That's a Wrap!

This year is coming to a close.  What a great year it was!  We had several snow falls the week before Christmas.  The girls took advantage of the little snow hill in the neighborhood several times.

 

The snow showers just kept coming.  It was beautiful!

 

We had a ton of great food and great company.  Kevin's brother and sister and their families made it down for Christmas this. year.  We had the traditional Lutefisk dinner on Christmas Eve followed by the, always fun, Christmas Eve bingo game! 

 

 Christmas day we opted for yummy homemade pizza!

 

Terrell made this super cute edible Christmas tree.  I took a few bites out of the lower branches before remembering to snap a picture.

The girls had a fun time stealing bingo gifts and opening presents.  Sidney had set out a stocking for her doll Chloe this year.  She was really hoping that Santa would bring Chloe a few toys.  Santa did not disappoint!

My mom got Sidney this really awesome journal from American Girl.  She has been very focused filling it out.  I love the message!

I just love this picture of Kendall.  She is growing up into such a beautiful young lady.

The night before last, I received some "air mail" from Kendall.  It was the most amazing, encouraging letter I have ever received.  It warmed my heart!  I am certain that I do a lot of things wrong as a parent, but am glad that they remember the good.

Other Random Happenings.

A few random happenings that I want to be sure to capture. 

 

Kevin is always showing off with his Big Crane skills.  He won a troll on the first try.

I was inspired by the sewing classes that the girls took this fall.  I decided to break out my machine and try it for myself.  Sidney picked out a knit fabric for this top.  In the end, it turned out very cute.  Never mind that it was my first time working with knits.  I had to rip the neck out 3 times before I got it right.

The girls often fill out the prayer request cards at church.  Reading them gives me insight into the things that are on their hearts.  Here is Kendall's from a couple weeks ago.

...and Sidney's.

Sidney bought herself a set of face paints earlier this fall.  She talked Jackson and Blake into letting her paint their faces.

 

The girls have been begging me to ride the animals at the mall.  I keep telling them that we will do it on a night the mall is not crowded.  Last Friday was a cold rainy night.  We decided to beat the cold and have a fun filled night. part of which included a ride on the animals. 

 

It was definitely worth it.  The girls had a blast!

Gymnastics - Holiday Classic.

This fall the girls decided to join gymnastics.  They have been enjoying it immensely.  Last weekend the kids had a "holiday classic" in which they were able to show off the routines they had been working on.  Hayden doing here floor routine.

Kendall on the beam.

Sidney on the bars.

The three musketeers.

The girls with Coach Lauren.

Sidney showing off her ribbons.

Kendall showing off her ribbons (oh and those crazy signs).

A Bit of Pre-Christmas Cheer.

We have traditionally made gingerbread houses during the holiday season.  Last year we tried our hand at gingerbread men.  It was so much fun that we decided to do it again.

The girls dubbed mine "Mrs.  Claus".

This is what happens when you ask your husband to smile for the camera.  The girls gave Kevin the "very plain" gingerbread man award.

Kendall and her wanna be gangsta signs.  What will I do with this child?

Sidney did not leave a surface untouched.

The 2nd grade class had a hip-hop holiday musical this year.  I think this was one of my favorites.  Sidney was excited to land a speaking part. 

 

Here she is getting ready to tell her joke "What do you get when you cross a snowman and a shark?  Frostbite."

 

 

The entire 2nd grade singing their hearts out!

Kendall's chor group has several fun events planned for Christmas.  The first one on the list...caroling at the Winter Garden Aglow.  Here she is with her good friend Hayden.

 

What a bunch of cuties! 

While the kids were caroling, my friend Bridget and I went off to do some snowman antics.  Bridget is a DJ for one of the local radio stations.  These snowmen are her version of "elf on the shelf".  She made a look alike snowman for each of the DJ's.  Here are Barry and Carl B sitting on Santa's lap.

Hard at Work!

The girls have been working very hard in school this year.  At the end of the trimester, they were honored for their hard work.  Kendall received the leadership award.

Sidney received the academic award.  She also received the citizenship award for the entire 2nd grade for the month of November.  The November character trait was Honesty. 

Sidney got her name and picture on the school board for Student of the Month.  We are pretty proud!

Thanksgiving and The Festival of Trees.

We hosted Thanksgiving this year.  It was a lot of fun.  My parents came down, along with my sister and her family.  We had the Nelson's and Terrell join us for dinner as well.  I totally dropped the ball on taking pictures, but here are a few that I nabbed from others.

 

Hallie and my sister decided to give me a makeover.  Apparently, big hair is making a comeback.

 

Though this picture was actually taken at my mom's, the girls always love spending time with their older cousin Hallie. 

Roy and Sherry sent us this beautiful flower arrangement!  Sherry is always so thoughtful.

After all of the company left, Terrell and I took the girls to the Festival of Trees.  This has become one of my favorite holiday events.  We enjoy watching all of the different performances and looking at the gorgeous trees.  Kendall jumped at the chance to drive the trains.

The girls always look forward to the talking tree.  The first time I saw this, I thought it was the strangest thing.  Perhaps I still do think it is a bit strange, but the girls LOVE it.  Kendall skipped her Santa visit this year.  She was planning on seeing him, but right before our number came up, one of her friends was performing on stage.  She was more excited to watch Trin than to visit the old man. 

The girls enjoyed cookies, wrote letters to Santa, decorated an ornament and colored on the table covering. 

Sidney found the Spider-Man tree and insisted that I take a picture to show Jackson.

Good times!