Talent Shows

Xander had back to back talent shows--one for Cub Scouts with a puppet show.  The boys made their puppets for the Three Little Pigs and (had the microphone been working) did a fabulous job presenting their story.

The next night was our much anticipated school talent show. Xander & best friend Isaac (they've been friends since before school and have had the same teacher for 3 years.  Teachers & yard duties mix them up and they've been asked if they were twins multiple times) performed The Devil Went Down to Georgia.  They let the narrator sing parts and then they sang their parts along with "playing" their violins.  They were adorable--too nervous to be as crazy as they were during rehearsals but I was proud of them for performing on stage.

 

I LOVE that Xander is  learning to get in front of groups and not be nervous. When he & Isaac did the audition, Isaac totally froze and I guess that Xander told him it was totally normal and that it will get easier :)  SO CUTE!  They really are brothers from another mother.  Oh and we LOVE Isaac's family so we don't mind getting our boys mixed up.  

fUN sHOTS tO pASS tHE tIME

I've been terrible about taking pictures over the past month...so here are a few of the fun ones

 Busy Bees Preschool-

This is Violet's Preschool group.  two girls (both Websters--not related) and 3 boys.  fun times!

 Ben & Xander headed off to a Kings Bball with Grumpy so Nana & I thought we'd take the girls to dinner.  We went to Chick-fil-A.  I got there and saw this cute Mom and daughter all dressed up.  I thought it was so cute--until I got in and realized the entire restaurant was decked out.  Come to find out--it was Mother & Daughter dress up night.  Well, we got part of that right but my yoga pants & no make-up face didn't quite fit in.  Oh well, we still got to eat and play.  hahaha!

 We went to the park with some friends after school one day and I got put in charge of the swings...I don't like to leave any children behind...we swung for no less than 20 min.  My arms felt sufficiently worked out.

 This pretty lady is loving all the legos my parents are letting loose in their new house.  Reality-she just loves to create whether with food, art, blocks, hair whatever--she loves to create

My last little one is so OLD! She has totally figured out the bike.  It's bittersweet--love the independence she has hate the independence she has and that I no longer have a baby.

My little GIRL

Abby's going through an accessorize phase...she is very specific about what she is wearing (shoes to underclothes) and what she carries!  I'm so scared of girls...this is all so foreign. (Although look carefully, I'm carrying a REAL purse, not a diaper bag!

Valentine's Day

Valentines Day for the kids meant: fancy hair, pink pancakes, cookie decorating party after Music Makers and a party at the church for kids (thanks Young Women)!!

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 Valentine's Day for Mom & Dad meant two days of dates!  My husband is the best!!  Thursday night he surprised me with dinner at the Melting Pot (always wanted to try it!) and then tickets to the ballet, "Wild Sweet Love." Don't be worried by the title--it was beautiful.  I am not good at deducing story lines from the dancing but suffice it to say that it was beautiful.  When I was in line at the women's restroom during intermission, I was listening to a woman dissect the dancing. Not me, I just enjoyed how the music and the bodies flowed, wishing I could move like that (no, seriously, I wish I could relax enough to move so gracefully but it's not in my nature!).  Since I had no idea about Thursday night, I had already signed the kids up to go to a church party of lots of babysitters doing a kids night out so parents could celebrate and I wasn't about to not take advantage of that!  So we dropped them off and then I recreated our first date-which was exactly 10 years ago this Valentine's Day.  WOW, has time flown and yes our first date was accidentally on a Valentine's Day.  It wasn't even suppose to be a date. It was a "I'll cook you dinner two Fridays from now" type of thing and then we realized it was V-day.  Since neither of us had plans, we went for it.  The rest is history.  ANYWAYS, I put together a sappy gift: 10 gifts for 10 years--each one signifying something that I LOVED about BEN.  We have never had an in home date where the kids weren't upstairs--it was amazing and we hope to do it again!!

 

On Sunday we celebrated more with the kids. I want them to understand that Valentine's is about lots of kinds of LOVE not just the love in a marriage (although right now, that's our priority) but family love as well.  Maybe if we teach them that they won't  be miserable during their adolescent years because they are single like their parents were??  hahahaha.  So we spent Sunday writing down why we loved each other.  Ben and I also made cards for our Valentines (me for Xander and him for E, V & A)and then had gourmet banana splits for dinner with Nana & Grumpy.  Both Ben and I have decided we are too old for just ice cream for dinner, we both needed real food first.

Honestly, it was the 2nd best Valentine's Day in my entire life!  The first being my first date with Ben.  It was so fun to look back at what 10 years has given us and to think about where we will be in 10 years.  Life is so full of choices and opportunities and adventures and I was truly blessed to found someone to spend each day with that completes me like Ben does.

Basketball

We have had so much fun trying a new sport this winter!  Basketball is so fun!  Xander really is glad that his buddy Matthew is on the same team and so they get to hang out every Saturday.  (And I'm super grateful that they are too because I get amazing pictures from Jenni each week!) It's been fun to watch Xander grow.  Each week Coach awards the boys with patches to signify what they are doing well.  Xander has consistently received the following awards: Defense, Rebounds and Assists.  He is very good at this part of the game!  He is very aware of when is a good time (or not) to shoot and when it is not and he is very good at passing. 

Silly Sisters

I love how kids go through phases in their fashion.  Over the past few weeks, Violet has been especially fond of tucking her clothes in and hiking her skirt or pants up REALLY high.  Capturing those moments is not always easy but I tried:

 Once the camera comes out though, every one wants in on the action:

 Even the big brother!  Especially once they figured out that I was busting up as they tucked and pulled :)

These are the moments...

New Dress-ups

Nana was cleaning out, well, everything, and decided her wedding dress would be best as a dress-up.  Not sure I'm ready for my own to go that route yet but maybe in 20 years.  I think the girls were a little disappointed that it didn't fit better (not sure why they thought it would) but it is fun!

Ballet

For Eliza's birthday we signed her up for ballet with Ms. Kaylene (our family friend who is amazing!)  She is loving it.  (Top right corner in black).  As to date we had not let the other kids observe.  But this week Daddy was out of town on ballet night so I had to take all the kids to observe.  It was fun and Violet & Abby were speechless and in heaven watching Eliza.  Xander found some little boys that he could play with.  Violet spent most of the time copying the moves and trying her best to do what Eliza did.  It was ADORABLE.  I LOVE to dance, SO I LOVE to see my children dancing.  We are all excited that this class will end with a performance....costume and all!

Best Friends

Abby has really taken a liking to her siblings lately. I know I have nothing to do with it but I do feel a tiny bit of pride like I'm doing something right because my kids like each other.  The girls are also having fun helping each other dress.  Unfortunately, that means sharing clothes which leads to some pretty crazy outfits--like Abby's--who thought Eliza's (3.5 years older) were perfect for her! And Eliza, ever obliging, said of course I will dress you up in my clothes!  Think it will last until they move out???  I certainly was not so kind when my sisters asked to borrow, or borrowed without asking. :)