Fun in the Snow

"My hands are cold!" Both kids are obsesed with eating the snow.

Learning to adjust to life in a cooler state.

Feast Day of St. Nicholas

Yesterday we celebrated the feast of St. Nicholas. I love talking about who St. Nick really is because he is a virtuous holy man, much better than the modern fairy tale of Santa Claus. St. Nicholas (a bishop) became known for his piety when he secretly and anonymously threw a bag of coins into a family's house when their daughter was going to have to be sold into prostitution. The coins were able to pay her dowry and she was able to be married. St. Nicholas did this three times before the father caught him in the act the third time. I always liked the story but must say I didn't really GET IT until yesterday.

This year, we have a non-existent Christmas fund for presents. Embarrassingly, this has been really hard for me. I am aware of the sacrifices we are making right now, and am glad to make them, but I still couldn't get over this sadness I felt at not being able to buy things for the ones I love, especially my children. I looked into making things, but that costs money as well and all we have around the house is construction paper! Not to throw a pity party, but I was really sad. At peace with how things are, yes, but still sad. Yesterday, I woke up from our nap crying about it. Embarrassed at how materialistic I was being, I didn't tell anyone (except Jason) about it, and it was something we were praying through together. Its a question every Christian has to ask themselves, "Can Christmas really be Christmas without any presents?"

Last night at 7pm, there was a loud knock on our door. It scared me and I waited for Jason to get out of the back room to answer the door. When he did, he stood there for a minute and then said "Katie, you have to come see this!." I walked over and couldn't believe my eyes. There on our doorstep was BIG BAG of presents waiting for us. We kinda stared for a minute and then laughed. We brought the bag inside and began going through it. Unbelievably, the presents were PERFECT for our family. The toys for the kids were EXACTLY the toys that I wanted to buy for them this Christmas. We got Christmas food, candy, clothes for Henry, toys for both the kids, winter apparel for me, car stuff for Jason, family games and lots of stocking stuffers that we really needed like band aids (with fun designs on them), hair clips and even coffee! I was in tears. There was a card that read "Happy Feast Day of St. Nicholas! Glory be to God!"I still get emotional talking about what happened. We have no clue who did this for us, or how we got chosen for this gift.

It was then that I got really emotional about St. Nicholas and what he did. I felt like I really got it. He gave to those in need with a true spirit of Charity. He didn't desire recognition or appreciation; his gift was truly a gift. Whoever gave us this gift gave us way more than just presents. They gave us hope and a great happiness about being able to present our children with beautiful gifts this Christmas morning. This is WAY better than any modern Santa Claus where it is all about us: what do I want and did I get it (I am guilty of this as well). This act captured the true essence of St. Nick. Spying a family in need of a little extra love, and doing something sweet for them with complete anonymity. Not to mention the joy it brought to my heart as a mother, who had been weeping hours earlier. I am so amazed, humbled and thankful for how God matched up our family with this gift. What a blessing.

When we have money again, we are definitely going to adopt this tradition. I can't wait to pick a family, study them to see what they like, go shopping for them and then leave the presents on their doorstep, ring the bell and run. I doubt we will ever know who did this, but I can't wait to give the gift to someone else. We, as the recipiants, couldn't be more thankful. Or feel more loved.

What we are Learning

We woke up Saturday morning to about six inches of snow with it still falling strong. Our roads weren't plowed yet and everything looked beautiful. Then we realized our fridge was empty and Jason would need to make a run to the grocery store before the snow got even heavier. While he got ready to go out, I was pondering two things: if the grocery would even be open and when I would get the email that a Christmas Cookie Exchange Party I was planing to attend was canceled. I was even snacking heavily on the big batch of cookies I had made the night before.

Jason left and came back with food. The store was open AND I never got my cancellation email. I quickly contacted a friend an hour before the party and she confirmed what I feared: this is just a normal day for locals. Locals know how to drive with major snow on the road. Nothing shuts down and the roads are just as crowded as on a normal sunny day. So we went to my party (I was too scared to drive so Jason dropped me off). We drove slower and Jason had to prepare me for sliding around a little on the road. We even got rear ended because the guy behind us couldn't stop in time. But that's normal for a snowy day here. AND its supposed to snow again tonight and tomorrow. I just learned that March is the biggest snow month here in Denver and sometimes they get FEET of snow. I have yet to learn how big a snow has to be before everything shuts down, parties get canceled and people are too scared to drive. Kinda scares me. Especially since I have will have weekly midwife appointments during the month of March. Will I feel safe driving in the snow then? Not sure.

We are also learning how sensitive Henry is to the cold. We saw this a little in St. Augustine, but it is obvious here. He can not stand being cold and will completely melt down and not stop until he is warm again. Finding appropriate clothes for him has been hard because he walks so well for his age. Most things his size are still big tick suits, but that frustrates him cause he can't move. We just broke down and bought him a toddler snow suit from REI that is super warm and yet movable. We will let you know how it works out.

Which brings me to my next point. We are learning that in the fall, you need to always have handy a good sweater and a good jacket for layering. In the winter, with snow on the ground its different. If you are going to be outside for any length of time, you need to dress normally (what you would feel comfortable inside), and then have a snow suit on top of it. No other kind of layers gives you the right warmth and waterproof-ness for playing and being out in the snow. This is a little tricky when trying to be thrifty. Jason has snow boots but no snow bib. I don't have snow boots or a snow bib. We are searching thrift stores constantly, but these items are in high demand. Add trying to find a snow bib that allows for a big pregnant belly and a jacket that zips up OVER a big pregnant belly and you have another issue.

We are learning a lot. It is challenging, but also really fun. We are learning how to walk safely (aka like a duck) on snowy ice with normal dress shoes on. We are learning that car doors commonly freeze shut (and what to do about it). I am receiving lessons from my stellar husband how to drive in the snow. We still love it here, but man is it different than what we are used to.

Jesse Tree Quotes of the Day

(In reviewing previous days)

Me: Why did Adam and Eve have to leave the garden?
MM: They were sad because they ate the pineapple tree.

In Learning of Noah today:

MM: I'm going to pretend to be the bad men.
Me: Okay. (I hand her her banana).
MM: Thank you bad mama.

Some things just make you laugh...hard

Like finding MM's doll laying on the pillow we reserve and keep empty for the baby Jesus until Christmas time. No clue when she did this.

Margaret Mary is really able to understand so much about Christmas this year. We are doing a Jesse tree devotion and she is like a little sponge! So far (on day three) she knows that God made the planet, the trees, the water and the fish, and that God made everything "good" (as she says with a BIG SMILE). She knows that God made Adam and Eve and that they didn't listen to God and were sad. I love the Jesse Tree devotion and am shocked at how much I am learning as well. In preparing the scripture verses for the activity, I got really excited at teaching MM more and more as she gets older. The Jesse tree is such a great teaching tool!

Its funny trying to teach her things because we aren't sure what she is developmentally able to understand. When trying to explain that Adam and Eve were the first man and woman (or the first parents), she said "I am really confused." It was too cute.

Going to Sleep

One of MM's favorite games is "going to sleep." She will tell you to go to sleep, you will close your eyes, and she will YELL "WAKE UP!" and then laugh and laugh. I don't know where she learned this mean method of waking people up, but she thinks its hilarious. The other day we had some friends over and they put her and Henry "to bed" in the living room. The kids were beside each other with excitement and Henry even shared his bottle with her. Henry likes to get in on the game too. He will lay himself down on a pillow and say "shhh shhh", which is what I say when putting him to bed.

I have to brag on Henry for a minute, he is sleeping so great at night thanks to Dr. Jay Gordon's nightweaning advice. I don't mind nursing at night until I get pregnant and then it starts to drive me crazy. But even then, I don't want to stop our sweet co sleeping, so this guide was perfect for us! It was really gentle and slow, and now he goes 9 1/2 hours at night without nursing. But boy does he wake up hungry. He has like three breakfasts by 8:30. :) He's such a boy!

Beautiful Quilts

My mom loves to sew and has made each of my kiddos beautiful quits. Henry's has a toy shop theme. He is too little to appreciate it yet, but Margaret Mary likes to hold it and name all the objects she can on the quilt, esp on the back where there are trains, dinosaurs, etc. I love that the kids will always have a blanket hand made by their grandma!

Margaret Mary's has lots of pink and greens. She calls it her "quilt." Here she is snuggling up at nap time. She is very big on things being HERS, and no one elses. At nap time if you accidentally lay on her pillow, she will tell you ( sometimes nicely and sometimes not so nicely) to move your head off of her pillow. She also likes to sleep with her own blanket, and doesn't want your blanket touching her or her blanket touching you. Silly girl. We have made a little bed up for her at the foot of our bed and she will sometimes sleep half the night in it. She wakes up calling for her Papa and says "i missed you!" Papa loves his nighttime snuggles with his baby girl as much as she does. I like that I get a turn to snuggle with her at nap time.

What a Voice

On the way home from picking out our Christmas tree last night, Margaret Mary was singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star over and over again. It was so cute. She has a cold right now so her voice is really nasally, but it only adds to the cuteness. I love how innocently she is singing. She has no care right now for how good her voice sounds, only for the pure enjoyment of the song. Enjoy.

Helping Mama Cook

Look at my little helper! This Thanksgiving, Margaret Mary helped me to make the Macaroni and Cheese. Unfortunately, I was so concerned with making sure she was being safe, not touching the pot, etc, that I forgot half the ingredients until the end. Oops! At least she had fun.

Thankful

This Thanksgiving, I can't help but to be overwhelmed with gratitude for my kids. It wasn't that long ago that I was in tears every month thinking our house would be still and quiet forever, with no little ones to kiss and love. Now our house is filled with sounds of joy: laughter, tantrums, singing, whining, repetitive requests for things... I am so thankful.

I am also thankful for how these two love each other. When I found out I was pregnant with John Henry, I studied the site BabyBunching, wondering what having two under two would be like. Its harder and better than I could have ever imagined. They really are best friends and it is one of the greatest joys, as a mom, to overhear my children laughing and playing together. They defiantly have their moments when they want space, but they truly enjoy each other. What a gift!

I normally don't do naked pics on our blog, but thought this one was okay because Henry is protecting his modesty. :) That's our boy!

Cuddling on the couch after nap time...

My prayer for these two has been that they would be like St. Benedict and St. Scholastica, two siblings who became a monk and nun (respectively), and then saints. They loved each other so much that once, when visiting each other, St. Scholastica (in tears) prayed that a big storm would come so her brother wouldn't have to leave to go back to his monastery that night. God answered her prayer and the two spent all night laughing and talking.

So curious to see how baby #3 will fit into our little family....

Building a fort with Papa

The kids love it when I wash the slipcover to the couch (which is a weekly thing with two little ones!). They pull the pillows off the couch, building roads with them, forts with them and jump all over them. Here is how a typical fort building experience goes down: Margaret Mary is happily contained in her little "house" and then Henry knocks everything over.

Playground Fun

Margaret Mary was really impressed with the football we found. She has a really good arm! Henry, on the other hand, is a total ball hog. Once he gets the ball, you know a tantrum is around the corner because he HATES having to share.

Thank you!

Just wanted to say thank you to Granny and Grandma for making my kids the following things:


The blankets:Margaret Mary esp loves having things that are "just hers." She loves that Granny made her a blanket and Henry a blanket. She likes for me to lay them out side by side on the floor and pretends to sleep on them. :) I am keeping these in the car for our travel blankets because they are so soft and aren't cold when you first put them on. The car is also freezing in the morning when we get in for the first time. Hopefully keeping these in the car will cut down on all the blankets we lug to and from the car. In Denver, this is a much nobler use that it would be in NC : ) All other blankets have failed this daily task and the kids will be much happier.

The dress:
All my other pictures came out blurry (can't wait for a new camera! hint hint) but my mom made this dress for Margaret Mary and it hangs beautifully on her. There is a little frog button sewn on the middle of the dress and MM loves pointing to it and talking to it. :)

Thanks Grandmas!

On a side note: Today at the grocery MM saw a man with a Mohawk. "Look!" she exclaimed, "he has LION hair!" hehe Couldn't help but laugh and hope that the man with the Mohawk overheard.

House Update

So we got an offer on our home for $60,000 and the bank approved the price as a short sale (!). However, when the buyer went to do the inspection on the house they discovered that the stove is missing. We did not ask anyone to move it; our only guess is that it was stolen. My question: how does someone get a stove out of a locked house with no signs of forced entry? It doesn't matter, the realtor says that it is affecting the closing. We don't know how but are praying that our buyer wont back out. We also don't know if they will want us to replace the stove (we can't afford this). We are so ready to move on and are so close to the finish line. It is defiantly a headache; please pray for us.

Visit to NC

I mentioned before that we took a trip to NC to see family and friends (and esp our grandparents). These are a couple of pics taken by family members that I love. Thanks for capturing my children so well! Family, we are still collecting pics, so send them if you have anymore!

Not to Brag but...

Jason got an A on his first exam in grad school! I am so proud of him. Not only did he prepare well for the exam, but he had a big Fraternus project to finish (which he did), AND a sick wife to take care of at home (whom he cared for wonderfully), AND a big trip to NC to pack for (which he did while his sick wife slept). I am so impressed with his ability to juggle so many things; all with great joy, love and patience. As his wife, I never feel neglected, always honored and cared for, and I know the kids feel the same. What a Man my Jason is. We are so proud of you Jase! Keep up the hard work; fight the good fight. Two years will fly by!

The Difference Between Girls and Boys

A friend just passed down a little people construction set. Henry is busy figuring out what moves and what makes noises. Margaret Mary is busy inviting all the little pieces to her birthday party.

Fall Fun

Henry and Margaret Mary loved the hay maze at the Gardens on Santa Fe. Margaret Mary was running through it so fast it was impossible to take her picture. Henry liked playing peek-a-boo and was thrilled beyond belief when you would find him in the maze.

Jason took the kids to the Farm the other day while I napped. :) Here's what he came back with. He said that Margaret Mary was having so much fun picking up and moving the pumpkins. Henry tried to do the same and got really frustrated because he couldn't. Not being able to do what his sister is doing is probably the number one frustration in Henry's life.



The next set of pics are from our visit to Wilmington to see family. We went to a pumpkin patch and Granny treated each of the kids to a little pumpkin to take home and decorate later.



So much fall fun!

Our Little Flower

We wanted a versatile costume this year as Margaret Mary needed a costume for the All Saints Day Party at Church and a Halloween party later that night. I thought that going as the little flower was a perfect solution. Margaret Mary LOVED her costume and couldn't stop looking at herself in the mirror with excitement (she pushed the box up against the table so she could see herself in the mirror, and what MM does, Henry does too). Unfortunately Saturday, the day of both the parties, was the day I got sick, so I couldn't take pictures or enjoy either one of them. We couldn't go trick or treating either because Jason and I were still both vomiting on monday. :(

John Henry went as Blessed Pier Giorgio and was dressed up as a hiker, as this saint was either in a suit or hiking gear (Jason's kind of man!). no pics because i was sick. :( the above pics of mm were taken during a dress rehearsal the day before we got sick. He had on jeans, a thermal shirt, an orange vest, and drug around one of Jason's climbing ropes.

more snow fun...

fun sibling series: