Christmas Music Warms my Heart

The Suzuki concert was comprised of a dozen Christmas songs, which must be performed from memory. (Captain was able to attend instead of listening via cell phone.) We were proud of the twins for learning nine of them - as compared to 4 last year. Dorito was in all the numbers, including Pacabel's Canon in D and the fancy glissando in "I'll Be Home for Christmas."

Last of the Apples

I need to make room in the garage for sleds from the attic, so the twins helped me make 4 apple pies plus a bit of homemade applesauce for dinner. Winger likes the peeling machine.
Polar Bear claimed the longest peeling.
But he was soon sharing it with his twin brother. A phone call from Aunt Kathy in the middle of our baking gave us a good idea about who would like to receive a pie for a Christmas present.

Skits with the Family of Jesus

On this Feast of the Immacu- late Conception, we held a fun Co-op Class at St. James and studied the family tree of Jesus. First, "David" visits his brothers in the Army, where everyone is afraid of "Goliath."



Now, young David (Edmund) is telling Goliath (Shane) that he will fight him!
David needed help loading the marshmallow in his sling-shot.
Joachim (David/Winger) and Anna (Sierra), future parents of the Virgin Mary, on their way to the temple to pray and ask the Lord to bless them with a child.

These fun skits were followed by a "Manger of Good Deeds" craft project and then (loud) Advent games in the gym!

St. Nicholas Was Here

The children got these Brass Initials for St. Nicholas Day from Gr. Judy and Gr. Gerald. We decided to hang them on the mantle during Advent, while we are waiting to put up the stockings.

St. Nicholas filled the shoes with chocolate coins, Stride gum, and a movie this year. Dorito started watching "August Rush" immediately (it was a Saturday morning); the twins are taking their "Young Riders" to the hockey tournament today; and Meggar plans to watch "27 Dresses" later tonight when all the boys are gone.