sing, sing, sing

'Tis the season for lots of singing...fa la la la la la la la la.  The Mayor had two performances last weekend at church.  The adult choir had their annual Christmas program and the children's choir joined them for two songs.  It was adorable...and hysterical.  The Mayor did great; we really were so proud of him.  He stood in his spot, he wasn't fidgety and he wasn't freaked out by the crowded sanctuary filled with strangers watching.  However, we have two large big screens on each side of the sanctuary and The Mayor caught a glimpse of himself on the screen and that was it.  He spent the remaining portion of the program watching himself on the big screen.  At one point, he actually held his arm out to see his hand on the TV when his entire body wasn't in the picture.  Oh my, I couldn't stop laughing.  It was absolutely so precious and innocent.  And it did feel good to know he wasn't the only one...several of those sweets were so excited to see themselves on the big screen.  He would also look forward to watch his choir director and then you would see his face and just the white of his eyes because he was trying to cut his eyes to look at the screens without turning his head.  I don't have any pictures of him but I do have video!

Sunday morning we went to see Santa.  The kids did great, and The Mayor wrote his own letter to Santa this year.  I just love this Santa...we get to make an appointment so there is no standing in line for hours and we get a DVD made of their visit.  We love going back and watching all of our visits with Santa over the years.  The kids think it is the best to see themselves with the big guy and they really get a kick out of seeing themselves as babies with him.

posing for the picture

going over their lists

love these sweets

Tuesday, Love Bug had her school Christmas program.  She was precious.  It is so funny the difference between boys and girls.  She immediately found us in the crowd, waved and stood in her spot and sang proudly.  She took it very seriously and sang her sweet little heart out.  After her performance, we went back into her classroom for a little reception and then the day was over.  Ah, preschool in December.  Since she had early release because of her Christmas program, I decided to check The Mayor out of his school early and D and I took them to see the Disney movie Frozen.  The movie was so adorable and the kids had a great time.  It was a fun treat checking him out of school early and spending family time together.  I'm not sure how often we will do these types of things since The Mayor actually was upset I checked him out.  Even after I told him we were going to see a movie he asked for me to take him back to school!  He was missing his specials and wanted to go back.  Ha!  Totally not my kid!  He finally started getting excited once I let them pick out some candy at Target to take to the movies.  But I'm not sure he ever was on board with this plan 100%.

singing proudly

proudly ringing those sleigh bells

Love Bug and her buddy Paige

Wednesday evening Love Bug had another little program.  Since she is in preschool choir at church, they don't have an actual performance like The Mayor did when they joined the adult choir, so the preschool choir had a mini-performace for the parents.  She was so excited to see us and enjoyed singing for us.  After they sang, we had a little party back in their classroom.  It was sweet seeing her and the other preschoolers who participate in choir singing.  She really has a love of music...just like her momma.  I hope she carries that with her throughout her life.

waving to us

love her...this is how she prays.  She takes it very seriously, puts her hands together and keeps those little eyes shut

singing

Thursday, D had to travel to South Georgia because Big Daddy was having back surgery.  I wish I had been able to be there but the kids had school.  D got up at 2am to travel down there to see his dad before his 7:30am surgery.  The surgery went well and D was home around 11pm that night.  We will see Big Daddy over Christmas break...we can't wait!

Friday was The Mayor's holiday party at school.  I am the lead room mom in his class so it was day I was really looking forward to...because I was ready for it to be over.  Not that I don't love planning class parties for my kids but it is completely different once you are in the public school.  For instance, this was a holiday party...not a Christmas party.  And the school doesn't want the students just eating junk while everyone socializes.  The party was centers based.  So we had 6 centers/activities and the students were in groups and rotated through.  It took a lot of planning but after all was said and done, it was a great party.  The students had a blast and the teachers were so pleased.  I was completely worn out afterwards...I really don't know how teachers do it day in and day out.  Kudos to all teachers!

making a superhero craft with his friend (the classroom theme is superheroes so we had a craft to match the classroom theme)

waiting in line for the bean bag toss

posing in his cute shirt

holiday bingo

making fingerprint snowflake ornaments

reindeer donuts

waiting in line for pin the buttons on the gingerbread man

Friday night, D and I had a graduation party to attend for our dear friend's daughter (who happens to be our favorite babysitter) and then Saturday, D and I were downtown for a concert with some friends.  It was a great whirlwind weekend.  But now D is starting to get sick from his crazy week and I am about to use toothpicks to keep my eyes open.  This upcoming week is the last week of school before break.  Love Bug's last day is Wednesday and The Mayor's last day is Thursday.  Can't believe Christmas is almost here!

my favorite time of year

I was laughing this morning when I thought back to when I started this blog.  I wrote a post every single night when there was pretty much nothing going on except naps and running errands to Target.  Now life is busy, the kids are growing up so quickly and I have tons to write about...and I never post!

So....another post with about 3 weeks of activity crammed in.

The Mayor had a book report at school earlier in November.  The students had to dress up like their favorite book character and do a short book report describing the main characters, setting, and what happens in the beginning, middle and end of the book.  His favorite book is The Lorax.  Thankfully, Pottery Barn Kids decided to sell a Lorax costume this year and since the report was in November, the costume was ridiculously marked down.  I spent less on the professionally made costume then had I bought materials and tried to make my own.  Whew.  And bonus...he looked absolutely adorable.

The kids both had off the entire week of Thanksgiving and since it was our year to be in South Georgia, we decided to go for the entire week.  I think I was more excited than the kids to go see MeMe and Big Daddy and just get away.  The thought of having an entire week without getting up to make lunches and be at the bus stop by 6:50 in the morning was a dream for me.  

The week was amazing and went by too quickly.  It was great being with family and having a week with no agenda.  We spent time in Valdosta shopping and hanging out and lots of time playing outside in MeMe and Big Daddy's big backyard.  We built bonfires, roasted marshmallows and laughed while watching the cousins play.  We really are so blessed to only be 4 hours away and playing like no time has passed when we are finally all together. 

roasting marshmallows

tried to get some pictures for the Christmas card...these are some of my favorite outtakes

just love them...they are so sweet and crack each other up

this is so my life

sweet Love Bug and Big Daddy

the grandkids with Big Daddy

cousins

MeMe and Big Daddy

Aunt Nat and Love Bug

happiness...Love Bug fell asleep while cuddling with D

We actually celebrated Thanksgiving on Wednesday.  Since we were leaving first thing Friday morning and Aunt Nat and Uncle Tom needed to see his family on Thursday, we thought it would be best to spend all day Wednesday together so no one felt rushed on Thursday.  The food was amazing and of course we all ate too much.  It was everything Thanksgiving was supposed to be.  

Thursday we lounged around the house, did laundry and started packing up for the trip back home.  It was sad to leave but thankfully we will see them all soon for Christmas.  

We arrived home around lunch time on Friday and after eating lunch and unpacking, we went to PopPop's house to see him and our cousins!

The Mayor and Bennett...they adore each other

Saturday we ventured up to the Christmas Tree Farm with Meega's family and PopPop and picked our tree.  It was so cold.  But the kids had a great time being together, riding the tractor around the property, roasting marshmallows at the fire and picking our gorgeous tree.  After we picked our tree we all went to lunch and then home to decorate.  Our tree ended up being sort of a disaster...long story cut super short...after 2 plus hours trying to get the tree to stay in the stand straight (which we use this tree farm's stand and they drill a hole in the trunk of the tree so it literally takes 3 seconds to pop the tree in and it is straight), using plastic shims under the trunk to keep it level and waking up to the water bowl still completely full (which meant the tree wasn't taking in water), I took the tree back to the farm and got a new one.  The guy who owned the farm was amazing and apologetic.  So Sunday after getting the new tree in the stand (this time only taking 3 1/2 seconds) we got the house decorated.  It is finally Christmas in this house!  

The Mayor and Walker

warming up by the fire

on the tractor

Buddy our elf arrived and the kids love having him back from the North Pole.  I really wish that elf would visit year round...the kids are acting like angels.  The Mayor came home on purple today from school!! First time ever!  He was so proud and the first thing out of his mouth was "we need to get home so I can tell Buddy I got on purple".  Seriously thinking about writing Santa a letter requesting Buddy move in permanently.  

We are getting back into our routine.  It has rained all week and rain is forecasted through Monday.  Ugh.  This month is crazy busy with fun activities, which is good because there are lots of opportunities to make great memories, but it is also bad because it just means the month is going to fly by.  This time of year is just my absolute favorite...I want it to slow down.  

7 days in

Wow...7 days of November are almost gone.  In just over 2 weeks we will be South Georgia bound for Thanksgiving and then it will be December immediately after that!!!!  Where has this year gone?!

I can not believe I have skipped over a huge milestone in Miss Love Bug's life.  Her bedroom is finally pink!!  Did I mention that?  I am so behind on blogging that I am not even sure if I have already written about it.  Oh well, I will mention it again.  The princess finally has her pink room.  The Mayor and Love Bug were both eager to help...and they can't wait until it is time to paint The Mayor's room.

The Mayor's fun run was a couple of weeks ago, but because of our awesome family and close friends, he raised quite a bit of money and came home with a lot of fun prizes.  These glasses were some of his favorites from the week.

We spent the morning after The Mayor's family party with an 8am bonfire and s'mores for breakfast.  I mean, when you turn 6 it is only fitting to have s'mores for breakfast.  I love making these memories with the kids.  It is fun to break the rules every once in awhile.

That afternoon the kids made spooky haunted mansions.  These kits were super cute, super cheap and super easy for them to put together and decorate.  They were so proud of their creations.  They were on display until yesterday...they kept picking at them while they ate and the shelf life of these cute houses had run its course.

Love Bug had a fall festival at her school last week and she was beyond excited I was in her class.  She is a little jealous I am able to volunteer in The Mayor's class as I often as I do but there just aren't opportunities in the preschool like there are in the public schools.  So the look on her face when she saw me in her classroom was priceless.  I just love that sweet girl.  She barely left my side the rest of the day...she wanted me to sit by her during crafts and lunch and was reluctant to go to the indoor playground with her class because she was afraid I was leaving.  I promised her I wasn't leaving and watched her play through the window.  One happy girl.

This past weekend we decided to have Sunday Funday.  D and I have been dealing with some sinus stuff so we skipped church and took the kids to the gym and let them swim in the indoor pool for a couple of hours.  After the pool, we took The Mayor to the indoor rock wall at the gym and let him climb it.  They have family climb hours where a few of the walls have auto belays so we just put The Mayor into a harness, clipped him onto the belay and off he went.  He climbed about 6 times and each time he would get higher.  And when he didn't want to go any higher, he would lean back and push off to get down the wall.  He was a little professional.

Tomorrow The Mayor has a book report at school.  The students have to dress up like their favorite book character then talk about the main characters, the setting, and what happens in the beginning, middle and end of the story.  He had to write it all out and will present it to the class.  And reminder, he is in kindergarten.  Crazy.

Looking forward to the project being over and the weekend starting.

the mayor made this spider at school...and I don't want to ever forget it.  

Best.  Spider.  Ever.