Tinsel and Tunes

This year we were off to Blake's Tree Farm to pick and cut our own Christmas tree!

Ellie was the MOST excited to ride on the covered wagon to ride to the actual trees. She had to sit on the very end. Transportation is still this girl's jam.

In all her glory...

Here she is! A Blue Spruce this year.

The boys passed but Elle was so excited to see Anna and Elsa.

These stickers crack me up! And a perfect way to keep everyone entertained while waiting for Santa.

I love to see the excitement on Luke's face. These days are truly numbered and we're really soaking it up.

Blue overall snow pants all knee stained with mud. How we roll!

After a fun, long day...

Meghan sent me this pic of Drew with his buddies at preschool. What a big guy!

After school we had dentist appointments for the 4 of us. Still no cavities! I pack the kiddos up, we take off for Ctown, and pick up Greg's for dinner. Of course!

Elle had her first piano recital and it was adorable! Her school rented out Bigby's coffee and set up a little concert area. We all enjoyed hot cocoa and the coffee shop feel. It was all a little Central Perk. :)  Here Elle is with her piano teacher, Miss Rebecca.

There were about 9 musicians that night and Ellie was very last. She had to sit through all of the performances, and everyone was way more advanced. She sat quietly and we knew her nervousness was mounting with each performance. I was just hoping she would get up there. When they invited her up though, she popped up, went right to the piano, and played her sweet 20 second ballad. She was done so quick the school owner invited her to play again which she did. Afterwards, she took a bow by herself without any prompting and we all cheered. We are so proud of you, Ellie!

Afterwards, we dropped off the kiddos with Mel and Ryan. They offered to watch our kiddos too with Harlow at Auntie Megs and Uncle Chad's house. We both had our work parties and so they were willing to babysit. We love them!

Decorating the tree!

Ellie was fighting some kind of stomach bug from the night before. We thought it was just nerves from her piano concert but sure enough we left the Johnson Christmas early to meet up with friends to see the live Nativity and she got sick all of the church bathroom. Sweet girl. Afterwards, she felt great, phew, so we still toured the live nativity. It was awesome!  

Seeing all of the livestock afterwards.

That Monday night after school, Luke's choir and school friends went caroling in the neighborhood next to the school. Afterwards, we all met back at the school for cocoa and a small choir performance. Can you find Luke?

The next night, Luke's choir went to a local nursing home to perform for their sweet residents.

Twin day at school for spirit week! Drew actually matched too. :)

I turned a chapter in my teaching career by saying farewell to my amazing Lakeville staff and the sweetest 3rd graders around. A few of the kiddos had made this poster for me during some indoor recesses and hung it up to surprise me on my last day. I have LOVED teaching in the classroom. It really is one of the best jobs. I am unsure of what my new normal and routine will look like but I'm excited for a different level of teaching and learning!

We wrapped up the week to kickoff our Christmas vaca with ringing the Salvation Army bell downtown. It was SO cold! This year though the kids were all older and we came stocked with hot chocolate and we all had so much fun! These three sure bring in a lot of donations!

Santa, Mrs. Clause, and a caroling troop were singing around downtown.  They came and stopped to sing us a bunch of carols! I love our town! The lights are so beautiful, the people are so kind, and we even get singers?! Lucky us.

School is out. Bring on Christmas 2019!!