Our Christmas Season Recap!

Wow! That was a busy few weeks. It was all good, but I feel like I blinked and it was gone. Of course that is not true, my little sister "Aunty Caridad" was visiting for three weeks, and just left today. The kids SO look forward to seeing her every Christmas and really, fully, expect it. It is a part of our Christmas tradition. I love that we have traditions that we can all look forward to.

This is what all the anticipation is really about...one for the house, one for me!

There was the annual Gingerbread House Party, hosted by the Rileys. Each year is a little more fun, as the kids anticipation gets higher and now that all three of them are so much more independent. Bryttain did not even sit on our table with us this year, she opted to sit with her friends. I swear she is more like a teenager sometimes, than a four year old.

Arran and Bryttain sang "Who would imagine a king' at the church Christmas party and in church on Christmas Sunday.

James and I got to go away overnight, without children(!), whilst my sister bravely looked after them and worked on all sorts of fun projects. It was lovely! Not sure who had more fun, us or them...well on second thoughts...

 There was shopping and eating out. Aunty Caridad wanted a steak, so we headed to Cattlemens. You cannot beat their Thursday night deal, with kids getting a free steak dinner and house margaritas only $4! No margaritas for the kids, but the girls did suck on the limes and pull funny faces for us.

 Bryttain's ballet recital.

Baking and candy making. The kids made the chocolate lollipops and the chocolate crispy cakes!

 Christmas Day of course. We had three very excited, very grateful kids. I remember as a kid (although I was probably older) waking up at outrageous hours to open presents. Well our kids were up early, but they patiently waited for us all to get up so that we could open presents together, after reading the story from the bible. We managed to skype online and chat with my brother Wesley and his girlfriend Lou, as well as Grandad and Nanny Pam. I am so grateful for technology and that the kids can 'see' family in other parts of the world.

Then in the afternoon we headed over to spend the rest of the evening with the cousins...best of times. All in all it really was a lovely Christmas.

Big girl starts ballet

I am so behind on everything. My computer has been in the shop for the past eight days and I finally got it back.
December 12th, Asia had her first ballet class. It was a much anticipated event! For her birthday we had bought her a leotard and ballet shoes, all of her own, not hand-me-downs. She was so cute with her little black gauzy skirt, so excited and I was just amazed at how well she did.

The reason I had moved Bryttain up from the 3-4s class to the 4-5s class (even though the time worked better for our schedule) was that each time a brand new three year old would come in, the class seemed to slow down while the new student adjusted and the teacher worked on getting her up to speed. Some of the new students showed, quite clearly, by their lack of focus and ability to follow direction, that this was probably their first exposure to any kind of organized activity. But Asia astounded me...she was so attentive and worked so hard, following instructions and she looked like she had been having classes for months.

Of course, she has been watching Bryttain in her classes and Bryttain 'teaches' her at home, but she was truly amazing and she LOVED it.

There was a moment at the end when my heart broke a little for her though. This class had already started working on dances for the Christmas recital and their little leotard dresses had been ordered and were handed out that morning. With it being Asia's first time, she had missed that cut-off. She was not aware of all of that and as the dresses were handed out she saw one lying on the floor and excitedly grabbed it and came running to me to show me. I of course had to take it back as it was not hers and tried to explain to her that she would not be in the upcoming recital, but could next time.

She was SO disappointed, but she really tried to hold it together, she did not want to cry and was trying desperately to be brave! She turned away from me and wiped her eyes, smearing her stamped hand all over face as the ink merged with her tears. I could feel her pain and it was heart wrenching.

I know it is just a part of growing up but I so wish I could spare my children some of these moments.

I love this little girl more than words can say and am incredibly proud of her.

Bryttain ballerina

On Tuesday evening Bryttain had another little ballet recital. I love that she finds so much joy in her dancing, she lights up as she talks about it and as she does it. Asia cannot wait until it is her turn and every week asks me

"When can my do ballet mommy?" (I love the way she talks).

Last night she watched me put Brtyttain's hair into a bun and then insisted that I do hers too, it was SO tiny, about the size of a grape, but we did it. She was so happy and proud. That little girl has music in her. Ever since she was a baby she would shimmy along to the music in stores, a big grin plastered across her face. All my kids love music, but I think it runs a little deeper in Asia, she is always singing.

Bryttain is front row, second from the right.

Bryttain with her Tuesday morning, 10:30am classmates.

I am sure that to an outsider, these little recitals, with three and four year olds must seem a little disjointed and far from perfect. For the parents and family members and friends who fill the room, though, those are the cutest little, most adorable girls in the whole world. We are as proud as could be as they dance in their tutus and I do not know who is beaming wider at the end of it all.

Proud daddy with his girl, and Bryttain with one of her best friends.

Our little ballerina

Tuesday was a whole day of ballet. Bryttain had ballet portraits done in the morning, before her class, then it was home for a quick lunch, naps and by the time all the kids were up again, it was time to get her in costume and hair done for her little recital.

She had been so excited and looking forward to this day and she totally looked the part, well as much as a three year can. She was excited that we were all coming to watch, that auntie Caridad was here to see, that she was going to be on the stage, with lights! She was about as cute as she could possibly be.

There was no flash photography allowed, so forgive the grain in the following photos, I had to send my ISO skyhigh to get anything.

Starting and ending pose for 'Baby Swans' the rest of the dance kind of got lost with the shock of a live audience.

I'm a little teapot ballet-style

Bryttain with her cousin Michaelanne, who recently joined her class.

Bryttain with one of her best friends Abi, her cousin and their teacher Miss Zourra

She is just so precious and loves that she has something that is hers and I, of course, am a very proud mummy.