What could be better than sharing Christmas over cookies and champagne with good friends?
Friday, December 21, 2012
Cookies and Champagne Playdate
This year Gina offered to host another Christmas "tradition" that began just last year (and I hope it continues for many years to come): our Cookies and Champagne Playdate. The kids had a great time decorating Christmas cookies and exchanging gifts ... and the girls had fun sipping on champagne and chatting. I feel so blessed to have wonderful girlfriends and that our kids are also becoming great friends.
What could be better than sharing Christmas over cookies and champagne with good friends?
What could be better than sharing Christmas over cookies and champagne with good friends?
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Gingerbread House 2012
I think that Day has officially taken over this fun project - a good thing because she tends to have more patience than I around this time of the year (or maybe just any time of the year).
As always, Luke LOVED decorating the Gingerbread House and can remain focused on it for hours at a time (although after some sugar, it tends to become more difficult). Mia also enjoyed joining in this year and had lots of fun.
The final product was beautiful and completely decorated!
As always, Luke LOVED decorating the Gingerbread House and can remain focused on it for hours at a time (although after some sugar, it tends to become more difficult). Mia also enjoyed joining in this year and had lots of fun.
The final product was beautiful and completely decorated!
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Santa and The Christmas Spirit
We hosted what has become our annual Christmas party this past weekend. Santa visited again this year, there was lots of delicious food, fun conversation, and guests donated gifts and gift cards to bring Christmas to a local family in need.
After the party, this is what transpired (an email from me to all of our amazing friends who donated):
Dear Family and Friends,
Happy New Year to each of you! I apologize that it has taken me this long to reach out to you to thank you all for joining us in celebrating the Christmas season, and also for helping us bring Christmas to a very special family. I can't thank you all enough - you gave US a tremendous gift. We felt so incredibly blessed to be able to spend the Sunday before Christmas with the Hernandez family, showering them with the gifts that you provided. So, thank you. It was a really incredible experience for us to be there and see their faces as they received the gifts that we brought.
With your help, the three youngest children (8 months, 5 years, and 6 years) each opened two toys, two outfits, and a pair of shoes! There has never been a 5 year old more excited to open a pair of shoes - her joy was tangible. She put them on right away, and although they were a bit large, she insisted that they fit perfectly and that she was never taking them off. True to her word, several hours later as she was napping, those shoes remained on!
The 11 year old boy also received two toys (sports equipment) and a number of gift cards to buy himself some clothes and shoes. He was elated to see a gift card to Kohl's, as it is a store that he often wants to shop at, but is a luxury for his family.
The three adults each received enough gift cards to Target, Kohl's, Sears, and Marshalls to buy themselves new clothes and shoes. They were also gifted with several grocery store cards.
We spent a couple of hours over lunch time with their sweet family. We brought sandwiches, chips and drinks with us - the kids were so excited to have chocolate milk from a box that we left any extras with them and my dad later returned to their home and left a Costco case of chocolate milk boxes on their doorstep! :) You honestly could not find a nicer, more grateful family. Jovani, the father, is currently working full time while finishing up his general ed requirements and will soon transfer to SJSU. Miriam also works full time and is planning to return to school as soon as her husband has finished. Destinee & Stephanie (5 & 6 year olds) are in Kindergarten and 1st grade at Rocketship Academy. Antonio (11 years old) is a 6th grader and is being mentored by Enrique from East Side Heroes (the non-profit that directed us to their family) with the hope that he will be able to attend Bellarmine as a high school student.
Here's a bit from Miriam after we left:
Thank you all so much. We have never had such a nice, generous Christmas. It is wonderful to know that people enjoy giving back, and we will definitely be paying it forward once we get settled.
....and a picture is attached.
Thank you all for your friendship and generosity. Together we were able to bring tremendous Christmas joy to a family.
Happy 2013,
Julie
The kids answer the door for Santa
Santa sings and entertains
Jack and Joey visit Santa
Luke and Owen sit with Santa
Luke and Mia place their requests: A rocketship and a princess castle
Santa spends some time with the ladies
Baby Joey getting lots of snuggles
After the party, this is what transpired (an email from me to all of our amazing friends who donated):
Dear Family and Friends,
Happy New Year to each of you! I apologize that it has taken me this long to reach out to you to thank you all for joining us in celebrating the Christmas season, and also for helping us bring Christmas to a very special family. I can't thank you all enough - you gave US a tremendous gift. We felt so incredibly blessed to be able to spend the Sunday before Christmas with the Hernandez family, showering them with the gifts that you provided. So, thank you. It was a really incredible experience for us to be there and see their faces as they received the gifts that we brought.
With your help, the three youngest children (8 months, 5 years, and 6 years) each opened two toys, two outfits, and a pair of shoes! There has never been a 5 year old more excited to open a pair of shoes - her joy was tangible. She put them on right away, and although they were a bit large, she insisted that they fit perfectly and that she was never taking them off. True to her word, several hours later as she was napping, those shoes remained on!
The 11 year old boy also received two toys (sports equipment) and a number of gift cards to buy himself some clothes and shoes. He was elated to see a gift card to Kohl's, as it is a store that he often wants to shop at, but is a luxury for his family.
The three adults each received enough gift cards to Target, Kohl's, Sears, and Marshalls to buy themselves new clothes and shoes. They were also gifted with several grocery store cards.
We spent a couple of hours over lunch time with their sweet family. We brought sandwiches, chips and drinks with us - the kids were so excited to have chocolate milk from a box that we left any extras with them and my dad later returned to their home and left a Costco case of chocolate milk boxes on their doorstep! :) You honestly could not find a nicer, more grateful family. Jovani, the father, is currently working full time while finishing up his general ed requirements and will soon transfer to SJSU. Miriam also works full time and is planning to return to school as soon as her husband has finished. Destinee & Stephanie (5 & 6 year olds) are in Kindergarten and 1st grade at Rocketship Academy. Antonio (11 years old) is a 6th grader and is being mentored by Enrique from East Side Heroes (the non-profit that directed us to their family) with the hope that he will be able to attend Bellarmine as a high school student.
Here's a bit from Miriam after we left:
Thank you all so much. We have never had such a nice, generous Christmas. It is wonderful to know that people enjoy giving back, and we will definitely be paying it forward once we get settled.
....and a picture is attached.
Thank you all for your friendship and generosity. Together we were able to bring tremendous Christmas joy to a family.
Happy 2013,
Julie
Friday, December 14, 2012
The Polar Express
We travelled up to ride the Polar Express out of Sacramento again this year because we loved it so much last year.
The timing worked out perfectly - it was a great way to celebrate the last day of school before the Christmas break. Luke was dismissed at 11am, so we picked him up and left for the drive up north. Day and Paw joined us this year, as did Aunt Louisa and Uncle Patrick (who live near to Sacramento in Roseville).
First stop, the Sacramento Railroad Museum (amazing place, by the way. We need to spend more time visiting there).
Luke and Mia loved the model train area the best. They spent lots of time watching the trains go around and controlling the lighting that simulated day and night.
Settled into our seats on the Polar Express ... in pajamas (just like in the book).
The story is read aloud on the train as we travel towards the North Pole.
Then came the hot chocolate and cookies.
And finally, our arrival at the North Pole
When the train turns around to return to Sacramento, Santa comes aboard and gives all of the children a bell from one of his reindeer's harnesses.
The timing worked out perfectly - it was a great way to celebrate the last day of school before the Christmas break. Luke was dismissed at 11am, so we picked him up and left for the drive up north. Day and Paw joined us this year, as did Aunt Louisa and Uncle Patrick (who live near to Sacramento in Roseville).
First stop, the Sacramento Railroad Museum (amazing place, by the way. We need to spend more time visiting there).
Luke and Mia loved the model train area the best. They spent lots of time watching the trains go around and controlling the lighting that simulated day and night.
Settled into our seats on the Polar Express ... in pajamas (just like in the book).
The story is read aloud on the train as we travel towards the North Pole.
Then came the hot chocolate and cookies.
And finally, our arrival at the North Pole
When the train turns around to return to Sacramento, Santa comes aboard and gives all of the children a bell from one of his reindeer's harnesses.
It is such a magical and fun time of the year, and being able to experience it through the eyes of children makes it even more special.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Luke's Kindergarten Christmas show
St. Martin's put on a beautiful Christmas program, full of music and singing. The Kindergarten class dressed in costumes from the night of Jesus' birth, and sang several songs.
Luke was a shepherd, a very highly regarded part, apparently. After seeing the props when we arrived at school, I realized why not all boys in the classroom were cut out to be shepherds.
The class practicing one last time in their classroom before the show begins.
It was so hard for me to get a good photo of the cutest shepherd without standing up in the middle of the audience (which I was tempted to do!). This is the best I could get.
Luke was a shepherd, a very highly regarded part, apparently. After seeing the props when we arrived at school, I realized why not all boys in the classroom were cut out to be shepherds.
The class practicing one last time in their classroom before the show begins.
It was so hard for me to get a good photo of the cutest shepherd without standing up in the middle of the audience (which I was tempted to do!). This is the best I could get.
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