We are finally at December

December is the busiest and most fun month of the year! We ran from morning to night everyday and loved every minute of it. Some highlights of the jolly season were visiting the REAL Santa again, running in the Grant's Gang Fun Run with Grammie, attending the Nutcracker as patrons instead of performers, our annual Martin/Cosby gingerbread party, Cookies with Santa at school and our neighbors winning the Neighborhood Decorating Contest. The weather was pleasant and the spirits were high. It really is the most wonderful time of the year...

Nutcracker 2015

As soon as Fall ballet classes begin the anticipation of the Nutcracker starts to build. It is such a loved tradition in our home and all four of us do nothing else for 4 days in Mid-December but Nutcracker, Nutcracker, Nutcracker.

This year Isabelle danced the part of Sylph. She was the fairy who was asleep on stage when the curtain opened for Act 2. She welcomed Clara into the Land of Sweets and danced a slow and graceful ballet. It was much different from her roles in the previous years and I myself, thoroughly enjoyed it. She continues to love to dance and this was her last number in intermediate ballet. Big things are coming for Belle the ballerina.

Olivia not only danced the part of a Mechanical Doll but also filled in last minute and helped the tiny mice. She loved her doll number and was perfect when she came alive and danced for all of the guests at the party. We had to laugh a little when we saw her in her mouse costume, with her underwear hanging out since it was a size too small. She was a great leader for those tiny dancers though and we were proud of her stepping up when asked. Livi loves going to ballet each week and she and Annie have really grown over the last two years. They not only have fun together but also know all of the terms in French and serve as examples in class weekly.

Brava my sweet girls. You are as lovely as you feel.

And the busy season begins... Grateful in November

November came blowing in and I suddenly was too busy to keep up. The holiday season is so much fun and every year we wish that things would move a little slower and we could celebrate this time of year a bit longer. In November we enjoyed the 50th day of school, voted on Election Day, finished a great soccer season and started Girl Scouts with Olivia. We welcomed a new pet, Cocoa, decorated early for Christmas and loved watching Isabelle in her 4th grade music performance. A highlight of the month was vacationing with Grandma Ruth and Grandpa Van to San Antonio and kicking off the Christmas season at SeaWorld. We always love going back "home" and SeaWorld is such a fun place at the holidays with thousands of lights and holiday treats and shows. Of course we celebrated Thanksgiving as well Christensen style with a Turkery Trot and yummy food with all of the trimmings. We Black Friday shopped and went out of our way for some warm donuts at the first Krispy Kreme in Houston. Sadly Isabelle and Olivia both had strept throat for a good portion of the month and Isabelle needed two rounds of antibiotics to finally kill the ugly germ, but that did not stop us from being grateful in the month of November!