Lego candy machine

Our boys LOVE Lego's and spend hours in their Lego room.  Most recently, Mario built a Lego candy machine, with the help of Fone.  It not only looks cool but truly does work!! What creative kids!

And, of course, "monkey see monkey do"....  Max, who loves his big brothers SO much and wants to be just like them, had to make one of his own.  I think he did pretty good for a 5 year old, don't you??

St. Nicholas' feast day is just around the corner - I wonder what Lego sets he'll bring the kids this year.  Any ideas?? 

Go and sin no more!

A couple weeks ago, our sweet Ariel and her cousin were able to make their first confession.  She is normally one who gets all worked up, even to the point of tears, when stretching herself.  However, in preparing and receiving this sacrament, she showed so much faith and confidence and excitement!  It was a great surprise!  Sometimes, that's when you know the Holy Spirit totally takes over!  We were so proud of her!! 

Neil, myself, and our 3 oldest children went to Confession as well that night, to make it a family celebration!  What a blessing it was!!  Afterwards our two families (4 adults + 16 kids!) went out to pizza and celebrated this joyous event!!

In preparation for her First Confession and First Holy Communion (which will take place in a couple weeks!!), she made a Confession faith folder, and used the St. Joseph's First Communion Catechism and Faith and Life 2 as her texts.  Great, great resources!!!  We have also incorporated some picture books as well. 

"Forgive us our trespasses

as we forgive those who 

trespass against us"

All Saints Day feast and celebration

We had a few families over tonight to celebrate All Saints Day, and of course, we had to have Saint-themed foods and games.  It is so much fun to tie food and faith together!  :)

Here was our menu tonight....

St Guissepe's pizza 

(although it was not from our local St Guiessepe's since they are closed on Sunday....

 it was Pizza Hut instead!)  

Mother Teresa's Indian Pineapple Chicken Curry

Juan Diego's Pork Carnitas

Martin de Porres cheese and crackers

St Valentine's sweet treats (pineapple) and St Therese of Lisieux' roses (strawberries)

Juan Diego's salsa and chips

St Isidore's pumpkin bars

St Cecilia's musical keys

St Christopher's traffic lights

**For games, the kids played....

Simon Peter Says

Pin the Flower on "The Little Flower" saint

Saint Treasure Hunt

(We did the treasure hunt twice, since we had so many kids -One time for the littler kids and then another time for the older kids.  Printables can be found here)

**And then we ended by gathering in our living room and singing a beautiful Litany of the Saints (led by my brother-in-law) where we invoked the intercession of everyone's patron saints and the saints they dressed up as this year.  It was super cute as each child heard their saint and seeing them light up!  

++Thank you, God, for the Saints who have paved the way for us to live with you forever in Heaven.  And, thank you for friends who hold our hands and walk along with us on earth to help us get There as well!++

Our Cast of Saints - 2013

Our kids dress up all throughout the year, so Halloween is always a great hit for them.  But even more special is the day after and the celebrations that come from that Holy Day....  All Saints Day!!  We get to tie dressing up into our faith - how perfect is that!!!  :)

Here are the kids' choices for celebrations this year....

"St Kateri Tekakwitha"  (Rose)

"St Michael the Archangel" (Pookey)

"St Isaac Jogues" (Max)

"Bl Mother Teresa" (Ariel)

"St. Therese of Lisieux" (Melody)

"St Stephen" (Mario)

"St Ignatius of Loyola" (Fone)

Isn't this a good lookin' crew???.....

Here are the choices from last year.  And, here is our family litany of saints from this year.  

And, this post wouldn't be complete without including two of my favorite All Saints YouTube videos.  Enjoy!

2013 pumpkin carving

Halloween was just a few days ago, and we enjoyed some pumpkin carving a couple days beforehand.  It's so funny with all the work, those goofey pumpkins have already been kicked outside because they were full of mold.  I'm sure there is a secret to keep them longer.  Maybe one of these years I'll figure that one out.  For now, we'll just carve away, enjoy the goopey fingers, and make memories....

This was the first year we left some of the pumpkin goop instead of rinsing them and soaking them.  They turned out great that way!!  I think we'll try to remember this recipe for next year. 

A wonderful, fun, blessed night it was!!  

++Thank you, God!!++