First Snow, Cookies at Christy's, and The Nutcracker

We were lucky enough this year to enjoy some snow in the weeks leading up to Christmas.  I had a hard time keeping Emma and Ben from playing outside- even when it was 9 degrees.  I definitely preferred being warm inside by the fuzzy warmth of the tree. That Sunday evening, Christy invited us over to make cookies with their family, and I couldn't resist taking some fun pictures.  The next weekend we got to enjoy watching my nieces dance in the Nutcracker.  Before going to the show, we had a bunch of errands to run and shopping to do, so we stopped for a pancake breakfast.  You would have thought we surprised the kids with a million dollars.  They were so excited to be at a diner that had been decked out with every color of tinsel in creation and loud 50's Christmas music playing.  It was freezing outside, so the windows were frosty, the servers were dressed in retro uniforms and jingle bell earrings, and the pancakes were steaming with creamy, melting butter and syrup.  *Happy sigh.

The ballet was at held at the high school that 5 of us Parr's graduated from.  Not a thing about the school has changed.  The music room even still smells like burnt coffee.  Anyway- the girls danced beautifully.  I'm a very proud Auntie.