The sights and sounds of Christmas programs

December was a busy month.  Well obviously.  Does anyone NOT have a busy December?   We had a piano mini-recital, Will's school program, the church Christmas program and a ballet mini-recital. Lots of arts and entertainment in December!  

Reina's piano teacher has several of her students play an assortment of Christmas carols at the local shopping mall, as part of a "Tree of Remembrance" hosted by the hospital (so Aunt Vicky was there, too!).  That's a big introductory sentence.  Reina played "Jolly Old Saint Nick" and it was her first foray into public piano playing.  She was a little nervous but she played beautifully.  

Look at that concentration.  

Will's school Christmas program started off with the fourth-graders playing their string instruments. Will has been learning violin.  Performing any sort of musical production is not Will's favorite thing to do in the world but we're really proud of him for trying out the violin.

Getting ready to play "Mary Had a Little Lamb."  Or "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."  

After the orchestra opening, the class had a little skit and sang several songs.  This year, Will was in the front row center so it was easy to get a bunch of pictures.  Pictures of Will singing.

Let's just leave this here without comment. 

The red eyes don't help.  

Wait, I think I see some hand movements!  

Is he singing loudly?  No, I think that's a yawn.  

It's kazoo time!  This was actually my favorite part of the program, surprisingly.  The classes kazoo'd their way through several Christmas classics.  It's a great way to help them learn the tunes without having to learn the words also.  It was delightful!    

Next up for the Christmas-themed performances was a short ballet recital.  Reina is in her second year of ballet and she's really learning a lot.  Look at my girl go.

To round out our December performances, Will and Reina both participated in the church's Christmas program.  They sang several hymns and Will got to do a few readings.  They both memorized some German to sing "Von Himmel hoch, da komm ich her" and will gladly launch into song at random moments.

So that's our Christmas season for the arts.  Next up, Christmas Eve!

Christmas Eve Eve

Note, this picture does not represent their current state.  This was taken earlier in the month on a relatively relaxed Saturday morning.  

It's the night before the night before Christmas and the Pauley household is a little wound up right now.  The kids have been off of school since Wednesday - well Reina had part of Tuesday and all of Wednesday off because she had a fever and general malaise, but she's all better now!  Christmas fever is running rampant through the house. Even Coco seems to have it - she got to open up one of her presents early last night because she started to open it (and other people's presents) and I thought we could cut her off at the pass if we let her have one new toy to play with.  Reina and Will would like to see that strategy applied to the humans as well.  Most of the big work is done although Glenn has some serious gift wrapping to do in the next 24 to 36 hours.  My to-do list includes last minute baking, gift delivery, exercise as to counteract the delicious fudge that was in our office breakroom today and keeping two squirrelly kids from losing their ever-loving minds before 6:00 a.m. on Sunday.  Wish me luck.

Reina's pilgrim diary

I'm home for the day thanks to what is probably the norovirus.  Fingers crossed that no one else gets it!  Besides having to type this while laying flat on the couch, this inconvenient stomach bug is also putting a big damper on my holiday baking, present-wrapping and TOP SECRET KID TOY plans.  Oh well, there's like 13 days until Christmas, plenty of time right?!

In the meantime, let's talk about Reina's recent Pilgrim Diary project.  She had to write about a week on the Mayflower.  She worked pretty hard on it - we read a bunch of books about the Mayflower and life in early colonial times.  She lobbied for me to make her a Puritan outfit to wear whilst giving her presentation but that didn't happen.  I did some internet research and made a little doll that looked like something a Pilgrim girl would play with.  I need to take a picture of that.

Reina had to give a short presentation to her class and here are the comments from her fellow students.  They had to list a fact that they learned or comment on her project. This just might be my favorite part of second grade:

1.  I like it.
2.  The children drink beer.  (This was clearly a highlight because it was mentioned several times in the evaluations. I know it was probably Reina's favorite tidbit to share.)
3.  I love it because of the dairy.
4.  Reading loudly.
5.  It was rof on the Mayflower.  (Amen sister!)
6.  I love how you exprest how you felt.
7.  (completely indecipherable)
8.  She wanted to go on the Speedwell but she couldn't because it had a leak.
9.  Good job. I liked when you said beer.
10.  Good job.  (Drawing of a cat)
11.  Sea water is bad for your lungs.

Thanksgiving or pictures of people holding Baby Boy Cousin

We had a terrific Thanksgiving this year.  We had out-of-town guests and a delicious dinner at Pop-pop and Grandma's house.  The food was great, as usual and the pie-makers remembered the sugar this year.  Our long weekend involved a lot of shopping and movies and pre-Christmas preparations. The weather was winter-like but manageable.   We had a lot of time with extended family members and it was just a lovely long weekend.  

Trying to take a photo of the elusive Toddler Cousin.  Say cheese? 

  

Reina will pose for the camera.  She wanted to dress like a pilgrim and this is as close as we could get.  

Glenn working on the turkey.  

Glenn and Baby Boy Cousin.  Little BBC is at the delightful age where he'll sit with just about anyone and he seems to like his Uncle Glenn.  

And his Girl Cousin, too.  

What we've been up to - November edition

So much for my plan to post once a day in November.  Life has been hectic and there's the added twist that the Bronco Babies can read and use the computer and like to read the blog.  So no more Christmas spoilers or stories about brother/sister wrestling matches (oops - sorry Will!).  I have a bunch of Thanksgiving pictures to upload but my camera and camera cord are a few rooms away and I'm tired.  

We had a break from sports in November but basketball season for both kiddos starts next week. Reina is working on a school project where she has to write a week's worth of diary entries as a Pilgrim on the Mayflower.  Her version includes a cat (naturally) and specific emphasis on the fact that kids drank beer on the ship.  She's also requesting I make her a Pilgrim-era doll and a bonnet for her presentation on Monday. I'd better get cracking.  

Will's project this week is to write a timeline about his life so far. I plan on highlighting the whole project in a future blog post (with the author's permission of course).  It's been very entertaining to hear him talk about each year of his life and I'm delighted that he's been using our family blog as a reference material.  Plus, there are some cute photos that will make an appearance in Will's presentation that I've enjoyed looking through again.  Will decided to make a powerpoint and was surprised that I could help him get it started.  I am well versed in all things ppt thanks to my job and it's been fun helping him.  Will's also working on a mountain man/Wyoming history project but that'll be a topic for a future post too.  

Glenn and I are getting ready for the holidays, slowly but surely.  Glenn put up the Christmas lights this weekend, we are picking up a tree tomorrow (Coco will be so excited) and a bunch of the shopping is already done.  Bring on December!  

"Favorite Team Day" at school

Last Tuesday was 'wear your favorite jersey to school' at the kids' school, or as Will likes to call it, "Tuesday."  Reina happily wears whatever shirt Will has recently grown out of - no pink jerseys for her, thank you very much.  After much cajoling and some threatening (good thing the holidays are around the corner), I got to snap a quick picture of the two Broncos fans.  

Say cheese!

And then things started to escalate.  It was the last day of school before a holiday weekend so what did I expect?  

Uh oh little sister, you'd better watch out.

I took a class on reading body language a few months ago and I think this is called 'escalation.'  No one was hurt and no blood was shed.  She's a bit tougher than she looks.  

Here's one of the reasons why I haven't been able to blog as much lately.  Coco's watching her stories.  Again.  

The den makeover, continued

We've been redesigning our den since February, with a giant hand from my cousin at Laura Rennie Interiors - http://laurarennieinteriors.com/.  Well I should clarify that I don't think my cousin has giant hands, but rather she's been a huge help in getting us to bring the den firmly into the 21st century.  Let's face it, it was stuck somewhere in the mid-1990's.  I'm still waiting on curtains and wall art but we have a couple of new couches, a new rug, new shelves, new end table and coffee table and it all looks great!  I'll have pictures of the whole room soon but this weekend I had a great coupon and bought this ottoman that doubles as storage and extra seating and an altar for football? 

I love the Broncos more than the average person but this wasn't necessarily the design aesthetic I was going for.  

What we're up to, pets edition

Enough about the Broncos Babies, let's talk about the pets!  I started this post to talk about Coco watching videos especially designed for cats but then I saw a chicken picture on my phone and then I felt guilty about the dogs and included them too.  So here's the rundown on the Pauley Pets. 

Our chicken girls are doing pretty well.  Today was their first taste of winter and they were a little unsure about the snow.  I don't think they like getting their feet wet so they stuck to the parts of the yard that have already melted.  All three girls are pretty friendly now, especially if you come outside with a snack or the treat bag.  A few weeks ago, I stepped outside with a Pringle in one hand to ask Glenn a question, Dolly (the blonde one) came running over to me and jumped up and grabbed my Pringle.  Snack food preferences aside, all three are laying eggs and we are getting between 0 and 3 eggs a day.  It's still pretty exciting. 

Lolly, Ren and Dolly.  Also known as my little chicken girls.

 Earlier today, I read an article that mentioned youtube videos designed especially for cats.  Last week, Coco watched part of a PBS show about cats (naturally) so of course I had to find the youtube videos.  She watched this one for almost twenty minutes and only stopped when she jumped on the keyboard and stopped the video. 

Here birdie, birdie, birdie

Let's not forget the dynamic duo of T&T. Tootsie and Trigger aren't slowing down much.  They still like to jog every day, sometimes twice a day if Glenn and I are on different schedules.  They love sleeping on the new couches which is a fight that I decided wasn't worth having. Luckily we have a good vacuum. They've both adjusted to the chickens.  In fact most days, the chickens are the queens of the backyard.  Both dogs have been pecked and usually keep a wide berth around the little chicken girls, unless they are eating something that Trigger finds interesting. 

Don't bother getting up guys.

Reina keeps making noises about wanting another fish for Christmas.  Coco is a big fan of that idea but the Bronco Babies Mom is feeling like the pet situation is pretty full up right now.  We are good. 

Why we live in Wyoming, reason 900-something

Right now, I'm sitting in our basement writing on the blog while it snows outside.  It's our first snowfall of the year and it's much welcomed for many reasons.  We need the moisture, we need something to ski on and I'm tired of all of my warm weather clothes for work.  We need to pull out the sweaters and boots and all of that fun stuff that's been sitting in the closet.  

Before the snow fell, I had to do some traveling for work.  I like to take the camera with me and get some pictures of agricultural activities that I can use at work.  I liked a few of them enough to put there on this blog too.  We love Wyoming!  

Split Rock near Lander, WY.  Located near the Oregon Trail, Split Rock can be seen for miles and used for navigation by more than just wagon trains.  

Near Riverton. 

I always picture thousands of Buffalo out on those plains, with the Wind River Mtns in the back.  

Sunday

I'm having trouble coming up with something to blog about everyday in November and it's not because nothing is going on around here.  We are in a break from kid sports seasons but Reina is still doing ballet, swimming and piano.  Will is trying out 4-H before the shooting sports season starts after the holidays.  Glenn is still knee deep in hunting season.  I'm playing volleyball and joined a new exercise class that is making me stupidly sore.  Most of us are all in with UW and Broncos football and everything else that's going on this time of year.  Yesterday, the kids had three birthday parties to attend and Glenn and I squeezed in a solo lunch to celebrate our 11th anniversary.  11!  

It was a nice weekend.  We continue to have unseasonably warm weather and frankly, we wouldn't mind a little moisture which is hopefully headed our way later in the week.  Our big Sunday project was to make burger out of the meat that Glenn has brought home this fall.  It's a big undertaking - between the prep and the actual work and the clean-up, it takes up most of our day.  I've been helping Glenn since the fall of 2004.  Every year, I write on the packages the type of animal, the cut of meat and the year.  This year, I had a little helper.  

'16  Elk.  Burger  Sometimes Buger or Bunger.  Writing carefully and proudly by my second-grader.  I love the punctuation after elk.  Elk.   

Some of us didn't participate in the meat wrapping assembly line but had equally important tasks to complete.   

A boy and a cat who chooses to be snuggled at a convenient time.  

Reina playing piano sideways

It's the day after the election.  Here's a picture of Reina playing the piano sideways.  That's just about all that I have the energy for tonight.  I tried to get a picture of Coco watching a nature show about cats on PBS but she wouldn't sit still long enough.  It was one of the only times I've noticed her noticing a show on tv.  A Canadian Lynx stalking a rabbit was her favorite part.  I wonder if that's what she'll dream about tonight?

Toddler Cousin's birthday party

Our very own Toddler Cousin celebrated her THIRD birthday a few weeks ago.  Her parents hosted a birthday extravaganza at the local fire station.  The theme was 'super heroes' because Toddler Cousin loves them (oh man I need a picture of her Halloween costume).  Reina opted for her Rey costume again and Will wore an understated Capt. America shirt. 

Mr. Cool checking out college football scores on my phone while the toddlers do their thing.  

Reina and the birthday girl and the birthday girl's BFF.  

The whole crew on the front of the fire truck. I love that the birthday girl is telling someone to hush off camera.  

Not too cool to climb up in the back seat of the fire truck.  It doesn't seem that long ago when he was obsessed with all things fire truck.  Remember when he wore that little fire hat everywhere we went?  Sigh. 

The firemen gave a little demonstration to the kids on fire safety.  One of them put on all of her equipment to show the kids what she looked like and to not be scared if a fireman is trying to help them.  It was a great learning moment and I loved the faces of the little ones as they tried to decide whether to freak out or not.  

Reina and friend helped to man the toddler tattooing station.  

Happy birthday Toddler Cousin!  You are my favorite three yr-old.

Turkey Trot

Today we all four of us ran a local race benefiting the homeless shelter.  Reina ran a 2k and the rest of us ran a 5k.  It was Will's first 5k try and spoiler alert, he did great.  Everyone did great!  Glenn won second place in his age group, Reina ran further than she has before, Will beat me by about 2 minutes and I finished the race faster than I thought I would.  Winners all around!  The only losers were Trigger and Tootsie who didn't get to run this one.  Next year, dogs.    

Reina pink cheeked after her speedy 2k.  I planned to jog along with her but she started off so fast, I didn't catch her until she was almost halfway done.  She's a natural.  

Will and I post-run.  I was so impressed with this kid.  He found a friend and they ran most of the race together.  I thought I might need to help encourage him at the end but I didn't see him until I crossed the finish line.  

And then there's this guy.  He hadn't run a 5k in a little while and he wasn't sure how he'd do.  I think second in his age group is a pretty respectable showing.  

Second grade Halloween program (or pictures of Reina singing)

The first and second-graders at Reina's school had a Halloween program a few weeks ago and it was adorable.  Also not too long, which is nice for everyone involved.  This post is basically just a bunch of pictures of Reina singing enthusiastically, because that's what she does.  

I believe this was the grand finale "Ghostbusters" complete with hand movements.  

Sing it out girl!  

She spots her family in the audience.  I loved all of the creative costumes.  That pirate is rocking his eye patch.  

Guess what?  There were kazoos!  Kazoos that they got to bring home!  

Piano girl

Reina has been taking piano lessons since last Spring.  Her teacher came highly recommended and seems to have endless ways to teach 7-yr olds how to play the piano.  Reina took a short break towards the end of summer but she's been back at it since school started.  Tonight as I was watching her lesson -- side note:  Reina's teacher likes for a parent to stay so that we can help with practice during the week. I feel like I'm auditing the piano lessons and getting close to fulfilling one of my life goals - to play the piano with both hands!  Anyway back to Reina - as I listened to Reina play with both hands and read the notes on the bass clef, I was amazed at how much she's learned in such a relatively short time.  Her teacher is putting together some Christmas songs for Reina to start working on, I'm not sure who's more excited about that.  Probably me.

We have a piano that I brought back from my Grandma's house in Minnesota a few years ago.  Reina was grumpy about practicing over the weekend so I dusted off an electronic keyboard I'd stuck under the guest bed when we first moved into this house.  We couldn't find the power cord so I stuffed it full of AA batteries and fired it up.   Reina happily practiced for longer than she was supposed to when she found the button that adds a rhythm to the songs.  She filled the house with sounds of Ode to Joy accompanied by a snazzy snare drum and high hat.  I think Beethoven would approve.

Pre-Halloween Halloween

Around this blog, we are all ready for Halloween.  Well "ready" is really a relative term.  The pumpkins have been bought, but not carved.  The decorations are mostly up but the weather has been so nice that we still have the screen in the door instead of the glass so all of the cool Halloween clingy things that Reina loves to rearrange are still in their packaging.  The costumes have been worn a few times now and trick-or-treating better hurry up and get here before something rips or gets boring.  

Last week, the costumes had their official unveiling at the annual Halloween carnival at school.  

Does this hair give you a hint for Reina's costume?  One video tutorial later and we have Rey from Star Wars, just a blond version.  

Will is Charlie Blackmon, one of the Rockies' outfielder who has a glorious beard.  Will's beard was knit by me and it turned out fantastically if I do say so myself.  Mr. Detail-Oriented wanted something a little more lifelike but when I pointed out that it would be tough to make something out of actual human hair, he conceded that his beard was good enough.  

I'm overwhelmed by their cuteness.  

Random days off

The kids didn't have school today because of a teacher planning day so I took the day off to spend time with them too.  State offices were technically open today but I have a feeling I wasn't the only one making a three-day weekend out of it.  Usually when I plan for these days, I try to cram too many 'fun' activities into the day and all of us end up being grumpy and tired.  So for today, I had a few errands in mind, picked an afternoon movie matinee and let the rest of the day work itself out.  The kids have some friends in the neighborhood and the weather was nice so I anticipated a few visits from kiddos.  Long boring story short, we had a really nice day.  We ran our errands, had a pizza-filled lunch, watched an entertaining movie, cleaned kids' rooms (!!), dehydrated a bunch of apples (I'm so middle-aged right now!), cooked a big pot of chili for dinner and dressed a cat.  

Coco the Jedi Master 

More thrilled than we thought she would be. 

We discovered that outfits from Build-a-Bear are perfectly sized for a medium-sized calico cat.  In related news, Coco is going to be a mermaid for Halloween.

The rest of our three-day weekend was nice too.  Will had his last football game on Saturday.  More on his first tackle football season soon.  On Sunday, we got to spend all day with Baby Boy Cousin and Toddler Cousin and it was delightful.  It's so fun having little people around the house and their presence kept me from yelling at the tv during the Broncos game which was appreciated by the rest of the family.  Toddler Cousin follows Reina around and when she's not doing that, she tells me funny things like "your chickens are beautiful!" and while looking at her brother "that's my boy" and "I want to watch Bob Bob Square Bob."

Will feeding BBC.  They were both equally unsure about that plan at first but it worked out just fine.

Finally, here's a picture of Reina looking cute.  She's much more interested in her hair lately and asks for a ponytail or braid every morning, about five minutes before it's time to walk about the door.  I think I need to teach her how to braid soon.

I tried pigtails - they are a little uneven but they don't detract from her cuteness.  

The week is off to a good start.