The Buerglers

 We've been sick. Like really sick.  The natives are getting restless, but we're still too sick to venture out.  Evie has been really into Christmas this year.  And she LOVES anything counting and calendar related these days.  I decided to use our sick day week to do a little fun project with her.  It literally took 15 minutes to organize, execute and clean.  I used some old Christmas themed scrapbook paper (those were the days....) and our rotary paper cutter.  Evie picked out the 3 pieces of paper she liked best.  We laid them in piles on the floor. We picked a pattern: green trees, polka dots, red loops.  It was her job to remember the pattern.  She also helped link and loop the paper. And I stapled (not even glue, remember this is Not-so-Pinteresty) the links together.  We used masking tape to hang it on the door in the foyer.  Boom. Done.  It's not fancy, but it gets the job done. You can even numbe...

Last year's Advent was spent in prayerful discernment about my career.  Not really focused on Christ's birth, but it was spent in profound prayer.  It was much needed and very therapeutic. I still received peace as a gift through the season. As we head into Advent today, the phrase "Prepare ye the way of the Lord" has been on my heart.  I have noticed how impulsive I have become with purchases, how blind I have been to distinguish needs and wants, and how lazy I have become with my house keeping. It's time for me to "prepare the way" for Christ to live in us. And this year, that means in my house...literally! I am tired of being embarrassed with drop in company seeing my house look like an F4 just blew by.  I'm tired of making excuses of "it's been a crazy week, sorry for the mess".  And for being too overwhelmed with clutter that I don't even know where to start. For me, right now, this isn't a pride thing. It's a s...

This year Evie is just old enough to do some fun projects around the house.  She's eager to learn and to help, so I took advantage of this to do a few Advent things with her this year. Advent Wreaths First we made Advent wreath cookies.  For the recipe just Google "corn flake wreath cookies".  They're just like making rice krispie treats with a little green food coloring.  We did colored sprinkles for advent candles instead of red hots for holly. Evie was a great helper!  She helped me measure and pour the cereal and marshmallows. She also helped me stir.  After that I had to take over the hot, sticky mess in order to prevent things from burning and to get the treats to set up correctly. A friend of mine posted a picture of this super cute foam advent wreath she made with her niece, who happens to be in Evie's play group.  I picked up a kit from our local Catholic bookstore.  When Aunt Katie came over for lunch last week she helped E...