Molly's Christmas Recital

Molly's ballet class had a small Christmas recital.  I guess we had been doing too many Christmas activities because Molly kept yawning throughout the program.

Here they are dancing to Rodolfo El Reno De La Nariz Roja (Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer).

Here is Molly's dance teacher and the owner of Pirouette.  She is wonderful with her students and loves them with all of her heart.  We are so thankful for Pati.

Molly teaching Casey some of her ballet positions.  I really love this man so much!  He is our kids' biggest fan and makes each day full of fun.  Molly is definitely Daddy's little girl.

Molly loves going to her ballet classes each week!

Actividades de Navidad

The kids started a 500 piece colorful ladybug puzzle and Casey and I finished it.

Made a Christmas tree cake and some cookies.

Marina came over to visit.  We love her so much.

Painted Penguins

Played at Plaza de las Americas

Went to the movies with the Ackermann and Jensen families and these 2 young men from Opción de Vida to watch Arthur Christmas: Operación Regalo. 

And went to Ganas often to play with all the kids. 

Being our 4th Christmas away from home, we decided to keep busy with fun Christmas activities to distract us from being homesick.  We are so blessed to have many wonderful people in our lives here in Quito!



Cotopaxi Volcano

Cotopaxi Volcano is the highest active volcano in the world.  It is about an hour and a half south of Quito.  Our goal was to find snow to play in and to hike up to the refuge.  Both goals were accomplished.  Sure 2 of our kids cried all the way to the refuge because their hands were so cold from playing in the snow, but we made it!

4810 meters = 15,780 feet  It was a tough hike because it was also sleeting and we could not feel the left sides of our faces.  Once we made it to the top, we enjoyed some hot chocolate and crackers, took a few pictures and headed back down.  Hiking up to the refuge took over an hour but coming down only took about 15 minutes.  That was the fun part!  Matt and Mikala also made it to the refuge.

 I have the greatest respect for Casey because he carried Molly all the way up to the refuge.  I barely managed to carry myself!  At times Luke seemed to be the only one who was enjoying himself on our little adventure.

Stopped on the way up to play a little in the snow.

Basically everyone threw a few snowballs and we kept hiking up towards the refuge.

Here is a picture of our goal.

We made it!  Not only did Casey carry Molly all the way to the top but he also gave his coat to Jordan.  How deep is a father's love!

On our way down look who we saw!

Going down there were more smiles because the sun was shining, it had stopped sleeting, and you are going downhill.

And Casey was still carrying Molly...even downhill.  Merry Christmas!

Making Gingerbread Houses

Concentrating on construction.

We had a few frustrating moments when the walls would cave in and the roof and the walls...

Jordan's before picture of the North Pole

and the decorated after picture.  Here is Jordan telling us about his gingerbread house he made.

Luke's gingerbread church before and after.

Here is Luke to tell you about his creation...his favorite part is the snow man and yellow snow.

Molly's before and after

Molly describing her gingerbread house...

Molly had so much decorating her house.  Here she is singing as she decorates.

We also went to a friend's house to make more gingerbread houses.

Thanks to Ben and Mari for inviting us over to make delicious chocolate coated rice krispy treat gingerbread houses.

Constructing

Decorating

and

Eating our delicious house that fell.

One final look at our gingerbread village at home.

Christmas Program

Molly's class got to be stars in the Pre-K and Kindergarten Christmas program.  She was so excited about her costume and all the gold glitter.

Here is Molly's kindergarten class singing their special song.

The Pre-K and K classes singing a sweet birthday song for Jesus in Spanish.

Their finale was fun - Go Tell it on the Mountain!

Here are Luke and Jordan singing the opening number of the Christmas program for 1st - 6th grades.

Luke had a solo.  Not only did his microphone not work, I also accidentally hit the record button twice (which stopped the recording) so I did not get any of his solo either.  Thankfully Marlo got a great picture!

Luke and Nick's last elementary Christmas program. 

Always a treat to see the Casa Gabriel boys.

Gustavo

Miguel

The elementary Christmas program at Alliance Academy is one of my favorite events of the year.  There is just something so sweet about hearing kids sing about how much they love Jesus. 

There will never be enough words to express how much I love these guys.  I am one lucky girl to get to be married to Casey and to be Luke, Jordan and Molly's mom!