Heading to Disney on Saturday, but first ballerinas

Aren’t they the cutest things you’ve ever seen?!  Thanks Jozie for the wonderful pictures!

Christmas Recap

The last few weeks have been busy — Jane Anne’s dance performance and the rehearsals to get ready for it, the last few days of school for the girls, with parties and fun, a quick trip to Louisville to celebrate with family, and of course, getting ready to have Christmas at our home.  They have been good times though, as we have tried to focus on the true meaning of the season.  As parents, we so want Christmas to be about giving and simplicity rather than more and more gifts.

We lit our advent wreath every Sunday and read of Christ’s coming.  One night, Jane Anne told us the story of Christ’s birth (with Nutcrackers as inn keepers that had no room, Barbies as the three wise women, and Mary, Joseph and Jesus as a hippo, crocodile, and seal), and on Christmas Eve, Molly told the nativity story with puppets she had made in Bible class.  It was so wonderful to hear “Don’t be afraid, I have good news” out of our sweet girls’ mouths.

Christmas Eve we awoke to snow on the ground and a total of about 6-7 inches by the time the day was done.  The girls played in the snow, we lit a fire, and tracked Santa on NORAD.  Lots of fun.  We have been so blessed this holiday season.

Jane Anne's square dance at school

At her class Christmas party with her bud, Keylee

Mrs. Yeaman's First Grade Class

Little Penguin in "Once Upon a Christmas Eve"

Sad Penguin

with her adoring fans

Little Reindeer -- performance at grandparents' house in Louisville

At the Galt House Hotel in Louisville

With their cousins, Kate and Rachel

With Daddy before the carriage ride

With Mommy on the Carriage

Cookie decorating

Yum!

Can you say overachiever?

Thursday night, Jane Anne and I got in from ballet rehearsal around 10:00 pm . Knowing it would be a busy weekend, I suggested that she sleep in and I take her to school a little late.  Here’s what she replied, “I’d really like to be on time.  At 8:00 we start phonics and we’re learning some really important stuff that we didn’t learn last year, like silent e.  I think I need to be there for that.”  Needless to say, we were on time.

You say mixing bowl, I say fire truck hat

Laura: “I like your hat, Molly.”

Molly: “It’s a fire truck hat.”

Laura: “Oh, like the ones that fire fighters wear when they go into a fire?”

Molly: “No! Like the ones they wear when they drive the fire truck.”

I married a monster

Well, not really; just someone who thinks monsters are cool.  And, Bill doesn’t appear much on this blog, so he should get his moment..

He’s teaching (for the second time) a class on monsters this semester and ACU’s media relations picked up the story and is running it on the ACU homepage.

Here’s a link to the full story.

I am so proud of Bill for what a great teacher, husband, and daddy he is.

Family Library Night

Self portrait

While I was off pioneer womaning, Bill took the girls to Family night at JA’s school.  They read lots of books, had a guest reader, and played around.

Taking Accelerated Reader tests

Playing around

Letters to Santa

One of the daily activities in our Advent calendar is writing letters to Santa, so Saturday night we sat down and wrote them.

Jane Anne helping Molly with her spelling

Jane Anne’s letter read:

Dear Santa,

I want for Christmas a bitty baby, felicity, my own nutcracker, toothbrush, toothpaste, and a toy girl.  ❤ Jane Anne

Jane Anne's letter

Molly dictated her letter to me:

I love you, Santa.  Give me toys all day long, Santa.  Thank you for giving me toys all day.  Santa, when you give me toys I play with them.  Hearts are your love to Santa, too

Molly's letter

I met The Pioneer Woman.

I got a grad student to cover my class.  I convinced a friend who was crazy enough to come with me.  I drove 3 hours east in the rain (actually, said friend drove). I shopped in a city that has real stores (American Girl, Crate and Barrel, Pottery Barn).  I ate in a city that has real restaurants (La Madeline, Cantina Laredo).  I got in line behind 500 people, right behind 2 sisters I went to ACU with (random).  I waited until midnight.  I had my book signed and my picture made.  I got a t-shirt.  I rode home in the snow.  I laughed and laughed at the random things you come up with to say when you’re trying to keep the driver awake (Laura San Giacomo?).  I arrived home at 4:00.  I gave a presentation to the admissions staff at ACU and taught a graduate class.  I’m still tired.  I had SO much fun.  Thanks, Camille, for yet another crazy adventure.

Let it snow!

I'm about to get creamed

It snowed over night, not a lot, not enough to cancel school, but to enough to have a little fun before school started — and to motivate them to get dressed QUICKLY!!  It was gone soon after, but was fun while it lasted!

Tiny Dancers

Monday was observation day at the girls’ dance studio.  They were so good, and I love watching them do something they love so much.  Molly is too funny because much of the time she is in her own world.  Sorry for the number of pics, there were too many cute ones not to share!

tumbling

In addition to ballet, Jane Anne is taking jazz this year.  I hadn’t had a chance to watch her dance jazz yet, so it was great fun!  Watch her leap and jump and dance around you can tell she is having so much fun!