other Christmas festivities

Arden and Esther had a special Christmas class for ballet.  They got to wear reindeer ears and prance around with jingle bells.  They also got to "skate" with Christmas muffs and dance with candles to "Silent Night," giving praise to Jesus.

Arden and I joined other families from our homeschool community to go to the First Coast Nutcracker in Jacksonville.  It was a special treat to see Ms. Tamara, a mom and tutor from our community (who also happens to be a beautiful ballerina!) perform!

Arden and Tiffany after the show

Esther's VPK Christmas party

Her school has a drive through light show set to music each year and also a huge tent set up   like Santa's workshop.

Esther showing us the ornament she made hanging on a tree decorated by the VPK classes.

"Mary and baby Jesus"

Christmas Eve was spent downtown at the plaza where our church has "Carols by Candlelight" each year

ballet

Arden and Esther have taken ballet/tumbling for the last couple of years and loved it.  After some thought and prayer on the subject, we decided it was time to move on from where they were taking and find a new place that provided more formal training and would teach them how to honor the Lord with their bodies and dancing.  The Lord provided a wonderful ministry that does just that!  We have been really pleased with the training the girls are getting and the environment in which they are learning.  It is a beautiful thing to see your girls dancing to songs of worship and giving thanks to Jesus for their class!  

Here are pics from the first day of class... 

side note-I have gotten a lot better at doing buns! :)

The girls' class is a pre-ballet class, and for their last class before Christmas, they combined with the beginning ballet class for a special time of celebrating.