Countdown to Christmas

 Getting so close!  Here is Teresa with her classmate ready to watch the big kids' Christmas concert.

 Sarah was more than slightly confused at being in Church for something other than Mass or a quick visit.  Had her first snack in Church since she is out of her infant seat to keep her quiet... hoping I didn't start a trend.  She was getting a tad adventurous towards the end.

 Green Grandparents were able to enjoy the show, too!

 Andrew with a couple of his best buds after the concert. 

 They did so well!  They explained different Advent & Christmas symbols/traditions & then had different classes sing a corresponding song.  Really interesting!

Rebecca's class sang "O Christmas Tree" complete with actions & HUGE grins. 

 The next morning was a whirlwind of fun, too.  First it was off to Skate Zone for Andrew's class party.  He was moving too fast for me to get a picture!  Sarah loved dancing to the music in the booths.

 After an hour there we were back to school for Rebecca's party.  When we walked in, they were singing Spanish Christmas carols all of their own accord!  Love it.

 Then it was off to Church for Teresa's preschool program.  Uncle Fr. Jon & our Green Grandparents were able to join us as well.  Adorable!  My favorite was their rendition of S-A-N-T-A... sounded like a round, but it wasn't supposed to. 

 It was especially amusing to watch our music teacher attempt to keep up with the varying tempos of their songs.  Teresa was a little shy but still sang it up.  Then it was off to the library for cookies.

Enjoying a cookie after the Bless the Baby Jesus Ceremony at Cathedral.  So nice!  It's like a big Catholic friend reunion afterwards.  This picture cracks me up, though.  Teresa REALLY wanted another cookie.

Advent Adventures

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St. Nicholas' feast day means it's time to break out the Santa hats & add our newly received Christmas ornaments to the Jesse Tree. 

 We had a rather crafty urge this season & made a lot of gifts.  Teresa had a wild spark of imagination & decided she needed to make Rebecca an umbrella!  Plastic plate, nozzle from a long-reach watering can, long lost material from the fabric bag, & random scraps of leftover fleece... VOILA!  Didn't last too long but adorable nonetheless.

 Andrew with one of the blankets he made for his cousin.

Teresa with a blanket the girls made for their cousin.  We tried "braiding" instead of tying the ends this time... lot more cutting but more stable.  I think it looks cute, too!  (And, yes, that is a necessary set of quotation marks, Staci, since it just looks like a braid but really wasn't.  ;)  )

 

I remarked one morning to the little girls that it was snowing outside as I was walking back to my room.  When I returned just a minute later, I found Sarah had dressed herself up like this & Teresa singing, "Let it snow!  Let it snow!  Can't hold it back anymore...."

 Our annual parish pancake feed with a visit from the Clauses was a hit as usual.  Their requests?  Teresa asked for a Snap & Style doll, Rebecca a sewing kit, & Andrew a baby brother!  Sarah just wanted another cup of chocolate milk to dribble all the way down her dress.

A prayer

 A prayer Rebecca wrote for school

Chatty Curly

She may look relaxed, but this little lady is busy having a verbal explosion! New words within the last week: eat, hot, Becca, happy, shoes, coa(t), Nicho(las), (Te)resa, buckle, baby, (pop)corn, door, milk, Wow! (which she says whenever she sees Christmas lights or shows me one of her drawings)
And just today: dog (as in corndog), Henry, boot, bag, & tree
I'm probably missing a few but holy cow! She also keeps falling over & clunking her head as well... maybe she's repurposed all of her balancing brainpower to speaking brainpower.



Jolly Old St. Nicholas

 He came!

Curly & Curly

I forgot how much fun foam rollers can be!  Check out those curls!

And here's Sarah's first attempt at a photo bomb  :)

Welcome, Rachel!

 

So excited to welcome my new niece Rachel Marie!

Congratulations, Doug & Diane  :)

Fun House

 

One crazy day ago, I let all the big kids have a friend over to play. It was awesome! It was especially interesting to see how differently they each played with each other while obviously having a blast. Teresa bopped from one activity to the next, Rebecca picked just a couple of things getting really intensely into them, & Andrew went from one sport to sport having to default to the Wii a few times because it was so cold but barely sitting still long enough for a photo. How can three siblings all be so different?

Advent begins!

It is the first Sunday of Advent as well as Andrew's feast day!  We are so thankful for a visit from our dear friend Kara & her sweet boys. Thrilled to finally meet my little Godson Thomas! He & Andrew were getting quite the kick out of each other. Here's a new one for Isaiah's wall, Kara! It was so nice to see you.

Cumpleanos feliz

Another year.  They seem to come so quickly these days!  I had a busy but fun birthday.  A breakfast of caramel rolls & surprises from my kiddos was a great way to start the day.  Andrew even made me a game called "Star Battles" that he came up with all on his own.  He knows his mama loves games!

I taught all day & heard "Feliz cumpleanos" sang to me more times than I can count.  My favorite was an ambush of 5th graders who turned off the lights & hid until I came in the door before they jumped out to start singing.  A 2nd grade class & each of the 4th graders made me cards, too!  Some were really sweet, others were really hilarious... mostly due to the proliferation of tacos. 

 My brother joined us & we went out for a delicious birthday dinner.

 Rebecca showing off my present from the kids via "Grandpa Bob" at Church.  He wanted them to give it to me.

Thank you, God, for another year & for the abundant blessings you have given me!

First snow

 First snow of the season!

Even though it was only 8* out... yes 8... I couldn't resist their pleading to go play in it.  Snow is always fun!

 Not really enough snow to do much, but it was still plenty of fun!

The snow didn't seem out of place at all as we headed to the "Reason for the Season" event to prepare for Advent.  We came home with lots of fun ideas, tummies full of cookies & cocoa, & this adorable gingerbread church.  It has an empty manger in front for us to fill with yellow "straw" as we do good deeds during Advent in an attempt to make Jesus' bed all nice & cozy by Christmas.

Stop it

No more growing up, Rebecca!  You're getting too big!

You certainly are lovely.  :)

 



Brides-to-be

maybe in about 20 years