Piano "recital"

We hosted a little piano recital for immediate family, next door neighbors, and Em's best friend and family on Christmas Eve. Emily had learned four Christmas songs and wanted the chance to show them off!

We baked a bunch of cookies to set out, and purchased some juice to set out as well, then invited people to arrive at 1pm for the show. My mom suggested printing out words to the songs so people could sing along, so I decided to really do it up and make cute little programs to hand out to our guests. This is the cover, and then the words to the songs were printed inside and on the back.


Emily played Oh Come All Ye Faithful, Deck the Halls, Jingle Bells, and Up on the Housetop.


She kept getting really shy/embarrassed and was turning to her daddy and I for support and encouragement!


I had her play through the songs first by herself, and then she played through them a 2nd time while we all sang along. Afterward, the adults visited for awhile, and the kids all ran around and played. It was a really nice time, and Em has already asked if we can do it again in the spring! (we'll see!)

New Mugs

I ordered the kids personalized mugs from Costco to give them for Christmas. They were a HUGE hit (I know their expressions don't confirm that statement, but you should have seen them first opening the mugs!):


The mugs have each kids' favorite stuffy or stuffies in a picture on the front, and has their name printed on the back. We had to wash and use them almost immediately Christmas morning and have used them once again since then so far! With tax and shipping, it worked out to be about $10 each, which is kind of pricey for a MUG, but making a kid totally and beyond THRILLED is PRICELESS! *grin*

Emily's Dance

Em's dance studio changed things up this year and elected to only host a holiday dance show for levels 3 and up. The lower levels (Em is level 2) prepared a little routine to be shown to their parents during the "parent viewing week".

Em and some of her dance classmates warming up at the beginning of class:


during the cute little routine:






During her tap routine:


(I didn't get any other good ones from that routine to share!)

Emily Grace is anxiously awaiting JUNE when she gets to perform on stage!

Tastey Treats!

I spent most of the day Wednesday baking cookies:


And I spent most of last night baking 7 more pans of cinnamon rolls! I think we're set for holiday goodies!

Christmas picture quiz

scroll down for the answers!!































1. Jingle Bells
2. Walking in a Winter Wonderland
3. Santa Claus is Coming to Town
4. Joy to the World
5. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
6. O' Come All Ye Faithful
7. I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas
8. Oh, Christmas Tree
9. What Child is This?
10. We Three Kings
11. Deck the Halls
12. I Saw Three Ships Come Sailing In
13. O' Holy Night
14. Noel
15. Away In a Manger
16. The Twelve Days of Christmas
17. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
18. All I Want For Christmas is My Two Front Teeth
19. Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire
20. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
21. Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!
22. Silent Night
23. O' Little Town of Bethlehem
24. Silver Bells

Visit with Santa

The kids had a GREAT visit with Santa! He took his time to ask them about what they wanted, and asked for extra details. He asked if they'd been naughty or nice, and commented that he knew they'd been arguing a lot lately, and made them pinky promise to try to stop arguing so much. *grin* Connor would have sat there and chatted all day long, but there was a long line of other kiddos waiting their turn, so we coaxed him off Santa's lap and headed on our way.


Santa through the years:


And that collage is photographic evidence that we make Emily wear her holiday dresses for two years in a row, starting with year 2004. LOL

And the unenthusiastic award goes to...

...my brother and I back in 1981. Hilarious!!

yay!

I got some snuggle time with my sweet little niece, Eva, a few weekends ago at a family gathering. I ♥ her to pieces!!!

MMM!!!

After walking around a holiday light exhibit in our area about a week ago, the kids were in the mood for hot cocoa once we got home. How could I refuse??


I used this picture for our Christmas cards, and after I sent the cards to print, I noticed this:


PUNK!

At least it's not a visible nipple like happened to Elaine from Seinfeld when she included a picture of herself in the cards she sent out!! hahahaha!

Career Opportunity

Em might just be able to make a career as a cookie decorator! Look how carefully she decorated!


That was just two of the five cookies she decorated, too. I forgot to take another picture once she'd finished!

Santa Singers

Emily participated in a group called the Santa Singers last Friday night through her Elementary School. There was a holiday-themed "breakfast for dinner" event, and kids who wanted to give up a few recesses each week to rehearse go join and participate. She had a GREAT time!




The group is a prelude to a more formal choral group starting in January that she's interested in joining. Supposedly, it's set for Fridays after school, which won't conflict with her other activities OR her homework, so we'll probably go ahead and let her join. We'll see for sure when the official information comes home. This group will even get to perform at different events around the community, which she is UBER excited about!

Holiday Frames

I've been crafting again! (big surprise, right?)

And the number one reason...

...you do not hold the cereal bag by the wrong end is:


He was EXTREMELY upset that it happened, but I told him mistakes happen and we might as well take a picture of the giant mess before we cleaned it up!

One of my favorites!

This is one of my favorite holiday pictures EVER of my children. It's one of the RARE pictures that not only includes all three kids, but has all three kids COOPERATIVE AND SMILING! Not to mention, it got a bazillion and one rave reviews on the cuteness factor when I mailed it out for Christmas... *grin*


And this is still the holiday photo that still makes me laugh the hardest. Talk about a major SCROOGE!

Christmas song quiz ANSWERS

1. The apartment of 2 psychiatrists.
Nutcracker Suite

2. The lad is a diminutive percussionist.
Little Drummer Boy

3. Decorate the entry-ways.
Deck The Halls

4. Sir Lancelot with laryngitis.
Silent Night

5. A B C D E F G H I J K M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z.
Noel (I'll admit to not getting this one for a few seconds... but get it? "No L" )

6. Present me naught but dual incisors for this festive Yuletide.
All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth

7. The smog-less bewitching hour arrived.
It Came Upon A Midnight Clear

8. Exuberation to this orb.
Joy to the World

9. 288 Yuletide hours.
12 Days of Christmas

10. Do you perceive the same longitudinal pressure which stimulates my auditory sense organs.
Do You Hear What I Hear?

11. The red-suited pa is due in this burg.
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

12. Stepping on the pad cover.
Up On The House Top

13. Uncouth dolt has his beezer in the booze and thinks he is a Dark Cloud's boyfriend.
Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer

14. Far back in a hay bin.
Away In A Manger

15. Leave and do an elevated broadcast.
Go Tell It On The Mountain

16. That exiguous hamlet south of the holy city.
Oh Little Town of Bethlehem

17. Behold! I envisioned a trio of nautical vessels.
I Saw 3 Ships

18. Listen, the winged heavenly messengers are proclaiming tunefully.
Hark The Herald Angels Sing

19. A joyful song relative to hollow metallic vessels which vibrate and bring forth a ringing sound when struck.
Carol of the Bells

20. As the guardians of little woolly animal's protected their charges in the shadows of the earth.
As Shepherd's Watch Their Flocks At Night

21. Frozen precipitation commence
Let It Snow

22. Monarchial triad
We Three Kings

23. Oh, member of the round table with missing areas
Oh, Holy Night

24. Boulder of the tinkling metal spheres
Jingle Bell Rock

25. Vehicular homicide was committed on Dad's mom by a precipitous darling
Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer

26. Wanted in December: top forward incisors
All I Want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth

27. We are Kong, Lear, and Nat Cole
We Three Kings

28. Cup-shaped instruments fashioned of a whitish metallic element
Silver Bells

29. Oh small Israel urban center
O Little Town of Bethlehem

30. Our fervent hope is that you thoroughly enjoy your yuletide season
We Wish You A Merry Christmas

31. Parent was observed osculating a red-coated unshaven teamster
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

32. May the Deity bestow an absence of fatigue to mild male humans
God Rest You Merry Gentlemen

33. Natal celebration devoid of color, rather albino, as a hallucinatory phenomenon for me.
I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

34. Obese personification fabricated of compressed mounds of minute crystals.
Frosty the Snowman

35. Tranquiltiy upon the terrestrial sphere.
Peace on Earth

36. Have hitherward the entire assembly of those who are loyal in their belief.
Oh Come, All Ye Faithful

How many did you get right?

Christmas song quiz

Take a few minutes (or hours, whatever it takes...LOL) and try to figure out the title of the song each clue is talking about:

1. The apartment of 2 psychiatrists.
2. The lad is a diminutive percussionist.
3. Decorate the entry-ways .
4. Sir Lancelot with laryngitis.
5. A B C D E F G H I J K M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z.
6. Present me naught but dual incisors for this festive Yuletide.
7. The smog-less bewitching hour arrived.
8. Exuberation to this orb.
9. 288 Yuletide hours.
10. Do you perceive the same longitudinal pressure which stimulates my auditory sense organs.
11. The red-suited pa is due in this burg.
12. Stepping on the pad cover.
13. Uncouth dolt has his beezer in the booze and thinks he is a Dark Cloud's boyfriend.
14. Far back in a hay bin.
15. Leave and do an elevated broadcast.
16. That exiguous hamlet south of the holy city.
17. Behold! I envisioned a trio of nautical vessels.
18. Listen, the winged heavenly messengers are proclaiming tunefully.
19. A joyful song relative to hollow metallic vessels which vibrate and bring forth a ringing sound when struck.
20. As the guardians of little woolly animal's protected their charges in the shadows of the earth.
21. Frozen precipitation commence
22. Monarchial triad
23. Oh, member of the round table with missing areas
24. Boulder of the tinkling metal spheres
25. Vehicular homicide was committed on Dad's mom by a precipitous darling
26. Wanted in December: top forward incisors
27. We are Kong, Lear, and Nat Cole
28. Cup-shaped instruments fashioned of a whitish metallic element
29. Oh small Israel urban center
30. Our fervent hope is that you thoroughly enjoy your yuletide season
31. Parent was observed osculating a red-coated unshaven teamster
32. May the Deity bestow an absence of fatigue to mild male humans
33. Natal celebration devoid of color, rather albino, as a hallucinatory phenomenon for me.
34. Obese personification fabricated of compressed mounds of minute crystals.
35. Tranquiltiy upon the terrestrial sphere.
36. Have hitherward the entire assembly of those who are loyal in their belief.

Some of them are pretty easy, and others are quite hard (where I still didn't get how the clue matched the song--#1, for example)! I'll post answers tomorrow!

Toad

Jared created Toad (from Mario Brothers) out of Play-Doh


Wrong colors, but cute attempt!

He and Connor spent almost two hours playing with Play-Doh the other day; it was GREAT! And they used Play-Doh my cousin bought them at some point over the summer. She texted me saying "I bought your kids Play-Doh... Have fun! hahaha!" I replied, "Thanks so much! Our other stuff was getting all dried out..." *grin* It was fun not giving her the reaction she expected. And the kids were thrilled to get new colors! (Thanks again Mirinda!)

Santa, the genius

Conversation I had with Connor yesterday:

Connor: How come Santa is so much smarter than everyone else?
Me: I don't think he's smarter than everyone else. We're both pretty smart, right? What makes you think Santa's smarter than everyone else?
Connor: Well, he knows how to check the lists twice, and he knows which list is which to know who's good and who's bad, and I think that's pretty smart!
(he's got me on that one!)

And just because we're on a roll, I'll share two more funny conversations we've had with Connor recently!

Connor: Do you know how you can be really cool?
Dan: I don't know, how?
Connor: You get a really big fan and turn it all the way up.
(be honest, you weren't thinking the COLD type of "cool" were you??? I was fully expecting him to talk about having on sunglasses and wearing a rock n' roll t-shirt or something!! LOL!!!)

Connor: I know two of the letters in feet. F and T.
Me: Great job Connor! Can you hear the letter sound in the middle of the word? (as I proceed to sound the word out for him letter by letter)
Connor: I hear E!! If there was an "i" instead, would it be "fight"?
Me: Fight does have an "i" sound in the middle, but f-i-t would actually be fit, and YOU have lots of fits, don't you?
Connor: Yeah, and that's how come you know how to spell it, huh?

MUCH BETTER!!!

I got Jared's retake pictures home yesterday and it is SOOO much better than the first one!!


In case you need a reminder:

I ♥ this kid!

Lately, he uses that treadmill more often than I do!! He takes it so seriously, too. Gets on his workout clothes, strips off his shirt, tracks down a water bottle...

CUTE!

I have the CUTEST helper in town!


He helped his daddy clean up the patio, driveway, and yard after windstorm #2 blew through our area. He thought he was pretty hot stuff muscling that leaf blower around the yard. Gotta love a man with power tools/equipment. LOL!!!

Thanks for all your hardwork Mr. Connor! XOXO

Let the holidays begin!

In our area, snow isn't a for sure event in the winter, so if/when the white stuff starts coming down, we get a little excited! And we don't waste a second of opportunity to get out in it, because what starts out as snow will often turn to rain later in the day.

Last Monday, the snow started coming down about 8:40am, and by 9:10am, Connor was bundled up and heading outside to enjoy it:


He'd have been out there even sooner, except we were struggling to track down pairs of mittens and a hat that would fit! After getting outside, Connor came to the door and asked me if it was Christmas. I told him that we still had about a month to wait. He looked at me for a second and then said, "But it's snowing!"

Later that afternoon, Emily and her cousin, Ali, decorated turkey-shaped sugar cookies


Dan and the boys were outside building a snowman. Dan and Jared were working on the biggest portion


And I got to take the picture of my niece, Eva, out in her first snowfall


Nothing like a little snow, time with family, and frosted cookies to put you in the mood for the holidays!!

A song for mommy

Jared wrote and sang the following song to me last night:



We weren't at home to be able to grab the video camera, so I'm hoping he'll sing it for me again later today so I can have it recorded!

In case you can't read all of it, it says:

Mommy you are the best ever. You make the best lunch ever. You are a sweetie. I always love you. I do I do love you. I love you for letting me go to school and if I didn't go to school I would not be smart. And since it's Thanksgiving, Happy Thanksgiving.

HOW CUTE IS THAT???

Thankful

Things I am thankful for:

*The health of my family
*My wonderful children
*That no trees fell on our house during the windstorm
*That my husband HAS a job, even though he has to work LONG crummy hours
*Activities that keep my children busy and happy
*Allergy medications
*The Toyota Sienna that fell into our laps 4.5 years ago and has been a fantastic vehicle for us
*Close friends
*Family
*Chocolate
*Hand-me-downs
*Our pets, who can be pains in the hiney, but overall, have been great/fun additions to our family
*email, Facebook, and blogging, which has allowed me to keep in better contact with people at weird times of day I otherwise wouldn't get good opportunities to be in contact with... I can't call them at 10pm when the house is finally quiet and the chores are done, but I can pop on Facebook or a blog and read updates, and offer comments, suggestions, congratulations, etc, or email them something.
*Hubby's paid vacation days, which allow us the opportunity to spend time together as a family without also dealing with the loss of pay for the day/week that we're together.

And the list could go on and on!!!

Emily the hairstylist

She's got appointments available during the holidays, ladies! Reasonable prices, too... *grin*

Soccer

Soccer season is officially OVER!

Jared's season lasted longer than Connor's, but officially ended a week ago with a pizza party and trophies. The boys had a blast, and Jared was THRILLED with his trophy. (despite the look on his face in the picture below...LOL!)




Coach Brian was really great with the boys. Jared really enjoyed playing, and we saw some definately improvement mid-season. There were a lot of neat boys on the team, and they all played really hard this season! We're proud of you, Jared!!!

Picture day outfit

Connor's preschool class had their individual and group pictures taken last week. Connor was so excited for picture day, and bounced right out of bed and got himself dressed (while I was totally unaware he was even up, since he usually ISN'T at that time!).


I'd had the sweater vest in mind, but the rest of the outfit needed some help. However, he was so stinkin' pleased with his choice, and I didn't want to crush any feelings OR cause a major tantrum by making demands, so I had to be VERY creative and used my persuasive "powers" to the best of my ability.

I talked him into a long-sleeved button up collar shirt that goes with the sweater vest by reminding him that Jared wore a button up collar shirt with HIS sweater for picture day, and told him that mommy really wanted the pictures to look similar on the wall. He went for it. Talking him out of the shorts was a much longer process. If it'd just been his individual picture (from the chest up, as most school pictures are), I'd have left the shorts alone, regardless of the cold temps and pouring rain; I'd have been willing to cut my losses on that one. Except, EXCEPT, it was also the GROUP picture day, which meant FULL BODY SHOT. The shorts HAD TO GO. I ended up managing to talk him into wearing the shorts the next day instead. PHEW!

Gotta love that he took some initiative, though, right?!?

Look what the storm blew in

It's huge! It's width is the same as the length of my foot, and it must have stood 6 inches off the ground (and that was with the bottom all smashed in from the impact of the fall). I'd already broken it apart a bit with a big stick from a distance (checking for bees before messing around with moving it!!) before I thought to take a picture



As I suspected, it was empty, THANK GOODNESS! Of course, poor Jared was the one to come across it in the yard while we were doing clean-up from the storm. After getting stung 31 (or more!) times last summer, he understandably has an issue with bees, and was NOT happy (to say the least) to discover the nest.

The nest was quite soggy, and built up in several layers (like a cake!), which were all really moldy on the bottom. I'm a little horrified that huge nest was up in a tree in our yard this summer and we didn't notice! I'd have expected to see a steady stream of bees coming and going!! However, minus the bees, the nest WAS pretty neat to inspect. Had it not been soggy, I'd have tried to salvage it for the kids to share with their classes.

1st storm of the season!

And if the scientists and weather forcasters have it right, it sounds like this winter is going to be ROUGH for most of us. Is it okay to just stick up our white flag of surrender now before it gets any worse?

I started to remove some of the branches from the patio (which, I might add, hit the roof BEFORE ending up on the patio!), but some of them were so big I could barely lift them! One of them was a huge forked branch that I had to DRAG across the yard to the burn pile!


This picture does not do justice to the amount of branches and twigs that were strewn all across my yard, the alley, and into the neighbor's yard


I thought this one was funny, sticking straight out from another bush, blocking the walkway, like a tollbooth or something!






huge branch sticking out both sides of bush in the yard!


Branch that fell right above the kids' rooms and scared Emily half to death (it rattle her room so hard that some little knick-knack stuff got knocked over!)




you can barely see the cement of the porch, or the blacktop of the driveway under all the Fir needles!