HEARN PLAYDATE

Sarah offered to bring the kids home with her after school today because it was a 60% day and she had to work (from home, and it's easier when her kids are occupied with friends), and we quickly accepted her offer! The kids were thrilled, and we were able to work full days (without teleworking!)

While the boys played video games, the girls played dress-up. Cara Beth gave Cora a best friends necklace for Christmas, and because we discovered they owned the same dress (Cora's was from her Lydia costume, CB's was from her choral performance last week), Cora packed hers so they could be twins. No idea where the second pair of black mary janes came from, but these girls are just too darn cute!

Video games and a treat (Sarah said they barely moved for hours...)

The girls even prepared a "healthy" snack for themselves, the boys, and the moms...

We are so grateful for the village that cares for our kids - thank you Sarah!

SCHOOL CHRISTMAS PARTIES AND TEACHER APPRECIATION LUNCHEON

Bowmar Elementary received an A in their annual rating!

That celebration was quickly followed by a Teacher Appreciation Luncheon (we donated Jamie's Avocado Dip recipe and chips, and I volunteered a couple hours over lunch to watch James' class while his teacher enjoyed a kid-free, quiet meal with her coworkers).

And before we knew it, it was time for Christmas parties!

This month has seriously flown by, even more so than our usual Decembers. Between the marathon and the dance recital and Cora's Rec+ Soccer Team continuing to practice throughout, it's been wild and exhausting, but also a lot of fun!

ALL CORA WANTS FOR CHRISTMAS 2018

ADVENT NECKLACE

Instead of a Lego set or other advent calendar, we got Cora a charm necklace advent kit this year (in addition to the chocolate she placed behind the doors of our advent gingerbread house). James elected to do another Lego set though, of course. And this was the first year since Cora was a baby that we didn't wrap advent books. We still read one every night, but the kids decided to save us the effort in lieu of getting to pick out whichever book(s) they wanted each night - it was win/win!

WALL OF FAME

The kids got to show us their skills at the end of their acro classes the past two days (since acro was not included in the Christmas recital). I didn't save the videos (they were too long and most of you saw them already via text message), but here they are proudly showing us their names up on the wall of fame (once they master a move and can perform it flawlessly 3 times in a row, they get their name "in the club").

4TH GRADE SERVICE PROJECT

The 4th Grade classes at Bowmar have a pen-pal service project this year, where they've been exchanging letters with local nursing home residents. As part of that project, most of them brought in a pair of slipper socks to give to their pen-pal for Christmas. James loved picking out some crazy, festive socks with the grippers on the bottom (for safety). He's standing next to Mrs. Fraysier (his ELA and Social Studies teacher) in the photo above.

CUB SCOUT CHRISTMAS PARTY 2018

Hot chocolate and a cookie potluck, followed by pinewood derby car presents and dancing!

BRANCH PARTY DIRTY SANTA

Our branch always has the best Christmas party (we have a huge potluck and play Dirty Santa) and for the past two years, we've been recruiting other branches to join us. I'll say this year didn't disappoint, even though I had a much better gift than the giant rice krispie treat up until the end when it was stolen. The Cub Scouts highly enjoyed the rice krispie treat at their party that night though... Jay went home with a battery powered tornado lamp, which now lives in Cora's room.

The Christmas decor in my office this year, including my pretty anniversary flowers that lived for weeks!

CHRISTMAS RECITAL 2019

Ballet 1A - James

Contemporary 1 - Cora

Ballet 1A - Cora

DRESS REHEARSAL AND A SIGNIFICANT BIRTHDAY

Sometimes we get the best pictures at dress rehearsal (but these are just the ones I took - minus the one above, which RiverPointe took themselves to post in advertisement of the recital)

Jay had to spend his birthday evening (all of it... dress rehearsal generally lasts 5+ hours and this year was no different) corralling boys and shushing excited little girls waiting in the wings.

The bow is always a chore to rehearse (so many kids on stage at once!)

I love grabbing class photos on the stairs heading up to the stage:

These ones were actually taken at the end of the first recital, I just forgot to put them into that post:

We did take Jay out to a very late dinner after the rehearsal and opened presents (and had lunch with his coworkers the day before), but it's always a little tough to have your birthday so close to Christmas and amid all the busyness of December. Happy 42nd Birthday Jay - now you have the answer to EVERYTHING!

ERDC UNDER LIGHTS 2019

Yes. We stopped at every single display so they could take a picture, upon THEIR request (and collect free candy canes from the ERDC elves!)

DPW

CHL

HQ

(Santa was driving the BIG tank. The kids were undecided as to whether the red lights were supposed to make the tank "Rudolph" or if Santa was in a battle...)

EL

GSL

ITL