December 2012

Candle Tea in Old Salem

 We all met in Old Salem to enjoy the tradition of experiencing the Candle Tea. Here we are singing Christmas songs and learning about the old organ.

 Brotherly love (for the moment anyway).

 Tried to get a picture of the three of them. No one cooperated so we gave up!

Preparing for Advent at Front Street UMC

 We made an Advent wreath.

 The kids each made an angel and then also a star ornament.

 Elf Jackson

Christmas Performances

 Little did we know we had a performer on our hands. Sarah was quite the singer at her program. We were shocked at how she did all the hand motions and sang all the songs! Quite an entertainer!

 Adam sang a couple of songs with other kindergarteners at our school's Barnes and Noble Night. The students perform, the parents attend, spend money, and our school gets some of the money back.

 Jackson had his first orchestra concert playing his viola.

Playing Twister

 Christmas

 Christmas Eve with the Faircloth's at Aunt Jeanne's house.

 Christmas Eve at our house.

 Christmas morning- Jackson's iPod from Santa.

 Got dressed and headed to Gramma and Granddad's. Sarah did not want to cooperate in the family picture.

 The girls.

 The Corriher's, the VanDusen's, the Piacentino's, the Faircloth's, and Nana

 What's in this box Ivey? (Our traditional Christmas story)

 Sarah sporting her new backpack, purse, and snow boots

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 Adam's funky drinking glasses.

These two are way too intense on those iPads.

Holiday Happenings

It's December and I have decided that it is definitely the busiest time of the year. We started our month off with a visit from Ivey. Emily and Joe came with her too! They went to Joe's Christmas party, and Ivey stayed and played with Sarah. Kevin, Jackson, and Adam headed to the Mebane Christmas Parade.

Sarah knows she is not supposed to touch the Christmas tree. I think she was surprised I was letting her touch it so I could get a picture.

Soccer has ended and basketball has started. This is Jackson's first game and the only one he's been able to make so far (I told you December was busy!). He made a shot but unfortunately we didn't get a picture of that.

Adam is playing basketball, too. He and Kevin are in a program called "Family Hoops" at the YMCA. They are learning basic basketball skills and have no organized games.

Jackson was Herbie in the 3rd grade musical, "The Reindeer Whisperer". His famous line was, "I want to be a dentist." On the same night, Adam and Sarah performed at their school. Aunt Jeanne and I watched Adam and Sarah, and then we all headed over to Smith School to watch Jackson. We made it just in time. They were singing their first song.

Adam and Sarah right before their performances.

Adam's class sang "All God's Creatures Have a Place in the Choir". He was a frog. They also sang Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer which seems to be Adam's favorite song this Christmas season.

Sarah's class sang "This Little Light of Mine" and waved their flashlights all around.

The next night I had a Christmas party to attend, so Kevin took the kids to A Victorian Christmas in downtown Burlington.

They were making it "snow" on the street. Jackson was quite shocked that he was catching soap bubbles and not flakes!

Jackson talks to Santa.

Adam talks to Santa. I heard that Sarah would give him a high five but nothing more.

Sarah is in the library "writing" her letter to Santa.

Adam must be thinking about what to write.

Jackson takes this letter writing very seriously. This would actually be his second letter to Santa.

Adam and Sarah have been taking a Creative Movement class at their day care. Miss Kim comes once a week to tell stories, dance, and do other fun stuff with them. I believe Adam has learned his days of the week by keeping up with when Miss Kim comes.

Sarah's group showed us some of the fun stuff they've done with Miss Kim.

Adam's grouped performed "Miss Kim's Nutcracker". Obviously Adam was one of the toy soldiers.

Don't let this sweet innocent look fool you!

After the Santa incident in Downtown Burlington, we thought we'd make a trial run at visiting Santa. We went to the mall in Burlington knowing that Santa wouldn't be too busy there. Sarah refused to let go of me but would let me stand next to him. She looked at the camera, they cropped me out, and viola! We got a decent picture of the three of them with Santa. We are not risking it by trying again, so this unofficial visit became our official visit this year!

The next exciting thing.... Sarah got a new bed! She is so excited to have a big girl bed. She's actually become quite possessive of it. She won't let anyone near it saying, "My bed. Get off Jackson (or Adam)!" She insists on sitting on it when getting dressed and undressed which makes it difficult to get the pants on sometimes.


Last night Adam had basketball practice and Santa showed up! Adam visited with Santa for a few and then went back to shooting hoops.

We are winding down here to the end, but the fun just doesn't stop. We are going to a live nativity and Christmas in the Park tomorrow night. I'd like to squeeze in a trip to Tanglewood, but I just don't think it's all going to fit in this year.

The boys are so excited that Christmas is only 4 days away. They anticipate opening the advent calendar each day and finding Fred, our resident "Elf of the Shelf". He has been reporting to Santa quite regularly and has even brought some letters back from Santa. Let's hope we've all behaved well enough for that visit from Santa!