Happy Thanksgiving

Natural Bridge Caverns Tour

Mallory asked quite a few times, late last year, to go to a cavern so she could find crystals.  I explained to her that it doesn't work that way. She didn't think I was right and kept asking.  During this time, I found someone selling discounted tickets to the Natural Bridge Caverns in San Marcos.  I bought them with the intent of us going during Spring Break this past spring.  Of course, the tickets weren't good during that time.  We decided to use them during Thanksgiving Break when we went to Dan and Angela's.  Abby joined us on our adventure.

Matt and the girls before we headed inside. 

Pictures inside the caverns.

Standing by the tree outside. 

Receiving Their Christmas Ornament

Since we are going to be gone for Thanksgiving, I decided to put the trees up before we leave.  This meant, we would give the girls their ornament a little early this year as well. 

 Here they are with their eyes closed anxiously waiting to find out what it is.

Can you tell they are excited?  This is the most excited Maggie has ever been about an ornament - it is also the first year that she has really grasped Christmas.  Both girls, were so happy with their glittery seashell ornament.  I chose this because they loved collecting shells at the beach this summer.

Trying to hear the ocean.

The girls decorating their tree that goes in the game room. I tried to get Maggie to spread the ornaments out, but she wouldn't listen.  I gave up trying and just went with it. She was happy with the tree and that is what matters.

Star on the tree

In years past, Matt has held up one of the girls and they have helped put the star on the tree.  That is no longer going to happen because the tree is too tall and they are too heavy.  Here is pic of them with Matt before he put it on the tree.

First Grade Pioneer Day

First grade has a Pioneer Day where they learn all about life as a pioneer.  The teachers suggest the children dress us as pioneers so I purchased a costume because I knew both Mallory and Maggie could wear it.  Here is pilgrim Mallory. She looked so cute waiting for the bus stop in her costume.

I volunteered at Pioneer Day and there was a ton of things for the kids to do.  They made homemade butter and soap.  They made an antique type toy and learned all about living long ago.  I was in charge of teaching them about antiques.  I was so tired when it was over - I talked for two hours straight to 12 groups of kids. Some of them where great and some where NOT!

Here is a cute picture of Asher and Mallory that was posted on the first grade Facebook page.

Maggie's Fall Choir Concert

Tonight was Maggie's fall choir concert and she SANG!  (There was some incentive to sing this go around - I told her I would purchase her a new toy.) She didn't just sing the last note of the last song - she sang!  She sang each song and even did a few of the hand movements.  We were so proud of Maggie!

Maggie has really grown (literally and physically) since her concert last fall.  She cried and cried and wouldn't sing one note.  During the spring concert, she sang two notes of the last song.  She also requested that NOBODY but Matt, Mallory, and I attend.  She asked that we sit in the back and not even let her know where we were.  Maggie DOES NOT like attention and people focusing on her.

This time, she said we could all come and we did!

Mallory - This Makes Five

As the Little Einstein's say - "I cannot believe it!"  Mallory lost another tooth. This makes FIVE!  I am really hoping she doesn't any more anytime soon.  This tooth came out when I was volunteering at In-Sync.  Matt said they were playing and it fell out of her mouth just like the last one.  

Mallory really wanted the tooth to fall out at school so she could go to the nurse and get a tooth necklace.  In reality - she wanted to be like Fancy Nancy in "Fancy Nancy and the too loose tooth."  Obviously this didn't happen so we improvised.  I used a chain from a necklace and the tooth box that I got when I was little.  Voila!

Miss Hollywood

Mallory playing around and being fancy.  She was making my laugh and I told her we needed to have a fashion shoot.  She enjoyed it and had no issue posing.

Not sure if you can really tell, but look close at the top middle tooth on the right. It is barely hanging on and sticking straight up.  This thing should come out in the next few days.  Mallory really wants to lose the tooth at school so she can get a tooth necklace...just like Fancy Nancy does in "Fancy Nancy and the too loose tooth."