Hound Dog News

We chose Chloe's favorite Christmas event for her (because it is our favorite memory of Chloe this year). We have one of those giant singing Santa Claus' (it was going to be a gift for mil, but when we tested it out to make sure it worked the kids loved it so much that we kept it and got her something else!).

This is Chloe's first year of really "getting" the singing Santa Claus and I wish I would have had the camera going when we got it out. She went up and held both of his hands and danced with him as he sang...in fact she pulled him over a few times and so we had to rig him not to fall.

Now she doesn't hold his hands, but she does dance and then keep pushing his button and dancing. (don't mind the hair...we are on vacation and really you all are lucky that she even has clothes on instead of pj's!!)

Joslyn and Drew were in the Nutcracker a week ago. Drew had quit ballet and a few months before the Nutcracker she decided that she wanted to do dance again so that she could be in the Nutcracker. Their teacher (Miss Mary . . . aka Sister Noriega--Ellie's teacher in Primary) puts the whole production on. Last year was the first year and I spent a few days with Miss Mary painting backdrops (which THANKFULLY weren't destroyed in the flood since her basement had been 6 feet under water/mud/murk) . . . it was fun seeing the backdrops again! This year I was a slug and didn't help with ANYTHING . . . I'm so sorry Miss Mary!! I got sick on the day that I was going to help with the Dragon head. Although once I saw it I was sure glad because it never would have been as cute with me helping!

So here are some pics and a little video of the girls.

Drew was in the car with me as I was pondering my lack of Christmas enthusiasm. The radio was on and the announcers started talking about how everyone has so much MORE Christmas spirit this year and how important their traditions were . . . WHAT??!!! Oh CRAP (yes . . . I confess, Ellie DOES get that saying from me Karen, I will do better!)

I was tagged by a new tag made to punish me and put up my Christmas tree . . . and what do you know??? The Christmas spirit finally found me! I was feeling a bit hum-bug-ish and really thought that I could do without Christmas this year (except for my selfish excitement over my own present that I already know about, but am not allowed to touch until that very day). My lists are too long and the time too short, so I haven't felt the peace and joy that I normally feel during this season. I think that the late Thanksgiving was a large part of my problem!

As time was speedily passing me by I realized that I was barely getting through the motions of Christmas and I needed to make sure that I made it special for my kids. So I asked each of them what their favorite Christmas tradition was so that we made sure that we did it. As we do each of them I will blog about them (some of which surprised me!).

Since this is my blog . . . I get to go first!!!

There is something about Christmas lights that make me happy! There are soft glowing lights around my nativity. This nativity makes me happy. My mom painted two of these before she died. One was for my Grandma Hazel and the other one was for our family. After I got married I inherited the sacred nativity. I had painted ceramics with my mom and so I could imagine that I had helped with the nativity (I'm sure I was never in the same room when the nativity was being painted!!). I love the rich colors that she picked! After my Grandma Hazel died, my sister inherited our Grandma's (thank goodness . . . I was having major guilt issues!!).

I put Christmas lights at the top of my cupboard and at night I will turn just the Christmas lights on and snuggle up with a cup of hot cider and just feel HAPPY!

So my favorite tradition is indoor Christmas lights . . . subtle indoor Christmas lights that don't overpower and just give me a sense of "special."

(Sorry that the pictures don't show the "special" side since they were during the daytime and I'm not a very good photographer.)

As for my tag. I am supposed to post a picture of my tree . . . which began this whole process of de-hum-bugg-ging me . . . so THANKS Krin! As for my tree . . . in the past I have done two trees and let the kids have their own. This year I let them decorate the family tree (I did the lights for sanity's sake . . . I still remember my first attempt at doing the lights & it is NOT a good memory and this was all about making good memories!). My only instructions were to put the glass and breakable items at the top half of the tree away from Chloe. (later that evening the Menace did manage to get a small glass bulb and break it . . . in her MOUTH because she was BITING it!!!!!! great sharks that was a close one!)

I tag LINDY (LOL after last night . . . & you TOTALLY have to do it!) and Karen (since your tree is up & missing an adorable ornament that my tree now proudly wears . . . wait a second!!! it never made it into my house . . . it is MISSING from my purse!!!!!!)

Last night Joslyn had her FIRST band performance. She had to miss her dress rehearsal for the Nutcracker (which Drew chose to go to because she doesn't know the dances as well as Joslyn and this literally brought Joslyn to tears that Drew would choose going to her dress rehearsal over seeing her perform at her band concert).

I LOVE Mrs. Gallahan! They are building a new Middle School and the only thing that has me worried about being rezoned to the new school is losing Mrs. Gallahan. Here is a sampling of the concert last night. This is the 6th grade band who all began band this year, learning new instruments. So keep in mind as you watch this that none of these kids knew how to read a note or play their instrument a mere 3 months ago! (I really should have taped one of the 8th grade songs so there could be a comparison to playing with her for 2 years). Note: Joslyn is on the front row the third person in from the right...it looks like she's tapping her leg to the beat, but that is the kid behind her & sorry about the shaky beginning...I was having a child swap on my lap as Chloe & Ellie decided that they wanted to trade seats (one of which being my lap).

And how can you NOT love a teacher for being surrounded by that beautiful sound day in and day out and still loving it??!!! I wonder how long it takes band teachers to lose their hearing??

And for everyone needing a laugh...seriously tears-streaming-down-your-face-laugh, go here.

Note to self: Next year you want to go here for Thanksgiving . . . what is the point of cooking a Thanksgiving feast that your family really doesn't even like??!!! Trust me . . . you won't be missing anything!

A moment that made ME happy & I'm sure there are those of you who would be sad.

Conversation with Ellie which included mom mentioning that she should be nice so that Santa would be sure to come for Christmas.

Ellie: "Who is Santa?"

I watched Dennis the Menace this weekend and I have a whole new understanding of that child. Chloe has been renamed "Chloe the Menace" and before anyone gets on my case...please understand that Dennis really is a decent kid & he just seems to be a magnet for trouble & isn't afraid to try ANYTHING at least TWICE! I'm SURE that his mom cleaned a whole tube of toothpaste off of her bathroom floor, counters & child at LEAST TWICE! I'm sure that HIS mom had to run back and rescue him off of the bunkbed 20 times during one meeting (well no...he would have jumped...but MAYBE his mom heard him before that happened!), & shattered a mirror so that we ended up banning that bedroom for the remainder of the marathon meeting (sorry about the marathon meeting btw!). Well I will leave the nickname at that (Drew was nicknamed Stitch directly after watching the movie Lilo & Stitch...she lived through it so I'm sure that Chloe the Menace will as well!).