What December Looked Like

To the Pointe Ballet Studio got participate in the

Greensboro Christmas Parade this year.

So pretty!

Some of the big balloons we saw on our way to the route.

Company girls

Oh, I'm so sad these girls are getting split up when Miss Shelley moves.

It was not perfect parade weather.

It started raining soon after the parade started.

Luckily, they were prepared with PONCHOS.

The rain didn't stop them from smiling!

B didn't do marching band this year, but he still

marched with the band for the parade.

PGSA chorus had the magnificent opportunity to perform

Handel's Messiah with HPU's chorus.

Look at their fancy auditorium!

With GIANT nutcrackers.

It was a BEAUTIFUL concert!

AND, they live streamed it so that grandparents 

across the country could see it, too. So cool.

Here are a couple of snippets

Whitney is on the left side, top row, about the sixth from the end.

All of us sung Messiah around the house for weeks.

Such a beautiful, talented young woman.

We took the girls to Burger Batch afterwards.

Yummy yum yum.

A perfect December night.

Andrew and Whit singing and playing guitar,

C doing a puzzle, a fire burning.

Snow Queen, King, and Snowflakes

One of B's friends did a collage portrait of him.

Pretty cool.

C helped me do yard work on a nice afternoon.

Drew had his annual work trip to Huntington Beach.

C and her friend, Savannah, got chosen to do a duet

with the school winter musical program.

It's in another language.... Hebrew, maybe?

I took a video, but I guess the file size is too big to upload.

They did a great job! So proud of C for auditioning,

when she isn't a girl who necessarily loves the spotlight.

Sweet Frog treats afterward

A Night in Bethelehem ward party.

C and I were the only ones able to go from our family.

Helping in the vineyard.

After TWO hurricanes this fall,

we also got blasted with a GIGANTIC snow storm.

I think it was more snow than I've ever seen in NC.

School was cancelled for a whole week.

You get creative with your entertainment when you're stuck

inside for several days.

C found a selfie stick that she had fun with for a while.

She made snow cones with real snow.

And snow cream. Yummy!

She and I went out one day so that she could go sledding with Sarah.

Luckily Sarah lives within walking distance,

because there was NO driving for several days.

I was glad I had already bought all our ingredients

to make our gingerbread houses.

Another fun activity when you're snowed in.

The girls made sugar cookies on day.

They did such a great job!

Another puzzle.

When enough snow had melted to get around,

but school was still cancelled,

we went to the science center with the Rosiers.

So fun.

Also took a trip to Spare Time.

C won her first Space Invaders bonus.

Such a proud parenting moment. :)

Andrew is Drew.

I am Sweat.

Caroline is Potter.

We pretty much rock that game to pieces.

W got to meet the Jackson and Hunter,

the ADORABLE twins Natalie had in November.

The Company dancers got to do a Nutcracker

presentation at Cornerstone Charter school.

That's a lot of gear!

They did a fantastic job!

We also had mom dance class at the studio.

I got to see how W uses therabands around her waist

and arms for strength and posture control.

Also got to try on pointe shoes!

It is crazy that those girls can DANCE in those things!!!

Andrew and I took a little getaway to Columbia, SC

to go to the temple. Hooray!!

We did a session on Friday night,

stayed in a hotel, and went back for another session on Sat morning.

It was WONDERFUL!

Found a new restaurant we liked near the temple:

Lizard's Thicket

Isn't that the worst name?

Yummy food, though.

C was excited to finally get some gifts under the tree.

The Mangum's hosted their annual toy drive.

It was great to catch up with Audrey and get

college life advice for B. :)

Driving through my favorite lights in Sunset Hills.

So, after MONTHS of continued pain,

Andrew orthopedist recommended a second shoulder surgery.

Ugh.

We found out that we already reached our max out of

pocket for the year, so hurried and had it done in December.

This isn't the first time I've addressed Christmas cards

while Andrew was in surgery....

Surgical beds are NOT meant for 6'6" men.

Look at those feet hanging off the edge!

The surgery went well.

Dr. Supple found some scar tissue that was

still irritating the joint. Also, as the joint healed,

Andrew's body created adhesions that were connecting

parts of his shoulder that weren't supposed to be

connected. That was leading to a lot of his pain.

Fingers crossed that this follow-up surgery is successful!

C learned how to tie fleece blankets in Activity Days.

She loved it and went crazy with it!

Look at all the blankets she made to donate to kids in need!

So proud of her.

Our company girls got to dance at half time of a UNCG basketball game.

Such a cool experience.

I was home with Andrew, so missed it.

They also performed some Nutcracker pieces for a local nursing home.

Whitney's Christmas chorus concert was amazing.

They did a whole collection of carols a capella. So good.

Winter White Hymnal is my favorite!

So pretty!

I don't teach piano to the kids anymore, 

so I love little moments like these when I catch them playing.

Especially together.

Ballet company Christmas party at Sapporo.

Yummy!

This one was taken with my mediocre phone camera.

Same lighting with B's awesome phone camera.
It's a Google Pixel.

(Time to start saving my pennies...)

Spending her Christmas money!

New fake-glasses, clip on earrings, bath bombs, plasma light.

Look at the power! Aaaaaaagggghhhh!

The Mason's have moved to South Carolina now.

We're happy to have them closer!

They came up to check on their rental house and

we got to spend the afternoon with them. Yay!

I took Caroline and B to a ninja gym in Thomasville.

They've been there before with Andrew,

but I had never been. It is a great little gym!

My kids are so strong.

I wish I was a better videographer!

I totally missed him doing the warped wall. Ooops.

I wish B had easier access to ninja warrior obstacles.

I feel like with time and practice he could be REALLY good.

Bear can ALMOST get that warped wall.

They put those little ledges down for kids who can't quite 

reach the top. Mentally, she has a hard time not grabbing that ledge.

On New Year's Eve, we had the Aagard's over for games,

food, and fun. We are SOOOOOO sad that they are moving.

It was good to celebrate with them before Michael left to start his new job.

I love December!