St. Nicholas Day

Growing up, St. Nicholas day was a long-standing tradition in our household.  On the eve of my big brother's birthday, our stockings were hung on hooks throughout the house (I know many families use shoes, but we have always used stockings per Czech tradition).  We would always get chocolates and a piece of fruit (my siblings usually got apples and I always got an orange - personal preference, in those cases) and often a little book or trinket. 

This year, all three of us were sick the day before St. Nick's feast day, so I wasn't able to make my sneaky trip to the store (my insides wanted to be on my outside... seriously).  Luckily, the next day, St. Nick made sure we remembered him anyway (thank you, dearest husband!).
 
 Our stocking hang on the wall with care (no fireplace nor hearth in our little apartment, but this seemed to do just as well).

 

Daniel did good mixing both the symbolism of the day (gold coins as well as the orange to symbolize the money purse St. Nicholas left for the three daughters) and satisfying my sweet tooth (everything else).  He even found a simple little $1 book for Anni; she was mostly interested in chewing on it.  Maybe next year we'll find a good children's book on St. Nicholas to read to her.

 

 

Happy Advent!

Happy Birthday, Charlie!

Little Charlie - around 2 yrs old.

 Happy Birthday to my dear Charlie!  Charlie is my (first) nephew and the first grandchild of my parents.  I was in high school when he was born, and I still remember the days of going over after school to help watch him.  My sister always kept popcorn for me to pop, and then I would do homework while he napped (in between checking him every few minutes to make sure he was breathing... guess not much has changed there ;)).  Charlie is fantastically brilliant and fun.  He has regularly filled me in on the workings of the human body, as well as the intricacies of WiiFit and has kept us giggling since day one.

Charlie - 7 years old

A year and a half ago, Charlie was diagnosed with aspergers.  Luckily, he has amazing parents who have worked hard to learn the best ways to help him grow and thrive... and it helps that our whole family seems to have a lot of the aspects related to aspergers.

I wish I was there to celebrate with him today, but I figure a blog post and a phone call will have to do.  Happy 8th Birthday, Charlie!!

Former Fridays [Happy Birthday, Tom!]

So...I know I missed last Friday.  Thanksgiving kept me happily busy with family, food, showers, etc.  However, I think you'll agree that this weeks picture is worth the wait.  In honor of my older brother's 27th birthday coming up in a couple of days, I had to dig through the box and find a suitably adorable picture of him.  This photograph is from the summer of 1984.  Isn't he the cutest, chubby baby boy?  He was even a blondie for a few years.  Now this was before my time, but I bet I'll hear back some good stories from my sisters about baby Tommy.

Thursday's Three Small Successes

1. Cleaned the apartment!  Like, really cleaned: dusting and vacuuming (the two things that tend to get left behind) as well as the normal necessary picking up.  Now, it's definitely not perfect.  I seem to have a knack for little piles that have no home.  But, I have to say, the place looks good.  Today is absolutely beautiful out, so I opened windows, cracked the door to our porch and am letting the sun shine in!  It's a beautiful thing.  Plus, along the lines of feeling like a good housewife: I have dinner all planned for tonight.  Totally random - but I have enough leftover ingredients (from several other meals) to make a small lasagna... and since it's just Daniel and I (Nugget isn't quite ready for lasagna), it'll be perfect!

2. Got all caught up on photos, ordered everything I had in the queue and blogged about all the recent shoots.  

3. We planned a few things for us to do for Advent!  While Anni isn't big enough to do a lot, we made plans to pray for one of our mission partners each day as well as to continue our tradition of lighting the advent wreath and saying corresponding prayers.  It's going to be a great month! 



Happy Thursday!  Hope you're taking time to recognize all the wonderful little things you do!

Thankful

As I worked on the photos for this post, Anni played on the floor behind me.  She began to whine, the whine that you know needs attention.  So, bending down to the floor, I stroked that fluffy down on her head.  Immediately, her eyes fluttered.  30 seconds later, she was asleep in my arms.  And even though she didn't need it, I sat in the rocking chair and held that heavy, comforting weight of a sleeping baby.  I was thankful.  Thankful that the nugget that caused me to spend most of last year's thanksgiving outside for fear of the deadly oven smell was trying sweet potatoes and grinning to everyone who passed by this year.  And even though the rest of today has made me want to run screaming out of the apartment, I am so thankful for this year, for my husband and baby and for our family that has been there through the frantic, worried phone calls, as well as the joyful ones over things others might find trivial.

This thanksgiving was wonderful.  Daniel and I thoroughly enjoyed our second Thanksgiving and getting to share it with our nugget.    

 This is how Anni "crawls."  When she really wants to move, she starts working her arms and legs so hard only her little tummy is left on the floor!

We even got a holiday outfit for the little one.  I adore it and as it is in my sister's favorite color, it made me smile even more. 

 It was just as good as it looks...

 The first attempt at sweet potatoes was mildly successful.  They needed to be pureed more, and she did her usual "new food freakout," but she ate most of them!

 Despite the fact that her "Stranger Danger," alert went off with her uncle at first, she quickly warmed up to him when he proved himself snuggly and willing to walk with her.  I loved how wonderful he was with her! 

 The joy of sweet, sweet, dessert wine.  It catered directly to the fact that I am the girliest of all drinkers... the sweeter my drink the better.

And what could be better than a bath amongst the pots and pans and pies at Grandma and Grandpa's house?

 Thanksgiving Day was followed by Thanksgiving weekend... which brought with it beautiful friends.  There was even some proverbial whipped cream on the pie in that they are both incredibly talented musicians.  Anni's love of music was wonderfully filled by their music.

 I love Anni's slightly shy but intently listening face in this one.  Emily sang her a beautiful Celtic lullaby... if you want to hear some of her lovely music - check out her facebook page.

And even more goodness followed that weekend... with a bridal shower honoring this lovely bride of this lovely couple (too many lovelies - they really are).  I am so excited to be photographing their wedding this New Year's Eve!

 

So thankful.