Lots of chances to perform

 Coleson's Kindergarten Concert was "concert" was pretty fun to watch!

And was followed by some pretty awesome amounts of sugar.

All three kids were invited to a large recital and performed their Christmas piano songs at this Dr's home. (again, too bad I can't master uploading videos).  

This Dr that Tyler works with puts together a recital for kids to perform every year in their home on his incredible grand piano.  He is an amazing pianist himself and Coleson was very impressed and enthralled!

 They all sang at the ward Christmas party as well.  Addellyn was SOO happy she got to be Mary this year.

 And I'm so happy Tyler got a shot of me behind the piano...

Is it just me or dos this sheep look a bit frazzled??

Evaleigh wasn't so sure about Santa...

 

However, for DAYS afterwards she would tell everyone that she had told Santa that she wanted a book and a kitty for Christmas (though Kinzie says she didn't say a word, so maybe she was imagining it all playing out in her head)

Christmas Singers

These two are pretty adorable little dancers and singers.  I wish I could figure out how to upload their solos.

My eyes might say it all, it's not the performance, it's the getting everyone ready and there on time, and then wrestling a not so quiet 1 year old the whole time...
I did have to go to all of their performances alone this time around because Tyler was always too busy at work.  At least at this family performance he was able to meet us there and take some "lovely" pictures.

I think his aim may have been a bit low?? :)

Kinzie-Doodle

  She might be starting to grow out of all of her nicknames I guess...

Luckily she's still such a sweet girl (for the most part :) sometimes those random "pre-teen" emotional episodes take us all by surprise).

 This little thing managed to photo bomb everyone else's photo session.  I LOVE how much Makinzie lights up when Evaleigh comes into the picture; her smile becomes so much more genuine...

 

 She is looking a bit too grown up to me these days.  It's amazing the amount of changes that seem to take place during 5th grade...

 There's a bit of that "pre-teen" attitude poking through.  Yikes!

 

We love this beautiful girl! I have to admit that this next stage of life scares me out of my mind...I don't think my babies should grow up this fast...

First Day of School

 Addellyn started 2nd grade, Coleson is FINALLY in Kindergarten, and my 9 year old Makinzie is starting 5th grade?!? Yikes!

 They were a bit excited to get to the bus stop...

 He was VERY happy to be going to school on the bus (I begged him to let me drive him to school the first week and he begged me to let him ride the bus--so he won).  However, this SUPER happy face was a bit deflated after the "really long and hot" bus ride home and the "not so great" day at school (he feels very old, very tall, and a bit annoyed by all of the material they are being presented at school--it's just too EASY. "I can tell they are giving the other kids that cry and whine about being there the most attention," "we only sang songs like twinkle, twinkle little star and traced things that I can do myself, probably so it could make the other kids feel better, but it was REALLY boring,""I just want to learn COOL stuff" )

 She is growing up WAY too fast--she proudly wore the shirt she bought with her own money on  the first day.

 Addellyn made a necklace with her name on it and a special necklace for her teacher (at least she still acts like a little girl in some respects!)  She was thrilled to have her own pair of skinny jeans.

She was excited to leave the house in the morning, she thought the bus was a wonderful thing to see,

and she couldn't wait to go see it again when they were coming home.  

I really wish I had taken pictures of them getting off of the bus too.  And video taped my conversations with them...It's sad to see them get on the bus super excited and then see them bummed as they get off.  After the first few days the bus ride got much easier and the girls had happy faces as they arrived home--but Coleson continues to come home disappointed.  Hopefully we can figure out a way to remedy that.

This girl LOVES riding in the stroller!  We go for a long walk after the kids get on the bus each day, she chants "shroller" and "go, go, GO" as the kids put their shoes on and prepare to head out the door each morning, she can't wait!

SINGERS!

 Kinzie's strut.

 Ally's tea party dance.

 The whole group.

 Typical: Kinzie paying attention, Evaleigh being crazy and A trying to take control :)

And of course, ice cream after the show!  She is VERY proud of her ability to hold the spoon in her mouth without any hands--and with every one else laughing it only puffs her up more!

Piano Recital

The girls have been doing piano this fall with Cami, yup, she's too good to be true!
we had a neighborhood dinner at our house and then (we held the neighbors hostage) everyone watched their little recital.  Here it is:
Addellyn's first song.
Makinzie's first song.
Addellyn again.
Makinzie again.
ENJOY!

Sweet Makinzie

Grandma had just flown all day on the airplane in order to hold down the fort while we were at the hospital the following week, but was still willing to party that night!

She was very excited to get COLORful clothes, books and tennis gear. Every 9 year old's dream...

Makinzie is so loving and patient.  She is a wonderful helper.

Saturday celebrations spilled over into Sunday--when we sang again and ate this yummy pumpkin shaped fruit pizza!  Makinzie is well worth celebrating for a few days in a row.  (Especially since she was such a good sport about "moving" her Birthday, for something that was not at all pleasant.)