Christmas 2008

Our Christmas week started out really really cold - in the teens; Tuesday brought freezing rain and Wednesday, Christmas Eve brought torrential rainfall and temperatures in the 60's.  It was warm on Christmas day as well but it continued to rain.  Athena and I went to Christmas Eve service at SonRise Church where she sang in the Children's Choir.  It was a one time a year appearance for the choir and they sang one song.  Athena did a lovely job and was very pleased to get to do this this year (her first). 

After church, we came home and picked up the boys and headed down to Tom & Teresa's in Sugar Tit, KY.  This was the first year for them to host Christmas Eve and it was great! They've spent the past year finishing their basement and it was a nice big open space for my wild family to charge around, eat, drink and be merry. We were all able to be in the same room but didn't feel cramped.

Everyone had a great time and Santa came and brought a bag of goodies for the kids.  On Christmas day we did our normal hanging out at home and enjoying each other gig.  Athena asked for three things for Christmas - an ipod, roller skates and some Littlest Pet Shop toys.  Jesy and George gave her Jesy's old ipod and Santa brought LPS and both kids got roller blades.  We also bought Athena a keyboard and Carter electric drums.  The kids bought Patrick his very own scooter and helmet.

We tried to keep Christmas simple but we always seem to go overboard. I had to hold back some things that we bought. We did 3 presents each from Santa and 5 each from us - 1 "big" one and the rest smaller (less expensive ones). 

All in all it was a lovely Christmas.

A Snowflake in the Nutcracker

Athena was a snowflake in the Moscow Ballet's Nutcracker production this year in Cincinnati. The performance was on Sunday, November 30th at the Taft Theatre downtown.  We had to get there at 9:30 a.m. for a 3 p.m. performance.  Most of the day was spent sitting below the stage talking with the other girls that Athena is in ballet with. They also got to try on their costumes and had photos taken.  We weren't allowed to take any photographs. The website has finally posted the photos here http://www.shutterfly.com/progal/album.jsp?aid=768a5498cf3d1c52effd She's on page 2 and 3.  I'm not planning on purchasing any of the photos, but if you'd like any, please let me know and I can either purchase them for you and mail them on or if you can purchase them direct and need me to mail them to you, I can do that as well.

Here she is:

It truly was a magical day and experience.  The real ballet dancers were absolutely fantastic and they were very kind to all of the little girls.  Athena was mesmerized by all of gorgeous costumes and music and dancing.  Hopefully we'll get to do this again next year. 

Carter's 4th Birthday Party

I think Thanksgiving Day this year was warmer than Easter was. We took a nice long walk at Stonelick State Park. It was just lovely. Athena got to ride her bike and Carter road his scooter and we played on the playground.  

Thanksgiving dinner was nice and Carter's cake for this party was a big turkey!

He had such a great time! Uncle Glenn bought him a remote control car that flips over and lights up. It's really neat and he really likes it. Carter also got a remote control dump truck. He gave it to his Sissy as she really like it.

On his birthday Carter took a cake to school. The last birthday cake was a cupcake cake with dump trucks and bulldozers moving "dirt" (icing) on top.  He had such a wonderful day.  I think this was a really special birthday for him.

In the morning before school, he opened up two presents (as Daddy was already at work). He opened up his robot mask and his Webkinz from his Sissy. His name is Greenie Lizardie and Carter asks to play on the computer every day.  He really struggles, but it will get easier for him to maneuver around and Athena is a huge help.

When Dad came home, we opened up the rest of his presents. His big dinosaur, Spike, and an Airplane set to go with his GeoTrax train set. We went out to eat at LaRosa's for pizza as requested by the birthday boy.  

All in all a fantastic birthday week!

Chuck E Cheese is the Place for me!

Well, if you're 4 and 6 it's definitely the palce to be! We had Carter's birthday party there on November 25th. In addition to Athena, he invited Cassie, Zoe and Max (neighbors around the corner), and Julie, Sarayu and Matthew from his school.

On the way to the party, Carter kept on talking about his friend who was coming from school. I couldn't understand what he was saying but it sounded like Julie so I asked if he meant Julie. He told me that her name is not Julie but Jewlie.  Julie is French and her Mom is one of Carter's teacher, Ms. Michelle. As he hears Ms. Michelle say Julie's name with a distinctive French accent, he says her name the same way as Ms. Michelle.

Anyway, the party was wonderful! We had pizza and two different cakes - one monster cake and the other was a spider (Halloween designs). Carter received some neat toys and all of the kids had such a great time playing all of the games.  Jesy and George came as well and that was icing on the cake for both Carter and Athena.   Photos will follow once Jesy or George send them to me as I forgot to charge my camera.