Christmas-ing

We have enjoyed the Christmas season, but even Nora said December has flown by!  Parents are not allowed to attend parties anymore at Lakeside K through 5th grade.  Sad and hopefully temporary, but I am homeroom mom in Nora's class and got to go decorate gingerbread cookies, read a book and do a craft with them.  Nora said the parties are more fun without parents because we aren't taking pictures and interrupting their games, DF said they aren't nearly as much fun without the parents anymore.  Go figure.  DF had to miss his party because he was home all week with the flu.  It was a mild case and he's over it and we are thankful for that! We got to go to Garvan Gardens with Grandpa and see Santa Claus- Isaac tried to take off his hat and told him he wasn't real.  Ha!  Kids had a balloon/ magic show party at the Country Club, and we got to go to Ikey's class party.  It was really cute and he was thrilled his Meme and Grandpa came and told me to take a picture so we could "memember it".  3 kids, 3 different personalities to keep things interesting! The countdown is on to the big day and I am so happy to have incredible friends, like amazing friends.  A good family, good health, and have felt more of the Joy of the Season and big reason for that is because we slowed it down a bit. My kids asked me if Christmas was my favorite holiday (or April Fools) and I was saddened by my answer.  It used to be, but not when I became a grown up and now it stresses me out.  What a scrooge!!  I tried to change that, for me and for them.   It's been hard at the end of 2018, really hard.  My lesson is to try to let go of my need to be in control, which I didn't used to have as strongly.  But right when I think I'm in control of my life, my plans, my family, even my own day, I am quickly reminded I most certainly are not.  The phone might ring with bad news, accidents and injuries happen.  But this season I am trusting and rejoicing in The Prince of Peace.  

 2018, thanks for the lessons but bring on 2019! 

George West 2018

Well this trip may be one the boys and their dads talk about for the rest of their lives.  All of the boys and dads have spent a lot of time in the outdoors together, but this trip they all killed great deer and ended it with an impromptu stop at the Cowboys game on their way home with Field passes for the end of the game.  Franklin said DF's kill was the biggest deer he'd ever seen at The Place.  These daddies do such a good job investing in them and teaching them about guns and safety, and much much more.  They are pretty pooped but I think it was all worth it! Special group of boys and men.

Preschoolers sing at chruch

The preschool children sang as the animals from in the Manger when Jesus was born.  Not much cuter than children singing on stage with animals masks and making Moo and Baaa sounds.  Nora was the helper and loved every minute of that too.  Ikey boy did great!!  

Quick holiday trip to Dallas

While the dads and boys were hunting in south Texas, Kim and I took the others plus a friend for Adalie, Parker to Dallas for the ICE exhibit at the Gaylord Hotel, and indoor waterpark fun at Great Wolf Lodge.  We all had so much fun, and Isaac was a brave boy, wanting to go down the fastest, biggest slides and didn't miss a beat.  He is so much fun, and can hang with the boys or the girls.

2nd grade girls go visit the nursing home

There is a nursing home down the street that we periodically go and visit and take homemade crafts too.  Nora especially loves to do this so I asked some of her friends (10 girls) to come over on Saturday and decorate some popsicle stick snowflakes and take them to the nursing home with us.  It was a first for several of them and after some nerves, they really brightened a lot of people's days!  A girl also mentioned singing a Christmas carol and next thing I know, I hear an announcement on the intercom that there will be singing in the common room- and that was us!  So the girls and I sang a few songs and everyone really loved it. It was funny and unexpected and precious.  I hope the girls remember it for a long time.  

Nora looses her front tooth- with a lot of help.

Nora's front tooth was turning colors and moving.  It was a baby tooth and the dentist said leave it and let nature take it's course.  We waited and tried that but it was getting worse and he said he needed to take it.  It was in there more than he even thought, it was stuck in the tissue and the tissue was infected.  No way it was coming out on it's own.  Dr. Nick took very good care of her and she was afraid so after mom got silly and took silly pumpkin face pictures and Nora got some laughing gas, she was good to go and out it came.   The tooth fairy was good to this brave girl!