Busy Bees

These past 3 months have been BUSY!  

First, my girls are on a swim team that practices 3 times a week.  (Even through the break!) You should see their developing arm muscles!

Karsten has also been swimming twice a week. 

And Karsten is a pumpkin.  As in a key player on his Pumpkin soccer team! 

Sierra's still playing violin with a lesson once a week and practicing daily.

Skyla has been dancing with a lesson once a week with a recent performance and lots of rehearsals.  (And not practicing piano which will change after the new year, right Skyla?!) 

And I, as the official (and only current driver in the family) am officially worn out!  I feel like I could take a nap for 100 years...

Zoo Pass Expires

But not until we had one last trip!

Our tradition continues...

Ice skating on Christmas Eve is a tradition we started the first time we lived up here 8 years ago.  Sierra was 4 years old and Skyla was a baby!  I used to pull her around on the sled.  So even this year though David was only able to spectate rather than skate, it was important to the kids that we continue our tradition.  Granted, this year we had to go on Christmas Day rather than Christmas Eve since it was -6 degrees.  It warmed up to a balmy 0 and was perfect.  :)

Merry Christmas!

Hugs, smiles, loves, and kisses to all our friends and family near and far.  
Hope your Christmas is magical!

T'was the Night Before Christmas

And all through the house, not a creature was stirring, 
not even a mouse.

  The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, 

in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

 The children were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of sugarplums danced in their heads.

I LOVE that my kids decided to sleep together because it's exactly what me and my brother and sister used to do - up until I was married! 

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Eclipse and a life lesson

Yes, that little blob in the sky is really our amazing view of the eclipse.  You should have seen how excited Sierra was when I said, "Come on, let's go watch the eclipse!"  (Yes, she was thinking I was going to let her watch the movie.)  It started to get foggy and we couldn't see it when it turned red.  We called some friends to see if they could see it where they were, but it was foggy downtown too.  I was ready to turn into bed but Sierra insisted that we drive up the mountain to see if we could see it.  David told her that was crazy and there was no way it wouldn't be foggy up there.  I could see she really wanted to go so I said I would go, but only to appease her.  We couldn't just drive out of the fog, right?  We piled into the car and headed up the mountain.  Suddenly Sierra started yelling and I pulled the car over.  No fog.  Only bright white stars in the black night and our full moon bright red from the eclipse.  It was spectacular.  I'm so glad Sierra persisted!  Of course I tried to apply it to real life about when someone says you can't do it, you have to follow your dreams.  Thank goodness it was dark so I couldn't see her roll her eyes. 

What an amazing night. 

Holiday Secret

Underneath these layers and layers of clothes and socks and jackets and slippers, I have a secret.  No one gets to see it, because of the layers and layers of clothes and socks and boots and slippers, but I know what's underneath and it just makes me smile.  :)

Nothing like a pedicure in the winter with girlfriends to make my holidays bright!  My girlfriend and I even wore no nylons AND open-toed shoes to church on Sunday so we could share our secret.  It was a big mistake as I've never had such three hours of cold in my life.  So these toes will continue to remain a secret. 

Worstest Day Ever

Things are black and white when you're six.  It's either good or bad.  For Karsten, one thing goes bad and it's "the worstest day EVER!"  Problem is, I hear that every single day.  Maybe multiple times.  And sometimes I even hear (on the same day as the "worstest" day), "This is the bestest day ever mom!" There are no in-between moments in Karsten's world.

I have since banned Karsten from labeling his day.  We're working on the concept of moments and being in charge of what kind of day you're going to have.  I sure do love my Karsten!!

Let it snow!

Happy Winter Solstice!

 

Nutcracker

Here is my little Nutcracker!  Skyla just performed at her Christmas recital for her jazz dance class.  I love watching her on stage.  I'm so proud of her!  She is so full of confidence and smiles when she's out there.  I love it.  The bummer is that before the performers come off stage, they make them take off their costume so I never get any pictures of her at the performing arts center! 

 

And on a different note yet still exuding that confidence that I love, this is what she wore to school today to show her "holiday spirit". 

Bummer

Three more weeks of the big brace.  We were hoping for some better news.  Ugh. 

Mountain of Cream

A cake was not needed to celebrate this little guy's birthday.  The only thing he wanted was a "mountain of cream". 

Six-year-old Birthday Boy

Birthday Breakfast tradition

From morning until night we celebrated this little man.  Can you guess what his favorite color is?

Karsten chose tomato soup for his special birthday dinner.  I'm sure he chose it because it is his favorite, not because it would match my color theme, but it sure made for an impressive dinner! 

We are so lucky to have Karsten in our family.  He is so funny and so cute and so imaginative!  There are worlds and worlds he's created in that cute head of his.  He is independent and has his own way of thinking and doing things.  And my favorite thing right now is how much he loves his mommy, ME!  He would rather be with me running errands than be home without me.  I know that won't last forever so I am treasuring every minute!  How could I be so lucky to have such a sweet, cuddle bug for a son.   

Karsten with his loot

Chocolate

For Karsten's birthday, we took him to Build a Bear for the first time ever.  My guy isn't really a stuffed animal guy - he's never really had a special one that he would sleep with, etc.  Well, that was before he met Chocolate.  Chocolate is what he named his green camouflaged bear.  I have never seen him love a toy so much!  When I asked him what his bear's  name was for the birth certificate, he said Chocolate.  Hmmm.  Are you sure?  We gave him some really cool name ideas like Kenai, Denali, Hunter, Forraker- all of which he loved and said yes to.  But when I asked him again what his bear was named he said, "Chocolate."  Chocolate it is! 

And because of chocolate, I was able to get THIS picture.  Thank you Chocolate!!

It turned out we had never taken Skyla there either!  So here is Skyla with Kenai Sierra; named after her sister who donated her portion of getting a bear to Skyla so Sky could get a more expensive one. How sweet is that?!

Medium

Kids are never predictable.  So throwing a surprise party for Karsten who insisted that he did NOT want a party was risky at best.  But he's my baby so this was my last chance to throw a party for a turning 6-year old!  And he refused a party last year so I just had to have one for him to show him that birthday parties are FUN!  So we went sledding, and suddenly all of his friends showed up!  He didn't seem too clued in about this.  He was just happy to have friends there.  After sledding everyone raced back to our house for the surprise.  He sensed something was up and would NOT come upstairs.  Few tears.  Not happy.  No problem.  Everyone yelled surprise from the balcony.  My friend Carolyn saved the party by sending down a present to open (the coolest nerf gun) and then he was happy.  Problem solved.  Good times.  He had so much fun playing with all his friends and eating yummy food and getting awesome presents.  I felt very good about how it all went down.

As Karsten was heading to bed, David had him come and tell me thank you.  

"Thank you so much for my party mom."  

"You're welcome, did you have so much fun?"  

His reply, "Medium."  

From my son who did NOT want a party, I will take this as success.  

Christmas Tree Star

Putting the star on top of the tree is a privilege each child gets once every three years since they have to take turns.  Skyla was stacking book upon book on the chair trying to get high enough.  I tried to help her.  I think it was easier when they were 2... 

Turkey anyone?

 While I am very sad that my baby is in KINDERGARTEN, I must say, I love kindergarten!!!  

The Thanksgiving program was the cutest thing ever.  Turkey legs anyone?

And the really special thing was that even though it was in the middle of the day, Dad was able to come!  Having a broken neck has some privileges.  :)