Christmas Musical

Abby and Ella ran around the house singing the same songs for months as they prepared for the annual Christmas Musical. Ella was especially excited because this was her first year singing in the show (and Abby's third). It's hard to say what they were most excited about: the show OR the chance to dress fancy and wear their beautiful Christmas dresses. They were lovely! It was fun to see the way the girls personalities shone through that night.

Ella was equal parts nervous and excited. We thought it was because it was her first time and she was anxious about being in front of people while she sang, but the more we thought about it, the more we realized she has the complete opposite response when she dances in her recital (and the crowd, stage and lights are even bigger). When we asked her why she was so nervous, she told us it was because "they told her she has to stand still up there throughout the show. She wasn't allowed to dance. She just had to smile and sing the whole time. AND THAT IS SO BORING, MOM!" I assured her it would be ok if she wanted to dance with her shoulders a bit and put some movement into her song. Be you, girl! 😊 Fast forward to showtime and she had a blast. She always found a way to make eye contact with us in the audience. She put all of her joy and facial expressions into the songs. She even found a way to bounce around a bit. Ella was the little girl in the front row waving excitedly to her parents (and Uncle Cory) between songs and then got into it when it was time to sing.

On the other hand, Abby was not nervous at all. She knew what to expect and had all of the songs memorized. She was ready to get on those risers, focus on the musical director and perform her part to perfection. And she did. In fact, she didn't take her eyes off of the musical director to the point that she kind of refuses to make any eye contact with us. It has been exactly the same for the last three years. We laugh with her about it and ask her why she won't look at us (at least for a good picture?) and she said it's because she has been told to do that. Abby takes her role very seriously and told us that she is supposed to stay focused and watch for her cues. I also think it's because seeing her parents makes her a little nervous, but that's between you and me! I have to give her credit though because this year she looked over exactly once for our photo op. Though she tends to look more serious and focused up there, she had a great time too. Both girls left the performance feeling energized and ready for some celebratory hot chocolate!

The pictures and videos aren't the best. In this one you can see Abby second row from the top and second one in from the left.

Ella is on the floor in the front, two students down from Abby. This picture is a good example of what I described! Abby is looking in the complete opposite direction at the musical director and Ella is all eyes on us. We were so proud of both of them! They all did a beautiful job.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aByulkKYZUc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4br9ihuTLM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vc6wbB08tIo

With their school buddies: Abby with Christine/Ella with Gianna 

A few days later...

It was Saturday night. I was making dinner and everyone else was hanging out when there was a knock at the door. Our neighbor, Brian, was at the door with free tickets for us to Disney on Ice. The show was in two hours. It was such a fun surprise blessing! The girls were thrilled. Juliet and I stayed home and had a nice quiet night together. The big girls got ready for their special date with daddy complete with pizza and a show. It was a memory we will never forget for lots of reasons, including the kindness and generosity of our neighbor!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccigd_ExOgA

Snow!

We were all very excited to enjoy the first significant snowfall of the season a week before Christmas. It's been a couple of years since we've had enough snow to even make a snowman, so anything more than a dusting was super exciting. After all, we do live in NY!

Juliet's face during her first time in the snow made all the time it took to get five people ready in ALL the snow gear totally worth it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-kkT1uomOk

The girls had so much fun out there. Please note: The baby in our family takes her role very seriously.

Abby and Ella took turns giving Juliet sleigh rides around the front yard.

It wasn't long before some neighborhood friends wandered by and the snowman building began!

In other news, a friend sent me this picture of a really handsome guy while she was at worship team practice one night!

Juliet Grace: 15 & 16 months

Our sweet little Juliet- 

It has taken me so long to write these updates lately, mostly because our days are full of life being lived and they move so quickly. I want to learn how to be even more present in these moments and in my down time, I'm learning how to rest better. So, that means my memory blogging to-do list usually builds up more than I would like, but I'm not giving up! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lEl7pfM_bE

You are such a joy! I really enjoyed every bit of the baby months, but I also really love 'one'. I remember this with your sisters too. Just like the first year, every month we get to enjoy all the new things you are learning and all the ways you are growing and changing. These last few months with you have been so much fun in a new way. You are so responsive and express yourself to us in new big girl, toddler ways. When you hear the blender, you rush in, open the drawer, choose a cup and bring it to your daddy because your very favorite thing is your morning smoothie. Daddy makes the best peanut butter banana smoothie and you start most mornings by chugging your smoothie down in one breath. Speaking of food, I would have to say you are shaping up to be our pickiest eater by far. You love fruits (mainly bananas, grapes, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, apples and sucking the juice out of clementine slices before you spit them on the floor), but you refuse EVERY vegetable. If you were my first baby, I'm sure I would be convinced that I must have done something wrong, but as my third (with two older sisters who LOVE their veggies), I know it's just your preference right now. I'll keep giving them to you until you decide to stop throwing them on the floor. So, when you are loving brussel sprouts in your twenties and  are reading this post...know that I persevered! ;) 

You aren't walking yet, but have taken a few steps and are standing confidently on your own. We love watching the excitement on your face when you try new things and succeed. You are so proud of yourself when you stand up or take a step that you usually sit right back down to laugh and clap for yourself! You are so close to walking, but I think you just prefer getting around on all fours. Though recently you created a new method that is more like crawling/scooting, while using your right leg to get you there more quickly. It allows you to carry a book or toy, while keeping up with your sisters.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IX5RcvW0u98 

Oh, you love Abby and Ella so much! If one of your sisters cries, you imitate their crying sounds and rush over to hug them while patting them on the back to comfort them. You want to be in any and everything they are doing. Some of your new favorites are playing princess barbies with them and coloring. You love your drum and instruments, pushing your babies in the stroller and all things Sesame Street. Keeping our cell phones (and Nagymama's iPad) out of your reach is a constant. You try to sneak them every chance you get. You love crawling into your room and sitting in your reading corner by yourself with your books. You sit there for long periods of time and read book after book. Sometimes you are quiet, but lately you have been reading in a loud and animated voice. When you disappear, we know where to find you. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WN6bUr_tXCk

Abby grabbed my phone to capture this moment: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEWLyoD7Cs0

Words/sounds: da-da-da-deeee, ma-ma, poop, "moh" (more) AND shaking your head "NO"

Favorite songs: Better When I'm Dancing by Meghan Trainor and Can't Stop the Feeling by Justin Timberlake 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFpZ_gTyQLc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzIl1OZT-Is

Other things you love: 

• throwing away garbage: If you find a piece of scrap paper on the ground, you bring it into the kitchen and put it in the trash. When we leave a dirty diaper on the toy box in your room, you pick it up, carry it down the hall and put it in the trash can. 
• shoes: Not only do you love touching everyone's shoes (yuck!), but you bring us your shoes and sit in our laps to tell us you want us to put them on. 
• sitting in our laps 
• only taking one nap a day (always quite the adjustment, but I think you're settling into the new schedule more and more each day)
• every time your daddy walks in the door or comes up the stairs from work (You seriously adore your daddy. Like all smiles, all the hugs and kisses...sometimes you sit at the top of the stairs and yell for him until he comes up to give you a kiss!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBU8Mr91uRQ

• Oliver kisses and petting him 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUll7rUoKhw

• brushing your hair and brushing your teeth 
• clearing out the entire DVD cabinet! Who needs toys? On Christmas morning, the DVD cabinet is the only place you wanted to be.     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwOj2B4xqrY
• when I put your coat on...because that means you are coming with me. When you see me grab my purse or put on my shoes, you are devastated. Your little lip starts quivering and the tears start flowing until I pick you up. If I put your shoes or coat on and assure you that you're coming with me, you instantly stop crying and are all smiles. 
• weight: 23 pounds 
• height: 30.71 inches 

In other news, we learned after two weeks with a clogged toilet that we couldn't clear (and we tried all the things), that you can not be trusted around an open toilet lid. 😆 Lesson learned. Thankfully, the pen was discovered at about round 276 of serious plunging and right before we gave up and called a plumber. Crisis averted.

Words can't express the joy you bring our family. We love you so so much!

Love,
Mommy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GNKotItMvc

'Tis the Season

This year, Abby and Ella went with daddy to get our Christmas tree, while Juliet and I stayed home and prepared for their arrival. One day, we will all head out together to pick our Christmas tree, but until Juliet is walking around by herself, I think this is the better option.

Decorating day is one of the most exciting of the season. The girls are enthusiastic helpers and were thrilled to show Juliet all of the lights, ornaments and nutcrackers.

Juliet's famous "look"

Even Oliver got in the spirit when he saw his stocking...

...and when we put the tree skirt on, he curled up in his very favorite Christmas spot.

Happiness is...

This was one of our new additions this year. I love that our girls fell asleep with this as their nightlight. I think this is the stuff magical memories are made of. It just makes bedtime better (and bedtime is NOT usually easy).

By the middle of a full school week, it always feels like we are flying in too many directions and need some serious time to regroup. This day seemed like the perfect day for a sweet treat and Home Alone (the book...girls aren't ready for the movie yet) by the tree after school. The girls were horrified when they thought Kevin's parents left him because he was in a time out...relieved when I told them about the power outage.

My beautiful big girl is getting so big. She is counting down to 7 and I can hardly believe it!

All of my babies and twinkle lights 💗

'Tis the season for all things glitter! The girls and I find all kinds of reasons to craft and make pretty things with glitter, so around Christmas...the opportunities seem endless. What do you get when you put six girls at a table with a little glue, colored paper, pom poms, pipe cleaners, sequins, stickers and GLITTER? Lots of candy cane reindeer, a bunch of beautiful homemade Christmas cards and a baby girl covered in glitter because she is crawling around on the floor under the table.

Love these girls! 

Ella, Anna Kate, Lucy, Abby and Samantha 

The girls danced and we visited with nursing home residents in place of a Christmas show/recital this year. It was just what my heart needed as we kicked off Christmas week. I love this picture because it captured my reality that night: I was mom and teacher. My girls danced and then my dance girls danced (back left corner). So much real life and real joy in one small room.

As I watched the girls dance, I kept thinking about the advent story I read recently. It was about Queen Esther's life and Jesus, the moments they were made for. The message of the story whispered powerful words that were lived out in front of us last night: "Use your gifts to give others the gift of life...There's your heart, brave and beautiful and changing the world, giving love to the world, making the world dance with life and light and love." It was beautiful. It was "true" Christmas.

I love the shoes my teen pop girls will wear this year for their performances.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7VloQ32w0A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2RE4NYaFAc

Abby's nativity drawing 💗

Ms. Anne and Mr. David came for their annual visit. We always love having them here with us. The girls brought Anne and David to dance class on Monday night and then had a dinner date with them. On Tuesday morning, Abby left for school and Ella and Ms. Anne baked Christmas cookies together. So many special memories...

This year, Ella's Pre-K teacher asked me to make a gingerbread house for the class to decorate together. The girls and I have done many gingerbread houses, but they have always been the pre-fab box version. Designing and constructing a house from scratch was a little nerve wracking on a weekend when Joe was out of town, It was challenging, but by the end I could honestly say it is something I look forward to doing again! 

Ella decorated it at school with all of her classmates! Then, the class gave the gingerbread house to a local shut-in. 

Early mornings by the Christmas tree 

Hanging with Uncle Cory 

We enjoyed our annual night of holiday lights in the park. First stop: Starbucks for some peppermint hot chocolate goodness. This year, all three girls were able to stay awake to enjoy the pretty lights.

Even Oliver enjoyed the lights.

I loved our festive table this year.

As always, we watched lots of Christmas movies together!

I had so much fun with my first round of gingerbread that as I prepared for my annual Christmas cookie swap, I decided to add gingerbread to my list. I think a new tradition began this year! The girls and I made a bunch of houses and mini men, then had the best time decorating them!

Getting cookie swap ready and our house smelled amazing. There was flour on all the surfaces, but I had the happiest little four year old baker and it smelled like Christmas perfection in our house all day!

When I wake up in the morning and walk into the living room, my lap looks like this in 2.5 seconds. #girlsquad

7th Annual Christmas Cookie Swap!

The goodies.

When I invited a few friends over to swap cookies seven years ago, I didn't any babies and I was new in town. Seven years later: our group has grown and like most traditions, it gets sweeter every time. It was a night full of cookies, Christmas, friends and lots of laughter. I love each of these ladies and I'm so thankful for their friendships (including Amanda who left before the pic).

Heidi, Sarah, Heather, Heather, Angela, Christine, me, Kim

We even enjoyed a fun play date with Ella's school friends.

Ella is a little momma. She is always taking care of or cooing at the nearest baby.

Both girls had Christmas parties at school!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuDOGtR1H1g

December is a busy month, but we were intentional about slowing down in the midst of a busy season. No agenda on this day (besides getting outside to play in the snow together), nowhere to be, nothing pressing to be done. This was how the morning started and we spent the whole day taking it just as slow. We rested, soaked it all in and enjoyed the moments.

When a box full of Christmas presents arrives in the mail and it quickly becomes obvious what the best gift in the box is...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hib8yfuoRTE

It's the simple things!