Mini-Nut

Posted on 2015-12-262018-04-10 by zsmd

As many of you know: Moxie has a serious obsession with ballet. She took a class (cutest thing ever) and was very serious about her dancing. This year we got tickets to Maryland Youth Ballet’s Mini-Nutcracker performance. It is the highlights of the longer ballet complete with Mouse King, sugar plum fairies, and, yep, Nutcrackers. Mox took her class with her bestie Riley and we got to sit with them at the show AND go to dinner together. At the end Moxie and Riley got a pizza with nutella and strawberries on it. WIN.

We dressed up in our nice clothes (for the second and likely last time)

Both kids needed to blow off a little steam after sitting quietly and enjoying the show for a solid hour.

YES!

Christmas Decoration

Posted on 2015-12-262018-04-10 by zsmd

This year we got a REAL tree. We also decorated it, hung ornaments in the yard, put up a wreath, and hung stockings. It was legit.

Moxie got an awesome Playmobil advent calendar that looked like a weird forest/farm scene until the last couple days. Santa, an angel, the sled and reindeer all came at the end.

Our stockings: all made by Teresa Lee were hung on our wall (using pens). Keen’s was sent directly to Wichita for the inaugural Santa visit.

All kinds of crazy ornaments. Moxie picked every. single. one. She also tried to hang ALL of them on the same branch.

She was quite proud of herself.

Keen tried to kill herself and the tree.

Stepping Stones

Posted on 2015-12-262018-04-10 by zsmd

This year for Christmas we convinced Grandma that a homemade thing was the same awesomeness as a store bought gift. We made stepping stones for her garden. Jess looked up the directions, Ron bought the supplies, and Strider punched in the letters. Keen and Mox provided the footprints and gem placement and Carmen got to wash concrete off kid feet.

They turned out well…hopefully.

We will do this annually so our family can see how giant our kids’ feet are and remind them to buy us shoes. We think next year we might have to get a bigger pie plate for Mighty Moxie Monster Feet.

Note both Keen’s dirty little foot and that she curled her toes upon impact. No where anywhere on pinterest did they warn me of this.

Keen unsure of what’s about to happen. Moxie, having survived, looks on with joy in her eyes.

As a compromise for not putting the gems in the toes she put them on the feet.

Moxie process

Making sure Gramps does it right.

Gem and letter placement is serious business.

Twas the night before Christmas

Posted on 2015-12-262018-04-10 by zsmd

We did it all folks, we had a tree, stockings, cookies, book reading, and a little girl who was SO excited for Christmas she wanted everyone to go to bed so Santa could come in. We all, of course, made out like bandits. It was a wonderful holiday.

Seeing the Bullers

Posted on 2015-12-262018-04-10 by zsmd

We got to see the Buller family during our visit to Wichita. Holy cow those kids are cute. We got to hang out, eat lunch, hang out, and go to the park. It was a great day. Peter and Ben were super patient with Moxie and Moxie loved them so much. Keen thought they were the coolest.

We exchanged gifts. Keen ate the paper.

Everyone helped out. Except Peter: he watched.

The one time Keen smiled in a car seat.

Ben at the park.

At least one of them is having fun.

Silly swingers.

The families!

How it really went.

Shocked!

Posted on 2015-12-262018-04-10 by zsmd

We went home to Wichita for Christmas this year (other associated posts to follow) and one of our major activities was attending a WSU men’s basketball game. Keen and Mox participated in the citywide tradition of wearing yellow and black. They rocked it.

Also: Keen made it through less than a half but wore her protective head gear like a champ. Moxie got to have cotton candy and lemonade and made it through the whole game (almost).