{p,h,f,r} Almost Christmas edition

{pretty}

Sunshine has completed the first sweater she has made for herself to wear! It is gorgeous! She worked very hard on it and it took her only about a month to finish it which prompted her older brother, whose birthday is at the end of January, to say, "So, can I expect one for my birthday?" We teased him that the Irina would not be the right style for him. And Pomegranate is definitely not his color! :)

{happy}

The O Antiphons have arrived and we've been enjoying listening to them chanted here. In keeping with the monastery tradition of a little treat for each night at dinner, I have a little something planned to represent each one. The first night, to represent Wisdom, it was supposed to be this version of The Christmas Carol in audiobook form {affiliate link}. But according to UPS, some undocumented catastrophe in IL postponed delivery from last week until yesterday. What's up with that, Illinois?

Last night was O Adonai, Lord and Ruler of the house of Israel who appeared to Moses in the burning bush. We decided to use some pretty beeswax candles I had saved from years past near our O Antiphon tree (just an extra little tabletop tree). Let me just say that THREE candles tied together can produce a lot of heat! They got a little too close and our little tree almost became a burning bush. Whoops!'

By the way, the O Antiphon ornaments seen in these pictures are from Jesse Tree Treasures. (Love their stuff!) Check them out when they open back up again next year!

{funny}

The other day, while I was talking to Sean on the phone, this little stinker stole the phone away from me, pushed the speaker phone button and ran off to her 'magination box. I didn't get to say goodbye to him but I really don't mind that much. I just wish I had a 'magination box to hide away in.

{real}

Shortcake was reading Hanna's Christmas to Cupcake the other night and making her own little voices to go along with the characters. Cupcake was a bit concerned at how grumpy the Tomten was. Her little brow was quite furrowed the whole time she was captivated by the story. If you haven't a copy of your own {affiliate link} (HINT… set yourself a calendar note right now to look for them in June, not December!) you can be delighted by this version read by Melissa Wiley who bears a striking resemblance to the author, Melissa Peterson. (Or so I'm told, not that I've ever met either one of them in person! CoughcoughcometoTexasLissa!)

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~ with the lovely ladies at Like Mother, Like Daughter