Top Ten: New Year's "Less" List

If less is more, then this top ten list is right on target. May your new year be one filled with health, prosperity, faith and happiness!

TOP TEN: WHAT I PLEDGE TO DO LESS OF (in no particular order)

1. Yell less. Love more.

2. Eat out less. Cook more.

3. Gossip less. Lift people up more.

4. Procrastinate less. Pray more.

5. Sit on the couch less. Exercise more.

6. Talk on the cell phone while driving less. Pay attention more.

7. Talk less. Listen more.

8. Stop endless web surfing less. Stay on task more.

9. Watch TV less. Spend time with Scott and the family more.

10. Leave late less. Be on time more.

Panhandle Girl

Yes, we're in Amarillo and it is so durn cold. But fun. More pics, details and many funny stories when we get back. Enjoy the break! Oh, and happy first anniversary to the Team Whitaker blog!

Merry, Merry!

From our house to yours...MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Top Ten: Plays, pageants, parties and concerts, oh my!

As we enter one of the best days of the year, I thought it would be appropriate to share 10 of the best images of the kids participating in school plays, pageants, parties, musicals and concerts...but I think I went over my top ten limit. My apologies now for the maternal bragging - but it's what we mom's do. Hey, send me a link to your blog and I'll be happy to dote on your children. Promise.

John Paul & Anna-Laura's Christmas program

What is it with JP and girls??

Amahl & the Night Visitors Church Musical

Will's Christmas Concert @ School

School Party
HUGE hat tip to friend Kelley who watched the three tornadoes so I could enjoy some sugar and a roomful of 22 second-graders! The reindeer cookies were a hit, by the way!




THE Christmas Pageant
They practiced for weeks and the outcome was stellar. Will was one of the narrators and the smiles should tell you just how fabulously the kids did.

The perfect ending!!

Reconciliation

A few weeks ago, I mentioned that Will had has First Reconciliation. To our non-Catholic friends, I'm sure you were wondering what the heck that is. Since I was once in that category, let me explain.

First a little history...

Before our second-graders take the leap toward First Eucharist (sometimes known as First Communion), they must first learn what it means to be truly sorry for their sins. The church says the "age of reason" is about 7-8 years old. You know, like when your oldest son does the one-two punch-kick to his little brother...he can no longer plead innocence and say he doesn't know better. Because now he does. Certainly, the sins might be more serious than the occasional jab at a sibling, tone of disrespect to a parent or white lie. We all have those type of sins, which we commonly refer to as venial. The mortal ones are the biggies - murder, adultery, etc. So, they first learn what sin is. That we all do it. And, that we must ask for forgiveness.

Confessing our sins is a big part of receiving communion. The church suggests that Catholics attend confession at least once a year, and certainly we cannot receive the holy Eucharist if we possess mortal sin. That sin stands in the way of our relationship with Christ.

Once they grasp all that (which I'll admit, I'm still learning myself), we prepare them for public reconcilation with the priest. Now, some of you might be saying, "Why in sam hill does one have to confess to a priest - why can't they just say it to God?"

Good question. I'll raise you this.

As early as the 1st century, just after Jesus was crucified, "churches" were home-based groups and when one would commit a sin, he would stand before the "congregation" and spill all his venial and mortal sins to his brothers and sisters. They would offer forgiveness AND help him to sin no more. That's right - you aired all your dirty laundry with your friends and instead of gossiping about how you were such a horrible person, they actually helped you become more holy. Now, a few centuries later, churches got a little bigger, and persecution got a little crazier. So, the penance for sinning became so serious that sometimes people would be banned from partaking of the Eucharist (communion) until they had sought forgiveness. Sometimes as long as 50 years! Fast forward a few more centuries and those churches became huge. Imagine if on Sunday morning we sat through everyone's litany of their sins. We'd be there all week! So, the priest became the representative of the whole community, and thus, reconciliation as we know it today, was born.

Long answer to a simple question. But I hope that gives you some insight as to why Catholics believe in confessing our sins to the representative of the community, and then why we do penance. It's our way of becoming closer to Christ by acknowledging the sin and asking the community/priest to help us sin no more.

So, back to why it was such a big day for Master Will. He was so incredibly proud - all of his classmates were - to receive such a healing sacrament. We were able to be in the church while they went to visit with the priest. I just sat in the pew and cried. I realized what a fine young man Will is becoming and just how very proud I am to be his mom. It was his first foray into becoming a man of God - and that just hit me like a ton of bricks. At the baptism, we promise to raise our children to be disciples of Christ. Now, we're starting to see what that really means.

Will - you are an amazing little boy who is turning into a wonderful young man. We love you more than you imagine. Cross my heart.

Ballet - take 2

See, I told you I fell in the "might not" category this week. Sheez. The whirlwind of activity at the school is beyond the outer world of craziness. In the last 5 days I've baked 4 dozen cookies, attended 3 Christmas parties, 1 Christmas Concert, 2 Christmas Plays/Pageants, shuttled one child to basketball practice, another to ballet (and attended her Christmas show) and yet another to choir practice. And the week ain't over yet folks.

But, before I get tired again (here it is 11:20 and I'm still up!!!), I have to share a photo from Anna-Laura's ballet show. They stretched beforehand and then did both their ballet and tap dances. It was outstanding, minus the fact that ALG was little Miss sassy pants, er sassy leotard, I guess. What a drama queen.

Is this what it's like to have girls?

Mom, don't answer that.

Much, much, much more to come this weekend. I am seriously behind on the posting. And, I'm sure you people are just hovering at your computers waiting for the latest update...well, at least one of you maybe? Hang tight gang, they're a comin'.

It was bound to happen

Somebody HAD to get sick this Christmas season. Our unfortunate victim? Clare Bear. Yes, for a record EIGHT times, croup has hit our house. Will is the winner thus far with seven bouts of it - one time landing him in the hospital. As soon as I heard that barky cough and labored breathing I knew what it meant.

So, we've been heading outside for that cool, damp air and then back inside to sit in a steamy bathroom. And, we have the humidifier going during nap and bedtimes. Ugh. Can I just say how much I hate croup? Not as much as the stomach virus because that's just a whole other level of yuck - but still.

Here's hoping all will be well come this weekend.

If the blog posts are light this week, my apologies. I might surprise myself, then again I might not.

Make it a great week.

Ok, so I have to brag

This past spring, I found out the school's PTO would be taking over design and production of the yearbook. They needed a volunteer. And, being the gullible sucker that I am - and the fact that I love, love, love to do graphic design - I raised my hand.

Well, today we got the cover proof from the plant and... It. Looks. Awesome. Insert HUGE hat tip to Bob, a fellow graphic designer and parent of a St. T's kiddo. We were partners in crime on this one.

The final product won't be delivered until next summer. But, the book is starting to come together and I'm really loving every minute.

Amahl and the Night Visitors

Tomorrow and Saturday nights are BIG nights in world of Will. He's part of the Shepherd's Choir in our parish musical, Amahl and the Night Visitors. They've been practicing the music for weeks and the rehearsals in the last two weeks have been intense. He told me the other night that "this Amahl thing was kinda fun." 7-year-old speak for cool.

If you want a sneak peek at the show, click here. Sean did a great job of capturing some fun moments at last night's dress rehearsal. We can't wait to see you perform Will!

Top Ten: Christmas Wish List

We all have one of these don't we? Some of the wishes are realistic, others notsomuch. But, I'm gonna give it a whirl anyway.

TOP TEN: ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS...

1. For my kids to get excited about the real reason we celebrate. This might be a stretch to get 100% buy-in, but it's a work in progress. I remember how excited I was as a kid before we opened presents, how much fun all the "stuff" was that came along with the holiday. Now, I'm hoping that our kids feel the same excitment - because, really, getting a gift IS exciting - about the God who made them.

2. To stop yelling. I'm a yeller. But I want to stop - it's bad for me and bad for the kids. They deserve a calmer Mom with an "inside" voice.

3. To fit into my skinny jeans. I do have some that are semi-skinny. You know the kind. You put them on and feel like you're making progress to who you once were? But I have this pair (with dust on the fold because they've been hanging in the closet so long) that I just can't seem to part with...maybe because I bought them just before I got pregnant with Clare and got to wear them like twice. I love those jeans!!!! Someday.

4. A week overseas with my hubby. Oh, YES! This one really is real...I cannot wait for March.

5. For none of my nativity scenes to get broken - again. Last year, Joseph was beheaded and this year, our little lamb is now walking on three legs instead of four. Please, please, stop the madness.

6. For my back to heal...completely.

7. To finish my client work by Dec. 19 so I can enjoy the time off.

8. For Dr. Pepper to make a 23-flavored cola that has nutritional value.

9. For the holidays to have minimal stress. In a far away, distant land, I recall completely enjoyable Christmas' with no yelling, no tantrums, no upset in-laws and family, no short fuses, no feelings hurt. Clearly, that was 8 years ago before Master Will and his entourage entered our world. How to have children and celebrate Christmas should be a short-course offered at the local community college. We're doing our best and we're (translation: ME) learning to accept that it will NOT go as planned, and how to make the best of it. We're also learning that there are some things that are non-negotiable and our first priority is to our own family.

10. To enjoy, with total joy, the time spent with family. It IS the most wonderful time of the year. May we all remember that...

St. Nick

The big man himself arrived on Friday eve...evidence by the 5:15 in the AM wake-up call we got. Scott went in to survey the damage and the kids had already dressed themselves in their new pajamas and were clamoring to see where "Sparkly" was (that would be our "Elf on the Shelf"). Holy smokes whose idea was it to do all that on a Friday evening??? Don't reasonable people know you SLEEP IN on a Saturday morning? Not our children.

They now want to wear said pajamas to bed everynight. I did get them washed today, but that may be the last time before Christmas arrives. We shall see.

I guess I should back up and explain why and how we celebrate this holiday. St. Nicholas - otherwise known as the REAL Santa Claus - was a Catholic Bishop back in the 3rd century. Born to wealthy parents and orphaned at a young age, he realized all the gifts he had been given were to be shared. And share he did, particularly with children. Thus, he's known as the Patron Saint of children. It's a long-standing tradition around the world for children to leave their shoes and a few carrots (for St. Nick's trusty horse) outside their doors on the eve of his Feast Day. The next morning, they find a small gift and a candy cane, which represents his crosier (staff).

Ok, now you follow? My sleep-deprived self apologizes. So, the kids woke up to find Christmas pjs and a candy cane with no evidence of the carrots, of course. I love this tradition because it's a small way to teach our children that the giving is the part of Christmas we celebrate. That if a real-live person can share so abundantly, we should be sharing much of what we have. I mean, take a look around folks, we all have houses full of "wants." Many look around and don't even have the "needs" fulfilled.

This feast day celebration is at the heart of why our children only get one Santa gift come Christmas morning...and why with every gift that comes into our house during the season, two go out to those more deserving.

Welcome to crazy.

I looked at the family calendar last night and almost fainted. The amount of activities is almost dizzying (is that a word?).

Between church musical practice, office parties, class parties, pageants, plays, more parties, basketball practices, open houses, breakfast with Santa and concerts, the cookies to bake, the house to clean...I'm feeling like now more than ever we have to take time to savor Advent.

Every evening we've been dutifully lighting our Advent candle and praying as a family. That's precious time. Cue "Silent Night" - the kids are screaming over who gets to light the candle, another one is complaining about dinner, another one has to go pee and another one is royally peeved that we started praying without him/her. Yep, just another family dinner at Casa Whitaker. But, still, we take time to do that whole thing EVERY night with the SAME arguments and screaming. I have a feeling in a few years - when the kids would all rather be with their friends than caught dead in a one-mile radius of Scott and I - that we'll really miss this. Thank you Toby Keith.

So, it is crazy busy, but that's ok. Will made his First Reconciliation on Saturday and I could not have been a prouder Mom. I'm sitting in the pew, watching as he walks up to the priest like a pro. I admit, I teared up. More than once. I didn't grow up Catholic and admittedly the confession and communion being the real body and blood of Christ thing took several years for me to really embrace. But, Saturday was just awesome. There are no other words. More to come.

Make it a great Advent.

QOTW: December 5, 2008

"Mom, I don't think Clare liked Santa."
Will, just after we took the family picture with Santa

Ya think?

Trees, Glorious Trees!

A little history...

2006

2007

2008

The tree farm experience was a flat-out fun morning. It was a little rainy, but the kids didn't seem to notice. Scott found the perfect tree, he came to get me and when we went to pick it up, another guy had already claimed it...rats! But, we found an equally pretty one just a few trees over. And, after putting it up in the house, it's the perfect fit. The kids were really more interested in the popcorn, tree swing and hayride. Can you blame them?

If you haven't gotten your tree and you want to make some fun family memories, Salado's your place.





Proof that the day must've been a good one.

Top Ten: Favorite Advent Traditions

Technically, the Christmas season doesn't kick off until Christmas Eve...Advent is such a glorious time of year, isn't it? Everybody is excited, they're waiting for family, for good food, for a few presents and for the birth of Christ. I love the anticipation. It reminds me of being pregnant that last month...without the frequent bathroom trips.

In honor of the most wonderful time of the year, I thought I'd share a few traditions - some new, some old - we celebrate here at Casa Whitaker. Feel free to share yours!

TOP TEN: ADVENT TRADITIONS

1. The Advent Wreath. Every week a new candle is lit and every night we light the appropriate candle and pray as a family. The kids argue over who gets to light it and blow it out, but still.

2. The tree hunt. A few years ago, we started going to a real live tree farm to pick out our tree. Ok, hands up (mine is included) if you've ever bought a tree at Lowe's. One year, we just wanted the experience of buying a tree. We found a jewel up in Salado. They are the nicest folks. There is hay riding, hot chocolate drinking and tree swinging - all of which make the trip worthwhile for the little people.

3. The Baby Jesus collection. When Will turned 3, we started collecting all the Baby Jesus' from our nativity scenes and then on Christmas Eve, he's "born" and the kids get to put them all out. This is one of our favorites and it reminds the kids of why we celebrate.

4. One word, Griswold. Ok, we're not that bad, but the house is a beaut. Scott works really hard (actually the finishing touch is still in the garage being painted) every year to put together a masterpiece. Thanks honey, and you did it with lots of "help" this year too!!

5. Christmas lights. A few days before Christmas, we load up the kids and some hot chocolate and hit the town looking at lights. We used to do that as I kid and I absolutely loved it. I could look at lights all night long.

6. Confession. Will is preparing for his first reconciliation this weekend. I'll have a longer post on that later, but suffice it to say, there is no better way to prepare for the coming of Christ than to reflect on our own inadequacies and be humbled by a Savior who came in spite of them all.

7. The Advent Calendar. We actually have two - one involves bribing with candy the other encourages the kids to do good deeds. Hey, whatever works.

8. The Feast of St. Nick. There was/ok IS a real live Santa Claus. We celebrate the big guy in a really cool way on December 5 (yes, it's coming up!!) His feast day is December 6, so on the evening before, the kids put out their shoes and some carrots for St. Nicholas and his trusty horse. The next morning they awake to find Christmas pajamas and a candy cane. It's a wonderful way to tie together our love of the Santa Claus tradition with our faith.

9. Christmas cards. For as long as I can remember, I've loved getting letters in the mail. It's a total joy to hear how our friends are doing and to see pictures of them and their families. We usually get ours in the mail the day before Turkey Day and get to enjoy reading about all of YOU the rest of Advent. Then, throughout the year, we pull a card out each evening, re-read it and pray for that family. Our kids get to know all the fabulous people God has put in our life and we get to pray for them. Love it.

10. Family movie night. This is our newbie to the list. Last Christmas, Scott and I got on this American Film Institute Top 100 Movie List. Our first find? It's a Wonderful Life. Seriously, people, we had not seen this movie. How is that possible?? After seeing such an OUTSTANDING classic, we felt we should watch it with the kids one night during Advent. So, the DVD is cued, we're just searching for the right night.

Hey, have a great Advent. Make it count this year.

Cupcakes!!

First, I must give credit where credit is due. Hat tip to Ms. Shannon for letting us know about this delish little hole-in-the-Austin-wall.

Last week, after an early release day from school, we loaded up the whole fam (Scott included!) and headed over to Polkadot. The kids were practically beside themselves. "Mom, we REALLY get to eat a cupcake before nap?" Yes, once every decade. I did take two tylenol before we went. I usually save sugar for right after nap so they can run it off before bed, but it was a special treat. And the kids loved it, don't ya think?

See, OCD Mom can let her hair down...a little.




Um yes, that is a sucker in the top of the cupcake. Before I could say no, the owner offered them all to the kids. Hey, it's like having a broken leg and someone stepping on your toe. You're already there, why not a little more sugar?

Gobble, Gobble

We had an outstanding Thanksgiving. The whole gang, and a few family friend strays joined us for the fun-filled day. Loved it. We ate, we had a bubbly, we ate, we played whiffle ball, we laughed, we watched football, we ate, we made crafts, we played dominoes, we slept, and we ate again. I pray yours was spent with friends and family and you had an opportunity to be THANKFUL for your many blessings.

One ADD to that Top Ten Thankful list...Go Sooners!!!

While we wrapped up cooking, look who was entertaining all the kids! I think Great Papa had as much fun as they did :-)





Our craft project for the afternoon (thank you Parents magazine) Those cute little elves now adorn our Christmas tree!


Said game of dominoes. Papa Jack brought instructions for "Amtrack". The boys are totally hooked, especially Will.


Whiffle ball. Gotta love "fall" weather in Texas!!

Can you smell it?

Christmas is in the air! I love, love, love, LOVE this time of year. We were at the tree farm this weekend picking out the tree and saw a sign..."You're at a Christmas Tree Farm, feel free to breathe deeply."

But, I'm getting ahead of myself.

Monday was Grandparents' Day at school. We began the day with Mass and I got to enjoy a whole hour with Will at church. Glorious. Scott was home doing laundry - that, my friends, is love.

We enjoyed lunch with Master Will and the grandparentals. The weather was stunning and the time with family was precious. Thanks Nana and Papa for coming to celebrate a great day!






A few more Christmas decorations are beckoning, so we'll continue the post tomorrow. Turkey Day, part deuce. Then, we'll hit Advent. If you haven't blessed your Advent wreath yet, try this one.