Dancing in the Aisles

Earlier this month Marianne turned 7. She has been talking about her birthday way before Christmas. She had such a fun day, and we liked celebrating it with her. She even requested to have wavy hair when she normal just wants a headband and call it good.

We like this picture - how is looks like she's blowing out the horse.

Marianne decide to take us to to see the Princess and the Frog for her Birthday. We went before dinner and ended up having the theater to ourselves. We rarely go to movies so it was a real treat to have our own private showing. Randy thought it would be funny to walk right in front of us, and then right in front of the screen. He said that has always wanted to do it. So his rudeness comes out. Jared thought it was great and started roaming all over. Then during the big musical number Randy led the dancing conga line around the theater. It was great! Now our children will not know how to act respectfully in a theater.

Grandpa joined us for dinner, cake, and presents. He didn't want to go with us to the show -hummm I wonder why? I think this is a great picture of him and Nathan enjoying Marianne's chocolate, pink, sparkly cake.

Marianne has decided to keep clogging for the year. She wants the trophy they get at the end. I've been attending her classes to see what we should do. I discovered she really hates to do freestyle, and when it's her turn she has purposely hidden in the bathroom to avoid it. I talked to the teacher and now she doesn't have to do them, and Marianne gets to help judge who is smiling the best instead. She comes home very happy now that the issue has been resolved.

We've had the usually colds going through our family this month, and maybe that explains my January blues. I can't seem to get moving this month. It's nothing serious, and I think I'm coming out of them. I have gotten some small organizational projects done this week so things are looking up. I always feel great after accomplishing something that has been long on my mind and to do list. Then I'm always surprised how much quicker and easier it was then what I'd made it out to be.

Christmas and Holiday Break Review

We have had a wonderful Christmas break and it has taken the entire week for me to get back to normal. I still stay up too late and struggle to get up in the morning. But we're moving forward and making improvements.

Christmas Eve nativity with our niece and her husband as special guests. (Notice that Joseph has his own baby too.)

We had a very fun musical program and everyone got a chance to perform, depending on their abilities. We all like to pull out the chimes and do some songs together, as well as play some piano pieces. Our favorite is the Cox rendition of the 12 days of Christmas. With a final Away in a Manger to try to end on spiritual note.

This year Santa brought a puppet show with puppets for all the children to enjoy. The elves worked hard up to the very end on this project because we could still smell the paint for a few weeks. In the future the elves might decide not to take advise on the gifts to give the children which involve the help of others, so they can enjoy the days before Christmas more.

Randy's mother sent the girls some beautiful Christmas dresses. They look so festive going to church on the last Sunday of the year. With the new year I have been assigned to teach a new primary class. They have moved me from the 3 year olds to the 7 year olds. I'm not teaching Marianne though. It's a bigger class and has been very fun so far. But my cute little girls have missed me, and I them. But they wave at me in Primary (especially Julene).

We were able to have Randy's brother and his family join us for a few days during the break. Marianne and Emma liked dancing together. We played lost of games, even had enough snow to go sledding. We sure love being together.

We finally celebrated New Year's Eve. Randy usually prides himself on going to bed early just on that night when he'll stay up that late on other nights. We decided to plan a real party with our children and let the older ones stay up for the first time. Maybe we have been depriving our older children, but there is always the dilemma of dealing with cranky children the next day. This year we invited my parents and decided to play games, watch movies, and have some good snacks. In the end Janae, Nathan, and Marianne made it to midnight. Nathan was very tired and had to fight to stay awake and once 12:00 arrived said "this is it." He might not stay up next time. But the older girls were still full of energy and were delighted with the privilege.