December 2017

Happy New Year!  :)  Like everyone else, I can't believe that it's JANUARY!  Without further adieu, here are a few pictures from our December...  

Eli was a snowflake-making machine in December!  He decorated this wall in his room with his creations.  :)

Eli tested for his blue belt this semester!  It's not an easy feat to complete the green belt requirements in one semester, but Eli worked super hard, and he did it!  We are so proud of him!

See him down there?  They have to perform all their skills in front of judges...  I always get so nervous for him, but he's calm and cool.

They also have to say a Bible verse and a give a little speech about why they like that verse...  Eli recited 1 Timothy 4:12 and did so great.  We love the emphasis that his karate classes place on public speaking skills and on godly character!

Newly minted BLUE belt!

Eli and his two other blue belt buddies...

Eli's 4th grade class worked all semester on a "Live Museum."  Each kid chose a historical figure and researched him/her, wrote a paper about him/her, and memorized a speech about him/her.  In December they held the "Live Museum," where all the kids (4th and 5th grade) wore costumes from their chosen person and gave their speeches to anyone to "activated them" by pressing their "button" (see the red thing pinned to his jacket?).  It was super impressive- all the kids worked so hard, and we loved seeing and hearing them talk in the characters of the people they chose.

Eli chose Tom Landry.

A smattering of kids from his class, before they all lined up in their positions.

Here he is, ready to go! His speech was so great!

I forgot to take many pictures at his class Christmas party, but they had a blast eating a special lunch, exchanging gifts, and playing games like this "snowman wrap."  And then promptly after leaving school this day, Eli spiked a fever and spent the next week laid up with the flu, ear infections, and a sinus infection!  :)  I felt horrible that he had to spend the first week of his winter vacation so sick.

One thing he did NOT want to miss, however, was our ice-skating plans!  On Friday morning we didn't know what exactly was going on with him (i.e., was it the flu or not), and he was so intent on ice skating with Timothy that we dosed up on Tylenol and went for it!  :)  We had a great time!  And as soon as we got home, Eli crashed on the couch and the flu officially settled in.  :(

For my 37th birthday, Eric took me to out to a fancy dinner and to the Dallas Symphony and Chorus' Christmas performance, which is my favorite thing in the world!  We had such a nice evening.

On Christmas Eve we made a fancy dinner with the Heinzes.  We ate and played games and had a great time.  Then it was time to settle in for Christmas!  We read the Christmas story together, and after Eli went to bed Eric and I put out the presents.

Eli was up bright and early at 6am!  This is my favorite time of the whole year...  just the three of us on Christmas morning.  We opened gifts, ate homemade cinnamon rolls, and played and laughed and just enjoyed being together.  I'm so, so very thankful.

Eli's big gift (and BIG gift :) ) this year was a life-size wall decal of Steph Curry.

The best part- stockings!  :)

After our own little Christmas morning, we joined the rest of the family at my parents' house for lots more gifts, food, and family fun!

Trading sports cards- this occupies about 50% of the boys' time.  The other 50% is spent PLAYING sports.  I'm thankful that Eli was well enough by Christmas to enjoy both Christmas and the rest of his break playing with his cousins.

And with that, we end 2017 and head into the new year!  Love to you!!