Lindsay's Christmas Dance Recital

Lindsay had her Christmas dance recital the same night as Zane's Preschool program, so we had to split up to see both. Luckily we were able to borrow my sister's video camera so I could record Lindsay and Dan recorded Zane. Grandma Tracey, Granny Annie and Uncle Mike were able to come see her. Thanks Granny for recording Lindsay while I was back stage. Lindsay is a natural. She is in the very middle (7th from the left). She's the one smiling the whole time and is pretty much on beat the whole time. We're very proud of her.

Zane's Preschool Christmas Program

Dan, Gavin and both Grandpa Harry and Grandpa Kevin got to see Zane perform at his Preschool Christmas Program, while I was with Lindsay at her dance recital. He practiced his part a ton and I told him to say it slowly and loudly so everyone could hear him. I also told him to sing the songs good. He sang so well you can hear him the most. I love the video of him saying his part. Watch how after his friend Eli says his part and walks away (he wasn't supposed to) and the look on Zane's face, and then he mouths something to himself. It's hilarious!

St. Nicholaus came

As a German tradition, we set our boots out on December 5th and during the night, St. Nicholaus visits, leaving a present and a treat. He usually leaves us movies. This is what we got this year.

I eat a chocolate!

Every year my mom buys our kids the little chocolate advent calendars. This is the first year Gavin has really understood them. And boy, does he love his daily chocolate after breakfast. I had them taped to their bedroom doors, but the tape didn't stick very long, so I set Gavin's on his dresser as far back as I could. The other day he came into the kitchen with his hands over his eyes.
I said, "what are you doing, silly boy?"
G "I eat a chocolate!" throwing his hands off his eyes like it was a surprise!
Me "where did you get the chocolate?"
G "From mommy."
Me "no you didn't. Show mommy where you got it." He took my hand and led me to his room, where his advent calendar was still on the dresser but knocked over. I picked it up and one of the little doors was slightly opened. I opened it and this is what I saw.
At least he put it back in the same spot. He just needed a little chocolate fix, I guess. Needless to say, the calendar is now on top of the computer armoire.

Festival of Trees

Last week we went to the Festival of Trees. The kids were very good, so good that we took them out to dinner afterwards. The highlight was seeing Santa. While we were waiting in line, Zane asked if it was the real Santa or just his helper. I told him he should ask him when we got up to see him. I thought Gavin might be afraid of him like last year, when he ran the other way, but he walked right up to him and sat on his lap. They all asked for Scooters. Zane and Gavin specifically asked for Spiderman scooters, Zane wants one with 3 wheels. Zane was too shy to ask, so Lindsay asked him if he was the real Santa. He got close to her face and said, "what do you think?" She said she didn't know, then he said, "I am." Their faces lit up! They couldn't believe it! It was so cute. Then they had to run and tell my family that it was the real Santa. I will always remember how cute they were about it.

I love this picture. Gavin is telling Santa he wants a Scooter.

Happy 11th Anniversary Princeton Princesses/Croft Cove Chicks!

11 years ago, on December 1st, my sister, Karen and I met Melissa. We were good friends with her cousin Heather A O (that's what we call her to distinguish between 2 Heather's), then Melissa moved here from AZ. We were all the best of friends. We lived on Princeton Avenue in a little apartment, then moved into a townhouse on Croft Cove Circle (hence the names in my title). Heather A O moved to San Diego a few months after living on Princeton. Oh, the memories we have. So last Monday night (December 1st) we went out to dinner to Red Robin to celebrate. Heather is now living in San Fransisco, so she wasn't here. We had fun chatting and talking about old times. We are so getting old though. Afterwards we went back to my parent's house, ate dessert and sat around chatting more; so different than what we were doing 11 years ago (coning, cramming, drive-by's, "iceburg! right ahead!", "a month?!?!?!","I got my girls", stupid guys, many times of peeing our pants, "you want to go to da mountains?", "those 2 hours will save you life!", "we are so young!", our journals, the good old singles ward, our awesome Roadshow's we wrote,) I could go on and on. So here's to 11 years girl's and many more to come! Love ya!

Do you like how we're making 11 with our fingers.

Our true selves. There's a story behind this picture but it's not appropriate for my blog, Christian!

Dear Santa, I'm not being nice

The other night, Gavin was being naughty during dinner. He kept smashing his spaghetti and playing with it, then dropping it on the floor. I told him I'd call Santa and tell him that Gavin wasn't being nice. Then Gavin started spitting at me. I was so enraged! So I scooted his chair that he was sitting in his booster seat in over to the back door for time-out. As I was doing the dishes I looked over and he had his hand up to his ear (like he was on the phone) then he said, "Hi Santa Clauses. (yes, he made it plural) You bring me presents? I not being nice. Ok, Bye!" I was trying so hard not to laugh while he was still in timeout. After the timer beeped and I made him apologize for being naughty, I pulled out the video camera and asked him to pretend to call Santa again. He wouldn't do it like the first time, so I gave him the phone and this is what I got.....