More pre-Christmas fun

Gingerbread house making!  The girls made a house too, but the icing hadn't set long enough to withstand their enthusiasm for putting the candy on the roof and it collapsed before I could snap a picture.  Next year, I'm going to let the houses sit out overnight so they are good and solid for Lourdes and Sabine.

And last, but certainly not least, all the kids got to wear their Christmas pjs to school for Polar Express day.  That book has become a classic in our house.  I still tear up at the end every time I read it.  

"At one time, most of my friends could hear the bell, but as years passed, it fell silent for all of them. Even Sarah found one Christmas that she could no longer hear its sweet sound. Though I've grown old, the bell still rings for me, as it does for all who truly believe." 

Absolutely beautiful!  And every time I read it I say a silent prayer that my children will never lose their Christmas spirit and will always hear the bell ring.

Gorky goes wild

Just a few of Gorky the Elf's capers this season.  Finn had so much fun waking up every morning and discovering what trouble Gorky had gotten into over night.  Children really do embody the spirit of Christmas.

Holiday Fun with the Canos

Finnegan and Mae each have a subscription to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's children's series.  The first of the three concerts took place in December, so we bundled up and went downtown to enjoy.  The auditorium is really gorgeous and the conductor did a great job of keeping the kids engaged.  We are already looking forward to the next concert in March.

The kids enjoying a lollipop after the show.

Drooling over the fake presents in the hotel lobby of where we parked.

And then for the second year in a row, we all went to Breakfast with Tomten at the Swedish American Museum.  It's a fun morning of eating Swedish pancakes, visiting with Santa and then playing upstairs in the children's section of the museum.  Unfortunately, Sabine was just getting over the stomach flu so she just wanted to sit on my lap and cuddle, but Finnegan and Lourdes had a blast.  

Tree decorating

The kids got in on the first half of the tree decorating and were such big helpers this year!

Time for the kiddies to go to bed and for mom and dad to finish up.

The finished product.

2012 Picture with Santa

2012-13 School Pictures

Can't believe how big (and adorable) they all look!

Toy Story!

Alphonsus is now running an after school program in collaboration with Emerald City Theater.  Finn, of course, signed up and his first play was Toy Story.  The best thing about this whole play is that while most of the other children chose to be characters from the Toy Story movie, Finn chose to be a vampire named "Wicked Witch" ... in the Toy Story play.  And when he is introduced to the audience, he comes out in full character.  Hilarious!