Violin RECITAL!! AHHH!

I have a new appreciation for all my beginning piano students who fearlessly play at their first recital. IT'S SCARY! For those of you who don't know, I have started a new hobby- the violin. :) I have loved it, but it has also been a humbling experience! It will take me a long time to sound decent I am afraid!
So, Adam was away on his annual hunting trip and missed the recital- I still had a loving audience though. My daughters cheered me on. (No, the boys were not invited. oops) Ella was in charge of videoing it, and she missed the beginning. hehehe. Oh well.
A few disclaimers before I post the video-
1. I am a BEGINNER!
2. Yes, I did tune the violin before I started. :)
3. Yes, I should have put rosin on the bow- lesson learned.
4.I should have warmed up more.
5. I did have the song memorized- I definitely did not want to play it memorized for a crowd. (So I didn't- I don't know if having the music there helped or not)
6. I love playing the violin!!

A good laugh

There must be such a thing as "too much Super hero's" for Ashton. I will explain....We were taking Ella to school late today (I let her sleep in because we all had a long night). Anyway- we were walking back down the hall from dropping Ella off in her class, and we see a group of kids coming towards us. Ashton had been running ahead, but then hurried back to me pointing and said, "Look mom! Humans!" I laughed so hard, I couldn't stop laughing! Thanks Ashton, I needed that!

Thanksgiving and more

We spent Thanksgiving with Adam's parents, and his sister Becky her daughter Callie and her husband Adam. It was a beautiful day, and we all spent some time outside soaking up the sun! Adam's parent's house is almost done, so it was fun to have a get together there. The kids on the porch swing.

Grandma serving food to the patiently waiting grand kids. :)

I love this picture! Adam and his dad were working in the kitchen. They are passing a dish and not even making eye contact! That's team work. :)

Livia is Max's new best friend!

"Here Maxy, Maxy". :)

We have set up the Christmas tree! We figured out a way to hang the stockings on the railing. Adam put a little magnet inside the hooks. I think it looks nice. :)

Beautiful Ella

This is right before Livvy got bonked on the cheek with a section of the tree. She got a nice bruise from that!

They were soooo excited to get that tree up!

OK- random picture I know. Aaron took this and I think it makes Max look like the dog on Neverending Story. FALCOR!

Adam's adventure

Saturday Adam and his friend Shayne decided to go "caving". They found the Crystal Ice Caves- in the desert not too far from here. They had a great time and took some fun pics. No, the kids and I were not invited. This was not a "kid friendly" cave. To his credit- Adam made it up to me Saturday night by taking me to the Texas Roadhouse-with no kids. yummy! I'm not sure who this person is. :) But it shows how small the opening to the cave was!! They then had to have ropes and climbing gear and were lowered down 50 ft! (Ok, definatly not kid friendly)

Look at that cave man!

Shayne standing by the ice pillars.

Shayne in the cave

Adam by the ice pillars. Cool! (Literally)

Sunshine and blue skies!

It was such a beautiful November day on Friday, (cold yes, but sunny and no wind) so the boys and I took Livia to the park! They took turns going down the slide with her. It was so cute!! Liv was loving it. She's wanting to go down the slide in the pic and Ashton is trying to pull her back up!

Those two boys are so good with their baby sister! What a fun afternoon!

Why did I volunteer for this?

This is a picture-less post. Sorry. I am just wondering why I volunteer for things when really I'm thinking, "I can't believe those words are coming out of my mouth." My latest volunteer mistake- dog sitting. When our friends who were going to Africa for 3 weeks were looking for a place for their dog to go, why did the words, "Oh- we can watch Jack for you"- come out of my mouth?
I am really not a dog person, and Adam really isn't a dog person- yes we have a dog, and most days we ask ourselves, "Why do we have a dog?" OK- so the answer to that is under our kitchen table. Max really is an excellent vacuum/broom. So that is the reason we have a dog. The only reason. :) But we will never have 2 dogs.
2 dogs means double the barking- which is especially annoying right after I lay Livia down. That is one thing she can not sleep through. So it has been a long couple of weeks. I have also been super paranoid that we'll loose their dog, because I'm not kidding- the dog is camo colored. It blends in to wherever it is, and every time we open the door the dog escapes! It has been stressful.
Really this is my own fault. I just need to learn how to not volunteer for things. So I am taking suggestions if anyone has any. If not, who knows what I'll be doing next!

Trick or treat!!

We actually went "Trick or treating" this year and not just "trunk or treating". The kids had a blast! We went down to the small town where Adam grew up, and went around town with Adam's mom and our niece Callie too. I think we'll make it a tradition. Adam's mom was as excited about candy as the kids were!

It's worth turning your head to see this cute witch!

Aaron was Iron Man and blended into the couch!

Ashton was in full character Spiderman mode! (He is shooting out webbing in the picture.)

Adam carried Liv in his jacket and she fell asleep for most of it! Adam's back was killing him by the end of the night!

Livia's first Halloween!

A scary bunch!!

Ready to go!! Livia is trying to take off Spiderman's mask.:)