Merry Christmas!

From our family to yours - we wish you a very Merry Christmas!

I wanted to take a moment to share with you this picture and story Grace did in school last week. She did this without any guidance from her teacher - she was given a blank piece of paper and this is what she did with it. She drew a picture, then told her teacher the story so she could write it down. We are so proud that our children understand the true meaning of Christmas!

May all of you be blessed this and every day, and amidst all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, may we all remember the true Reason for the Season.

As my children say in their prayers:

"Thank you Jesus for coming on this earth to die on the cross for our sins."

Winter Wonderland

We woke up to snow this morning! We had heard rumors that it might snow, but since we've seen so little moisture this year, we didn't hold our breath. I hurried and got in the shower figuring that I'd have time to get at least partially ready before the kids got up. I had forgotten that my husband turns into a kid when there's snow on the ground (that and the fact that we expect the snow to be gone by noon), and he went and got both of the kids up, post haste. So, while he and the Grandmas were getting the kids ready I hurried and got my hair dried and headed outside with the cameras.

After a quick lesson in snowball making, they started a snow ball fight

Then it was time for a little snow eating - something Tristan has been looking forward to all winter. Every time he sees snow on our mountains he asks if he can eat the snow.

I just love this picture - she had so much fun in the snow this morning!

Snow angels

Gotta love this kid - he's just so darn cute!

Grace and Grandma conspiring to get Mommy

Getting the poor, defenseless Mommy who has her hands full with two cameras and can't make a snowball to defend myself!

Under the tree is Malcom's favorite place to be this time of year.

Grace's Recital

Well, I was told that we wouldn't be able to take pictures at Grace's recital, but I took my camera anyway, to at least be able to take pictures back stage. This is her before her first number.

Isn't she beautiful? Concerns me a little that she looks so grown up.

This is a picture of her whole group prior to going on for the opening number.

I managed to get a few good pictures during the recital - thanks to being able to take pictures without a flash. Grace is the second "elf".

Performing "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year"

She was concentrating so hard she was sticking her tongue out! So much for her promises to smile when she was on stage!

My precious little ballerina

A Special Christmas Gift

In trying to come up with something different as a Christmas gift for Grace's teacher, I came up with the idea of making her a "quilt". I discussed my idea with the other parents in her class, and they all agreed that it was a good idea. My idea was to have each of the kids in the class draw her a picture, and I would then sew them all together, and make a "quilt". I use this term very loosely as I have never made a quilt before, and there is no batting or anything of the sort in this one, but it is patched together to at least look like one...

I spoke with the art teacher and she was more than happy to create a curriculum for this and had each of the kids draw a picture on the squares that I had cut up. I also included a picture of the class in the middle. It turned out better than I had expected, and she seemed to like it. The lunch aide said that Mrs. Ellis got teary eyed when she opened it.

Grace's is the one on the left, second row up. It is a picture of Mrs. Ellis teaching a couple of children how to write an uppercase letter A.

She stopped by my office a little later and told me how surprised she was. She said that she always knew when the kids were up to something, but this time she had absolutely no idea.

Tristan's Christmas Party

Tristan had a class Christmas party last week. They made different treats, ate tons of food,

exchanged gifts (all coloring books),

and loved up on their teacher.

Have I mentioned how much I love being right next door to his class so I can participate in all of these things???

Tristan's Gymnastics Show

As I mentioned a few posts ago, we've been quite busy this last month! After Grace had her dress rehersal for her recital, Tristan had a gymnastics program that night. He kept telling us that he didn't want to do it, and we kept telling him that it wasn't an option, so I was a bit anxious to see if he would actually do what they had been practicing - especially since he didn't take a very long nap that day. He said "I don't know where to go in my class." So I reassured him that Miss Darlene and the girls in his class would help him if he needed it. He went right into the classroom where they were warming up and then came out and did his thing.

He's quite amusing - he's the youngest, and the only boy, so he gets away with quite a bit.

Forward roll

Back "flip over"

Donkey kick handstand

He's not enjoying this at all...

And he's not at all excited about getting a certificate!

Grace's Dress Rehersal

Since we can't record or take pictures of Grace's performances on the night of her recital, I snapped a few shots at her dress rehersal last week.

This is her tap routine to "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer"
I didn't get a good video of this one so I've just got pictures.
Hopefully I'll be able to edit the CD of the production and include her dances in a future blog.

Prior to her "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" ballet number

I am still trying to figure out what went wrong with my video editing program, so as soon as I get it straightened out I'll get the videos for the kids programs posted. In the mean time, enjoy the stills!

Tristan's Preschool Christmas Program

Tristan had a Christmas concert last Monday, and I was fortunate enough to see it twice! Those kids are so cute, and they did an awsome job up there in front of everyone. They first performed at chapel for the whole school, and then had a performance that evening for families and friends. Tristan has been walking around the house for a good month prior to his show singing "Oh have you seen my donkey, my donkey, my donkey, we have to leave right now. We have to go to Bethlehem, to Bethlehem, to be counted with our family."

This one was taken during the morning performance
His entrance

His class - 8 silly girls and 2 boys

Each class came forward to sing their song