Snow Days in Colorado

Sledding Day
Above Ouray

This was the week after Christmas, before Dominic had to go back to the seminary and Dan had to go back to work...  I stayed home for this field trip and let them bond, while I took the chance to clean the  Christmas-traumatized house (with noone there to immediately destroy it behind me)...

Here's a shot of the "amphitheater" above the tiny town of Ouray, Colorado.  The sledding gang actually headed to the hills behind the camera person, west of this shot...

Up near these craggy peaks.

So, it seems the gang (Dominic, Michelle, Theresa, Cathy, Anna,
Gabe,  William, and their Dad)  found an unused, uncleared road, near Box Canyon Falls....

"It was so much fun, Mommy!"  "It was perfectly safe, Mom!"  "It was a good spot, dear. Nothing to worry about."
Uhuh.

But, the facts of the field trip came out later, when they admitted it was probably a good thing I didn't go or they'd have ended up sledding on a lump at the playground.  As the details (and the pictures) downloaded, I learned that, for one thing,  there was a street with some traffic on it at the bottom of the hill.  See Dan waaaaay down there?  It was his job to stop the sled as it came flying down toward the road.  Brave man.  Nut.

And there was a steep drop off on one side with a frozen creek down at the bottom of it.  

But, it was all good, Mom!  See?  We made it out alive!
(See the snow-encrusted eyelashes?!  Crazy people!)

And now for your consideration, a wintery poem:

Snowball

by Shel Silverstein

I made myself a snow ball as perfect as could be.
I thought I'd keep it as a pet and let it sleep with me.
I made it some pajamas and a pillow for it's head.
Then, last night it ran away.
But first -- it wet the bed.

(Heehee!)  Happy snow days, friends!
(This poem was 'specially for you, William and Gabe...)

Christmas Joys: The Family Creche, 2012

Kinda Korny.  And I hate the way my voice sounds....  Doesn't everybody? (Hate the way I sound,I mean.  gglggl)  But, anyway, here you find it, the Davis family nativity scene, recorded for posterity, and so we have something to go by next year -- not like we'll ever beat Dominic's amazing work this year, though!  The whole amazing thing: it was all him, concept, design, and direction of helper elves.

Dominic, you rock.

Yes, you do.

You do.

You really do!

(Love you!  Gonna miss you when you go back to the Seminary in the new year!)

Christmas Joys, continued...

December 25th, 2012

Gavin and "Uncle Bill."  (ONLY Gavin is allowed to call him Uncle Bill, however....)

Nina! (with ketchup)

Handsome Gavin ("Hiyeee!").

Theresa and Cathy (Giggle Snort)

Uncle Steve
This shot just as he received his "singing Christmas present," in which
he was musically gifted with a Powderhorn ski pass and ski rental --
Yes...  gifted musically.  It got sang to him...
Like many things that go on around here, it's kinda hard to explain.
You had to be here...

Michelle -- aka, Shelly -- aka, "Fluffy" --- aka, "Chicky"

 Michelle/Shelly/Fluffy/Chicky with Cathy/Cathy/Cathy/Cathy

Anna and Gabe
In a rare Kodak moment.

Grandma (Sharon), Gabe, Paul, and Nicole -- contemplating their next moves
in the traditional Christmas "Apples to Apples" game...

Michelle/Shelly/Fluffy/Chicky thanking William/Not Bill/Not Billy/Not Will/Not Willy
 for the great "KK" gift he gave her (Note the beanie... with gloves and chocolate!)

Gavin and his best pal, Grandpa

Gavin loves his Momma just a little...
So do we!

Dominic in front of his work of art -- this year's awesome
version of Bethlehem, which filled the whole music room.
(Video of Bethlehem coming later...)

Gavin, getting to know  Mr. Potato Head, inside and out...

Daddy/Dad/Dan, the "Master of Ceremonies" in the midst of the all-important
gift-distribution "ceremony."

Missing In Action:

Brother Philip (formerly Jonathan Charles)...
shown here at his quick visit home last summer for the dentist... Couldn't make it back for Christmas this year, as his"visitations" are limited in his first year at the seminary as a novitiate in the Religious life.   We did get to see him for a bit a couple weeks ago when we went to Omaha for the ordination of our good friend, Father Carlos Borja.  So... We feel deprived, but we'll live.  Maybe.

And then there's Kevin...

who was supposed to be here for Christmas, but got to attend his first Broncos game 

last week and chose an unfortunate place to park, whereafter his car was towed and, forthwith, there 

being a bizarre discrepaency at the DMV (their fault), he was unable to get his car out of impound

until the day after Christmas.... And therefore...  he was unable to get home for the Holiday.  And

we missed him very much (as did the choir). But, God Willing, we'll see him after his classes on Friday.

God Willing, and the mountains don't blizzard.  Etc. Because we have a bunch of presents waiting for him here...  and need help eating all the cookies the girls baked last week.  

** Please forgive the terrible picture quality...  Trust me: it's making me crazy, these horrible pics -- but we had a bizarre accident with my camera, and have not recovered from it yet...  As soon as I get my good lens repaired, I'll hopefully be able to improve the pics -- in spite of my amateur-ness.  A good camera can make even a hack's work presentable....

Christmas Joys!

Mary of Christmas

I know not how, dear Lady love,

To offer you my praise,

I cannot fashion as I wish

The words that I world raise.

You stand afar, celestial Queen,

The stars are in your crown,

They spangle at each gesture's path

And dust upon your gown.

Perhaps I might recall the night

You knelt beside the crib,

The night when doors and casements shut

And left a mountain's rib,

Alone, exposed, to hoard you close

Beside the new-born Child

And seek in Joseph's kindly eyes

For something worldly-mild.

To counteract such mundane chill

I hereby set my heart,

Dim mirror of an Infant's warmth,

Its flaming but a part,

A small, sad part of Endless Love

That came on Christmas day

To show a mother wonder-bright

To guide us on our way.

--Anonymous

The paper whites in the above photo we found blooming on Christmas morning!  I'd picked them up less than a month before Christmas, not expecting them to sprout and bloom in time for the big day...  It usually takes longer.  Such a sweet and wonderful little surprise for us! And as there are no accidents in the universe, we're grateful for them as a gift -- not to us but to the dear Mother of the Infant Jesus.

The Feast of St. Nicholas

From Advent Customs by Sr. Mary Laetitia, R.S.M.
Nihil Obstat: J. Gerald Kealy, D.D.
Imprimatur: Samuel Cardinal Stritch
Chicago, November 22, 1955

If we want to "Put Christ Back Into Christmas" we must return to the traditional ideas of the Church. Christmas, if it is to be primarily a holy day, and not a commercial holiday, must be essentially a religious feast. All the festivities of the season accent it spiritually and our Advent celebration must not smother its spiritual flavor.

Early in Advent on December 6th, the Church rejoices on the feast of St. Nicholas. This day is always a favorite with children. Gifts are in place, and their giving offers parents an opportunity to tell the little ones about the charity of the saint. Such small gifts as candy, nuts, or a bright toy, will remind them of the Gift Christ gives us each Christmas.

So, now....

I can't disagree with what she said, but awwww, geeeee...

I think it's an automatic reaction for some to see those words "must be essentially a religious feast" and start to feel like they're being smothered. Don't those words "religious feast" mean we must be serious and formal and prim? We feel deprived. Like a kid who's only allowed to use the online encyclopedia and isn't allowed to play games.

Everyone else gets to play! It's not fair! Not letting us have any fun...

But, is Christmas time -- is life -- really not supposed to be fun?

Of course we're allowed to have fun!  There's a time for being serious, of course, and things that must be taken seriously, but  don't let the devil and the saecular world muddy up truth. The wisdom of the Church always provides.  And God knows we're a bunch of kids at heart! Didn't He tell us He wanted us to become as little children? Now, of course that doesn't mean we're supposed to be brats. But, we should have a spirit of joy, and be carefree in His love and care for us! Isn't that what hope is? What faith is? What charity is?

And of course the Church doesn't expect us to behave in Advent as if it's Lent. I like to explain it to my children this way:

When you are pregnant with a child (and, boy, do I know about this!), you are filled with anticipation of the joy of bringing a new child into the world. Anticipation of the joy. Which is a very, very close relative to the joy itself.

But, mostly, you are just getting ready. These last four weeks before the birth of The Baby, our dearest Blessed Mother was preparing the best she could. She was anticipating. She was so looking forward to meeting her very, very special little Son. But, she was not opening the champaigne yet (so to speak).

When the baby is here safely, THEN you party.

I don't know if you know this, but in the Jewish culture, it was the custom (to this day in orthodox Jewish families) to not speak the child's name, or even really speak of the child, until after it is born! I wonder if it was so with the Mother of God? She knew His name, but may never have spoken it until it was officially given to Him on the Circumcision! (Oh, what a blessed day in the universe, the day His Name was first spoken!)

So, we're not sad during Advent. We're spending our time preparing our homes and hearts and holding on to our best JOY for the big day. The day of His birth.

When a great feast comes along, like the Feast of St. Nicholas, the patron saint of children, of course we celebrate! But, we celebrate with an understanding of who St. Nicholas was, and how his example can help us find our way to Heaven, too! We put candy and presents in the children's shoes, have special cakes and cookies, sing songs, and decorate for the day, all while keeping in mind that it is "essentially a religious feast."

Tomorrow morning the kids 'll have their goodies in their shoes to commemorate the generosity of St. Nicholas, but I will personally be having some rum of Christian generosity in my eggnog tomorrow night. How about you?

(For everything in the world about St. Nicholas, from history to recipes and coloring pages, go here.)

* Repost, 2007

Thoughts on Christmas Greetings...

On the Feast of the Presentation

From Abbot Gueranger, O.S.B.
in the Liturgical Year

Our new-born King and Saviour is eight days old today; the Star that guides the Magi is advancing towards Bethlehem, and five days hence will be standing over the Stable where our Jesus is being nursed by His Mother.  Today the Son of Man is to be circumcised; this first sacrifice of His innocent Flesh must honour the eighth day of His mortal life.  Today also a Name is to be given him; the Name will be Jesus, and it means Saviour.  So that mysteries abound on this day; let us not pass one of them over, but honour them with all possible devotion and love.

But this day is not exclusively devoted to the Circumcision of Jesus.  The mystery of this Circumcision forms party of that other great mystery, the Incarnation and Infancy of our Saviour -- a mystery on which the Church fixes her heart not only during this Octave, but during the whole forty days of Christmastide.  Then, as regards our Lord's receiving the Name of Jesus, a special Feast, which we shall soon be keeping (* The Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus is celebrated tomorrow, January 2nd!), is set apart in honour of it.  There is another object that shares the love and devotion of the Faithful on this great Solemnity.  This object is Mary, the Mother of God.  The Church celebrates today the august prerogative of this divine Maternity which was conferred on a mere creature, and made her the co-operatrix with Jesus in the great work of man's salvation;.

The holy Church of Rome used formerly to say two Masses on the first of January; one was for the Octave of Christmas Day, the other was in honour of Mary.  She now unites the two intentions in one Sacrifice, in the same manner as, in the rest of this Day's Office, she unites together the acts of her adoration of the Son, and the expressions of her admiration for and confidence in the Mother.

The Greek Church does not wait for this eighth day, in order order to pays her tribute of homage to her who has given us our Emmanuel.  She consecrates to Mary, the first day after Christmas, that is December 26th, and calls it the Synaxis of the Mother of God, making the two days one continued Feast.  She is thus obliged to defer the Feast of St. Stephen to December 27th.

But it is today that we, the children of the Roman Church, must pour forth all the love of our hearts for the Virgin Mother, and rejoice with her in the exceeding happiness she feels at having given birth to her and our Lord.  During Advent we contemplated her as pregnant with the world's salvation; we proclaimed the glory of that Ark of the New Covenant, whose chaste womb was the earthly paradise chosen by the King of Ages for his dwelling place.  Now she has brought him forth, the Infant God; she adores Him, He who is her Son.  She has the right to call Him her Child and He, God as he is, calls her in strictest truth His Mother.

Collect for the day's Mass:

O God, who by the fruitful Virginity of Blessed Mary hast given to mankind the rewards of eternal salvation; grant, we beseech thee, that we may experience her intercession, by whom we received the Author of Life, our Lord Jesus Christ, thy Son.  Who liveth, etc.

The Nativity Scene at Our House, 2011

Built on the little yellow work table by the wood stove,

under one of the big north-facing windows, and comprised of:

* Eight Total Trees (decorated with ornaments and beads Christmas Eve)

* Two handmade bridges

* One beaten up, wooden "box" stable made by an old, old utility drawer

* One set of steps down to the west-side lower level, made by Jon a few years ago

* One set of steps down to the east-side lower level, made by Paul last week

* One pond, winding around the east side of the stable to

* One beaver dam

* Three rats

* Three raccoons

* Two beavers

* One hedgehog

*Two frogs

* One weasel

* One turkey

* Three "greater owls"

* Five or six "lesser owls"

* One squirrel

* One skunk

* Four turtles

* One bead spider in one wire spider web

* One hiding mouse

* Seven sheep

* Two sheep dogs

* Two shepherds

* One dear St. Joseph

* One beloved Blessed Mother

* One Divine Infant Saviour

(* Oh, and one cup of coffee for St. Joseph on Christmas morning.)

Things To Do Over Christmas Vacation

Play with Gavin

Play Football in the Snow

Nathan



Gabey (Caught that one!)


Attend the school Christmas Play:
A Christmas Carol
(December 22nd

Theresa was an awesome Marley!

But I'm not sure she's gotten quite all the white out of her hair yet...

William front row, left; Gabey right next to him there -- in the boys' side of the Christmas chorus



William as Tiny Tim and Anna as Martha Cratchit, hugging her "Dad" Bob Cratchit



Cathy and Shell think the play is definitely high art.

Play Some More "Snow Ball" 

Goof Around

Play With Gavin

Color

Goof Around

Play Poker/Pinochle/Board Games

Goof Around

Play With Gavin

Continue Nerf Wars

Goof Around

Challenge William on the Wii/Playstation



(William's so good at the Wii, that Paul made him play with a handicap.  Here he's having to play with one eye closed.  I think he still beat his big brother.)

Play With Gavin

More Poker, etc.

Challenge William, Upside-down

(I'm not sure who won this one...)

More Goofing Around

More Poker

Michelle's p.p.p.p.poker face

More Lovin' Up on Gavin

And...