This blog spot is primarily a photo/memory album for our family. It also serves as a way for us to share what is going on in our lives with our friends and family that don't see us on a regular basis. Ashley, Worth, Ellie, Emma, and Mack
This is the part of Christmas that can get hairy and exhausting but be fulfilling all at the same time. We are rushing around trying to finish Christmas shopping, the kids have shows/concerts/parties out of the wazoo, there is music everywhere, baking, working to get Christmas cards out BEFORE Christmas, basketball practice, student council meetings, STEAM meetings, work Christmas parties, gift exchanges, people have to actually be fed, and then we attempt to get into bed before 10pm every night. (That's the shortened version.) It's exhausting, but it makes the rest that comes Christmas Eve and Christmas day even more relaxing. There are lots of videos in this post because of the amount of performances we had over the last week.
December 9th started off with the Glory of Christmas concert at our church. The choir sings along with the Valdosta community orchestra. The 2nd-5th grade K-kids choirs get to jump in for a couple of songs. It really is a beautiful music experience to get you into the Christmas spirit.
Ellie and Emma were both performers this year
In our house, once you turn 5, you have to start making your own bed in the morning. I usually don't care how good it looks, but it just needs to be made up. Mack normally just throws his pillows all on the bed and calls it a day. This past week, however, he really began attempting to make it look nice. I was so proud of him. (I think Emma gave him some instruction) I have no doubt, he was also motivated by the fact that our elf, Red, was here watching to report to Santa.
Monday, Dec. 10th, Mack was a wiseman in his school Christmas pageant.
They all did such a good job!
So very serious! This was our 8th and final Park Ave. UMC Preschool Christmas pageant. It was bitter sweet to watch this sweet production for the last time with one of my kids in it.
Wednesday, the 12th, Emma sang in her school Christmas concert. It was 2nd and 3rd graders and was so fun this year!
Of course, Emma was behind a table from the view where I had a seat.
Wednesday night (also the 12th) was the k-kids concert at church. All 3 of my kiddos were in in and did a great job!
Ellie was a reader several times this year. After her solo experience last year (she did great- just sang a wrong verse.) she opted to read instead of singing a solo.
This past Tuesday ALL 3 kids had class parties. Mack's was the first at 11:00 am. Then Emma's at 12:30, and finally, Ellie's at 1:30pm.
I was a mom helper for Mack's party. I just brought chicken nuggets and fruit, but Luke's mom had the cutest decorations and even came up with a fun version of musical chairs for them to play to win coloring books.
They sang a few songs for us.
Charlie and Mack
I love how she teaches them reverence during their prayer.
I missed any picture ops at Emma's party because they were taking their party snack outside to the playground when I made it there. Her teacher also stopped me to talk about Emma (all VERY good things,) so I missed any photo ops of her eating ice cream and playing. I got plenty of chances for pictures in Ellie's party. We were in her room for quite a while. They played several games before having a snack.
Ellie's ELA teacher was so sweet. She gave Mack crayons and coloring pages to work on while he had to sit there.
Mack decided to jump in on Ellie's friend picture. Ellie, Colette, and Kathryn.
Levi's legacy is everywhere. I took these posters to the pediatrician's office this summer and asked them to put them up. They are up ALL over their office and have been since this summer. I was in tears!
Ellie had her 10 year check up. She had just had her finger pricked and I was joking with her taking her picture in the paper gown. Shortly after this, she passed out. Thankfully the pediatrician walked in as it was happening and was there to help me get her supine on the table. Girl cannot stand the site of blood and she had looked at her finger when they pricked it. I don't see a future in healthcare of this one.
Ellie made the school Facebook page and the Valdosta Daily Times paper. She is on the student council and they did a toy drive for the kids in FL that lost everything in the hurricane. Ellie is quoted in all of the pictures. I thought it was hilarious, as said student council member forgot to tell her mom about this so we didn't send in ONE toy. I felt awful, but what can you do? I think she felt bad enough that she forgot to tell me, it won't happen again. At least she helped in some of the packing and gathering (I think.)
At Ellie's basketball practice Thursday night there was a dry erase board in the gym we were at. Mack drew Worth and I.
We finally have our tree and decorations up, so we can officially start the Christmas season in the Bowers home. This week, we decorated, celebrated a special birthday, saw Santa, and just took it easy in preparation of the coming weeks of activities.
Mack was the most involved in hanging the Christmas ornaments, even if he did only hang them all in one spot on the tree.
The girls helped a little, but lost interest after a few minutes this year.
Mack put in some hours.
We FINALLY got our new front door. It turned out great I think.
We will now have to paint our front porch rockers and swing to match the new color palette, but overall, everything looks awesome!
A Breakfast with Santa at the VCC was on the books for this Saturday morning. I'm not sure who got their first, but they were all determined to get their requests in. Mack - "a scooter" Ellie- unicorn zoomer" Emma- "a hover board"
They are all getting so big!
Saturday was also Worth's 39th birthday. He wanted to keep it low-key, so we just stayed home, watched moves and grilled steaks for dinner, not before he opened his gifts.
Mack was so proud of the coffee mug he made for his daddy.
Mack wanted to be sure daddy got some Almond Joys for his birthday as well.
The girls gave him some Green Egg accessories
Ellie getting some love while Worth opened the gift from me. Once again, despite my best efforts, my gift was an epic fail. I just knew I had found the perfect thing - a mountable infrared heater for our back patio. Worth was so excited as well, until we realized that it came with a 250volt plug, which is not standard. We opted to return it instead of rewiring our entire electrical system for one heater. I told Worth I was done giving him birthday gifts. I can't ever seem to get it right for the one person that is about the hardest in the world to buy for. The pressure is just too much:)
We did have a nice dinner of Filet, blue cheese salad, and twice baked potatoes - all requests of the bday boy.
This year, Worth decided he was done with cookie cake and wanted an ice cream cake from Dairy Queen. These pictures all compliments of Ellie.
This past weekend was the annual Nutcracker ballet. This year Ellie was a gingerbread girl and Emma was a toy doll. They both did so good! I was so proud of them, and also at how much easier it is getting to manage them backstage. I had to do very little. I do help with make up, but they can completely get into their costumes, put hats/bows in by themselves and make sure they are where they need to be. It makes my job backstage ALOT easier. I have several pictures I've posted here mainly because I sat in 2 opposite sides of the auditorium for both performances and Saturday, my pictures turned out a little clearer than Friday's pictures.
We've also begun (slowly) putting up our Christmas decorations. The Christmas tree has turned into quite the debacle this year. We planned to go get it today, but of course it was torrential rains, thunderstorms, and tornadoes in our area. Despite the weather, we headed to a local farm that would have cut trees for sale, only to find out that they weren't open on Sundays. We ended up at the Lowe's in Tifton picking out a Charlie Brown tree. We got said tree loaded, and due to aforementioned torrential rains, it got soaked in the back of Worth's truck on the way home. It currently is sitting in our garage drying out, so that we can possibly bring it in to decorate at some point. We did get most of the other decorations up, however, despite not being able to hang ornaments on our tree yet.
Another highlight of the week was Ellie's first hand chime performance at church this morning. They performed "Away in a Manger" and it was beautiful. She has fallen in love with hand chime playing and takes it very seriously as you will see on the video below.
The yard decorations are making a come back.
Proud parent post here. Ellie was invited to join the Jr. Beta Club at her school. You are chosen by teachers. She is really doing so well in 4th grade this year. I hope it just continues.
We had our first dress rehearsal for Nutcracker Wednesday!
In the middle of our crazy week, we had our living room finally redecorated. We had been waiting on furniture to come in and a time slot that the decorator could come all at the same time. It ended up looking great! She took all of my church pictures and did this on the wall. I would have NEVER come up with that. I just love it!
I wonder how long before one of the kids spills on the new couches? Good thing we got some extra scotch guard protection added.
She was able to use a lot of my stuff, which hopefully saved us a small amount of money on the decorating end.
Friday night performance ready!
Ellie was jumping high as a gingerbread girl.
Emma, 3rd from the left, was a precious toy doll.
Mia and Dubs came to the Friday night performance and gave the girls the most beautiful flowers.
Saturday morning was December 1st, which means the start of Advent calendars in this house.
They are always so excited to do these.
Saturday matinee performance ready!
A mom backstage sent this to me. This is Ellie helping her friend Allie with her hat. The mom said that she was putting it on her and Allie told her "No, Ellie does it much better!"
I sat on the other side of the auditorium Saturday, so pictures, for whatever reason, were a little clearer.
Grandma and Papa came Saturday and brought the girls nutcrackers holding a rose. They were so cute.
This morning Ellie made her hand chimes debut!
Mack, somehow, convinced Grandma that he needed a nutcracker as well. Clearly, she did not say no.
