Nutcracker Ballet 2014

This year in their ballet company's production of The Nutcracker, Mary Varner was a soldier in the battle scene, and Janey was a sheep. It was a fantastic performance by all the dancers, and our girls enjoyed being a part of the show.  

All dressed and ready in their costumes

MV with some of her friends, Emma and Kate

Janey with her friends, Ava and Anna!

The soldiers are ready to battle the Mouse Queen and her mice!!

Marizpan Shepherdess with all her sheep!

Janey sat with us for Act I, and then went backstage during intermission to go on stage for Act II

Both girls did a great job!  They were very excited to get their flowers after the performance!

Mary Varner with Mary Mason after the show.  Mary Mason and her family are good friends of ours from church!  

School Christmas Parties

Both girls had their school Christmas parties on Wednesday.  Thankfully, the parties were not at the same time of the day(although they did overlap some) so I could attend both.  Mary Varner's party was first.  We had fun at her party making ornaments, wrapping each other up in toilet paper to make yourself into a snowman, decorating cookies, and playing pin the nose on Rudolph.  I ended up leaving before they had their Christmas mug exchange to get to Janey's party.  I was one of the main planners of Janey's party this year since it was her first year to have a school party, and Mary Varner has already had a few years at this!  

MV getting wrapped up in toilet paper

MV as a snowman with Sophia and Talen, her friends that wrapped her.

Pin the nose on Rudolph

Cookie decorating....that is a bunch of sprinkles!

I left MV's party in time to helpf setup for Janey's party!  Janey's party included making Santa ornaments, beaded candy canes, preparing reindeer food, and decorating cookies!! 

Making her Santa ornament

Decorating cookies with her friend Sophia

Janey with all the girls in her class

Ms. Sims' Kindergarten Class 

A Visit with Santa

The girls went to see Santa this week at Bass Pro!  Mary Varner was very focused on reading her letter to Santa, and making sure he knew that they were going to be at the camp this year on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning.  He told them that he would make sure to deliver their gifts to the camp!  Janey changed her mind on what she wanted Santa to bring.  She has been saying for a long time that she wanted the American girl doll that look like her(straight blonde hair and blue eyes).  Well, she told Santa that she had changed her mind, and wanted Caroline because she liked her curly hair.  Santa said he would just surprise her.  I told Janey that it was too late to change her mind because the elves would not have time to make/get a Caroline doll.  Also, most of the people we know that have Caroline say that her hair gets tangled and is very hard to manage.  After going to bed in tears because she was not going to be able to get Caroline, she woke up the next morning saying that she had decided she did not want Caroline after all.  She really wanted the one that looks like her with straight hair!!!  I told both girls that we would have to have a deadline from now on our Santa wish list!!

First Christmas

This is Charlie's first Christmas!!  

Christmas Party

Jim and I went to his company Christmas party last Saturday evening.  It was a 20's Great Gatsby/cocktail attire.  I chose a black sparkly dress with a wrap, and Jim went in his black suit.  

Elf Jam

Decorating the tree

We put up our Christmas tree, and decorations the weekend after Thanksgiving.  I was not going to get the girls Christmas pajamas this year, but MV asked for these elf pajamas when we were at Target, and I could not resist.  Our elves had a great time decorating, and even performed an "elf jam" dance that I will try to post later.  

Many Faces

Janey loves to take pictures with my camera.  Usually when I go to take a picture with it, it is low on battery because she has had it again.  Here are some of her "selfies" I found when I went to download pictures.

Hollywood

Mary Varner brought this paper home from school this week.  The writing assignment was to write a paper on something you would give your parents if you could give them anything.  Mary Varner chose to give us a trip to Hollywood.  I love all her wonderful descriptions of what would happen on our trip.  I also was amused by the fact that her watching a wonderful movie in the hotel was included in this dream vacation.  She loves to watch a good movie!!  

Thanksgiving

We spent the week of Thanksgiving in Mississippi!  We had lots of fun with all our family, and are so thankful for being able to be with them for this holiday!

Mollie Grace and Janey on their way into get the annual Elder cousin picture! All the girls wore dresses that Aunt Vivian and Nana made!

Annie woke up from her nap with some wild hair

Rena reading Thanksgiving jokes to the children before bed

We ate with Papa Doc at Pepito's!  Both girls love Mexican food!!

 Mary Varner rode up to the deer camp with Rena and Ben to hunt with Jim on Friday afternoon. 

Hunters are ready to go

Ben and MV on the wheeler

While Mary Varner and Ben were hunting, I took Janey and Mollie to Canton to go to the square with B'B'.  They enjoyed riding the carousel, the train, and hearing a story from Ms. Clause!  

Nana got all the grand kids make it yourself puzzles.  MV drew a rainbow on her puzzle.

MV and Ben trying to put their puzzles back together