Piano Recital

The girls participated in their second piano recital on December 15th.

Bella has been taking piano lessons for .....3 years now (?) and her progress has been amazing. Sister Bell only has good things to say about how she is playing. After almost every lesson, she tells me she's awesome. She even made mention of it before Bella played at the recital. One thing she's mentioned specifically is that when they are practicing flash cards, Bella can't necessarily tell her the name of the note... but she can look at the note and then go right to it on the piano. I guess that's a really good thing. I've noticed she can sight read really well and will practice the song a ton and will get where she plays it really well.

So, we are very proud of her as always!

 Aubree has been taking lessons for about a year and a half. And she definitely has an knack for playing, too. She's like her momma, tho... doesn't like to practice all that much. But we are working on that! Aubree is a very musical child... she loves to sing and can remember lyrics and tunes very well. She got a guitar for her birthday and keeps asking for lessons to learn how to play it!
Love that girl.
I especially love that they love music so much... music is so important, it's calming, it brings the Spirit into our home, and lesson taking helps them learn the beauty of practicing and how practicing really does make perfect.

 

Now, this kid...

We should put him in lessons soon..., maybe it will help him sit still.

We are very thankful for our piano teacher, Sister Bell.
She's kind and encouraging. I couldn't ask for a better person to teach them!   

Bella played The Ukrainian Carol of the Bells and Silent Night
Aubree played Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer and Angels We Have Heard on High

Hopefully I can post the videos soon.

Aubree goes to State

This summer, Aubree qualified to go to a Regional A swim meet. At that meet, she swam 3 events. Out of those 3 events, she was DQ'd (not Dairy Queened...tho that would be nice... disqualified) for 2 of them because of a kick issue... but she qualified in her 50 free to move on to STATE.

So, we drove down to the State games in College Station. What a fun experience for our lil Aube!

It was overcast, thank goodness... if the sun would have been out, we would have been toast!

College Station is just a few hours drive... Grandma and Grandpa joined us for Aube's big day.

And San Antonio was only a few hours drive, so Emily, Jed & Ollie came to see her swim, too!!

It's crazy awesome having family so close!

Since she was only swimming one event (there she is in the green suit, right in the middle!) we were there for maybe an hour! And her swim time was less that 40 seconds! But hey, we were so proud of her, we would have been there to watch her swim for 1 second.

You could tell she was nervous... but she did such a great job.
Her final standing was 22 out of 45.

She's the 22nd fastest girl in the state of Texas. How cool is that??

Especially since this is the girl who didn't want to be on swim team. Go Aubree, go!

Afterwards, we spent some time exploring a nearby park. Uncle Jed disappeared for a good chunk of time and came back with this beautiful flower crown for Aube. So sweet!

After the kids played for a bit, we found a fun little pizza place that had all different kinds of pizza and was super yummy!

Then we said goodbye to family... and kept driving south to Galveston Island.
We got to our hotel on the beach after dark.... just in time to see some fireworks in the distance.

Keeping it going...

I got a new iPhone. I love my new phone, like probably too much. It's so much fun.

Instead of toting my camera around....I just snap shots and use Instagram to filter it, making it look super cool. The only problem....pictures are on my PHONE, not computer, making it hard to get them TO my computer and uploaded onto blogger. And what is a blog post without pictures?! 

So I'm going to make the effort {to not be lazy}....and get these awesome pictures all loaded up!

Cause there are some good ones!

Like this of the family on New Years eve/day/week?? I'm not for sure.

Isn't Emily's smile so cute? And James covering his face there in the background....priceless.

 Hula Hooping has been all the rave over here lately....until we {we: as in my middle girl child} broke the darn thing all over the carpet. I need to go buy a new one {preferably one without water inside of it!} cause it's so fun to watch them hula!

 Our next door neighbor has chickens that used to come over and eat all the bugs in our yard visit, but we haven't seen them all that much lately. The other day, we were playing outside {since the weather has been goooooorgeous lately...} and this scraggly little chick comes wandering over.

The kiddos were quite enthralled....especially since the chick was so friendly and wanted to play! It almost let Jax pet it....crazy chicken.

Randomness at its best....



{Diva}

This past Friday was Aubree's dance recital. The second one she's been in and her last with the dance studio we've been with since Bella was 3! But she will be moving over to the new dance studio with Bella, and adding a tumbling class....we're so excited! But we will miss Ms Stephanie with all our hearts!
Aube looked absolutely adorable and was SUCH a good example to the other dancer's in her class. She had a bit of stage fright the day of....and I told her she was the oldest in her class, so she had to be strong and remember the steps, so the other girls would follow her example!

Ms Stephanie holds the dress rehearsal the night before the actual recital. It's so good for the little ones....they go out on stage, get to see the lights and check out the big ole stage.

I love the setup of the Uptown Theater, where they've held recitals for the last 2 years. It feels so professional and fun! It's hard to keep those little feet still when they are waiting to perform....lots of "shushing" going on!

Aube was very patient between numbers....as long as I kept the crackers and water coming ;).

Adorable! I can't say it enough!

Aube has this little friend, Sarah.....her mom and I swear they are twins! They are the bestest of friends and it's easier to have them playing together at one of our houses, then to have one just by themselves! Sarah and her family came to watch Aube perform. She was so happy to see them!

Dinner time is not my favorite time of day.....

it's like all the stress accumulates over the course of the day and then BAM! It's dinner time and I have to cook a meal, my kids are crazy, the house is a mess, the husband is stuck in traffic...

So lately we've been doing a lot of grill cooking {and I say "we" as in the husband doing the cooking}...hamburgers, hotdogs, chicken, steak, pork. You name it...we grill it!

And corn.

Lots and lots of corn on the cob. We recently learned how to cook it in the husk and it is oh so yummy.

It's really my favorite...so I kind of over-do it {with EVERY meal Ü}.

But Jax is a fan too.

The night I took this picture, he was shoving his corn into his mouth like this. And then once he figured out he was making us laugh .... he would shove it in there, then blow and pop it out....

then do it all over again, silly boy.

 I just have to say....Aubree is a chatterbox. She was being extra chatty on this night and kept on going after I snapped this picture.
Yap yap yap.

Fashion Sense

No one can accuse me of being a fashionista...what with my daily wardrobe of jeans {now shorts, yay Spring!} and tshirt!

But this little sassafrass doesn't take after her momma!♥.

Ever since the Big Snow of '11 {haha} she has been choosing her rainboots to wear over her usual sparkly shoes. It's a hard choice but someone has to make it!

 And don't even THINK about suggesting wearing pants....cause it ain't happenin' unless the bribery is nice and big...like getting to play at McDonalds or the park. Seriously, lady...put on pants for THE STORE??? You've got to be kidding.
And don't forget sunglasses....necklace....and the ever-present doll. Aube never forgets to bring her favorite princess along.

 Boots. Nothing like hearing the little klomp klomp klomp of little footsie, is there?



The something you need is Nanny McPhee....

Our Thanksgiving started out....crazy, crazy.

We're all just hanging out in our pj's eating a light breakfast in preparation for our awesome turkey-day lunner at Texas de Brazil.

And then...BAM.

Aube somehow misses her footing whilst stepping up onto the fireplace ledge (which we have repeatedly told her NOT to do, ahem) and lands face first on a large toy of Jaxson's.

She starts crying uncontrollably....and I figure her for just being dramatic, since she plays that card A. LOT. But the crying continues and upon closer inspection by daddy...Aube seems to have a large amount of bleeding and toothless-ness coming from her mouth!

Poor girl must have landed straight on her teeth....shoving one tooth up INTO her gumline (a tooth intrusion). I frantically start getting ready...just KNOWING we are going to spend the day in the ER (there ges my Thanksgiving meal I was SO looking forward to!!!) . But after a call to her pediatric dentist, we learn that there is nothing to be done but wait. The intrusioned tooth should spontaneously errupt over a 2-3 month period. Yikes.

Do nothing? Really, lady??

So a second call was placed to our dentist, who also calmed our fears by telling us the same thing as the pediatric dentist (hmmm...oh really, she knew what she was talking about??)

Aube was in an extreme amount of agony or so it seemed by the way she was wailing and I'm sure she would have been gnashing her teeth if they hadn't of been all jacked up. So, we laid in bed with a cold compress in her mouth and I said a really quick Mother's prayer (you mothers know what I'm talking about...its the prayer you lift up to Heaven with every fiber of your being).....and within 2 minutes (seriously) her wailing stopped and she was my giggly Aube again. And then after the motrin kicked in, she had her sparkle back.

One of our friends came over to assist James in giving Aube a blessing, too, and I have perfect faith that this had made such a difference on how she is dealing with this:

Seriously...it looks like she is missing a tooth....but it's SHOVED UP into gumline. Heebeegeebee. Gives me the shivers when I look at her! Ack.
3 hours after this happened, we kept our reservation at Texas de Brazil and had a lovely Thanksgiving meal....and Aube ate us under the table. She usually does when we go there....but I expected her to complain the whole time. But nope...all she ever asked for was "more meat".

We now call her Nanny McPhee.

Aube's Birthday Post

10-18-10
Originally uploaded by SimplySarahK

The middle child really gets the raw end of the deal, don't they. I've been noticing that lately. Well...I've always been aware...being the oldest child...ya know.

I can't say that Aube's day was fantastic...she actually probably thought it was. But I didn't even get to make the poor girl a birthday shirt with all the moving-of-the-rooms-around and such. :(

We did get to have lunch with Daddy. AND we took her to the Cheese for dinner...dear goodness, they had fun. Kinda odd how our 'festivities' seem to revolve around food. But she did have a blast the weekend before her birthday at the Great Wolf Lodge (which I promise to blog about later!). But they both keep asking me when their party is going to be! Ack! Never again will I skip planning a party!!

Dear Aube...
I love you sososososososososo much. I love this time that we have together with you as 'oldest' while Bella is at school. You try my patience to no end, BUT you are fabulous...you are a great helper, you're hilarious and you love your little bro so much and help me with him!
I'm lucky to be your mommy!!
Love,
Mommy.

PS: Thank you Chillygator for your advice about photo storage!! It worked!

The randomness that is today...

This is Jaxson's favorite spot lately...

he likes to snuggle right in under my triple chins.

Then he barfs on me...and sticks his hand down my shirt.

Every. Time.

The cute little bugger likes himself some tummy time...

Or slobber time...of course, all the time is slobber time, for the Cap'n Jax.

Oh, ok!! He doesn't ALWAYS love his tummy time...especially when he's just barfed and rubbed his head in it....yummmm. But there's always a sister or two to help cheer him up and wipe his face with a "burp tag".

Can someone PLEASE cut those girls bangs....geez louise.

Aube's Ballet Dance

See how Aube is looking back? lol...I was standing back there the night before but was out in the crowd for the real thing, but of course, she thought I was there! That's why mom's belong in the crowd!

Aube's "HEY YOU" Dance.

Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.

Last week, Aube was diagnosed with strep throat....and life hasn't quite been the bowl of cherries it usually is! She's been on antibiotics for over a week now and supposedly she's not contagious...no one else has had any symptoms of it, thank goodness (and knock on wood). But this girl has turned into the whiniest little thing! At first, when a kid is sick...you give into their every whim and fancy, just to keep them happy in their pain. But then, since I'm a mean mommy, after 3-4 days...it gets old. Really fast.

I took her to the dr after 3 days of not eating and lying around on the couch all day. When we first found out it was strep and the dr advised giving her Motrin, it was like night and day. She would be a pathetic crying mess...and after the Motrin kicked in, she'd be right as rain, actually getting up from the couch and playing for a bit.

And then something happened...I don't quite know what...but the Motrin doesn't make her all happy-goey, Dr Jekyll-y anymore, and she stays as Mr Hyde most of the day.

A couple things she cannot stand, that bring out the Mr Hyde-side:

1. tags on her clothes (this actually started BEFORE the illness...but has gotten progressively worse...I have to cut off every tag!)

2. anything but lemonade Capri Sun....heaven forbid she drink water!

3. Her hair being CRAZY....she makes sure we know, too. "Moooommy, my hair is so crazy"

So....because we are 'good' parents....we brush it. And brush it. And brush it.

Or she looks like this:

So, it's been a bit rough around here...

I thought she would get better being on the antibiotics...but we think she bit her cheeks, or keeps biting her cheeks because that's what she complains about the most now. That her cheeks hurt...looking in there, I see nothing...but man oh man, if anything touches them or if she eats something wrong, she goes berserk. It scared me for awhile, because it seemed her cheeks/mouth were so swollen it affected her speech....but we called the doctor and they said it wasn't a reaction to the antibiotics or anything (I thought she might be allergic like Bella, who breaks out in a full body rash). Sooo...I'm waiting it out, I know I've bitten the inside of my cheeks before and it hurts like crazy, but back to the dr we go if she's not better by Monday.

Doesn't it just stink when kids are sick?? It turns our world upside down. I just keep thinking, any day now and she'll be back to my sweet little girl, my sweet Dr Jekyll. Crossing fingers.

The Almost-Middle Child

That would be Aubree....

She's a demanding little squirt....asking for things CONSTANTLY. I'm just grateful she gets up with James in the mornings and not me (have I mentioned how awesome my  hubs is...he lets me sleep while getting the girls and himself ready for the day)....from what I've heard, she has a list of demands from when she first opens her eyes:

I want....

my diaper changed.

my sparkly skirt.

my orange juice.

my cereal.

my Mulan...or Sleeping Beauty...or Fnona.
my ....my....my ....my.....my....

For awhile there it was driving me NUTSO. Seriously, crazy crazy and I'd get so mad at her. Because when she demands things..it's when I'm OBVIOUSLY doing something and can't get it RIGHT. THAT. MOMENT.

For example:
Mommy is in the shower.....Aube says: "Mommy, I want goldfish in a cup." SERIOUSLY. Aubree...I'm in the SHOWER....does it look like I can't get you goldfish right now????

Blank stare.

So...since I don't really LIKE to be mad at my children on a constant basis (tho they make that task quite hard)...I decided to take the high road, with a simple "ok".
Aube: Mommy, I want pentzels.
Mommy: OK

And she walks off, seeming to forget that she actually asked me something in the first place. I do get a repeat request...but she usually gives me 30 minutes or so inbetween demands. Peachy.

And don't even suggest she say please...or suggest the word NO. No luck. I'm figuring out that it takes about five years to get my children to say please and thank you. Why is this? Bella...she FINALLY started saying please for everything...and I get it for her...she says Thank You. Sweet, sweet bliss...I'm just hoping Aube catches onto that one sooner than later.

Ahh...the joys of Motherhood. It's a good thing I have the type of mind that forgets everthing with a simple: Mommy, I love you. Because even though my almost-middle child may demand the world each and every day...she's never short on the hugs and I Love You's.

Look who's a SUNBEAM!!!

That's right! Yesterday was Aubree's first official day in the "big kid class". We were so excited to have her (though I have to admit I was scared she'd be clinging to mommy's leg as I tried to lead the music! But she did fabulously) and I only had to get on to her about 25 times for talking (Thats my girl).
Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam,
To shine for Him each day...
In every way try to please Him,
At home, at school, at play...
A Sun**BEAM***, a Sun**BEAM**
Jesus wants me for a SUNBEAM.
A Sun**BEAM**, a Sun**BEAM**
I'll be a SUNBEAM for Him!

Guests for dinner...

I guess I need to start setting some extra plates out when I cook dinner...just in case Aube's imaginary friends stop by again, like they did tonite. The total head count was maybe 5...I'm not 100% on that. Ü The main one, Lulu, hangs out with us a lot...tho James just met her for the first time last night. But tonite, Lulu brought her 2 dogs (who kept jumping up on the table), Elmo and Swiper (no swiping). Lulu doesn't have very good manners, since according to Aube, she peed her pants at dinner....nice.

I think this is absolutely hilarious. Especially since one of my all time favorite movies is Drop Dead Fred. Snotface!!!

Talk about being a slacker....

And during the time of year when slacking is the LEAST bit welcome. I hope its just exhaustion from traveling, then going straight into working late....cause I really have A LOT to do for Halloween and Christmas. Eek!

So....Sunday the 18th was Aube's 3rd birthday....we were driving that day, but I don't think she noticed that her day stunk. I love to make birthdays SPECIAL, ya know? But what can you do? Monday night, James went out and let her pick out an ice cream cake. And Snow White called and wished her a Happy Birthday. Ü I want to keep the celebration going and take them to go and see Where the Wild Things Are...but the reviews are crap....saying it's not really a kids movie. I usually don't listen to reviews, tho...I feel like they are done by people who put to high of expectations on movies (it's just a MOVIE, people). Anyways....sorry, Aube...we love your sweet face!Another area of major slackage....my Halloween decorations. At the beginning of October, I got the black spray paint out...found a few cool looking branches on the ground...and went to town. I LOVE these branches, I think they look so cool. They would look even cooler with the star apple-cinnamon ornaments I had planned to hang from them with orange polka dot ribbon...but which are still sitting on my craft table, half-painted. When did I become such a procrastinator?!
I do love my Pumpkin dude jars. And I even lit them last night!! No one noticed, tho. :(
Like I said, at the beginning of the month, I was in the groove...and I got this wreath from JoAnns and spray painted it black. With a little web-magic, it looks kinda spooky.

I put little googly eyes on it, too...and now i'm trying to figure out what I'll do with it at the END of October....I guess I need to finally invest in a wreath box, maybe?

So there you go....Slacker Sarah. I'm gradually working my way back...working on flower pins for the Primary leaders for this weekends Primary Program....and I have a TON of cool gifts I've found to make for people this year. AND I have the girls Halloween costumes to make by next weekend! We shall see....

Aube's new do....

Yesterday, I walk into the family room to find Aube with scissors in her hand and a lap full of blond hair. And the guiltiest look on her face....Of course, the first thing I did was take a picture. Wait....I take that back. I took the scissors from her (good mommy) THEN I took a picture. Which is why I don't quite know if she thought she was in trouble for what she did. Darn picture taking addiction, ruining my parenting skills! She did let me know that scissors are "only for paper"...so maybe it did sink in a bit. I trimmed it up last night before we headed to church for meetings. Yeah. Didn't make much of a difference. Which is why there is no "after" picture. Ü After is the before, unfortunately! It stinks, cause she cut it at this funky angle and part of it is just way short! Oh well...we'll have to practice a bit more before she starts her career as a hair stylist.