Our December flew by with so many activities and performances leading up to Christmas. To catch up a bit, here is a photo recap of our countdown to Christmas...
The Christmas season is always filled with Rising Stars and Singapella Christmas performances.
The performances generally start in mid-November and get progressively colder as the season goes along. (I prefer the indoor performances during this season of the year.) This year both Adelie and Staley were in the mix for singing the solos in "Somewhere Hovering Over Indiana."
Adelie also did a Christmas solo of "Sparklejollytwinklejingly" and got to perform it on 2 occasions.
The girls did the frigid Santa Claus parade performance with their NTA friends, but missed the equally cold Festival of Lights Parade and the Pekin Parade this year. I can't say I was sad about that.
The NTA Christmas Cabaret is always a highlight of the season. The girls performed with Rising Stars. Adelie did her solo.
Staley also performed with Singapella and Kickline. It was a fun night watching all the kids showcase their talents!
Speaking of NTA and the busyness it added to our December, all 3 kids were in NTA's performances of Frozen, Jr. That will be its own post, but provided plenty of opportunities for us to be at the theater during the holiday season.
Apart from NTA, we also filled our December with our last ever Davenport Christmas Concert for Briggs. I can't say I'm sad to say good-bye to the hot, crowded, chaotic gym full of people watching their grade schoolers sing a few Christmas tunes every year.
Briggs was also our only kid in the church Christmas program. He was a great Joseph and knew all his songs and motions to the songs that they sang.
Adelie had her Christmas band concert and Staley had her Christmas choir concert that we slotted into our busy December schedule.
I enjoyed a special lunch at the Mackinaw tea room with Vickie and my mom to celebrate the season. It was beautiful, scrumptious, and a special way to spend time with special people.
Eureka hosted a dance team competition right before Christmas break, so Staley got to spend her entire first official day of Christmas break dancing and helping out at the competition.
Staley's team got first place for their jazz routine in the middle school division, and they also got a qualifying score to advance to the IDTA State competition in February.
In the midst of the performances and competitions, as well as all the rehearsals and practices and lessons and other activities, we did find a little time to soak in the Christmas cheer with our Christmas traditions like decorating the house (including the tree that the girls and I picked out that Adelie named Jimbella)...
making and decorating cookies...
attending Christmas parties at school, dance, and Penguin...
shopping and wrapping, making gifts (and superhero costumes, apparently), watching Christmas movies, eating peppermint ice cream and treats...
and looking forward to a break from the busy.
It was a full, fun, and festive countdown to Christmas.
