Merry Christmas!!

It was such a joy to spend Christmas together as a family in our own new home this year.  On Christmas Eve we went to 6pm Mass.  Seeing the life size Nativity scene up close after Mass was special.  The kids left some milk and cookies out for Santa and then off to bed.  They were so excited the next morning.  We spent the entire day opening gifts because they were so excited about each thing they received, they wanted to stop and enjoy it or play with it before moving on.  We had a very happy Advent and are continuing to have a very Merry Christmas!

"Santa ate the cookies but left one crumb for us!  Can we eat it mom?"

He'd been asking for the marble game for a month and it has been the hit of the season...every day now he rebuilds it in a new way and watches the marbles flow!

Grace was most excited about her baby doll high chair..and who doesn't want to be dressed like a princess while feeding their baby?

Henry was most happy playing with the wrapping paper and ribbons, but he thought his gift from Santa was good too.

Santa even brought the kids a red wagon!

Merry Christmas from the Pintos!!!!

Christmas in Missouri (part 3)

  

We ended our week with the big Eisenbath Christmas party held at my Aunt Diane's house.  With around one hundred people, two huge buffets of food, and a tree full of gifts beneath it, it is always a great time.  It was so nice to see so many relatives whom we haven't seen in a year and a half and catch up with them.  And of course, Santa made an appearance mid way through the gift opening.  Nicholas was naturally super excited!  He sat on his lap when it was his turn and told him he'd been "pretty good" this year and that all he wanted was "one thing for Christmas, a marble game."  But afterward he told me he didn't get enough time with Santa and had a lot more he wanted to talk to him about like "How were his reindeer?" and "How is the weather in the North Pole?"  So at the end, as Santa was leaving, he ran up to him and Santa picked him up and threw him in the air...I'm not sure I've seen Nicholas ever smile so big!

Here he is telling him his name is Nicholas "like Saint Nicholas."

Grace's reaction to Santa was the opposite of her big brother's.  She wanted nothing to do with him.  This picture is taken right after I set her on his lap....

This picture is taken about 2 seconds later....crying and scared and refusing to even look at him.

And sweet little Henry...well this was his first time meeting Santa and he thought he was great...especially that soft white beard!  He just kept looking at him and smiling, playing with his beard!

What a Merry Christmas!

Christmas in Missouri (part 2)

 

Our week in Missouri was packed full of fun activities but the most enjoyable of all was just hanging out at mom and dad's.  We fully enjoyed the new renovations to their home and the kids LOVED playing outdoors there.  Nicholas had been praying for snow for weeks and fervently believed there would be some.  Shawn and I, seeing there was none in the forecast when we left Georgia, tried to gently prepare him for Christmas without snow.  If only we all had the faith of a child....for it did snow!!  Just 1 inch but it was enough to make the holiday for our little Mr. Christmas.  Thanks mom and dad for such a great week!

We spent one day baking tons of cookies...two batches of about 12 different kinds!  It was great to have Amy, Nicole and Brittany there to help bake the cookies and also help with the kids so they didn't eat too many of the cookies or ingredients!

Henry loved Brittany...too bad she doesn't live closer..we'd keep her busy as a babysitter!

Grandma and Grandpa gave our two older children of the South their first pairs of boots...boy were they excited!

They also gave Nicholas a race track...a great toy for all the BOYS!!!

When it snowed the whole 1 inch, Nicholas said he was ready to "go sledding, make a snow angle, and eat snow."

Grandpa pulled him on the sled with the 4 wheeler.

And took him for rides all through the woods on the 4 wheeler....he was ecstatic!

Grace on the other hand was not too sure of the snow...she said she wanted to "float on the boat on the snow" like Nicholas but was scared and cried when she sat on the sled.  She preferred just to walk around for awhile outside and then sip the hot chocolate inside.

She was just happy being near her brother.

Nicole took them on a walk to the tree house.

They love playing in there just like my brother and sister and I did when we were children.

Nicholas just couldn't get enough of playing outside in the snow with Grandpa.

Great Grandma and Grandpa had us over for dinner one night and she bought this playhouse to put together and decorate with the kids...so sweet, and a great fun activity to do with their great grandmother. They enjoyed the house the rest of the week.

The kids saw records and a record player for the first time as we listened to some of my childhood favorites.

We are so excited Henry, Grace and Nicholas will have a new cousin in the spring when Aunt Mindy and Uncle Cody have their first baby!

When Nicholas saw this big pile of dirt from my parents' renovations, he just couldn't wait to go play in it!  Who needs Christmas presents when you have a big pile of dirt????

And of course, our Gracie Grace always loves to swing.

Just carrying big heavy sticks was fun for Nicholas too.

The kids even had a chance to break in Grandma and Grandpa's new tub!

Grandma, Nicholas and Grace made a lovely and delicious gingerbread tree

My immediate family all got together one morning for a Christmas brunch in mom and dad's new dining room.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas in Missouri (part 1)

Henry met his great grandmother (and great grandfather) for the first time!

This year we spent December 15-23 in Missouri celebrating Christmas.  The kids did very well on the 11 hour drive each way.  It was a fun and festive week! We have tons of pictures from all the Christmas parties and activities so I will be blogging in three parts.  This first set is from the Burkemper Christmas party, held this year at my mom and dad's house.  My dad's parents are both in their eighties and are doing very well.  His four sisters, most of their kids, and all of the great grand kids were present.  What a great celebration!

Grace with Grandma (my mom)..boy did she have fun with her, even if she says she went to "grandpa grandpa's house :-)

Grandma and Grandpa with most of the grand kids (and a few great grands thrown in there to:-)

My grandfather shared with us his recent experience with the Honor Flight....a flight he took to Washington D.C., as a WWII veteran, to see the new WWII memorial and several others.  It sounded like a once in a lifetime trip and I know my dad was thrilled to have gone along with him.

Nicholas with his great grandfather

Henry says to Mitch, "People say we look alike, isn't that funny!"

Here's our little crew...a bit tired of pictures by then as you can tell!

My immediate family

Henry meeting Aunt Julie for the first time

Henry really took to Amy and she was a great helper!

Here's Grandma and Grandpa with all their great grandkids (although you can't see Tanner hiding in the back)

Nicholas loves Uncle Cody!

Grace with her Godfather, Uncle Andy

She loved being silly with him

Nicholas with his Great Grandmother

My dad with his four sisters and their parents

The party ended with a hayride pulled by my dad in his tractor...I don't know who enjoyed it more, the kids or my dad!  What a great party!