Hacking it up: 2009

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Trail of Lights

"The Trail of Lights" is an Austin tradition for the holidays.
It is held in Zilker Park near downtown.
We go every year, and this year, Madi's dance team got to perform there!

They did three group dances, then Madi and the other two officers got to each do a solo for the first time!

"Santa Baby"
(Madi is in front on the left in the white dress)

Our pretty li'l sugar plum :)

"Jingle Bell Rock"
Their kick-line dance

I just LOVE watching my girl do her thing!

Madi's solo was amazing.
(I am trying to upload the video--but it's not working--maybe later)
We were so proud of her!
She choreographed it herself--she worked really hard on it, and performed it with such emotion, it made me cry--part of that is probably because I knew what it represented. She has struggled a lot with her self-image and self-esteem (I know--seems impossible right?) But this dance represented her journey from self-hate to self-acceptance and love.
It was beautiful.

Good job sweetie!!
We love you and are very proud of you and what you have achieved and overcome this year!

Chase's first piano recital

Chase had his first piano recital!
He played two pieces:
"Linus and Lucy" (The Charlie Brown theme), and
"Joy to the World"

He has practiced a lot and did a great job!!
He even memorized his pieces :)
Good job buddy!! You are very talented!

Old Man Hacking

Well, SOMEHOW, Lance survived his 40th birthday!
I got him all dressed up to go out to the movie with me and the kids, but when the boys saw him in this get-up, they asked if he was going in public like that...when I said yes, they burst into tears and were blubbering something like "embarrassing"...looks dumb"..."I'm not going!" So lance had to leave it all in the car ...bunch of babies....
Luckily we were able to get him into the movie theater without his walker!!

Saturday, December 12, 2009

40?!?!?

Lancy-Pants is doing the 40 dance!!

Happy 40th Birthday sweetie!!!
We love you!!!

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

We wrapped up our Thanksgiving weekend at Bass Pro shop--the boys favorite!!

They had Santa's workshop village there

...and of course Santa!...Which Chase and Conor barely tolerated.
I had to bribe them with candy to get them to go up there for a picture.
Wyatt is the only one getting anything for Christmas this year!

What they WERE excited about was the Red Ryder shooting gallery.
I told them they couldn't do it because they would shoot their eye out.

But after getting some pointers from dad...they were off and shooting away

I LOVE Wyatt's stance here...he means business.

This picture was taken right before Chase popped a cap in his little brother's a - nterior side (hee hee you thought I was going to say something else)
This is why I don't do guns.

After some more specific instructions like, "Don't shoot your brother in his back" ...everyone did much better.

When we finally got away from the guns, we checked out the fish.
I started handing out fishing poles and encouraged the kids to see if they could catch one....then a mean elf came and told us we couldn't fish in the tank.
I hope he gets coal for Christmas.

Instead of the boys catching a fish...a shark caught them!

I told them to go get that mean elf and tell him to look in that sharks mouth.
Ta-Da!!! No more mean elf!

We decided to run over to the RC section and try to look innocent...

Then we went for a spin on the magical reindeer-go-round...and round...and round

The boys tried to show us what they want Santa to bring...

...but I told them since they gave me so much static about going to see Santa, that it wasn't going to happen...

Conor is right at home on this guy..
.

I LOVE Chase's face here!
He's all goin' James Bond on us...Lauren is not impressed
Never a dull moment at Bass Pro shop!...who woulda thunk? :)
(that's some bass pro shop talk for ya)