Sun Dec 06, 2009
Baby in the Manger
Today after Mass we paused on our way out to chat with the visiting priest. As we were standing there, I saw Bella eying the empty manger and watching a girl place some straws in. I could tell Bella wanted to place some too. Although it's supposed to be place a straw for each good deed you've done, I thought she could just have the fun of putting one in and we can explain the good deed aspect next Advent.
Of course the straw all clumped together and Bella picked up the entire clump from the basket and placed it in the manger. We explained that she was to only grab one piece and needed to leave some straw for the other kids.
As I was bending over to help put the straw back into the basket, Ben suddenly fell out of the sling and landed face first on the floor, halfway in the manger. I'd tucked him into the sling right as Mass was starting and while he was in there well enough when I was standing up, I guess it wasn't up to a profound bow. I was distracted by the straws and didn't remember to mind the baby. It was only from the height of a couple of feet but my heart leaped as I saw him flop down to the floor like a little rag doll.
I scooped him up and checked him over to make sure he was not hurt. He seemed shaken but not really hurt. Later I did find a little scratch on his face and a nick on his ear, presumably from the edge of the rough wooden manger.
The visiting Filipino priest came over and gave Ben a blessing. I felt foolish and covered it with humor, admonishing Ben that he's not supposed to be the baby in the manger.
I held him close, tucked him back into the sling and then we were off into the snowy day.
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We Woke to Wonder
A world full of snow... and St Nicholas too!
I lay in bed letting Ben finish up nursing and heard Bella calling: "Snow! It's snowing. There's snow on the fence and snow on the swings and snow on my table!"
When I got up, I found two little girls standing at the back door all agog.
So absorbed were they that we had to redirect their attention to their shoes by the front door.
I just love the look of those little Mary Janes filled with candies!
Of course once there, it took no time at all to tear into both the book and the chocolates.
Mmmm... the chocolates.
I didn't find the gold coins I wanted at Target and was too lazy to hunt any further.
Not that they noticed. Let's just say St Nicholas didn't skimp.
While the girls ate breakfast, I slipped outside to catch the beauty of the early morning light and the fleeting glory of the snow-covered world before it started to melt away.
It never grows old or loses it's magic.
I'm just as awe-struck as my girls.
My roses were like hidden jewels under the crust of snow.
The church looked like a picture-postcard.
And after Mass... pancakes!
Then the girls had to get outside into the snow.
There was a brief crisis when I realized we didn't have a snowsuit or snow pants for Bella. But then she decided she could after all go outside in just her jeans.
It was Sophie's first time in the snow since she was just a baby last winter.
She took to it quite well.
And Bella... was in heaven. She climbed up the ladder on the swing set and chatted with her friend next door. And made a charming picture as she did so.
I hope your day is as filled with magic as ours was.
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