The Lion King

In January, The Lion King came to a local venue. I saw this production with my mom when it came a few years ago and was AMAZED! I'm not a huge fan of the animated movie, but loved the live show! This time it came I decided to take Noah.

We had fantastic seats and put Noah on the aisle because the actors walk in the aisles a couple of times. I glanced at Noah periodically to see how he was reacting to the show. He had almost no expression on his face, so I couldn't read him. During intermission I asked him what he thought. He paused for a moment and then said that if anyone told him there was something better than this he wouldn't believe them. He loved it! I hope he grows to enjoy going to see shows as much as I do!

Checkmate!

In January, Noah participated in his first chess tournament with other schools. He was pretty excited.

Scott and Nathan played with Noah between rounds.

Noah didn't place in this tournament. Every round he played 6th graders and I was so proud of him for being a good sport. He stayed calm throughout the games, shook hands with his opponents and smiled when it was over. Way to go, Noah!

Ice, Ice Baby

We had an ice storm and a bit of snow. Scott and the boys were so excited to sled down our driveway! It was so icy that they couldn't get back up the driveway! Scott tied an extension cord around the garage door track and threw it down the driveway so they could get back up!

Scott didn't want the kids walking on the grass because it would damage the grass. After quite some time, Nathan gave up and decided to walk in the grass anyway!

Snuggly warm after drinking hot chocolate. Movie time!

Love them!!

Family Christmas/Birthday/1st Freeze-Off Celebration

We had our family Christmas/birthday celebration with Scott's side of the family in January. Jamie hosted and, as usual, did an amazing job!! She got gifts for all of the kids and adults and we played a dice game to see who could choose gifts first! The sisters-in-law all got beautiful scarfs and the guys got ties - all from their recent trip to China! The kids got various toys they all loved!

THEN, Jamie had a special surprise for all of us! The three wise men came to visit!

We all choose names for Christmas and Noah had his little cousin, Gabi. Noah and Gabi adore each other! If I tell Noah we're going to Aunt Jamie's house the first thing he asks me is if Gabi will be there. When Gabi comes here she comes in the door calling for Noah. They are too cute! In Noah's class they earn credits for good behavior, completed homework, etc. The kids save their credits and then once every 9 weeks they have an auction where the kids bid on certain items parents send in. Noah saved his credits all quarter and spent most of them to get Gabi this koala bear for Christmas.

Gabi also LOVES Star Wars and Darth Vader (which she pronounces "Garb Bader"). We found some Darth Vader iron-ons and made her a shirt, too!

Nathan has had this obsession with China and the Great Wall of China for months. He was excited when he found out that Aunt Jamie and Uncle Mark were going to get to see it! Jamie is SO creative - before they left she printed out a big picture of Nathan's head and took it to China with them. When they got to the Great Wall they took a picture of Nathan's head at the Great Wall. She printed 3 pictures and framed them for him. They also brought him a piece from the Great Wall. He was so excited he was speechless! This is UNHEARD of!

The 3 young boy cousins also got outfits from China! This is Xander and Nathan being serious.

Some cool moves

Each family got an ice cream/sorbet maker from Scott's grandparents for Christmas! So, Jamie suggested we have our first family FREEZE-OFF! Each family makes a flavor, we'll all taste test them and then vote for our favorite.

Here are the 5 samples: peppermint eggnog, pineapple sorbet, butter pecan, chocolate mint , I think there was a strawberry one, too. (this is from 3 months ago, so I can't remember)

Boy, did the kids line up quickly!!

Jamie spray-painted and bedazzled an ice cream scoop that will be presented to the winner!

And the winner is...

Ryan, who made the pineapple sorbet! It was delicious!!

I LOVE my family!!

Good-bye, A' la Mode

There was a lovely little gelato shop in our town called A'la Mode. It was owned by a wonderful lady who studied ie cream and how to make gelato for 3 years in Italy. This place was warm, cozy, and very family friendly. We often went there for a treat with the kids, with cousins, or at the end of date night. Although her business was doing fine, she decided to close and pursue other interests. We're definitely going to miss it!

Things we'll miss:

kids sitting on horse saddles at the bar while playing a game or watching a movie and enjoying their ice cream

Hot fudge brownie sundaes

You could get up to 3 flavors of gelato in one cup! Scott loved the blood orange!

She had several guitars in a guitar stand for the kids to play

Gelato

There were several sitting areas for chatting and tables next to bookcases full of games to play.

Soooo many wonderful memoires...

Good-bye, A'la Mode.

Chuck Norris Ain't Got Nothin' On Us

Scott and his brother took me and my SIL to get some practice shooting at a good friend's firing range on New Year's Day. I hadn't practiced in some time, so I was definitely in need of some range time!

There were targets in the black section and then you could practice shooting all of the yellow hanging targets. My hubby is good!! Me...not so much.

One of the guys had a hand-made rifle he brought to show everyone. It was something to see! People took turns shooting at a target that was pretty far away. See the black target in the center? There was a yellow target to the left of it and people were aiming for a thin branch that was in front of the yellow target. Some people even hit it!

Makin' Ice Cream

Scott's fantastic grandparents sent us an ice cream/gelato/sorbet maker for Christmas! It makes ice cream in 20 minutes! YUM! Scott made a DELISH mint chocolate chip and a few days later he did strawberry. Definitely a gift that will be enjoyed again and again and again! Thank you, Grandma and Grandad!