In the Christmas Spirit!

This is what I caught on tape when I looked over to see Nicholas sitting on top of the garbage can jamming out to the music. He loves when he touches the Ipod and the screen lights up or the song changes. He is so proud of himself! This little boy is so cute to me! I think I'll keep him for today!

It's That Time of Year

Macy had her Christmas Program at school last week. It was the sweetest thing EVER! She was one of the sheperds. Apparently, I didn't get the memo that I was suppose to MAKE her entire costume as some mothers did. The note home said a dish towel would be fine! So a dish towel it was! I'm just glad she wasn't one of the donkeys. I would have been in trouble coming up with something for that! It was such a cute program! Her little brother and sister were so HAPPY to see her afterwards.

Next came decorating ginger man cookies with her class. That was the fun part! Karlee totally wanted in on the action and Macy was so sweet to let her help! Karlee is so ready for preschool. She sits and colors and totally thinks she is BIG! We left with her kicking and screaming.

The finished product!

Macy also had a half yearly ballet recital where all the moms and dads where invited to come and watch. The little ballerinas showed off their bar work and their leaps and jumps. They finished by dancing a beautiful snowflake dance to the Nutcracker! Each girl had a small solo part. Some were very graceful and full of twirls, others just ran through it! Macy did a little of both! She looked so beautiful out there! One thing is for sure, she LOVES to dance!!!

'O Christmas Tree

After six years of good use, we said good-bye to our Charlie Brown Christmas tree we bought at Walmart for $20 and splurged on a 9ft prelit tree from Costco. I've been feeling guilty about buying an artificial tree when we live in the state that produces the most Christmas trees in the country. I feel like I'm robbing my children of some sort of holiday tradition but to me, a tree that doesn't need to be picked up after or fed and watered is priceless.

Macy burst into tears when she saw that we didn't have a star for our tree. We're working on that one along with maybe some ribbon and garland? I found my Christmas balls at Tai Pan Trading Company in Utah. Utah has all the great decorating stores. I am so envious! We have been loving Christmas around our home with holiday smells, music, drives around the neighborhood to see the lights with the kids NOT buckled in to their carseats and bedtime Christmas stories.

Lights and garland in the kitchen

I'm still looking for stocking holders. I really would love these framed picture stocking holders from Pottery Barn but they are $30 a piece. I need five! Do you think they'll go on sale after Christmas? Here's to hoping!

Oh, and don't you love that sweet T.V.? It's ancient. This is the only T.V. Mark and I have ever owned in our 9 years of marriage. We're hoping Santa delivers after Mark builds some shelving for an entertainment center. That gaping hole is such an awkward space.

Happy Holidays!

Have fun decorating!!!

Pictures of the Month

Holy Smokes! Where did November go? Instead of writing a novel and boring everyone, here are a few of my favorite pictures from the month. Hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving! We spent ours in Utah with family and loved seeing everyone.

The Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport

Celebrating my Mom's Birthday at Maddox Restaurant

Macy holding her new cousin, Kennedy

Fun at the Cache Valley Fun Park

And then there is Karlee...

Halloween Pics

Our little spooks! Macy dressed up as Fancy Nancy (the girl who LOVES to accessorize!) Karlee was a fluffy chicken and Nicholas, the cutest dragon!

Transportation for the night. The wagon ended up being more of a liability as Nicholas and Karlee caught on to the whole idea of trick-or-treating. We could not miss one house, even if the lights were off, the twins still wanted to go up and get candy! That part they didn't get!

Aren't they cute?

Our stylish Fancy Nancy "Princess"...RED shoes and all

All three Trick-or-Treating.

I LOVE Halloween!!! It is such a fun holiday! We had so much fun this year with our kids. They were totally in to it. Friday afternoon we went Trick-or-Treating downtown in Corvallis and filled our buckets full. The twins could not eat their candy fast enough. They were shoveling it in! They wanted to eat every piece they got. We had to skip a few stores just to give them (and us) a breather! Saturday we went around our neighborhood which is the dream neighborhood for Trick-or-Treating. The houses are close together and all decked out with lights and a few scary people answering the doors. Macy was running from house to house with her friends. Mark and I were running equally as fast trying to keep up with the twins who were each going in their own direction. It was some crazy fun! I just love the excitement kids bring to the holidays. I even decided to dress up myself...

Party in the USA

This is too cute not to share. We have serious talent at our house when it comes to some pretty awesome dance moves. We always have music playing and there is a whole lot of singing and dancing going on. This is when my kids are the happiest. Macy sits on the garbage can and manages the Ipod. What's on our playlist? Miley Cyrus "Party in the USA." Buy it! You'll love it!

First Big Day

Macy had her first day of preschool! It wasn't long enough (for the both of us)! She was so mad when I came to pick her up at 11:30 am. She wanted to stay longer. I had to pick her up and carry her out of there. She is just so happy to be back. Good thing she has a whole year of it!

Macy had been looking forward to this day for a long time. She got up first thing and made her bed and got dressed all on her own. Then we had a little hair drama. Supposedly, there was a part that looked "messy" and she put her face in her hands and cried. Oh, my goodness! What am I going to do with her? I can't complain because I was just like her when I was little. Everything had to be perfectly in place. My poor Mom. Picture days were the worst. It looks like I got one just like me and she is only 4!


Macy also had her first day of dance lessons at the Corvallis Academy of Ballet. It was precious to see the little girls twirling, leaping and bounding across the floor. So graceful! She has a darling, darling teacher. It's very professional, the whole studio and all. I've been very impressed with it and so happy we found it. I took the twins to watch and they layed on their tummies and watched at the door. I wish I'd had my camera to capture that moment.

All in all, it's been a productive but exhausting day and it's only Monday. Summer spoiled me but a routine will be good. Maybe I'll get more done. Yeah, right! Not with my little tornadoes running around (a.k.a Nicholas and Karlee). I cannot turn my back for one second. They are busy, busy bodies that deserve their own post. To be continued...