Today is the Day the Training Wheels Came Off

We have a bad habit of keeping the training wheels on the kid's bikes far past the point that they are truly necessary.  Well, Aidan was no different in this regard.

I had noticed back during the summer that, on the straightaways at least, he really wasn't riding on them.  Despite this, we continued to make excuses and put off their removal.  That was until today.

As we were out enjoying the unseasonably warm temps, and with Mom out for a run, I grabbed a wrench and off they came.  After a few jogs along side him up and down the side walk, away he went.  And the rest is history.

A Very Non-Traditional Christmas

As Christmas neared, and this difficult year began to draw to a close, we decided to do Christmas eve a little bit different this year.  With a very gracious invitation from Nana extended, my clan, Uncle Jason, Aunt Debbie and their brood AND Grammy and Granddad all came together for a joint Christmas Eve dinner.  The evening was awesome and many spirits were lifted.

Christmas day followed and continued the non-traditional trend.  Not only was Christmas perched on a Sunday this year, but Mom and Abby were scheduled for nursery duty at church.  So we arose early, opened some gifts, then dashed out the door to worship our Lord and Savior in both song and service.

The non-traditional theme didn't end after church.  We returned home and prepped to host Christmas day dinner at our house with Grammy and Granddad in attendance.  On the menu:  Lasagna and Chicken Divan.

And things didn't end there.  On Monday, we celebrated Christmas with Uncle Jeff and Aunt Jenn and their family.  We again hosted dinner but this time served hot-dogs and hamburgers from the grill.  You should've seen the faces of the guys at the gas station when I went to exchange the gas tank for the grill earlier.

Any way, Merry Christmas...

2011 Christmas Programs

As Christmas approaches, so to do the school Christmas programs.

The season began back on December 6th with the RLCA program.  The evening began with a few selections by the After-School Choir featuring Amanda.  The video below highlights one called Rock 'n Roll Snowman.

Following the ASC was the main production entitled Christmas Hang Ups.  All of the children were dressed up as Christmas ornaments, hence Amanda wearing the bell costume in the following selection; On the First Day of Christmas.

Our second and final program this year was the GCA program featuring Aidan which took place on December 13th.  Due to the length of the program, I was actually able to include basically the entire Kindergarten portion below...

Merry Christmas...

Cubbies

Back in August, Mom, Pop-pop and I finally began a long gestating construction project.  The basic idea was to provide the girls with individual cubbies for their beds by laying claim to some of the wasted attic space adjacent to the their bedroom.

Well, after months of sawing, hammering, sanding, and painting, I present you the (mostly) finished project.