Christmas Goodness...

... has been "all around" as Billy Mack sings, and through programs, parties, gifts, and - most importantly - the Christmas story of our Savior's birth... life has been good. :)

Here are some fun events that happened this Christmas:

The Christmas Program

Above, Gloria and I's Sunday School class is pictured in their costumes after performing brilliantly (who cares if Joseph arrived late, Mary was almost espoused to a different man, the angels forgot to fly, the shepherds lost some important clothing, and the burro's ears had some serious "flopping" issues? It was beautiful... lol).

All the classes performed, and it was fun to see the parents and families of the children (some who came for the first time) so excited to watch their kids involved in the program.

Candi's "Christmas dress"... which she hated... lol.

This girl is not all about the fancy attire... jeans, a t-shirt, and her Dora the Explorer sneakers are definitely more her style... ;)

Christmas morning, I left the boys at the breakfast table to go do some last-minute gift checking, and soon heard a knock and lots of giggles. I opened the door to see all three - Aaron, Poncho, and Diego - with their pyjamas rolled up into short shorts! They continued the "show" by parading around the living room and performing amazing acrobatic feats... like jumping over Candi.

Yes... it's makeup. Some of the girls received "make-up" kits from school for Christmas gifts. So... this has resulted in lots and lots of face-painting.
Admittedly... Poncho and Ezequiel (pictured above, quite ecstatic with their "new" look) have been first in line to be decorated almost every time... lol.

After the last picture, I felt like I should also show Aaron in all his manliness... displaying his tool belt that he got at school from his teacher. And yes... he is this tough. ;)

Our house (Jenna and I's kids) had a small celebration Christmas day in the back room, and this is the whole kidlet crew: (l-r) Candi, Jazany, Julisa, Ezequiel, Diego, Poncho, and Aaron.

Toys, toys, everywhere... the kids received some really fun gifts, and here they are with a few:

Top left: Poncho got a hooded sweatshirt that he told me he was never going to take off. This theory was tested at bathtime when I literally had to peel him out of it, ignoring the protests that he really, truly wasn't that dirty!

Top right: Diego holds up his Barrel of Monkeys for the camera. Since this picture, the monkeys have escaped the barrel, and show up in such random places as the utensils drawer, the fridge, and my shoes.

Bottom left: Candi and her sunglasses, which still do not hold as much appeal as Amy's sunglasses in my room... I don't know why, Amy, but she just can't wrap her mind around the fact that they truly aren't hers!!!

Bottom right: Aaron with his new Memory game (the one in the comedor was down to only six matching pairs... not much of a challenge in that, right?) and a tiger balloon from your gift box, Mom. The kids were "super" excited about the balloons... ;)

And yes... I am now a viejita ("old woman") at the advanced age of 24. Almost decrepit, really. Above you see Jenna's creation of a tree cake for my birthday... and yes, for those who need help, the implication is that I am hugging it. Sheesh. ;)

I told my four kids that I was now a viejita, and they got really worried.

[Worried frowns]: "Estefania... why are you an old woman?"

[Laughing]: "I was just joking... you guys don't have to worry about it."

[Still frowning, and slightly annoyed]: "Why did you say it, then?"

"Ummmm..."

So... apparently old age jokes don't work with those 7 and under... ;)