Christmas Cookies

We had lots of fun making Christmas cookies this last weekend, which has become an annual Christmas tradition for us.  The girls are getting closer to being able to squeeze the icing onto the cookies on their own.  Can't wait until they are old enough to take a cake decorating class...would be so much fun for them! 

A Holiday Wizard of Oz

The first grade classes at Country Lane Primary presented "A Holiday Wizard of Oz" for parents and guests on Monday evening.  It was such a cute little program!  Big M was lucky enough to receive the part of one of the six Dorothy's for the program.  She did a great job...knew her lines and smiled on the big stage.  She appeared to be having such a great time too!  She has even been telling me that she would like to be Dorothy for Halloween next year...we'll see!

The

Rudolph of the Day!!

Lots of special things going on around here!  Big M was selected as the Rudolph of the Day in her first grade class one day this week.  The Rudolph of the Day is selected for being a good leader and gets to have their nose painted red like Rudolph and gets to wear antlers.  She also got  the opportunity to be the line leader all day!  She loved it! 

Christmas Dance Performances

It was in-class Christmas performances at dance class this week.  Both girls had fun showing us what they had been working on in class. They especially loved the cookie party once it was all over.  Hope you enjoy the holiday dances too! 

Responsibility

 So proud of big M...she received the responsibility award again this year at school.  And, one of her good friends, Gavin, received the award too.  Such a great achievement for them both.  Big M's teacher told me that she could always depend on Big M to stay on task and "do the right thing, because it is the right thing to do".  Can't wait to give her another big squeeze when she steps off that bus today! 

 The M & M girls

Gavin and Big M

Little M's Christmas Program

We really enjoyed the Lord's Little Army Christmas Program again this year.  Of course, Little M just wasn't as energetic as last year when performing on stage, but she did a great job.  All of the kids were so cute, but we especially enjoyed our "Purple Penguin" this year. Here's a video of her class singing my favorite song of the night.  The video skips a little...hope you enjoy!

HO! HO! HO! Merry Christmas!

The girls enjoyed visiting Santa at Bass Pro Shop early this week.  Big M asked him for a Crayola Air Brush Marker Set, and Little M has her sights set on a Dora doll that does gymnastics.   

Not only is Big M asking for the art set, but she is also asking for her two front teeth!  She lost them both recently and now has the cutest little gap in her smile.  Several other first grade classmates have the same smile...all so cute!

 

Happy Halloween!

Our "Disco Dolly" and "OSU Cheerleader" had a fun Halloween this year.  They both loved trick-or-treating and gathering all of the candy they could.  It was lots of fun seeing friends in the neighborhood and seeing all of their costumes too.  So far, the M&M girls are taking it pretty easy on the candy...

Livesay Pumpkin Patch

We visited the Livesay's Orchards and Pumpkin Patch this last weekend...had to get that annual trip in before Halloween.  It was a little windy, so the hayride and pumpkin field were definitely dusty dirty adventures.  The girls had lots of fun walking around the pumpkin field searching for the "just right" pumpkin.   Happy Fall!

Disney Cruise 2012

About 1 1/2 years ago, we decided to go on this Disney Cruise.  We decided not to tell the M&M girls since the trip was such a long time away...so fast forward 1 1/2 years to the night before our big trip.  We arranged for Mickey Mouse to call and share the big news with the girls the night before we left.  They couldn't believe it.  (If I can ever get the video to work right, I'll try to attach it).  The next morning, we traveled to Galveston, where we set sail  for a 7-night cruise on the Disney Magic Ship to the Western Caribbean, with stops in Grand Cayman, Costa Maya, and Cozumel.  Also going on the trip were some friends who live on our street and other neighborhood friends, all with kids at or around M&M's ages.  It was a great trip...fun for both kids and adults.  Here are a few of my favorite photos...

 Relaxing on the beach in Cozumel near Carlos 'n Charlie's.

 Heading back to the ship after a fun day on the beach at Grand Cayman.

 Pirates "in" the Caribbean Party followed by fireworks.  Love my M&M girls in their pirate attire!

M&M along with Mickey at Parrot Cay Character Breakfast.

October Dance Performances

We really enjoyed the M & M girls' dance performances today.  Miss Kristy always makes the studio performances so cute and fun.  The girls loved it!  Just click on the links below to see them dance...

Big M's Call Me Maybe


Little M's Candyland Dance

Gilcrease Museum--Mini Masters

A couple of weeks ago, the girls and I had the pleasure of visiting the Gilcrease Museum on a day Big M did not have school.  I had signed them both up for the Mini Masters program offered there.  It's an awesome program that teaches them via a staff led tour about art and exhibits at the Gilcrease museum.  http://gilcrease.utulsa.edu/ After the tour, the children are able to complete an art project related to the Mini Masters theme for that day. We were lucky enough to be registered during one of the last days of the temporary George Washington exhibit.  The girls loved learning about George Washington and viewing various parts of this exhibit using binoculars. After the tour through the exhibit, they made a telescope to view their world in color.  They had a great time and the Mini Masters staff are just wonderful. This program is definitely awesome and we can't wait to go again! 

M & M  working hard on their telescopes!

A First Grader and Purple Penguin---First Day of School 2012

It's so hard to believe that I officially have a first grader and an almost 4 year old!! Big M seems to really like her new first grade teacher, Mrs. Dunnam.  Little M is excited to be a Purple Penguin with Ms. Heather and Ms. Johnnie.  This morning as I read Big M  the letter her teacher had written to the new first graders, I had to pause a couple of times to hold back the tears.  I'd thought I was ready for the school year to start for the last week or so, but I was sure missing these girls today!  Luckily, both girls have some familiar faces in their classes this year.  There will be a few new friends to meet, but I don't think that will be a problem with these two.  I think they both have great teachers and should have a great year ahead! 

 Our usual "first day of school" pic in front of the Crepe Myrtle.

Tulsa Zoo's Baby Jaguars

The Tulsa Zoo had some new baby Jaguars born this last April and we knew we needed to get over there to see them before the school year began. So, the day before school started, we ventured off to the Tulsa Zoo to see the new jaguars and have some play time with a couple of the girls' friends.  The kids all enjoyed seeing the baby jaguars, but they also had a great time having a picnic and playing with their friends on the zoo's playground. 

 Five Little Monkeys                                                       

 

One of the Baby Jaguars

Lucas, Little M, Abigail, Jayden, & Big M                              Silly Kids

Diva Girlz

The girls had a fun time dressing up as Diva Girls at Diva Girlz Studio (http://www.divagirlzstudio.com/) last week.  A little girl that  we met in tumbling joined us.  They had tons of fun getting their makeup, hair and nails done, then dressing up.  They were covered with glitter!  We were sad another friend couldn't join us, but it was a fun activity for the end of summer. 

August Getaway to Louisiana

We recently visited my Mom and Dad in Louisiana for an end of summer getaway. M&M had lots of fun visiting the High Delta Safari Park (http://www.louisianatravel.com/high-delta-safari-park).  As you may notice in the pictures, Big M loved feeding the animals and Little M found that playtime on their playground was more her thing.  The girls were able to pet a snake, chinchilla, and lizard.  But their favorite animals of the day were the baby camel and baby donkey.  I have to say the donkey was pretty fun to watch!

We were also able to swim in the neighbors' pool...we are so appreciative that they allowed us to swim during our visit.  The girls had a great time!

A visit to the local skating rink was fun for both girls.  Even little M was able to skate with some help from her "skate assist" and snap-on skates.  They enjoyed their time with Emily, a neighbor girl that lives just down the street.

I don't think the girls were quite ready to go home when it was time---they were having too much fun.  Maybe next time they will be able to stay at Mamaw and Papaw's for a longer visit without Mama and Daddy!

Little Dancing Cowgirls

M&M's summer dance performance was last night.  We sure enjoyed watching these little cowgirls dance, especially since they were able to be in the same class together this summer. Hope you enjoy it too!

Tomatoes!

M&M have been so proud of the little garden they've planted with Charley this summer. They've seen the plants grow from seeds and it's been a great learning experience for them. Each tomato they pick is so special and they taste yummy too! 

Old Friends

We received a surprise phone call  from our old neighbors and friends, the Barnes Family, early last week. They had plans to be in Stillwater and asked if we would be able to go over and see them.  We had a nice afternoon visiting and catching up...M&M were able to swim in our old neighborhood pool and see Miss Maggie Kay and Mr. Thomas.  They hadn't seen each other for about 2 years.  It was so neat to see how the kids had each grown and changed since last seeing each other.  They had lots of fun swimming and playing together.  So glad  the Barnes Family called us!