Christmas card

The Simple Catholic’s Third Christmas Card

/ chicoinematt

My parents are still too tired and busy (it seems like adults are always tired) to pitch in to help with the Christmas card.  Noah, Amelia, and Josiah decided they can’t help because it would intrude on their Nintendo Switch, artwork and cartography time. It’s up to me (again) to provide a whimsical and semi-accurate summary (of shenanigans) of our year.

I’m the only one who takes Christmas-card-writing seriously in my family.

I’m going to turn five soon.

“I can’t believe my baby is almost five!” my parents have said this with tears in their eyes many times.

I learned so much over the past year so get ready for some serious life lessons. I’ll also get a summary of what’s new for the rest of my family.

We will go in age order. I hear that phrase all the time— especially when it comes to opening presents.

Mommy

My mommy started the year teaching between two buildings. I still don’t know their names because I’m a toddler and get easily distracted *rides off on a balance bike around the kitchen*.

Mommy is the awesomest and I love her very much. She helps me continue to receive speech and OT therapies. And she lets me eat off her dinner plate!

This summer Mommy had surgery on her stomach (gall bladder removal) and I had to be reminded several times I couldn’t jump on her until she recovered.

I drew my first portrait of mommy!

Mommy finally got to teach in a single building this August. She loves teaching and helping her students grow. Less travel time means she can come home early and spend more time with me and take Josiah to swimming lessons more.

She also does a great job braiding my hair and painting my nails.

I think mommy’s greatest accomplishment this year is helping me learn this year!

Daddy

Daddy had a big change in his work. Over the past few years, he has worked overnights. But in November he went to part-time at his retail job. His content writing as taken off and loves helping Catholic businesses get their message out there.

He also started another new project working to publish a neighborhood Catholic magazine. I get to be his “four-year old assistant who doubles as his daughter”. While I don’t exactly have a full understanding of my job description I do know I travel with him to meet with people. I usually sit at a table coloring and am paid with a treat like candy or crackers.

Daddy still writes for his blog and creates funny memes, but it’s been a bit since he wrote about my antics. I think I need to steal his coffee more often.

Daddy loves creating memes about the Catholic faith. 🙏 🙂

His hobbies continue to be playing board games with us. We had fun playing dominoes, a cat & mouse game, and a monster-themed game! Daddy has been binge-watching Doctor Who too.

Probably the most important of daddy’s accomplishments is still giving me horsey rides. It’s fun!

Noah

Noah is in sixth grade at “the school whose name I don’t know” (again because I’m a toddler and get easily distracted with details). He played soccer in the spring and fall. Noah has improved his skills of passing, ball control, and scoring. ⚽

Noah learned to play the trumpet last year and has continued to develop a love and talent for this instrument. My family and I went to his band concert. It sounded good! I even paid attention for a few minutes (my parents were super proud of me).

My brother is also in Chess club.♟️He enjoys teaching my younger brother chess and loves playing against my dad. They talked about Fairy Chess pieces that included: a dragon, magician, and even a playtpus. I hope those pieces are pink so I can play with them when he’s not looking.

Amelia

Amelia is in fourh grade at “the school whose name I don’t know”. She still loves drawing and creating unique things out of paper, cardboard, tape, and other craft supplies.

My sister had her art published as a GIF. “Goldy the Hedgehog” caught the attention of someone my dad knew. This lady was making an app and loved Amelia’s artwork. I thought my sister did a good job drawing the hedgehog. 🦔

My sister is the best because she loves me and helps me get dressed, learn art, brushes my hair, and gets me bandaids when get hurt.

Amelia’s most important accomplishment this year is painting my fingernails. I love my sister!

Josiah

Josiah is a second-grader  at “the school whose name I don’t know”. He has lots of teachers that help him learn.

My brother is obsessed with maps and flags. His favorite countries are Portugal, Spain, United States, Canada, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Josiah played soccer for the first time this spring. I enjoyed watching him play but was also kinda sad because we couldn’t get into as much trouble as usual on the sidelines. His favorite futbol player is Cristiano Ronaldo. And he loves playing football, soccer, and baseball in the living room (he’s a one man sports team). 🏈 ⚽ ⚾

Josiah dressed up as a Tornado 🌪️ this Halloween.

Finally, Josiah learned to read chapter books. Some of his favorite books include: Magic Treehouse and books about countries and sports. I like it when he reads to me.

Avila Catherine Geraldine

When I’m not committing shenanigans or earning snacks with my “daddy’s assistant” job, I learn lifeskills through my continuing education program (early childhood).

I don’t go to the same school called ” the school whose name I don’t know” as my siblings. But I do go to preschool (at a school whose name I can’t remember). I love school and my teacher and my classmates. I showed my parents all the cool things I learned at our school’s Fall Festival.

All I wanted for Christmas was to lose my first tooth!

I still struggle with the “wigglies” at Mass. But I have been making improvements. I enjoyed waving leaves on Palm Sunday and having my dad push me in the stroller this one Sunday in June (he was talking about a Corpus Christi procession or something). One Mass I even went on a “bear hunt” and did my best to whisper. My parents thought I was weird.

Halpert

The latest addition to my family was someone almost as hyper as me. We got a puppy and named him Halpert (I think it’s after my dad’s favorite TV show). He has grown so much and learned a few commands like “sit”, “lay down”, and “settle”. I love to pet him, climb in his crate, play fetch, and take him for walks. One time he jumped out of the bathtub my family and I laughed at his craziness.

His crate is comfy. 🙂😆

Halpert loves to play with my siblings and parents too. He helps cheer us up when we have a sad day.

Live your life to the fullest. Thank the people who helped you grow and learn. Count your blessings and your stuffed unicorns. 🙏🦄

And don’t waste time learning the names of schools whose name you don’t know.

Love,

ACGC— Muffin Miscreant, Coffee Culprit, and Adventure Seeker

P.S. Special thanks to my daddy for editing the Chicoine Family Christmas Card. I paid him in hugs.

P.P.S. Halpert will be taking over next year’s Christmas Card as I’m going to be too tired from my continuing education courses and general mischief making. I get to go to school all day next year!

The newest writer in the Chicoine household. 🐕✍️
Thank you for sharing!

The Simple Catholic’s Second Christmas Card

/ chicoinematt

Happy First Anniversary of the inaugural Chicoine Family Christmas Card!

This year my parents are too tired and busy (it seems like adults are always tired) to pitch in to help. And my siblings get too distracted doing art, playing carwash or swinging around like Spider-Man. It’s up to me (again) to provide an accurate summary of our year.

I’m going to turn three soon and I like to share my wisdom I learned over the past year along with trying to make my boring family seem interesting. We will go in age order (I hear that phrase all the time— especially when it comes to opening presents).

Mommy

This year has been the most challenging year of teaching for mommy. She teaches between two buildings. I don’t know their names because I’m a toddler and get easily distracted (wanders off to leap off the couch with siblings).

Mommy is the best and I love her very much. She helped me get speech and OT therapies. And she lets me eat off her dinner plate! She and daddy talk a lot about the basement (it’s getting finished) and enjoys coffee. I think she needs it to stay awake because my brothers and sister wear her out.

Mommy also loves helping everyone learn and enjoys decorating our new home. She also gives great hugs!

I think mommy’s greatest accomplishment this year is helping me learn this year!

Daddy

Daddy still works evenings. He has to take naps in the morning. I enjoy spending time with daddy because he takes me to the library, watches Blippi with me, and cuddles with me.

I occasionally still try to obtain a sip of his coffee. Daddy doesn’t like this for some reason. Maybe my siblings also wear him out like they make mommy tired. But the times I do get to taste coffee it is awesome!!! I feel so fast and powerful.

Daddy still writes for his blog and includes some of my antics in it. He recently mentioned something about Tea with Tolkien but I don’t know what that means. Maybe he wrote something for them.

Probably the most important of daddy’s accomplishments is giving me horsey rides. It’s fun!

Noah

Noah is in fourth grade at “the school whose name I don’t know” (again because I’m a toddler and get easily distracted with details). He played soccer in the spring and fall. According to my parents, Noah scored his first goal in soccer. I wasn’t there because I was too busy playing with toys at home.

Noah loves Marvel superheroes (we jump around like Spider-Man a lot lately) and loves reading. He also finds long division fun and leads the family in creative play.

I think Noah’s greatest accomplishment this year is rocking my to sleep in the rocking chair. I love my big brother!

Amelia

Amelia is in second grade at “the school whose name I don’t know”. She loves drawing and creating unique things out of paper, cardboard, tape, and other craft supplies. Some of her neatest creations this year were a cardboard platypus and a picture of Wanda (Scarlet Witch). Daddy thought the Wanda drawing was amazing.

Amelia has made a lot of neighborhood friends. (and Noah too). Noah and her learned how to roller blade. I am learning and wear one skate 🛼 to travel in the living room.

My sister is the best because she loves me and helps me get dressed, brushes my hair, and usually lets me play with her toys.

Amelia’s most important accomplishment this year is painting my fingernails. I love my sister!

Josiah

Josiah is a kindergarten at the “school whose name I don’t know”. He is adjusting pretty well to the elementary school life. He has receives speech, OT, and PT therapy at school which help him a lot.

My brother is obsessed with carwashes and garbage trucks. My dad even for a membership to a “carwash whose name I don’t know” (editor’s note: the carwash membership is for Silverstar Car Wash). Josiah plays carwash or garbage truck most days. He sometimes even lets me help him set up the car wash!

Josiah also got to help the garbage truck worker put the can in the back of the truck. He was so excited. He makes me laugh like no one else. My brother is great at distracting my parents so I can achieve my shenanigan quota for the day (some days I worry I won’t hit my goal)..

Josiah’s biggest accomplishment for this year is teaching me how to cut with scissors and helping me draw. I love my other big brother!

Avila Catherine Geraldine

Why do I get my full name displayed? It’s the least I deserve considering I spearheaded my family’s Christmas letter (again).

I don’t go to “school whose name I don’t know” in fact I don’t go to school—yet. Mommy and daddy say I will be going to early childhood starting in January. It will be at a different school that my siblings go to. To avoid confusion I will call it “different school whose name I don’t know”.

This year was one of adventure and growth for me. I learned so many new words and skills. Speech and OT therapies have helped me so much.

I still struggle with the “wigglies” at Mass. My parents have to take me out a decent amount because of how loud my worship is.y reasoning is if Jesus is God and he saved us why not shout it from the pew (I can’t reach a rooftop. Plus my parents stop me even when I stand on a table. They aren’t fun).

Live your life to the fullest. Thank the people who helped you grow and learn. Count your blessings and your stuffed unicorns. And don’t waste time learning the names of schools whose name you don’t know.

Love,

ACGC— Muffin Miscreant, Coffee Culprit, and Adventure Seeker

P.S. Special thanks to my daddy for editing the Chicoine Family Christmas Card. I paid him in hugs.

Thank you for sharing!

The Simple Catholic’s First Christmas Card

/ chicoinematt

This is the inaugural Chicoine Christmas card.

Both my parents are too tired to chip in with input on the letter. And my three siblings are too busy acting like lemurs or black & white pandas to care about starting a new tradition.

Anyways, it’s up to me to present our family’s successes and 2020 highlights. Free of shenanigans.

Yeah right! Shenanigans are part of my middle names (unofficially).

Hope you enjoy the seasonal shenanigans!

January— New Year Same Routine

I started the new year as a fresh one year old. Noah, Amelia, and Josiah enjoyed going to school and playing in the snow. Mommy continued teaching special education at Valley Springs Elementary. Daddy worked overnights at a local grocery store.

My new year’s resolution was simple— add new shenanigans each month. Last year, I got caught stealing too many blueberry muffins (Pro-tip: Make sure to clean up the evidence before leaving the crime scene).

Daddy wrote about this incident and dubbed it Muffingate. Since then, I’ve acquired the nickname “Muffin Miscreant”.

February— Ground’s Day Month

Noah, Amelia, and Josiah enjoyed going to school and playing in the snow. Mommy continued teaching special education at Valley Springs Elementary. Daddy worked overnights at a local grocery store.

Yes, I know my family’s boring.

I think Noah was still in his Pokémon obsession and my parents were still watching Superhero shows on The CW.

I continued to watch how my siblings got in or avoided trouble and took notes.

March— The Ides are Turning

This seemed to be a turning point. Suddenly, Mommy, Noah, and Amelia stayed home more often. I heard mommy talking to weird kids on the computer. Daddy kept referring to himself as a “Zoom call goaltender”.

Josiah had school therapy at home and this involved him being a black & white panda all the time! Pandas? Seriously, that’s such a predictable move. Couldn’t he pretend to be a platypus or something cooler than a bamboo eater?

While my dreams of traversing the Australian outback didn’t happen, I did experience a “ground under” moment.

Mommy was on her 97th Zoom call and this gave me the perfect chance to try the legendary liquid—coffee. I found a K-cup in the pantry and gained a new moniker— The Coffee Culprit.

April— Sickness and Added Shenanigans

Daddy received a promotion at his local grocery store to Assistant Manager. He was even more excited when Mommy gave him an “Assistant to the Regional Manager” hoodie to celebrate the new job.

April felt like an entire lifetime (1.5 years).

Home school made Mommy and my siblings very tired and cranky. Even worse, Daddy got super sick with a virus-thingy. I couldn’t even see him for two weeks except on the computer. Josiah was really sad and kept saying “Daddy

in downstairs emergency room”. Mommy was stressed with teaching from home, taking care of us, and being Daddy’s doctor.

But this month did have good things: the Easter bunny visited us and Josiah learned to ride a bike.

I maintained my moniker as the Coffee Culprit by eating another K-cup.

May— More Zoom

The Zoom calls continued, and Daddy resumed his role as goaltender against my shenanigans. I miss the good old days when I could bust open bedroom doors without repercussions or being shushed. The strange kids didn’t seem so strange anymore. Mommy even gave up and let me say “hi” to my new friends.

Pro-tip: Persistence pays off.

Noah was obsessed with Star Wars and cars. Amelia (and Daddy) enjoyed pushing me in my throne on wheels. Mommy and Daddy got a new swing set for us to play in. I loved sliding and swinging!

June— Celebrating Sacraments and Sprinklers

Noah received his First Holy Communion on June 14th. It was supposed to be in April but it was delayed because of the virus-thingy or the panda-emic (not sure what to call it officially). “But God’s plan is more perfect than anything we can possibly imagine.” That was something Daddy kept saying. He seemed super-smiley and happy about Noah’s First Eucharist happening on The Feast of Corpus Christi.

Along with celebrating the sacrament my siblings and I played lots of times in the sprinkler. What wonderful waterworks! Josiah showed me how to play carwash in our water table. We play carwash often.

Mommy and Daddy celebrated their 10-year wedding anniversary! This was neat for me because grandma and grandpa got to watch me and the other kids overnight! We had so much fun.

July— Zoo Fun

The local zoo reopened with panda-emic precautions. Josiah called the gibbons “black and white pandas” and we all enjoyed watching the snow monkeys and ducks.

I set a family record by becoming the earliest to ride a strider bike. Strider bike didn’t seem right, so I called it “a butt”. Mommy and Daddy laughed. I think they’re proud of me. I say “a butt” so much.

August— Back to School

Noah started third grade and Amelia began first grade at Valley Springs. Josiah went to early childhood for the second year. I enjoyed more time to plan hijinks as daddy and mommy got more tired from getting house projects done. I continued to get my hands-on Mommy and Daddy’s coffee (I love coffee!).

Amelia learned how to read and created artwork daily. Josiah continued to play carwash in new and creative ways.

September— The Mystery of the Missing Toys

This month began normally with me playing with my dolls, cars, and other gadgets. But soon I noticed things disappearing. First, books I enjoyed were gone. Slowly my stuffed animal supply shrunk, and baby toys taken. I did notice more and more cardboard boxes.

Thankfully, I had Aunt Mary’s wedding to take my mind off the missing toy misery. I had fun playing with grandma, grandpa, and Uncle Steven.

Pro-Tip: Pushing doors open to go outside the reception is fun and an effective way to get my parents to chase me.

October— Mystery Solved

More and more boxes piled up in our living room, garage, basement, and kitchen. My siblings enjoyed many afternoons riding their bikes (and I riding my “a butt”).

I had a busy month with speech therapy starting and I broke my arm. Amelia was dancing with me and I thought a flying leap was a great idea. But the good thing is I got a cool pink cast.

I got used to life with limited toys. But then something changed! All the boxes moved. We played in a different room and slept in a different area. Mommy and Daddy called this our new house. We all thought it was pretty cool!

November— Shenanigans Supreme

My siblings and I love our new house. More room to run and climb. Noah had fun throwing the football in the garage with Daddy. Amelia found new places for art.

Josiah and I found a new way to play carwash. When Daddy was sleeping on the couch (from working a late night) my brother and I overflowed the kitchen sink. Water poured on the entire floor. We had TONS of cars to wash that morning! Daddy seemed surprised about all the water. After this incident we couldn’t sneak and do carwash anymore. Still not sure why?

Mommy continued to balance her teaching job with her additional virus-things protocols. She seemed tired most days, so I try to cheer her up with hugs!

December— Enter the Boss Level

Daddy kept making Jumanji references throughout the year. Everyone was talking about an election thingy. What more did 2020 have in store?

This year they say was tough, but in my experience all life can be challenging but fun too. I’m going to turn two on December 29th. I felt I gained a lot of wisdom this year.

Noah taught me countless facts about Harry Potter and read books to me. Amelia taught me how to draw and be creative. Josiah taught me how to laugh and play with cars. Mommy taught me how to love and hug. Daddy taught me the importance of a balance between seriousness and shenanigans.

Hope you have a Merry Christmas and a blessed 2021!

P.S. Daddy thinks he’s a creative writer, but he gets all his best ideas from my shenanigans. Follow #Muffingate for more funny stories

P.P.S. Special thanks to Daddy for being my secretary for this Christmas Letter. Extra special thanks to my brothers and sister for all this great content

Love,

Avila: The Muffin Miscreant, Coffee Culprit, and who knows what else.

Thank you for sharing!

First Family Christmas Card Commission

/ chicoinematt / 1 Comment

I’m commissioned to write my family’s inaugural Christmas card.

Pray I have inspiration to think up of something before next week’s deadline.

I did receive a message from my future self that the words: platypus, shenanigans, inaugural, and wherewithal must be included in it.

P. S. If you’re wondering about the time travel don’t question it. It is 2020 after all.

P.P.S. I won’t talk about the “successes” of my perfect life because my life ain’t perfect. I’m limping to the finish line of 2020. But I will be jovial and honest about my year.

P.P.P.S. Do you write family Christmas cards? Why or why not?

Awkward Family Christmas card meme
Thank you for sharing!