Christmas Jazz Hands

Is there anything more fun to attend than a preschool holiday concert??  Ok, rhetorical question.  However,when it's your kid, it can be pretty entertaining.  Such was the case with Anna's school performance this year.  Anna is an enthusiastic performer, and especially loves to dance. 

As of now, she says she is going to be a "singing star" when she grows up.  Which is nice for Jason and I because we don't need to worry about a college fund for her...or saving for our retirement because I'm pretty sure having a superstar singer for a daughter will pay off (as long as we don't become overbearing or spill her baby pics to the tabloids.  Might need to take the blog down if she hits it big...)

I digress.  Back to the school concert.  Anna was dolled up for the big gig in her Christmas finery, and she put on a good show.  Here's a video of her - middle front row, rocking the songs and choreography.

Ready for the show.

So, not part of the performance, but Santa did make a visit to her class.

The Christmas performing continued with caroling at a retirement home.

Five (and yes, it's unbelievable)

Somebody is 5. It can't be Anna. She's just a baby, my baby!! But, yes, it is her! I'll say all the trite stuff (but it's true!)...where did the time go? Five years in the blink of an eye. My sweet, silly, kooky, (occasionally) moody, spirited, strong-willed, smart, beautiful little girl. I can't believe you are 5. That's half a decade! What a great 5 years it has been. Mama loves you, Sunshine, Bear, Banana. Happy birthday sweet girl.

On the big day.

Celebrating at school, with special guest baby brother.

Art party!

Purple & pink cake - requested, fulfilled.

Elves, princesses and ponies - you can never trust a group like that.

Carita Feliz

One of Anna's favorite parts of school is Spanish. Each day her class spends 30 minutes with their beloved Ms. Marta, learning letters, numbers, singing songs, and, from what I gather, just plain having fun. 

Ms. Marta loves everything smiley face and doles out stickers, erasers and trinkets with the theme. She also has a "mascot," Carita Feliz, ("happy face"), who is sent home with a different student each weekend. Having Carita Feliz is a "big" responsibility - he has a journal you have to update at the end of your time with him, detailing what he did while with your family (always homework for the parents! ;). 

Anna was over the moon when Ms. Marta chose her to watch Carita Feliz over Thanksgiving break - a full 10 days!! Carita Feliz accompanied us on our trip down to Florida, and he was the best behaved person in the back seat (namely because he didn't throw up, which put him head and shoulders above his back seat companions). 

Anna lugged Carita Feliz everywhere - playgrounds, stores, gramma's pool, butterfly world - and he even helped set the Thanksgiving dinner table and trim the Christmas tree. Phew, what a muy bueno time he had with us!

November 365

Baseball

So, sure, baseball season is over...but I was looking through pictures and realized I never posted these up.  We took James to his first pro baseball game in September and judging from his reaction, I think he'll be attending several more.  Considering his room is decked out in a Red Sox theme, it's not surprising he felt at home in the ballpark.  I'm sure the hot dogs, cotton candy and ice cream had nothing to do with it.

And, lucky kid, he made it out onto the field at his first game.  We participated in a pre-game "parade" around the field which was a pretty cool experience.  Jason had a big grin on his face during the walk and James stopped to pick up and toss the dirt around home plate.  Anna just kept asking for ice cream (the novelty was lost on her, I guess!).

According to Jason, though, they both have yet to truly experience a pro baseball game because they haven't been to one at Fenway.  Soon enough, soon enough.

We also had a really cool experience thanks to our pals - we had the opportunity to sit right behind home plate in the best seats I have ever had for any sporting event.  I don't know if I had more fun watching the game, or trying to spot us on TV (that's us up there!)...So, thanks Kings, and when can we go back?!?

October 365

Halloween

This Halloween Anna and James hit the trick-or-treat path as Ariel the Little Mermaid and her fish friend Flounder.

Being princess-obsessed, Anna's costume choice was not surprising (reference Snow White from last year!). Knowing that James likely will begin to have an opinion on his costumes in the next year or so, I decided to keep them as a pair at least one more time (reference Dopey from last year!). 

Anna of course was giddy with excitement for the trick-or-treating and kept proclaiming her bucket of candy was too heavy to carry. James was much less giddy, in fact he was more confused and overwhelmed at the beginning. That lasted for approximately one house...when he realized he was getting candy, he was all in.  The week before Halloween we had been practicing saying, "trick-or-treat" with him.

During the practice we got the occasional "twick" from James, but when he saw the magic unleashed by the phrase, his diction was all of a sudden perfect! After the first house all we heard was "twick tweet, twick tweet, twick tweet". And, upon leaving a house's front porch, James would get a few feet away and then turn around and say, "more, more, more." 

 Come to think, maybe he won't care too much about his costume...as long as the candy is flowing.

Ariel!

More, more, more!

Neighborhood madness.

Could anything be CUTER?!?