Merry Christmas!

Waiting to be allowed downstairs...the annual Christmas morning torture!

Happy

kids

on

Christmas

morning!

About to unwrap GUITAR HERO (yahoo!) from Nana and Grandpa.

Christmas afternoon...all zoned out and playing DS.

Christmas Eve

Three very excited kids!

Gingerbread Houses

One of our Christmas traditions is decorating gingerbread houses. I usually bake the pieces myself using a mold, but it takes hours to get enough for three houses. This year, I was all out of time, so I decided to visit Michaels instead...

Well worth the money...and I may never go back to my old ways!

Before...

...and after!

Jordan the Musician

Jordan started guitar lessons over the summer...because he wanted to. A few weeks into the school year, he switched his schedule to orchestra and started playing the violin...because he had to. (It was either that or stay in a very boring "Career Decisions" class, something he didn't think he could survive.) =)

Our December included performances for both instruments. Here he is at his first guitar recital playing "Time of Your Life" by Green Day, accompanied by his guitar teacher on vocals. He did a great job!

Then we go formal and take in the orchestra & chorus concert. Here we are looking down on the 6th grade orchestra from the balcony of the auditorium. (Courtney really wanted to sit up high.) =)

Sitting on Santa's Lap

I took the girls to our neighborhood Christmas party. Courtney has NEVER wanted anything to do with visiting Santa, and this year was no exception...

Decorating the Tree

One of our Christmas traditions is to have doughnuts after we decorate the tree!

Our Christmas Dancer

At the kids' elementary school, the third grade is always in charge of the annual Christmas play, so it was Alyssa's turn to take the stage this year.

Here she is performing as one of the dancers.

During rehearsals, Alyssa stood out as one of the better dancers in the group, and the music teacher asked her if she would make up a dance for one of the other songs. Here's Alyssa leading the mice in the dance she choreographed.

At the end of the play, the music teacher said he wanted to acknowledge "a special student" and recognized Alyssa for her dance. This is Alyssa as she figured out he was talking about her.

Ken & Julie Come to Charlotte

My brother Ken and his wife Julie were in Virginia visiting her family for Thanksgiving. Since they were finally on our side of the country, they made a side trip down to Charlotte for the day. Ken and Julie wanted to do something unique to Charlotte, so we took them to the Speedway in Concord. (After all, this is Nascar country...)

Here's Craig, Joanna, and I in the tour van.

They were holding the driving school that morning, so there were a few cars on the track. Of all the sports out there, I'd have to say Nascar is the least appealing to me. It was fun to watch them go around a few times, but I definitely can't imagine watching a real race with hundreds of laps!

The tour included a side trip across the street to the new drag racing strip. There weren't supposed to be cars on the track, so when we got there, our driver had to get out and ask if we were still allowed in. Not only did they let us in, they let us drive on the track and "race" one of the dragsters. Obviously, it wasn't much of a contest...

In Winner's Circle

We eventually made our way to Melanie and Ben's house for dinner and ice cream sundaes. Here are the kids with Ken and Julie. They were so excited to spend the day with their far-away aunt and uncle (and their close-by ones, too).