Nutcracker + Christmas + Family

We've had a whirlwind couple of weeks and I've taken about a million pictures...

Start waayyyyy back with Nutcracker Rehearsal at the Theater on Thursday night. Grandma and Grandpa were very kind to get Shelly picked up from school and to the theater on time since I was at work. Friday I took the day off so I could get her to the theater on time (again) for dress rehearsal. Grandma and Grandpa weren't left out of the fun, though, they took Eli for the weekend. Let's not forget Archer - he packed himself up and took off with the scouts for a weekend of camping. And. A beautiful dress rehearsal kicked off the weekend of performances.



Saturday and Sunday. Three performances, so many compliments to the dancers and of course the best dancer of all was Shelly. She had a new role this year, as a Sheep. She was the cutest one.

Archer made it home Sunday morning after a weekend with an entire Scout camp for their small group of five people. Did I mention that the Blizzard of the Century blew through on Friday night? The Scout camp was covered in 40 feet of snow so the boys spent the weekend sledding and snowball fighting and whatever else Scouts do when camping in the snow.

We had a little Christmas gathering with Grandma and Grandpa after the final performance on Sunday. We all breathed a sigh of relief that another Nutcracker season was closed. Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa for assisting with the taxi duties, and for hanging onto E for the whole weekend so he didn't have to see the Nutcracker four times. You two always come through for us!

Fast forward six days, Hello Christmas!

Remember when Archer was the same height as these Nutcrackers?

We enjoyed our traditional visit to the campground for the light show, a visit from Santa, and Christmas with the cousins. This was the year of Nerf and RC toys. I tried to tally it up. The addition to the F5 Arsenal is something like 120 Nerf darts, 4 Nerf guns, 4 quadcopters, 2 cars, 1 helicopter and a whole lot of Cracker Jack. There might also be somewhere around 1,000 new Lego? And who gave Elijah Graham 110 marbles?

This is what I know - the rule of "no small parts" is 100% broken because for the last three days I've barely been able to walk without stepping on a weapon or some kind of ammo. I also know this. There has been a lot of running around, screaming with delight, laughing as the kids and quadcopters chase each other around corners. All around, a happy Christmas season for all.

Archer Art

Archer's path through the woods reminds me of a place near our home. I'm not sure if that's what he had in mind, but it feels peaceful to me. I can close my eyes and picture his drawing, and picture this place that we've been to so often, and think of all the nice memories I have of that place. Nice work, Archer, very nice.

First Snow - First Shovelling

We had a little snow yesterday and the kids seemed shocked when we ordered them outside to shovel. Out they went. There wasn't enough snow on the driveway to keep them entertained so they moved on to shovelling the yard. Yes, shovelling the yard. There was some shouting and some snow throwing and they all came in laughing a half hour later. Welcome Winter!

Shelly Art

Way back in the summer of 2015, Shelly enjoyed a couple weeks of art camp. I promised to share a taste of her work, and never really got around to it. But, after a year and a half, we've narrowed it down to her favorites, and here's a little taste of her work. Enjoy!

Everything I Know About Baking Cookies

I learned from my mom.

1. Take the time to do it, it takes your mind off other things. 

2. It's a social thing, involve the family. Take the time to manage whose turn it is to mix the batter, who gets to add the next ingredient, take the time to let the rest of the family help. Invest in your relationships with your family. 

3. It's a social thing, share your cookies generously with everyone who asks, and with those who don't. Show up with a gift everywhere you go, invest, visit your family and friends. 

4. Show people they can count on you, we always know Mom will be ready with cookies, no matter what occasion comes up. Or maybe there's no occasion, but she's ready for us.

5. Ask for help when you need it, and maybe even if you don't. Are they done yet? Put them on this plate. Take them over there. See number 2.

Quality Time

Once upon a time, I wanted to have kids. Once upon a time I knew that I would be a mom who would never yell, a mom who would be perfectly patient with my lovely angels all the time. And oh, the angels. My children would be polite and kind, they'd never argue, they'd never have dirt under their nails, eat too much candy....

Are your rolling your eyes and laughing at me yet? When was that Once Upon a Time? Obviously, it was before I had children. Anyway, as part of my little fantasy land, I believed we'd have a healthy, homemade meal together every night. Go ahead and laugh some more. I don't cook, I hate it, and I'm not very good. When I'm do cook, it's not unusual for something to go wrong and for me to say, "ok everybody, pizza tonight!" after there's an awful taste to whatever it was I just pulled out of the oven. And don't forget the smoke. Usually there's a lot of smoke.

Alright, where was I going with all that? I thought we'd have Family Dinners. Here's reality. We don't have family dinners. Our schedules don't match up quite enough for everyone to eat at the same time. Our culinary preferences almost never match up. So most nights now sound like this...

Ok everyone, it's time to eat. Are you hungry? Come to the kitchen and find some food. Then I list the leftovers or the stuff that I'm willing to make tonight, do you want mac and cheese or grilled cheese or spaghetti? Everyone grabs something, eats as quickly as they can and rushes back to some other activity. It's enough to make you feel really disconnected and depressed about how we don't spend time together. But here's the secret success, here's our Quality Time. Once we're all home for the night, after Scouts, Ballet, Work, we all settle down on the couches in the living room. We talk about homework, we play the piano, we talk about anything and everything. And that's where the best part of our day sneaks in. We're in the same room together, not arguing for the moment, snuggling and reading and I can't even list all the good stuff that happens. But those moments are the glue that keeps us all together.

I know it looks like they're all busy playing with electronics. But they really are enjoying each other's company, laughing and playing games together. For real. They are. 

Cute Little Story - I walk in the door and say "You can see Orion really clearly tonight." Archer knows exactly what this means and runs outside to gaze up at the stars. Shelly and Eli follow him out, but everyone realizes its too cold and runs back into the dining room. Archer tries to point out Orion while Shelly and Eli crowd around him and they're all standing inside but leaning outside and it's too crowded there in the doorway but it's too cold and WHERE is Orion's belt? And that's why I don't worry about Family Dinner, we're stargazing.