Pre-Christmas and Christmas Week

Gene and Lucy performed in their "Winter Songfest" which was actually quite entertaining. The younger grades (both my children included) put on a modified version of The Nutcracker. Gene had a solo (only 8 words long, but it was a pretty slow song so it was actually a rather long solo, if that makes sense.). He received many accolades for his effort. His teacher informed me afterward that he had volunteered to NOT have a major role...but he still somehow ended up with that solo:) Lucy was a mouse, along with all the other kindergarteners. They all just danced and sang a bit, and were fun to watch.





Meanwhile, our house was decorated for Christmas, and our child-friendly Nativity set was put out on the living room ledge. It got a lot of use this year, especially when the blocks and various other animals started moving in. The angel supervised...


The wise men were plotting their course...


Everyone decided they wanted their own room in the stable...


One day Brendan decided to do a project, and Gene of course wanted to help. He was also convinced that his overalls (new since Halloween) were perfectly suited for the job. They would hold ALL his tools:)


The days leading up to Christmas were kind of busy and blurry (meaning they went by in a blur)...but we bought and wrapped everything, made a bunch of pound cake to bring to various parties and give to various people, made our lists and packed our bags to spend the night at Grandma H's on Christmas eve. We went to the Vigil Mass at church, and the kids stayed awake, and enjoyed all the Christmas songs they knew. Christmas Day at Grandma H's in the morning, and Grandma P's in the afternoon.

The next day, we had our own little family Christmas...gifts from Brendan and I, and a few stocking stuffers. The kids are really confused this year about Santa...I think they are starting to believe in him, but since they receive so many presents from so many different parties, which are from him gets a bit hard to decipher. So, we kind of told them the presents at our house were from us, but we didn't go into great detail... Gene received a Michigan snuggie from his godmother, and he immediately put it on. Just. Loved. It.


Lucy and Gene painted with little paint sets they received in their stockings.



Brendan read their new Calvin and Hobbes books.


We also managed to snag a dart gun from a family white elephant party, and that was a hit for B and the kids. He hunted them down all over the house, and they loved it:)