*GOING TO DISNEY*

Eddie the Elf surprised the girls one morning by arranging a trip to Disney! I had to go for the military, so Jay and I spoke to Santa to see if he could throw it in as a Christmas gift. It was on a Wednesday morning before school. When the girls came out of their room to find Eddie, they found him on the chair looking at the computer with pictures of Christmas Mickey and Minnie and a note from Santa telling them the good news. Alexa was confused at first because they had school and couldn't believe they would miss it. They were so excited!

*ALEXA'S PIANO RECITAL*

Alexa had her annual piano recital. She did an awesome job at playing Frosty the Snowman and . She always does so well, but this is the first year she seemed nervous. It's odd, because it seems as she gets older, she gets more anxiety before doing things. She pulled through it, went on and did great.

*MAREN IN THE NUTCRACKER*

Maren auditioned earlier in the year for the American Youth Ballet's Nutcracker. She went to ballet practice every week to prepare for her time on the stage. She had several rehearsals and 2 final shows at the Johnson County Community College's theatre. She did such a great job to go out on the stage and dance. Afterwards, she said she kept wanting to dance. However, a few days later she decided that she liked gymnastics better.

Several people came out to watcher her shows. Her first show had: Grandma Marilyn, Grandpa and Grandma Burhans, Aunt Rachel, Daddy, Alexa, Grandpa and Grandma Lisa. Her second show had: Grandma Hauk, Mom and Grandma Adams.

I was so proud how brave she was to do her part with the other cherubs.

*COOKIE TREE MAKING*

Grandma and Grandpa Hauk came over to make Christmas Trees with the girls. They had fun stacking cookies and spinkling the sprinkles all over the tree.

*VISITING SANTA*

We did our annual trip to Crown Center on the way to eat dinner with Grandpa and Grandma Burhans. Maren asked for a Moxie doll and Alexa told Santa that she wasn't sure what she wanted quite yet. Santa said it was fine and she still had plenty of time to decide.

*GIRL'S SOCCER PICTURE*

Maren learns to ride her bike

I don't know how she did it, but somehow she figured it out. The night before she had ALEXA'S friend help her in the back yard, but besides that she hasn't really been interest in learning. However, the next day she took her bike to the sidewalk and she taught herself! She came running in the house screaming "daddy, daddy, come watch!". We went running out and watched her peddle down the sidewalk. I happened to grab the camera on the way out and snapped a few pictures.
Of couse the second she saw Alexa, she reminded her that she was only five and Alexa didn't learn how to ride her bike until she was 8!