Christmas Celebrations

Our Christmas was wonderful as always, but it was full of unexpected sickness.  Joey was still recovering, Abby seemed to be on the mend and then took a turn for the worst.  Then it hit Sammie on Christmas Day.  Jackie and Jerry came too, and they both were sick when they came.  Mike and Erna joined us and were completely healthy, but came down with it too a few days after they left.  It was the flu and it was so very not fun.  Olivia and I managed to not get it, although she did end up with pink eye because Grandpa brought it with him.
I have to admit I was very stressed.  I was trying to stay healthy, take care of the sick people, and trying to keep things cleaned up so that the healthy people wouldn't get sick.  I was feeling very cramped, so cramped that I was envisioning adding onto my house to have more space.  I think I was about ready to call a contractor.
I loved being with everyone in spite of being sick.  Joey made a delicious lasagna dinner for Christmas day and I made our very favorite spinach artichoke dip to much on Christmas Eve.  These little traditions make the holidays memorable.

I remember laying out by the Christmas tree after everyone had gone to bed and I just sunk into the silence and peace.  The tree looked so pretty, and the presents so sparkly, and I was reminded of the simple reason we celebrate Christmas.  I knew my family was going to be fine, we just had to get through this.  I was grateful that I had felt pretty well most of the month and that I was able to accomplish so much.

Christmas dinner was delicious and we had moments of feeling ok because of the Tylenol.  The girls loved their gifts.  They don't really have a favorite, but Santa sure had fun collecting all of the things that my girls love.
Olivia got a lapdesk to draw on and to do her homework in her bedroom, a felt letter board to put up quotes on her wall because she loves quotes and words, a book to read, and some cute clothes.
Sammie got a beanbag chair that looks like a dog, a book to read, a sewing basket full of all of the things needed to sew, and a comfy sporty outfit.
Abby got a big bean bag chair that looks like a cat, some books, a comfy sporty outfit, and a doll bed.
Their grandparents brought wonderful gifts as well and know just what they love.

We also have an elderly neighbor and his wife passed away just a few months ago.  This was his first Christmas without her.  He has been so sad.  I wanted to have my family help someone this Christmas and my neighbor kept coming to mind.  We don't know him that well, but he has always been very friendly and the neighbors on the other side of his house know him a little too.  We worked things out with them and together we bought a couple of gifts and went in the pouring down rain a couple of days before Christmas and knocked on our neighbor's door.  He was very touched by the gifts and the songs we sang.  He misses his wife so much and he doesn't have any family.  It was such a small gesture really, but I could feel the sweet feeling of the spirit as we brought a little bit of Christmas cheer to our neighbor.

December was full of activity

My December calendar seemed to be endlessly marked with concerts and drama performances.  Olivia took part in drama at the middle school this semester.  She had a little role in a skit they performed at the middle school choir concert.  I always love watching Olivia up on stage.  She does such a great job.  Their skit was from "The Christmas Story" and she played the mom.  So cute.  She really didn't want me to take a picture of her afterwards.

 Sammie had a choir concert and they sounded so beautiful.  Sammie has the sweetest look on her face when she sings in a choir.  I love it.  Their teacher is so good and Sammie has been learning so much and her voice has been getting so sweet and pretty.  I almost teared up, it all just seemed so sweet to me.

Sammie also tried out some sewing on her own and made pillowcases.  She still loves doing things with her hands and is always so talented at everything she decides to do.  It amazes me.

And then there was the December sickness.  This really wiped our family out, especially Abby.  She missed most of the last week of school before Christmas break but she did get to go one day for her "Whobilation."  Everyone was supposed to dress like a Who from Whoville while they celebrated "Grinch Week."  She missed the rest of the week and would have missed the next whole week of school too, but thankfully we were on break.  When she did eat, it was a lot of toast.

Joey and I celebrated our 15th anniversary.  I can't believe it's been 15 years!  Joey wasn't feeling that great either.  It was finals week and he got out of school early (and it was the one day Abby went to school) so we celebrated with an anniversary lunch at the 24th Street Cafe.  It's Joey's favorite place because he loves the Linguica Omelet.

Calvin just hung out being cute.

Elf Yourself

Abby is Miss Confident.  I love all these words she came up with to describe herself.

Music Teacher

I have now officially jumped from just a piano teacher to a "music teacher."  When Sammie's violin teacher moved we weren't sure what to do.  Other teachers were very expensive and we knew that commitment was an issue since she is involved in lots of things.  After some thought, I decided to teach Sammie along with two other girls that were also taking lessons from the same teacher.  We knew one another already and the girls are the same age so it seemed like a good fit, and it has been!  I have loved teaching the violin, so much that I added 2 more students to teach during the day since they are home schooled.  I feel very fulfilled teaching music, and very full.  It takes a lot of time, but we are all making it work, and the extra money has been nice for our family.  My little piano/music school has certainly grown this year and it has been so fun to see each child grow.  I love sharing music with others.  It is my favorite part about it.  Sammie has taken to the violin really well.  I love listening to her play and she did a great job at our recital.
I just want all of these kids to have a fun experience with music and develop a life-long love and talent for music.  I don't know if anyone will be a concert piano or violinist, but that's not really my goal.  We have a lot of fun, and the kids learn about music and get to share it with their families.  Some of my students even accompanied their primary at church in their Primary Program.  I was so proud of them.  Two of my violinists played in their programs as well.
I love hearing about those experiences and helping them to succeed.

Christmas Crafting

When I saw this idea for a Christmas craft, I knew my girls would love it.  They were so eager to get these finished.  We went out on a Saturday night and bought the materials and Sunday morning they were at the table ready to have me help.  I thought, this is kind of a nice Sunday morning activity since we have church at 1pm right now, and it was.  The mess was pretty big though, but what craft with kids isn't messy?  They look so adorable.  The girls hung them up on their bedroom doors to enjoy during the Christmas season.

Giving Thanks

My girls were excited to spend Thanksgiving with lots of family this year in Folsom.  I wish I had taken pictures of everyone there,  but sometimes when you are just enjoying company taking a photo isn't on your mind.  Joey's parents came too and we had a great time.  It was too short, but I look forward to seeing family again during the Christmas break.  My mom always decorates so beautifully and wanted every seat to have a nice setting.  It all looked so lovely and the food was delicious.  We enjoyed the beautiful fall day with Luke and Noah and this is about the only photo I got of any cousins together.  I loved that when I said, "let's take a picture with cousins," they lined up like this within seconds.  So cute.

Then Luke had his birthday the day after Thanksgiving.  He was so excited to have us all there.  He had a pancakes and pajamas birthday party in the morning.  I love all these cute cousins in pajamas and we are excited to meet Tyler and Brittany's baby which will be arriving very very soon.

On our way out of town, we gathered my whole family up and we went to eat dinner at a very busy In-N-Out.  Brittany snapped this cute photo of Sammie and Abby with Brielle.  Then we noticed a headlight out on our van and we changed that before we left and then hit the rode.  It was a quiet night-time drive home and we rolled in our garage around midnight.

November...

At the beginning of November or end of October (I can't remember)  Abby received an award for the quarter from her teacher for "Outstanding Effort."  Abby is always trying her best especially at school and she has such a great attitude about it.  Her teacher just loves her personality and how confident Abby is.  When Abby came home from school she asked, "Mom, what does effort even mean?"

Sammie and Abby participated in a great Veterans Day celebration at their school to honor Veterans.  It was such a sweet and patriotic experience.  Abby was excited because she was chosen to sing in a smaller group and she also tried out for a speaking part and she did so well on both, that her teacher asked her to choose if she wanted to sing or say a speaking part.  She chose singing. I got to go and watch the dress rehearsal and take some photos.
Sammie's school choir also performed and they did so well.  I can tell that choir is helping her to become a better singer.  I can't wait to hear them at their Christmas Concert soon.

Grandma Jackie came to visit for a few days.  Joey has been getting very busy with his "We the People Team."  A few weeks ago I got to have Jackie here to keep me company and help out while Joey was so busy.  Mostly we just shopped and ate out.  I felt like I was on vacation.  We had a wonderful time.  She even took all 3 girls out shopping one afternoon by herself.  Even I rarely do that.  I am so glad that I have such a fun mother-in-law, who also happens to be a champion shopper.

Soccer came to an end.  Sammie was sad to say goodbye to the season, but we are happy about a little more free time.  Our evenings aren't quite so busy.  Joey did a great job coaching Sammie's team and Abby of course made new buddies on her team.  They both did a great job and Sammie especially grew this year.   She doesn't want to do any other sport now, just soccer.

My Great Aunt Carol came to visit her grand-daughter who lives in Bakersfield.  Since we all love antique stores we met up to go out one morning.  It was fun to be together and talk about family.  It made me miss my grandma a little as I was hanging out with her sister, but I felt close to her while we visited.  I love family and the bonds that we share.

Halloween!

Happy Halloween 2016 from Belle, a goddess, and Little Red Riding Hood.  My girls love dressing up for Halloween and I love putting together their looks.  We got to re-use some costumes this year and Sammie and Abby both loved it.  It's nice when we can do that because it doesn't always work out that way.
Tonight we are going out with some friends in the neighborhood and Sammie is going with one of her friends in her neighborhood.  We enjoyed the trunk-or-treat last week and so I feel like we already have had Halloween.  I keep forgetting that it is actually tonight.  It's a nice cool day that actually feels like fall.  We don't always get that around here even at the end of October.  I am looking forward to these next months and enjoying the holidays.

Trunk-or-treating with friends at church.