Christmas 2008

Christmas Eve the girls each opened one gift. I think they've caught on to the fact it's always going to be pajamas!
Here they are with Eddie. He loves Christmas - probably because he always gets to open gifts too. So the other 364 days of the year, we can't put gift bags where he can get to them, he thinks they are his.

The girls woke us up Christmas morning about 6am. They had been up since about 5 and Mackenzie had already done her treatment - Peyton helped get her nebulizers ready. That warmed my heart on Christmas morning! The girls really didn't want too much for Christmas this year, here they are in the aftermath of opening gifts.

I hope everyone had a very merry Christmas! Now, I'm off to try to put the rest of this 1000 piece puzzle together before next Christmas.

Merry Christmas!

Helping Others

Yesterday, the girls and I met Traci, Kendall & Drew at P.F. Chang's for lunch.
After lunch it was time to get to work! Peyton and Kendall put a plan together that they were going to make crafts, set up a Santa Shop and donate the money to Helping Hands. Peyton spent the night with Kendall Saturday night and they made their crafts.
It was so cold that they weren't able to set the Santa Shop up on Sunday so yesterday after lunch the girls went to sell things at Andy's office. They almost sold out of everything and raised $52.30!
We left Andy's office and headed straight over to Helping Hands where the girls tuned their money in. Bill at Helping Hands said that doesn't happen very often. The girls asked how their money could help others and Bill explained that it could either go towards paying utility bills or to help restock their food pantry. They wanted to help with the food pantry. Bill said they were going to be going shopping and would be getting crackers at about $1 a box so the girls will be helping 52 families!

The girls enjoyed this so much they are already planning what they are going to do next year!

Hollywood Holidays

Last night the SHMS Choir presented 'Hollywood Holidays' and everyone sang their little hearts out. They sang songs from holiday movies and played clips from those movies in between (the 6th grade boys singing White Christmas into their comb microphones - Home Alone style - was so funny!).
Here is Mackenzie with her choir director, Mrs. Cornett - she commented when I took this picture that it had to go on the blog. She has a blog for her beautiful family and takes AMAZING pictures!

Alyssa, Mackenzie & Morgan:

Mackenzie, Morgan, Madison & Ashton:

Morgan and Michele with Michele's great haircut!

Jason & Peyton waiting for te show to start:

Peyton's Gingerbread House

The 2nd graders decorated gingerbread houses at school Wednesday and I missed it! But Traci took a picture and sent it to me while she was there. Thanks Traci!

Mackenzie Poppins

Last night was Mackenzie's first time to babysit. She kept Kendall and Drew - with Morgan's help - while Traci and Andy went to the movies. I think they ALL had a GREAT time! (Except maybe for Peyton, she was a little sad that her sister was over at her friend's house without her). Mackenzie will do it again next weekend and Peyton will get to go too. Mackenzie took a bag of fun things for them to do and they worked on a Christmas surprise for Andy and Traci.

Rise & Shine, Elf Style

Peyton's class led Rise & Shine at ETE today. They were all dressed as elves (red, green & white) to advertise their Santa Shop where they will sell goods. Proceeds from the Santa Shop will go to buy items for their two Angels from the Angel Tree.

All the little elves:

Peyton & Ms. Lange:

Elves Tyler Ann, Peyton and KK:

Christmas Parade

We went to the Christmas Parade today. The girls dance studio moved locations to downtown on Friday so we dropped by beforehand where they were giving out free hot cocoa and then we stood in front to watch the parade. We missed the BHS dance team, band and cheerleaders but were glad they were in LR to cheer on the Tigers (who beat Southside to win the State Championship!)

This clown stood behind some of the kids for a little while before they noticed they had a visitor.
Floats with friends:

Pre-Blog FLASHBACK! This is from two years ago when Mackenzie was in 4th grade and on her school's float. They were all Whoville characters from How the Grinch Stole Christmas! It was a lot of fun to do her hair that day.

Aunt Rhodie's Appetite

Last night Mackenzie had her Orchestra Holiday Concert. The middle school group performed 'Aunt Rhodie's Appetite' and it was quite entertaining.
Before the concert with Jenna, Morgan, Madison, Ashton, Mackenzie, Lydia and Emily:

Peyton and Ashley during the Pasta Supper fundraiser that was held before the concert.

December 2nd = Fayetteville Square

I think you all know the story - Jason proposed on the Fayetteville Square on December 2 so every year we head down to enjoy the lights. We wanted to stop and eat at the Mellow Mushroom but it was packed so we ate at U.S. Pizza instead thinking Tim's might be packed too. I was surprised there weren't more people there, it always seems to be packed every year when we go.

The Nutcracker

UPDATE: Lindsay pointed out that I didn't really talk about the actual performance so I updated below.

Saturday was the day the girls have been preparing for - performing in the Moscow's Ballet's Great Russian Nutcracker at the Fort Smith Convention Center. My little snowflakes were beautiful (we weren't able to take pictures of them in their costumes). Here they are when we first arrived in Fort Smith:
With Kendall:

Listening to instructions. Jason and I dropped them off at 10am and didn't get to see them again before the performance at 3:30. They had pictures and a run through with the traveling dancers.

The show was beautiful! The girls did a great job and at the end when they came out to take their bow Mackenzie got to hold the Prince's hand and Peyton held Clara's hand (this may have been a highlight for them). It was amazing to think that the local dancers and the traveling dancers had only practiced together that day. They do a great job of teaching the choreography. My only frustration is that while they were onstage, the woman right in front of me was getting in trouble for videotaping the show and that was distracting. I'm told we'll be able to buy a DVD of the show.

After the show: