Christmas ballet performance!

Isn't my little ballerina adorable?  The girls had a couple of ballet performances before Christmas at some retirement  homes in the area.  It was quite a different atmosphere than her recital so I wasn't sure how she would do but she was a rockstar!  I'm so impressed with this girl and her lack of fear.

After their performance the kids all walked around and talked to the residents and she was so precious, giving them all hugs even though I could tell she was more than a bit nervous over the whole ordeal.  They all loved seeing and touching the baby and talking to Annie about what she wanted Santa to bring her (a Doc mobile!).  Snapped a few pics of the kids on the porch before we left.  They loved all the rows of rockers out there.

The boys insisted on taking one of those "old timey photos where people didn't smile."

She makes my heart oh so happy this girl!

2014 Ornaments

We thought we were going to have a tough time picking out ornaments for the boys this year but to my surprise Hobby Lobby had just what we needed!  What taekwondo loving boy wouldn't be ecstatic over a hippo with a black belt?  None that I know!

And of course Rosie girl got ballet slippers!  Sadly we didn't get a pic of Owen's ornament.  He got this adorable blue pacifier but it was missing the day we passed them out.

Gingerbread day!

 Gingerbread day is so long awaited in our family!  At least as far as the kids go.  It is one of the few cookies that they all agree on.  And they are perfectly dense and filling for a snack or occasional breakfast treat.  Maybe the best part is that Josh and I are not in the least tempted by them! 

They were so cute all crowded around the tiny counter taking turns dropping it all into the mixer.  And then of course were thrilled with their own time to roll it out themselves. 

And for the first time ever asked me to ice them!  You can see Noah's are very minimalist and Wyatt gave his a baby bib and baby booties.  Later on he got a sharpie and wrote "Owen" with an arrow pointing to it on the parchment paper.  :)  Wyatt was really into the icing part this year.

And of course there had to be a headless gingerbread man fight.  :)  And lots and lots of eating!  Let's hope this batch lasts us till Christmas!