Storms and Smiles

Last weekend we had a really bad storm and church was cancelled.  So we spent the day doing fun stuff with the kids.  We painted ornaments, baked cookies and listened to some Christmas music.  We were having so much fun we decided to let the kids open a few presents and get Christmas started right.

 Rugs was all smiles when we brought out the presents.  Nice muscles dude!

 Em thought Christmas presents early was the best idea ever.

 Here is there reaction to their big gifts.  Priceless.

 Beans loves to sneak the Taylor DS's whenever she can.

I caught this cutie little girl today at our house.  She has the brightest smile and she lights up the room.  Isn't she just the cutest?

The final program was yesterday and all the shows went really well.  Here are the big stars.

 Em's class was adorable.  They had cute props and fun songs.  He was smiley and fun to watch.

 Rugby lost his last front tooth and whistled his way through the program.  He was really hammin' it up-- it was awesome.

 Breckyn remained serious and concentrated through the whole show.  She thought it was very important to get everything just right.

 Zoey was thrilled to see us at the show.  She wouldn't stop waving and smiling.  It was pretty cute.

 Caleb was the resident cool guy at the program.  He was calm and collected and played along with all of the silly songs he was forced to sing.

Z was in the happy hands club again this year.  She lead a song in sign language and did a wonderful job.  She also had a beautiful solo which we botched taping.  Our camera was being tempermental but just so you know-- it was great.

Here are a few songs that the kids wanted to share with you.

Em was so cute with this cookie song.  He's been singing it for weeks.

Rugs has some sweet moves in this song.  I love the shoulder shimmies... priceless.

Breckyn is very serious about her part as you can see in this song. 

This was the song that the kids couldn't get enough of.  I've been hearing this around the house for months.  Z tried to show me the moves one afternoon with a real cup of hot cocoa and realized why they didn't do the dance with cocoa actually in the mugs.  It was a mess but hey, lesson learned-- right?

Today is day two of the big program and here they are...

 Em was not happy to be getting his picture taken.

 Rugby was very happy to be getting his picture taken.

 This guy changed his outfit three times to make sure it was just right.  He wanted to be wearing a "tux."  This was the closest I could come up with.

 Emerson perked up a bit when Tim offered to bribe him with chocolate for one good picture. 

B is starting to look so old.  (sniff sniff)

Z was all about the sequence for her outfit.  Wait until you see her tomorrow!  She is going to sparkle like the star she is!

It's program time again.

 Every year the kids' school puts on a huge Christmas program.  The kids get really jazzed.  They have to get dressed up for three days this week.  Today was taping day and then Thursday and Friday are for the parents.  That means I have to come up with outfits and hair-dos for three days.  (that everyone is happy with)

 The boys were very set on wearing their suits.  Done.

 The girls-- well, that's another story.  We went rounds about hair and clothes and finally settled on this.

 B wanted to make sure she had curls around her face.

 Z wanted a fancy up-do...

So I had a little fun with it.  It turned out really cute.  She was so proud.  There will be more pictures to come for the next few performances.  Happy Program!

Welcome to winter 2010!

 This morning we woke up to a marshmallow world outside.  The kids were giddy.  So we headed out first thing today.  Rugs is throwing snow balls for Flash.  Flash is in heaven.

 The kids got a trainer snowboard this winter and they are all over it.  Breckyn has been practicing all day.

The snow doesn't agree with Scout quite as well as it agrees with Flash.  Flash was a little damp and Scouty had to come inside to thaw the chunks out of his fur.  I guess it's time to break out his coat.

Holes Turkeys and other things.

We have another hole! 

 Rugby's tooth has been loose for several days.  It's been hanging by a tiny thread and he didn't want anyone to help him get it out.  I kept telling him he was going to accidentally swallow it like his sister did but he didn't care.  This morning he woke up and it was missing.  So we searched his bed and there it was hidden in the sheets.  It literally fell out in his sleep-- that's how loose it was!

 He was so proud.  This is him on the phone telling his best friend Max all about it.

 Our little Emmy all ready for school and hamming it up as usual.

 At Thanksgiving the kids all decided to dress up as Thanksgiving characters.  We had a few Indians and this was our turkey.  He had a head dress too but it got a little beat up because his brother kept telling everyone it was time to kill the turkey for dinner.  They were yelling and running through the house chasing Em like crazy.  Perhaps a bad choice of costume.

His number one fan was never far behind supporting him all the way.