Tuesday, December 31, 2013

December 2013

Rachel had her second piano recital the first week in December. She played some of her favorite pieces from her lessons and also played Away in a Manger. 



The kids got all dressed up for their Christmas Program at school. They have been working on songs in music class at school and the Christmas Program is a chance for parents to hear their wonderful songs.


In mid-December Rachel's class at school held Immigration Day where all the students dressed and acted as immigrants for a day. They started by sitting in a boat which was rocked by parent volunteers to represent the steerage section of the boats most immigrants traveled in. Next they landed on Ellis Island where they had to fill out paperwork and even pretend to pass a medical exam. What a great experience!


Our Christmas gathering this year included Grandad, Aunt Deb and Shivani. We had plenty of little hands to help with the Christmas cookies :)


Rachel shows Shivani how to play the game Trouble!


The day before Christmas the sun and blue sky were beckoning so we answered the call with some sledding! 



Go Grandad go! Sure hope I can do that when I reach 80!



Shivani was a great sport considering how little her legs are and how big the sledding hill was. She laughed the whole way up the hill.







We had a wonderful Christmas morning filled with all the mayhem you would expect when children and presents are involved. The wrapping paper was flying and the kids were jumping up and down and screaming. Such fun to see them excited about their gifts.








Carson wasted no time building his Lego lion temple. Almost all by himself this year!


Grandad and the kids enjoyed a 3D movie in the evening. Quiet time at last.


We celebrated with Pete and Jen the day after Christmas since they were with Jen's family for Christmas day.



We had to stop at the frozen custard shop in town, the BEST ice cream there is!



The next day we enjoyed a beautiful walk around the neighborhood.





Friday, November 29, 2013

November 2013

In early November Rachel had a great idea for a family night - bowling! We have been a few times before and each time is a little more fun for the kids. Playing the arcade games is a treat for them too, almost as much fun as bowling.





Rachel and Carson graduated to their blue belts in mid-November. We are very proud of them! 


We celebrated with Chinese food!

Thanksgiving day started with a 5K road race and a couple of victory pies!


This year we tried a chestnut stuffing. Rachel and Carson were great helpers and cut all the chestnuts. 


The day after Thanksgiving we did some ice skating at the local rink.





Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Disneyland

In mid-October we were lucky enough to take a trip to that magical kingdom, Disneyland. We had a wonderful time and the weather was perfect.

Astro Blasters ride, one of our favorites!

One of Carson's favorite activities is the Jedi Training Center where children are picked at random to come up on stage and receive some Jedi training (i.e. light saber instruction). This year Carson was picked as one of the padawans and he was thrilled to don the padawan robe, learn how to use a light saber, and even battle Darth Vader. He is now a certified Jedi - dark side beware!



Carson holds his Jedi Training Certificate high in the air.
Rachel at the wheel on the Autopia ride.
The Iron Man exhibit.

3D glasses needed for the Star Tours ride (which we did 6 times).


Our first night in Disneyland we had an early celebration of Rachel's birthday at Goofy's Kitchen, a delicious buffet restaurant where we met many different characters. Rachel collected autographs from each character she met. Despite their cumbersome outfits, all can sign their names amazingly well.







En route home from Disneyland we stopped to stretch our legs at a beautiful area called Cedar Pocket, on the Virgin River in the northwest corner of Arizona. The kids love to play in the sand and throw rocks in the river and its a nice break from the driving.




One Saturday in October John saw some people filming a movie in our town and when he walked over to ask them about it he found out that they were looking for kids in costumes to be extras in the movie. Carson could not be bothered but Rachel was excited to put on her costume and be in a movie. It turned out to be more waiting around then filming but she was a good sport about it and ended up being filmed in several scenes. The film is not due out until next summer and it will be called "My Dog Zeus".

Young movie stars meeting with the director (Rachel in blue dress).
Rachel's being filmed while saying her line.
The trick-or-treat scene.
I wanted to share something Carson brought home from school recently. They are learning about the ancient Egyptian pyramids in first grade and their task at school was to pretend that they are a pharaoh and draw three things they would want to bring with them to the after life. Carson's pictures are below and he described them to me. The first picture is Rexie, his favorite stuffed animal (a T-Rex) that he takes to bed every night. The second picture is, "a trophy full of money". When I asked him who the third picture was he said, "you". It was one of those moments when my heart was just full and the tears started flowing, one of those treasured moments of being a Mom.