Blizzard!

Christmas vacation started with big excitement here in DC. We got 23 inches of snow on the very first day of vacation which made for fun times playing outside! It's a rare treat to get that much snow and the girls don't remember the last time we did. They are such snow bunnies that they didn't want to waste a minute of it. The only downside was that we had tickets to see the touring version of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular which was canceled. We were all looking forward to brining in Christmas week watching the Rockettes but I guess we'll have to do that in NYC another time.

Nativity

Both girls had little roles in nativity pageants this year.

Gr. 2 always does a little one in school for the parents and I swear it doesn't feel like Christmas until you've seen 7 year old shepherds with dinner napkins for headwear and kings in red bathrobes! They were so precious and beside themselves to present their show in the classroom. Molly was Elizabeth and then slipped in the back as part of the angel choir.

Brenna pitched in again this year with the pageant that was done in Church at the Christmas Vigil. It's tough to get 5th graders to pitch in but she was happy to be the lamb. (I had to laugh at this picture from rehearsal. That's one bored looking red sheep!) She enjoyed it but mostly I think she was just happy that she didn't have to wear a dress to church!

Horseback Riding

Brenna's scout troop had a riding lesson in preparation for a trail ride we're planning in the spring. I wasn't able to use flash for photos but I was able to capture a little bit of Brenna's excitement riding for the first time. What I was not able to capture was my big body on the horse behind her!

That's probably for the best though. . .

We had a great time and I'm excited to ride with them again soon.

Band Concert

Brenna is in her second year playing flute with the school band. It is something she really enjoys and has made a great deal of improvement. They had their Christmas Concert just before school dismissed for vacation and we all enjoyed watching her perform.

I'm so glad she's learning an instrument - music is such a beautiful talent!

Dancers

I always love Visitor Day at the girls' dance classes. They have been dancing for several years and it's always great to see how much they've progressed and to meet their friends. This year they all wear class leotards which look really nice.

And as you can see, they get their flexibility from me!

Brenna (you can't miss the blonde ponytail dragging on the floor!)

Molly (in the back)

Halloween Revisited

Here's a cute photo of all my little Girl Scouts at an event just before Halloween. Molly is the artist (3rd from right in the black beret) and Brenna is to the right of her in the back reprising this costume.