Fancy Dancers

Annika and Adrienne had their Christmas dance program a couple of weeks ago. They did a great job and looked so cute.
Of course they loved wearing makeup.

Adrienne saw me with the camera to video before her dance started and gave me a little wave. Her teacher didn't like that much, but the audience (and Adrienne's mom) went "Awwwwww".
I am having some trouble getting it to load, so that will hopefully come later.

A Christmas Party

We had a ward Christmas party. It was a breakfast and turned out to be a lot of fun, and not just for the kids.

Burke had his fun as well...

It's Great to be 8!

My number two son is 8. He couldn't be more thrilled.
Nor could I.
8 is a very important birthday.
He gets to be baptized.
We have the date scheduled: January 2, 2010.
He's already had his interview with the bishop,

Here's his interview with mom:
Favorite Color: Yellow (despite currently being a brown belt)
Favorite Food: Macaroni and Cheese. From the box. (It was his request for his birthday dinner. I didn't complain, but wondered exactly how bad my cooking really is.)
What he wants to be when he grows up: A school teacher
Requested Birthday gifts: Tools, to be able to make gifts for his loved ones.
(Burke was privately pounding his chest about that one.) Tools were all that he asked for. Really. I had to get creative and we got him a camera as well. He was so surprised. He loved it.
Favorite Activity: Art projects
Favorite Movie: Alvin and the Chipmunks
Favorite Book: Magic Treehouse series.
Favorite Family Vacation: Disneyland. (I personally think the best vacations we took were when we lived in Michigan, but he probably doesn't remember them.)

We are so happy he is in our family. He is a sweet little guy and so easy to get along with...
A HUGE change from how he was 8 years ago. His Aunt Kellie used to say he gave everyone the stink eye. Which was true, when he wasn't busy crying at the time. So glad he is the easygoing, intelligent, and thoughtful boy he has grown to be. I am so proud of him.

Happy Birthday, Kaders!

Christmas Cookies

Or a burnt offering?
Yep, I've been baking.
While sleeping.
Didn't work out so well.

A Fair Question

As we were leaving the Priesthood Preview/Great to Be 8 programs at the church last night, Adrienne asked the Bishop why he lives at the church.
Poor guy.

By the way, I am thrilled to have those particular things over with for this year!
I slept very well last night.

Santa and Hammers

My kids' school has a Breakfast With Santa every December. We get to have doughnuts and juice and share our greatest wishes with Santa. The kids are always excited before we go, but then act a little shy when we get there.
This year, Nathan decided he was a little old to sit on Santa's lap. But he did it.
And there was a classmate there who took his picture when he did it. And she was a girl. She giggled. He was embarrassed.
Can you tell?


Adrienne got to see Santa too. She wasn't sure about sitting on his lap though.Do you love the body language there?

After we saw Santa we went to Home Depot to do a project. They made wagons that were just right for putting present in--at least that is what Adrienne said.
There were hammers, nails, wood, and stickers. They loved it. After the big project, we went to lunch with Grandma and Grandpa to our favorite Mexican restaurant to celebrate Kade's birthday.

He wanted to go to this particular restaurant because he wanted them to sing to him. An added bonus was getting a yummy sundae that his siblings tried to inhale before I put the brakes on.
Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa for braving the snow and heading up to see Kade.
More to come on the big birthday...
He's 8!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

I have been busy getting things ready for Primary, birthdays, baptism, and Christmas.
Our house is finally ready for Christmas.
Almost.
We got our tree.
It was free! (My favorite).
My parents thought the evergreen in their front yard was getting too big and offered to let us cut it down for our Christmas tree this year.
Of course, it looked a lot smaller when it was outside than it does in the house.
Burke cut another foot off of it to get in inside.
It was extremely pokey, so after we got it in the tree stand and all screwed in, and found it was leaning a little bit, we decided not to subject ourselves to torture in order to fix it.
Burke and I got the lights on and the kids decorated it.
Annika called the tree decorations "ordinances".
The "ordinance" ring-- where the kids hang everything gets higher every year.**Sniff**
Of course, it is bare in the back.
Adrienne helped with the stockings. And she made sure our famous singing and dancing Santa was put out where all could see him. We had to move him because not only is he obnoxious after about two days, he is also a little bit naughty.