Mary Popppins Jr.

The school play this year was Mary Poppins Jr.  They put it all together on a shortened schedule with the performance in January.  Sydney was cast as Ms. Andrews.  In the stage production, Mary Poppins leaves the Banks family and Ms. Andrews (Mr. Banks' former nanny) comes and tries to whip the kids into shape. She makes them take brimstone and treacle instead of a spoonful of sugar.

 Sydney did a great job of being mean and strict.  You'd have never known she was actually so sweet in real life.  She rocked her solo (of course).  The scene where Mary comes back and the two nannies have a bit of a singing battle was one of our favorites. 

As always, Sydney was so fun to watch on stage.  She is so animated and dramatic about everything.  The bright ensemble costumes were also so fun to see on stage.

Taylor tried out for a part but didn't make the cut.  The directors offered to let her join the little kids for one more year.  They were bumblebees who came and danced and cleaned the house during "A Spoonful of Sugar."  It was adorable.

I know I say this every year, but I am so grateful my kids have this opportunity.  What a blessing it has been.  So much work and so much fun!

A Successful Break....

 Our December was full of fun and Christmas celebrations.  The kids had almost 3 weeks off school and we did a perfect amount of sitting around balanced with accomplishing things (almost done with baseboards!)

Sydney decided to step up her game with a graham cracker Hogwarts castle.  

I celebrated my friend's birthday and tried sushi for the first time...not a fan.

We had a great Christmas morning.  The kids were all given an experience to participate in.  They will be fun to do over the next few months. Sydney and Emma will be trying a glass blowing class, Aiden will be going to a Monster Truck rally.  And Taylor got some cash to use towards an outing of her choice.  Aiden and Taylor also got Golden Corral gift cards, so Brent and I got a double date with them.

Grandma and Grandpa Robertson gave us gift cards to go to Jake's Umlimited (a video game, amusement park, laser tag, bowling arena in Phoenix). We coordinated with the Carlsens and made a day of it.  

The kids found a game that gave tickets that you could play for free.  So, this is pretty much where they spent the whole day.  They each had several hundred tickets to spend.

Brent and Emma had a fierce battle on the Dance Dance.

We went to a New Year's Eve Party at the Egbert's.  Where I wowed everyone with my cheeseboard.  

 And the kids tried talking me into taking one of their puppies home.

We woke up New Year's Day to the most snow we've ever had here. 

AJ was visiting for a few days for Tyler Carlsen's baptism.

Aiden swept the snow of the porch so it could snow on Luke down below.

This is what was left after a few days...

We enjoyed some good old cousin time for Tyler's baptism.

School has started and things are in full swing for the school play.  We will also be cashing in on a ski trip gifted to us from Grandma and Gramps.  So, the fun will continue!