The Pinto Family: December 2016

Merry Christmas

We were certainly blessed with a merry Christmas this year. We didn't travel, but stayed at home enjoying all the many nativity plays, parties and Christmas gatherings with friends, not to mention just some down time together as a family. Here are few highlights from our Advent and Christmas seasons.

Grace performed in the Nutcracker Ballet for the first time this year. It was a lot of hard work and practicing for months and she performed as a "cupcake" in 6 shows over two weekends. By the last show she was tired but she said she really enjoyed it and would like to do it again next year! We are so proud of her! Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures of her in the show or in her costume but here's a couple shots after the show when friends came to see her. Not pictured, but Grandma and Grandpa were even able to see her perform, which was really special to her I know!

Ready for Christmas!

These kids couldn't wait until Thanksgiving night, when I would let them start wearing their new Christmas PJ's.

This little man is singing Jingle Bells, Here Comes Santa Claus, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, nonstop these days….. He also loves saying "Hohoho Merry Christmas " in his deep voice like Santa. He did pretty well leaving the tree alone this year…only took a few ornaments off, only 1 broken, only 1 gift opened early, and only 1 candy cane snatched and eaten.

Waiting to see Santa at Breakfast with Santa

This girl loves getting her picture taken….

Asking Santa for …..

All smiles this year!!!! Wow!!! That's a first I think!

Nicholas and Grace performed in their Christmas piano recital. Nicholas played Away in a Manger (2 hands) and Grace played Jingle Bells (right hand).

Enjoying the festivities with friends after the recital

The kids made their own gingerbread house this year.

We also held our annual cookie baking day.

Samuel was our official (and unofficial) taster….

Our friend invited us to a Birthday Party for Jesus at her home. The kids made crafts, put on a nativity play, and sang happy birthday to Jesus with a cake and all. Nicholas, Grace and Henry were the shepherds in the play and Samuel was a sheep. :-)

At Queen of Angels, all the classes have a couple songs that they sing and then the kindergarteners act out the nativity play. Here's Nicholas happy to be singing his part.

Grace was an angel in the school play.

The full kindergarten cast

Our little angel with her sweet teacher, Mrs. Cooney.

In his preschool play, Henry was a wise man :-)

They also sang several songs for us.

Our gift from Henry

Buddies

On Christmas Eve, we attended the 4pm Children's mass. Nicholas served as a usher while Grace (angel) and Henry (shepherd) were in the Gospel re-enactment. I didn't get pics of Grace and Henry in their costumes during mass however.

Christmas morning…the kids were up at 4:55 am!!!! They were back and forth to our room and the study (where the tree and gifts were) and the living room (where their stockings hung) over an over again in excitement, coming in to tell us each little thing they saw! It was so fun!! Thankfully we got naps later!

Merry Christmas everyone!

7 Years in Heaven

Dear Juliana,

It has now been 7 long years since we held you ever so briefly in our arms and then let you slip away to be with our heavenly father. We will never forget how you felt nuzzled in our arms, laying on my chest, looking into your midnight blue eyes, feeling your fingers wrap around ours. We will always cherish the time we had with you during the pregnancy and on that Thanksgiving morning years ago. We will always remember, never forget, and forever love you with all our heart! Hugs and kisses to you on your birthday sweet baby girl….XOXO

Love,

Mommy, Daddy, Nicholas, Grace, Henry, and Samuel

Happy Thanksgiving

It was so nice to host Grandma and Grandpa for Thanksgiving! We were so thankful to them for watching the kids so we could get a way for a few days and it was an added treat to be able to come back and spend the Thanksgiving holiday with them.

While they were here, Dad built a Lego desk and shelf for Nicholas for his Christmas gift.

I think someone is pretty excited!

Samuel really enjoyed time with Grandpa and GiGi this trip!!

My Henry…always an eager little helper in the kitchen. He was so excited to peel the potatoes this year!

Happy Thanksgiving from the Pintos

Our 10 Year Anniversary

Shawn and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary this year on November 25th. It had been about 7 years since the two of us had been away together without the kids, so my parents watched the kids while Shawn and I took a 3 night trip to Savannah, GA. We had a WONDERFUL time! On the car ride there alone, we were able to have so many conversations, it would have taken a year to have at home without interruptions. We stayed in a lovely historic bed and breakfast, the Azalea Inn and Gardens in the garden district of Savannah. When we first arrived into town, it was Sunday afternoon and though we'd already been to mass that morning, we thought we would check out the lovely cathedral there, the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist. It just happened that they were beginning a Latin mass in about 5 minutes and since we'd never been to one, we stayed. Oh how beautiful! And what a lovely way to start our anniversary vacation!! Over the next several days we enjoyed roaming through each of the historic squares, admiring the architecture and enjoying the beautiful weather. We took a great trolley tour of the city, visited the historic Bonaventure Cemetery, Fort Pulaski, and the Tybee Island lighthouse. We also enjoyed some amazing meals including one dinner in the private dining wine cellar, a lovely tea at a tea house, and tons of delicious seafood and good southern cooking! But the best part of the whole weekend was just relaxing together, with no set schedules and just enjoying one another's company! It was fabulous!

I'm so thankful for such a loving, dedicated and hard working husband and couldn't ask for a better man to spend my life with and raise our children. Happy anniversary honey! I love you!