Christmas at School(s)

Decmeber is such a busy month at school - so many fun performances and parties. 

I was a chaparone with Rebecca's class to see the 2nd act of the Nutcracker ballet. They all did such a great job sitting still and paying attention - I could tell they had really been studying it. Took everything Rebecca had to not hum/sing along the whole time.

But even more fun than the ballet rendition was the first grade performance of the Nutcracker - Rebecca was one of two Arabian dancers and got to sing a little duet with Ashley. She was pretty cranky she didn't have two parts since a lot of the kids were in a group dance and had a small speaking part. She only had one role but it was a big one! Tried to explain that...

Sweet time at her class Christmas party.

Their nutcrackers made from toilet paper roles. There may NEVER be another school project Rebecca is more suited than this one. Hers was an Arabian Dancer, duh.

Yep, that's a battery pack sticking out of her hat - to power her lights.

With Mrs. Bergfeld and Mrs. Lane

 

Owen's party book exchange.

Owen's class did a stellar performance of Handel's Messiah - it was really beautiful and so fun to think how much more capable and well trained they are even now in just 3rd grade than just a few years ago. So impressive.

Only pic needed of this girl is with her beloved Ms. Laurie.

Merry Christmas to our wonderful schools.

December randomness

Rebecca and Bee - proud namesake of of the girl who put battery-operated twinkle lights on her santa hat to wear to school for Christmas parties. Bee wearing her decades old and world famous blinking Christmas wreath earings.

Finally road our bikes to Kerbey Lane for breakfast. All the kids survived. My tires were totally flat by the time we got there so I road Owen's bike home and Owen road tandem with Miss Kate. Memories.

A little impromptu tea party with Wiley from across the street. Rebecca can only go so long without entertaining...

This gal - doing her "gymnastics" that Miss Dylan taught her. NO relationship to the nebulizer treatment at the pediatrician's. Even when she feels puny she gives the thumbs up.

Bethlehem in Burnet was a big hit again. The weather was supposed to be not-great, but we took the chance and made the drive and am so glad we did because the crowd was super light. We've never waited to little. Kids seem to be at a PERFECT age for not only enjoying it but GETTING it. And of course the promise of the world's best pie at the Bluebonnet afterwards is always appealing. 

Wracked up a few more Christmas traditions with Miss Kate - crazy how blue we look - at the famed light show at Mozart's on the lake. Short and sweet and yay for hot chocolate.

Oh snapchat.

 

Early December, Kate and I planned to make the trip to Waco to see Magnolia Market and the Silos (first trip for both of us). Temporarily discouraged when we realized there was actually an event going on that Saturday evening so everything would close early. Then super excited to find out it was a Christmas concert w/ Shane & Shane and Phil Wickman...but sold out. Well, miracle of miracles, we got tickets - actually we ended up sorta with more than we needed, thanks to some Ebay-ing and an artist-friend hookup. So, we loaded up and let me be clear - it is CHRISTMAS PARADISE. It is probably a little bit of paradise the rest of the year too but at Christmas, oh my word. And the music at the Christmas show was just perfect. Basically it was a fun, worshipful evening with a dear friend. Or is it a deer friend? ;)

Kate closed on her house on 12/29 and moved out over the next week or so. Her place is just perfect and the neighborhood is awesome and some of her best friends live next door. Her momma came in town for the move and it was such a blessing to get to help get her settled over the next few days/weeks...okay, her room is still a disaster, so the work isn't done yet. #adultingishard

Luckily for us Mueller is only about 10 minutes away so while she's not technically a housemate of ours anymore, she's still around a lot and she'll always be an adopted/graduated Mezger with all the rights, privileges and responsibilities therein entitled to. :)

 

The family of God is a pretty special thing. #TeamworkMakesTheDreamWork

My sweet hubs got us tickest to see THE Willie Nelson as a Christmas present at ACL/Moody Theatre for a few days after Christmas. Neither of us are huge Willie fans but its still Willie Nelson, and let's be honest, he's super old so this may have been our only chance - or at least the only one we'd take. Our seats were awesome and the show was a lot of fun.

And although Willie can still play a mean guitar (and looks like he is actually mean to his guitar based on the holes in it), he can't really sing much anymore. So it was kind of like listening to Willie Nelson say the words (in a musical kinda way) to his songs while his backup band tried to keep up with whatever strumming he decided to do. Lots of audience help in the singing too!

Other highlights from December. Our first Austin Stone staff Christmas party compete with snow for the kids to play in. Another great Brykerwoods neighborhood Christmas party with the Murrays (same night - it was a big day for us)! Hosting the Resident Christmas party just a couple of days after we got back from Mexico so those decorations had to go up fast! Gilmore Girls (4 new episodes) marathon with Kate (and a top 7 episode highlight reel to prep). My narration from the Jesus Storybook Bible on Christmas Eve. That's all for the randomness in December.

Mexican Thanksgiving

We went to Mexico over Thanksgiving break this year. I'm pretty sure these pics are all out of order. Here is what you need to know:

• Tulum (near Cancun, in the Riviera Maya or Mayan Peninsula) is beach paradise and I don't even like beaches. 
• Dahdo, Pam, plus Pam's son Hunter and his girlfriend Rachel
• We released 100+ sea turtles into the ocean the night we arrived
• We had LONG travel days...drove to Houston, flew to Mexico City, then to Cancun after a long layover, then a shuttle to the house in Tulum. To save (a lot of) money. Kids were travel troopers.
• They could swim and play in the pool and on the beach FOREVER.
• I could eat homemade guac and sit in the hammock and read FOREVER.
• Kyle could explore and snorkle and (one day, scuba) FOREVER.
• Owen has embarked on Harry Potter
• We need more than 1 screen for these 3 to share when we travel (*we have since remedied that). But still - troopers!
• I got sicker than I can ever remember being at the airport in Mexico city during our layover on the homeward bound day. Let's just say I now have experience with the little bags in the seat back pockets. Montezuma got his revenge - or Carl's Jr.
• Putting a kayak in a swimming pool is actually pretty fun
• Kids figuring out how to take slow-mo videos is pretty fun, too 
• We missed traditional American thanksgiving food, and seeing the rest of our family, but it was SO good to slow down with the kids for the week.
• Until next time...

 Now that you know everything you need to know - here are a bunch of our of order pics with very little description :)

(bucket o' baby sea turtles about to be released)