Happy Birthday, Honey!!

Yes, it's a big one.... today is my dear husband's 50th birthday!!

We began celebrating two days ago when we had his favorite dinner: a prime rib roast, cooked medium rare, mashed potatoes, brussels sprouts and salad, followed by his favorite dessert, Chocolate Chip Cookie Cheesecake, pictured above (find the recipe here).

The boys made 'Happy 50th' signs and hung them about the house, and we have the usual birthday streamers, balloons and banner that we hang whenever it is someone's special day. It is festive, indeed! And this evening the boys and I will take Dad out for dinner.

Where does time go?! We've been married for almost 11 years. Ten years ago on his 40th birthday, my husband was too busy with his 8-day old firstborn to think about turning 40. It seems like we blink and 10 years pass by. But without a doubt it has been the best 10 years of our lives. God has blessed us richly and in too many ways to count in this space.

And so, as I raised my glass to my hubby at his birthday dinner on Sunday, I raise it again here: Happy Birthday, Honey... Here's to another 50 years!!

The Joys of Homeschooling

Quote of the Day, courtesy of my 8 year old son, today during a drill of the states and capitals: "I put new batteries in my thinking cap, but it's still not working!"

I love it when I hear or see my kids say or do something of note during the day, be it funny, clever, surprising, or even annoying. It makes me realize how very blessed I am to have them here all day where the things they say and do, good and bad, fall on the ears of one that loves them more than the best, most well-meaning teacher ever could.

If they are funny or smart, cute or clever, it's a moment to write down on Facebook where Grandma, 2000+ miles away, can appreciate the moment like only Grandma can, or I can text it to my husband and brighten his workday a bit. At the same time, if it's an annoying or naughty moment, well, I'm here for that too. I can deal with it immediately and directly and it won't get swept under the rug and forgotten, or the behavior perpetuated by the lack of due consequence that only Mom or Dad should mete out. Oh the moments I would miss if we didn't homeschool!

Today's funny little quote gives me pause to realize that not the least of my reasons for loving to homeschool is simply being able to be here with and for them, daily. In the midst of the hard work that educating our boys at home is, I realize how blessed we are with the freedom and ability to do so.

New Blog Recommendation!

Here's a brand-new blog I would like to recommend: Daily Chocolate Bar. Its author is a bright, enthusiastic young woman of 20 who, after graduating from homeschool, went on to Western Culinary Institute in Portland, Oregon, where she graduated with honors. Oh, and she just happens to be my niece!

In her blog she'll give us a taste of what she's doing in her kitchen, whether at home or work, and she'll serve it up with engaging style. Check it out!

An Epiphany Gift!

It was a dark and cold evening with the threat of snow in the air as we entered the church. We were expecting the Novus Ordo in Latin on this Feast of the Epiphany, but it was apparent as Mass began that this was a low Traditional Latin Mass. There were only a handful of faithful, perhaps 3-4 families, assisting at the Mass.

As Father Lockwood began the prayers at the Altar, his voice, alternating with two young altarboys, was barely audible. All was quiet and still, the lighting was dim but for the Altar; I can imagine it was not unlike the evening the three kings arrived at the stable to adore and present their gifts to the Newborn King.

It was a beautiful Mass, as the TLM always is. But what made it a special gift on this Feast of the Epiphany, was the fact that it was the first Traditional Latin Mass celebrated at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church in over 40 years! How blessed we were to be there ... we pray it is only the first of many to come!

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St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Pray for Us!

Merry Christmas!

My Mom and I have been busy in the kitchen today, preparing for this evening's meal and as we can for tomorrow's feast.

We have homemade Creamy Clam Chowder simmering for this evening. It is an unusual recipe, I think, but is absolutely delicious. Chowder lovers, here's a little gift for ya!

Clam Chowder
My favorite clam chowder.... Different and delicious! From Mom's files.

1 51 ounce can chopped clams (reserving liquid)
6 slices bacon
1 medium onion
1 cup carrots, diced
3 cups tater tots
2 cubes chicken bouillon
1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon lemon and pepper
1 carrot, shredded
4 cups milk
2 cups half and half
5 tablespoons flour

In large pot cook cut-up bacon till crisp. Drain off fat. Add chopped onion. Add liquid from clams and bring to boil. Simmer 10 min. Add spices, onion, carrots, tater tots, milk and clams. Return to just a boil and let simmer for one hour. Serves 10.

Notes: I usually use all skim milk, for the milk and the half and half. (On Christmas Day however, we pull out the stops and use half and half for an extra special and very creamy consistency!) I use twice the bacon called for. Mix the flour with water and add at end to thicken soup, as needed.

I have Frozen Peppermint Delight freezing for tomorrow's dessert. This recipe is as easy as recipes get, it's yummy, and it's very pretty too. We like to have a standing rib roast for Christmas dinner, and I think the cool peppermint follows roast beef perfectly. Here 'tis!

Frozen Peppermint Delight
1 package (14 ounces) cream-filled chocolate sandwich cookies, crushed
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 gallon peppermint ice cream, slightly softened
1 carton (12 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 jar (11-3/4 ounces) hot fudge ice cream topping, warmed
Crushed peppermint candy

In a bowl, combine cookie crumbs and butter. Press into an ungreased 13-in. x 9-in. dish. Spread ice cream over crust; top with whipped topping. Cover and freeze until solid. May be frozen for up to 2 months. Just before serving, drizzle with hot fudge topping and sprinkle with peppermint candy. Yield: 12-15 servings.

This evening we are going to a traditional Latin Mass at 8pm. Oh how we'd love to go to Midnight Mass at the Oratory--click here to read at St. Louis Catholic about what you can expect tonight at midnight--but it won't work for us this year. We are thankful to Fr. Lockwood who will celebrate the TLM at Assumption parish at 8pm.

The boys are excited as only 8 and 9 year old boys can be. Although they will be in bed later than their usual 8:30 bedtime tonight, we anticipate they will wake us early on Christmas morning. We've already told them they can't get up before 6am!

And so, as Advent draws to a close, and we celebrate once again the Coming of the Christ Child, may you all be blessed with a happy and holy Christmas, and may your celebration endure for the whole Christmas season!

Mom's Coming to Town!

Tomorrow evening we'll head up to the airport to pick up my mom, who is flying in from Washington (state) to be with us for the holidays! We are all so excited!

The boys love it when Grandma comes to town. First off, she brings one suitcase that is practically loaded with surprises, no matter what time of year it happens to be. But their excitement goes a bit deeper than the haul they will likely take on opening her luggage. There are many little traditions that have evolved over the years, all of which makes the boys very close to her, even though we are so far away most of the year.

One such tradition is the Baking of the Bread. My mom, herself the daughter of a baker, makes the best homemade bread. The recipe, given to her by her dad over 50 years ago, is not even written down. She has it in her head only, but it produces five beautiful white yeasty loaves every time. She keeps saying she's going to write it down, and she should. As much as my boys enjoy helping, kneading, tasting, they might just want it when they're old enough to bake themselves. We all know that within days of her arrival, our house will smell like it only does on bread-baking day. Mmmmmm.

The boys also know Grandma is pretty willing to do just about anything with them, whether it's playing a game, putting together a puzzle, reading, or playing outside (in warmer months, that is). And then there are the fun little songs that only Grandma sings to them... even if it began when they were babies, and at 8 and 9 they're getting a little 'old' for it, somehow it's still ok, because it's Grandma.

Of course my husband and I are looking forward to her arrival too! Mom and I have always been very close, so when she comes in we spend hours upon hours 'catching up', as if it would be possible to ever be caught up. She and I will enjoy decorating for Christmas, spending time in the kitchen cooking and baking sweet treats, watching our old favorite Christmas shows that we watched together in years gone by.

She'll be here for a month, a nice long visit that will fly by in a wink. It will be the first Christmas without Dad, so I think her time here with us over the holidays will be as good for her as it will be for us.

We'll cherish every moment. Truly, there is no one I'd rather share 'my morning cup' with!

St. Andrew-Christmas Anticipation Prayer

Happy Feast Day of St. Andrew!

One of the Advent calendars our family is using this year includes the following beautiful prayer. Following the prayer is a suggested instruction for praying it.

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold. In that hour vouch safe, oh my God! to hear my prayer and grant my desires, through the merits of Our Savior, Jesus Christ, and His Blessed Mother. Amen.

It is piously believed that whoever recites the above prayer fifteen times a day from the feast of St. Andrew (30th November) until Christmas will obtain what is asked.

Imprimatur
+MICHAEL AUGUSTINE, Archbishop of New York
New York, February 6, 1897