Snow Day!

December 11, 2011 - We had a snow day today! You know there is a lot of snow if Andy stays home from work. Ike and Daddy take a little snooze on the couch.
Puppy love!
"Noodles, Old Man Moe" aka Ike

Noah slept with Daddy while I slept with MaKayla. This is rare because Noah doesn't normally like to sleep anywhere but his bed.

Ike enjoying is favorite winter treat, snow!

Noah and MaKayla both received personal video messages from Santa. Noah is carefully listening to every word that Santa says. The kids knew for sure that Santa had received their Christmas list because he even showed them pictures of some of the toys they asked for. How cool is that!

MaKayla loved her personal video message. I think she listened to it 10 times.

Andy is tackling the snow. I think they said we ended up with a total of 11" but there was a lot of drifting.

Christmas Letters to Santa!

December 5, 2010 - Our finished tree

Noah loved the train under the tree. Unfortunately it goes so fast it derails itself. I also decorated the ledges with pine, lights and other Christmas decorations.
MaKayla's Christmas Ornament 2010
Each year we pick out an ornament for the kids that represents something about them during that year. This year MaKayla helped pick out her ornament. A dancer in a beautiful costume.
Noah's Christmas Ornament 2010
Of course it had to be a train.
I love to decorate our fireplace. There is nothing better than a nice fire on a cold winter's day.

This year I decided to add even more lights to the house with decorating the stairs and loft. At night we turn off all the other lights and it is beautiful with the glow from the fire and Christmas lights. I LOVE CHRISTMAS!

The outside pictures didn't turn out very well. This gives you an idea. We decorate the entire outside as well. This is one section of the house that is all lite up.

December 10, 2010 - MaKayla and Noah made Christmas lists for Tiny the elf to take back to Santa. They went through every Christmas catalog and cut out pictures of there favorite things.

On the top of MaKayla's list was a Doll House, Sing-a-ma-jig, Rapunzel doll, a stuffed puppy, and more.

The items that made the top of Noah's list were a Buzz Lightyear, Train Track, Pillow Pet, Zhu Zhu Pet, Mater truck with Dread Locks, Garbage Truck that talks.

Before bed, the kids put their lists in there "letters to Santa" tubes and put them on the tree. We have a visiting elf named "Tiny" who flies back to the North Pole to tell Santa if the kids have been naughty or nice. MaKayla and Noah asked Tiny to please take their letters back to Santa. The next morning the letters were gone and a piece of candy was waiting for them in their tube on the tree. They were so excited. Each morning the kids have fun finding Tiny's new hiding place for the day. They know that they can't touch him or he will loss his magic.

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!