Bowers Blog: Christmas 2022 Part 1

This is part 1 of a 2 part post of our month of December so far this year. It's hard to believe another year is ending! I love these kiddos and the life we are living right now. It's crazy, but I wouldn't have it any other way!

These 2 played in a golf tournament the first weekend in December. Worth played with Mack, and Emma played with E.W. Mack won for his age group and Emma got 2nd place for her age group.

Nutcracker felt so different this year. Ellie didn't need me backstage, and Emma isn't dancing this year. Despite it feeling very different, Ellie did beautifully. She was "Snow" and "Spanish" in the production.

Mia and Dubs made it to a show!

Grandma and Papa came as well. Ellie has so many people that love her so much!

I was impressed by how much better Ellie had become as a dancer this year. She is so much stronger and so graceful!

I attended 3/4 shows. I usually go to all of them, but we had visitors in town Saturday night so I had to miss the Saturday evening performance.

My best friend from college came to watch the Saturday matinee show. It was so good to see her girls Claire and Kaitlyn again. Kaitlyn is 12 - she's at least 6 inches taller than Ellie now.

Kathryn, Allison, and me. Some ZTA OGs here.

Emma got to play a little in one of her basketball games and I was able to snap some quick pictures of her.

This handsome guy sang for the church K-kids Christmas performance and it was a great show! It always puts you into the Christmas spirit to hear all of those little ones singing Christmas hymns.

We celebrated Worth's 43rd with a busy night of basketball games, and Chorus performances. Thankfully, we were able to end the night with a take out dinner and some cookie cake.

I got to see Mack sing at his school Christmas concert and he let me get a picture by the school tree on our way out.

Mack's teacher needed some help last week, so I was able to be in Mack's class for most of the day and even have lunch with him.

Ellie had her Christmas piano recital. I wish I could say she did an amazing job, but I would be lying. She has had zero time to practice and it showed. I felt so bad for her. Along with hours and hours of Nutcracker rehearsals she had to maintain her school work, which was a constant flow of papers, tests, and projects since Thanksgiving. I will say she did have a few pockets of time that she could have been practicing her music, but she chose not to, and I don't blame her for needing that down time. I think we will put piano on hold for now though. She enjoys it, but I think she realized after this recital that she truly doesn't have time for it.

Despite the performance, she looked beautiful.

Mack had PJ day at school - his bed head was on point.

They put together a 1000 piece "A Christmas Story" puzzle this year. These 2 worked the hardest on it.

Next up was Christmas at Mia and E.W.'s with the Berryman crew! Ellie found the hidden pickle!

This was one excited crew to open gifts.

Emma was excited for her UGA gear!

Ellie in her cozy new jacket and fun sleep mask.

The #1 cousins (Oldest in their family)

The middle children cousins.

The baby cousins

Gift opening madness

My very favorite thing is the gifts from the kids. I had to get a picture of Bo's wrapping abilities.

Precious cousins

We hit the very early afternoon service for Christmas Eve, which meant a little longer time to get some light looking in.

The reindeer food was ready to go on Christmas Eve!

No way the reindeer can miss the Bowers house since the food was tossed all over the front lawn!

We went with Elf themed shirts this year

Mack and Emma listening to the reading of "The Night Before Christmas"

Since last year, Ellie has officially taken over my job of doing the Christmas Eve reading.

They were a blur coming down Christmas morning. Mack slept in the room with Emma. Worth put that bin there to trip them as they shot down the stairs. Ellie was smart and ran through the dining room. We called us on Alexa at 7:00am for us to get up. Apparently Mack had been up and waiting patiently in Emma's room until 7:00am.