Category Archives: christmas

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The Joys (and Pains) of Taking Pictures for Christmas

December 9, 2011 RaisingAdmin Leave a comment

So it’s the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 8th, and it hits Todd and I that we haven’t dressed the kids up and taken pictures! ARGH! This is important for our family since we live far away from extended family and everyone wants to see more pictures of the kids, especially during Christmas!

Last night we got a chance to dress them up so we started snapping away at the opportunity of having them all dressed up. Our eldest had his first Homeschool Band concert since he started learning how to use the Alto Saxophone back in August. So before and after the concert, this Mama was camera picture happy. We went to the store to grab some milk (we use a gallon a day, do you? maybe more?) and the young lady at the register looked at them and said, “Wow you all look so beautiful and handsome, you look like you should be in a movie!” Not all the pictures came out perfect but I thought they were still adorable! I still will need my hubby to use photo shop on them to get them “just right!” SO here they are:

I call it a work in progress, lol! How did it go for you?

Did you have the perfect picture real quick, lol?

Do you have trips and tricks to achieving the perfect picture?

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Advent Wreath Prayers Second Sunday

December 4, 2011 RaisingAdmin Leave a comment

The 2nd Week of Advent

The head of household or leader says the following prayer.

Father, help us to prepare the way of Jesus, the Light of the world. May we who believe he will come again always serve you. Let us proclaim this mystery of faith: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. Amen.

The eldest child then lights the first candle and a candle next to it; they remain lit during the meal. The same candles are burned each day of the 2nd week.

St. Andrews Christmas Novena (another free printable)

November 29, 2011 RaisingAdmin Leave a comment

I just love the St. Andrews Christmas Novena because of it’s simplicity! My kids learn it super quick too and the non-readers pretend to read it. This prayer is called a Novena but differs a little, it’s not for the usual nine (9) days, it commences on November 30th and ends on Christmas. Here’s the page I made for them to use this year. Enjoy!

St. Andrews Christmas Novena for Kids – PDF

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Celebrating the Liturgical Year with Children: Advent (FREEBIE)

November 25, 2011 RaisingAdmin 8 Comments

Happy New Liturgical Year, my Catholic Friends!

I love that our new Liturgical Year is only days away. My family is very excited to start using the new Missal. We love collecting old Catholic books and have tons of Missals from the past, the new one closely resembles the 1965 one we own (which is post-Vatican II, btw). We love the new and rich language and since we love Latin as well, the new translation is going to bring so much to the beautiful Mass! As we prepare to use the new Missal, lets not loose focus on the newness of it and continue to focus on what counts, being prepared for the birth of our Savior, or Baby Jesus as my children love to refer to Him during this time of preparation.

I’ve created another set of activities for my kids and making them available to you for FREE, of course. These are fun activities the teach our children what the true meaning of Advent and Christmas really is. By observing Advent you are preparing your children for the birth of Jesus Christ. We will be using these activities throughout Advent in addition to making ornaments for our Jesse tree and making a new Advent wreath. I’ve attached a link to the two wreaths I’m favoring this year.

Feel free to share a link to this blog post with your friends.

Advent Activities for Kids

Looking for some neat Advent wreaths to make at home? Here are two of my favorites:

(Grand)Mama Birgid over at Catholic Sistas, made this easy to make and super toddler safe (just watch the candles ladies) Advent wreath:

ADVENTuresome Family Fun

My new friend, Mama Lindsey over at Happier Than a Bird Quilts, made this beautiful Advent Wreath out of felt, she created an easy tutorial. Hope on over to her lovely blog and tell her how clever she is! 🙂

Advent Wreath Tutorial

REMINDER: Since the New Missal this year will coincide with Advent, don’t forget to visit Mama Lacy over at Catholic Icing and grab her new Mass Response book for kids!

Free to Download and Print!

Hope you like them and enjoy!

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More Mixbook Goodies: 11×8.5 Harcover Photobooks at 50% off!!!

November 1, 2011 RaisingAdmin Leave a comment

Already shopping for Christmas gifts (or window shopping like some of us)? What about a lovely photobooks of your little ones or even making a “year” book from this past year? Coming into the Thanksgiving season, Mixbook is giving you a spectacular savings on their most popular photo book size!

For a very short time, Mixbook is offering you 50% off of their 11×8.5″ hardcover, landscape photo books. Think of the great memories you can share at Thanksgiving with your family, knowing that you saved a bundle on your photo book. Run right over to Mixbook to get started, because this sale won’t be here for much longer!