Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from our home to yours.  I hope it was a wonderful day for everyone! 

December Happenings from My Phone

The pictures taken on my phone always tell a story about the happenings of our family.  The month of December was no different.  We were busy!  

Now that both girls are in Girl Scouts, they both attended a Christmas arts and crafts day with the Service Unit.  

I have Lauren my phone and asked her to snap a few pictures of Addison.  

I also got a few pictures like this! 

We went to The Nutcracker (one of the many Christmas traditions we have!) 

Then we had dinner at The Cheesecake Factory. 

On the way home, we stopped at the magic tree.  Isn't it beautiful?

The girls got their letters from Santa and were very excited! 

Both girls got fresh new haircuts for Christmas.  

They both love their new haircuts, and we do too! 

Addison and I ended up missing the Harding Family Christmas celebration since she was sick.  She woke up in the middle of the night and threw up on our floor, right next to our bed.  Ugh.  She continued to throw up every few hours overnight, so her and I stayed home.  The only thing she ate on Saturday for most of the day was Popsicles! 

But, by the end of the day, she was feeling so much better.  

I decided it was a good time to paint the girls bathrooms.  Of course, Addison had to help also since she was feeling better. 

Mark sent me some pictures from Omaha after Lauren opened some presents.  Addison and I did face time for a while, but then she was sad because she missed her cousins and wanted to be there opening presents.  

Sunday was a long day waiting and waiting for Daddy and Lauren to come home. Addison was so ready to see her sister. 

Zoe went to the groomer and when I picked her up, she decided she would sit in Lauren's spot.  Lauren didn't mind at all! 

Then was the best thing about December so far.  I filled up my tank for less than $16!  Yippee! 

Today we will enjoy all our Christmas Eve traditions.  Cookies for Santa, cake for Jesus, Church, dinner at Mama's and then off to bed for Santa!  

Gingerbread House and Something Fun

One of the many Christmas traditions that we have is making a gingerbread house.  Each year the girls are able to do more and more on their own.

We split the house up nicely and each kid was able to do one side of the roof, one did the front, one did the back and they each had a side to decorate also.  

They begged and begged me to let them eat some icing like this...and they loved it! 

The finished product.  

Here is Addison as Santa and Lauren as Rudolf.  One morning when the girls woke up early they searched for Zac, our elf.  Zac was on a string connected to the fireplace and headed into the Christmas tree.  The girls wanted to try and get Zac to talk to them.  They very much believe that Zac goes to the North Pole each night to report their behavior to Santa.  

So with some paper, marker, and tape the girls quickly dressed them selves up.  Addison turned a shirt inside out, and Lauren was dressed in all black as a reindeer. 

Their creativity and imagination is pretty amazing! 

Then Santa rode on Rudolf over to Zac.  They started talking to Zac and it was hilarious.  Although, Zac did not talk back to them.  Mark came downstairs and had no idea what they were up to.  He watched them talk to Zac for a while, trying to figure out what was going on!  It was great! 

Soccer Too???

Lauren mentioned this fall that she wanted to play soccer.  She has not played for years since she was on an Itty Bitty league with parks and rec...and she didn't exactly love it back then.  But, her friend Cassidy's dad is the coach, and he had an opening this Winter on the indoor league, so we signed Lauren up.  The games are on Saturday's, and there are no practices, so it works fine in our schedule.  

She mentioned Saturday morning that she was nervous. I told her not to worry.  Coach Brian would tell her what to do.  Remember, she has not had any practices...Here he is talking to her before the went into the game.  (sorry, the quality of the pictures are not great.  Bad lighting and trying to snap pictures through the net don't make for great pictures, but you get the idea!) 

He put her in on defense, which Mark thought was a good idea.  

She did really great considering it was her first game, with no practice!  Her team had fun and so did Lauren!  

She mentioned that she wants to play on a Spring and a Fall team as well.  We will see if this love of soccer continues through the Winter months.  Perhaps we will move onto another sport this Fall...time will tell!  But as for now, Mark and I are excited that she is playing and looking forward to her progress this Winter.  Way to go Lauren. 

Our Little Dancers

Mark and I survived another week of watch week at dance last week.  I don't know why, but it is exhausting to sit in those dance studios, crammed in there with other parents and grandparents, watching the girls dance.  Don't get me wrong...we love it!  The girls have made some amazing progress this year.  They are fun to watch!  

Here is Addison in Jazz class.  Always willing to smile and pose for the camera.  

Then it was time for tap class!  

And a little dance drama.  Little Addison can really turn it on and perform when she is asked to.  

Then it was time to watch Lauren in Ballet.  And I have to brag a little bit on Lauren.  She has made tremendous progress the first half of this dance "season" that she is moving up to the next level of Ballet.  Yep.  Half way through the year.  Most kids spend an entire year on each level.  I am so happy for her.  If you remember, she did not like Ballet back in September when dance started.  But, I made her stick with it through September and she has grown to love it.  

She usually very focused in Ballet and does a great job.  

For anyone who does not think dance is a "sport" look at the muscles in Lauren's leg as she did a leap!  Amazing. Dance takes so much strength, flexibility, and coordination.  

Then it was time for Ballet in Addison's class.  

The little dancers are so cute to watch.  They still have a lot to learn...

Balance is a little harder for the kids at this age.  But, Addison had it down! 

See what I mean about flexibility.  This pictures makes me hurt just looking at it...and she still has some work to do to get completely flat.  

I did not capture the leap mid air, but Lauren has them down! 

Her class also performed a Christmas dance for us.  It was fun to watch.  

Both girls are committed to Recital in June and they will both be in several performance.  I think there will be 7 dances total between the two of them!  That will make for a fun/exhausting dance weekend.  But, if you recall, last summer we moved 3 days prior to recital and we survived that...so we can do anything!