Programs, Programs, Programs!!!

It's been a busy couple of weeks full of Christmas Programs at our house. It's nice to have them all behind us and have a little down time before Christmas comes and goes.

Last Thursday was Maggie's school program. She'd been working very hard on her songs and practicing them for us regularly. It was fun for her to have Grandma and Pops and Grandma, Grandpa and Deem in the audience to watch....

A couple of Maggie's school friends, Harlie & Kiera.

The day after the school program the Saturday Morning Girls Basketball group got to dribble at half time of the high school girls game....Maggie takes these things very seriously and spent some time in the garage practicing before the game.

Then Sunday was the big church Christmas Program. Both girls got to participate this year and while it is a HUGE and EXHAUSTING undertaking, it is fun to see them enjoy it. I never know what to expect with Gracie, but she was super excited, she wanted her hair curled and was all in when it was time to walk up on the "big stage".

All ready to go.

Over Gracie's right should is Lauren, her "BFF" (just ask her).

Maggie's spot was a little harder to get pictures of....where's Waldo?

Grandma, Grandpa and Deem made the trip back to Norfolk and this time Uncle Mark
Aunt Laura and Elsie came too. My kids are lucky to always have such a great cheering section. Maggie's
group on Wednesday nights was in charge of decorating the stage, so she helped make the trees behind them.

 

After the Christmas program Gracie got to go home with Grandma and Grandpa for a few days....she had a great time and was pretty unhappy to see me on Wednesday when she had to come home. From the pictures they sent me it looks like she was a busy busy girl!

She and uncle Jeff made this car (or at least that's what she told me)....she's been pulling it around the house
all week. Who needs new Christmas toys!

Well, Hello December!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here. The lights are up inside and out, there are a few projects coming together here and there and before we know it, it'll be time to start baking....(or not, we all know that's not my strength!)

We had a great Thanksgiving weekend. EVERYONE was home, so Mom & Dad's house was a flutter of activity on Thursday. I think there were 35 of us for dinner, that's both my Grandma's, and all my aunts, uncles and cousins. That's pretty amazing to consider and not something that most kids can say. It was total chaos....but the good kind of chaos.

Before we left for Omaha, Maggie had to shop out another batch of collars! She will have some exciting
news to announce about those soon!

We also got the tree standing...right before I took this picture I found Gracie standing on the TOP of the ladder!

When we got to Omaha Wednesday our first stop was the bridal store, to try on flower girl dresses for
Nate and Bri's wedding. I'm going to have to hide them when they get here...they will want to spin in them everyday.

Thursday everyone got involved in the preparations. Maggie learned to polish silver (then asked why
anyone would actually have silver.)

Gracie made her famous Jigglers. It's a secret recipe :)

Grandpa and Maggie continued there tradition of stuffing making. Maggie prides herself on being
the Chief Plopper!

 

Maggie and Grandpa took a break to cut some boards for me. Those aprons are multi-functional.

Tucker and Oliver got a Black Russian Terrier puppy last week. He is
SO cute and reminded us of how little Reagan was. Somewhere along the line I think they are cousins. Reagan
didn't seem impressed :)

KIDS table!

Maggie found a new use for her dog collars!

No Arnie, you can't keep him!!
 

I was so excited to get all these goofballs in one picture....then I realized Elsie was already gone....it was almost the perfect Great-Grandkid picture....next time!

 

Silly, Silly Girls!

When we got home Saturday, the weather was great, so the girls decided to "play one more round".

Maggie was excited to share Jude with Gracie again.

We got the big tree decorated....

....and the Pinkalicous tree!

This month will fly by. We have school and church Christmas programs already this week and the Amazon boxes are arriving regularly! I love Christmas time....I just hope we don't let it fly by too quickly.

Maggie's new store

Maggie's Dog Collar shop is open :) She's been busy sewing and is hoping to have $500 to give the Animal Shelter of Northeast Nebraska before Christmas. Her online store can be found at...

https://www.etsy.com/shop/MaggiesProjectShop?ref=hdr_shop_menu

...she's also planning on setting up shop at Thanksgiving, so if we'll see you Thursday, be warned :)

The dentist and Daddy's bday....

Tuesday was a big day around here. Gracie had her first dentist appointment and it was Arnie's Birthday!

Gracie's been asking when she can go to the dentist for a long time, when the day finally came it didn't seem like such a great idea anymore. I went first and she kept telling the hygienist and I that she didn't need her teeth cleaned anymore, she'd just do it at home. I was a little worried, but when it was her turn she handled it like a champ. She bit the dentist, but in her defense he told her to "bite together". In true Gracie fashion she did it with gusto!

Tuesday night was Arnie's Birthday. The girls and I surprised him with a snowmobile (good thing there was snow on the ground, otherwise we probably would have given him socks and undershirts). The girls LOVE the snowmobile. Maggie is of course cautious and rule following and Gracie just wants to go FASTER!

Everyone needs a super cool helmet.

 Here is what Gracie really wanted to get him.....

 ...I'm not sure he'd of liked it as well. But it sure is cute!

I've started working on a few Christmas projects so the house is a mix of Thanksgiving/Fall decorations and a few Christmas things. It's been to cold to work outside....the other day I had a nail gun on my dining room table....must be genetic. Next week I'll start tossing the pumpkins and pulling out the tree and Christmas stuff. This weather makes me want to turn on the twinkle lights and listen to Christmas music.

Here are a few more pictures...

Pops got a new toy and it was delivered to the office, so last Sunday we went and
rode it around the office. It's pretty fun. Gracie and I tried to buy it from him, but he
said no....can you believe he said no to that sweet little face??

A quick picture of Maggie at her table at school...I love my Wednesdays
in first grade!

Gracie made us lemonade for lunch yesterday....I think maybe she forgot a couple of steps :)

Maggie is working on a new project to help our Animal Shelter. Hopefully she'll be ready to start selling these collars soon. She's been working very hard. We'll keep you posted!

Last Saturday the snow was coming down so pretty! Maggie and I decided to try and take some pictures of Jude...Jude wasn't sure what to think of the snow between her hooves and the cement (she's usually inside or in the mud!) It took a minute of playtime to get her to stop eating snow and cooperate. She and Maggie are quiet a pair......