Twas the Night Before Christmas

As usual, Santa brought the children new jammies the night before Christmas Eve.

Christmas Cookies

Ella, Liliana, Jack, and Julietta made cookies for Santa . . . and themselves.

"One for me, one for Santa."

"What, I was supposed to give one to that weirdo who dropped me?"
(Yes, Santa might have accidentally dropped Julietta. We are working on resolving any complexes that may have resulted from that traumatic event. p.s. Julietta did not hit the ground - Mommy caught her first.)
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"Look what I'm doing with your cookie St. Nick."

"Mmm, hmm - it's good."

Santa got three good cookies.

Julietta got one.

Pretty Babies

Christmas Eve

After Christmas Eve mass we went out to eat downtown.

Click HERE to see last year's Christmas Eve.

Julietta had a great first Christmas Eve.

She thought this tree looked good enough to eat too.

Christmas Eve Eve

We got dressed up and went out to the Club the night before Christmas Eve. Julietta wore a special dress my Gran and Grandaddy sent several months ago. She looked beautiful just like her big sissies.

The Big Man

Dear Santa, Could you please be less suspicious and scary next year? Big jolly men with huge hands, a white beard, and a red velvet suit aren't exactly who babies want to have holding them. Merry Christmas! Love, Julietta

P.S. Thanks for the awesome stuff.

Put a Stamp on It

Apparently Ella and Liliana not only illustrated the Christmas card this year, (along with Jack Sprat) they also drew great inspiration from it. This is what I woke up to on Christmas Eve morning - my very own Mary and Joseph.

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Speaking of Christmas cards . . . I finally got ours ordered the second week of December. After a printing mistake, the (second and correct batch of) cards arrived and we mailed them the next day - December 22. Hopefully, you got yours. If not, here is a look at our holiday card. Ella drew the manger and Baby Jesus as well as the little rabbit and mouse in the left hand corner. Liliana drew the Shepard and the sheep. And Jack drew the most beautiful Star of Bethlehem.

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The year in review collage was on the inside top of the card.

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We are the Champions

Meet the undefeated Kindergarten Basketball team. Coach Derek is very proud of his coaching career record.

And here is our third grade parks and rec team. Parks and rec is over and now the girls are playing CYO ball with the same group of girls.

X Marks the Party

Jack finally had his birthday party. He had a Jack Stalwart theme. The invitees were asked to help him find the grand reward.

Here is the grand reward (it's really a cake).

After posing for photos,

blowing out candles,

and opening gifts,

the crew was excited to swim . . .

. . . they weren't crazy at all.

Jack had a ball!

Christmas Parties

Ella, Liliana, and Jack had so much fun at their classroom Christmas parties.

Jack made a gingerbread ornament just like his sisters did when they were in Kindergarten.

Ella's class made goody bags for the needy and homeless.

Liliana's class played lots of fun games.