Grace's Christmas Dance Performance & Meeting Santa

Grace's Mini Pom dance class performed at Christmas in the Park this year. Grace was timid at first, but enjoyed it and of course, thought she did so great! Then, we roamed around the park with Hazel and Everly while Atticus and Grace went off with Luc and Ellie. Everly LOVED the lights and was too cute in the petting zoo and eating her little bag of chips while she walked through the big Christmas Tree light display. Then, I decided we would wait in line to see Santa (FOR FREE) because it looked short. Well, it only looked short. It wound around this entire building and once you got inside, you still had to wind through hallways to get to Santa. Vic was very over it, but I kept thinking "we are almost there". Hazel was done, needed a diaper change (where I actually had a stranger help me change her while standing up because there was no changing table in the bathroom), and Vic was ready to go home. But, we made it to Santa because I really wanted Everly to meet him. She was the cutest thing and really enjoyed it. I have a video below. Also, it was great weather and Vic and I were pretty proud that we kept up with all 4 kids for the entire night! It really was a fun evening!

I have zero photos of her onstage and have a video, but it wasn't great because Everly kept moving on the bleachers and I kept thinking she would fall so I would look away from the camera screen and it was a mess! ha! But, it was great! However, here is the dance, but in her weekly class:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJf6eiafZj4&feature=youtu.be

 

 Here's my video of Everly meeting Santa! https://youtu.be/N8AZoV1XtzI

Letters To Santa, Santa's Wonderland, Other Memories

We had lots of fun in December; here are few other things we did!

 

 Baked Christmas cookies!

 Had dinner in Downtown Bryan and watched the Lighted Christmas Parade!

Had a fun visit from the Pilarczyks (Chris, Lindsey, Peyton and Piper)!

 Grace's dictated letter to Santa. And it includes Everly a well.

 And Atticus also wrote his letter.

 We hit up Santa's Wonderland!

It really is an impressive light setup!

 We ate s'mores there too!

 And we rode on the train! Grace wanted to do this little train so much and we waited in line for 30 minutes for it. She was so excited, but so sad when the 8 minute ride was over. Poor Grace!

 We hit up our neighborhood Christmas party, looking cute!

 And Atticus had the BEST time at school in December. They had a kindness elf (which meant Atticus wrote me the sweetest little notes every day!), dress up days (grinch, pajama, santa, rudolph), and lots of fun at his party!

 Even Vic dresses festive, thanks to GG's annual Christmas pajama present!

 And we made lots of cookies for Santa!

Reading with Daddy! This was actually an SEC mascot book that Dionis and Glenn sent Atticus; it was the PERFECT book for him! They got it when they were in Georgia visiting their son, Drew, who attends Georgia.

 Daddy makes great hot chocolate!

 Vic took the big kids one night to Central Park to look at lights!

THis winter was so much colder than in the past. Steve and Janice bought the kids carhart jackets last year I was so sad they didn't get to wear them much. But, this year, they really got good use out of them!
It was a great month!!

Breakfast with Santa, Christmas Ballet, and Weekend with GG & Grandma

This year, at Sonshine School PTO, I helped with Breakfast with Santa. I think things like this make me realize that I should keep saying "no" to volunteering. It was fine, but our crew was small and there was lots of work and sometimes I really just want to attend events and not help run them. I'm getting better at this though! It was a super successful event for our school though and we made over $4,000! But, I'm glad I'm not on PTO next year. I need a break! However, with Mom & GG also in town, we all attended Breakfast with Santa at Sonshine School. We did crafts, ate breakfast, shopped, and saw Santa for pictures. And, we got it all done before we re-grouped and headed to Grace's dance performance at George Bush Library!

 Dani & Grace - best buddies!

 This little one loved playing in reindeer food!

 My big kid!

Grace's preschool ballet and tap class did a Christmas performance at George Bush Library again this year. I was so proud of her again for being so brave. She was hesitant for me to leave her backstage, but her sweet friend, Brynn, made it better! She danced beautifully and had a great time. Also, since it was SO packed and crazy last year to watch because of all of the people, Vic decided to keep Everly and Grace home and just watch the video. So, only Grace, Grandma, GG and I went and it was a special day for our Gracie Bug! Also, I am always impressed at Grace - she is just a fast learner with dance and wants to do a good job so she learns the moves (as good as any 4 year old) and does a good job. I'll post the video here too: https://youtu.be/7cER60YfMxw

Brynn & Grace; Brynn will also be in Kindergarten with Grace this year at Pebble Creek!

 
The staff took this photo and posted it on FB; I think Grace is just so beautiful!

 Grace got a balloon made - a heart, of course!

 She was just the cutest, tiniest little ballerina and I loved it!

 Santa was also at the George Bush Library, so she talked to him again that day! And she wasn't even scared to do it without Atticus!

 My beautiful little girl!

 On the way home, we celebrated and brought sno-cones home for everyone!

 And then we spent the rest of hte afternoon outside; Grandma threw the football with Atticus and Everly went sliding down the slide!

On Sunday, we took Grandma and GG to our church at FBC Bryan. I don't like missing services during the holiday season so I was glad we got to go! Then, we did a little shopping at the craft fair in town and then GG and Grandma headed home!