Here is a look into our holidays this year.......
Tamales happened as usual and turned out delicious. I forget the final count but it was over 70 dozen!
The 8th graders at SSJ have put on a Christmas Pageant for years and I was so excited because not only was it Diego's class (sniffle) but the 1st graders always make an appearance too so both of my boys were in it. Paolo looked sooo handsome and he practiced Shine Jesus Shine at home and at school for weeks.
Well, Paolo pulled of a perfect performance and I think I saw Diego walk by as a "Bethlehem traveler" but minutes later I was being waved at by my good friend who told me that Poalo was throwing up. Needless to say I did not get the adorable photo of the two of them that I had envisioned and I did not see the last third of the play because I was taking Poalo home. Oh well - at least he made it through his song and did not throw up on stage!
We also managed to do our massive cookie decorating night but somehow I did not get any pictures!
Elise's 3rd grade class did a very sweet performance of the Nativity. They practice reading different parts for a week or two before and then Mrs. T just puts everyone in various parts the day of the show. Elise was an angel (minus the halo because there was a bit of a lice epidemic in her class!).
This is my third child to do this little play in Mrs. T's class and I always love the simplicity of it and the way it is entirely focused on the true meaning of Christmas. I feel blessed to have my kids in Catholic School.
We made pierogi this year with a small group but Greg was in town and kept us laughing.
I realized this year that there are just certain traditions that need to be kept alive no matter how many people are around to enjoy them. Christmas Eve willia was much smaller than usual with Becky and her fam and the Bower's out of town. Michele did an amazing job hosting as usual. Even Joe had to go out of town!
We were so blessed to have Mark home on Christams morning. He was actually able to spend most of the day with us before returning back to work.
Santa brought a trampoline!
Christmas lasted into the next week as we gathered with Tata Joe -
and at Nana's.
It is always somewhat of a whirlwind but I do love the season and all the time it allows us to spend as a family. Welcome 2013!
