Bye-Bye 2008!

During this last weekend of the year, we did a couple fitting activities. On Saturday, we saw the move The Tale of Desperaux. Since we are nearing the end of the Year of the Rat (Mouse) and the starring role was a mouse character, this was a good choice to seek out. On Sunday, we attended a really cool presentation at the Hurst Planetarium about the winter solstice and holidays. Afterwards we went for hot chocolate and coffee and later that evening, took out the telescope and looked at the winter sky with new appreciation. On Monday, it was a drive into the city to one of our favorite destinations - Detroit's Mexicantown. We shopped at the Honeybee Market and had lunch at our favorite - El Comal - Guatemalan dishes are their speciality. We now have delicious salsa, chips, tortillas and other "real" latino foods in the house again!

At the supermercado:


Lunch with friends: (clockwise)- C., Danny, Patty, Tracy, Jasen, Frank and E.


On the way home, we stopped to see our friends Linda and Yensi for some holiday cheer. Happy New Year!

Christmas 2008

We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas morning at Karen and Gary's house. Everyone went to the 6:30 pm Mass, then had a delicious dinner. Anyone who knows my sister Karen knows what a wonderful cook she is! My brother Pat, sis-in-law Linda and their two girls, Stephanie with husband Cody (the kids' godparents), Elizabeth with her boyfriend Shaun and our Aunt Leone joined us in the celebration.

The beautiful tree:


One of many presents to open. Poor C - he wasn't feeling very well (ear infection) and had just woken up from a nap before this photo:


E. checking things out with Stephie, while Aunt Linda looks on:


We arrived back home about 1 pm Christmas Day. There were gifts under the tree - seems like Santa found our house the night before while C. and E. were away!

Kindergarten Holiday Concert

The Kindergarten classes held a holiday concert for parents on December 16. Since E. loves to sing, she was in her element. Everyone did a great job!

The two classes: one wore reindeer hats, the other was decked out in a Christmas tree shaped crowns:


Several songs included the actions of finger play:


Back in the classroom:


Enjoying her snack and showing off her crafts with Mom:


And then, on the way out, we stopped by C.'s class and snapped this shot: