Cookies Galore, and More!

This week has been incredibly busy, with the school play Thursday night, and the Charlie Brown church play tonight, with rehearsals, gymnastics and preparing for the holiday inbetween! Thank goodness today ended up being a snow day, as it gave us a little more time to get a few other things done.

Josh and Rebecca prepared cookies yesterday, and today, after the snow turned to rain and the girls got bored, they decorated them.  I was impressed with some of the decorating that was done.  I think Josh has watched Cupcake Wars one too many times!

This one's arm broke off before decorating it, but in our house, she's perfect! Jaelyn asked if this was her. Love her humor!

Josh's lederhosen boy!

Simple and dainty, like Rebecca!

Yep, a polar bear that rolled in something red!

Another one of Josh's creations.

Who doesn't make dolphin sugar cookies at Christmas? Apparently Kaia does!

Jaelyn's creation.

The cookie supply was quickly depleted after tonight's play.  Fortunately with our busy Fall schedule of school and two sports, neither girl wanted to try out for speaking parts for either play.  Both were content to be in the choir. However, Kaia did find one part in the school play that suited her well...

Kaia's Christmas Recital

Here is video from Kaia's recital last weekend. The young boy at the ending did not cooperate, so it messed up the ending they had planned. Oh well, it is fun to see how far Kaia has come in a year.  Now that soccer is over, it's gymnastics competitions come January...

Beauty and the Beast...

So this past week was Santa Paws picture time for Cocoa and the girls. Looking back at last year's photo, they have all grown so much! What a beautiful group of girls!

Now here's the reason why you don't see Romeo in the photo...

Poor boy has an ear infection, and one of his eyelids needs to heal before he can begin cortisone for a lesion on his eye. So for the second year in a row, it's a girls only photo!

Seriously, Soccer?

Like the majority of the United States right now, we are having unusually cold temperatures. So guess how Jaelyn and I spent last Saturday, the coldest day of all we have had so far?  Yep. Her final soccer game. Seriously!

Actually, there was no wind and the sun was shining, so as long as we stayed out of the shade, and I had several layers of clothes on, and a hat, and wool socks, and gloves, with hand warmers, drinking my Starbucks gingerbread latte, then I wasn't too cold! The photos weren't great, as Jaelyn really didn't get many opportunities with the ball (we mostly played defense),  but I did get one of her right after her team scored their only goal, briefly taking the lead.

Jaelyn focused on the next play while her team jumps for joy!

Snacks after the game are still the best!

So for now, soccer is over. That is, until February!

What's Wrong with this Picture???

Notice anything wrong with this picture? Who knew unloading the dishwasher could be so dangerous? Guess I have a valid excuse not to do it anymore (actually it already is the kids' chore, just not this time). 

So when I took it into the jewelers they disdainfully asked me "You mean you have never had the prongs replaced in 25 years?" Gulp! No one mentioned that to me when I got engaged at 21!  The lady then proceeded to tell me they should be replaced every 10-12 years.  Let's just say between replacing the tips, prongs, and repairing the worn down edge holding in four of the channel set diamonds (that they told me I would lose if I didn't get fixed soon), I will have no wrapped gifts under the tree! In the meantime, I am sporting Grandma's wedding ring on my left hand, as I feel naked without something there! Should be getting it back in a week and a half, then hopefully I get to wear it another 25 years (with a couple check ups in between)!

Old is New Again...

Two years ago I posted about a new tradition to start off our Christmas Season. Well I am happy to say that our old tradition is back again, so does that mean it is a new tradition, or an old one? 

Last month we were excited to learn the tree farm where we cut down our tree for many years, was being re-opened by the new owners.

The girls made a bee-line for the horse. Randolph the reindeer was replaced by "Princess," the rescued pony.

Always my out-of-the-box kid, we did not go with Kellen's first choice!

That's more like it!

Brrrr....

We were happy to see that they hired the same Santa from all our past photos.

Such a colorful photo!

Unfortunately Joshua had to head back to school Friday morning, as his ride had to work Saturday. He was very much missed in the family activities. Every year my kids receive a new ornament from Grandparents and us, so that when they leave the nest some day, they will have quite a start with their own decorations. So when Josh comes home in a couple weeks, he will have two to add to the tree. Here is the finished project...

Just for kids corner.

Now if the wind can stop blowing long enough to get the outside lights up!