First Grade Mass, Gingerbread Houses & Much More!

We've had more exciting things going on this last week. Last Thursday the first graders put on the all-school Mass. Gabby read part of the first reading and was fantastic. Spoke with clarity and confidence. We are so proud of her!

On Friday, Adriana's school had their annual gingerbread house decorating and I went to the school to help. 

On Saturday, we spent the afternoon at the country club at the Kids Christmas Party. We had lunch and then the girls participated in the activities and then Santa and Mrs. Claus made their arrival in a helicopter and the girls got to visit with them.

On Monday, Gabby and Adriana had their in-class Christmas Dance Recitals, which were adorable!

The first reading. Our poised Gabby.

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Adriana with her beautiful creation.

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Saturday at lunch. Christina is loving her first Christmas season!

Faces painted and balloons in hand. Gabby's is a snowflake and Adriana's is a candy cane. 

Waiting for Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Here they come... 

Safe landing.

Christina was mesmerized. No crying. Gabby is telling Santa all she wants for Christmas. So sweet.  

Christina holding Mrs. Claus' hand. Melt my heart.

Adriana telling Mrs. Claus what she wants for Christmas. 

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Christmas dance recitals. Gabby's class didn't have costumes provided but they were to dress like Angels. Gabby wore wings and a halo from home. It was a very sweet ballet performance of Angels We Have Heard on High.

Adorable! Adriana did a ballet number to Frosty the Snowman.

Jazz was to Santa Claus is Coming to Town.

After their performances their classes had a little party. These are the girls after Adriana's performance. Sweet Sisters!

Feast of St. Nicholas & Snow Day!

What a fun and unexpected weekend we had! Thursday (Dec. 5) it began to sleet in the late afternoon. We received a decent amount of sleet that evening and snow overnight with an accumulation of about 4 inches. We set out our shoes/boots Thursday night in anticipation of St. Nicholas' arrival on December 6. Even with all the wintry weather he STILL came! How exciting it was for the girls to wake-up on Friday to all these gifts and a SNOW DAY! 

The girls had been asking for nutcrackers and that is what St. Nick brought each one of them along with a picture book of the story.  He brought some candy and a few other surprises as well, but the nutcrackers were a hit!

Snow Day fun! They only lasted outside for about 10 minutes but really seemed to enjoy it.

Our friends came over later in the afternoon on Friday and we constructed gingerbread houses. They had so much fun and so did the moms! 

We did some baking over the weekend, too. We made gingerbread cut-outs. The girls always love making these cookies  along with decorating them.

Yummy!

Thanksgiving and the start of Christmas season

We're definitely into the Christmas spirit around here! We are decorated and enjoyed a very nice Thanksgiving with family! Here are some photos from our last week:

Decorating our family Christmas tree. It's always fun to look at and reminisce over our keepsake ornaments that tell the story of our family. 

Christinas' first Christmas. Decorating the tree like a big girl.

All done! Under the tree we keep all of our Christmas books and stuffed characters.

Christina with her favorite Grandmas. So sweet!

With Aunt Bridget. 

Thanksgiving Dinner table. Gabby made us homemade place cards. She did a great job!  

Christina Mary enjoying her first Thanksgiving feast. Yummy!

Hanging out with Nonna before she headed back East.  

Sisters being sisters --- playing together. Love them so so much!

Gabriella helping Christina hold a crayon and make her first scribbles. Such a good big sister.

Sweet face and sweet baby girl! This photo melts my heart every time I look at it!

Basketball & Dance

It's a new sport season! Gabriella had her first basketball game last weekend. She is #99...not a basketball number but her choice. Since they don't count fouls it doesn't really matter so she is excited to be the largest number on the court! 

The girls also had observation day at dance. We enjoyed watching them practice and perform in person.

Before her first game. 

Dribbling down court. 

Passing it in bounds. 

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Observation day at dance. Gabby is enrolled in ballet and Adriana is in a ballet/jazz class.

Airborne! 

Concentration is key! She rarely smiles -- thinking hard and watching closely -- but loves class. 

Doing her jazz walk. She loves doing this one and it's so funny to watch her move across the floor with such attitude and sass!

Halloween 2013

Happy Halloween! We had a really fun week celebrating this spooky and exciting holiday. On Wednesday, Adriana had her school's costume parade and class party and on Thursday (Halloween) Gabby's class had their party and we went to a Halloween Party in the evening and then trick-or-treating with friends. So much fun! 

Before her school's parade. Adriana as Ariel! 

Parade time.

A quick clothes change and then party time! 

Our entrance in Adriana's school pumpkin contest. What does the fox say? The girls love this recent phenom song and music video.

 Gabby's class party. Sweet sisters! 

Toilet paper mummy game. Fun!

Our three Princesses...

Our adorable Snow White! 

Our exquisite Jasmine! 

Our Lovely Ariel!

No words... Love 'em!

Trick-or Treat!

Daddy with his Baby Girl. So sweet! 

Out! 

Great Pumpkin came... Monsters U and other goodies in exchange for a candy stash.

Christina checking out her new pjs.  

Nonnie sent a Rainbow Loom! Yay! What a fun morning after Halloween!