Holiday Happenings

Our dance studio had a Nutcracker Tea this year to help raise money for the performances.  It was at our studio and the girls had a great time seeing dance friends and having tea with aunts and grandmothers from both sides of the family.  It was a fun way to kick off the holiday season.

Aunt Mary helped them make bun covers at one of the craft tables.

We couldn't pass up a pic with Clara and the Nutcracker in the Sweets room.

Each room was decorated differently and had a craft.  The girls really enjoyed the decorations and the sweet treats.

They wrote letters to soldiers in the Texas room.

That evening, we enjoyed Southlake Holiday in the Square.

Yummy Cookies were at one booth.

Snow Hill Fun

Over the Thanksgiving break, we went to Bass Pro and saw Santa.

Caroline celebrated her 1/2 birthday in December.  She wanted a snowman theme for her school celebration.

We got snowman donuts and she picked a Frosty book for me to read to the class.

We've had unseasonably warm weather this year.  The girls have been able to play outside a lot and enjoyed raking leaves this month.

I kept Caroline's friend one day while her mom had a meeting and we took Abby lunch.

They all enjoyed one last shopping spree in the Spirit Shop.

Caroline and her friend couldn't resist jumping in the leaves when we got home.

The girls take a tumbling class every Saturday morning at our dance studio.  We started this when the Nutcracker was over.  The teacher is super sweet and had a lock in one Friday night. The younger girls stayed until 9.  Brent and I enjoyed dinner out and arrived just in time to see the pillow fight.

Making Merry Munch and Peppermint Popcorn for classmates and neighbors is always a fun activity in December.

The girls especially like watching Brent crush the candy canes and . . .

 . . . delivering the goodies in their jeep.

 

Caroline's School Party

Abby's school party pics are a mystery waiting to be solved.  I took a ton as it was a Polar Express theme and she got to ride in a train around the school grounds.  I am guessing my SD card was not in the camera.  Stay tuned for pics I will get from friends!

Our church had an awesome train display this year.  A Sunday School class donated it and operated the trains every day.  The girls enjoyed examining every little nook and cranny one morning after my jazzercise class.

 Our elf was a stinker this year!  Can you spot him? 

He really found a lot to do in the kitchen.  After getting into the M&M's, drawing minions on the bananas and making a snow angel in the flour . . .

  . . .he needed a bath.

 We all enjoyed the Christmas musical at church one Sunday.  The camels came right by us, which was exciting for Abby and Caroline.

We helped Pops celebrate his birthday one evening.

 Caroline loves cherries on her banana split!

 Abby's principal retired and we went to her reception one December afternoon.

The last week of dance classes, parents were invited in to watch little Christmas routines and the girls shared treats.  I snapped these in Abby's jazz class.

 Before Abby got out of school one day, Caroline ran into Justice with me and made a Christmas wish on their Wish Tree.

 She wished her friend, Amelia, would come visit.  They just moved to DC.

 The Friday night school got out, we had the girls who were angels and polichinelles in the Nutcracker over for a pajama Christmas party.

 Abby and Caroline were so excited, they went from door to window watching for their guests.

 The girls had fun eating dinner, decorating cookies and watching the video of their performance.

 It was the perfect way to kick off our break!  I didn't take pics, but the following Monday evening, we hosted a Christmas open house for about 50 while Pops took the girls on a date. We really enjoyed celebrating the season with friends and neighbors!