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.