Friday, December 09, 2011

Rockin' Old St. Nicholas -- Second Grade Winter Concert

Last night we had the privilege of attending Farmingdale Elementary's Second Grade Winter Concert. A more adorable, fun, and festive Christmas event may not exist. We had a great time, as did the kids. Each of the Second Grade classrooms performed their own repertoire. I have posted the five songs that Kel's class did, each in its own post because I have no idea how to load more than one video into a post -- and I don't have time to research it right now! You can click on the little arrows in the corner of the video while you're watching and it will go into a larger screen mode. For all of our family that couldn't be there last night, we hope that this will be the next best thing.

The first song was "Rockin' Old St. Nicholas".

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus -- Second Grade Winter Concert

Blue Christmas -- Second Grade Winter Concert

Nothin' for Christmas -- Second Grade Winter Concert

Somebody was getting a bit tired by this point in the evening...

For You -- Second Grade Winter Concert

This was the final song of the evening, called "For You"

Thursday, December 01, 2011

Silver Dollar City, Thanksgiving 2011

Another Thanksgiving, another fun long weekend in Branson. This year we got lazy. We went to Silver Dollar City on Thursday, we went to Silver Dollar City on Friday, and, you guessed it, we went to Silver Dollar City on Saturday as well. In our defense, the weather was tragically rotten on Saturday morning, when we normally would have gone out golfing or over to the lake, and when the rain stopped, it was time to head for the City!

Kel didn't spend his usual hours in the kid's play area, where I get my beautiful light photos on the lake while he entertains himself, so we've got a pretty sparse offering here. He's more into the rides these days and I'm usually on the rides with him. And in between the rides, he doesn't want to stop for photo ops because we need to hurry up and get to the next ride! He did at least let me snap a quick photo of him with the snowmen outside of the Frosty show. We always need our snowman photo op.





On Thanksgiving, we were lucky enough to arrange to spend our first day at Silver Dollar City with my dear friend, Sam, and his three kids. They live a couple of hours from Branson, in the deepest Ozarks, and decided to head for civilization and join us for some Thanksgiving festvities -- and the Black Friday shopping, of course! They don't have that in the deepest Ozarks.






The kids. Tyler (18), Caty (16), and Jodi (14) with Kel. They took Kel on all of the spinny rides so that us adults could enjoy some chat and relaxation. Without the sick stomachs.






Some random not-very-good photos of Kel with lights. They don't even begin to do justice to the awesomeness that is Silver Dollar City during their Old Time Christmas celebration. The holiday season doesn't start for me until I've been down to Branson.









Kel took this photo of me. It was sunset. He thought that it would be pretty. The sunset, maybe. The mom, not so much.





Sam and the kids coming off of Thunderation. Kel actually finally went on it the next day. He hated it and wouldn't go again, but brave man, he gave it a try. And that is all that I ask. Hopefully one day soon he'll be my ride partner on all of the big coasters. I dragged Nic onto a couple of them this year, but his poor terrified face and shaking legs when we get off, it just isn't worth causing him the misery.







Kel on what is still his very favourite ride at Silver Dollar City. The horrible spinny pirate ships. He makes me go a few times, but usually resorts to going on his own when he gets sick of my whining and begging and pleading to please please please not have to ride the spinny pirate ships again.





The boys in front of the entrance sign to the park. We love our Silver Dollar City!

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Festival of Trees

A visit to the Festival of Trees is our annual pre-Thanksgiving Christmas treat. The trees are pretty, the crafts, Santa, and train are a favourite for the kids, and we all leave singing Christmas carols and ready to begin the holiday season. Which, anymore, starts somewhere around August. At least we hold out until Thanksgiving week!




My very favourite of the displays this year. A Nightmare Before Christmas tree and scene!!! I was so excited and happy. I need those ornaments! Jack and Sally were the tree-toppers. Took lots of photos...









This tree was very red and green, which the boys found festive, so they wanted a photo.





Waiting for the train to pull into the station.









Still young enough to enjoy a visit with Santa. They had a good old chat.










They took a break from the trees to enjoy some crafts in the kids area.





Kel chose to make an ornament where you write wishes on strips of paper and put them inside of it. He spent a lot of time in deep contemplation over his wishes.






Love this. Hello, pot? He wishes for "Antoine to be good". Ha ha!





Horrible photo, but they're so cute with their bear hug. Definitely brothers in spirit, these two.





Finishing off with a few shots of the trees.





Friday, November 18, 2011

The City Museum

Nic had tickets to see a Blues game down in St Louis last weekend, which was excuse enough for me and the boys to tag along and spend an absolutely awesome day at the City Museum. I wonder if I'll ever stop loving that place. Took a few photos when I was grounded and not climbing and sliding myself -- primarily after I'd smashed my thumb and sliced it open while sliding off of a vertical wall and, because of my blood thinners, required professional first aid, lots of bandaids, and a bit of time watching instead of playing. The pictures are pretty self-explanatory, so I'll stop typing now.