Feast of St. Nicholas!

So today's the Feast of St. Nicholas!  I like that we've started the tradition of celebrating Dec 6th and allowing St. Nick to "remind us" of where our focus should be as a family during the Advent season as we prepare for Christmas.  The girls set out their shoes near the Advent wreath before they went to bed.  (Ava picked out Clara's shoes)

St. Nicholas did not disappoint!  He left each of us a lovely little note...

a few favorite treats and new "Christmas" books...

 

 

Clara's going to turn INTO a Cheerio she eats so many...

 

 ...and Ava loves to sit and watch Scooby doo with Daddy and eat Pirate booty.

 

St. Nick also left chocolates (for Ava) and a few coins for their piggy banks in memory of his earlier deeds saving a family of young women from prostitution when they would have been sold due to the family's poverty.  Tradition has it that he threw three bags of gold coins through their window (enough to pay their dowry) and saved them.

Daddy and Mommy were not left out...

But the cutest part was that "He" must've known how expensive those beautiful Catholic "Saint peg dolls" are online and were out of the question for this stay at home mommy, so "St. Nick" painted a couple of mini versions of himself for the girls to play with.

 

Just right for little hands.  We brought them to Mass this morning and had them blessed.  They loved them!  Thank you so much St. Nicholas!!!