decking the hall and other december highlights

'Tis the season to be jolly and it really has been a very happy time at our house. How could it not be with this looking at me everyday? December has been a busy month with decorating, choir concerts, dance recitals, and new baby times. So more than a narrative on the month so far I will just post pictures and you can imagine the fun yourself...

Cami is truly helpful these days with anything we ask of her. She sets a mean table and can scramble like a banshee for a burp cloth...she was genuinely good at helping with the tree. I think Santa is definitely going to find this little lady.

Taryn begged and negotiated and in the end got the honor of putting the angel on the top of the tree. She is such a passionate intense child. Every minute of the Christmas season is appreciated by her...and we try hard not to laugh at EVERYTHING she does...note Brent trying to restrain.

This is how Jocelyn helped with the decorating....Perfectly perfect!

Cami performed in her school choir and even did a speaking part. She volunteered herself to do this and we were quite surprise based on our experience with her stage fright/anxiety. We were a little concerned she would get up there and not be able to do her part then have a horrible experience to reinforce her fears. BUT she surprised us all by just getting up there and saying her part word perfect without so much as trembling. This was definitely one of those really proud moments of parenting where you just look at your kid and tear up with happiness for them. Dang Hormones! She faced her fear and she didn't let it stop her. I was really tempted to stand up and yell "THAT"S MY BABY!!! SHE"S MINE!! YES MY GIRL!!!" but I figured it would have put an end to her desire to be in choir. Yesterday Jocelyn tried out the Bumbo for the first time. She's got the skill but is missing the love so far. Mommy however definitely loved it and Jocelyn will become more acquainted immediately.

The annual dance recital was fabulous. Both girls knew their parts and had tons of fun. It was way more organized and shorter this year so we had more fun too. We did have a minor incident of Cami curlers REALLY curling and her hair looked like a finger in the outlet version of 80's hair. Brent and I were both in tears laughing (as privately as possible) and Cami was in tears crying...We managed to get a pick through it and fix all the make up smears and only be 15 minutes late...I think she was ok with the hair after the initial shock and we washed it out to leave no evidence. Taryn did a great job of her dance and of picking her nose at the same time...yet another proud moment of parenting. Also she stopped and wouldn't get off the stage at the end of the dance because she was so busy squinting into the dark audience looking for me. I had to yell way to go Taryn really loud so she would hear me and then she smiled and ran off. I asked the girls to strike a pose afterwards and these are as good as it got...

This is just a ps and has nothing to do with the above post. I LOVE LOVE LOVE how when Taryn is eating and she likes what she is eating she will start unconsciously humming. You can totally tell how good she thinks the food is by whether she is humming or not and by how loud she is humming. I hope she is always so happy go lucky.