SNOW DAY!

Snow days are pretty darn rare here in Charlotte. We get them, maybe, once a year. This truly is a weather element for the kids. I don't miss the snow at all, but the kids constantly remind me of how cruel I am to have moved them from Utah where there's snow all winter long.

I think the rareness of snow makes it all the more special. The kids played in it all day on Saturday and even on Sunday since church was canceled. You know you're in the South when they cancel church because it snowed 4 inches two days before.
Yes, Maycie is in shorts.

After playing the cold for a while the kids warmed up with hot chocolate and roasting (scorching, rather) marshmallows over candle flames.

Check out those black specimens. YUM!

And yes, they were closely supervised around the open flame.

More snow play the next day.

Alex totally reminds me of the kid in "A Christmas Story" with his fat down coat. "I can't get up. I can't get up."

At the Circus!

I love the Circus. I have always loved the Circus. As a child I only got to go a couple of times, but for my 23rd birthday I asked my parents to take me to the Circus. I wouldn't have enjoyed it any more if I were a kid. It truly is the "Greatest Show on Earth".

.....

So, I was thrilled at the opportunity to take my children. I love living my childhood experiences again through my children's eyes.

The splurge. $12 for cotton candy!?! How in the world do they get away with charging that much for spun sugar? - because people will pay that much. It's crazy, but we bought into it - literally. So we bought one bag of cotton candy (it came with 3 colors in it) and each child got one color - plus a hat to share.
Thanks goodness I got 4 of the 5 tickets for free.

I know what you're thinking. With crazy eyes like that, Maycie doesn't need any more sugar. That's just Maycie. She's like that with or without the sugar.

So I asked each of the kids what their favorite thing was at the Circus. Addie's answer was, of course, the horses. Maycie kept right in character and said, the tigers (did I mention she likes us to call her "Danger"?). Alex, half asleep, copied his sister and said tigers. Me? well, besides the acrobatics (which I do love) I adore the elephants. So large and gentle they always appear to have a smile on their face.

It amazes me what trainers can get the largest land mammal on earth to do. Despite their size they looked amazingly graceful.

33 Reasons Why I Love My Hubby

Happy 33rd Birthday Rob.

......

33 Reasons Why I Love my Hubby

......

1. He gives me spontaneous back rubs.

2. He's really good at cleaning our bathroom - and he does it.

3. He likes to cook chicken curry and it's yummy.

4. He loves our children dearly and they love him.

5. He's a great provider for our family

6. He honors his priesthood.

7. He is kind to strangers and friends.

8. He asks a lot of questions to show he's interested in what you have to say.

9. He can fix anything (except car starter engines).

10. He's super smart and remembers things well.

11. He encourages me to be better.

12. He likes to snuggle.

13. He takes care of our finances and is good at it.

14. He thinks I'm beautiful even when I don't.

15. He serves others.

16. He's detail oriented.

17. He's jealous and protective in a good way.

18. He's a man's man.

19. He likes beautiful things.

20. He never yells.

21. He makes me feel safe.

22. Addie

23. Maycie

24. Alex

25. He's fun to watch funny movies with.

26. He enjoys his own jokes.

27. He spoils me on my birthday and Christmas.

28. He remembers things I want and gets them for me sometimes.

29. He's a great manager and knows how to deal with people.

30. He's a genius at his job.

31. He's very articulate and knows how to get a point across- great speaker.

32. He likes weird food combinations.

33. He's the best husband and father I could ever ask for.

.......

Happy Birthday babe. I love you!

Karaoke with the Smiths and Abbotts after a birthday dinner party.

"That's What Friends Are For"

Rob and I singing "Love Shack".

Adam singing "Bad to the Bone".

I'm Blogging Again

I finally caught up on blogging. Whew!! I was way behind. Now that 2009 is over it's time to make a book of my blog. Can anyone recommend one to go with?

Other Christmas Festivities

Decorating the tree.

At the Nutcracker.

For a couple years now I've wanted to take the girls to the Nutcracker ballet. This year I finally did, however I should have waited a couple more years. They stayed attentive for the first 30 minutes then they were constantly asking me when it would be over. We had to crawl over several people for a potty emergency and Maycie had a terrible case of the wiggles. Thanks goodness it a low end production or I'm sure we would have been asked to leave. We'll try it again in a few years.

Every year we take a trip to the mall to take a picture with Santa in the kid's Christmas outfits. This year I finally followed a pattern when sewing the girl's dresses. I think that will be the last time I follow a pattern. It's much easier making it up as I go along.

Addie's Kindergarten Winter Program.

Mrs. Touchton, Barnette Elementary's Principal

We got to the school very early so we could get good seats, so Addie decided to practice her speaking part. She was one a few Kindergartner's to be chosen for a speaking part.

Practice makes perfect and perfect it was.

Girlfriends...

...also practicing or playing.

For weeks before the program Addie would come home from school singing songs from different religions, cultures and languages. When I went to school it was called a Christmas program. Now, to be politically correct, it's called a winter program. It was fun to hear so many different songs and Addie knew them all perfectly.

The 2nd annual Ugly Christmas Sweater Party

After last year's ugly Christmas sweater party I was on the lookout at every thrift store for ugly Christmas sweaters. I collected a few. In fact most the sweaters on the back row belong to me. I just knew people would be looking for loaners. I, of course, kept the ugliest one for myself- a black sweater with neon colors and vinyl Santas on it and I won the contest. GO UGLY!

Randy and Sandy Abbott

The white elephant gift exchange is always a hoot. Ultra conservative Nathan Wheatley got the WWF calendar. Nearly naked hunky men. Mindy Wheatly probably didn't even let it in the house.

Rob, Adam and Randy are clearly redefining the male model business.

You know you live in the south when a thin layer of slush is mistaken for snow. The kids were pretty excited that it even resembled the white stuff.

Decorating gingerbread houses with Addie's best friend, Molly. Very little candy actually made it on the houses.

Addie's First Piano Recital

After only 3 months of taking lessons Addie had her first piano recital. She played and sang "Go Tell it on the Mountain". She was the youngest student and she did fabulous.
She is very good about practicing and seems to enjoy it. We're so proud!

"Wir Por"

So after Addie donated all her money to the Haiti recovery fund she was very anxious to build up her savings account again. She was constantly asking me what jobs she could do to earn money. I mentioned a bake sale, thinking of when it warmed up a bit, but she couldn't wait. She took some cookies I had made and set up her own little stand in the front yard with a sign that said "cookies $1" (she ignored my suggestion of 50 cents a cookie). Under that sign was another sign in big letters that said "Wir Por" (translation: we're poor).

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was always difficult for me as a child and still is even as an adult. It seems like the work is done and you're just waiting around for the festivities that night. Any ideas on great Christmas Eve day traditions?

Acting out the nativity while dad reads from Luke.

Yay! My favorite Christmas Eve tradition as a child was opening up new jammies.

I sewed the girls matching nightgowns and the boys (dad and Alex) matching Lightening McQueen jammies.

A surprise visit from Santa (thanks to Rob Ross from church).

During our nativity reading the kids started acting up a bit. Dad and I warned the kids that sometimes Santa makes surprise visits to homes on Christmas eve to make sure kids are being good. It was obvious the kids didn't buy it. Not 2 minutes later Santa walked through the door with a "ho, ho, ho" and a jingle of bells. I wish I could have caught Maycie's incredulous look. It was classic. Thanks "Santa" for perfect timing.