Ice skating is one of our winter traditions so I was SO happy when I learned that the city had found a way to stay open and make it Covid safe! It was actually even better than usual because there was a fraction of the people there usually are!
They had a limit of 37 people on the ice but I don't think we saw above 20. They had "zones" set up and you weren't supposed to have more than 5 people in a zone, but it's almost impossible to adjust your speed, and since it wasn't full it was rare that more than 5 people actually did clump together other than when the 5 of us were skating together and someone came into the zone. Haha.
We left the little two with Noni and they had a wonderful time. Age 5 is my arbitrary rule so Peaches will get to go next year. :)
Peanut did great and had much more skill than last year. It took her a few minutes, but soon she was skating on her own without holding on to anything.
Bug and Boo did great. Boo is a skilled skater and zipped around the rink with ease.
It was such a pretty night and above freezing which was really nice not to be super cold. It had rained all morning, but cleared beautifully for a crisp, festive evening.
We had a wonderful hour skating round and round. Peanut had a few spills, and Boo fell really hard onto her knee at one point, but otherwise it was a very enjoyable evening!
We turned in our skates and got a picture with Buddy the photo-bomber. :)
And then walked around the park for a bit since it was decorated so prettily!
This bridge was neat!
This was really cool...in the summer it's a splash pad, and this year they turned it into a sound activated light display!
It was sensitive enough to pick up horns honking and a train in the distance. You can see how it lights up when Peanut laughs, and Daddy did a Tigger laugh at the end. So cool!
We actually went into a store (Bath and Body Works) on our way back to the car and the girls loved being able to look around and pick a few things out. They haven't been inside a store in months.
We headed to pick up the little ones and get back home before bed. They had made cute pictures that Noni hung on the refrigerator.
Thanks for watching them so we could have a fun night Noni!!
Boo's December STEM project was to create a bobsled! She had fun coming up with a design and testing it. Here was the winner. Bug even made the racers uniforms and helmets. :)
Peaches wanted to do it too and her simple Saltine box worked perfectly!
And Peanut's basket did really well too!
This was one of the earlier models before we got the Lego runners quite right.
First place trophy! :)
The slide was the main part of the course with a box finish. :)
Here are a couple of videos.
It was a sister sponsored project and they all helped make it a success!
Our black Friday couches have been amazing! They are over two years old and have taken so much abuse and they still look new! I still can't believe we got all three of them for $800. Crazy.
In the time it took me to put on the shoes as we were heading out the door the other day, Lou found some chalk and decorated the backs. Thankfully it wiped right off.
And another day she stuck all the leftover Christmas tag stickers on it. I think those dusty footprints are from ashes from the fireplace. If we leave the grate open the cats get in there and drag out ash for some reason. :P
Speaking of cats...Peanut had to make a cathedral for art. It was supposed to be small but she decided to make a CAT-hedral out of a cardboard box for Queso. Haha.
Speaking of Queso...I think he sits so funny. He does this all the time.
Apparently Taco thought Jax's Christmas present (a giant bone) smelled good and he decided to open it. :P
I don't know why Queso doesn't run for his life whenever he sees Lou coming. She is getting better about being gentle, but she is still pretty rough.
Peanut likes to snuggle with Queso while she does her schoolwork.
Lou found the little shopping cart at our local grocery store. :)
Peanut put the stuffed animal "helmet" on Queso. He didn't love it. Haha.
Noni came up with a super creative way to have a Christmas piano recital...a drive in! I was even more thankful for it because it was our only event of the season. Usually the girls have more performances in December than I can keep track of, but in this Covid-year this was our only performance and occasion to dress up. The girls picked their fanciest dresses and I did their hair. I love these beautiful girls so much!
Lou is always SO happy to be one of the big girls and wants to do everything just like her sisters!
Bug and her sweet friend A.
We grabbed a family picture when we got there since everyone was so dressed up. :)
The kids passed out programs.
And Covid friendly snacks.
It was actually amazingly warm for December...50 something, but Lou was still cold so she snuggled with Mama for a while.
The cars pulled up in a line and people either stood outside or rolled down their windows.
Then it was time for the show to begin!
Peanut was first up. They came in, stood on a platform to curtsy and then played their song.
I had the girls record each other during rehearsal so I could watch the show.
Peaches is an amazing pianist! I am so impressed by her playing. I didn't even start until I was 5 and she can already play at least a dozen songs!
Boo is our practicer. She works hard to get her music down perfectly and does such a good job!
Bug has a natural ear for music. She rarely looks at her music, but this is an adult piece she played.
Noni didn't want Lou to feel left out so she helped her play a little song. She was so happy. :)
The kids did a handbell performance, and then we all sang Come On Ring Those Bells.
The lights looked so pretty as the sun went down.
They came out to take their bows. I was so impressed with each of them!!! Noni has done an amazing job teaching them!
After the show they exchanged gifts.
Each of our girls got a flip-a-zoo pillow and a sweet necklace in a decoupaged box!
So excited!
Oh and J and I were able to sing a song together too! Noni played the piano and it was so fun to be able to sing together again!
Such an amazing performance! We are so proud of our beautiful girls and so thankful to Noni for teaching them this lifelong skill of music!
After the show we swung through the KFC drive through for dinner and ate in the car while we waited in line to see a drive through light show at the park.
They had some cute inflateables.
It was the last night they were open so it was a bit of wait, but the girls really liked it and we let them watch a movie while we were in line to get in so they didn't care. Lou missed her nap that day so she zonked out on the way home. We got Blizzards from Dairy Queen to top off the night.
Wonderful job girls! We are so proud of you! And thank you Noni!!!
P.S. The only bad part about the evening was that Grandpa was sick so he and Grandma weren't able to come. Hope you enjoy these videos Grandma and Grandpa!
