The Pinto Family: 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!