Cookies!!!!

Traditions!!!

Cookie making day at Farmer Nanny's!!!!

The ENTIRE family joins in for hours of cookie making :)
There are 4 siblings in Matt's family
each with a spouse = 8
AND
a total of 13 children
ages 5 to 15.
EQUALS
FUN (and a mess, too)

Thankfully, nanny has all the dough made before we arrive.
5 butter cookie batches and 3 gingerbread cookie batches

 Some of the girls helping Aunt Audrey cut out cookies.

 Elizabeth showing off one of her Christmas tree cookies.

More cutting out!

 Once they come out of the oven --
everyone starts decorating.
LOTS of frosting!!! Yes, we use mustard and ketchup bottles filled with frosting to cut down on the mess.

 She's trying!

 More decorators!

 Just gotta eat the broken ones.  
YUMMY!

 Lots of help!

Many, Many gingerbread men/boys!

Beautiful!

After we are all done, each family gets to take some home.
BUT
Some of the cookies are added to the baskets that are delivered to some of the 'neighbors.'

Yes, it is getting harder and harder to get everyone together before Christmas to do this -- especially with all the kids getting older.
BUT
It was well worth the effort
AS
there is much fun 
working together!!!

Last Day of School --

Well, the wish for a snow day has failed!!!

Yes, there is SNOW 

BUT 

Not enough to stay home!

 The girls seem to love the snow coming down.

 Another cutie!!

AND

for the record --

the mommy, who had to drive to work/school in this, was NOT overly happy.

Snow is definitely NOT something I like!!!

Warm, southern weather is more my style -

Elizabeth and My Darling  had to bring the vegetable platter for their class party.  SO, we made a Christmas tree vegetable platter for 30.  It turned out adorable AND there was very little left!

I was able to get out of school in time (and thankfully, the weather had cleared up a bit) to pick-up the girls at their school.

They were so surprised AND excited --

they hate riding the bus.

Really,

This mommy is SO excited to start the LONG Christmas break.

I just couldn't wait to get them :)

I LOVE spending time with my family.

FUN,FUN,FUN

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!