A Dose of December...

I'm catching up with lightning speed... watch out, blog fans, you may get more than you bargained for... three blog posts in one week!



December started with the groundbreaking for the kids' new school. We've been anticipating this for several years and were so blessed to be part of such a monumental event. For many years, possibly decades, there has been a need to expand. This school is so amazing that there is ALWAYS a waiting list. In fact, dads have been knows to throw down their sleeping bags and camp outside the doors prior to registration, just so ensure that their child has a space. This day was a huge celebration and even got some news coverage. The kids wore "hardhats," sang songs and were given the chance to do a little digging of their own after the conclusion of the ceremony.

The day after the groundbreaking, we headed over to our church's annual Breakfast with Santa. Brax was very excited to sit with the big guy and communicate his wishes for Christmas morning (which included a Wii, a joke book, and some fighting games for his DS). Little Evie was happy to chew her fist and pose for pictures.... while child #2...well....

he was not so excited. This picture cracks me up every time I look at it. I'm seriously going to frame it. Brody is so dramatic. Everleigh has her eyes closed. Brax is looking like he's ready to get out of there and Santa wants to know when those crazy Belvilles are going to get off his lap!

Ahhh... memories. They're what the holidays are made of, aren't they?? Do you like how I cropped myself out of the photo below? It's almost as if Brody were right there with Santa himself :)

December also brought a little snow. This mama isn't a fan of snow (particularly when it results in a snow day that nullifies my last "alone" day of Christmas shopping). However, I did layer the buddies up in their gear and shove them outside for a little play time....

Even little E got her obligatory snow photo...

And, as predicted, Brody lasted all of 10minutes (a child after my own heart), and Brax played alone in the snow for over an hour until he could not feel his fingers....


Last Wednesday was the boys' Christmas program at school. 'Tis such a special time of organized chaos that brings out each and every parent's camera, video camera, cell phone, etc. We all think our kids are the stars, right? I didn't get too many pics of Brax because, being a big Pre-K kid, he was assigned to the back row....

However, my little ham was front and center and did not disappoint. He sang his little heart out, was pure perfection with all of his motions, and stopped on several occasions to give waves and shouts to his fans in the audience....

Sweet Brax made me this precious ornament... (Brody made me something too, but his agent said he was refusing any photo ops after the program :)

Here's Brax, giving some love to his sweet teacher, Miss Anna....

And here's Mimi with the three kiddos... she was a huge help that day as Josh and I tried to shuffle back and forth between classrooms. Little E was getting a little tired, so this was the best I could do. We're glad that Mimi gets to be a part of these things now!!!

And there it is... your little dose of December. Don't worry, there will be much more after the holiday. Although, if we were truly basing our Christmas loot on behavior, there may be slim pickins' here on Christmas morning. Just ask our little elf, Elmer. He sees it all. Just kidding... the kids are good... well, most of the time... I mean, at least they try, right? Or maybe Santa will have to practice a little grace when he slides down our chimney. Until then....