Christmas 2009

We had a very nice Christmas with our families in Stamford and Emory. This is the first year that Abby has started to grasp the reason we celebrate Christmas and it was fun to watch her as she arranged a little wooden nativity set a couple of days before Christmas. If she could just keep those wisemen and shepherds straight...

Santa brought Abby and us sleeping bags for Christmas this year. Apparently, he did not get the memo that Mama is still hoping this camping thing we continue to pursue will eventually end. Left to right: Bralynn (Abby's "newborn" baby from Santa), Liz, Lainie (my new baby from Abby), Abby Grace.
Abby also got a new easel and paint set from her DMama and Uh. She has painted at least two pictures each day since we have arrived home. Isn't it pretty?

Finally, Abby received her own set of luggage from Gran and Pop. You should have seen her strutting her stuff as we walked into the airport the other morning.

We hope that you also had a blessed Christmas season with friends and family.

Annual Ski Trip

We recently took what is becoming our annual ski trip with the Damrons. As always, we had a delightful time in their company. Their two boys and Abby get along so well, playing tirelessly and taking care of each other along the way. And it doesn't hurt matters that Abby is just absolutely in love with Amy, calling her "My Amy" almost the whole trip. I can only hope that the feeling is mutual, but either way, Amy was definitely a good sport about my child's slight infatuation.

This year's trip was spent in Angel Fire, NM where there was just enough snow to accomplish our goals of skiing and sledding. While the amount of snow was not tremendous, the temperature was absolutely perfect, hovering around 40 degrees the day that we skied. Perfect for Abby's and Dane's first year of ski school.

Ski school seemed to go well...defined by the facts that nobody cried (except me when I left her that morning) and everybody wants to ski again next year. The fact that Abby skied a short distance unassisted also lends to its success. She is getting soooo big.

Our other full day of the trip was spent sledding and driving to Taos for shopping and dinner. Amy and I found our future home decor at a little shop called At Home in Taos, and we all enjoyed the carolers we stumbled upon in one of the shopping centers. Magical is the only term I can come up with to describe their voices as we gathered around the outdoor firepit, sipping cider and nibbling on green chile stew.

Crazy Dog

I am sure there was a time that, had I had a blog, Sassy would have played one of the leads, but as it is now, she tends to have a supporting role at best. Except for lately...

Several days before Christmas, Sassy pulled this stunt during the night. If you can't tell, she unwrapped her present of rawhide bones.

Then, the night before we left to go skiing, Sassy ran away and came home with this. Again, if you can't tell, this is a picture of a deer leg sitting on our driveway. Don't ask. We have no idea.

Poor dog, even with a post dedicated solely to her, she still can't get her picture on the blog.

First Dance Recital

Ready to dance...

Or maybe not so ready.

Actually, most of the dance recital week was spent in the happier version of these two pictures. But like each of the seventy 3 and 4 year olds in the recital, Abby Grace had her ups and downs.

Abby's dancing debut included a tap and ballet number and a small role in the finale of three separate performances, which included more costume changes than even I care to remember.

A few things to remember: Dress rehearsal was utter and complete chaos! Abby's class was supposed to be the first of the little ones on stage, but when the music started, they were not there, leaving the director to screech, "Where are my dancers?" Rumor has it that they were not even in the wings yet as the backstage moms for that part were still trying to get tap shoes on everybody. Whew! Thank goodness for dress rehearsal.

Abby performed beautifully, except for one time. It was my night in the wings and I refused to hold her while she waited to go on stage. "Do you see anybody else being held by their mamas?" Well, she showed me! She crossed her arms, and instead of "kick stepping" across the stage, she marched. And of course, the audience laughed. Let me tell you though, Priss Miss got no laugh whatsoever from her mama. Do you know how grateful I was that we didn't have anybody there watching her that night?

One of the sweetest moments for me was the finale. Every performance brought tears to my eyes as Abby walked back down the aisle with a candle in her hand. Or maybe it was her sweet little curtsies. Or maybe the sweet kiss that she blew at the end of her tap performance. Or maybe when her daddy, grandparents, and cousin gave her flowers. Okay, maybe I just thought every part was the sweetest part...

The Nutcracker

Abby Grace and I went to see The Lonestar Ballet's performance of The Nutcracker last night. Actually, with a little hint from a friend, we really went to dress rehearsal but you would never know that it was just a rehearsal. It was perfectly spectacular!

I think Abby's favorite part was the mice as she giggled the whole time they were on stage or maybe it was when the Christmas tree grew or maybe it was when Clara "flew" in her sleigh. It is really hard to choose as she was completely consumed in the dance and music for the entire first act, even performing a little bit around our seat herself.

To satisfy you for now

Has it really been so long since I have posted? I am afraid it has, my dear friends. Quick update: Sesame Street Live was super fun but I don't have any blog-worthy photos. Thanksgiving came and went without me taking a single picture. We spent all last week dancing and have spent the better part of this week recovering...and dancing...and going to speech...and going to church. That being said, the recital was a huge success and pictures along with commentary will be arriving soon. Until then, I will leave you with a little dance teaser.