Christmas 2017

Several years ago we decided that Christmas would always be spent at home with our family of four. It's our children's home and its important to us that they get to be there for important holidays. This year, Pepere was given a terminal diagnosis. We decided that we would go to Atlanta and have one last holiday with him. To accommodate this we had to have our big Christmas morning at home a few days early. Two days before Christmas the girls went to be like they would on Christmas Eve. We did the usual leaving our cookies and milk for Santa. The next morning we had our Christmas morning. The nice thing about it being early is that we didn't have the usual phone calls from the well meaning Grandparents. The girls spent several hours opening new toys, clothes, stockings and the playing for the rest of the afternoon. That evening we went to church for the Christmas Eve-Eve service. Once we got home we had to get to bed early since our flight was early the next morning.

On Christmas eve we flew to Atlanta. The girls were very excited to see their Grandparents, Aunt and Uncles and cousins. Over the next few days we hung out at Nana's making memories. Addison and Pepere were even able to spend time cuddling with their bear-bears. One day we went to the Cabbage Patch Hospital. The girls were able to watch the babies bloom and visit the different hospital rooms. Another night the girls stayed with Nana and Pepere while Justin and I went to top golf with some of Justin's brothers. It was a fun week in Atlanta.

The Fall

The school year is flying by. Alexa had a rough patch at the beginning of first grade. Since then, she has flourished. She is making friends and doing great academically. Alexa has been enjoying soccer, gymnastics, AWANA and piano lessons. In soccer she has been improving in playing defense. She is evening trying out for a competitive team later in the fall. Gymnastics is just a recreational class that is just for fun. She is enjoying being with Addy & Maanya. Piano lessons have been continuing as usual. She had her second recital and is starting to learn how to use her foot pedal. Her teacher is heading on a tour in Europe. Alexa will have a fill in teacher for the next several months.

Addison has been enjoying school since day 1. She seems to be making friends among the other students. Her teachers as well as the other staff always rave about her. She enjoys Spanish class, music and now ballet. She also enjoys going to AWANA, soccer & gymnastics. She is looking forward to going full day and signing up for more enrichment classes.