Happy Birthday Nicholas!

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Sweet Nicholas,

You've heard the story so many times, the tale of God's gracious blessing the night you were born. You know all about the date and the time . Ever since you were very little, you've been a bit obsessed about dates and times. I wonder if you didn't orchestrate the whole thing yourself;-) You were up early this morning, just like every morning of your life. I tried to beat you out of bed and downstairs to prepare your traditional hot chocolate in bed. You granted me a little grace when you saw me on the stairs.

"I'll just go to the bathroom and go back to bed," you offered.

I'm pretty sure this was a huge sacrifice on your behalf because the computer was screaming your name, all fat and happy with Fantasy Football stats as it is on Monday mornings. I merrily made hot chocolate and went to "pretend" to wake you up.

You had made a discovery in the bathroom mirror.

You were mad. Really mad. Across your forehead, in big green letters, I read "Kiss Me" and on your cheeks, "I'm 9."

It was really, really hard not to laugh.

Oh, dear boy! This IS your life.

You are the youngest of five brothers. 

Just remember, one day, you're going to be bigger and stronger than all of them.

(Pssst, after analyzing handwriting, I'm pretty sure it was Paddy. And I've got an idea;-)

I love you so much!

Mama

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Nick (on the left) with "big" brother and best friend, Stephen, in Seattle last month.

Office Christmas Party

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I was going to write about it. Actually, at one point last night I looked up and saw five different people texting and I thought that I wished I had some way to Twitter the party, because I do think it was a rather entertaining experience. Alas, I don't. And I was gone all day yesterday and this is quite the "day after" in my home. So, I'll spare you my impressions and let the pros entertain you. This version is pretty funny. And, by the way,  the fastest bowler ever is pretty darn sore today. Once upon a time, I fell in love with the pitcher on the varsity baseball team. Thirty years later, I'm still swooning over his strength and speed;-).We're going to be snowed in all day tomorrow and I will have the privilege of testing our homemade sore muscle rub on a nationally recognized fast bowler. Office party perks, no?

Sweet Boy

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A short time after an inquisition about why all the tops of the peppermint candies were smushed...

Child whose heart genuinely is as big as his patron's: Um, I want to be like St. Nicholas but I just don't have it in me, I think.

Me: St. Nicholas didn't do it all under his own strength.

Child, surveying the general chaos of his home: I think we really need to pray more around here.

Ya think?

I'm glad Advent is especially long this year. We are no where near ready to greet the Babe.

Yet.