrate Christmas, saint days or anything of the sort, but when I started taking German in seventh grade, we always put our shoes out and found chocolate in them.  It was probably my first experience with the Saints, and although my children hear about the Saints frequently a sweet reminder of St. Nicholas is always welcome.

At the end of October and beginning of November, my oldest three children and I made art trading cards  of various saints and sent them off to Kimberlee for her ATC swap.  I was in such a rush at the time with one daughter's birthday and then our trip to Ohio that I forgot to copy the pictures we made, but they are out there somewhere and we've seen a few online.

A few days ago, our new cards arrived in the mail, which called for a break from school to examine and compare all our new art.  We got cards from England and Norway and perhaps most surprising, my six year old got a card from her best friend (I suppose we could have saved postage and just traded cards after Mass, but how much more fun to have a surprise from your friend show up via Pennsylvania instead!) Here's what showed up in the mail:

Bl. Teresa of Calcutta by Marcia, St. Elizabeth of Hungary, St. Constantine and St. Helen, St. Anthony and St. Andre of Montreal by Josee

My 11 year old's cards: St. George, St. Damien, St. Patrick, St. Peter Claver?, and St. Michael by one of this blogger's children

My eight year old's cards: St. Lucy, St. Patrick, St. Elizabeth of Hungary by Marcia's daughter, St. Rose of Lima, and St. George

My six year old's cards: Bl. Kateri, St. Faustina, St. Bernadette, St. Christopher and St. Clare

Many thanks to Kimberlee and her family for hosting and sorting this enormous swap. It's been so much fun.

Becoming Mom

Eleven years ago, yesterday, I began the journey of motherhood (outside the womb, in a more tangible way). My little boy, who looked like a cross between an alien and a grumpy old man, has turned into a big boy complete with stinky feet and thoughts devoted to Legos, books and computers.

My first born was first in a much larger brood than I would ever have imagined.  He's glad to be first, thrilled to be the leader of the pack, but always happy to make room for one more sibling's arrival.

Although he sometimes makes my eyes glaze over at obscure facts about Star Wars or Legos or Harry Potter, he's interesting, funny and a good companion.  I'm still rather proud of him and glad for the chance to be his mom.