My Pretty Daughter

Just in case you were wondering what is happening with the oldest daughter...she provides continuous audience support for all H&M events....hockey, ice skating, Church Programs. We try to reward her with a free dinner or something for her loyalty. I just had a Big Bang Theory episode flash through my brain when I wrote that...let's hope the oldest daughter doesn't check in on my blog for awhile or she may begin to think I am comparing her to Pavlov's dog...

Christmas Program

Last month, my camera died... Last month was my wedding anniversary...I got a camera for my anniversary. Yay... however, as I age and technology becomes more innovative, I face having to learn how to operate one more thing that any 6 year old can master but I cannot. I have decided that technology is like languages...easy for the young to master...not so much for the older set...Especially the older set that doesn't work outside the home and deal with a computer on a regular basis...It's positively nerve wracking or possibly tear producing (Yes, I cry when at the pinnacle of my frustration level. And yes, I know "pinnacle" is usually used to define a high point of success but in my case, it is a high point of lack of success that induces gut wrenching sobs.)

The first outing with my new camera was the Children's Christmas Program at Church. Not the best time to use a new piece of equipment. I aimed and shot a picture...nada...or I would aim and shoot and hear click click click...my mind wondered if I just took 3 pictures of the same thing...so I have no idea what pictures I took or what if any video was recorded that night. We will both find this out together. I am going to click on the add picture icon and we will find out if there is actually anything worth putting on my blog...perhaps I should put the not so blog worthy photos and we can roll on the floor laughing together. If I were really savvy, I would have just typed...no make that keyed "ROFL."

Ready? Here goes nothing.

More Elf

Roo says I had too much fun with the Elf. I think she is right. It hurt my brain to think of different things to do with the Little Guy but the kids got so much fun out of it. It was hysterical to watch them look for the elf, find it, and proudly show it off to the other Searcher. Alas, it is time to put Mr. Elf away or as we call him "Buddy." I may have to put him next to the phone first with a little post it saying "Buddy, the Elf. What's your favorite color?"

Oh Yeah, The Elf

This year, Roo and myself wandered around a place called Design World and came home with elves for our tree...they were so cute...This prompted M to beg for The Elf on the Shelf (he is so scary looking! The Elf, not M) So, me being me, caved to The Little Guy with the big eyes...And me, being me, couldn't just put him on a shelf...I had to embellish...must come from my love of embellishing things...stories, cards, life...

(And do you see how much cuter our tree elves are than Mr. Elf on the Shelf???)

Boy, I'm Tired

New Boots for H. (I had to let her try them on just in case they didn't fit (which they didn't) which they didn't and had to be exchanged.


I want to write a post with more than 30 words but I am running to catch up and trying not to drop from fatigue. I'll post some pictures since I am still trying to get Christmas cards made and sent...Christmas Carols are playing and I just got the fudge made I promised H would be made when she had her half day...today...and Christmas Break begins...it will be the New Year before we know it...Where does the time go?

Photo Book

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Roo on Twitter

....regarding her brother...

Our Weird Cat

I don't know why but our cat has this thing about attacking hair...Poor M fell asleep on the floor and was attacked...

IMG 0870[1] from Susan Bice on Vimeo.

Behind the Scenes

- Cast Call (last minute instructions)

- H who didn't go anywhere without her Webkins kitty "Winter"


- Flowers for the Friday Night performance (Practicing her royal wave)

- Futile attempt at a Cast Photo...Never try to take a picture with kids at 9 p.m. when their first performance had them at the rink at 8 a.m.

Nutcracker on Ice Pictures

Nutcracker Warm Up

Warming up for the second School Performance

Two of the Nutcracker on Ice performances were for local schools (this got H out of school last Thursday and Friday morning). H is warming up for her flower performance. 

The last week is a big blur for me. She had a parade, 6 performances, lots of rehearsals, M had hockey, G was gone and frankly, my mind doesn't work as well as it used to. BUT we did it...we hung out in stinky locker rooms on cold cement, we didn't get sick (the flu bug is rampant here, one of the schools had to close due to all the absences) and H had a blast. (I came armed with Lysol wipes and hand sanitizing gel and I am NOT a germophobe. Yes, I made that word up.

Lego Boy Strikes Again

This year, I decided to skip making the gingerbread house and give Lego Boy a Christmas Bakery to build. He was supposed to wait for his dad to get home from his trip (it's a 12+ kit) but we all knew that he wouldn't be able to wait...

And the Season Begins

Big Sigh...Friday night kicked off a busy week for us...H had Nutcracker on Ice Rehearsal and Saturday Morning M began a hockey tournament...at 8 a.m. H was in the Christmas Parade, M had a second hockey game, We were all asleep by 8 p.m.  Two more games today, H has rehearsal tomorrow, Tuesday and Wednesday, School performances Thursday and Friday morning ( have to be there at 8 a.m.) Friday night performance, two performances Saturday, matinee on Sunday to be followed by a cast Christmas party...The husband leaves on a trip tomorrow and I am not sure when M's hockey and Cub Scouts will fit into this week...I need a clone. I am a hermit by nature. I move like a sloth.

I'll write more later when I get the pictures from the camera uploaded but here are a few pictures from my phone. Start area for H and the beautiful antebellum homes on Adams where Me and me goofed around while waiting for the parade to commence!

Okay, gotta work on Christmas cards right now...oh, and there are some pajamas I promised to sew. I have one hour until I have to drive across town for today's hockey, let's see what I can accomplish.           

My Little Reader

My Little Reader.  Last week, M and I were walking into the Ice Complex and this conversation took place: Mom, turns out I really like reading. The Magic Tree House books are usually sad and I get a tear in my eye at the end...especially the Civil War and Revolution books...and the Emperor Penguin book.

I got a tear in my eye.

The Circus Comes to Town

Our cat is addicted to the wheat grass I used for my Autumnal decorations. She attacks it when the grass is doing absolutely nothing and leaps into the hair if H shakes it about...I made a comment that H had her own Lion act. Next up, H trains cat to jump through a hoop made of glow sticks to get to the grass. She even pulled out the treat bag for this feat. Before you can say Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey, H has organized a circus performance complete with tickets, program, and treat bags. H and M both wore capes. M performed jokes and card tricks, H danced and Bree did her lion imitation...Poor Bree, H even put her in a cage (her kennel). Chaos abounds.

IMG 0854[1] from Susan Bice on Vimeo.

NOT a good video (used iPhone) and I probably should have found a better place to record (like from the second floor!)

Thanksgiving

This year, Thanksgiving was spent at home...so it would be "quiet." We usually spend the day with my wench friend, Lisa and her family. Her family is growing, G travels all the time and a quiet day seemed in order. The plan was going great until I had the bright idea to send the kids outside to enjoy the beautiful weather. I think it lasted 5 minutes before H hurled a hockey puck at M's head. 5 Stitches. On the bright side, the 2 1/2 hours spent at the ER was very quiet.

(And H was very repentant, many requests for forgiveness, an apology card, and coupons for her services abound...)

My Bear Cub

M is so proud. He won First Place in his Cub Scouts Popcorn Sales for his den and Third Place for his Pack...Now, I have to confess if I had taken M out every time he asked me to, he would have sold 100 times more popcorn. This is what happens when you have an old parent, the parent's enthusiasm is seriously diminished...Poor Little Guy. Here are some pictures of his loot from his Pack Meeting the other night, not pictured are his earlier prizes (a bow and arrow and some rifle that he picked out with his gift card to this really cool toy store here) Oh! I should put some pictures up from the Toy Store! It was amazing! AND they had this rock tumbler that M wants for Christmas (Which of course, I forgot about until just now...I ordered presents online yesterday, shoot!) Back to the rock tumbler, I had one just like it when I was a kid. My dad got it for all of us kids one Christmas...I think he enjoyed it more than we did, he was always polishing rocks and living in the desert, there were plenty of rocks to polish. ...Back to M...NOW I will post the pics. (Have you noticed how quickly I get distracted and take off on different subjects?)

H on Skates

H is going to be in the Nutcracker On Ice and this picture was taken when the "Official Photographer" was there...me, being the unofficial photographer...

This was the funniest morning for me...I had H dress as usual and took the costume and hair paraphernalia to change her after rehearsal (how was I to know all the other girls would practice in their costumes?) So, of course, H had to change, immediately. Fortunately, for me, Big Sister had just bought hair spray so we could plaster her hair in place. What a save!

I found Nutcracker paper so I will be able to send some pictures (from the Official Photographer, of course) in a Christmas card. I have a theme this year! I will look so organized.

Oh My!

I just realized how long it has been since I have posted on my blog. Time really does fly, doesn't it? Thanksgiving is this week??? Christmas ads are on the television, stores are decorated and this of course, drives me crazy. It makes me want to dig in my heels and refuse to participate in all Christmas activities until at least December 1. (I know I will be coerced into putting the tree up the day after Thanksgiving but I can at least pretend to have principles) And to think, when I was a teenager and we went to my dad's hometown in Missouri, I thought they were nuts for having all the Christmas decorations up on Main Street the day after Thanksgiving. Now, they would just be late if they waited until then. Christmas never commenced at our house until my brother's birthday, December 9. (Of course, my dad had all his Christmas shopping done by August, I have yet to accomplish that feat of good planning)As a child, I do remember we always begged my aunt to play Christmas Carols on her piano at Thanksgiving but it seemed way too early. My sensible grandma asked my cousins for "It's a Small World." So, to celebrate Thanksgiving, I will post Halloween pictures. Yes, I am just that timely!

Atlanta Weekend

I am so far behind...I can't believe it is almost Halloween. I went to update my phone and I was out of storage...so I knew it was time to sit down and get pics and vids off of it...I found video of the Travel team going to Atlanta...Whoops, that was awhile back, no wonder I am out of room. Atlanta was fun, H was not able to go since she had Nutcracker on Ice practice. H and Roo had a sisters' weekend. I think H thought that was much more fun than being dragged from Rink to Rink. :-)

IMG 0682[1] from Susan Bice on Vimeo.

IMG 0680[1] from Susan Bice on Vimeo.

Matthew Busts a Move

I missed most of his dancing, I was chatting and turned around and boy, was I surprised to find my boy dancing his little heart out. I made my way to the table, grabbed my camera and caught just the end! Whew! (I really need to get a real camera made for recording and not make my camera do double duty)

MVI 4456 from Susan Bice on Vimeo.

Hannah's First TV Interview

I am trying to show Hannah's interview on our local television station with a glimpse of Matthew but I am not having much luck. You will have to copy and paste the link...Sorry. http://www.waaytv.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoid=3692165

Showcase

H started skating a few months ago and was going to have her first competition at the end of August but our wonderful friend is getting married that weekend...so, her coach put her in this little Showcase, she just learned her routine but the music was a hit...all the teen girls LOVED it and were singing along with her music...it was so fun! (Oh, I forgot, a prop was required so that is one very deflated electric guitar provided by her coach. I am not sure who recorded which video but whichever one is better...I will take credit for)

MVI 4420 from Susan Bice on Vimeo.

IMG 0550[1] from Susan Bice on Vimeo.

Birthday Girl

It's like Groundhog Day for this girl's birthday...PF Chang for lunch, Gluten Free Red Velvet Cake....Me, screeching directions...

MVI 4397 from Susan Bice on Vimeo.

Underwhelmed???

Is it me or does this girl just seem underwhelmed? I was expecting cartwheels...

MVI 4394 from Susan Bice on Vimeo.

Love this GUY!

IMG 0527[1] from Susan Bice on Vimeo.

IMG 0529[1] from Susan Bice on Vimeo.

IMG 0532[1] from Susan Bice on Vimeo.

VBS

Rock on.

IMG 0528[1] from Susan Bice on Vimeo.

Surprises

My iPhone was running out of storage so I hooked my phone up to the computer and found a little video M made. He had build a "Moon Rover" out of Legos and put my phone on it and sent it out exploring.

IMG 0405[1] from Susan Bice on Vimeo.

Ice Skating Camp

MVI_4388.avi from Susan Bice on Vimeo.

MVI_4387.avi from Susan Bice on Vimeo.

Whoops, these videos are backwards, I can only record 60 seconds on my camera or the video won't upload...so the end of the dance routine is first.

All Creatures Great and Small, the Lord God made them All

I was doing my usual morning computer stuff last Friday morning when I saw a cat come calling in the backyard. This was a new guy not one of our usual visitors. Bree (our cat) did not like uninvited company and gave him a good piece of her mind with some very loud hissing. H to the rescue with a squirt bottle. H stood guard all morning with her weapon of destruction. I had to explain squirting Bree and my porch door was not the correct approach, she needed to squirt the visitor. However, by the end of the day, H and the stray had become the best of friends and she named him Cuddles. (My nickname for her.) It turns out Mr. Cuddles was a very friendly kitty. Bree, didn't care how friendly he was, was not welcome. H however, rolled out the red carpet. Cat now had food and water. Cuddles the Cat did not leave but took up residence on the front porch driving our resident Cat Queen wild. The big sister came over for Father's Day and succumbed to Mr. Cuddles' charm. She began plotting how to spring him on her roommate. She even decided to name him Finn, as in Huckleberry or as M says "Huggleberry." I decided it was time to take him to the vet. First off, Cuddles was not a neutered male. H immediately offered her savings account to cover the cost when I staggered at paying $180. However, as it turns out, the check up was not good, he had feline leukemia and we all sobbed like babies. The best solution I could come up with off the cuff was to have him put down and ask for them to hold him until the husband returns from his trip so we can bury him in the backyard. I believe God sent Cuddles to us so we could take care of him. All creatures great and small the Lord God made them all. Farewell, Cuddles, you were loved.