Christmas today

Christmas today was special and cozy and comfortable.

There were some girls who were warmer with their new arm warmers and hats.

I was a bit snuggly with my new teddy bear.

The cat on  the other hand couldn't decide if she should attack the remote control helicopter or run for cover.

Turns out the pointsettia plant should have been hidden from Gene's destructive path.

We had a chance to finally try out Skype and talk to and see far-away family all at the same time.

Jacob stayed quiet and happy and constructive all day with his 1200 lego pieces.

Oh, tidings of comfort and joy!

 We had our first real stick-to-the-ground and stay a while snow this week.  We had a total of 3 days off of school.  It was a welcome surprise and gave us a taste of what the Christmas holidays will be like.

 We bundled up and were outside for maybe 20 minutes.  It was a light powdery snow that didn't pack together very well....so, no snowman...but, we did huck it at eachother....well, in the general direction of each other.

We made a gingerbread house and used all our left over halloween candy.

We've done two new Christmas puzzles ...and are now working on our third.

Here's the finished product  (you can't see the teeter totter or slide around back)

 Here we are the Sunday  before Christmas.....in our red and green

Gene and I had a date night out last night...we have plans to make up all the running around we couldn't do last week....and I think we will be ready for Christmas on Saturday.

braces update

This week was the braces check up. Emily chose red and green.

Tara chose pink and purple.  She had more brackets put on  (as new teeth are finally growing in)

and Jacob  went with red and green.  He no longer needs the bands.  He may get them off

in 6 weeks if they don't move.

Gene and I finally went on a date night and saw Harry Potter.  We have almost all of our Christmas decorations up.  Emily has done most of the holiday decorating herself.  Jacob has made up 3 separate lists for Santa.  Since there are no more Harry Potter lego castles available in the WORLD, this might be the year Jacob understands that Santa is more of a feeling than a magician....

Emily  has passed off her multiplication tables...one test for every number.  She took the 50 question test on Friday and only missed 3....oh, so close.  She's almost in the mighty math club.  She's still ahead of the rest of her class.

Gene wouldn't let me take a picture, but he had a 2nd degree burn on his foot from spilling boiling water from the stove.  Layers of skin came off when he took off his sock.  He's taken really good care of it, and got some cream from the drs. that seems to be really helping.  Yesterday was the first day in 2 weeks that he could wear shoes without a bandage.  I felt really bad, I was in his way serving dinner with my back to him while he was trying to stir.  He had just made a fantastic Italian meal, including meatballs.  I had to mention it because, I know I will forget about it someday.  He is amazing how he doesn't complain, ever , even when he's in alot of pain.  Because it was on his foot, I didn't see it often and really forgot it was even there.  I wish I was more like him.

The Nutcracker

The girls and I went to the Nutcracker.  It has become a welcome tradition.  It was a magical time.   It even started to snow a little flurry.   We listened to the music on the way to the Auditorium, we gave the girls each a Nutcracker of their own for this year's rememberance.  I think this is one of my favorite Christmas traditions.  This year we sat in the balcony and it was wonderful.  We could see the whole stage at one time without having to turn our heads. It was a girl's only afternoon.  We agreed that our favorite was the end of the first act.....the snow queen and the ahh, ahh, ahh, ah ah.....chorus and snow.  So beautiful!

                                        In our seats, it was much to dark to see anything else.

The final curtain call....when it was ok to take a picture.

Here are the tickets and a super smile. 

Tara was selected to have her turn to do the news this week. She regained the use of her voice that has been gone since Nov. 24th!!! just in time to present the news on Thursday.  This was her "Mom, I can't believe you are standing here taking my picture and embarrassing me infront of Matthew S.!"
Her keys on her safety belt represent the 100's that she has achieved so far this year....although she has made it clear that Mr. P has not given her all the keys that she has earned as of yet.

The temperature has dropped ....alot.  But, we still have to wait for Tara after school.  When it is warm enough we play outside.  We bundled up this week and ran and ran for 25 min. to keep warm. 

We had our ward Christmas party and Nativity this week too.  Tara was an angel...3rd from the left, top row.  Quite the choir!

Emily was the inkeeper's wife (not shown...hiding in the Inn). and Jacob was a shepherd.

Reminded me a little of Linus.

Tara played "Oh, Come all ye faithful" on her lap harp.

Jacob was the only one who talked to Santa (I guess he's too big now to sit on the lap).

I asked Emily if she wanted to see Santa...she said, "No, I'm just in line to get a candy cane."  I remind her she can't eat a candy cane because of her braces......."ugh.  Mom, there's no fun in Christmas anymore."

We'll work on finding a little true meaning of Christmas before the 25th.

Emily has been working on passing off her multiplication tables to get into the "mighty math club"...she is the only one in her whole class to pass up to the 6's after 6 tests...she's on track and has a mighty math brain....seems to be super easy for her.  Yay, Emily!