Thanksgiving

We spent thanksgiving at Robs parents this year. It was fun to see them and for the girls to spend time with their cousins as well. We have so much to be grateful for. 

Let it rain

Ava left for school today in her apple t-shirt because they are celebrating Johnny Appleseed day. Jakob (Mueller), Charlotte, and Genevieve had a party in the rain. GG loved it even after Jakob warned her "hurry it's raining." 

Make a joyful sound

In August Ava joined a choir with Millenial Choir and Orchestras. It's their first year in Dallas. She has been attending practice every week and tonight was the concert. It was in Dallas downtown at a symphony hall and included the orchestra, Ava's choir, two other children's choirs, a teen choir and an adult choir. It was all Christmas music and it was beautiful. Ava did a phenomenal job and was adorable. She was nervous earlier today but didnt look it on the stage. When I asked her about it she said "mom when I got on stage I tried not to smile so big but I couldn't help it, my smile was just breaking through." Love this sweet girl with the angelic voice. 

Channeling her inner angel to prepare

All done. Great job Ava and Katie!

Getting their goofy out after the concert.

Love this one. 

The next semester of the choir starts in February and Charlotte will be old enough to join. Can't wait for the spring concert with both of them! 

We got the crystal spirit....

Charlottes Christmas program was tonight and despite singing that she has the "crystal spirit in her heart" she did awesome and was adorable. It's always so fun to watch. 

Leopard moth

About a month ago we found a caterpillar on our way home from school. Ava caught it and fed it and a few days later it built a cocoon. This afternoon Ava noticed it had come out as a beautiful leopard moth. 

And GG took advantage of us being outside releasing the moth by attacking Ava's milkshake she left down too low. 

Sweet sisters

Found this picture Ava drew of GG. Every month I take a picture of GG with a sticker on her shirt showing how many months she is. Ava apparently drew this when she was 9 months. :)

GG

Genevieve is crawling all over the place, pulling up and walking around furniture. She is constantly zipping through the house to see what she can get into and she finds plenty. Just last week we had to call poison control after she filled filled her mouth with anti-fungal cream. Yum! Here are one days pics of a few places I've caught her. 

Dishwasher

Dumping stuff of shelves

Throwing things out of the fridge

Charlotte climbs

Today I took Charlotte to the park before we had to pick Ava up from school. I couldn't believe how daring she was climbing up some really high stuff. Tonight she proved she can go high and go low and very very tiny. 

Ice Ice Baby

An ice storm rolled into Texas this weekend and we got hit. School was cancelled Friday and luckily I'd been to Costco and Walmart earlier in the week so we just hunkered down and turned on the fireplace. But my snow-deprived children were determined to play in it despite the fact that it was freezing and completely ice. I caught them scraping the bottom of the slide and they explained "mom if we scrape really hard then it's almost like snow." After I finally got GG down for a nap I joined them outside as did Rob and we took turns sledding down the icy driveway on a pizza pan. When we couldn't feel our toes any longer it was back in the house for some hot chocolate and coloring of ornaments. We love snow/ice days!

It's a superhero

Look mom I'm crocodile batman!

Turkey day

Did the ward turkey trot with Ava and Charlie at 7:30 am in 29 degree weather this am. Brrrrrr but it was fun! Headed to OKC to have thanksgiving tomorrow with the Vincent's. 

Fish funeral

A few months ago we got some fish. It was part of Ava's birthday present. The first two have done awesome but recently we added two more. The first lasted a couple days. The other one lasted a couple weeks so today we had our second fish funeral. Ava at first wanted to bury the fish but I reminded her that all pipes lead to a big place of water like a lake or ocean and that is really a fish's heaven. After finishing the funeral we walked back to the tank to find one of the original two - Rosie- dead.  Sweet Ava immediately said "oh no, we need to take Goldie (the survivor) back to the pet store." I asked why and she explained that we were taking these fish's lives by having them live with us so we should take Goldie back before she lost her life living with us too. She figured she could have a long life at the pet store. We are keeping her though and hoping for the best. 

Pioneer Day

Today was Pioneer Day at Ava's school. I got to go volunteer and it was so fun. They did butter making, soap making, pioneer children's games, candle making, brad making, and got to write with quill pens and see some antiques. Ava was so excited and had a ball. And she makes such a darling pioneer as well.