Carols for Christmas
Posted by Robyn Lee in Family on Friday, December 23, 2011
When I was growing up we had the tradition of waiting until Christmas Eve to put up our tree.
After the tree was decorated (and the tinsel was blown onto the tree ... one strand at a time), we would sing Christmas carols.
Every year we would use these old songbooks from the ‘70s that were distributed as an insert in the local paper.
The back of the songbook has a picture of a paperboy holding up... READ MORE
Happy Feast Day! What Did You Hear?
Posted by Rebecca Teti in Faith on Tuesday, November 01, 2011
Best wishes for a happy feast day, Everyone!
How are you celebrating and what did you hear at Mass?
Our celebrant cracked us up by remembering some poll he read shortly after Mother Teresa passed away.
“Do you think Mother Teresa is in heaven?” the pollster asked. 65% thought she was.
There were various other questions, including the final one: “Are you going to heaven?”
93% of people were sure they were going to heaven!
Respondents were more certain of their own sanctity than Mother Teresa’s!
His reflections flowed from there.
What did you hear?
Baby's First Christmas
Posted by Rachel Balducci in Family on Wednesday, December 08, 2010
For each First Christmas of our children, I have always made sure to get a special Christmas ornament. With some children this ornament has been quite fancy; with others it has been homemade (and possibly a little too simple)—but it always involves an ornament that can include a picture. I take a picture of that baby and pop it into the ornament and voila!—something the boys look forward to hanging... READ MORE
Sweet and Spicy Gingerbread Cookies
Posted by Danielle Bean in Food on Monday, November 29, 2010
How is your Advent going? Did you remember your candles on time this year? Did you dig the calendar out of the attic yet? Have you started baking?
Even if you avoid sweets during Advent (that sounds almost impossible to me, but some brave souls I know do it), these weeks are a great time to bake ahead and stock your freezer with some family favorites for Christmas celebrations.
This year we’ll be... READ MORE
Let's Talk Turkey
Posted by Danielle Bean in Food on Monday, November 15, 2010
I’m making myself a little crazy here these pre-Thanksgiving days. Because I think I want to brine our Thanksgiving turkey this year. And then I think I don’t. And then I think yes, I totally do.
I found this recipe from one of my favorite chefs, Alton Brown, and it really does look fairly easy.
But I am a little afraid of messing up the Thanksgiving turkey—an offense my family will not take lightly.... READ MORE
Corned Beef
Posted by Rachel Balducci in Family on Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Just a quick bloggy poll as you take a break from your St. Pat’s Celebrations or preparations: how many of you are making corned beef and cabbage for dinner? Is this your family tradition? Any other good Irish fare on the menu?
In our fair city, St. Patrick’s Day is a huge celebration. There is a parade downtown (though the weather right now isn’t looking too friendly). If it doesn’t rain, we’ll go... READ MORE
Ashes
Posted by Rachel Balducci in Family on Thursday, February 18, 2010
Yesterday as my family filed back into the pew after receiving our ashes, I watched as my boys quietly compared the marks on their foreheads. Each boy noted the ashes on every other brother’s head, whispering to find out how his own ashes looked compared to everyone else.
“How big are mine,” asked one boy, “because yours are huge!”
I remember having this same conversation with my own siblings, year... READ MORE
First Friday Mass
Posted by Rachel Balducci in Family on Friday, February 05, 2010
For the past few years, Paul and I have made an effort to take our family to Mass on the first Friday of every month.
It’s a sweet little tradition that we all (boys included) really love. The Mass is celebrated in the gym of our boys’ school. It starts at 7 a.m., followed by a light breakfast and then the boys head off to class.
We finally made it back this morning after a long hiatus—when I wasn’t... READ MORE
Pizza!
Posted by Rachel Balducci in Family on Friday, January 29, 2010
What is it about Friday night that just screams PIZZA! to me? Am I the only one?
We don’t get pizza every Friday, but we did tonight. And it was good.
I actually started the day with plans to make homemade pizza, but some schedule flux prevented me from getting to the store for ingredients. So Paul picked up dinner on the way home.
Pizza + Friday night just ends up being a really good combination. I have friends who get pizza every Friday, which sounds like a very nice tradition indeed.
Tell Us About Your Tree
Posted by Danielle Bean in Family on Monday, December 21, 2009
We finally put up our Christmas tree yesterday afternoon.
“Now it’s SUPER almost-Cwismass!” squealed a very excited Daniel.
He’s three.
I happen to think that three years old is the perfect age for maximum holiday enjoyment. They are old enough to remember last year and to fully participate this year, but young enough so that not a bit of the grinchies or gimmies have entered their sweet little hearts... READ MORE
