Nutcracker - MaKayla's 1st

Performance #1

Friday, December 3, 2010 - MaKayla had her first Nutcracker performance. I didn't take my new camera and couldn't get any photos of the actually performance with my camera phone. This did turn out of Daddy giving her roses afterwards.

Saturday, December 4, 2010 - We arrived at the high school at 11:15. MaKayla had three performances today: 12pm, 3pm & 7pm. Two parts and three shows is a lot for anyone but especially for a four year old. I can't believe how well she did. I was very impressed how she remember all her dance routines and her place on the floor. She is getting so big and we are so proud of her!
MaKayla is warming up for her second performance in the Nutcracker.
Performance #2
She is the one on the left that is really shaking her tail!

MaKayla is the green and white peppermint stick (candy) that just came out from under Mother Ginger.

Far left

MaKayla is the green peppermint stick on the left.

All the performers came out at the end of the show.

Going back stage for her third performance.

Performance #3

MaKayla is the pink mouse on left closest to the grey mouse.

MaKayla is second from the left

MaKayla is the one where you can see her face.

She kept looking right at us and waving.

Getting up from doing her kicks.

End of performance #3

There was a longer break between show 3 and 4 so the performers were allowed to come out with their costumes on for pictures. We gave MaKayla a bear that she had her eye on at the souvenir table.

My little candy!

The three of us!

MaKayla is outside the school with the soldier. We were returning from a quick dinner at McDonald's before her last performance.

MaKayla is admiring all the trophies. Each performer gets a trophy at the end of the last show.

Hmm, which one if mine?

MaKayla's trophy

MaKayla is dancing for her bear.

Daddy promised MaKayla he would hold her bear while she danced. He kept his promise!

Performance #4

Her last "pinky mouse" performance.

Shaking her mouse tail one last time.

I think she will be happy that this is her last "candy" performance. This was her least favorite but she did a wonderful job as a green and white peppermint stick!

She really gave it her all!

She looked right at us and waved good-bye before she headed back under Mother Ginger's skirt. We had the same seats (front row to the left) for all the shows but one so see knew exactly where we were.

The last of the candies!

The final good-bye!

After the last show, Daddy scooped her up and gave her the trophy that she had been waiting for.

We were finally allowed back stage. MaKayla loved it when Daddy put her in the white swan.

MaKayla is so proud of her trophy!

We gave MaKayla a princess crown necklace.

At home there was a little gift and note from the Sugar Plum Fairy. She got a little jewelry box with a ballerina necklace. She was so excited!

Oh Christmas Tree!

November 26, 2010 - Our tradition is to cut down our tree on the day after Thanksgiving. Yes, I went Black Friday shopping and scored some awesome deals. After that I changed gears and we left to go get our tree. It was a super bitter cold day. We decided before we left the comforts of the warm truck that we were going to pick a tree really fast. We had to do that one other year and walk up to a tree and cut it right down. This year was a replica to that year. Daddy showed us a tree and we all agreed to hurry up and cut it down. This time I can't be blamed if it is too big!

Mommy and Noah next to our tree. MaKayla decided she didn't want to be in the picture.

MaKayla making a sour face

Noah is getting a tree cutting lesson from Daddy

MaKayla & Noah are helping Daddy cut down our tree.

Starting out young learning the traits of being a man.

MaKayla is helping to make sure the truck of the tree is cut evenly.

A cold walk back up the hill.

November 28, 2010 - Noah puts an ornament on the tree. This is another first for him. Last year he was too young to decorate. This year he was able to join in the fun.

MaKayla took her job very seriously! She is hard at work.

Daddy had to get the ladder out to reach the top. Our tree measured 11 feet! That is our biggest one yet!!

Noah is taking a break from decorating and is supervising instead.

Daddy and MaKayla needing a little assistance from the ladder in order to place the last of the ornaments.

Someone looks like he is up to no good!

MaKayla picked out her ornament this year. A little ballerina!

Our Christmas Tree!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We have so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. Good healthy, family, friends, jobs, etc. What do you have to be thankful for? God has been so good to us and always provides.

Can you believe that I forgot my camera at home this year? That doesn't happen very often! We went to my sister Jen's house for Thanksgiving and had a wonderful dinner. Sorry I don't have any pictures to show you. All the kids were well behaved and played well together.

On our way to my sister's house, my Grandpa and Elaine meet us at Wal-Mart near b to stop and see us and the kids. Santa left a package at their house for them to deliver to the kids. "The Elf of the Shelf"
Great Grandma Elaine is showing the kids "The Elf of the Shelf". She instructed them that they can not touch the elf or he will loss his magic. Every night the elf flies back to the North pole to tell Santa if MaKayla and Noah have been naughty or nice. Then he flies back by morning to a new spot in the house for the kids to find him. The first task is to give him a name. MaKayla named him Tiny. Having Tiny watching out to see if they are being naughty or nice I think will work out nicely!

MaKayla's 4 Year Pictures

November 15, 2010 - I finally had MaKayla's four year old photo taken. I had to recover from the August photos so we waited a couple of months. I was referred to a lady nearby that does photo sessions for $50 out of her home and you get a CD with a copyright to all the images. I usually spend more than that at JC Penny's so I thought I would give it a try. I am glad I did, Brenda did a great job! Brenda even let me order professional prints from her lab at her prices. She is considering raising her price and I don't blame her. She spent several hours with us for only $50. We ended up getting over 100 photos on the CD. Here are some of my favorites.

Teeth Brushing Fun!

November 12, 2010 - I was playing a game with Noah while we were brushing his teeth. We took turns blowing in each other's face. Noah was laughing so hard. Andy ran to get the camera to take a couple of photos. I am glad he did. It is a memory that will stay with me always!

My silly little man!

Nutcracker Costumes

November 6, 2010 - MaKayla was eligable to try out for the Nutcracker this year. To be eligable the student has to have been enrolled for the entire calendar year and can only miss a certain number of classes. Every student who tries out gets a part. For the little ones it mostly goes by height and who can fit into which costumes. She has been practicing every Saturday since September but today is the first day the students get to see and wear thier costumes. It was picture day! The parents are not allowed to go back in the dressing room or in the photo studio. I grabbed her for a few photos as they were taking the students back to take them out of their costumes.

MaKayla has two parts in the Nutcraker. She is a "candy". She wasn't too happy with her green and white peppermint stick costume. She wanted to be a gum drop or a hershey kiss.

MaKayla has a second part as a "pinky baby mouse". She loves this costume!

I tried to take a picture through the window. It is not the best but it gives you an idea. She is in the front row in the middle.

My little "pinky mouse"

How cute! I will post the professional photos when they come in. I don't expect them to be here before Christmas though.

ER Visit - Croup

MaKayla woke up around 9:30pm with a cough that went to her struggling to breathe. It was so scary watching her panic to try to breathe. I took her to the ER. Daddy had to stay home with Noah. The nurses and doctor were wonderful. She was taken care of immediately without hesitation. She was given a nebulizer treatment that helped quickly. She was also given an oral steroid. She watched for a few hours and was doing great after her treatments. The doctor felt comfortable sending her home.

She didn't care for the steam blowing in her face so she just kept her eyes closed while I held her hand and talked to her. She was so brave and we are so proud of her!

My sick baby girl!

Feeling much better now! She wanted "this thing" off her finger!

She is wanting to go home now. She also kept asking to take off the itchy hospital gown.

The nurse gave her a purple and pink octopus as stickers for being such a good patient!