Time to play catch up

Has it been crazy for everyone else? Holy cow!

I figured I needed to hurry and catch everyone up on what has been going on this last week.

We started out on Tuesday night with Landon's piano recital. My mom decided to forego the Christmas recital this year and hold it in November instead. The theme was American folk songs relating to patriotism as this year was an election year. So, songs like 'God Bless America' and 'Yankee Doodle' were played. Landon played Yankee Doodle Boy, County Fair, and then You Are My Sunshine with me as a duet. He worked so hard on all of his songs and did such a good job! You Are My Sunshine is one of the lullaby's I sang to both my kids when they were babies. Mackenzee still requests it. So, it was really nice to be able to play that one with Landon this year. County Fair was played by four kids at once, on three pianos. They each have their own part and so the song ends up having the main melody with three different harmonies playing along with it. They did SO good with their counting and were able to stay together through most of the song. Landon enjoyed having his cousin Taryn to play next to as well. At the end of the recital my mom played a medley of different patriotic songs. It was amazing. I haven't heard my mom play like that in years and I know it's hard for her to do. She did beautifully and everyone around me was in awe. {I'm not kidding mom!} It was good to have her students hear it too because not all of them knew she could play like that. :0)

Wednesday night my siblings showed up for the Thanksgiving weekend. My kids were DYING from impatience. We just love having family come and visit and end up practically living over at my mom's house when they are here. We don't get to see them nearly as often as we'd like and I know the kids miss their cousins immensely. They don't get to chat on the phone or swap emails with each other like us adults do. :0)

My whole family {minus a few kids who were with their mom this year} was able to be here for the holiday this year. So, Landon got to hang with the boys and Kenzee got to run around with the little girls. She was so excited when her "nana nana" got here. That is her nickname for her cousin, Savanna, whom she adores. I'm pretty sure she would shrivel and die without her. :0)

Of course, Thursday was Thanksgiving and we went to my Grandma Casperson's house for the day. She roasted an amazing turkey. There was so much food there, it was insane! Everyone filled their tummies, and then filled their tummies some more. Of course, my neices and nephews filled their tummies mostly with my mom's layered jello salad. They can never get enough of that one. :0)

Thanksgiving night is the official lighting ceremony for my Grandpa Casperson's outdoor Christmas display. He has been working for months on it and the kids were SO excited for him to turn them on. Mackenzee couldn't wait, so I took her and her cousin, Alina, out for a walk to check out the displays before it got dark.

When the clock finally struck 5:00 pm it was time! Everyone went out to see the lights on and to see what additions my Grandpa had made this year. He has something new every year and has added so many lights over the years that he actually decorates the entire street. It is awesome. The kids were amazed at the display and oohed and aahed at all the lights. The boys decided to play "statues" afterwards, which involved them posing behind the displays on the front lawn when the cars drove past. Even Shelby got in on the fun and had the boys walk up and down the street singing Christmas carols.

On Friday night my sisters and I went to go and see the movie, Twilight. I won't go into detail, but let's just say that I enjoyed the company, but the movie was kind of lame. It definitely did not do the book any justice. Afterwards, Jaysen, my brother, brother-in-law and my sisters brother-in-law {did that make sense?} went to go and watch a movie of their own. Apparently they didn't want to be left out. :0) This only meant that the kids felt they were being left out of the movie loop. So they were promised a movie night the next day at my mom's house too.

Saturday afternoon, though, we had a birthday party for my neice, Greta, and my nephew, Riley. Greta turned five this last week and Riley turns four on Wednesday. I can't believe they are getting so big. It's crazy!

When we were done, my sister Crystal had to get home. After saying our goodbyes and giving hugs, the rest of us girls went to get the boys their movie and a promise of movie candy was made. Each kid was promised they would get their own movie-sized candy. Holy cow...there was a lot of candy being passed around. The girls piled all of their onto a blanket like they were having their own little candy picnic. Of course, due to the rush from the sugar intake my little Mackenzee and her cousin Alina went psycho! They were running around screaming and giggling. It was crazy! But, they had so much fun together.

Saturday night was our night to say goodbye as everyone was heading home the next day. Though it was a whirlwind of a weekend, we enjoyed seeing everyone. With the Christmas holidays now in full swing, I don't foresee things slowing down any time soon. It's time to break out the Christmas music and to wear our pretty Christmas dresses. :0) Landon is already playing Christmas carols on the piano and we are putting up the tree tonight. Tis the season!