Disney Wonder, Part 2

In the Oceaneer Club.  To be honest, they really didn't spend much time there, but it was pretty cool.

Meeting Ariel!

Goofy

Matthew mid-hug with Goofy.  The real reason we took this trip was so that the kids could experience some of the amazing qualities of Disney before we go for real in a year or two with all three kids.  Matthew (and the rest of us) loved the characters.

Disney Wonder, Part One

Zilker Park, Attempt number Two

 

 Everyone was disappointed about Zilker Park falling through, especially the director of musical theater.  So, we had a mini recital at school.  It was a shame because it just wasn't the same.  Still, it was so fun to watch.  Natalie last year really didn't do much at the Three Piggy Opera, but this time she really worked hard.  It certainly helped that her three friends that she loves more than anything are in her class.  It helped quite a bit, matter of fact.

 Singing "These are a Few of My Favorite Things."

From left, Inyaa, Chaarvi, Meagan, Natalie and Matilda

Adding "the second generation" to the shot: Inyaa's little brother Pranan and Matthew, who are in the same preschool class at Faith Montessori, just like their big sisters!

December craziness is in full effect!

Well, I had hoped to be able to post all kinds of cute photos of the kids performing at the Trail of Lights down at Zilker.  We sure did all of the prep work; the kids knew their stuff backwards and forwards.  They looked adorable and were very excited.  It was raining, but we were told it was on.  Our friends Anubha and Nish drove the girls and I.  Of course, the traffic was nuts.  We kind of knew it would be, but when we got a call an hour into the drive that it was cancelled due to an electricial problem, well, we were all dissappointed.  These are some cute shots of Natalie's 3 best friends, Matilda, Chaarvi and Inyaa.

These snow shots were not at the Trail of Lights.  The RR YMCA had a snow day

 and it was a ton of fun.  It was the kids' first time to go on any form of a sled, which is funny to me.  By the time I was Matthew's age I had spent plenty of time in the snow.  But I loved seeing how excited they all were.

 Matthew was rocking his overalls.  They were a part of Natalie's minion costume from Halloween, but they looked cute on him.

 She got some speed going here!

Meagan really dug the snow.  Kind of stunk that it felt more like ice when you throw it or get hit by it!

 My favorite picture of the day.  Matthew's big blue eyes and looking like Uncle Brian/Papa Joe?  So cute!

They had little push car things that you worked using your hands.  He liked it.  

  Of course, with all of this crazy cold here in Austin it will be 70 in a few days.  Nothing new.
We are all VERY pumped up that this is the last week before Winter Break!!!

Daily dose of cuteness

Matthew got these raindeer antlers at his holiday show last week at Faith Montessori.  He looks pretty darn cute in them, if I say so myself.
Natalie is wearing her spiffy new hat she got for Channukah.  You can't tell really, but it is a Koala hat.  Both girls are preforming at the Trail of Lights down at Zilker Park tomorrow.  It is going to be chilly, but the kids have been working for so long on it.  We are crossing our fingers it doesn't really rain.

Holiday excitement

 Even though Channukah has come and gone, there is plenty of holiday fun around for us.  Matthew's holiday program was last night.  Ms.Kumari and her staff put a ton of work into it and it was very well done.  Andy and I particularly enjoyed when Matthew yelled out, "HI Sriang!" and later, "I see my mommy and my sisters!" in the middle of their performance. It was pretty awesome.  He had a lot of fun and looked rather adorable in his little long sleeve shirt and vest.  The photo above is of my mini-me and a pile of books.  I actually did not pose her this way, although I did ask her to remain that way while I ran and got my camera.  She was just happily resting her head on a pile of books that she has gotten recently.  As a totally devoted bibliophile and as a reading teacher I was in love with this.

Truly, I do not really know what to write about the above photo.  Natalie and Matthew spent quite a bit of time posing their stuffed toys in the dog food bin and asked if I could take a photo.  Sure thing.

It is Dress-up time!

 Whenever Natalie gets bored she likes to dress Matthew up.  For some reason, she tends to go to her piggy costume from the Three Piggy Opera that she was in last spring.  Matthew gets to wear a greater variety of costumes.  His pants were medical pants from a doctor outfit Meagan wore to Career Day in Kindergarten (she wanted to be a vet before she realized that you don't just play with the animals) and the top I honestly don't know what it was.  The hat is a Spider hat that I used to wear to crazy hat day.  The dogs followed them around.  I think they were laughing at the kids, personally.

Happy early Thanksgiving from my littlest pilgrim!  He is very proud of his hat.
We are having my mom, Andy's parents, and Brian and Jan over for Thanksgiving.  We are all looking forward to it.