May your holiday be merry and bright!

Wishing all my dear friends and readers a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!  I am keeping an eye on the weather, as we are traveling Wednesday night.  Say some prayers please!  Last time we tried to fly at the holidays we were grounded by fog and then decided to drive for two days to avoid getting stuck in a winter storm.  I have a busy few days as I try to clear out the fridge and pack and get last minute items in order.  Take care all and I will be posting regularly again in the new year.

Tiny Dancer

Ballet outfit

Tap outfit

Last weekend was Ainsley's dance dress rehearsal of their recital.  She has never had dance before so we went and since this was an optional performance she danced with a different class than normal.  Both intro classes have the same routine.  All of the girls in Ainsley's regular class had other commitments that day being so close to the holiday's.  Ainsley did very well!  I was so proud of her.  I thought she would be nervous, but she was not at all.  I imagine she will do even better this coming weekend in the official performance.  I did sign her up for the next dance class but we may switch dance studios in the fall.  I love the convenience of having her dance at the Y, but the program is very disorganized.  As an example, dress rehearsal is at 2 pm and at that point they are still handing out tutu's and skirts to students.  In my opinion costumes should have been handed out at least a week in advance.  Ainsley's tutu fits well, but the skirt for tap was quite large.  I at least received her outfits the day before during her class time.  Apparently parents have complained and changes are being made to the program to prevent problems such as this in the future.  Costumes are paid for along with registration fees and will be ordered early in the class schedule as opposed to the final weeks before recital time.  Ainsley has had a blast, learned a lot and loves her teacher so that is the important thing.  On a funny note, B gets a look at Ainsley before we leave for the mall and says, "Is she wearing make-up?"  Yes, just a little.  "I don't think I like that at all!"  Oh well.  She only had a little purple and pink sparkly eye shadow,  a little cheek color, and pink sparkly lip gloss.  She looked very cute, not overly made up.  I don't like make-up on her either, but this was something special.  She has a sweet peaches and cream coloring naturally and it is something that she grows to cherish.

I am hoping to get at least one or two more posts in before I sign off until the new year.  We are traveling this holiday and leaving right after school next Wednesday.  Tons to do before then but I have a bad weather related headache and plan on taking things easy today.  Have a great day everyone!

Finishing unfinished projects...

Stuck at home on Sunday with a sick child can lead to productivity.  I set up my sewing machine area and got to work.  I had finished the top to this quilt before we moved and had pieced the backing together and even had bought the batting.  I have ignored this for a while as I have not been in the right mood.  Finally I decided to dust off the machine and put it together.  It is throw size so it went together quickly.  It is a winter quilt as the three center squares running vertically in this photo have snow men.  I will keep this one out until at least February.  Very happy with it!  Not the greatest sewing as it was one of my early block of the month sets and going back to it now I was a bit rusty.   Need to get back in the swing again and maybe start earning a little money with my sewing.  Could be a possibility.  Off to bible study potluck  so have a great day everyone.

Happy Birthday to me!

Earlier this month I celebrated a birthday.  The last birthday of my 30's!  Gah!  It is better than the alternative so I am keeping a positive outlook on my age.  The family made me a lovely red velvet cake creation.  So yummy!  My cake matches my table and curtains.  Must coordinate you know.  No, I really am not that crazy.

I was blessed with a replacement mixer which husband gifted me before Thanksgiving so that I could use it to prepare holiday desserts.  I should take a picture because it is truly a thing of beauty.  I made the investment  into a more heavy duty Kitchen Aid mixer.  Love love love it.  And it is red!
Hopefully more pictures and posts a bit later this week.  I downloaded everything off the camera and need to get to the phone.  Trying to wrap up some unfinished crafty projects as well.  One is done.  The other will not likely be done before we leave town for the holiday, but you never know.  Pictures of the finished project to follow.  Have a great week all!

Pictures!

As promised finally I will be posting some pictures of the little people.  The last two weeks have held Christmas concerts for us.  Ainsley's concert had some traditional carols sung as a family sing along.  So much fun!  I was surprised at the song choices considering this is a public school we attend.  Not that I mind the carols at all, just pleasantly surprised.  Aidan played Santa in the 4th grade choir program.  He was so cute and did such a good job.  Not nervous at all!  My hubby has the pictures of the boy in his Santa suit, but I have the one of him in his dress up duds.  I actually have Aidan home this morning.  He has been battling a cold/cough all week but this morning he was running a low grade temp.  I am actually taking him to see a pediatrician today to make sure this isn't turning into something more serious.  This is my child who rarely gets sick since having tonsils and adenoids removed.  Not usually anything more that a sniffle and never a fever.  So to the doctor we go.  Have a good weekend everyone.

Morning Dialog

Me..."Ainsley, time to get up."

Ainsley..."No Mom, it is time for sleeping and dreaming."

Sigh...this is the start of a great morning.  Hope everyone has a great day today.

Long time no blogging...

It is tough to write blog posts and mess with pictures when you have company for a week and a half!  Starting to get my home back in order this week after the folks left Monday.  Not that they or my other guests were messy mind you, they are not, it is just difficult to dust and haul around a vacuum cleaner when you have company.  Fortunately, it was pretty easy to stay on top of laundry with my one load a day method.  My parents came in the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and stayed until this Monday.  Prior to that a family from Wisconsin came to visit for the weekend, arriving Friday and leaving Monday.  I turned around the basement bathroom and sleeping area quickly to accommodate my guests.  I felt like a hotel for a bit there!  So, like I said.  I have been spending the week playing catchup and preparing for Christmas.  We are traveling this year so I have to get my shopping done early.  At least I will go into the holiday ahead of the game in that respect.  We will be spending some time with my parents and the rest of the time with my hubby's family at my SIL house.  I am grateful as well that I will be getting to spend Christmas day with my family.  Selfish of me, I know, but my SIL is spending the day with her significant other's family so I could do nothing but comply.  No arguments about it at least for another couple of years.  Sometimes it is nice when something is decided for you and it works out in your favor.  In the mean time I am trying to remember the reason for the season.  I promise I will post pictures again soon.  I say that in every post lately, but I am working on it.  Well tonight is a busy one as we have Ainsley's Christmas Concert tonight.  It will be very crowded, but cute.  Once again I am off as I need to do the school run here shortly.  Have a great weekend everyone.  Birthday celebrating at our house...what to do what to do.  Red Velvet cake for me!