vacation part three

Day six

Sarasota Dec 2010

It may take me a few days to finish adding comments.

vacation continued

Day two

Days three and five

I ran out of batteries on day 4

Vacation

We're back from sunny Florida (or should I say cold, windy Florida... lows were in the 20s!). We had fun visiting Disney World with Doug's mom and sister and her girls. We stayed in a Tree House Villa, our first adventure with DVC, but not our last! After that we spent three days in Sarasota attending Doug's 15th high school reunion and visiting family. The kids came down with high fevers but they had fun anyway. Grandpa Tom always showers them with tons of presents.

Florida Dec 2010 Day one

Santa baby

Zachary loves putting on gloves. He put on a hat too, because it was cold and he wanted to give his dad a push-off to work.

Packing

I was getting out suitcases in preparation for packing for our trip to visit family in Florida, and Zachary decided to pack... himself!

family tradition

We have a family tradition of gathering every Sunday of advent to eat cookies. Last Sunday was our turn to host.

St. Nicholas celebration

Regina Mater hosted a great celebration in honor of the feast of St. Nicholas. My ccamera batteries were about dead so I only took a few pictures. Happy, happy do not fear, good St. Nicholas was certainly here!

Advent cookies

Another family tradition is having cookies each Sunday of advent. My sister hosted this week at her farm.

Basketball game

Some friends from Regina Mater generously shared their suite with us for the Rice vs. UT basketball game. We had a great time, and the kids had room to move around and play. The game was very exciting, close all the way to the end! UT won, but Rice played very well. It brought back fond memories. Doug and I used to play in the Basketball Owl Band (BOB) while we were students at Rice, but that was longer ago now than I care to admit!

Rice vs. UT basketball

Jessie Tree

We put the first ornament on our "Jesse Tree" today. The Jesse tree is a biblical look back at the family tree of Jesus (starting from Adam and Eve). On Christmas eve we'll take down those ornaments and put up the Christmas decorations instead.
 

Gone hiking

Enjoyed a nice walk at Lake Georgetown last Monday.

Lake Georgetown hike

Happy Thanksgiving

It was a very laid-back thanksgiving day with family, I only took a few pictures. I am very thankful for my family and friends! 
 
 

fresh air

While Lucas attended a retreat for his first reconciliation, I took the younger kids out to the farm for several hours.

Saturday at the farm

Love

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35 

Relaxing at the park

We're loving this beautiful fall weather!

 

Poinsettias anyone?

My children's school is holding our annual Poinsettia Sale and fundraiser this month.
The cost is $12 per plant.
I can honestly say that these are the most lovely poinsettias that I saw the entire past Christmas season.
Orders are due by Tuesday, November 24, the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.
Plants will be delivered the week of December 1.
Would you please just email me if you would like to place and order?

Here are the organizations that you will be supporting:
1) Regina Mater - a Catholic Homeschooling Initiative Program: this is where my children attend school and where I work three days of the week teaching Latin.
2) Down Home Ranch - a country place for kids and adults with special needs in Elgin, TX. They grow and sell the plants. The founders are a wonderful family, one of whom sings in the church choir with Doug and me. My sister Christine worked there for several months assisting the residents.

Thank you so much for considering a purchase of these lovely symbols of the Christmas season. They are beautiful in homes, offices, and also make wonderful gifts.

All Saints Festival

On Tuesday we celebrated the feast of All Saints at Regina Mater (Lucas was home sick). Here are a few of the costumes. All you Angels and Saints, pray for us! Doug sang for the special All Souls Mass at church that evening, while I stayed home. May the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace!

 
 
 

See how they grow!

It's fun to watch all the kids in our neighborhood grow up!
 

Trick-or-Treat!

We had a super-busy weekend! First a camp-out at McKinney Falls with Lucas' Cub Scout pack (Fri-Sat); then Mass, Sacrament prep class, a festival, trick-or-treating with neighbors, and Sung Compline on Sunday. Now we're having some sick days to recover. The men's schola did a great job, but since Zachary was wired on too much chocolate I had to listen from the Narthex. Compline will continue every week at 9 pm at St. Louis in the chapel, come check it out!
Here are some of our Halloween costume pictures. 
 
 

Cub Scout camp-out

Lucas' pack went camping at McKinney Falls last weekend. The boys loved playing in the cold ashes of the fire pit. It got down to 32 degrees Friday night. Doug was able to join us for the last few hours, but he was wiped out from being in Washington all week.

Cub Scout camp-out

40 Days for Life

To celebrate the end of the 40 Days for Life campaign, there was a family carnival at Zilker Park.
 
 
 

Neighborhood Fall BBQ

Regina Mater Campout