Christmas in Kansas City

On Saturday we headed to KC for a quick visit to celebrate Christmas with Nana, Aunt Bridget & Aunt Megan. We walked around the Plaza (bought some Topsy's popcorn) and had dinner at Buca di Beppo (Great-Grandma Mueller's Christmas treat). It was a very chilly night yet we enjoyed the atmosphere and Christmas lights. 

David and I walked around with the younger two while we waited for our table. Adriana thought this was a funny landmark so we took a few photos. I caught Adriana with an unpleasant look on her face this time.

So I had her do it again and it came out much better.

After dinner at Buca.

If we're on the Plaza again around the holidays we will have to bring the girls on a carriage ride. The last time David and I did that was 8 years ago when I was pregnant with Gabriella. Wow...time flies!

Christmas 2014

Merry Christmas! We had a wonderful holiday full of laughter, gifts and food! Nonna & G-Pa came down for the week to celebrate with us. We truly enjoyed the final days leading up to Christmas. 

On Christmas Eve, in the afternoon, the girls opened gifts from each other. Last week, David and I took them shopping. We split them up and had two of them shop for the other sister together.  It was fun, stressful (a busy Target) and sweet. It was really cute to see them open gifts they really wanted. 

We attended 4 p.m. Mass and then went to dinner at Polo Grill. We were sad we weren't able to go to The Summit Club like in past years. (They had a very long waiting list even though we called weeks in advance.) But, Polo Grill did not disappoint. Delicious food and a beautiful atmosphere! During and after dinner we took family photos.

After dinner, we went home to open gifts from each other. The girls love this part of the day. It's alway so much fun to see them get excited about their gifts (the adults, too). I love capturing those moments!

Before the last gift was opened, Christina fell asleep in Nonnie's lap. It was so sweet. 

Before heading to bed, they left cookies & milk for Santa and a note of course. We also said good-bye to Mr. Elf until next year! 

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Christmas Day

I took this picture before they woke up and discovered their gifts. Santa made a tiny error - he switched Adriana & Christina's stockings. He must have been a bit tired, but it certainly didn't affect what he left for the girls. :)

Adriana had a very American Girl and Frozen Christmas. :)

Christina got Anna & Elsa snuggle pillows that are as big as her!

Gabby received a craft pinboard she had been eyeing. 

Adriana dressing Isabelle, her first American Girl doll.

Christina in her very own personalized beanbag chair just like her sisters'. She loves sitting in theirs but now she has her own. Notice the chocolate on her face -- she thoroughly enjoyed the M&Ms left in her stocking.

Gabby rolling her new dance bag to her bedroom. This is the "duffles of all duffles" so we hear so it should come in handy at her dance competitions this winter and spring. Santa even had her name embroidered on it. What a nice guy! :) 

Although this photo was taken on December 23rd, I thought it was a great way to end this special post. It was a perfect evening on the ice at Downtown Tulsa's Winterfest. 

We hope you all had a memorable and heart-filled Christmas. We have much to be thankful for and we offer thanks God for our blessings! Merry Christmas!

More Christmas Fun!

Tuesday morning, Adriana's pre-school had their annual Christmas Program. It was adorable! It's bittersweet to think that this is her last pre-school Christmas program. Next year is Kindergarten - wow! We are so proud of how well she did in front of a packed gym. She knew all the words and oozed with confidence and poise -- such a little performer!

Christina waiting for the performance to start. She is such a trooper! Gabby's second grade class attended as well but I didn't get a chance to take a photo of her. I love that our girls support each other and that their school encourages it among the classes and siblings. 

Procession into the gym. It's amazing to see how much she has grown up since she started pre-school 3 years ago. 

Each class dressed up differently. The children performed two songs as a class and one as an entire school. This is Adriana's class dressed as poinsettias and singing. So cute! 

Our sweet Adriana!

The children had a chance to visit with Santa Claus after the program. This photo melts my heart.

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Yesterday was Gabriella's class Christmas party. I enjoy attending these and seeing her with her friends and classmates. The kids ate snacks, created picture frames and had a photo booth which was really cute and captured some great moments. She loves second grade. 

Getting crafty. 

For the second year in a row, Gabriella, Adriana and I went to The Nutcracker performance last night. We had a great time and it's a wonderful way to get into the Christmas spirit!

Gingerbread Houses & Christmas Caroling

It was a great weekend. On Friday, I helped Adriana and her classmates decorate gingerbread houses. I volunteered last year and it's a lot of fun to watch the kids decorate (and eat the candy). I was also Gabby's class' Mystery Reader (but didn't get a photo). I read The Christmas Story (the birth of Jesus) and The Night Before Christmas and served gingerbread cookies. It was fun! 

In the evening, Gabby and I attended a Mother-Daughter Christmas Caroling gathering at one of her classmate's houses. It was a great way to get into the Christmas spirit!

We spend Saturday and Sunday decorating and baking cookies. It's definitely the most wonderful time of the year!

I love this photo. She is concentrating.

With her final creation. So pretty!

Gabby caroling with friends. It was a sweet sight to see and hear these young girls sing with such feeling and grace.

Decorating the sugar cookies we made.

Christina keeping Daddy company as he handles the pizzelle press. 

Our creations from Sunday.

David took this adorable photo this weekend. Christina in her Christmas get-up and sporting her new shoes.

This week was observation week at the girls' dance studio. I always enjoy these days because we have the opportunity to see what they have learned the first half of the year, and all of their improvements and growth during the semester. The girls take a tumbling class together and then they each have ballet (different classes) afterward. Gabby also attends 3 other classes...two are on a different evening. Here are photos from their "performances" this week.

Gabby working on her handstand and balancing. She is trying to master her back handspring right now as well as an ariel.

Adriana is the youngest in the class by about 2 years but she holds her own. Here she is doing a cartwheel. She is trying to master her cartwheel and a back kickover right now. 

Adriana in ballet. Her class did a routine to "Frosty the Snowman." She was great and is always so focused.

Gabby in one of her ballet technique classes. She is also doing very well. She is very focused, too. She will repeat something over and over until she gets it just right or better than what she did before. Love her work ethic!

Gabby in her Jumps and Turns class. She loves this class and it is really fun to watch. They go nonstop across the floor doing leaps, turns and jumps for an hour to great music.

We are so proud of how hard Gabby and Adriana are working to improve their tumbling, dance and flexibility. We spend a lot of hours each week at the studio and we can see what great improvements they've made and how much fun they are having.