It's Beginning to Look a lot like CHRISTMAS!!

Well, it is official! Dylan got braces! He thought about what color bands he was going to get and decided red and green for Christmas. I offered to let him stay home from school afterwards but he declined and couldnt wait to go show off his braces to all of his friends! He didnt make it easy for them though....when they asked to see his braces, he said "Say something to make me smile and then you can see them"! They have been a little sore and he is having a little trouble eating so we have stocked up on mushy stuff to help him survive. Now, let the payments begin!!
On Saturday, Trinity had her dance recital. She danced two different routines, one for jazz and one for hip hop. Because of the holiday and being sick, she only got to practice these routines 4 times (and there were two!) so she was a little nervous that she wouldn't remember them but she did great! The big recital is in the Spring and they allow plenty of practice time for this, it is a much bigger event. Trinity said the best part of the whole thing was getting to hang out in the dressing room backstage and getting to come out and watch the older girls dance! 

The first video is jazz...she starts out front and center and then you will have to follow her from there because they are all dressed the same. I had to record this with my actual camera instead of the video camera so the quality is a little low....I brought the video camera and thought it was still charged but naturally, the battery was dead.

The next one was hip hop. I had moved seats so the light is shining right into the camera and it came out horrible! Ugh. And the sound is bad too. I wouldnt put it on here at all but it is all I have and grandparents who were not there will want to see it! Again, she is front and center at the beginning:

Michael had Sunday off so we decided after church to go downtown and and go ice skating! Our town has a little outdoor ice skating rink on the square. It is not real ice as it could never survive Texas but something called EZ Glide. I had never heard of it but it was actually kind of cool! You wear real ice skates and the feel is almost the same (very scary if you ask me!). Everyone went around a few times holding the rail but then one by one the kids took off and were skating on their own. Not me, however. I continued to hold the rail and skate behind the little 5 year olds. Gravity is just not your friend as you get older!

Holding on for dear life!!

Getting Brave!

Literally "Saving Face"

Ok, so I let go of the rail once but I am holding onto Dylan for support!

From there we went to Bethlehem Revisited which is a production that a local church puts on every year. It is very cool. It is like stepping back in time and walking the streets of Bethlehem on the night that Mary and Joseph were there and Jesus was born. There are live animals and people. I think we may go back next week!

Making Wine:

Trinity helping to make olive oil:

Mary and Joseph looking for an Inn: