My post for Monday, 12-15-08

Here are some snapshots from our dinner at Cap City Diner last night. Yep, I'm one of those annoying people that take photos in public places. But it wasn't that bad since we had a big corner table.

Although this place is a diner....it is so upscale. I had the most amazing maple-pecan coated pork chops served with chipolte chedar mashed potatoes, and a side of spinach sauteed with shallots and red pepper. It was awful....AWFUL GOOD!

I am so proud of Paige and Megan. They really danced their best and they were so well behaved and polite during all the waiting around and traveling. They seemed to enjoy themselves and I enjoyed watching them dance in the "Nutty Nutcracker" for all seven shows.

Oh and we celebrated with a piece of their "seriously big chocolate cake", yep that is what they call it and it is AWFUL GOOD, too!!!
That is Cameron, Megan's best friend she came to the last show with Mike and then we all went to dinner together.

My post for Sunday, December 14,2008

Sunday was Show Day!

The girls slept in and we made them a yummy breakfast of waffles, bacon and banana's. We had to fuel them up for their two performance's of the Nutty Nutcracker. After breakfast they had some time to play then it was costumes, hair and make up one last time. We had a few minutes to spare so we snapped a few pictures before heading downtown to the theater. I had to drop them off by 1:30 so they could do a run through on the stage before the first show at 4. I went to both shows and they were fantastic! The girls had quite a few friends and family in the audience, there was Aunt Terry, Aunt Deb, our neighbors, Dan, Sandy and their son Harry and Miss. Linda too. Paige's best friend Brittany was there with her mom Lorena. Then at the 5 o'clock show Mike brought Megan's best friend Cameron. So there were lots of friendly faces in the audience.

Ya know I always promise them at least one or two silly shots!
Just for fun!


Oh and here is one of them with their hairstylist-make up artist-chef-stlist-chauffeur-mom!

My post for Saturday. 12-13-08

Merry Mischief!

Oliver and Jasper were at it again! They got into the Christmas wrap and wrapped up gifts for Paige and Megan. They gave them each an elf outfit for their Webkinz. Oh No! Now the webkinz are elfed!

I made my boss cry today.
Not sad tears but tears of joy. Ya see last year about this time her daughter and son in law gave her a little picture frame ornament. Inside the opening was a hand drawn picture of a pregnant stick figure. They have a video of Jody opening the ornament and at first she says "oh that's nice" and then she realizes what the drawing is and she just starts hollering and hooting and her little dog gets freaked out and jumps off her lap. It really should be sent in to "America's Funniest Home Videos" it's that good. So anyways her daughter had the baby on August 9th and his name is Emery. Jody is about the proudest grandma I have ever known.
I have been wanting to make something special for her so last night I got creative and whipped up two picture frames. One for Jody and one for her daughter.

I did Jody's in red, white and blue because those are her favorite colors. Then I did Sandy's in bright cheerful colors because her house has a lot of bright greens, reds and oranges. The babies room is done in bright tropical colors with a rainforest theme.

Then with the scraps I whipped up a little holiday card for her too.

My post for Thursday, 12-11-08

To be a dog and sleep all day...with no guilt. Not worring if the floor needs cleaned or the laundry needs to be put away just sleeping the day away...that is what I would like to do...just for one day!

My Post for Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Another early morning...the girls were up by 6 a.m. ate breakfast, got their hair, make up and costumes on and we were at the dance studio by 7:30. Today was a easier than Saturday. It wasn't snowing they only did two shows and they were close to the studio, like maybe 4 miles in either direction. They were back at the studio for a catered lunch of pizza, water and iced sugar cookies. Then they had some photo's taken and then it was time to dance, and bond with the big girls. While they were having their lunch I went to lunch at Tumbleweeds with the other car pool moms. It was a nice break from all the music, giggling and craziness of 50 girls. Paige and Megan were excited to tell me that the "big girls" taught them the "Jill in the Box" dance and the "Arabian" dance. Then the "big girls" asked the "Jesters" to teach them their dance too. So their was lots of fun and dancing even during their time off. I think this is the girls favorite part of the day, they love to perform but they love to play and dance with the older girls too.

My post for Tuesday, 12-09-08

The Elves are at it again!
This time they were caught putting the candy canes on the Christmas tree.
Before Mike went to work this morning he asked the girls if they were going to hang some candy canes on the tree. I told them I would put a box on the table and they could do it after school. Well the elves beat them to it. Oliver, Jasper and Ellie (Ellie is Kylie's elf) got the candy canes open and started putting them on the tree while the girls were at school. At least they were being helpful and not making a mess.

More Elf Mischief!


Last night while we were decorating Oliver and Jasper kept finding places to hide. Oliver was a little better at blending in than little Jasper.

My post for Sunday, 12-07-08

O' Christmas Tree, O' Christmas Tree,
Forever green your branches!

We had gone to Andersons to pick out our Christmas tree on Friday night. We finally got it up yesterday in the late afternoon. The house is all decorated and we just have to carry a few boxes back to the basement and everything will look ready for the holidays.

My Post For Saturday, 12-06-08
Show Time
Some snapshots from one of the three "Nutty Nutcracker" performances that Paige and Megan did with their friends from dance. We (I helped carpool the dancers) left from the dance studio at 9 a.m. and headed for the first nursing home. After that performance we headed for an elementary school where the local Kiwanis club was hosting a holiday party for disadvantaged families. We ate our sack lunches there then the kids performed and had another hour break before we drove across town (in the snow!) to the next nursing home. We did not get back to the dance studio to drop our passengers off until 5 p.m. It was a long fun day. The kids were amazing, they danced and smiled and spread some holiday cheer.

This is Alissa as Fi-fi the cat dancing to "Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend"

Here is Megan and her little jester friends dancing to "Put on a Happy Face",
they even get to dance with Sam, she is a very cute "Claire".

There's Paige (in the red vest) and her friends as "Spanish Dolls". A few weeks ago they were sharing their dance with some of the older girls. I heard the older girls say "Wow that is a difficult dance, I'm glad we don't have to do it." It has a lot of different counts and a lot of spins, they even do spins as they are turning in a circle. Paige says sometimes she gets a little dizzy.

While we were in the car I was chatting with the girls. I had Paige, Megan, Molly and Serena (the other two girls dance with Paige). I asked them if they could pick any character in the Nutty Nutcracker what would they choose. Not one of them said Claire, Fe-fe, Aunt Lou-lou or The Icicle Fairy. Paige and her friends didn't even hesitate, they had their answer fast...The Jack in the Box dancers (the girls below in the funky black and silver costumes) they have a fun and funky dance and everyone enjoys them. Megan however said she would want to be a "Rock Star" because they get to throw their (blow up) guitars down at the end of the dance.

After breakfast Paige curled up with Rowdy and Oliver to read some Christmas stories. I pack the Christmas books away with the Christmas decorations each year. So the kids only get to enjoy the books for the month of December. It's great because each year when we unpack them it's like they have new books again and they can't wait to read them all.

Megan wore her hair in curly pig tails today. Her teacher is going to take their "holiday picture" at school today so she wore her red sweater with the sparkles and she's borrowing Paige's Santa hat (from her Santa's sleigh keeper's costume (from last years Nutty Nutcracker ).
She looked so darn cute that I had to have a picture of her and Jasper together!

My post for Thursday, 12-04-08

Yesterday was "my turkey day"

Yesterday was nonstop...got the kids up and ready for school, then I was off to work. After work I bought the foam insulation tubes that Mike had requested for our water pipes. Then it was home to feed the dogs and take them out. I prepped a turkey breast and popped it in the oven around 3 p.m. I also called and talked to my dad, we had a nice chat. I got a load of laundry in before the kids got off the bus at 3:45. Then it was homework and cooking and unpacking some Christmas decorations and books. Mike got home around 6 just as I was getting the potatoes mashed and the broccoli cooked. It was a yummy dinner. I used this new spice blend from Penzeys Spices called "mural of flavor". It is salt free and has lots of yummy flavor including shallot, onion, garlic, lemon peel, and orange peel. It gave the turkey a wonderful aroma and flavor. I also put some garlic and shallots down inside the bird. Mike seemed to really enjoy the turkey and even commented on the good flavor.
Since the girls are not big turkey fans, they ate grilled cheese, broccoli and pears with no complaints! They don't know what theyr'e missing..oh well more turkey for us!

Paige at the kitchen table doing homework.

Megan and Rebel sharing a blanket and watching Disney's "Cars" on t.v.

Picture credits go to Paige

More Elf Antics

Megan wrote her elf a note asking him if he would like her to read a story to him. Well when she was in the bathtub he grabbed a pencil and wrote back. She said "when I went into my room I could see the pencil moving, it was kind of freaky!". He wrote that he likes stories about snow...so that is what she read to him.

My post for Tuesday 12-02-08

This is what our back patio looked like this a.m. I think I should have written "first dusting" on the table that would have been more appropirate than snow.

Today was the last dress rehearsal for the Nutty Nutcracker.

The girls had two special guest in the studio watching them. Aunt Terry and Grandma Barb were there to watch them dance. They did a great job especially since they had not danced all week. Next Saturday will start the run of the Nutty Nutcracker. They will dance at 2 local senior homes and also at a party for disadvantaged youth that is given by a local Kiwanis club.
Then on Wed. the 10th they will dance at 2 local elementary schools. On Sunday the 14th they will have 2 public performances downtown. Next week will be busy and fun!

I guess the girls actually had 4 guest in the studio because Oliver and Jasper were there too. A bunch of the girls that Paige and Megan dance with also have elves so the girls were excited to take their elves to dance with them today.

The Elf Adventures

Oliver and Jasper made a little mischief last night while the rest of us were sleeping. They went into the girls bathroom and dumped out their hair clips and pony tail holders. If you look close you may notice that they were trying them on as well. Paige and Megan took these photos while I was at work. I thought everyone was still in bed when I left for work this morning at 8 but I never went into the upstairs hall bath. Those elves sure are sneaky...and quiet too. After Paige and Megan took the photo's they cleaned up the mess. That was nice of them, and a good lesson too on how it feels to clean up a mess that they did not create. Hmmm kinda like when mom has to clean up stuff that they have left out.