December in Pictures

Here's our December, short and sweet, but if I don't get these posted, I won't be able to move on to new posts so here you'll see some of the fun things we were up to in December.

Nathan and Kevin went camping early in the month. The theme was Pinewood Derby.

They made cars, did archery, and BB'S, but the favorite thing seemed to be racing around a "track" in a cardboard box.

Camping is fun but exhausting...

Sully and I skipped that camping trip due to a chorus rehearsal, boy scout event and choral performance. That was one busy weekend! Kevin and Nathan got home in time to see the concert. The chorus did such a great job. This picture is a little blurry but it was a really neat Aboriginal song, complete with bongos, dancing and clapping.

Sully ready for his big performance (where I couldn't take inside photos) at our local performing arts center. This was the best concert of the season. They were able to perform with the local symphony in front of a full house, 2,000 people, and did a terrific job. And, oh, so handsome!

Decorating our Christmas tree.



This must have been a good branch.




Santa... all of our photos were blurry but we always purchase one and this year has to be the best one yet.

Christmas Eve dinner.

Christmas morning.

Sully asked for mainly books and games.

Nathan asked for this puppet and a briefcase... what would a 6 year old want with a briefcase? Well, to put things in, of course!

Our latest "gingerbread" houses... next time we'll keep them out of Duke's reach- he sampled these and deemed them good.

We'll be taking off until January 9th at which time, we'll hit the books again. In the meantime, I'll be doing some cleaning, organizing, playing and resting. The boys will participate in the latter two. We had a really good December, I hope yours was as enjoyable.

A lot of catching up to do

But it will have to wait... I'm hoping to take some time tomorrow afternoon to post some pictures that are patiently waiting in my camera, ready to make their debut.
For now I'm just typing a quick note to say that I haven't abandoned blog-ville but, just like everyone else, I've been busy with life and the extras of this season. I'm also adding a banner for freerice.com, a really neat vocabulary site that will help feed the hungry. Learn for a cause... I'm sure I can't be the only one who thinks this type of thing is fun.
So if I can figure out how to link the picture to the site, I think all you'll have to do is click... we'll have to see how that goes.

**update- I was able to get the picture on the sidebar but no link, perhaps I'll try again after I take a small dose of sleep.

Do, Re, Mi

We just returned from Sully's second chorus concert this week (he has 3-it's a busy week!). They sang tonight at a local hospital and did a really nice job. They started the evening singing in the lobby followed by rounds of Christmas carols on the floors. They all looked so sharp in their formal uniforms. And would you believe, I forgot my camera! I did get some photos of his concert Sunday, which I'll post soon.
We stopped at the grocery directly after and Sully was worried about running into anyone while he was so adorned. While we didn't see anyone we know, I think he may not worry so much next time. More people commented on how handsome he looked and asked if he'd just finished a program at school. He was very polite, said thank you and smiled... enough to make any mother proud!

The excitement is not yet over though. His big concert is coming up on Saturday and by big I mean BIG. I won't spoil it before I have pictures to post, although I won't have very many due to some photo restrictions at the venue, I do hope to get at least one.

It's Snowing

OK, it's not actually snowing here but on the computer it is. Use this site to create your own snowflakes (the cutout paper ones) without having to clean up tiny bits of paper or massage scissor-sore hands.

Whoooo is Making that Noise???

I picked up several Christmas and winter books from the library last week and this afternoon we settled down to read them. (We have to experience a white Christmas any way we can since our Christmases are frequently 80 degrees with snow a distant daydream.) We were all 3 snuggled on the sofa enjoying the stories when we got to one of our favorites. Owl Moon is a sweet, quiet, calm kind of story but apparently Duke hadn't gotten that memo because as soon as I got to the "Who-who-who-who-who-whooooo" part of the book we had quite the rambunctious puppy on our hands. Duke decided he either really liked that part or really didn't. His ears perked up then, in a flash, he was up in my face -a ball of wild fur. Of course, then two noisy owls were hooting furiously to get his attention. Fun afternoon story time!

Woody's Back

We heard a noisy chattering in the back yard yesterday and discovered this guy and one or two of his friends flying from branch to branch. Pileated woodpeckers live in the trees behind our house and boy do you know when close. We've only actually seen them twice in our yard-the last time was a couple years ago and they were much closer and easier to see but I didn't get a picture.

We also saw another woodpecker that we didn't get a great look at but my guess is that he's a red-bellied woodpecker. He was much smaller and not nearly as noisy.



The boys were out with binoculars trying to get a good look. I love it when a nature study pops in on us like that!

From Construction to Demolition

The story of a gingerbread house

Once upon a time there were four gingerbread walls...



...and two little elves who wanted to build a house for a little gingerbread boy.

There was a gingerbread boy here only a moment ago but where did he go? Did he trust the crafty fox to carry him to safety? Uh oh! Poor gingerbread boy!

The two little elves decided to build the house anyway. So they went to work building and decorating...

...which is such serious business.

Finally, the house was finished and it looked so nice! But, alas, there was no gingerbread boy to live there. The elves had to decide what would become of the lonely little house...

...Ah ha! Dessert! Papa Elf helped by divvying up the portions.

The two little elves went to bed with their tummies full of gingerbread... and so did the crafty fox.

The End. YUM!