Glad Tidings

Gloria in excelsis! Oh Blessed Birth! Oh Wondrous Incarnation! Deus factum caro est! Or, if you prefer a more popular exhortation, Merry Christmas!  Where do I begin? Let us begin at the beginning.
But first, a word from our sponsor: I am an avid list maker.  In addition to my daily To-Do List, I have lists for a plentitude of other things: groceries, kitchen tools and wares I should like to have, baby girls names, and baby boys names. In addition to this,  I have mental lists of favorite saints, movies, books and places I would like to visit.  Then there are the favorite recipes I keep neatly organized in a binder, along with clippings from various magazines of a mutlititude of other favorite things: outfits, kitchens, homes, landscaping. No joke, I find it very satisfying looking at a picture of something beautiful and thinking I should like to have that one day, and then continue on with  my mug of green tea and life in general.
With that being said, and without further adieu, I bring to you a very special list: I would like to present to you this year's official Top Ten List of Nominations for the 2013 MCP Awards (Meloche Christmas Photo)!

Drumroll please...

#10. Best Ornament in the Homemade Category:

(Note: I made this for our godson's first Christmas last year and plan on making one for our little guy this year.)

 #9. Best Shot of Initiating the Tree Trimming Festivities:

  #8. Best Picture of Father in a Supporting Role:

 #7. Best Picture of a Christmas Tree with a lot of Heart:

                                     

    

#6. Best Impersonation of We Three Kings:

#5. Best Photo of Homemade Baked Goods:

(Jam Thumbprints, Peacn Snowballs, Iced Sugar Cookies, Peanut Blossoms, Chocolate Walnut Biscotti with White Chocolate Drizzle,  Almond Biscotti with Milk Chocolate Drizzle, and Rugalachs)

  #4. Best Fireside Shot of Children having Cookies and Warm Apple Cider:

#3. Best Picture in the Familial Category:

 #2. Best Picture of Total Progeny:

#1. And for the FIRST time in history, we have a tie for Best Photo in the Individual Category.  Send in your vote today!

Here are some honorable mentions:

                                          

                                           

                                       
                                          

                         

CATEGORY: BOOKS

Moving on to books.  Here are this year's top qulaifiers:

Holly and Ivy  Written by Rumer Godden and illustrated by none other than Barbara Cooney (we adore her illustrations!).

For Ezra ( no photo) The Dangerous Book for Boys by Hal Iggulden.  Richard was so interested in it that I am beginning to think I should have gotten him one too!

For Simon, The Squire and the Scroll by Jennie Bishop.  Talk about a book that calls a boy to the moral and virtuous life, all with a backdrop of charming illustrations and a dangerous dragon, a necessary book for all boys!

And for Augustin, On the Night You Were Born by Nancy Tillman.  Such a sweet book.

CATEGORY: VICTUALS

And to top off my Christmas List, here are the dishes we enjoyed:  

Christmas Eve:

Coconut Shrimp

Thai Ginger Rice

Maple Glazed Salmon 

Broccoli

(I grew up enjoying loads of fish on Christmas Eve, so I am carrying on the tradition...)

Christmas Day

Italian Wedding Soup

Ricotta and Ham Manicotti

Garlic Butter Sirloin Steak

Stuffed Baked Potatoes

Roasted Asparagus

and for dessert:

Upside Down Cranberry Cake...DELISH!

All in all, a most joyful and beautiful Christmas was had by the Meloche family, indeed.

 Happy Birthday Infant Savior, Lord Jesus!