Look No Wheels...

....No training wheels that is.  Tony was taking a planning day on December 14th and Reece came up to him, very confidently, and told him she wanted to ride her bike without training wheels.  Tony could not pass up this opportunity since she was so excited to learn.  Tony wrote about it on his blog so you will have to check it out at http://www.marathonoflearning.blogspot.com/.  She learned very quickly (in about 7 minutes) and is now riding very well.  All the girls and Tony went on a 4 mile ride just 3 days after she learned.  Great job Reece!

 Riley ran beside Reece and encouraged her along.

 Reece is very proud of herself.

Reece chasing after her sisters on the bike trail.  This is the ride where she did 4 miles.  We were so proud of her efforts.

Regan's 1st Band Concert....

On December 14th Regan had her first band concert for parents.  She has only been playing flute for 3 months but has already learned a great deal.  The band did a great job. 

Riley's 8th Birthday Party...

Riley wanted another Slumber Party this year for her birthday.  Last year she had 7 girls over and I told her she could not have that many again.  This is hard for Riley because she is my social butterfly and has many friends, so selecting only 3 friends was very hard for her.  She invited her friends, Lizzie, Leah and McKenzie and she chose to go bowling, have pizza for dinner and then have a sleepover and watch the "Smurfs" movie.  We celebrated Riley's birthday a weekend early this year due to everyones' schedules.  Everyone had a great time! 

 We brought Riley's friends home with us after school on Friday and started the afternoon with cake and ice cream.

 Riley blowing out her #8 candle.  And guess what she wished for this year... a dog.  But, she told us the wish so does that mean it won't come true?! 

 Riley bowling...

 Reece did pretty well...

 McKenzie, Riley, Lizzie, and Leah

 Here is the final scores for the first game.  McKenzie did really well.

Here is our game, I did NOT do well.  My back was still hurting so that was my excuse. :)  Tony did not play because he had a bad cold he was fighting.

 Here is the final scores for the second game.

And our second game, I did better but still NOT good.

 McKenzie is very sweet to Reece and played with her between turns at bowling.  They were playing, "Rock, paper, scissors."

 Riley and her dear friend, Lizzie, chatting together.

 Riley opening her present from McKenzie.  She got a Dalmatian Furreal Pet and Squinkies.

 Riley opening her new dog Webkinz from Leah.  She was very excited to get another Webkinz.  She named this dog, Ribbons.

 Riley showing off her present from Lizzie, she got bobble head dogs you paint and decorate.  All her friends know her well, they all got her dog themed presents.

 Riley opening her present from Aunt Kim, Uncle Jeff, Katie and Jonathon.  They got her a giftcard to purchase Beyblades.  These are the craze amongst boys.....and well my daughter!!  The store was having a huge sale on Beyblades so I went and got them before Riley's party and wrapped them so she could open them at her party.  Thanks K2J2!!!!

Riley and her friends playing Beyblades Saturday morning.

The Candlemaker...

Riley's Second Grade has been learning about Colonial Trades.  Each child was assigned a Colonial Trade and Riley got the Candlemaker.  They had to come up with a speech about their trade, make visuals to show and could dress up if they wanted to.  On December 9th, the Second Grade had a Colonial Trade Day and had their room set up like a Colonial Village and you could visit each of the trade shops.  The parents and many classes come to visit the village.  Riley did a great job as Candlemaker and explained nicely how they made candles back then. 

 Riley showing her visual on how they made candles.

 Riley explaining the Candlemaking process to several parents. 

While I was in Riley's class I saw this bulletin board filled with letters to Jesus.  So, I took a photo of Riley's letter.  It says, "Dear Jesus, Thank you for taking care of us and for dying for our sins.  Love, Riley"  I love that Riley's class wrote letters to Jesus instead of Santa!!! 

Birthday Party For Jesus...

On Sunday, December 4th our church had a "Birthday Party For Jesus" outreach event.  We love to have this at the beginning of December to focus the kids' (and adults') hearts on the true meaning of Christmas so the Advent season will be meaningful to them.  This year we focused on what it means to adore Christ and how do we adore Him.  Robyn and I used the "Adornaments" from Family Life Ministries and taught the kids about the different names Jesus is referred to in the bible and why he has these names.  By learning these names, we learn more deeply about who Jesus is and we will be drawn to worship and adore Him in a more meaningful way.  After the storytime, all the families made their own set of "Adornaments" to take home.  We finished the evening by worshipping with song and fellowship with each other over a yummy potluck dinner.  And of course we celebrated with Birthday Cupcakes too.  It was a great way to start off December.  Happy Birthday Jesus!  

 Robyn and I doing storytime with the kids.

 Robyn explaining to the kids why Jesus is referred to as "King of Kings."

 Family Craft Time....

 Our family making our "Adornaments."

 Here is the finished product...

 We had a feast of yummy foods...

Birthday Cupcakes...

Christmas Parade...

Today our church was in the town's parade. We decorated a truck to look like a gift and then we had our church's banners on the truck and the kids dressed up as the Nativity characters. Regan was Mary, Reece was an angel and Riley was a Shepherd (we did not have enough boys so Riley was kind enough to be a "boy" character). The kids were very cute and we had a great time. We handed out candy, fliers about our Christmas events at church and water bottles.

Deck The Halls....

We left Georgia on Sunday morning and headed home.  We were thankful for not much traffic and made it home in wonderful timing.  We always try to get our tree the weekend after Thanksgiving so we unpacked our car quickly and then headed out to get the tree.  We set the tree up on Sunday (which is always fun trying to get it positioned straight) and then decorated the tree on Wednesday.  The girls did a great job this year helping.

 Here is our set up...

 Reece found it fun hanging the ornaments high.

 Riley did too and was trying to give me a heart attack with her balancing abilities.  Thank goodness for her background in gymnastics.

 Another stretch for Riley...

 Regan hanging one of her ornaments on the tree.

 The finished product.  And yes we already have some presents under the tree thanks to Grandma and Grandpa.

Time At My Parent's House...

We spent Friday and Saturday of our Thanksgiving break with my family.  We played lots of Rummikub, went to a minor league Hockey game (very fun!), ate at Varsity (YUM), went Roller skating at my old stompin' ground, watched lots of football (well...the men did) and had a great surf and turf dinner.  It was great to see the family but it is never long enough.  We missed you Aunt Kate!! 

Cousin Katie reading to Reece.

 Enjoying our food at the Varsity.  A trip to Georgia is never complete unless we eat at the Varsity.

They are telling me to stop taking photos so they can eat!

 Reece and Riley with their cousin, Jonathon, at the Gladiators game.

 We went to see the Gwinnett Gladiators play.

The girls enjoying their first Hockey game. Reece was very amused by the players getting put into the "time out box" (penalty box).

We went roller skating at the skating rink I grew up going to, Skate-a-Long USA. It had not changed a bit --- literally they still had the same ole' carpet and booths. It brought back a ton of childhood memories. I loved to Roller skate as a kid, skates were my second pair of tennis shoes. This was the girls' first time roller skating. They did very well.

Reece learning how to skate on the carpet first.

Helping Reece on the rink...

Regan had very good balance and never fell. 

 By the end of the night Reece was skating on her own.

 Riley getting the hang of skating.

Regan had such a good time skating it was hard to get her off the rink.

 There were several falls at the beginning of the night.  At least they were somewhat graceful and they were smiling.

 Another one bites the dust...

 The girls helping Grandma make cookies.