Dizzy?

In October, Charlie started playing the trumpet through the public school band program. It's worked out really well. He gets one semi-private (just him and one other student) and one group lesson a week. He really enjoys it. Tonight he had his Winter Concert. We finally got to hear Hot Cross Buns and Old King Wenceslas with the whole orchestra! He's also been working on a part from the Nutcracker.
Charlie was really excited about tonight - and a little nervous. He was awesome! We can't wait for the Spring Concert :)

Good-bye Mrs. Wood

One of Charlie's favorite teachers at Greenhouse is moving to Colorado. Mrs. Wood has been his science teacher all three years. She does an amazing job of sharing advanced scientific concepts in a way that's fun and engaging. I know she will be missed tremendously by more than just our family. We are so sad to see her go.

Christmas Concert

Sam played in his Christmas concert today. He worked extra hard this past week, in order to play the "twinkle theme" with the more advanced students. We captured him doing "Must Be Santa" here (he's smack dab in the center, just to the right of the teacher)~

We had lunch afterward with Grandpa, where Sam, out of the blue, identified a piece of pancake as the shape of Texas! This led to us all trying to make state shapes (mostly things like Colorado and Kansas, although we did have Michigan, as well).

Candy Making

After we returned from the theater, Charlie spent the afternoon making candy with Mrs. Gauthier. This generous (and patient) friend from church invites any children, who are able and willing, to come and help her during her week long candy making extravaganza. I think they're making marzipan here~

A Christmas Carol

This morning we spent some time with Ebenezer Scrooge and Tiny Tim at Drury Lane. While waiting to go in, I attempted to get a picture for our Christmas card~

Mary's latest trick (a half somersault) was not conducive to picture-taking~

She also refused to stay put, but she did smile~

Give her an audience, and she really takes off~

Finally settling down just before the curtain went up~

I was really amazed by how well done this performance was. It was inexpensive, but highly entertaining. There were definitely some scary parts with the ghosts of Jacob Marley and Christmas future, so I'm not sure I'd bring an especially sensitive young child. But I'm glad we saw it. It parallels nicely with the time period we're studying this year and the boys really enjoyed it.

Psalm 15

Trimming the Tree

The boys have a yearly tradition of going with Grandpa (and sometimes Pam, Daddy or Mama) to this tree farm in Oregon, IL and chopping down a Christmas Tree for our house. Grandpa wasn't feeling well today (the only time we had before Christmas) so Daddy took them to a place I had found on the internet in nearby Downer's Grove. Scott pulled up and saw that it was $5.00 just to park, trees started at $60.00, and it was another $10.00 to rent a saw. He turned around and ended up at the YMCA lot a couple of blocks from our house. The boys came home with our most beautiful tree ever! (They always have more fun with Granpda, though :) It is perfectly symmetrical and a lovely dark green.

We started with the tangle of lights, and then had to continue after baths~

It always takes so much longer than we plan, but the boys really love it. Here Sam is holding his Notre Dame nutcracker he got last year~

Charlie holding his first Christmas ornament (looks a lot like a little girl we know)~