Advent ABCs: V

V is for Veni.

Veni is Latin for "Come," and the original "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" was written in Latin.  You can see the text below.  Advent is almost over so I hope you enjoy this Advent hymn.

Veni, veni, Emmanuel,
Captivum solve Israel.
Qui gemit in exilio,
Privatus Dei filio.
Gaude! Gaude! Emmanuel;
Nascetur prote, Israel!


Veni, veni, O Oriens;
Solare nos adveniens.
Noctis depelle nebulas,
Dirasque noctis tenebras.
Gaude! Gaude! Emmanuel;
Nascetur prote, Israel!

Veni, O Jesse Virgula; Ex hostis tuos ungula,
De specu tuos tartari; Educ, et antro barathri.
Gaude! Gaude! Emmanuel; Nascetur prote, Israel

Veni, veni, Adonai, Qui populo in Sinai
Legem dedisti vertice; In majestate gloriae.
Gaude! Gaude! Emmanuel; Nascetur prote, Israel

Did you know that "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" was originally written in the 12th Century (in Latin as I have already informed you). The author of the words and composer of the music are unknown. It is, however, believed that the melody is of French origin and was added to the text a hundred years after it was written. The Latin was translated into English by John Mason Neale in 1851.  

We sang carols at church yesterday.  I thought about suggesting this one - in Latin.

V is  for Visitor.

Baby Elyse came to my house! I love visitors and I love my friend Elyse!



In other news, I can now open the cabinet doors all by myself! What a great trick for me but my parents are not crazy about this new skill. I am not sure why!

And, is it just me or does it look like Frosty is trying to eat my fingers in some of the pictures?

Advent ABCs: U

U is for Unwrap.

I have never had so much fun going to check the mail. There have been so many fun things to unwrap. I am very excited about packaging. You see here the package that has traveled the most distance - it is from New Jersey! Thank you for the shirt and pants, Marek and Irene! Did you know that momma and daddy lived in the same house with Marek and Irene in New Jersey? Marek and Irene had the upstairs apartment and my parents lived downstairs. The other package is from Alabama. My mimi and pop's minister, Tex and his spouse Regina sent me a Santa shirt with my name. It was made by their children. Thank you so much! It is very cute.

U is for Under the tree.

You never know what you might find under our tree. Our cats like to sleep under there and I like to put things under there. You can see some of my favorites.

And here is Molly under the table.


This ornament is one I really like to play with and I like to roll it under the tree and then lay on my belly and get it back out. My grandmomma made this ornament and it has a picture of my grandaddy, grandmomma, momma and my Uncle Stephen. Our tree skirt which stays under our tree was made by my grammy! Isn't it pretty? It has a picture of my grandaddy, grammy, momma, and daddy on the back. I like to play with the fringe.

Advent ABCs: T

T is for Tennessee.

Do note my UT orange diaper and my guitar PJs.

" With a little ol' driver so lively 'n' quick, He could'a won the Bristol 500 in a lick! Eight musical reindeer were playing along, And he sang out, so I could hear loud and strong: 'Get up Waylon, Willie, Merle, and Jonny C., go Elvis, Loretta, George J., and Tammy! From Nashville to Memphis and the banks of the Mississippi - Now fly up to Knoxville and the peaks of the Smokies!'"



"You know how in the winter the weather men go wild, saying snow is gonna come and cover us for miles? That's how crazy I felt watchin' that tour bus sail by - got me so worked up I needed an RC and a Moon Pie!"





"Bless his heart. He looked wild as Davy Crockett to me, with his hair and his beard tangled up in that tree. Mom's always saying I should help folks who are older, so I helped him get down onto our John Deere mower. Santa headed inside, stepping over our dog, Buster, and filled all our stockings with Goo Goo Clusters."
from The Tennessee Night Before Christmas by E. J. Sullivan

T is for Two front Teeth.

"All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth,
My two front teeth, see my two front teeth.
Gee, if I could only have my two front teeth,
Then I could wish you 'Merry Christmas.'"

"It seems so long since I could say,
'Sister Susie sitting on a thistle.'
Gosh, oh gee, how happy I'd be
If I could only whistle." by Don Gardner

Advent ABCs: S

S is for Snow.

It snowed - IN HOUSTON on December 10.  We took these picture outside at our house.  I liked the snow and being outside with momma and daddy.  It has not snowed since the 10th and it likely won't snow again here for another 20 years or so.

S is for Santa.

This Santa suit was given to me by my friends at church: Miller, Byron, and Blakely.  Thank you!  I wore this suit to Kroger and waved at everyone.  Daddy said it was like the Macy's parade in New York.

Some thoughts on Santa by Arlo Guthrie: 

"Santa Claus wears a Red Suit, 

He must be a communist.  

And a beard and long hair, Must be a pacifist. 

What's in that pipe that he's smoking?"

S is for Stocking.

We have three stockings.  Momma added buttons and the snowman to my stocking.  She used buttons from my grandmomma's button tin.  I love my stocking.

This book is wonderful.  It is called Barnyard Dance! and it is by Sandra Boyton.  I love reading it.  My Jimp and GranFran gave it to me for Christmas.  Thank you both! 

I love to wave. I wave at myself and others. It makes me smile.

S is for Snowman.

When daddy was a little boy, his family had a snowman named Frosty.  It was a gift from my great-grandmother Stepp.  My daddy loved Frosty.  And now, I have a Frosty too.

In other news: I feel much better.  I have been fever-free for three days as of today and I am back to playing.  I am such a happy boy!  Even when sick, I want to be happy.

Advent ABCs: R

R is for Reindeer.

See my reindeer book? It has a finger puppet that sticks through each page. It is a reindeer puppet. I think it is so funny. My aunties Karon and Toni gave it to me. They have a doggie, Bella who also liked my book, she helped me play with it. She is a great doggie. When I was a little baby and had colic and cried every evening, my aunties Karon and Toni took care of me and let my parents have a much needed break. I am glad I don't do that anymore, aren't you?

And here's Zoe. She thinks she is a Christmas ornament!

Advent ABCs: Q

Q is for Queens.

The Queens Came Late

The Queens came late, but the Queens were there
With gifts in their hand and crowns in their hair
They’d come, these three, like the kings, from far,
Following, yes, that guiding star.
They’d left their ladles, linens, looms,
Their children playing in nursery rooms,
And told their sitters: “Take charge! For this
Is a marvelous sight we must not miss.”!

The Queens came late, but not too late
To see the animals small and great
Feathered and furred, domestic and wild
Gathered to gaze at a mother and child.
And rather than frankincense and myrrh
And gold for the babe, they brought for her
Who held him, a homespun gown of blue,
And chicken soup—with noodles, too—

And a lingering, lasting cradle-song.
The Queens came late and stayed not long,
For their thoughts already were straining far—
Past manger and mother and guiding star
And child a-glow as a morning sun---
Toward home and children and chores undone.

By Norma Farber
From When It Snowed That Night

Do note my top teeth in the last picture! They are coming! And the ark - it came in the mail yesterday and momma and daddy let me open it. I played with it all day! Thank you for the Christmas gift, mimi and pops!