Boys singing 'Feliz Navidad'

December

Macey has a few holiday dresses. This is one that I found at the last minute. I didn't realize that you had to shop for dresses early like you have to do for the boys' ties. Next year I'll act sooner, but I think this purple dress is a beauty.

Ryan's preschool had a winter program. We nearly missed it because I didn't know where the school we were performing at was. But luckily we made it right on time. Do you see the girls in the pretty dresses? The instructions were to wear your favorite winter clothes. I was lucky to get this kid in something besides shorts!

Alex wanted to hold Macey. She doesn't seemed worried that she ways half as much as him and he nearly dropped her several times.

Ryan's class sang two songs and then the whole preschool sang 'Feliz Navidad.'

These are his teachers Mrs Barbee and Mrs Solis.

This is the awesome cake we decorated at the Wrights. Amie invested in a house cake pan. I know she had to do a lot work making the cakes, but it was perfect for our boys' attention span for decorating. Oh, it did look better, but before we left Amie the boys had started eating off their favorite candies. I'll post more pictures once Amie sends them over.

Ah, my sweet Macey. She is so calm so peaceful and then -Wham- she does something crazy. Like climb up the back of her high chair. And then a few minutes later the front. I was doing the dishes when I heard her screaming (not crying, screaming). She got to the top and then got stuck. She loves to climb. She goes to the top of the 3 story playground with the boys, and likes going down the large, crazy slide. Peaceful like Alex, adventurous like Ryan, and screams like no other!

Start of December

To start off the month of December we went to a resort, Cibola Vista. It is a timeshare resort. We went to a presentation, which we had never done before. I think it could be a fun way to vacation, but not something we need to invest in right now.
They had a s'mores get together around a fire pit the first night we got there.

Bruce and Julianne had stayed at this resort, which is how we got involved. So they came along for the weekend fun.

Brother and sister enjoying the landscaping.

Tennis wasn't Macey's favorite part of the vacation. Here she is trying to get away!

My family of monkeys. Funny story from my youth: when I was 8 my family lived in San Diego and all the houses had chain link fences. Which isn't very private now that I live in a cinder block kind of place. Anyway, I would climb the fences to get to my friends' houses. Once I went over in a dress and slipped on the top. Yep, ripped those princess undies right in two! So, I guess you could say that my children got my climbing genes.

This resort has horseback riding and a ghost town.

On Saturday the resort hosted a scavenger hunt for the kids. Their awards were chili pepper necklaces.

Back home... We finally got our Christmas decor out. The picture above is my inheritance. Yes, this was listed in my grandmother's will. It is a ceramic Christmas tree with plastic birds/bulbs. I know my cousins are missing this jewel this year, but my children are learning to love the tradition of moving the glowing birds around.

And here is our front room. Alex was very worried about his stocking being hung behind the table. "How will Santa fill it and how will I get it down?" We decided to wait and worry about it on Christmas Eve. Notice our Thomas the Tank Engine train set around the bottom of the tree. This has brought much joy to the boys' lives this year. Macey is determined to step on the track every time she enters the room. Macey loves our tree. She especially likes the Minnie Mouse ornament from my childhood and candy canes. Whew, does she love candy canes. She circles the tree everyday to see if any have gotten low enough for her to pick!

Macey's first day with pig tails. It was a disaster; I have a lot of practicing to do!

I bought this 'Jingle Rock' reindeer in Arkansas. Sister has been carrying it around.

Lastly, donuts on a Saturday morning. Yummy! And a good reason for Mace to have a bath.

What Ryan has been asking

1) Ryan's favorite song is 'Feliz Navidad'. As we were singing along in the car he said, 'Why would you love someone from the bottom of your heart? That is gross.' I asked why and he said, 'Because it is all bloody and squishy.'
2) After listening to another Christmas song Ryan asked, 'What does Santa want for Christmas? We should ask Pippen [our elf watching the kids during the month of December] and then maybe he could take it to Santa.' Hmm, how many other kids do you know that are worried about Santa's wish list?
3) Every morning this week Ryan rolls out of bed and while rubbing his eyes says, 'Is Dad home?' One time Dan came home in the middle of the night and so now I guess Ryan keeps hoping for that again!