Lunch

We were shopping today and the kids were getting hungry. Of course they wanted McDonald's and I said, "No fast food today!"

So, while we were shopping Daddy called from work and Dylan wanted to talk to him. He was telling him where we were and where we had been and then I hear (in a very woeful voice), "Mommy won't let us have fast food today. Yeah, I know . We have to eat slow food today." Mackenzie and I were laughing so hard and of course he wanted to know what was so funny. Out of the mouth of babes!

Piano Recital

Mackenzie has been asking to take piano lessons since she turned five and I had been putting her off - feeling she was a little too young to make such a big commitment. After all, you do need a piano to practice on if you're going to take lessons and continue to play - and pianos are expensive!

Finally, after almost a year of asking I made the leap and enrolled her in piano lessons. She started taking lessons in June 2009 - just shy of her 6th birthday and LOVES it. She goes once a week for 30min. to Mrs. Olsen's studio. We also broke down and purchased a piano of our own. (Thanks to Papa who paid for half of the piano as one of Mackenzie's birthday gift).

Mackenzie had her first piano recital on December 19th and La Vida Real retirement home. What a great venue! The place was gorgeous! She was nervous leading up to it - as many of Mrs. Olsen's students are older and have been with her for years. Mackenzie is the youngest student and had only been playing for 6 months.

She was nervous playing for a crowd and indicated she wanted her teacher to sit with her on the bench prior to the recital - but when it came time to play, she took the bench and did well. What a brave little trooper. We're very proud of you and love you to pieces! We can't wait until you can play great pieces for us and serenade us during dinner!


Her teacher Mrs. Olsen Some of Mrs. Olsen's students

Christmas Traditions

For those of you who know me, Christmas is my favorite holiday of the year. I love all the hustle and bustle, the shopping, the eating, the baking and the traditions.

Here are some of our annual Christmas traditions we follow:

1. We are decorated by the day after Thanksgiving (if not earlier).
2. Making and decorating gingerbread houses.
3. Looking at Christmas lights.
4. Buying an ornament each year that represents what each child is into.
5. Advent calendar counting down the days to Christmas.
6. Annual family Christmas pictures
7. Visiting Santa at Santee lakes
8. Children's Christmas party hosted by the Sheriff's Department.
9. Christmas dinner with the Sippels

And our newest tradition . . .

Jolly - the Elf on the Shelf

For those who are not familiar, there is this wonderful kit that comes with a book and an elf doll. The book explains how Santa knows if you have been good or bad everyday. He sent an elf to come and live with us to watch over the kiddos and every night when we are all asleep the elf disappears to tell Santa whether you should be on the nice or naughty list. When the elf returns, he never ends up in the same spot and you must hunt where he has landed every morning. The story also explains how upon Santa's orders, the elf can't talk, but he can listen very well. So, children are encouraged to talk to the elf and let him know their wishes for Christmas. It also explains one very important rule - NO ONE can touch the elf, or he will lose his magic and won't be able to go to the North Pole to give his report.

So we adopted the elf (complete with adoption papers and registered him with the North Pole registry) and the kids named him Jolly.

Mackenzie loves the idea and talks to him quite often. Dylan was unsure the first day or two and was worried that he may appear in his room one morning. He was not afraid of the elf - but was worried that the elf would really see that he's been kind of naughty lately (LOTS of whining and pouting) and Santa wouldn't bring him anything!

Every morning the kids wake up and the search is on. They love looking for him and finding the silly places he hides. They also LOVE to tell every adult that steps foot into our house that we own an elf who was sent to us by Santa.

This by far has been the best tradition (www.eflontheshelf.com - great website). They love Jolly and the kids are sad that Jolly has to go back to the North Pole on Christmas Eve and won't be back until next year. So if you ever visit us over the holidays, you'll hear about Jolly! Just remember - hands off! All ready to decorate gingerbread houses! Dylan decided he had done enough decorating and dove in - literally!
DSA Children's Party

Oma's 2009

It's my favorite time of year! Fall - or should I say October break? I love the two weeks that we are off every October. We have so much fun doing whatever we want and the weather is always so perfect!

One of our traditions is to visit Oma's pumpkin patch with the Sippels. My kids LOVE that place soooo much. We usually go 2 or 3 times during their pumpkin patch days. They love the open space and to just run free and enjoy farm life for the day. There is so much to do there and they are always sad when it's time to leave.

This year the kids are at perfect ages. I did not have to worry about Dylan getting left behind, or falling, or being trampled by others. I did not have to follow him around and help him climb things, or worry about him being lost. The older kids kept an eye out for him and helped him if he needed help (which he didn't). They kids roamed free and the moms got to sit back and chat while they romped around and rolled in the cotton seed. It's so nice because the kids just frolicked in the country aroma and had a great time with each other while we chatted till our hearts were content. We were able to complete so many sentences without being interrupted!!!! They checked in when they were either thirsty or hungry and off they went when we satisfied their needs.

We all had a great time and the kids were giddy. I think the best thing about that day though was on the ride home. We had been discussing about how much cotton seed was going to fall out of their clothes when they undressed since they rolled around in it so much. Gavin said, "I think I even have cotton seed in my butt crack too." and Dylan replies with, "Yeah, I think I have cotton seed in my butt crash too." We all laughed so hard about Dylan's "butt crash"! He had no clue why we were in tears! Poor Dilly!

I'm going to miss it when the kids get to that age when they no longer want to go to Oma's to roll in their cotton seed and get it in their butt crash.

Quads

Dylan loves quads, dirt bikes, race cars, motorcycles and pretty much anything with wheels that will go fast. Many days at daycare he sits on Connie's quad in her garage and makes those boyish noises and has a great time.

Once Dylan discovered that the O'Bryan's had quads too he wanted to sit on those quads and pretend to drive them as well. So, Linda and Corey invited us over and took the kids for a ride on their terrain. They had such a blast! Even Mackenzie had so much fun. Those kids would have rode on those things all day if we would have let them.

Don't worry, I already told them that Santa would not be bringing real quads to the White household! Of course daddy replied, "Why not?"

Maybe because Daddy had as much fun as the kids?????

Train Day

Every year we are invited to Train Day at Rohr Park. It is a private party with the Chula Vista Steam Engines. They are a group of people who love trains and have made miniature trains. The track goes all around the park and people of all ages ride!


We have been going for the past couple of years and the kids really enjoy it! Their favorite is riding the train in the dark with their glow sticks. Thanks conductor Joel for taking us around the track every year!

What a Difference

Mackenzie and Dylan have been taking swim lessons from Kelly the entire summer and the kids are sad that it's coming to an end. Mackenzie is almost swimming on her own - more of a confidence issue in the deep end if anything. She has become so brave and has enjoyed every minute of her lesson. What a difference from 2 years ago when I enrolled her in private swim lessons. . . .

Two years ago this was a child who screamed - not cried - but SCREAMED the entire 30 minute session for 6 weeks straight! I had to bribe her with candy or ice cream to cry quietly and not wail at the top of her lungs! Poor child - poor me!

And now she loves the water, and is trying to do flips, handstands, diving for rings, you name it and she wants try it!

I am so glad that the kids love the water and will become good confident swimmers unlike their mother! Thank you so much Kelly for being patient, loving, and such a great swim teacher! The kids adore you, and you are teaching them a valuable life skill. You're the best!