The Nutcracker Ballet

This past fall, both girls started taking ballet at Rachael's School of Dance and have really been loving it. They have been so excited to be in the Nutcracker and it was a wonderful performance with the whole spectrum of skill level.

I didn't know it would be so much work getting the girls ready 3 times (2 dress rehearsals, and the performance). We had to slather up their hair with gel and hair spray so their hair would stay in their ballerina buns and put on stage makeup (which putting eyeliner on a 3 year old is a joke). Anyways, Taylor loved it and Callie just giggled a lot because it tickled when I put on her makeup.

I guess Callie is tired of getting her ballerina bun for the 3rd time that week.

Here is Callie stealing the show as a sheep. She was running all over the stage, twirling and spinning. In the picture below the girls were supposed to be off the stage but Callie wasn't done performing! The whole audience was laughing at our cute little girl!

Callie also played a baby mouse but none of the pictures really turned out because of the lighting.

Below, Taylor is on the right, next to the big girl. She did her Angel dance perfectly and she looked beautiful.

Taylor was also a bunny in one scene but because of the lighting we didn't get any good pictures.

Here is Taylor with her Kindergarten teacher, Mrs Miller. Taylor absolutely loves her and was thrilled when she found out her teacher was coming to watch her dance.

After the 2 hour long performance, Callie was done with costumes and taking pictures! So this is all we got from her at the end of the show.

Taylor was excited to get her flowers and pose for lots of pictures!

Here is who came (Grandma was there too but didn't make it into the picture)

The pictures below I took backstage at one of the very long dress rehearsals.

I didn't even tell the girls to strike a pose but this is what they gave me...pretty cute!

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree!

One of the reasons we were excited about getting back to Colorado was for Brandon's family tree-hunting trip (with permits of course). We went up to Pike National Forrest and hiked around for a few hours with no luck of a tree. It was a beautiful day, but the kids were still getting cold and exhausted. Right when we were about to settle for less, we went on the other side of the road and it was like night and day. Literally, the other side, down a hill a little ways, was like a Christmas tree garden! We had lots to choose from and because we have a vaulted ceiling, we were able to find the perfect tree at the perfect height! We even got a tree for the girls room which thrilled them to no end. The second we got home the ornaments and lights came out and voila, we were singing, Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree! (not literally--kind of sac religious, huh?). What a fun way to start the season!

November Fun

On one of the many beauiful days of November, we went on a hike with Brandon's dad to Palmer Park. It is such a beautiful hike that is easy enough for kids to do the entire way and ends with breath-taking views of Colorado Springs.

This is one of our two snowstorms of November. The kids were esctatic to go out and play. Too bad it didn't last long!

Just having some fun playing "soccer" with our basketball and volleyball.

This was an early Christmas gift from Brandon to me. My kitchen had very little kitchen counter space with even less storage. Brandon enjoyed making this in his new shop downstairs. The kids and I love it!