Mary's Muse

18-Month Old's Favorite Book Picks

The verdict is in.  JB (short for Jumping Bean) has his favorites all chosen for me to read over and over, and over and over, and over and so on and so forth.  His top few choices which get the most attention are:

Time for Bed

Small, Small Pond

Babies on the Go

Usborne Farm Talkabout

Usborne Zoo Talkabout

From there, it goes like this:

Very Hungry Caterpillar

Animal Action ABC

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

Goodnight Moon

Big Red Barn

Barnyard Banter

Quack, Daisy, Quack!

Going to Sleep on the Farm

In the Tall, Tall Grass

Catherine's Passing

See her obituary here.  Please continue your prayers for her family and her soul.  Thank you.

Shakespearian Pigs

 

More prayers for Catherine!

Please continue your prayers for Catherine. Double them, if you can.

Here's an update from my godmother:

Tom and Catherine were at her doctor appointment yesterday. Her myeloma doubled since Friday.  The doctor changed medicine to one she has taken by infusion, but now it is in pill form. She is shaky, weak, and tired.  She doesn't have so many nose bleeds, but she has clots in her throat, which makes eating a chore.  She still has her great smile and enjoyed a trek to Christmas Mountain last Thursday and Friday to watch teh children enjoy their Christmas snow toys.  Tom has taken off the month of January, God bless him, and Olivia has stayed home from her masters classes this semester.  You may see a need for prayer here.  We're still waiting for her miracle, which is all that will save her.  Every day is a gift!!!

 

Sisterly Love

Fatima

DQ and I just finished Blessed Jacinta and Francisco Marto: Shepherds of Fatima.  Knowning how much those children suffered at their tender ages and without complaint for reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus it's no wonder they have been recommended for canonization.

Still in That Holiday Spirit

A veritable sleep fort.

Looks like the Coliseum.

Traditional Christmas Fare

We adopted my family's traditional meal of spedinis (to your right). Spedinis are fun to put together, so I get lots of help.  I also added some Greek marinated chicken kebabs, using a Martha Stewart recipe, (on the left) to give a nod to my husband's origin.

Above are some Sicilian spiced olives.  Yum!  Haven't had those in years!  This was a new/old tradition.  I only learned how to put this together this year.

On the grill, as traditionally cooked.

We also had loaded baked potatoes and fresh vegetables. I don't know from what nationality that comes, but we're out one cook top and one oven, so these had to be something easy and filling.  It was a wonderful day.

For Jesus' birthday cake, I made Banana Spice Cake with gluten free flour mix.

How Many Ways Can You Say JOY?

From my creative Miss Responsibility to our friends.  She's hooked on making these. 

 

Cookie Baking

It's a messy job, but somebody had to do it!