Maddie's Winter Dance Recital

I am so thankful that I have found a Christian based dance program for Maddie. She LOVES dance, but her mama is very selective about what kinds of dance and where she dances. In other words, I don't feel that my 6 year old should learn to shake her "groove" thing and wear suggestive clothing.

This year, Maddie is in ballet, tap, and jazz. It's one combined class. Her teach is wonderful, sweet, caring, and doesn't criticize the girls when they make a mistake. It has really boosted Maddie's self esteem.

They have a huge end of year recital with costumes and the whole 9 yards. But, the winter one is much more low key. It is really nice to get in and see what all she has learned without all the stress that a dance recital can bring.

So, now let me put a plug in for Prairie School of Dance. If you live in the frozen tundra, it is a great dance school!

Blizzard 2010

I miss many things about the south....the accents, family, friends, sweet tea......

But in the winter I miss the excitement the "threat" of winter weather brings.

The news programs love to "interrupt this program for a very important winter weather advisory" (cue the suspenseful music). They also love to name every "winter event" - Winter Storm 2008, Artic Blast 2007...are some that I remember.

Here snow is a part of my daily life. Putting children into snow attire or out of snow attire takes up a lot of my time and makes up my daily exercise routine. For instance here is how Maddie goes to school everyday. Snow pants, boots, coat, gloves, hat and hood. In her book bag, I pack her "normal" shoes along with lunchbox, books, etc.

However, last week something changed in the way that the weathermen were talking about snow. It went from the tone, similar to that of rain in the south, to a bit more excited. It almost had the feeling of a "southern" winter weather event....minus the names and music.

Why did snow suddenly change from daily life to something we should pay attention too?

Because it was a BLIZZARD! Yep, us southerners have now added a blizzard to our litany of experiences we have had here.

Care to know what a blizzard looks like after the fact?

This is our deck after the blizzard. Doesn't look like we will be opening that door till sometime next April. You think I am kidding.....well, I'm not!

And this is our sidewalk cleared after said blizzard. You can't truly get the real picture till you realize the snow is up to the bottom of our window sills on the first floor.....and it is only December.

Here is a poor deer trying to walk in our backyard during the snow. Please note the snow is almost to his belly....and this isn't a small deer.

Another deer, same problem.

This is a look out the front door toward the side walk and street....somewhere out there. Doesn't look too impressive if you didn't realize how many bushes and shrubs have disappeared from very. That blob on the bottom left......is all that is left of our small pine that frames the front window.

Sam's Christmas Program

Sam has his Christmas Program at school last Wednesday. I love that he attends a Christian Preschool that isn't afraid to celebrate the REAL reason for Christmas. His program was all about the best gift ever given, Jesus.

Sam is such a ham. No pun intended. He knew all the words to all the songs as well as all the motions. Of course, I knew this way before the performance even started. You see, I had been the one to practice with him.

By practice I mean, sit very still while he sang songs that I had never heard and did motions to said songs. Then, I was suppose to applaud him and tell him that he didn't miss any part. Easy. I had no idea if he had missed anything or not.

Win Win for both of us. I got to hear, my baby turned big boy, sing and he had someone to tell him what a wonderful job he did......even if he didn't :)

Sam's last Basketball game

Sam was FINALLY old enough to participate in a sport. He played basketball through the Chanhassen rec league. He loved it. Of course, his idea of basket and the real world's idea of basketball is totally different.

So different,that I have to go through a list of things that Sam shouldn't do during basketball before every game. For instance, don't stick your finger up your nose or in your ear while running, we don't need to run up and down the court pretending to hunt deer with a gun, we should run and not skip, etc. However, I didn't add....and don't use the strings on your sweat pants as motorcycle handles. And apparently I should have.

Here is Sam, "driving" his pants down the court.

And here he is again, in close pursit of the ball......all while "driving" his motorcycle.

But, this cute face had a great time....and is all we could have asked for.

Thanksgiving in the South Means.....

Making Bows and Arrows- Thankfully not to hunt the turkey with!

Spending lots of time playing with cousins and seeing family......

A traditional hike, with Aunt Polly (my kids Great Great Aunt) to Stone Mountain falls. For the record, Jackson got a free ride this year.....but next year he's on his own!

Spending hours upon hours in the pasture.

This visit, Maddie accomplished riding by herself. An adult stood in the arena with her, but she was in total control of Strawberry. I told Wade to watch out.....once it's in your blood the love of horses is with you forever. A highlight for me was riding Mandy (the other horse) in the arena while my daughter rode Strawberry, my first horse, all by herself.

Just wait, Jackson, this time next year....Mommy will have you on the back of a horse. Better practice now :)

Eating Thanksgiving meals with both the Harrell/Eldridge and Sheek/Mayhall family

And counting our blessings that we were able to travel to be with our loved ones.