Sugar Plum Dream Come True...

Ana and I went on a highly anticipated date to the Nutcracker ballet right before Christmas. I'm surprised that Ana actually made it to the day, she thought she might die before it arrived.

 

The ballet was so fun, and it was especially fun to watch Ana in awe. She is finally old enough to figure out what is going on in the story that is told only through dancing. The culmination of the event was afterwards... she got to meet the dancers! Let's just say, there was one little girl in Sugar Plum heaven...

 

 

 

Ana, it is so fun to share such magical things with you!

Kindergarten Christmas Party...

Ana has the most wonderful teacher this year (seriously, I wish she could teach all of my children for the rest of their school years). So we went in to help with the class party... and party we did...

 

 

 

 

Ana with Ms. Ciccarelli, the best teacher on earth...

Piano Recital...

Ana had her very first piano recital, and she did a fantastic job! She was a little nervous, but played beautifully...

 

 

Ana's teacher, Mrs. Valentine (pretty appropriate for our little Ana born on Valentine's Day)...

 

Helping Dad...

This is how I help Dad fix the dishwasher...

 

Aren't I a good helper?

 

I charge candy for labor, just let me know if anyone needs help with anything...

Gingerbread Man...

Ana: Look Mom, I finished my gingerbread man.
Mom: Oh........ you sure did. What are those?
Ana: (exasperated) Those are his eyes, Mom.
Mom: Oh.... right, eyes.

 

Merry Christmas, from the Gingerbread man!

What Would You Like For Christmas?

 

Ana: I'm going to ask Santa to bring me a Nintendo DS for Christmas.
Mom: I don't think that Santa brings things that rot your brain.
Ana: (after a couple of minutes) Then he'll probably bring me a Leapster, because learning doesn't rot your brain.

 

Santa: And what do you want for Christmas?
Sophie: (Just stares)
Santa: Do you want me to bring you anything for Christmas?
Sophie: Pink.

 

"Dear Santa all I want for cristmas is: 1=DS, 2=Pillow Pet, Best of all 3=to give. love, Hayden. Here is what Sophie wants, a pink anything and a doll."

Merry Christmas everyone!!

Glow Dome...

If you were wondering to yourself, "Should I get my child a Glow Dome for Christmas?" Here's the answer...

 

If you're wanting them to flex their creativity, go for it... it just won't be in the way it was intended. My kids used their Glow Dome conventionally for about three days, and for the last 362 days it has been used for space exploration. Need I say more...

Family Date Night...

In general, we normally don't go to the movie theatre (I just can't stomach paying $10 per person to see something that we can rent for $1 at the Redbox in a couple of months). But on very special occasions, we will take the kids to the dollar theatre for a Family Date. We went and saw Despicable Me (SO cute! I highly recommend it) a few of weeks ago, and it was Sophie's very first time sitting like a big girl in the theatre. Doesn't she look so grown up sitting there eating her popcorn?

 

But after about a half hour, this is where she ended up...

 

All in all, a great night! We made it through the whole movie without having to leave for anything! Victory!!

Trimming the Tree...

I'm not sure whether I would call our tree endearing or ghetto?! I love it, don't get me wrong. All the ornaments that the kids make every year are so sweet, and I would never do without them. But by the end of a night of tree decorating, this is what our tree looks like...

Very sweet, I know... it's just a good thing that they still don't realize that I have to completely redecorate/rearrange it the next day while they are at school, just so people don't think that we dragged it out of a dumpster. But the decorating itself it such fun time, I wouldn't have it any other way...



And of course we finished off the night with cookies that Sophie whipped up earlier...
Not bad Soph...
Mmmmm, cookies...

Davey Crockett Day... I mean, Pioneer Day...

The second grade celebrated Pioneer Day at school this year, after studying all about our nation's pioneers. It was super fun! They did square dancing, calf roping...

Made bead necklaces and clothes pin dolls...

 

 

And had good times with great friends...

 

Gotta love the coonskin cap! Hayden, you make me laugh every day...

Nature and Science Museum: Trip 892...

Amazon Exhibit: 3 out of 5 stars.
It was fun for the kids, but they have definitely had cooler exhibits there.

 

 

 

It's still Hayden's very favorite place in the whole entire world...

Who says Halloween is over??

It's only over if I say it's over... and I say... Let's make mummy pizzas!!