Violin Recital

 My Darling's

Christmas Violin Recital

Oh, my .... she's looking so grown-up!!

 Tuning BEFORE the concert.

WAITING ...... 

 Getting all set-up.

FOCUSED!!!!  

There is so much to do while playing a violin -- 

correct position of violin, moving fingers for the correct notes, pulling the bow back and forth to make the music -- AND doing it correctly, watching the conductor, REMEMBERING the music -- YES, all of the music was memorized -- and listening to others.  AND I'm sure I missed something :)

My Darling was placed with all kids older than her -- she LOVES that.  She has really worked hard to play well in a short time.

Beautiful!

This concert was amazing.  The students played many pieces together.  There were many with solos -- not My Darling this time.  She was told at the end of the concert that she would have a solo in the Spring Concert -- that made her night :)
They also brought in a guest professional violinist.  The students had practiced a particular part for Canon in D -- SO they had the students, a few guests violinist, a electric bass guitarist AND the professional play.  Oh, my -- it was glorious!  

They finished the night by listening to a short motivational speech from the professional.  He encouraged the students to continue and stated all the 'positives' to playing the violin! 
AND 
Everyone had the privilege to listen to him play -- again.    

Christmas Program

2012 Children's Christmas Program

After 2 months of Sunday morning practice; weeks and weeks of Sunday afternoon practice; 2 Wednesday evening practices AND 2 Saturday morning practices -- the Kindergarten thru 5th grades are ready to perform

The SECRET of Snowflake County

Hope in a Humble Stable 

 

My Darling waiting to begin the play with cousin L.

 The preschool program was first -- 2 year olds through 5.  

This always provides a good laugh!  

Only 2 cousins are in this age bracket!

Now -- 

The SHOW BEGINS!

There were over 60 kids in the performance!

AND 

It was amazing!

BaJabs and Elizabeth were in the choir.  My Darling had a small ballerina part AND she sang in the choir.

I'm really amazed at how well Elizabeth did.  She was SO into the singing. 

YES -- she learned most all the songs -- 

AND

they were understandable IN English.

Really -- I still have a hard time believing ...

it's only been 9 months in the USA.

 I LOVE seeing them sing!

I LOVE their faces -- the concentration and excitement!

 My Darling had a ballerina part for an ENTIRE song.  

She looked BEAUTIFUL

AND

 Did an AWESOME job!!!

She said the best part was the spotlight on JUST HER!

 This was a special song -- really bringing out the real meaning of Christmas.

I LOVE watching Elizabeth sing.  She is so animated!

 More precious kids singing about the HOPE of our Savior!!

This was a special night!!!

Thank-you to all of the people that gave of their time to work with these kids!

This was an awesome opportunity for our children to learn more about praising God AND ministering to others.

FINALLY,

to top the night off MD had his youth group Christmas party!

Yes, there was an 'Ugliest Sweater Contest' 

He is wearing one of my VERY old teacher sweaters.  I can't believe I still have that thing!!!

AND

Yes, his team WON -- He said it was because of him.  "I had the ugliest one, mom!"

He is pictured here with his special friend S.!

You guessed it ..... I'm sure .......

ANOTHER

AWESOME night in Woller World!

Christmas outfits and picture time

Yes, I finally have the Christmas outfits done!  

Just in time for family pictures and the Christmas program.

AND

YES, it was a LATE night!

I don't know if I know any other way ;)

I don't want to show the family picture, YET!!!

BUT here is the outfits -- and the attitudes :)

 p.s. The boys even matched all of us girls. 

AND -- YES Elizabeth seems to ALWAYS be laughing!

This year I made a matching dress for baby Rae -- this is Lauren's baby.  I have not made a dress this small before and I did NOT have a pattern.  It turned out adorable :) 

AND

Thankfully, we even got her to smile :)

I know it was a long day BUT I LOVE sewing and this gives me an excuse to get down in my sewing studio and actually SEW!!!  The girls tell me what they would like and I try my hardest to replicate it.  Elizabeth added the ric-rac at the last minute -- BUT I make it work :)

I made the adorable skirts -- embellished with fabric flowers I made and ric-rac.  I order the shirts from Jaynie Jaye Designs on Facebook AND the necklaces were made by shabby chick by crystal on Facebook

Leg Repairs PLUS

Another BIG day!

Since both girls have issues with their legs -- 

it was imperative that we get them fixed ASAP

Mr. M did not have many days available 

SO

Today was the day :)

Yes, we made My Darling go to school -- she handled it well ;)

Elizabeth, BaJabs, my friend Pam and I

left early this morning for a long day in GR

Mr. M and Mr. J concentrated a bit on Elizabeth due to the fact this was going to be a BIG repair/fix.

Elizabeth has a BIG difference going on with her hips.  

So, until we can have the surgery -- we will make the adjustment with the prosthetic leg.

 If you look close you can see that she is angled -- that is with an one inch lift

It looks about right.

Yes, BaJabs is giving Mr. M bunny ears.  They love that man :) And thankfully, he is so good natured and takes it from the girls AND teases right back!

The conclusion -- 

They are adding 1 1/4 inches to the leg!!

WOW!!!!

That is huge.

It will make her hips level BUT her knees will NOT be.

BaJabs -- well, she was EASY!!

All we ended up needing to do was add a special, very thin stocking to the layers she already buts on.

This stocking allows for less sweat and less pulling.

We walked LOTS in the afternoon and it seemed to work.

YEAH!

Once all the decisions were made and the inches were added -- roughly

Elizabeth tried it on -- it was good -- so, we have to wait about 3 hours for them to finish it to look........

PRETTY!!!

Off to the gluten free bakery, mall (crazy place -- what was I thinking)

 and lunch.

We came back and got the leg -- it's beautiful.

I FORGOT to bring in the camera the 2nd time.

BUT 

I did remember to take a picture when we got home.

It's beautiful!!!

She picked the fabric -- BUT let Mr. M decided what flowers to put on the front.

It turned out great.

She said it is very Chinese!!!  That was why she picked it!

If you look close you can see that her knees don't line up.

She said it feels weird when she walks.

We proceeded to come home -- make dinner and then off to the annual Christmas Band Concert for the boys.

AND

Yep, I left the camera sitting on the kitchen counter.

Both boys did wonderful!!!  I was really impressed.

JM was able to move up to 7th grade band because he plays well.  

MD just went back to band this tri.  He did not do marching band this year.

JM plays the trumpet.

AND

MD played the alto sax tonight but will be going back to the tenor sax for the rest of the tri.

Unfortunately, My Darling experienced a terrible nose bleed during the first part of the concert.  It took me forever to get it to stop.

Thankfully, we got it stopped in time to still hear both boys play.

She's cuddled up in my bed right now -- she ended up with a tummy ache.

All in all

A GOOD day!!!

NO surprises :)

Pretty predictable!!!

Yep, I like those kind of days!

First time playing in the snow

Oh my, SNOW!!!

Yes, you guessed it .......

Mom does NOT like it!!!

BUT

I have 4 children who LOVE it!!

AND

1 who is just ok with it :)

When we left for church and there was snow ......

Well,

Elizabeth couldn't wait to get home and play in it.

So, church -- lunch -- outside to play -- nap

Oh, the fun they had.

Even daddy came out to join them.

Snowman -- there's not enough snow, YET -- so, there's a bit of dirt in the snowman :)

Snow angels -- with some dirt!

 Look at that face!!!  She's lovin it!

AND just to let you know ONLY 3 in this picture LOVE the snow :)

Snowballs!

 Elizabeth learning HOW to make snowballs.  AND yes, it is difficult with her tiny hands.  We have found gloves are impossibly and mittens are difficult.  Mommy is going to have to come up with something :)  I need someone to knit her some gloves with two fingers on one and three on the other. Hmmmmmm...... who????

 JM throwing a snowball at dad.

 BaJabs throwing a snowball at JM from up on the play fort.

 It's coming!!!!

SMASH!!! 

I love watching

The wonder AND fun of something new!

Elizabeth FINALLY gets her ears pierced

Well, our little girl has been BEGGING to get her ears pierced.

We said she had to be a BIG girl to take care of them :)

So, the deal was if she could be a big girl for shots then she could do it.

NOW -- this did not mean she couldn't cry .... it just meant no tantrums.

So, on Thursday she had a shot.

She did it with no tears ...

Looked at me and said, "ok, I'm big!  When can I get my ears pierced?"

So, I made the appointment -- Saturday, right after Christmas program practice.

Oh, my she was sooooo excited!!!

My aunt has a hair salon.  So, we went there -- 

She picked out the earrings -- actually, she just wanted them done -- she did not care which ones went in :)

She told me she was going to scream ...

BUT

When they did it......

NOTHING.

She looked at me.... as to say, 'that's it?'

She jumped down and looked at her ears.

LOVED them!! 

AND she has showed EVERYONE!!!

All the girls were able to get a little tinsel added to their hair.

Oh, the joy :)

All 3 girlies with their friend, Ms. Jingle Bells :)

Fried chicken for lunch ...

Yes, this is a little girl favorite!

All of this with mommy AND daddy!

PRICELESS SATURDAY! 

Doctor Update -- NO pictures :)

Doctors, Doctors 

AND

more Doctors :)

That is the way this week went. 

FUN!!!

Tuesday ....

This one was for me :)

I have lots of issues with my back and neck.  

BUT

in the end I got an AWESOME massage!!!

Good appointment!

Wednesday ......

I left work ASAP so I could pick-up My Darling as soon as her school released.

She had an eye appointment.

We are blessed to take her every 3-4 months.

The easiest way to explain:

Her bottom eyelashes grow into her eyes.

This is NOT good.  It can/will scratch her cornea (it already has a bit.)

So -- since a few were doing exactly that she had to have some removed.

She is great when they do this ---

No numbing even!!!

Thursday .......

This is the BIG day.

LOTS of doctors!!!

Today starts off at clinic for BaJabs and Elizabeth.

This is actually the appointment we love. 

We sit in one room and everyone rotates to us!!!

We see nurses, a social worker, physical therapist, occupational therapist, orthopedic doctor and the prosthetic office.

WOW -- yes, x2.

 Elizabeth need x-rays -- they went perfect -- didn't look perfect but she did well!

Nurses -- both are great! Both girls weigh the same -- amazing.  Of course, Elizabeth is much older and taller but VERY thin.

Social worker -- great!

Physical therapist -- great -- for now.  We will need some support in the near future.

Occupational therapist -- loves how well Elizabeth is doing BUT we need some support -- NOT because she can't do things but we are trying to find ways to make it easier for her.  So, evaluations and therapy coming up in the new year.

Mr. F, the orthopedic doctor --- We LOVE this doctor.  

BaJabs is having some issues with her prosthesis.  

When all the explaining and evaluating is done -- 

the conclusion .....

SURGERY!!

Not overly excited BUT there is no other choice.

She has some VERY unique bones and they are not cooperating.

So, sometime this winter -- early we think, she will have MAJOR surgery to fix part of her stub.

Unfortunately, she will have to stay in the hospital a bit, be casted for 6 weeks and then a new leg.

BUT 

the outcome ... 

NO MORE PAIN!!!

Elizabeth is having some issues walking! 

When all of the explaining, x-ray reading and evaluating is done ---

the conclusion ....

SURGERY!!

NOT overly excited about this one BUT again, NO CHOICE!!!

She has some VERY unique bones as well!  Her femurs are different lengths, issues with her pelvic and hip.

Surgery will be for her hip -- which means -- 

FULL BODY CAST -- for 6 WEEKS!!!

OH MY!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have been trying to think of any other way to fix this -- there is not!

So, thankfully, we wait until next year at this time for the surgery.

Lots of time to plan and be ready.

Now for Mr. Mark the prosthetic designer.  Both girls need help. So, once we are done with everyone, we head to his office.  He wanted to make sure he could do all of the fixes OR if he had to make new legs.  THANKFULLY, all changes can be made.  BUT we have to go back next week for that.

ALL of this took 3 HOURS!

We are tired, hungry and mommy is a tad overwhelmed!

I totally did not expect all of what happened to happen.

We hit Panera's for lunch -- yes, this is the pick.  We hit the gluten free bakery for mommy and the boys.  We run into the mall to check on a Christmas gift.

AND

Finally, make the hour ride home.

BECAUSE

We now have to go to our family doctor for all of the kids.

All the kids need their flu shots.

AND

MD has to see the doctor.  Unfortunately, he has been sick for a few months and we are trying to get to the bottom of the problem.

We think it is food allergies.

The results will be back soon -- 

We are really hoping for some answers.

NOW

it is 7 pm.

Again, we are starving and tired.

We get home -- 

finish making the tacos
QUICKLY!!

EAT!

Relax for a bit--

AND all little ones in bed by 9.

AMAZING for one day/one week!

FRIDAY ..... 

mommy wakes up SICK!!  Yes, I've had a cold on and off for 2 months now. BUT it is now moving into bronchitis and a nice ear ache.

YES -- I stayed home from work!

Hopefully, a slow weekend ahead.