Elise and the Biggies

Third grade is a big year.  The kids learn to write in cursive and do multiplication and division.  There are field trips and famous American projects and the poem party at the end of the year.  But the biggest milestone of the year is First Communion and Confirmation.  It has been really special to watch Elise go through this process because she is so excited and really seems to have a sense of how important these sacraments are.  As adults we can so easily take for granted our faith, but we get a chance to inject our faith with life and wonder through the eyes of our children.  Elise chose the name Rose for her Confirmation name after St. Rose of Lima and she found the perfect dress that had a rose pinned right at the waistline.  She looked beautiful!

Aunt Les was her sponsor.  She is also her Godmother :)

Elise was very specific about her First Communion outfit and she did not want a veil.  Here she is showing off her fancy hairdo.

Elise's best friend Ella.

They look like little angels.  Pretty soon they will be posing for their 8th grade photo.

More friends.

What a beautiful, blessed day.  Congratulations Elise Zofia Rose Gonzales!

Happy Birthday Paolo Joe!

It is hard to believe that my baby boy is 7 years old.  He is still just an awesome, sweet, fun-loving kid.

This year Paolo was talking about a birthday party for weeks ahead of time.  I kept saying "I can't promise you that we can do a party" but he kept asking and making plans and telling friends.  We hosted Easter at our house and then were out of town so needless to say I did not plan or get invitations out until after his birthday.  I literally printed up a quick invite and sent them to school on Wednesday for a party on the following Saturday!  Well, it turned out to be a great party.  We did not go anywhere, rent anything or spend tons of money.  All that 1st grade boys want to do is be together, eat cake and ice cream and have time to run around and swim and play.

Paolo was so happy - he got his party!  We love you Paolo Joe!!

Easter and Spring Break

Every year on Easter morning I attempt to get a picture after mass when we are all dressed up.  Everyone grumbles and complains but I am always happy to have it.

We hit the ice and the beach over Spring Break.

How adorable are those little skates?

Silly Jules with that crazy "selfie" face.  Diego has been hockey-crazy lately so I was interested to see how he did out on the ice.  I was very impressed.  He and his buddy Connor are trying to figure out a way to start playing.

We were also able to sneak over to the boat for a few days and play on the beach.

We got to spend some time with good friends.

Good times - nice to have a break.

Around the House

 It always seems the youngest child gets the most pictures taken of them.  I am guilty as charged with Ava.  She is at such a fun age and it seems like she presents us with daily photo ops.

When she turned 3 she asked for white dancing shoes and Aunt Tessa and Uncle Joey looked all over town (it was November - no one was carrying white shoes!).  Well they delivered and these beloved shoes have been worn and worn and danced in and polished and repolished and loved.  Unfortunately they have to be retired. 

I came home to this the other day - my hubby is awesome. So are giveaways from Upward Projects (thanks Aunt Les!). 

Elise and Ava performed a gymnastics routine - very cute.

My Mom made sauerbraten the other day - she follows a recipe from Babci.  It was so delicious and I got to eat it again for lunch!

And lastly, my sign arrived.  I saw these on pinterest and knew I had to get one.  

Christmas Snapshot

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!