Making Ornaments

We decided to paint our own ceramic ornaments this year.  They turned out beautiful. 12.23.11

BW goodie gift exchange 2011

Not sure how we came up with this brilliant and fun gift exchange for the whole family but it was a great idea.  Each member of the family picks out a $3 treat and wraps it (sometimes very creatively) and then we do a gift exchange.  You can either open a new gift or steal one from someone else.  Fruit treats, guacamole, soda, candy, cookies ....all is fair game.  This might become and annual tradition. The kids love it. 12.22.11

Wishing you a Christmas fillled with Laughter.

This should have been the Christmas picture for this year.
12.10.11

In lieu of a Christmas Letter

If you want a brief recap of our lives over 2011 you can scroll down on the right side of the page and read "what we have been up to." This is faster but much less interesting than scrolling through a year's worth of blog pictures.
If you have a chance please leave a comment. Always nice to know that someone besides me looks at the blog. Have a blessed year.

The power of Gift Giving

This afternoon Dominic was a picture of obedience. Asking what he could do to help out, saying "yes, mom" after I asked him to do anything. Cleaning without being asking. It really was a Christmas miracle. After he was done I said "Dominic do you know what makes me happy?" he responded "no" I then said "when you are being so obedient and helpful." He then followed up with "yes, but does it make you want to buy me presents?"
In his defense I suppose I have mentioned several times that bad behavior will result in very few gifts. I guess I know he is listening. If I can get several days of this obedience it will be worth it all! 12.20.11

Nativity Play 2011

Here are some pictures from the Nativity play the kids were in this week. Isabella was one of the lead shepherds and Dominic played a Roman guard and Melchior the King. Both had speaking lines in the play and they did awesome. Look at last years play here and here. 12.18.11

Happy Feast of St. Lucia

For the past few years we have been making Lucia buns (Lussekatt) and fully celebrating the feast of St. Lucia as they do in Sweden (even though St. Lucia is Italian). Isabella and Dominic get up early in the morning and make breakfast & coffee for their parents. Isabella dresses as St. Lucia and Dominic for the first time, dressed up as a Star boy and helped "Lucia" prepare for the festive morning. Next year hopefully we will have the time to make the traditional star boy hat (which is pointed and white with gold stars). The kids got creative with their Lucia buns this year and made some that were really tiny, a few mangers with baby Jesus buns and even an advent wreath with pecans for candles. We top off the morning listening to my Swedish Christmas CD which includes Lucia songs. The kids LOVE dancing around to this fun music. Here are some pictures from Lucia days past: 2010 , 2009 , 2008 12.13.11

Merry Christmas 2011

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas from our family to yours. 12.11.11

The Legend of the Candy Cane

I love the story of the candy cane and how it brings the real meaning of Christmas back into focus. The candy cane represents a "J" for Jesus, a shepherds staff in honor of the Nativity, and the blood and water that Jesus shed on the cross for our salvation. Today we celebrate the candy cane by drinking hot chocolate with peppermint cream & candy cane stirring sticks. 12.8.11

A caroling we will go

Isabella's Little Flowers group went Christmas caroling at an assisted living home. They sang songs and handed out candy canes to all the residents and all the girls looked so cute. 12.8.11

Happy St. Nicholas Day

We love to celebrate Feast days. Breakfast with candy cane pancakes, money, candy, & gold coins in their shoes from St. Nick. Getting to wake up in new p.j.'s to open new ornaments a Christmas book from mom & dad. A great St. Nicholas day for everyone. 12.6.11

Decorating the Tree

Such a magical time, getting to pull out ornaments and make the tree sparkle. The kids look forward to it every year. Everyone has their favorite ornaments to put on the tree.

Thanksgiving 2011

A lovely Thanksgiving at the Paoletti's 11.24.11

Cobweb Christmas

The tradition continues. We love the chocolate spiders. See how the kids have grown since last year 2010. Or previous years 2008, 2009 kids sure do grow up fast. 11.22.11

Farewell Ms. Nancy

Farewell Ms. Nancy. So hard to say good-bye to our 2 favorite librarians in a matter of a few months. 11.22.11

Leaves of Fun

Just wouldn't be fall without jumping or riding through some leaves. 11.19.11

Happy Birthday Dominic

Dominic had a great 6th birthday. Biscuits and gravy a fun day at co-op. An afternoon playing with his buddy Johnny and his birthday dinner: homemade mac n' cheese, lil' smokies, peaches and fruit pizza for dessert. He had a great day and he got some fun new gifts. 11.18.11

The Desert Oasis

We were studying living in the desert in one of our Medieval history lessons. The kids got to made a desert oasis out of candy. History is so sweet. 11.9.11

Happy 6th Birthday Super-Dominic

Deciding on a birthday cake theme this year was very difficult for Dominic. So many super-heroes to pick from...it is a hard decision. It is hard to top last years superhero volcano cake. So here is the Hall of Justice Cake. He even had a pinata with superhero villains on the top. He had a great party playing with his cousins and his friends. He spent most of the next few days playing Legos that he got from his Godparents. Still can't believe my baby is 6 years old! See here for previous birthdays age 2, age 3, age 4, age 5. 11.6.11