Is going backward fashion forward?

The other day I almost bought a sweater that was called “the 1988 rollback.” 

The sandals my niece wore to a recent school dance were practically straight from my sister’s 1990s closet. 

Today I did my hair similar to how my mom used to do it when I was around 10. Take note, I very much disliked the hairdo as a child. 

What is my takeaway from this? Never give anything to the DI or Good Will. Or, continue to dress like you did as a kid or teen and eventually you will look good again. I think my uncle did and he’s always looked classy. Then again, he lived during the fifties. 

All to the tune of Mannheim Steamroller

This month’s sound track has been Mannheim Steamroller’s first Christmas album. The kids have it on every time they play downstairs. As such, the tunes have stayed with me throughout our activities.

The first was Oliver’s piano recital. He did so well. His piano teacher is perfect and I hope she’s still teaching when Ansel starts playing (and eventually Ian too!).

Then he had his violin concert at school. You’ll spot him in the back, fourth from the right. I am amazed at what this orchestra teacher has taught these kids.

Ollie had a solo during Winter Wonderland that I found out about just as he stood up to play. Haha! Chances are he thought we wouldn’t care or he didn’t want me to ask him to practice it; either way, it was a pleasant surprise. And how does this kid look 12 in this pic? You’re 9 Ollie! I think he is standing on a step while Jess is on the floor. Phew! I was getting nervous there. 

Oliver also had the lucky opportunity to decorate the Governor’s Mansion Christmas tree this year. Only one class from all of the fourth graders in Utah get the chosen to do it, so he was lucky! We saw him on the news and everything. It was quite the experience.  Then an article in the Sandy news came out. Oliver was quoted and in a photo (see him mid-blink on the left?:). He got excited about that. 

Ansel has been playing Jr Jazz and loving every minute of it. They are teaching the kids basic b-ball skills and its fun to watch. Takes me back to all the games I watched my younger brother play.  

We visited the Festival of Trees and enjoyed the Christmas cheer. We saw a tree dedicated to my wonderful sister-in-law. It was beautiful! Also, Ansel talked with an elf again this year. 

Ian and Ansel painted ornaments, a tradition we have every Christmas. 

We got some sledding in too. And here’s ittle trick to everyone who has boogie boards in their garages. Use them as sleds! Perfect for a snowy hill and better quality than the sleds they sell at the big box stores. The kids love to stand up on them like a snowboard and hold onto the rope. 

I was able to go to Handel’s Messiah Sing-in. It was  a great way to ring in the season. 

Overall, December has been full of goodness!

Holiday Prep

This year the kids were super excited to buy our Christmas tree. They were very specific about height, needle quality, and color. They were even more excited to decorate it. We gathered together and placed all our many and varied ornaments from over the years while listening to Christmas music. When we finished they were like, “What!?! We’re done already!” 

“It is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas, when its mighty Founder was a child himself.”  Charles Dickens