Emma Mae

I am a week and a half from my one year blog anniversary.  I love reading back through the year to relive  the fun and the not so fun moments of our lives.  Looking back though, I see a lot about Emma.  A lot of it, not so flattering of her.  True, she is more of a challenge than I hoped for as a parent, but it gives me a lot to write about.  She brings out emotions in me that are hard to ignore.  They get stuck in the crevices of my mind as I try to figure out what kind of parent she needs me to be.  How can I make her life more successful?  Well, anyway, I wanted to write a post that highlights some the attributes I love about her.

*She is super snugly when she wakes up.  In the morning, or from naps.
*She loves shiney, flashy things.  Cars, clothes, jewelry, rocks.  If it sparkles, she needs it.
*Her favorite foods are anything sweet.  She takes after her momma in this area.  She can eat sweets like a    champion.
*She has a great sense of humor, but doesn't realize it.  She gets embarrassed if people laugh at her.  I hope she can see that as a good thing, someday.
*Emma has incredible confidence in her own sense of style.  It never matches, but she doesn't mind.  She wears what she likes.
*She loves to dance and does so freely.  She moves however the music takes her.
*She responds well to positive reinforcement.  Now I just need to remember to do it.
*Emma loves doing art.  Drawing, cutting, gluing, painting, stickers.  She loves it all.  She created a whole paper princess that she actually played with until the dogs ate it.
*She is very strong-willed.  This is what causes a lot of the conflict, but if we can develop it properly, it can make her a very strong leader and help her stand her ground when she's older.

God made her a twin, but yet, a unique, special individual.  I look forward to seeing who she becomes.

My Little Dancers

Emma and Taylor love to dance.  Love, love, love it.  I think its great, but wanted to avoid dance lessons because of the cost.  Its expensive.  The lessons, the shoes, the costumes.  Oh my.

So...I encouraged gymnastics.  They liked it just okay.  Taylor worked really hard to get things right, but Emma, on the other hand, didn't.  If things are too hard, she just quits.  That's what happened.  If she couldn't do it right, she just gave up.  And, things were pretty slow paced. A lot of waiting in line.  That left a lot of time for them to get into trouble together.

I finally gave in and agreed to give dance a try.  I'm not sure how things will go, so I signed them up for a month to month class.  I was able to borrow a pair of tap shoes from a friend, but had to buy two pairs of ballet shoes and one other pair of taps.  Its a good thing I had won a Payless gift card at a neighborhood party.  That was it.  I was going to hold off on buying any other "gear" until I knew they would continue with the lessons. 

Last night in the car Taylor asked if they were going to wear ballerina clothes.  I told her no, that we would just wear pants and shirt for a while.  She was so sad.  She said all the other girls would have on ballerina clothes.  She sweetly said they could just wear their play dress-up ballerina clothes.  These things are stained, torn, and too small.  I couldn't let them wear those.  Seeing the fear and sadness in her eyes, I knew that I also could not let them be the only kids without ballerina clothes.  Off to Walmart we went.

I was later explaining to them that they had to listen, pay attention, and do what their teachers said.  They were going to teach them how to do ballet and tap.  Emma said it was okay, because she already knew how to dance.  She then showed me her spectacular tap routine.  I think her downfall will be her over-confidence in her ability to dance.

So, today was the first day.

Waiting for their class to begin.

Taylor has natural ballet talent.  I, and some other parents, were very impressed.  I then showed them my other daughter - the one picking her nose and looking at herself in the mirror.  She did pay attention sometimes, but I'm hoping that her natural talent will come in next week's class. 

Christmas 2011

I feel like our Christmas celebrations have just now, come to an end.  Now, I get to tackle the mountain of laundry, pack away the decorations, and try to get our lives back into some sort of normal routine.  Unfortunately, the girls don't go back to school until Wednesday, so the routine has to wait a bit. 

We loved all of our celebrations, but this was the first year we didn't travel on Christmas day.  It was great staying in our pajamas all day.  In fact, I liked it so much, I'm still in my pajamas today (its 2:00 pm). 

Here is a quick recap of our festivities.  We started by celebrating with Will's family.  Here are a few shots from that.

Will's brother, Blake, Will, and Will's brother, Patrick

Next we went to Oklahoma City to celebrate with my grandma's family.  This is the Butler Christmas I wrote here. Taylor sang three songs with great conviction, but Emma didn't feel up to it.  She did sing Jingle Bells with Taylor, though. 

My mom, cousins Cooper and Peyton, Aunt Cathy, and Will with Cooper

Men, Will and Me, my sisters, and My second cousin Sammy with her new husband, Tyler.

We finished with my family, but Will was in charge of those pictures, and they all pretty much look the same.  Here is one that I like though.

Will reading to most of the grandkids.

This was the first time we didn't do Christmas in Oklahoma City with my family.  My grandpa passed away this year so we moved the festivities to my parents' house.  There were parts that we missed (mainly my grandpa), but it meant that all of my family got to be together.  It has been several years since my sister, Crystal's family, has been with us.  It was nice having everyone (Aunt Cathy, included) all in one place.


P.S.  I promise to take the Christmas music off soon.

Butler Christmas

I have mentioned before that I am a deeply traditional person.  There is one tradition that I'd like to share because it is my favorite.  It is a Christmas celebration with my maternal grandmother's family - The Butlers. 

It started years ago, when my mom was a kid.  My grandma's brothers and all of their families get together and have a party that always brings me to tears.  It used to be at my great grandma's house, but when she passed away, it moved to my mom's Uncle Keith's house - it has been there ever since.

We start with lunch.  Its loud, crowded, and chaotic, but I love it.  I love getting to talk with cousins, uncles, and aunts.   I love hearing the laughter from family as they recount old stories, tell bad jokes, and watch the kids play.  I have warm fuzzies just thinking about it!

After lunch we do a talent show.  Its mostly the kids, and now the grandkids, but a few "adults" join in occasionally.  There is singing and playing instruments.  We've even seen some sign language and some dancing. 

Every man in the room follows by singing "We Three Kings", but they substitute "three" with the actual number of men.  The talent ends by us singing "The Hallelujah Chorus".  We sing while we watch an old VHS tape of my Uncle Ralph accompanying us on the piano.  Its a real treat when he's there and we get to listen to him in person. 

Someone reads the Christmas story from the Bible, we remember any family members we have lost during the year, and we close with a prayer.  Pure sweetness. 

We then have an adult gift exchange game and the little ones open gifts.  That's it.  Its the same every year.  Every single year.  It could not be any more perfect.

We'll be stopping in Oklahoma City for this celebration on Saturday.  I'm looking forward to posting new pictures of my kids singing.  They've been practicing for weeks. :)

I'm leaving you with the earliest picture of me that I could find from this great tradition.  I know there are more, but they're all at my parents' house.  Go ahead and notice the sweet mullet and matching sweatsuit with my shirt tucked in.

Christmas Moments

Below is a list of "ornaments" I have found on the tree this year.  I'm sure the list will grow as the season continues.

necklaces

bracelets

wiki-sticks

pipe cleaners

My Little Ponies

tiny princesses

belts

paint can opener

key rings

The girls had a Christmas program at school last Friday.  We were all so excited.  They did great!  They are definitely little entertainers.  It must run in their blood.

You know the Postal Service commercial where the guy is in the little house making snickerdoodles?  Well, the girls spent an entire evening playing that they were making hankerdoodles.

We went looking at Christmas light displays last night and while watching one of the displays with corresponding lights and music, Taylor said "the lights are dancing!"  Emma said, "Wow!  How can they hear the music?"

I really love this stage.

The Gift of Music

I was laying in bed last night thinking about my favorite Christmas presents.  You know, the ones I actually remember opening, being excited about, and using for years to come.  The only ones that come to mind are as follows.  New Kids on the Block tape when I was 8,  sterling silver necklace with music notes on it when I was around 10,  a radio/CD/tape player when I was 14, and a radio/CD player for my car when I was 17.

I don't still have the tape, but I do have the same album on a CD.  I don't still have the car stereo, it went with the car, but I do still use the other stereo and the necklace.

I have received a lot of gifts in my life (I can't believe I'm 31), but remember very few (which reminds me that what I give my kids really isn't that important).  I believe that the items I remember were important/special for one connecting reason: music. 

I think that music is one of the most wonderful gifts that God has given.  I don't think there is a moment in my life that passes without the involvement of music.  I like all music.  I think each style has an appropriate time and place.  I think music often says things that we just can't put into words.  Most importantly, music is my preferred method of worshiping my savior.  I relate to that little drummer boy.  "I have no gift to bring, to lay before the King.  I played my drum for him.  I played my best for him.  Then, he smiled at me.  Me and my drum."

A lot of people HATE Christmas music, and I understand why, but as for me, I LOVE it!  I get one month - ONE MONTH people, to listen to music that will be put back on the shelf for a year.  I, and other Christmas music lovers, have to take full advantage of this opportunity.

SO...I guess this post has a few messages and reminders in it.  Make your gifts special and memorable.  They don't have to be expensive, fancy, or even material objects at all.  They could be your time, your services, handmade, or bought, just make sure they fill a purpose and matter.  Really THINK about the person you're giving to.

Also, give Christmas music a chance.  Some people really dig it.

Hair

The girls have needed a haircut for a while, but we don't have someone here in town that I trust to do it, so I just kept putting it off.  I have a few friends that cut their kids' hair so I thought, okay, I'll just give it a try.  Below is a picture of the finished product.  I had no intention of cutting Emma's hair that short, but you know how it goes.  It wasn't even, so I just kept cutting!  It doesn't look that bad, just don't look too closely from the back.

Don't Bert and Ernie look pretty?

 Also, I've decided to grow my hair out, which means more straight days and less curly days.  Unfortunately straight causes me to find more gray hairs.  Very sad, indeed.