Christmas dessert

Mom made a fancy looking dessert for Christmas.

Magic Reindeer Food

Day before Christmas

The kids are resting before Christmas Eve. Notice all of the babies Adalin lined up, and Roscoe sitting on his perch so he can look out the window.

Snow!

We woke up to snow this morning. The kids were both excited. Aden wants to shovel the driveway after school - he made sure to tell me so that I don't do it without him.

More Addie

Addie has her Christmas concert at Hope on Thursday. She has been singing the songs for us a lot. Here's a sneak peak.

Click HERE for a playlist of Joy to the World plus two more songs.

Also, here is a video from Addie's dance class last week:

Adalin's Christmas bows

Adalin dressed as a Christmas present for school today. The ribbons are a little rough after a long day of playing, but she must have liked them to keep them on so long. She also tried to tape wrapping paper to her shirt this morning but we were able to talk her out of it.

Early December 2011

We just posted quite a few videos on youtube and pictures to picasa.

First up, here is an album showing the kids' Christmas letters to Santa, St Nicks day, and ringing bells for charity at the mall.

Click for photo album...

Early December 2011

Next, here is a youtube playlist of several videos from the past few weeks. Click this LINK to watch all videos in another window. Here's a teaser of one of the videos - Aden wants you all to come check it out.

Bell ringing was Thursday night. Friday night we were back at the mall for Aden's piano show. Here is a LINK to watch all the piano videos in another window. Each of them are also embedded here.

Saturday morning Aden went from piano to basketball for his game at the YMCA. Again, here is the LINK to click to see all four of the videos in another window. We included the money maker here.

The rest of the month doesn't slow down either. Aden has his school Christmas program next Wed night. Addie gets into the act Friday with open house at her dance class (we'll get some video/pics there). Next Sunday they both have their Christmas program at Hope, and on Thursday Addie has her school Christmas program (also at Hope).

We can't wait for the Holidays and seeing everyone soon. G'ma Cherie's return to Wisconsin will be very welcome but we know she is having fun Counting Sheep with Arjen and the fam.

Bob Dylan is a Johnny Popper

Aden has been very interested in music lately. He seems drawn to Brit Rock - really likes Oasis and Coldplay (we showed him Coldplay on youtube as an example of piano music when he started taking lessons). He also ended up liking the Bob Dylan songs we have on the computer. He already knew Forever Young from one of his birthday DVDs, and now especially likes Knockin on Heaven's Door and All Along the Watchtower. He is intrigued that other bands will play versions of someone else's song: Guns n Roses playing Knocking on Heaven's Door, Jimi Hendrix playing All Along the Watchtower, Eric Clapton playing Little Wing and Knocking on Heaven's Door, Eric Clapton writing Badge with George Harrison.


Going further, he has asked if Stevie Wonder or Michael Jackson knew the Beatles and I told him that they have each recorded music and performed with members of the Beatles. I think McCartney, Wonder, and Jackson were all on We Are the World along with a bunch of other people.

So, we're eating at Culvers and he is continuing to ask about all these musicians, and he basically asks the Top Gun question, "So how do you know who the best is?" He answered himself that he thinks Bob Dylan is the best since more people copied him. We talked about influence and he agreed that Bob Dylan must have been very influential. Then he wondered who most other people think is the best. Do they think it is Bob Dylan, too? No, I told him that the most popular answer is probably the Beatles.

You see, Bob Dylan is like a Johnny Popper. It might not have the most features or be shiny and new any more, but everyone remembers it fondly.