A few weeks left till Christmas...

After weeks of practicing, Macie's big Christmas Performance was finally here!  She was so excited that she couldn't wait to get to school.  Once she arrived, she sat anxiously on the stairs until her class was called to the stage.

Once she stood in front of the crowd, she got a little shy.  Mom was worried that she would clam up...

Once the music began, she turned on the charm, and was a BIG hit!  Check out all these still shots- she REALLY gets involved with the songs...

Here are all the videos from the evening.  See if you can hear Macie's voice in the crowd (everyone was calling the performance "Macie Frankwick and the Chaparral Christian Choir")...

When the songs were finished, Macie posed while the crowd cheered!

Before ending the night, all the alumni students were invited to the stage to help sing the final song.  Macie was SO excited that I got to join in the fun!

It was fun being up on stage with Macie and my Apple Room friends!  Afterwards, Macie and I posed together with big smiles!





Later that week, both Macie and I had our holiday parties at school.  Thanks to Uncle Will, Mom was able to come to school with me and help my class celebrate!





I love having her in the classroom with me!



Our party was lots of fun; we had 6 different stations, each with a fun holiday craft.

My favorite station was decorating a gingerbread man,

because after I was done decorating, I got to eat it!!!

At the end of the day, we all posed together as a class.  I was sad to leave school knowing that I wouldn't see my friends for two whole weeks.

 Macie had her class party the following day, and couldn't wait to celebrate with her friends in the Sunshine Room.

 Macie absolutely ADORES her friends, and her AMAZING teachers!

She had so much fun at school, that when Mom picked her up she was disheveled, dirty, and tired; all signs of a fun day at preschool.  Here she is posing with the gingerbread house she made that day. 

 

We spent the first Saturday of break relaxing and enjoying some much needed down time.  By Sunday we were energized and ready for some family fun.  After church our family packed up our car with snow gear and headed North towards the snow.  We met the Ketcham family at a hotel in Flagstaff, and the fun began.  Dean, Graham, Macie, and I grabbed some sleds and found a hill behind the hotel.  We played until it was too dark to see, and still whined when the parents demanded that we go inside to get dinner. 

Early the following morning our families both packed up and drove to the mountain to sled.  Mom dressed Macie, Presley, and I in warm, waterproof snow gear so that we were equipped to spend a full day on the hill.

We had a blast taking laps down the hill- even Presley had some fun on the sleds...

Presley tired quicker than the rest of us, so she snuggled up with Mom while Dad joined the rest of us for some sledding.

 Mom got tired holding Presley in her arms, and found a creative substitute for a crib...

Presley was able to get a decent 30 minute nap- just enough to wake with a smile!

She turned out to be a champ; all day she had a smile on her face.

When we needed a break from sledding, Dean and I would build snow forts and make snow balls.  Mom LOVED watching me play in the snow- she thinks I'm a natural and can't wait to get me on the slopes next season!!!

Our crew had an awesome time sledding together.  

After a break for lunch, Mom decided it was time Presley went on the big slopes.  Dad was nervous as he watched Mom carry her up the hill...

He could hardly watch as they started down the slope,

but smiled when he saw how much fun they were having together!

 By early afternoon snow the warm weather started to take its toll, and the snow began to disappear.  Our families both decided we were exhausted and ready to head back home.  Before packing up, Dad took a picture with Macie and Presley, super excited that he got to spend a fun day on the hill with us.

 The drive home went quickly, and before we knew it, we were all back in our cozy beds.  The trip had been a success, but we were glad to be back home.  Macie and I have TWO WHOLE WEEKS of break ahead of us, and can't wait for all the fun we are going to have.