Christ the King

Viva Christo Rey!

I can't help but think of Bl. Miguel Pro and his story today , the solemnity of Christ the King--the last Sunday of the Liturgical Year. 

ACK!  I also can't believe that Advent starts a week from today!  We're in the midsts of moving.  (Yes, I said moving-- after only 5 short months here in our base house--we're moving to another one.)  However, I hope to get up an Advent post sometime this week.  Advent is such a special time in our home.  LOTS of preparation for the Babe Jesus.  I hope to post some of our family's favorite reads an activities that have helped us prepare our hearts for the Savior in Advents past.

Until then, I leave you with this... 

A discussion of the finer things in life~namely jelly beans...

At lunch earlier this week:

Four: "So, Princess (he really doesn't call her by that-- I think he'd rather choke first..) what's your favorite color of jelly bean?  I like the pink ones, 'cause they, um, they taste like bubble gum.  But those black ones.... are HORRIBLE!  Unless you eat them after pancakes and syrup, 'cause then, ...um, they taste better.  Not delicious, but, uh  definitely better."

Princess: "Yeah, I yike dem.  The purpo ones are my favwrit.  They taste like purpo bubble gum."  Do you like purpo Four?"  (she really doesn't call him that either.... but she does like to tell you she's four-- 'four and a half!!' thank you vewry much!)

Four: "Um, I don't think that I've ever tasted purple before.  But remember, uh, remember thaaaat time thaaat Grandpa, um, not Grandpa Skip and not Papa, but Graaandpa had this HUGE jelly bean jar?  It was wicked huge! (... and here we see the effect older brothers can have on a 6 year old's vocabulary...)  And it was so DELICIOUS!!  All those jellybeans.  DE-LI-SHUUS!  Buut, um, not broccoli.  Blech! 

Princess: "Yeah.."

Four:  "You know, if you wrapped gum, like all around your tongue, well then it wouldn't be so bad, 'cause all you would taste would be, um... GUM!  Yeah... gum.  HEY MOOOOOM!  Where's all the gum??" 

Princess:  I can't have gum until I'm five..(big sigh)

For all you Star Wars (and/or John Williams) fans out there...

a little sumthin', sumthin' for ya...

You know you're a big family when...

...it costs you 50 bucks for dinner at Chick-fil-la.  Five.  Zero.  FIFTY DOLLARS folks!  Mucho dinero a la chick-fa-lay-O.  No toys with meals, nuthin' fancy and (insert giant sucking noise here...)  Fifty Dalla! --and not a crumb left to save for later  throw away. 

Mm'kay, maybe it's time to sell one off....

Poetry Friday

A little late, but here's the next installment:

And because I'm a bit late, I'll throw in this extra goodie.  I found it randomly when uploading the previous video.  Never a dull moment around here, I'll tell ya!

Wordless Wednesday

Our Heroes

Today our family honors Veterans for the sacrifices they've made on behalf of our Nation so that WE may be free.   Free to live, learn, speak and worship however we  so choose.

We will also celebrate the Feast Day of St. Martin de Tours, a Roman soldier that converted to the Christian faith.  He gave his life over to Christ and became one of the greatest saints of the Church.  He is most known for drawing his sword to cut his own cloak in half  in order to give it to a cold and lonely beggar.

So as a family we will be attending the Dedication Ceremony of the C-141 Starlifter Memorial Park.  In the spirit of St. Martin, we'll scour our closets in an effort to help clothe others and gather what we can to donate.  And at the end of the day, we will offer up a Rosary for those who have served and are still serving this great country of ours.

=================================

I wanted to share with you all one final thing.  Last year we were able to go into D.C. and take the monkeys to all the beautiful Memorials for Veterans Day.  We spent the most time at the Vietnam Wall Memorial.  My uncle's name is on that wall, and all of us were very humbled to be in the presence of so many names all in one place.  

Each child ran their fingers over the names, and even the littlest monkeys were quietly taking it all in.  It was very moving to say the least.


"We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm."--George Orwell--

Poetry Friday

In an attempt to broaden your horizons ('cause that's me... Horizon Broadener), I bring you the first edition of Poetry Friday.

Take one:

Take two:

and, finally (whew), third time's the charm,  TAKE THREE:

No go off and enjoy your weekend, knowing you've added a little 'monkey' culture to your day. :)

Leaves

 Poem by Elsie N. Brady       Photography  by yours truly...

"How silently they tumble down
And come to rest upon the ground
To lay a carpet, rich and rare,
Beneath the trees without a care,
Content to sleep, their work well done,
Colors gleaming in the sun.

 

At other times, they wildly fly
Until they nearly reach the sky.
Twisting, turning through the air
Till all the trees stand stark and bare.
Exhausted, drop to earth below
To wait, like children, for the snow." 

Halloween fun--polaroid style