Cookies & the Flu

They don't make for a good combination! Friday morning Cate's friend Brock invited the kids in their class over to decorate gingerbread cookies and have lunch. With siblings included, there were nine little ones which somewhat resembled a zoo! My friend Amanda is a brave woman to open her brand new, beautiful home to all of us. She's obviously a very laid back woman! It started out really well, and ended with us leaving because Towns wasn't feeling too great. She definitely wasn't acting like herself, but in the past 48 hours she'd eaten her weight (plus some) in icing, cookies, cake, etc. and we had rarely stopped to do much other than sleep at night. I honestly thought she was worn down from being on the go and feeling rotten because of all the sugar she'd consumed. Little did we know, she was coming down with the flu like everyone else in Decatur.

The kids all had a good time, regardless...
Braxton, Parker and Riley...
You can look at Towns' little eyes and tell she's not 100%, but she was trying her best to hang with the rest of 'em...
Sweet Madelyn...
Before we left, we tried to get a group shot. Riley wasn't into it at all.
He's going...
Going...
And gone...
Oh well...this was literally the best we could do!
The girls were none too thrilled that we had to duck out early because of Little Miss Sicky. I had to get their minds off of going to our boring old house somehow. It's rather early during Christmas break to be bringing out the big guns, but you've gotta do what you've gotta do.
Christmas pedicures!

Not too long after that, Towns really went downhill. Fast. Shame on me for taking pictures of my sick baby, but...She's been parked on the couch wrapped up in blankets since Friday. Meanwhile, Cate has been a permanent fixture on the floor in front of Towns because she won't dare leave her side...
The bad news is that Cate's getting it. The good news is that daddy has given them lots of TLC and that makes everything better...Hoping and praying we didn't share our sickness with the rest of the folks at the cookie decorating party. And that we're not spending Christmas on the couch. It's no fun being sick during the holidays! But oddly enough, it's been rather nice to be confined to our house and to let everything go for a few days...

Christmas Dance Party

Most days that title would refer to us locking the doors, cranking up Mariah Carey's oldie but goodie of a Christmas album and dancing ourselves silly. But this time it's a little different. Towns and Cate both had Christmas performances and parties on Tuesday to round out the first half of their year at dance class. Cate's in a 45 minute creative movement class for 3 and 4 year olds in our church's School of Fine Arts. Truth be told, she's probably a little bit young for it. But we just couldn't wait a second longer to enroll her in something, bless her little heart. J was out of town all day, and thankfully Bethany was done with exams in time to go with me to watch Cate.

They started by doing a few dances on stage after Mrs. Amy introduced them...
I took several videos of the dances they did, and in most of them B and I can't control our laughter. Too funny and way too cute!
They did lots more dancing on the big floor which is usually what gets them going. Wide open space equals happy, but wild children. I know this because I've taught this class before!
The little girl beside Buggy in this picture makes me laugh...
Aside from rolling around on the floor several times and announcing from the stage that she needed to "go to da bashroom" she did really well!
These chickies have really become two peas in a pod lately...
My Bugalicious and me...

That afternoon we ventured out to watch Towns' dance classes (she also takes at our church, but her classes meet in the annex - a make shift studio). She takes a 45 minute tap/jazz combo class and an hour long ballet class. I had to take Cate with me which was a bit of a challenge because she can't sit still that long. Most of the time she was trying to do everything Towns' class did and there wasn't much I could do to stop her. We're very fortunate to have a God send for a teacher who didn't mind having an understudy for a couple of hours. Mrs. Valerie starts class every week with scripture. She shows the girls verses in the Bible that relate to dance, and they begin and end every class with prayer. She is one of the most kind, gentle, sweet spirited people I've ever met in my life. It shows in her words, actions, and her way of teaching. I never want our conversations to end. And the woman can dance, let me tell you!
Towns with Sasha, Mrs. Valerie and Anna Bekah...
I love watching her teach class, and as a dance teacher I learned so much from her in those short two hours.
I left that night knowing that my girl is in good hands. She's learned a ton so far this year and I was so proud of her! Speaking of dance...
We took in a Radio City Christmas show yesterday. It was so much fun to watch, and it's a good thing our seats weren't blocking anyone's view because the girls were in the aisle imitating (to the best of their ability) the Rockettes the entire time. I have a feeling there's a new answer to that infamous "what do you want to be when you grow up?" question. Rockettes. Hands down.
Eight days until Christmas...are you ready?
We are!!!

Make a Joyful Noise

There's just something about hearing the precious little voices of a stage full of 4 and 5 year olds singing their hearts out in worship and praise. Towns was beyond ecstatic to be a part of it last Sunday morning during both of our morning worship services. This is something she'd been anticipating for quite a while. She absolutely loves her missions and choir classes at church on Wednesday nights, and they've been practicing so hard on their songs. She'd been singing us bits and pieces of the songs, but mainly wanted them to be a surprise. That was probably for the best. I made up my own words to the small parts I did know and I was so afraid she was going to sing my version on stage. For example, "hurry, hurry, hurry to Bethlehem, leave your sheep and run" turned into "grab your sheep and run." That didn't really make sense, but in my mind that's the way it went. Seems like we spent hours practicing to make sure I hadn't led her astray (no pun intended), and thankfully she sang it correctly!

I was concentrating so hard on the singing that I came home with only one picture...
We were all so proud of those sweet angels!

After church I happened to catch Cate UNdecorating the Christmas tree in the kitchen and using the ornaments as bowling balls. Of course, when she saw me she immediately flashed this grin to get my mind off of it...
Works every time!
Mirabelle is still hanging around our house. Towns got the notion to leave her a snack and a note under the tree the other night...
I told her that Mirabelle was most definitely appreciative that the snack she chose was Reese's peanut butter tree. I also encouraged her to leave one every night. Ha!
Please take note of the Care Bears bag under the tree. The girls have gotten so into the spirit of giving that they spend most days making home made gifts, wrapping them themselves, and sticking them under one of the 3 trees in the house. I barely have any tape or wrapping paper left. And every random gift bag we have has been filled. But it makes them happy, therefore it makes me happy!

A few weeks ago I asked J what he thought about taking all the girls to see the Radio City Rockettes. B's never been, and seeing that the younger two prefer tap shoes to any other kind of shoe I had a feeling it would be a big hit. We're making a flying trip to Nashville tomorrow to take in a show, and I absolutely cannot wait. I've always said that if I wasn't so vertically challenged I would certainly have tried my luck at it. Something tells me that after tomorrow I might not be the only one dreaming of being on that stage...

Sleeping Beauties

All the fussing, all the fighting, all the snatching of toys, all the "she's copying me," all the "she touched me," all the "she pinched me" - it's all totally worth it when I see this sweet sight...

That sappy sweetness wouldn't be complete without jotting down this little conversation for my mind's sake...

Cate: Mommy, I need some medicine.
Me: Medicine? Why do you need medicine?
Cate: Because Towns "hut" my feelings.

If only I could keep them like this forever...

Princess Tea Party

This one is a couple of months late...but late or not, a princess tea party with high fashion deserves to be blogged about! Towns' friend Allie (they cheer together) invited the girls to her tea party and when they learned they could wear their fanciest get-up they were all in. Can't blame them. Who wouldn't be all over that?! The girls got all dolled up when we arrived. Finger nail polish, make up, crowns, jewels, gloves...the whole nine yards. They also got lessons in how to walk, talk, dine and act like a princess. It was the cutest little party and I couldn't leave without telling Allie's mom that she needs to go in to party planning.

They waited ever so patiently for make up...

When they finally had their turn I had to snap a quick picture of them with the birthday girl...

They didn't want to be held up for too long, though. They were on their way outside for a little London Bridge and Ring Around the Rosies...

They could have used a lesson in how to do the "we all fall down" part in princess dresses without flashing their audience...

There was a photographer there who got all the girls to do cutesy little things that made for good pictures. I was right up under her the entire party as to not miss one of her shots...

Silly little loves...

After all the fun and games, we moved the party back inside for tea and cake...

It was hysterical seeing all the princess trying their best to use their manners while they ate!

We may be a little rough around the edges still, but I call 'em princesses anyway...
Before Towns got in the car to leave she asked if I'd take a picture of her posing like a princess. That led to 47 pictures...
Sure she's usually the quiet, mild-mannered one of the bunch. But she has the best sense of humor and is the funniest little thing. Lately she's been telling me she doesn't like her smile because she thinks it's crooked. Crooked or not, it's perfect to me..

Play Date

Even though we've been making it a point to slow down and enjoy the season more this year than in years passed, it still feels like we run a lot. So yesterday I vowed to be a big kid and do whatever the girls wanted to do. There's nothing better for a Mama's soul! Towns' friend Emma joined us. We sat in the floor for a picnic lunch and watched Olivia...

We baked cookies and ate those cookies and Ring Pops until we couldn't see straight - all while crafting up a storm...
We played hide-n-seek, dentist office, and "booty shop". And when we were through with that, we went outside and rode bikes and Barbie Jeeps until the batteries were as dead as a door nail. Sometimes it's just plain fun being a kid!

Speaking of kids, mine sure thought Mirabelle was a silly little elf this morning...
Mirabelle's note said she needed big time help. She just couldn't figure out how to wear the girls' accessories! She had bracelets on her ankles and a hair bow on her nose...
Despite her short comings, she's still got a smile on her face. Oh, that Mirabelle...