We started out the month with the Mt. Holly Christmas parade. Aubrey was so excited to participate again this year after missing last year's parade. I was a little sad that I didn't get to ride in the parade with her, but enjoyed watching the parade from the sidelines for the first time ever. This was the first time in my life I've just watched the parade and not been a participant and that was a little strange for me. It was neat to watch Mason enjoy the parade and see my big girl representing her dance studio.
Back in July of 2014, I my friend posted that she had bought tickets to Frozen on Ice during pre-sale and I hopped all over that. I ordered them and kept it a surprise from the kids until the day of the show. We had to drive to Greensboro and deal with some terrible traffic that made us get there right as the show started, but oh was it worth it. The kids enjoyed the show and Todd and I did as well. Frozen was made to be an ice skating show and they did a great job with the production.
The night of the Frozen on Ice show, Todd and I shipped the kids off to his parents' house and went to the ACC championship at the Bank of America stadium. Neither of us cared much about either team playing, but his his work offered free tickets and 2 members of our church group are Georgia Tech alums, so we got tickets for the 4 of us. It was fun, despite the cold, damp weather and I'd love to go back again next year.
Of course, December meant Christmas cookies and we cooked a lot this month for various events. Mason took full advantage of being my helper, which meant eating lots of the ingredients along the way.
Todd's company held their annual Christmas party at the Colonel Francis Beatty park in Matthews and it was a lot of fun, despite the fact I was so sick that night. They always do a good job of bringing entertainment for the kids and makes them happy.
Our community group from church decided to go to McAdenville to see the lights as a group this year and it was a lot of fun. Only 1 other member had ever been before so it was neat to watch the others experience something I've done since I was a kid for the first time.
Mason's preschool had their annual Christmas show on the 15th and it was great. I was really nervous about how Mason would do in front of a crowd, but my worries were useless because he did great. He knew all of his songs and the movements that went along with them. He was so proud of himself afterwards and it was so cute to watch.
The afternoon of Mason's preschool show, Aubrey got in the car after school and said "Mom, I have a super loose tooth" and my heart sank a little. Loosing teeth is such a big girl thing and it made me a little sad because its just another sign my little girl is not so little anymore. I checked the tooth out when we got home and it was so loose that it was seriously hanging by a thread, or root, or whatever its called. I was so worried that if we didn't pull it, she would lose it at school or swallow it while eating so it had to come out. She was terrified and cried every time I touched it, but after a few good tugs, it was out. She was so dramatic about it as usual (it didn't help she was also sick with a nasty cold), but all drama was forgotten the next morning after she found a $1 bill and a note from the tooth fairy under her pillow. Amazingly, the adult tooth is already 1/4 of the way out of her gum and it is looking pretty crooked at this point, which has us a little worried about braces. But, we are staying hopeful it will straighten as it grows in over the next few months.
Our last event before Christmas break was watching Aubrey's dance class in their mid-year parent observation time. They get to demonstrate some of the new moves they are working on, which are pretty impressive for kindergartners, likes turns and leaps. I loved watching Aubrey and seeing how much progress she has made just since May and the recital. She is working so hard and was happy to show of for us.
Todd and the kids did the annual trip to Raleigh for Christmas the first weekend of winter break and they had a great time. I worked most of their trip, but it was nice to come home and enjoy some quiet for a few days. They came back on Christmas Eve and then we sped through the holidays. However, it was so awesome to enjoy a break from the school-year routine. It was nice to not spend so much time in the car and to spend more time playing and spending time together.
So, that was the final month of our year. It was a nice end to our year and we can't wait to see what 2015 has to bring us.
