Celebrating the Holidays

We put our manger up early last week and J's mom send us the wise men for the creche this year.  Last year she sent the manger, holy family, shepard with flock and angel.

The paper chains and Kirigami snowflakes are slowly going up.  The snowflakes in the living room are of various colors on one side and white on the other.  I've been making them over this past year.

This year's Advent wreath.  I bought a brass frame with candle holders built into it along with the appropriate candles from a local Catholic book store.  J cut branches off the rosemary from my garden and wired it to the wreath.  Every night through Christmas we'll be lighting the wreath.  One purple candle (the candle of Hope) for the first week of Advent, two for the second (the candle of Peace) and on the third Sunday we light the pink candle which is known as Gaudete the Shepard's candle representing Joy .  The final purple candle represents the message of the Angels : “Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men.”

Even J is decorated for the holidays.  I bought him a Santa-style hat which has antlers.  He wears it quite often.  This photo was taken at his cousin's house recently.

 For the last three years J and I have enlisted the aid of his cousin's children in decorating the main window in his cousin's house where we get together at each year.  I think it turned out quite well this year.

kind of cute but I'd rather have this:

http://www.christmasvacationcollectibles.com/productDetails.cfm?merchID=100623134433905249&category=100430112032173163&position=1

Tree Trimming Shopping

Sorry again no photos for this post.

Today J and I did a bit of tree trimming shopping.  I always need to buy candy canes for the tree.  This year I purchased three boxes.  After we take down the tree J shares the candy canes with his co-workers.

I needed to purchase some beaded garland for the tree.  I have some miss-matched stuff from years prior.  Think the red beads from a Lobsterita...yeah I used to drink those.  Hey that lobster makes a cute ornament in a pinch.  Though I do love the fluffy garland it just doesn't hold up to packing and re-packing and all those military moves.  This year I decided to purchase three 12 foot strands of aurora borelais plastic beads.

I even broke down and purchased two ornaments for the tree.  Still haven't talked J into a tree topper and we've been married 7 years.  He just can't find the one that he likes.  I end up putting up the one I have which is a star or the homemade angel I made.

Must not forget that I bought two more skeins of yarn.  I really need help I'm so addicted to yarn.

I couldn't find the wire framing for an Advent Wreath.  I was hoping the local craft stores would have it with the taper holders built in but no such luck.  I'll have to purchase one online I guess.  I think I spotted one for about $5.00.

Finally got the ink cartridges refilled.  Unfortunately they failed the store test prints which means they aren't going to be good for the photos I wanted to print out.  I'll have to buy new cartridges though this is their first refill.  The place was nice enough to not charge me too.

Celebrating The Season

Yesterday I finally got around to making the Advent wreath for the Christmas holidays. I'm a few days late I know but better late than never.  I knew I had the candles around and I have evergreen growing in my herb garden under the guise of my rosemary bush.  I just had to go find my candle holders and wire.  Ta-Da!
Simple but it does the job.

When I was growing up Roman Catholic we had our wreath that we made in CCD classes but my father didn't like lit candles in the house.  So we never lit the wreath.  Little did I know that it is to be lit every night with a prayer led by the man of the house before dinner is eaten and the candles extinguished after the evening meal is finished.  Every night the same prayer for one week and the same candle.  Eventually all four candles will get lit for the four weeks and four different prayers will be recited.  The white pillar candle is to be lit on Christmas Day. 

I think I'm going to like a sit down meal every night with my soldier.  Do I really expect to get it?  Nope.  Today he is headed out to Portland, OR for a class.  I'm thinking that he most likely won't be home in time for dinner.  Good thing he packed a lunch bag.  Yes, that is J lighting the first candle of the season.

Last night I made chicken a l' orange with baked russet potatoes and green bean almondine.  Tonight I'm thinking a slow cooker meal might be the best idea since I've no clue when he'll be pulling into the garage.

I like the idea of this little ritual.  It some how brings us closer as a family.  It gives us that bonding time to have an actual sit down meal and makes him want to be there on time more often too.